Experiment EXPERIMENT IV. Feb. 22. 77. TEN Ounces of Paste being included in a Receiver which was large enough to hold 22 Ounces of Water From Paste I impress'd Air enough into it to sustain 73 Inches of Mercury above the length of a Cylinder which the Weight of the Atmosphere is able to bear up In two hours there was no sensible Alteration Feb. 23. In 18 hours the Mercury was rais'd 7 Inches And in 6 hours more it ascended 8 Inches higher being buoyed up to 83 Inches Feb. 24 It was 90 Inches high Feb. 25 It was 97 Inches high Feb. 26 It was 101 Inches high Feb. 27 It was 105 Inches high Feb. 28 It was 107 ½ Inches high March 1 It was 112 Inches high Water seemed to be expressed out of the Paste March 2 It was rais'd to 120 Inches March 3 It was rais'd to 121 Inches March 4 5 It remained at 121 Inches March 8. Upon a Thaw the Mercury ascended 4 Inches and rested at 125 Digits March 10. It rose 6 Digits higher being suspended at 131 Digits March 21. The Season being so long Cold no Air was generated except that in the three last Days the Mercury was rais'd 7 Inches and rested at 138 Digits April 4. One of the Iron Wires made use of to straiten the Receiver was broke and the sides of the Receiver started out of their Places 4 or 5 Foot From whence it appears that Cold and Compression hinder the Generation of Air. EXPERIMENT V. March 1. 77. TWO Raisins of the Sun being bruis'd were shut up in an exhausted Receiver with Six Ounces of Vinegar It afforded Bubbles plentifully March 2. It still yielded Bubbles but the Mercury was not rais'd half an Inch. March 25. The Vinegar seem'd to contain Bubbles but the Mercury was not rais'd an Inch. So that Vinegar hinders Fermentation and the Production of Air. EXPERIMENT VI. April 7. HAving put 10 Ounces of Paste into a Receiver able to contain 22 Ounces Paste included in a Receiver of Water as much Air was press'd in as sustain'd Mercury above its usual height 128 Inches In Six hours it was rais'd four Inches being sustain'd at 132 Digits April 8. In 16 hours it ascended 9 Inches higher but for nine hours after it rested at 141. April 9. Some Air broke out in the Morning the Mercury subsided to 130 Inches therefore thrusting in as much Air as rais'd it to 141 I clos'd it it up with a Screw Apr. 10 It was at 151 Digits Apr. 11 It was at 158 Digits Apr. 12 It was at 168 Digits Apr. 13 It was at 176 Digits April 14 It was at 183 Digits April 15 It was at 183 Digits April 16 It was at 187 Digits April 17 It was at 191 Digits April 27. Eight Days it's Station was unalter'd but the two last it was rais'd 7 Inches being rais'd to 198 Digits April 30. So much Air being let out that the Mercury was rais'd but 50 Inches above it's usual height to try whether the compress'd State of that Air hindred it from expanding the remaining Air being pinned up presently rais'd the Mercury sensibly and 3 hours after the Mercury was rais'd to 62 Digits from 50. In five hours space after rose 1 ½ May 1. In 15 hours it rais'd only an Inch. May 3. On the Second it was at a stand to Day it was rais'd 1 ½ May 4. The Mercury ascending no higher I let the Air go and the Screw being set again in five Minutes the Mercury was rais'd two Inches May 7. In 3 Days it was rais'd 2 Inches higher May 8. In the two last Days it was rais'd ½ an Inch. And the mass being shut up in Vacuo in 5 hours the Mercury was buoyed up an Inch. May 21. It had not been rais'd 3 Inches yet May 30. It rested at 4 Inches and ½ From whence it appears that all the Air that Paste will afford may be obtain'd from it tho' it be compress'd yet it is hindred in some Measure till that Pressure is taken off And from hence it appears that Air may be generated by repeated Turns and Reciprocations and that it is more slowly generated in compress'd than in free Air it usually yielding all that it will in two or three Days time EXPERIMENT VIII Artificial Air. July 30. 77. HAving included Plums and Apricocks cut asunder in a Receiver Plums and Apricocks I press'd so much Artificial Air of Cherries into them as rais'd 64 Digits of Mercury August 1. They yielded no Air but became Yellow as if too ripe August 3. The Mercury was rais'd a little higher and a whole Apricock appear'd full of Drops of Water August 7. The whole Apricock grew softer and the Mercurial Cylinder 59 Inches taller than it's usual Length August 8 It was 61 Digits high August 9 It was 65 Digits high August 10 It was 71 Digits high August 11 It was 74 Digits high April13 It was 78 Digits high April14 It was 80 Digits high April15 It was 80 Digits high April16 And till the 22 th it rested at the same height The 24th it was 77 Inches high On the 29th I open'd the Receiver and found that the Fruit was well Colour'd and smell'd Sub-acid the Flesh being Spongeous It emitted several Bubbles when first it was freed from the ambient Pressure Common Air. July 30. 77. The same Fruit being conveyed into a Receiver with Common Air some being cut and others whole July 31. The Mercury was rais'd 8 Inches high August 1. At six a Clock in the Evening the Mercury was rais'd 20 Inches August 3. The Fruit was much more firm than those Included with Artificial Air. The Mercury was rais'd to 35 Inches August 4. The Mercurial Cylinder was rais'd to 42 Inches August 6. The Apricock appear'd unalter'd The Mercury stood at 57 Inches Aug. 7 It was 81 Digits high Aug. 8 It was 95 Digits high Aug. 9 It was 113 Digits high Aug. 10 It was 124 Digits high The Apricock began to turn Yellow But did not in the least appear Moist Aug. 11 It was 131 Digits high Aug. 13 It was 157 Digits high Aug. 14 It was 163 Digits high Aug. 15 It was 171 Digits high Aug. 16 It was 171 Digits high Aug. 17 And for some time after it stood at the same height Aug. 27 It was 182 Inches high Aug. 29 The Receiver being open'd the Apricocks were more Acid and less grateful to the Taste than those in factitious Air The Pulp was well Colour'd but Spongy they yielded Bubbles as the others did From this Experiment we may be induced to think that the Artificial Air hindr'd the Apricock enclos'd with them from yielding Air yet it enriches their Colour and Firmness and is good to preserve their Taste EXPERIMENT VIII Grapes without Spirit of Wine AN Ounce and an half of unripe Grapes bruis'd being enclos'd in a Receiver capable of holding 10 Ounces of Water Oct. 11 The Ascent of the Mercury was small Oct. 12 The Ascent
exprimit per Tubum C. D. primum quidem vehementius subinde remissius prout Aeris vis elastica sensim conquescit Hoc idem quod de Aere intra Vas comprimendo ad aquam evibrandum comminisci placuit servatâ analogiâ dicendum est de Aere tum conatu manûs rectâ trusillum impellentis tum ope Cochleae similiter conformatae intra conceptaculum comprimendo ut ex fistula deinde multa vi emittatur plumbea Glans ubi reseratus Aeri exitus illum subito dilatari permiserit Quin Pneumatica hujusmodi tormenta citra conceptaculum Aeris compressi construere non inutile accidat si quemadmodum nostrates pueri surculos sambuceos fungosa medulla exhauriunt utraque Tubuli extremitate papyraceis Globulis obstructa alterum Globulum congruo Cylindro propellunt atque inclusum Aerem densant quoad Aeris vim elasticam impellentis manûs Conatum non ferens extremus alter Globulus edito scloppo expellatur ita ferream fistulam longiorem paraveris cujus alteri extremitati immittatur plumbea Glans obducta papyro aut simili Materia ut exquisitè Tubi osculum implens demum universam Aeris vim excipiat alteram extremitatem aliquot Spiris ambiat cava Cochlea quam impleat Cylindrus ferreus in congruentem Cochleam deformatus si enim hujusmodi Cylindrus vis brevior fuerit quam fistula apto Manubrio convolutus in fistulam sensim immittatur totum Aerem quo fistula replebatur ad exiguas spatii angustias adiget ex quibus magna vi demum qua data porta erumpens ejacul abitur plumbeum Globulum Casati Mechanicorum Lib. 8. Cap. 5. p. 792. 793. c. TITTLE V. Of the Magnetical Particles in the Air. TITLE VI. Of the Destruction Generation Absorpsion and Extrication of the Air. Concerning the Production of the Air. AIr being a body not only concern'd in agreat many Phenomena of Nature but likewise so necessary to the Preservation of Animals Is thought it of no small use to thy whether it might be Artificially prepar'd and obtain'd from Bodies which seem'd not at all to abound with Air for could it be done it would not only be considerable in helping to explain several Phaenomena of Nature but to preserve Divers much longer under Water To try therefore whether it might be effected and whether that which seem'd to be Air were truly so I made use of the following Experiments taking a durable Springiness or Elasticity as the Criterion by which I should judge whether the Air generated were Genuine or not EXPERIMENT I. Jan. 17. Air generated by a mixture of Oyl of Vitriol and Filings of Steel FIlings of Steel and a conveniently shap'd Glass which contain'd Oyl of Vitriol and was seal'd at both Ends but with a Hole open'd near one of them were coveigh'd into a long and large Tube so much Water being put in with them as was sufficient to dilute the Oyl This being done and the External Tube and the Water exhausted till the Mercury in the Gage was so far rais'd in the open Leg that little remain'd in the seal'd Leg we clos'd up the External Tube exactly and observ'd that when the Oyl was caus'd to run out of the internal Tube by acting upon the Metal it caus'd several Bubbles and a sensible Heat when this Conflict had continu'd some time so much Air was generated as depress'd the Mercury in the open Leg down to the Bottom and rais'd it so much in the other that the Air above it was more compress'd than when the Atmosphere had free Liberty to press against it The Spring of this newly produc'd Air was so strong and durable as to keep the Mercury at â—he same height 3 or 4 Days and some Days after a Boy having heedlesly remov'd the Tube from its usual Station the Mercury in the Gage ascended an Inch and a half at which Height it continu'd till the 25th of January EXPERIMENT II. March 8. Flower moisten'd with Water A Glass Viol which was large enough to hold a Pint was fill'd with Flower of Wheat drench'd with Water and the Orifice being clos'd with a Cork and strong Cement after the Glass had been placed 13 Days in a warm Place it was burst by the Violent expansion of the included Matter tho' the Night before part of the Glass below seem'd empty The Taste of the included Matter seem'd to me only a little sowrish but to another manifestly acid EXPERIMENT III. March 9. Raisins included in Vacuo with Water BRuised Raisins with a little Water being put into a Bolt-head when it was exhausted I plac'd it in a warm Place In four Days no Air was generated but some time after the Bolt-head was burst in pieces and the Raisins thrown about EXPERIMENT IV. Feb. 22. A Glass which would hold about 3 Pound of Water having a sufficient Quantity of Raisins put into the Water a Bladder was ty'd to the Neck of it which had all the Air squeez'd out and in two Days time it was so fill'd with Air that we could not tye it up without losing some of the Water EXPERIMENT V. April 28. SPirit of Salt and Filings of Steel being put into a wide mouth'd Glass we cover'd it with a Receiver fitted with an Eel-Skin and a Wire to the latter of which a thin Glass Vessel was ty'd hermetically seal'd at the Bottom and furnish'd with a sufficient Quantity of Filings of Copper This being done and the Receiver exhausted we thrust the Glass which contain'd the Filings against the Bottom of the Viol and broke it off whereupon the Filings falling into the Menstruum a considerable number of Bubbles were generated The Viol being kept ¼ of an Hour longer in Vacuo the Liquor acquir'd not the least Greenness EXPERIMENT VI. Air shut up in Oyl of Turpentine and Spring Water A Bubble of Air about the Size of a Pea being left at the Top of a round Viol with a long narrow Neck the Cavity of it being fill'd with fine Oyl of Turpentine and then inverted into a Viol fill'd with the same Liquor Another Viol which had a Bubble in the Top was fill'd with Alcohol of Wine and inverted it into the the same Liquor On the sixth Day the Bubble in the Oyl disappear'd and on the seventh that in the Spirit of Wine vanish'd EXPERIMENT VII May 23. Frog 's Spawn A Receiver which had been three Years exhausted was open'd and a black opacous Liquor which we judg'd to be Frog's Spawn which was contain'd in a Viol being taken out was of a stinking Smell but not mouldy It had yielded some Air. EXPERIMENT VIII IT is observ'd that when Miners meet with running Waters under Ground they are by those supply'd with Air enough for Respiration tho' it is observ'd that standing Waters do not afford Air. Experiments about the Production of Air and the Examining thereof propos'd Sect. I. To produce Air by Fermentation in Receivers exactly clos'd and in
those Vapours which Swim in our Atmosphere A Transparent Liquor may yield a Liquor Diaphanous and another Opacous Having said thus much of Fluidity it may not be amiss to subjoyn one Experiment which shews how a transparent Liquor may be divided into two the one Diaphanous and the other Opacous Pour into a warm Solution of an Ounce of Quicksilver with a double Quantity of Aqua Fortis about half an Ounce or an Ounce of Filings of Lead being cautious that it be not put in so fast as to make the Liquor Boyl over the Event of which will be that the Lead will be immediately precipitated in the Form of a white Powder the Mercury running together again into a Fluid Body immersed in the Aqua Fortis And here it is to be noted that if the success of this Experiment be frustrated the Mercury may by degrees be again recovered if the white Precipitate be diligently ground for some time with Water Motion in the Parts of some Consistent Bodies But to put a Conclusion to this Chapter it is highly probable that not only Fluid but some consistent Bodies have their Parts in a certain degree of Motion whence as we may conjecture proceeds that Dust which is the Effect of Putrefaction in some sorts of Wood And it is not absurd to imagine that from hence Worms in Fruit as well as Magots in Cheese derive their Original And that there is Motion amongst the Parts of some consistent Bodies is further made probable both by that Turpentine which I have observed to Sweat out of Deal Boards and the growth and increase of the Bones and other consistent Parts of Bodies but more particularly in those of colder Animal Substances as Oyster-Shells Crabs-Claws and such like consistent Substances Having said thus much concerning Fluidity it might not be improper to take notice how by the Mixture of Liquids their Fluidity is sometimes promoted and also sometimes destroyed But since we shall have occasion sometime or other in the following Chapter to make such Observations I shall to close this Chapter add an Experiment which may intimate that the event of Mixtures is not always certain The Experiment is the following We Evaporated a Solution of Copper in Spirit of Nitre from whence we obtained a Vitriol of a lovely Colour We likewise dissolved one Part of good Tin in a double Quantity of Spirit of Nitre and tho' Salt-Petre as well as Tin be both Fusible yet this Metalline Mixture would neither melt on quick Coals nor in a red hot Crucible Whereas the Vitriol of Copper would melt with the heat of ones Hand though the Metalline Ingredients be much more hard to be brought to Fusion than Lead or even Silver it self and we have sometimes obtained such a Vitriol as might be preserved in a Fluid Form by the Languid heat of the Sun in Winter either with Spirit of Nitre or a certain Aqua Fortis From whence it appears that the Textures of Compositions are to be considered as well as the Particular Consistence of the Ingredients CHAP. XII Experiments concerning the Superficial Figures of Fluids Especially of Liquors Contiguous to other Liquors COnsidering that the greatest Part of the Universe is made of Fluid Bodies especially if according to the Cartesian Hypothesis the Sun and fixt Stars consist of Fluids it may not be amiss to illustrate what we have only hinted at in the foregoing Chapter For the following Experiments made about the superficial Figures of Fluid Bodies may not a little contribute to illustrate as well what hath been before delivered as what hath been said concerning the Pores of Fluid Bodies besides they may be of no small use in accounting for several Phaenomena belonging to the Grand System of the World EXPERIMENT I. and II. The Figure of the Surface of a Nitrous Liquor To try whether the concave Surface of Fluids contained in a Pipe was wholly to be attributed to the Pressure of the Contiguous Air I poured Dephlegmed Spirit of Wine upon a strong Alkalizate Menstrum which was made of fixed Nitre run per deliquium in a moist Celler and contained in a Cylinder of Glass of about a quarter of an Inch Diameter I found that the Menstrum changed it's concave for a horizontal Superficies and the like succeeded in a Glass of a much greater Diameter And that Superficial Cavity was likewise almost destroyed by pouring on Oyl of Turpentine instead of Spirit of Wine EXPERIMENT III. Of Water If instead of the former Liquor common Water was put into the Glass Cylinder it retained it's former Surface tho' Oyl of Turpentine Swam upon it instead of Spirit of Wine EXPERIMENT IV. To try what Surface would be made by an Oyl heavier than Water Of Oyl of Turpentine by being contiguous to it I put pure Oyl of Turpentine into a Glass Cylinder and found that the Concave Superficies which it had whilst the Air was Contiguous became Convex and protuberant upon an Affusion of Water EXPERIMENT V. The Superficies of a Solution of Tartar c. Again having put Salt of Tartar deliquated into a Glass Cylinder and poured Oyl of Guajacum upon it we found that the Concave Superficies was not altred as it was by Oyl of Turpentine And having gently poured Water upon these two the Oyl of Guajacum Swam betwixt the Water and the Oyl of Tartar having a Convex Superficies at each end that next the Oyl of Tartar being most protuberant EXPERIMENT VI. Of Oyl of Cloves Having likewise put Oyl of Cloves into a Glass Cylinder by pouring Water upon it it 's Concave Superficies presently became Convex and this Oyl being too heavy to Swim upon Water we poured some of it upon Deliquated Salt of Tartar pouring upon it likewise a little common Water which being done we found the Oyl Protuberant at both Ends but more at that which was Contiguous to the Water EXPERIMENT VII Again having put a considerable Quantity of Quicksilver into a Pipe of the same Diameter Of Quicksilver but much longer than the former we found that the Superficies of it which was otherwise considerably Protuberant was in some measure Depress'd when Water instead of Air was Contiguous to it EXPERIMENT VIII Of the same Upon tryal whether a greater or less Quantity of Water would alter the Surface of the Mercury I found that the greater the Quantity of Water was the more it was depressed tho' it did not always succeed But when the Cylinder being of a considerable length was filled with Water the Mercury Contiguous to the Glass was depressed to a Level having in the Center of its Superficies a Protuberance Semicircular and raised above the other level Surface half it's Diameter which Protuberance gradually subsided as the Mercury was drawn off EXPERIMENT IX The Surface of Liquors in Vacuo Boyliano Having conveighed two of the afore-mentioned Cylinders one containing Water and the other Mercury into our Pneumatical Receiver
compared with that of common Water will shew what Quantity of Mineral Substance the Water hath dissolv'd in it and whether Metalline or more Volatile as it is heavier or lighter where we are to observe that Mineral Waters are sometimes lighter than common Water partly because they are impregnated with Volatile Parts and partly because they are void of Saline Parts which makes common Water something heavier But to discover the different Weight of several Mineral Waters I caus'd a Glass-Viol with a flat Bottom and a long Neck three Inches long to be blown which was so light as to weigh but ʒvi + 42 Grains tho' it was capable of containing ℥ iij ss and 43 Grains of Water which made it more proper for a Nice Ballance by which I found the following Mineral Waters to differ thus in Weight Waters Ounces Drachms Grains Common 3 4 43 Common distill'd 3 4 41 Acton 3 4 48 ½ Epsom 3 4 51 Dulwich 3 4 54 Staton 3 4 55 Barnet 3 4 52 North-Hall 3 4 50 German-Spaw 3 4 40 Tunbridge 3 4 38 Islington from the Musick-House 3 4 36 Islington from the Vault with Steps 3 4 39 Islington from the Cellar 3 4 39 3. Of their different Degrees of Transparency or Opacity 4. Whether without being exposed to the Air it will afford a Pracipitate By which Observation the different Soils through which they pass will not only be discover'd but hence we may learn to distinguish such from the true Caput Mortuum of the Water German Spaw Water yielded a good Quantity of yellowish Oker N. B. the Water so try'd must not be expos'd to the Air for if it be the Air will precipitate a considerable Quantity of Matter in most Waters 5. What Microscopes can discover in Mineral Waters N. B. those moving Corpuscles discernible in a Solution of Pepper c. in Water are Animalcula and not Portions of Inanimate Matter which swim up and down such Liquors which is apparent if those little Animals be touch'd with Spirit of Salt for being kill'd by it they move much more slowly 6. Whether there be any variety of Colours in several Mineral Waters 7. Of their different Odours These are to be perceiv'd at the Spring-Heads where not only a Bituminous and Sulphurious Smell may easily be perceiv'd but I am inform'd that there is a Mineral Spring in France which hath a manifest vinous Odour 8. Concerning the different Tastes of Mineral Waters 9. Whether taking it up or keeping it stop'd or unstop'd or whether freezing or thawing it will alter the Colour Smell or Transparency of it For tho' some Waters retain their Purgative Virtue a good while yet I have observ'd an Exhalation of some fugitive Parts from those which are lighter than Water and abound with Spirituous Parts so that tho' they were carry'd but a little way from the Fountain they presently lost their Power of turning a Tincture of Galls into a Purple and instead of that turn'd it red and even the Strongest Waters if kept unstopp'd or not kept close presently lose that Property 10. Concerning the different Consistency of such Waters 11. Whether they be more apt to Expansion and Condensation or Heat and Coldness than Common Water 12. Whether they are apt to Putrify and how soon and what Phaenomena they afford 13. What Alteration in Colours ensues the Mixture of Astringent Juices with them as also their Mixture with several Juices of the Body N. B. in trying of Mineral Waters it is usual to make use of a Tincture of Galls without considering the Alterations which may be made in the Tryal by an Uncertain Proportion of Galls Wherefore I usually make use of a settled Proportion as 5 Grains to an Ounce tho' Mineral Waters may be try'd with much more Expedition and Certainty by making use of the Powder it self suspending about three Grains of Powder in an Ounce of the Waters and I have found by Experience that so small a Quantity as a Grain hath given German Spaw-Water a deep Purple Colour But it is not always necessary to make use of Galls in such Tryals since Rose Leaves or the Flowers and Bark of Pomgranates will have much the same Effect affording a Cloudy and Blackish Tincture And it is further to be noted That I made it one Part of this Quaere what Colours would be produc'd by a Mixture of Mineral Waters with Animal Juices because I have observ'd the Root of the Tongue sometimes Blackish upon the taking of Large Doses But to return to what I have observ'd concerning the trying of Mineral Waters by an Infusion of Galls I not only doubt whether all Martial Waters will turn a Tincture of Galls black but whether all liquors which will are to be esteem'd Martial for I have found that a Mineral of a Different Nature from Steel would give it a Black Colour and that a Liquor which was a Preparation of Steel would not which induc'd me to think that such a Tincture was rather the Effect of some Acid Fumes which had work'd on the Mars with which those Mineral Waters are Impregnated To which it may be added That I have found that if a Vitriolate Water be impregnated with Copper instead of Iron instead of turning a Tincture of Galls Blackish it only would render it Muddy and Thick And I had a sort of white Earth which I found by Tryals to be Lead that would turn a Tincture of Galls Blackish tho' it was altoger void of Martial Parts and probably would have very bad Effects if taken inwardly To which I might further add That a Tincture of Gold in Aqua fortis likewise turn'd an Infusion of Galls Black And those Observations I have been the willinger to lay down because tho' I would not be thought by them to slight the Use of Galls in such Tryals yet I would thence urge them to make such Tryals to be more warily made Observations requisite in Trying Mineral Waters And because it may be of some Use to observe the different Colours exhibited by such Tryals I shall add the following Considerations as Requisite to be thought on by him who designs to make such Experiments 1. That he ought to observe the Changes of Colours made by such Tinctures in a good Light which may help a Curious Observer to distinguish what Minerals such Tinctures are impregnated with 2. It way be of Use to vary the Shades of Colours produc'd by Mineral Waters either by dropping such Waters upon Paper whose Pores are saturated with Vitriol powder'd or ting'd with a Decoction of Log-wood Several Variations in Colours may be also made by dropping other Medicinal Liquors either into the Mineral Waters or the Infusion of Galls before Mixture or after 3. I would recommend for such Tryals not only the Parts of Astringent Plants but also Animal and especially Mineral Substances For besides the Astringents I have contriv'd a certain Substance which would not only turn a Vitriol Water impregnated with Iron
Receiver upon the Exsuction of the Air we observ'd that the Air which was contain'd in the Cavity of the Viol was so far expanded that tho' the Viol was able to contain above five Drachms of Water if filled and distended the empty Bladder which was large enough to hold five Ounces and half a Drachm In which Experiment the expanded Air possessed nine times as much space as it did before Expansion But to measure the Air 's Expansion more nicely we fix'd a Glass Bubble to one end of a Cylindrical Pipe hermetically sealed the Diameter of whose Bore was about a quarter of an Inch and having pasted a Piece of Parchment upon the outside of the Tube which was divided into twenty six equal Parts and mark'd with black Lines we fill'd the Cylinder almost full of Water so that after a few Tryals by inverting the Cylinder and stopping the open End with one's Finger we could perceive that as much Air might be permitted to rise up to the Bubble as was equal in Extension to the Breadth of one of those twenty six Divisions When this was done we fitted the open end of the Cylinder to a Glass Viol which was fill'd with Water to the Height of half an Inch all which being put together into a Pneumatical Receiver after a few Exsuctions the included Air was so much expanded as to extend it self to the Surface of the Water in which Experiment the expanded Air took up thirty one times as much Space as before And this Experiment being repeated in a Cylinder which afforded a larger space for the Air 's Expansion it took up above sixty times the space it did before And repeating the like Experiment with a Glass Pipe thirty Inches long part of it having a Hole in the Cover to stand out through by weighing the Water in a nice Pair of Scales together with the Pipe first with the Bubble of Air included and after when the Tube was wholly filled with Water we found That the Air which possessed but the Space of one Grain of Water had been expanded in the exhausted Receiver so much by its own 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as to take up 152 times its Space before Extension And since Marcennus affirms That the Air may be so expanded by Heat as to take up seventy times its Space I conveyed a Cylinder of the former Magnitude into the Receiver and found That upon the Exsuction of the Air in the Receiver that in the Cylinder descended down almost to the bottom of it the lower Surface of it being very convex and seeming several times to knock upon and rebound from the bottom of the Viol which was an Argument of the expansive Force of the Air since the Water it depressed upon the drawing out of the Air was much below the Surface of the Water contain'd in the Viol. EXPERIMENT VII What Figure best resists the Pressure of the AIR HAVING got a thin Glass Bubble which was large enough to hold about five Ounces of Water to which was fix'd a slender Neck about the Bigness of a Swan's Quill we moderately exhausted the Air out of the Receiver and then taking it out of the Pump we joyn'd the Neck of the Bubble to the lower Orifice of the Receiver stopping the Crannies with melted Plaster to prevent the Ingress of the Air and tho' the Glass was as thin as Paper yet upon turning the Key of the Stop-Cock and giving the Air included in the Bubble Liberty to expand the Bubble sustained the Pressure of the whole Atmosphere without being broke EXPERIMENT VIII The former Experiment illustrated WE took a Glass Alembick which was large enough to hold about Three Pints represented by the Seventh Figure The Rostrum E being hermetically closed In the Top of the Rostrum was a Hole into which one of the shanks of a Stop-Cock of an ordinary size was cemented the other being fixed with Cement in the upper Part of the Pump which being done and the upper Orifice of the Alembick being covered close with a Plate of Lead exactly adapted to it upon drawing the Air out of the Receiver the Glass presently cracked which Crack is represented by the Line a b and this Flaw extended it self further accordingly as the Air was more exhausted yet this Glass Vessel was near twenty times thicker than the Bubble And that the Figure of the former Glass enabled it so much better to sustain the Atmosphere was further confirmed by suspending one of the Bubbles hermetically sealed in the Receiver which so strongly resisted the Expansion of the Air contained in it as to continue whole when the Receiver was exhausted EXPERIMENT IX A Confirmation of the former Experiment An Experiment to shew that these Phaenomena exhibited in Vacuo Boyliano proceed not from a fuga Vacui c. A Confirmation of the former Experiment c. HAving put the end of a slender Glass Pipe into a Viol which was large enough to contain four Ounces of Water and fixed it to the Neck of the Viol with a Cement of Rosin and Pitch so that the end of the Pipe almost touched the bottom of the Viol as in Fig. 6 this Viol was conveighed into a small Receiver as much Water being put into it as wrought a little above the bottom of the Cylinder the upper End of the Pipe being most of it without the Vessel a Hole having been purposely made for it in the Top of the Receiver The Event of which Tryal was that upon drawing the Air out of the Pump the Weight of the Atmosphere internally pressing into the Pipe and the Spring of the Air within the Receiver not equally pressing against the sides of the Bottle which were exposed to it a Piece of the Bottle burst out of the side of it with such a Force as to crack the Receiver in several Places and having reiterated the Experiment with a round Glass Bubble the Leaden Cover of the Receiver was not only depressed by the Weight of the Atmosphere so as to thrust out one side of the Receiver but the Glass Bubble was cracked into Pieces with such violence as to tear a Bladder which it was encompassed with to keep it from breaking the Receiver in several Places Before I proceed to the next Experiment it may be requisite to advertise That though the larger Receivers are apt upon some Tryals to crack yet they are not rendered altogether useless since when the Air begins to be exhausted the ambient Atmosphere compresses the Lips of the Glass closer together But if the Crack be considerable it may be cemented with a Plaster made of Quick-lime and Scrapings of Cheese ground together very finely in a Mortar and made into a Paste with a little Water which being spread upon a Cloath about three Inches broad must be apply'd to the Crack EXPERIMENT X. Of the Flame of a Candle in a Receiver HAVING suspended a Tallow Candle in our Receiver we found That upon an Exsuction of
fill'd so full as not to admit of any Air betwixt the Finger and the Mercury Thirdly before the Tube is quite fill'd it will be requisite to invert the Tube that the Air included in it may by ascending to the Top and upon a Re-inversion back again gather all those little Bubbles of Air which are dispers'd through the Mercury as it passes from one end of the Cylinder to another and to drain the Mercury more exactly you may by applying a hot Iron cause those less Bubbles which are not excluded by the former Method to break forth which will be promoted by shaking the Vessel upon every Drop of Mercury put into the Pipe By which Method having in a great Measure clear'd the Tube of Air I have in one that was pretty short rais'd the Mercury to no less than 30 Digits and an eighth EXPERIEMINT XVIII The Variation of the Rise of the Mercury in the Glass-Cylinder and the Reason of it consider'd HAving fill'd a Tube about 3 foot long with Mercury and plac'd it in a wooden Frame in the Window I observ'd the Mercury was sensibly depress'd in hot Weather by the Expansion of the Air which swam about it and rais'd again in Cold the Altitude very often varying without any manifest Cause So that in five Weeks time it had ascended and descended about two Inches the utmost descent below the Altitude of it's first Suspension being 9 16 of an Inch and it 's utmost Descent being 7 16 and it is not improbable but that the Variation of the Altitude of the Mercury would have been more considerable had the Experiment been try'd in a longer Tube and in the open Air. And here it may be seasonable to take notice that could there be any sensible Variation observ'd in the Altitude of the Mereury upon the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea it would be of no small Moment in determining whether the Pressure made upon the Air by the Moon were any ways concern'd in causing the Ebbing and Flowing of it and such like Phaenomena But to return to what we observ'd further Having taken the Cylindrical Tube out of the wooden Frame on a snowy day we observ'd that the Mercury was rais'd Twenty nine Digits and three Quarters above the Basis which it lean'd on If it should be ask'd from whence these Variations in the Altitude of the Mercury proceeded I shall offer the following Considerations The Reasons why Mercury is not always equally suspended First That the Air above the Mercury being very weak and not able to make any strong Resistance to the Rising Mercury it may be esteem'd a Cause why it rises no higher because the Asmosphere is able to sustain no more of it forasmuch as the Mercury and the Atmosphere are ballanc'd in an Aequilibrium for the Resistance which the Air above the Mercury can make is so small that it would rise but very little higher were there none at all in the Top of the Tube Secondly We may consider that the External Air is subject to many more Alterations and Changes than the Internal contain'd in the Top of the Tube the latter being subject to be wrought on only by Heat and Cold But the former is subject to many and considerable Alterations besides those observable in this Experiment the Effect of its fainter Changes being evident by their Effects on bruis'd and feeble Bodies And that there are considerable Changes in the Air Considerable Changes in the Qualities of the Air. is further evident from what Kircherus during his Stay in Malta observes concerning Mount Aetna which he could see from that place on some days tho' on others which seem'd clear the Air was so condensed that he could not discern it and thet the like Changes of the Air have sensibly alter'd the Prospects of several Places is too commonly known to need further Instances And we our selves have often taken Notice of plentiful Steams and Exhalations in the Air by the use of Telescopes which could not otherwise be taken notice of which after a Showr of Rain would presently disappear And that such Steams do rise from the Earth hath been observ'd by Miners who are often too sensible of Damps which except timely prevented make the Air so thick and muddy as to put out their very Candles And that the Thickness of the Air may contribute to the raising of the Mercury in the Pipe appears from what hath been before observ'd in the Torrecellian Experiment And since the External Air is liable to be alter'd so many ways by the Mixture of insensible Corpuscles of Matter its Rarity and Density are sufficient to account for the several Variations in the Height of the suspended Mercury since accordingly as the Air is Rarifi'd its Pressure in Bodying up the Mercury must accordingly be varied EXPERIMENT XIX The subsiding of a small Cylinder of Water TO try whether a Cylinder of Water would subside in our Receiver as the Cylinder of Mercury did we fill'd a Cylinder of four foot long with it which being inverted and the lower end placed in a Glass Vessel we let it down in the Receiver and closed it up which being done and the Pump set on work we found that it did not in the least subside till such a Quantity of Air was exhausted as to leave the included Air so much weaken'd in its Spring as to be work'd upon and over-power'd by the weight of the Water and then upon every Suction it sensibly subsided tho' not so much as the Quicksilver for whereas the Quicksilver subsided till it fell within an Inch of the Basis the expanded Air remaining in the Receiver was able to bear up the Water a Foot high But the Experiment being try'd in a small Receiver the Quantity of Air included in that coming nearer to an Aequilibrium with the Cylinder of Water it sensibly subsided upon the first Exsuction and much lower upon the second and sometimes not much less than two foot and the Water in this as well as the former upon a reingress of Air rose to the Top of the Cylinder but with more Speed than the former EXPERIMENT XX. Conceening the Elater of Water TO evince that Water hath besides a notable one a languid Elater we fill'd a Glass Bubble with a long Neck term'd by the Chymists a Phylosophical Egg about a Span above the Bubble with Water where fixing a piece of Paper we conveigh'd it into the Receiver and found that after part of the Air was pump'd out the Water sensibly rose upon every Exsuction the breadth of a Barly-Corn and upon the ingress of the Air presently subsided to its former place Another Instance of the Air 's Expansion I obtain'd by filling a round Pewter Vessel with Water at a small Hole which being stop'd with Soder and the Vessel bruis'd in several places to compress the Water the Vessel being perforated with a Needle it spun out with Force enough to raise it a considerable height
into the Air. EXPERIMENT XXI Concerning the same HAving fill'd a Glass Viol with Water which contained something above a Pound I took a Glass Pipe about as thick as a Goose Quill and having put one End of it into the Neck of the Bottle and clos'd it with Cement I fill'd the Pipe half full with Water sticking a piece of Paper at the Superficies of the Water on the outside of the Pipe which being plac'd in the Pump after the Air had been pump'd a while above sixty Bubbles of Water as big as Pease rose out of the Water one after another and the Water in the Bottle so far expanded as to rise quite up to the Top of the Pipe and being permitted to subside several Bubbles of Air rose out of it afresh as soon as it renew'd its Expansion as before but upon a reingress of the Air it presently subsided almost to the Bottom of the Pipe Besides which the following Phaenomena were observable First That those Bubbles which ascended last were much larger than the former either because their Parts were more expanded than before or because more Bubbles of Air were united together but whatever was the Cause of it we observ'd that they ascended much slower than before Another thing to be observ'd was that tho' Bubbles are usually wont to rise above the Surface of the Water encompass'd with a thin Film yet in this Tube the Surface of the Water being Convex the less protuberant Parts of the Bubble were covered with Water Another Observation which occurr'd was that whereas those Bubbles which rose at the Beginning of the Operation divided the Water which they pass'd through in their Ascent these latter expanded Bubbles filling up the Cavity of the Cylinder in their Passage rais'd the Water before them till the Air was again permitted to re-enter the Receiver and then they wholly disappeared From which Observations it may Naturally be inferr'd First Bodies under Water may be press'd upon by the Atmosphere as well as incumbent Water Secondly It cannot be hence inferr'd that the Intumescence of the Water proceeded from any Elasticity in it since it might more probably proceed from the Elasticity of the Air lodg'd in the Pores of the Water And to make it probable that those Bubbles proceeded from small Particles of Air dispers'd through the Pores of the Water and not from any spirituous Parts of the Liquor expanded I shall subjoyn the following Experiment EXPERIMENT XXII The Bubbles prov'd to be Aerious and not Watery by observing the like Bubbles in î Mercury To which is subjoyn'd a Digression whether the Air is generated de Novo c. THO' it be generally alledg'd that the Bubbles which rise in the Cylindrical Tube in the foregoing Nineteenth Experiment are Particles of Water expanded upon a Diminution of the Incumbent Weight of the Air Yet I am apter to believe them really Parts of Air dispers'd through the Water because upon the re-entring of the Air the Water was not impell'd quite to the Top but was depress'd by the Air lodg'd above it almost an Inch which being collected together was able to resist the Pressure of the Air. The Bubbles which rise in Water Aerial proved But in order to a further Discovery whether the aforesaid Bubbles were Water or not We try'd the Nineteenth Experiment in a small Receiver and upon drawing out the Air the Water subsided upon which several Bubbles rising to the Top of the Cylinder prevented the Rising of the Water half an Inch being possess'd by the Bubbles of the Air collected at the Top of the Cylinder And we were further perswaded that those Bubbles were Aerial because the Air being a second time exhausted the Water contain'd in the Tube was by the Spring of that Air contain'd in the Cylinder depress'd below the Surface of the Water which was without the Tube having a Convex Superficies as Water expos'd to Air in such Tubes usually hath but rather more protuberant And to demonstrate that those Bubbles were really made up of Aerial Particles when the Air was almost exhausted and the Water had subsided near as low as the external Water by applying Water to the Tube which contain'd the Air we observ'd that it was so far expanded as to depress the Water down to the Bottom of the Tube several Inches below the External Water So that the Air which was before expanded to near a hundred times it's extent was capable of being further expanded by Heat But I was yet further confirm'd in my Opinion that those Bubbles were nothing but Air lodg'd in the Pores of the Water because the Air being exhausted out of the Receiver the subsiding Water yielded not Bubbles as before except a few small ones when it was near pump'd out And what I took for a stronger Argument was that the same Experiment being try'd with Mercury several Bubbles likewise rose to the Top of the Cylinder and the Mercury subsiding a second time upon the Exsuction of the Air several Bubbles appear'd in the Bottom of the Cylinder which grew bigger and bigger as the Surface of the Mercury descended lower From whence it appear'd that a Body The Expansion of Water depends on the Elater of the Air lodg'd in its Pores more ponderous than Water might contain Aerial Particles in it's Pores capable of expanding themselves when the Cause of their Compression is taken away so that we have Reason to believe that the Intumescence of the Water not only in these Experiments but also the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Water contain'd in the Pewter Globe before mention'd proceeded from the Expansion of the Aerial Particles contain'd in the Pores of the Water rather than from any Elasticity in the Water it self These things being premis'd it would be a Matter of some Importance and of no small Consequence Whether Air be a primogeneal bedy or not to determine whether what we have said of the Air be true to consider whether Air be really a Primogenial Body and inconvertible into Water and Vice versâ or not But it being as difficult as requisite we shall rather chuse to offer what may be urg'd of either the Affirmative or the Negative And first in favour of the inaptitude of Air to be turn'd into Water or of Water into Air it may be urg'd that besides that it hath been the Opinion of several Philosophers it hath likewise been found impossible by Experience to effect such a Change in either of them And the diligent Schottus Mecham Hydraulicopneumat Part 3. Class 1. relates that in the Musaeum Kircherianum Water hath been hermetically seal'd in a Glass with a long Neck and kept there this forty Years without undergoing any Change Nor indeed do we perceive the least alteration in the Nature of Air Hermetically seal'd in Glasses for Chymical Uses tho' it may acquire several Degrees of Heat in them And it may very plainly be seen that tho' Water is divided into
Parts are checked by Cold. But leaving this plausible tho' not satisfactory Experiment I shall proceed to another which is this Having filled a Glass Bubble capable of containing about three Ounces with near equal Parts of Oyl of Vitriol and Water half a dozen Iron Nails being cast into it we stopp'd the Cylindrical Neck of the Tube with Diapalma so close as to exclude the Air altogether which being done we immers'd the Neck of this Bubble into a Glass Vessel full of the same Liquor and in a little time perceiv'd Bubbles to rise to the Top of it being rais'd by the Heat produced by the Action of the Oyl upon the Nails and this Air was so much increas'd in a little time as to depress the Water quite out of the Bubble into the Cylindrical Neck of it But lest that Pressure should be thought to proceed from the Agitation of those insensible Parts of Matter we observ'd That tho' the Vessels were expos'd to the Air for four days to give the Motion of the Parts time to cease had the Effect proceeded from them we observ'd That the Liquor all that time continued depressed the Space beforementioned being filled with Air. And what was worthy to be noted Upon a small degree of Heat approaching the Bubble the included Air was further dilated And the like Phaenomena succeeded upon a Tryal with Nails corroded in Aqua fortis From which Experiments it might be inferred That if Water be not convertible into Air yet it seems probable that it may be generated anew And that Air and Water are mutually convertible into each other might further be urg'd as nothing but what the Aristotelians teach and allow of But we shall rather urge That if what Democritus Lucippus and Epicurus together with other Naturalists teach be allow'd of viz. That the Qualities of Bodies depend on the different Figures Shapes and Textures of the Parts of Matter they consist of it will be reasonable enough to think That the Texture of the Parts of Water being alter'd they may acquire the several Qualities of Air since it is certain That the Parts of Matter may by a lucky Concourse of Causes become springy So Silver by being beaten with a Hammer acquires Springiness which it loses by being heated in the Fire and becomes flexible EXPERIMENT XXIII The Subject of the former Experiment prosecuted IN Prosecution of what was deliver'd in the foregoing Experiments We filled a Glass call'd a Philosophical Egg with common Water about a Foot and a half high it being large enough to contain about nine Ounces and the Diameter of the Neck being at the Top half an Inch and at the Bottom an Inch this being put into the Receiver and the Pump ply'd when the Air was pretty well exhausted several Bubbles rose to the Top and broke but all of them finding an easy Passage through the Water did not elevate it as when they ascended in a narrower Cylinder but upon an Admission of Air into the Receiver again the Water was sensibly depressed To try whether distilled Water was more subject to expand than common Water I put two Ounces of it into a Glass Bubble which wrought to the Middle of it's Neck but it neither swelled nor yielded Bubbles upon an Exsuction of the Air. But having put distilled Water into two distinct Philosophical Eggs the Neck of the former being straitned with a Glass Tube we plac'd them in the Receiver and found a manifest Difference upon the Exsuction of the Air for in that which was straitned the Air manifestly elevating the Water several Bubbles were gather'd about the bottom of the Glass Tube whereas in the other Egg the Water was not in the least elevated and though the Bubble in the last-mentioned disappear'd upon the Re-ingress of the Air those above the Tube continu'd visible only a little contracted for a considerable time the Surface of the Water which was before elevated being depressed lower than when first put into the Egg. And after a days time having again ply'd the Pump we observ'd That the Bubbles were so much drawn out before that we could scarce discern a Bubble in either but that in which the Cylindrical Tube was plac'd swell'd the Breadth of a Barly Corn tho' the other did not yet in the former upon a Re-ingress of Air it subsided again and whether that Swelling was caus'd by the Rarefaction of the Water or the Spring of some latent airy Parts is not easy to determine EXPERIMENT XXIV The former Experiments prosecuted with other Liquors HAVING put Sallad Oyl into a Glass about the Size of a Turkey's Egg whose Stem was near â…“ of an Inch in Diameter the Liquor reaching up to the Middle of the Stem we plac'd it in the Receiver together with the like Vessel fill'd to the same Height with Water and upon drawing out the Air the Bubbles were not only more copious than those of the Water but rose much sooner as well as longer continuing till the Pumper was quite tired with Pumping and what was very remarkable in this Experiment was that when the Oyl was put into the Receiver before the Receiver could be closed and the Pump put into Action it subsided near half an Inch in the Stem Having put Oyl of Turpentine into a Glass Bubble we observ'd That it afforded a good Quantity of Bubbles which expanded themselves in their Ascent and would sometimes raise the Oyl in the Tube so much as to make it run over But besides the foregoing we try'd the like Experiments with other Liquors amongst which a strong Solution of Salt of Tartar afforded very few Bubbles and those much later than other Liquors Spirit of Vinegar likewise yielded very few Red Wine afforded Bubbles pretty plentifully which chang'd Places by moving in an oblique Ascent and formed a sort of Froth near the Top which presently disappear'd Milk afforded plentiful Bubbles which elevated that Liquor more than common Water We likewise put Eggs into the Receiver to see whether the Substance contain'd in the Shells would break them leaving the Film within it whole as that Substance frozen had done but it succeeded not We put Spirit of Urine into a Glass Egg filling another up to the Middle of the Neck with common Water to which we added as much Spirit of Wine as rais'd it half an Inch higher and into a Glass which differ'd from the former only in having a flat Bottom we pour'd rectify'd Spirit of Wine till it rose to â…” of the Neck And the Edges of these three being mark'd we put them into a Receiver Upon the Exsuction of the Air the Mixture of Water and Spirit of Wine afforded very few Bubbles The Spirit of Urin swell'd near an Inch and a half above the Mark affording Store of Bubbles which formed a Froth upon which several larger Bubbles lay which were plac'd one above another to the Top of the Tube The Spirit of Wine afforded Bubbles till we were weary
of pumping which ascended very swiftly and immediately disappear'd at the Top first lifting up the Surface of that spirituous Liquor so as to form a thin Film And it was further observable That the Motion of these Bubbles in their Ascent was in a strait Line whereas those of the Water and Wine made a Line which on each side appear'd like the Teeth of a Saw And lastly in this Spirit we took Notice That the order which these Bubbles ascended in was in Lines parallel and of an Equal Distance from each other the Bubbles likewise following each other in such an order as to form a sort of Bracelet one end of which seem'd to rise from a certain Point at the Bottom of the Glass When Air return'd into the Receiver the Bubbles on the Spirit of Wine gradually subsided yet neither that nor the Mixture of Water and Spirit were depress'd below the Mark But the Spirit of Wine continu'd expanded near half an Inch which I found to succeed upon several Tryals EXPERIMENT XXV Concerning the Air 's Gravity and Expansion under Water HAving fill'd a Wide-mouth'd Jar with about half a Pint of Common Water we sunk two Glass-Viols whose Shape and Size is represented by the Eighth Figure one of which contain'd just so much of a Ponderous Mercurial Mixture as was requisite to sink it when cover'd with white Wax the other being weigh'd down by Water and the Mouths being downwards the Quantity of Water contain'd in the former filling three Parts of four of the Glass the Air contain'd in the latter being equal in Dimensions to a Pea. These being let down into the Receiver upon plying the Pump at the last so many Bubbles rose up to that which swam upon the Water as were able by expanding themselves to cause some of the Water to fly out and make the Viol emerge to the Top of the Water contain'd in the Jar where at every Exsuction it continu'd to expand till it was able to raise up the side of the Viol and in part to evacuate it self upon which it presently swam upon the Water as before and eight times after discharg'd a Bubble of Air about the Size of a Pea but when we permitted the Air to enter in again it presently subsided to the Bottom As for the other it continu'd at the Bottom all the while But some time after the Pump being ply'd it rais'd it self considerably but about sixty Parcels of Air as big as Peas finding vent and getting out it presently subsided tho' upon a further Expansion of the Air it rose again and subsided which successive Ascent and descent it continu'd Nine times after after the Pump ceas'd working but when the Air was again let in it was presently fix'd at the Bottom From which Experiment that Hydrostatical Rule That a Body will swim in the Water if it be lighter than its equal Proportion in Bulk will appear to be likewise true when the Weight of the Atmosphere is taken off EXPERIMENT XXVI Concerning the Vibrations of a Pendulum IT being usually taught That the Motion of a Pendulum is something quicker accordingly as the Medium it moves in is thinner we suspended one which weigh'd about twenty Drachms in our Receiver fixing it to the Cover by a piece of Silk and having fix'd another of an equal weight without the Receiver we gave them both an equal Motion and observ'd that whilst the Latter made twenty Vibrations the Former counted twenty but the Pendulum being afterwards put into Motion in the exhausted Receiver and likewise in the same Receiver before it was exhausted continu'd it's Vibrations to an equal space of Time in both so that from what we could observe the Difference of the Vibrations in Air and that more rarify'd Medium viz. the exhausted Receiver was scarce sensible EXPERIMENT XXVII Concerning the Propagation of Sounds IT hath been the receiv'd Opinion of the Schools That the Air is the Medium through which Sounds are conveigh'd But the Industrious Kircher having observ'd that if a Bell be fix'd in the upper end of a Tube and upon making the Experiment de Vacuo be left there a Load-stone apply'd to the side of the Tube will attract the Steel-clapper which upon a Removal of that Load-stone will fall upon the other side of the Bell and cause an Audible Sound He thence infers That the Medium through which Sounds are conveigh'd must be much more subtle than the Air. But to evince the contrary we suspended a Watch in our Receiver by a Packthred and observ'd That the Sound was not only audible at the sides of the Receiver but that that which was likewise perceiv'd by the Ear held near the Cover was different from that which we heard at the sides of the Receiver but the Air being drawn out we could not perceive the least Sound tho' the Motion of the Minutes assur'd us that the Pendulum continu'd it's Motion yet upon admitting of Air again into the Receiver the Sound was again renew'd which Experiment seems to evince that the Air is the Chief Medium through which Sounds are conveigh'd Yet it is not a little strange that so slight a Stroke as that of the Pendulum should give such an Impulse to the Ambient Air as to inable it to communicate a Motion to the sides of the Receiver strong enough to put the External Air into an Undulating Motion But having supported a Bell in the Middle of our Receiver by a large Stick which reach'd from one side to the other the Diameter of the Bell being about two Inches we observ'd that tho' the Sound in the Receiver was not equally as sharp as in the open Air yet there was no considerable Variation when the Air was drawn out which evinces that a subtler Medium than the Air is not altogether incapable of propagating Sounds no more than Air however in the foregoing Experiment try'd with a Bell suspended in a Glass-Tube it may not without Reason be suspected that the Cavity of the Tube was not wholly void of Air since Experience informs us that it is impossible to fill the Glass-Cylinder so as to keep the Upper Part of the Tube void of Air since the Aery Parts lodg'd in the Pores of the Mercury fly up into it And further on this Occasion to shew how far the Air is the Principal Medium of Sounds we might alledge that it was observable in a former Experiment that tho' upon the striking of Fire with the Lock of a Pistol in our Receiver the Sound is audible yet it is much more dead than when made in the open Air And the like Variation is observable in all other Sounds made in our Receiver EXPERIMENT XXVIII The Eruption of Bubbles from Water upon the removal of the Air. FOR a further Confirmation of what hath been deliver'd in the XXth Experiment viz. That the Air included in our Receiver makes as strong a Pressure upon Bodies encompass'd by it as if they were
last mention'd Experiment it appears that it is possible Even by Weights to measure how far Nature is dispos'd to prevent or fill Vacuities since a small difference in Weight determin'd by depressing or permitting the Sucker to rise how far Nature's Abhorrency of a Vacuum depended on the Causes we have so often mention'd But here it may be requisite to advertise that by Vacuities I do not mean Spaces altogether void of Matter but void of such as may be perceiv'd so that I take the Word Vacuum in the Common not the strict and Philosophical Sense of the Word But lastly from this XXXIII Experiment it appears that the Weight of the Atmosphere we live in is stronger than what Men usually think it is And probably near the Northern Pole it is much stronger Since if what Varenius observes the Air is so condens'd in Nova Zembla as to hinder the Motion of a Pendulum except moved by a heavier Weight than what is usually made use of in our Climate EXPERIMENT XXXIV Attempts to weigh light Bodies in our Receiver TO try whether the Aequilibrium of two Bodies of an equal Weight in the Air but of unequal Dimensions would be lost in our Receiver as it usually is in Water by Reason of a greater Quantity of Water buoying up against that whose Dimensions are most extensive I took a Bladder half full of Air and ty'd it to one end of our Balance which turns with the 32 part of a Grain which being counterpois'd with a Weight in the other Scale we let it down into the Receiver and having clos'd it up upon an Exsuction of the Air we found the Bladder to dilate and manifestly to preponderate but upon admitting the Air into the Receiver again the Bladder was over-pois'd by the Weight but leaving them in the Receiver all night the Bladder imbib'd so much of the External Moisture as to weigh that end of the Balance down a good way yet the Bladder being dry'd a little they were both brought to an Aequilibrium And the like Experiment we try'd with a piece of Cork instead of the Bladder and observ'd that the Receiver being Evacuated as well as upon a reingress of the Air the Cork manifestly preponderated EXPERIMENT XXXV Of the Cause of Filtration and the Rising of Water in the Syphons c. The Cause of Filtration TO try whether in Filtrations the rising of the Water might not proceed from the Impulse of the Air we made use of a Syphon of Glass represented by the Third Figure which is made of two strait Pieces and a crooked one which joyns the other two together the Junctures being well clos'd The longer Leg of the Syphon was pervious only at the small End so as to suffer the Water to pass through it but both the ends of the shorter Leg were equally pervious the Diameter of their Bore being ¼ of an Inch. The length of these two Pipes was about a Foot and a half that the Rarifi'd Air in the Receiver when it was pretty well exhausted might not raise the Water included in the Pipe too high The shorter Leg of the Syphon being immers'd two or three Inches in a Vessel of Water the other end was fastned to the Cover which things being done and the Receiver clos'd up we began to pump The Result of which was that the Water dropp'd out of the lower Leg of the Syphon as if it had been expos'd to the open Air till the Receiver was in some measure exhausted and then several Bubbles rising in the Water gather'd together at the Top of the short leg'd Syphon where expanding themselves they stopp'd the Course of the Water that in the longer Leg being suspended in the Tube and ceasing to drop and the Water in the shorter Leg was so far depress'd as not to be above a Foot high But as soon as the External Air was let in again it enter'd in at the small Orifice of the longer Tube and ascending through the Water contain'd in the Pipe joyn'd with the former which was lodg'd in the upper Part of the short leg'd Tube But to prevent what Inconveniences ensu'd the rising of these Bubbles the two foremention'd Tubes were placed so as to meet in the middle of a Glass Viol the Neck of the Viol being clos'd up with Cement and the Tubes being thus fix'd and they as well as the Viol fill'd with Water the Syphon represented by the Fifth Figure was plac'd in the Receiver with its shorter Leg in a Vessel of Water upon which the Pump being ply'd the longer Syphon continu'd to drop much longer than before but at the last the Bubbles which rose in the Pipes were so dilated in the Viol as to press down into the Ends of the Tube and interrupt our Experiment tho' what we observ'd gave us Reason to believe that the Air contributed to the Motion of the Water through the Syphons And here I shall subjoyn that I once had a very slender Pipe which when held upon the Surface of the Water in a Perpendicular Posture the Incumbent Atmosphere press'd so much more on the Surface of the External Water than that contain'd in the Tube that the Water was rais'd in the Tube and this Pipe being bent into a Syphon and plac'd with the shorter Leg in Water as Syphons usually are the Water of its own accord rose up in the shorter Leg and ran down the other and this Syphon being plac'd in our Receiver to try what Alteration of the Phaenomenon would appear there we could not discern any sensible one But tho' in this Tube just now mention'd the Water rises of its own accord yet if such a Tube be thrust a little way into the Mercury instead of rising the Mercury in the Tube will be below that which is without it EXPERIMENT XXXVI The Weight of Air in the Exhausted Receiver The subtle penetrating Power of some Spirits above that of the Air. The Cause why Air will not enter the Pores of some Bodies which Water will The Weight of the Air examin'd by an Aeolipile The Proportion betwixt the Gravity of Air and Water Betwixt Water and Quicksilver Conjectures concerning the Weight of the Atmosphere The Weight of the Air. NOtwithstanding the several Methods propropos'd by Galileo and others to try the Weight of the Air being willing to be further satisfi'd we caus'd an Oval Glass with a small Tube at one End to be blown at the flame of a Lamp And this Glass Bubble being of the size of a Hen's Egg was fix'd to one End of a Balance being counterpois'd by a Weight at the other End which being suspended in our Receiver and the Pump set on work the Bubble after three Exsuctions continu'd to preponderate more and more till the Air was let in again and then the Balance was reduced to its former Aequilibrium But having repeated the Experiment with an additional Weight of three Quarters of a Grain in the Scale opposite to the
shew that the Accounts given by others are false yet it is not altogether easie to determine a Controversie in which the Truth is so hard to be assign'd and therefore I shall only lay down something in order to the Elucidation of it And first it is necessary to take Notice that the Weight of an equal Proportion of Air and Water about London is agreed on to be as 1000 to 1. In the next place it will be requisite to consider the Difference in Weight of an equal Proportion of Air and Quicksilver to discover which I took a Glass Pipe such as is represented by the Sixteenth Figure See Plate the First which being partly fill'd with Quicksilver and held in such a Posture that the Superficies of the Quicksilver in each Leg was in a Horizontal Line E. F. I. pour'd Water into one Leg till it was fill'd up to the Top by the Weight of which the Surface of the Mercury was weigh'd down from E. to B. the Surface of the other being rais'd from F. to C. so that measuring the Height of the Tube of Mercury D. C. which was buoy'd up by the Water in the other we found it to amount to 2 13 54 Inches the Height of the Cylinder of Water B. A. which counterpois'd the Mercury being 30 45 54 Inches and the whole Numbers with the Fractions being reduc'd to improper Fractions of the same Denomination the Proportion was as 121 to 1665 or by Reduction as one to 92 121. Besides this we took another Method to discover the Proportion of these two Liquors by weighing them in a Glass Bubble by which we found that it was as 1 to 13 19 28 and because Spirit of Wine is usually esteem'd the lightest of Liquors and Quicksilver the heaviest I weigh'd that likewise and found the Proportion of Quicksilver and it to be as 1 to 16 641 1084. So that the difference betwixt Spirit of Wine and Water was as 1 44 171 And here it may be necessary to observe that I the rather weigh'd these Liquors in a Bubble because when they are weigh'd in open Vessels the Protuberant Surface of the Mercury and the Concave of the Water makes it a difficult Matter to proportion them exactly if the Superficies be large The Weight of an equal Proportion of Air and Mercury But to return to the Atmosphere Having laid down the Proportion of Air to Water and of Water to Quicksilver it will be no very difficult thing to find the Proportion betwixt Air and Quicksilver And since from the Torrecellian Experiment it appears that the Cylinder of Mercury is buoy'd up by the Pressure of the Air it consequently follows that the Proportion of Air to Quicksilver is as 14000 to 1 so that a Cylinder of Air that is able to buoy up Mercury two Foot and a half must amount to 35000 Feet of our English Measure or seven compleat Miles supposing the Air to be equally compress'd above as here below but this Computation is not to be accounted so exact since not only Seneca Nat. Quaest. lib. 4. cap. 10. says Omnis Aer quo propior est Terris hoc crassior quemadmodum in Aqua in omni humore Faex ima est ita in Aere spississima quaeque desidunt but it likewise is a Consequence of the Air 's Spring since it must needs be considerably compress'd by the Weight of what lies upon it besides if we consider that the Air may be expanded by Heat to near a hundred and fifty times its Bulk it may not be improbable but that the utmost extent of the Atmosphere may reach to some Hundreds of Miles And this Conjecture may enable us to guess at the Height to which some Vapours may ascend allowing what Emanuel Magnen a diligent Mathematician observ'd at Tolouse in a clear Night in August for as Ricciolus records it Vidit ab Horâ undecimâ post Meridiem usque ad mediam Noctem Lunâ infra Horizontem positâ Nubeculam quandam lucidam prope Meridianum fere usque ad Zenith diffusam quae consideratis omnibus non poterat nisi à Sole illuminari ideoque altior esse debuit tota Vmbra Terrae And the same Author further says Addit simile quid evenisse Michaeli Angelo Riccio apud Sabinos versanti nempe viro in Mathesi Eruditissimo But to conclude It would be of no small Use in estimating the Height of the Atmosphere were Observations of the Density and Rarity of the Air made upon several Parts and on high Mountains but till by some Means or other we can arrive at some degree of Certainty as to the various Degrees of it's Rarefaction above it will be a hard Matter to determine the Height of it EXPERIMENT XXXVII Concerning Flashes of Light in the Receiver AT the first when our Engin was made we observ'd upon drawing down the Sucker and turning the Key several Flashes of Light in the Receiver which would not appear if the Window which fac'd North-ward were darkned and this Phaenomenon depended on so unknown Causes that upon often repeated Tryals I found that sometimes it would appear and sometimes not though for as much as I was able to perceive there was not the least Difference in the Circumstances of these Tryals which made it difficult to bring our Observations to any Rules about it or to frame an Hypothesis to Account for the Cause tho' the Validity of some Conjectures that have been made may be afforded by the following Tryals and Observations For First We found That the Phaenomenon might as well be exhibited by a Candle-light or Day-light and however situated so that the Rays of Light could but fall upon the Receiver Next The Flash appears just when the Key is turn'd to let the Air out into the Cylinder but the same Phaenomenon would appear in a small one upon drawing the Sucker hastily down tho' the Key was turn'd before and it was further to be observ'd That the Flashes which appear'd when first the Receiver began to be exhausted were much stronger than when it was further evacuated And it was besides observable That when the Experiment was made in the small Receiver and the Sucker had not been long before well oyl'd the Oyl upon the drawing of it down being put into Agitation and divided into small Parts by the Attrition of the Pump would rise into the Receiver like Smoak which would likewise flow out of the Valve when it was open'd on purpose and these Fumes if the Glass was held in a light Place would in some Measure appear luminous And what was further to be admir'd was That when the Flash was considerably great upon the Disappearance of it the Receiver would become opacous leaving white Steams upon the internal Superficies of the Receiver And now if it should be asked Whence all these Phaenomena proceeded We should propose the following Conjectures viz. First That had the Phaenomenon constantly succeeded we should have suspected the seeming
Light to proceed from some Refractions from the Glass darkned within by those white Steams Secondly That since the Air abounds with Parts gross enough to appear in the Sun-beams and to reflect the Rays of Light which rise from Bonfires the Reflection might proceed from some gross Airy Parts within the Receiver Thirdly The Whiteness seem'd to proceed from the various Surfaces of the airy Parts reflecting one upon another like Looking-glasses so as to represent each other contiguous so Water or Eggs beaten to Froth lose their Transparency and appear white But further having immers'd the Neck of our Receiver in Water and set the Pump on work the Water being drawn in through a small Hole had its Parts so broken that the Receiver appear'd full of Milk rather than Water And if a Piece of Crystal be thrown very hot into cold Water it will crack and having so many new Surfaces within appears white Which Things being consider'd and weigh'd it may not be an improbable Guess That the aforementioned Phaenomena proceeded from the Parts of the Air displac'd as to their Posture and Situation as whilst in that Motion to disturb their former Continuity and Transparency And this Conjecture may be made probable by observing That the more Air was included the more conspicuous was the Whiteness but more especially by this viz. That having exhausted the Receiver and apply'd a Glass Bubble to the Hole in the Stop-cock so that there might be a Communication betwixt the Cavity of the Receiver and it upon the Exsuction of the Air out of the Receiver the Air in the Bubble was so disorder'd by so sudden a Disilition of it's Parts that it appear'd like Milk but upon a sudden Re-ingress of the Air became transparent again But if it should be objected That the Whiteness in Water turn'd into Bubbles may proceed from the Interposition of so Heterogeneous a Body as Air I should answer That I have in another Place mentioned two volatile Liquors which being mix'd produce a white consistent Body though both the Ingredients were transparent But having convey'd some Smoak into our Receiver and observ'd upon plying of the Pump That the Air remaining in the Pump became opacous we suspected that the Reason why the former mentioned Light sometimes appear'd and sometimes did not might proceed from some Parts of Matter swimming in the Air more at one time than another which was dispos'd more to cause such Reflections of the Rays of Light as to afford the fore-named Phaenomenon which is rendred probable by observing That the Receiver appear'd opaque when the Smoak settl'd about the Sides of it and it may further be illustrated by what we mentioned before of our smoaking Liquor where the Corpuscles of it being put into a new Motion became opacous instead of transparent And if it should be asked How the Air should abound with such various Parts of Matter I must answer That it is not an unusual Observation That the Air undergoes several and very frequent Changes for besides several Instances which might be added the Learned Josephus Acosta observes That in America There are Winds which naturally trouble the Water of the Sea and make it Green and Black others clear as Crystal Besides we observ'd That the Pendula as well as Scales suspended in our Receiver lost a great deal of their Brightness upon drawing out and letting in the Air. And I once made a Tincture of a certain Metalline Substance which would become turbid and clear successively for several times for which strange Phaenomenon no Reason could be given EXPERIMENT XXXVIII Of the freezing of Water and it's Expansion HAVING conveyed a Glass Vessel into our Receiver in the midst of which was contained a Cylinder filled with Water and enclosed with Snow and Salt upon plying of the Pump the Snow began to melt a little faster than we expected and the Receiver being pretty well exhausted the Water in the Cylinder began to freeze so that in a little time the Surface of the Ice was above that of the Water in which the Snow and Salt was dissolved and which swam about it The Superficies of the Water was concave and being held betwixt the Eye and the Light appear'd full of Bubbles And it is not a little strange That there should be so powerful an Expansion in Water froze as not only to burst Bottles in the Winter-time but as I am inform'd to separate the solid Parts of Metals so that Bell-Metal having been expos'd to the Wet and that Wet froze in the Pores of the Metal it would fly in Pieces and Cabeus in lib. 4. Meteor Aristot relates a no less memorable Account of Vessels made of Stone which would fly asunder upon the Expansion of the Moisture lodged in their Pores and froze there Where it is not a little strange That Cold should by freezing Water cause it to swell whereas the Effect it hath upon the Air is manifestly to condense it EXPERIMENT XXXIX A Phaenomenon taken notice of in the exhausted Receiver HAving put the End of a Glass Tube into an Oval Glass so that it almost touched the Bottom we cemented it to the Neck of that Oval and then conveying about six Spoons full of Water into the Egg we blew it so full of Air as to force the Water into the Pipe and to keep it suspended betwixt that Air shut up in the Viol and the external Air this Weather-glass represented by the Fourteenth Figure was plac'd in a small Receiver at the upper End of the Tube which was small being permitted to stand about five Inches above the Cover the middle of which it penetrated Upon pumping out the Air it was to be observ'd That the Water in the Pipe manifestly descended which was an Argument that no Sensible Heat was produced in the Receiver by the Action of the Pump since by barely applying my Hand to the outside of the Receiver that gentle Warmth so far rarify'd the Air in the Egg as to enable it to raise the Water in the Tube much higher than it was depress'd upon the Exsuction of the Air Tho' we will not thence infer that the Cavity of the Receiver was colder after than before the Air was pump'd out since the Pressure of the Air in the Egg together with the Weight of the Incumbent Atmosphere might in some measure cause the sides of the Glass to give way for want of an equal Pressure of the Air on the Convex and external Superficies of it which Guess may seem the more probable not only because the Springiness of Glass might contribute to the bending of it but likewise since upon a Re-ingress of Air the Water was rais'd up to it's former Height again But to return to our Experiment From hence it appears That if there be no Vacuum betwixt the concave sides of the Receiver and the Superficies of the Bubble every Substance fine enough to penetrate the Pores of Glass hath not it's Parts in an Agitation
Omnipotence Matter should be so extended as without any Addition to alter it's Dimensions And tho' our Author takes two Ways to explicate his Notion either upon a Supposition of the Parts of Matter being indivisible or divisible in infinitum yet since he explicates it neither of those ways so clearly as to make it intelligible I must confess I cannot acquiesce in them nor are the Difficulties at all made less by asserting That Matter may be virtually so extended as to possess more Space than is circumscribed by it since a virtual Extension is as unintelligible as Extension without the Term virtually joyn'd with it for since he seems to allow the Parts of Matter to be indivisible it rather prejudices the Doctrin of Rarefaction as taught by Aristotle than explains it since it is inconsistent to think That a Body whose Parts are circumscribed by a certain Space should fill a larger Space without being divided and removed out of the former Nor does it at all explain or render the Aristotelian Doctrin of Rarefaction to say That Matter may by Omnipotence be so ordered as to possess adaequately double the Space it did before since in Natural Philosophy it is not disputed what GOD can do but what he hath done But besides the Difficulties in our Author's Doctrin of Rarefaction there are no less in the Condensation which his Funiculus supposes for since he allows of no Vacuities in it it is impossible the Parts of it should be brought nearer than to touch one another without a Penetration of Dimensions which is wholly disallow'd of and by no means to be admitted in Nature for were that allowed two or three Thousand Bodies might be contained in a Space which every one of them by it self would fill which is altogether unintelligible CHAP. XVIII A Consideration concerning some Tryals of the Torrecellian and other Experiments ' at the Tops and Feet of a Hill The Height of Mercury suspended at the Top of a Hill FOr a further Proof against Our Adversaries Doctrin and for a Confirmation of ours I shall add the following Experiments And First The Famous Pecquet mentions an Experiment made by Monsieur Pascal at the Foot of a Mountain 3000 Foot high where when he ascended 150 Fathom the Mercury in the Cylinder was not buoy'd up so high as at the Bottom by two Inches and a Quarter and at the Top of the Hill it wanted 3 Inches of that Station which it was suspended at at the Foot of the Hill which is a strong Argument against our Adversary the Difference plainly appearing to depend on the different Length of the Atmospherical Cylinder which was abler to weigh up the Mercury at the Bottom than the Top of the Hill And Gassendus Tom. 1. P. 211. relates that the like was observ'd 5 times on the Hills at Auvergne And a very Noted Virtuoso Mr. J. Ball as well as that Ingenious Gentleman Mr. Townley have observ'd the like in England And it was by the last nam'd likewise observ'd that the Mercury included in the Top of the Cylinder was not able to depress the Mercury near so much at the Bottom as at the Top of the Hill But to discover the weight of the Air and it's Spring without going up to the Top of such high Mountains we made use of the following Weather Glass suspending Water in the Pipe instead of Mercury The Instrument was a Glass with a broad Foot and a narrow Neck A B and a slender Pipe of Glass C D which was open at both Ends and so plac'd that the lower End was not far from the Bottom A B and was so closely cemented at the Neck A See Fig. the First Plate the Second as to prevent the Internal Air I I from communicating with External K K unless it were through the Pipe C D And having conveig'd Water H H into the Glass AB which was pretty large and having blown so much Air into the Bottle as to raise the Water in the Tube above the Vessel upon the Leads of Westminster Abby When the Air was thought to be equally Cold and Condens'd within the Bottle as without we mark'd the Station of the Water F and letting it down by a String to the Ground the Water subsided an Inch where it's Station E being mark'd and the Vessel drawn up again the Water was rais'd to the Mark F again Which Experiment being again try'd had the like success And afterwards the Top of the Tube being broke we let it down within the Church the Surface of the Water in the Pipe being at G an Inch above the Water in the Glass where I observ'd that the Air so depress'd it when it came to the Bottom as to force the Water out of the Pipe into the Glass several Bubbles breaking through into the Capacity of the Glass and this Glass being drawn up to the Top of the Church again the Water was manifestly rais'd in the Tube again from whence it appears that the Atmosphere gravitates more Caeteris paribus the nearer the Surface of the Earth for the Experiment being repeated we found that as the Height at which it was try'd vary'd so the Elevation or Depression did Another Particular which may be a further Confirmation of our Hypothesis is That which is mention'd by Monsieur Paschal viz. That a Foot-Ball being weakly blown and carry'd to the Top of a Hill swell'd more and more as it was carry'd higher and as gradually grew lank when it was carry'd down the Hill again From whence it appears That as the Atmosphere is longer or shorter it makes a greater Gravitation and Pressure upon the Bladder To this I shall add an Experiment sent to Dr. Croon by a Learned Professor of Gresham Colledge See Fig. the Sec. Plate the Second which is the following Having Observ'd that in the Weather-Glass A B represented by the Second Figure which was about two Foot long the Water was suspended in the Pipe about thirteen Inches above the Superficies of the External Water at the Bottom of Hallifax Hill but being carry'd to the Top of the Hill it subsided an Inch and a Quarter to the Point D The Internal Air A C which was taken in at the Bottom dilating it self at the Top further by C D In which Experiment the Descent being much more considerable than what it ought to be in such a small Ascent by the bare Pressure of the Atmosphere diminish'd the Reason appears to be the Expansion of that Air included in the Top of the Weather-Glass as well as the Shortning of the Atmospherical Cylinder CHAP. XIX Experiments concerning the Measure of the Force of the Spring of Air compress'd and dilated TO make it evident That the Spring of the Air is able to do much more than we have attributed to it upon the Account of its Spring and Weight we try'd the following Experiments The Air 's Condensation measur'd Having pour'd Mercury into a Glass-Tube which consisted of
equal Proportion of Wax and Turpentine in Winter and three Parts of Wax to two of Turpentine in Summer for the Ingress of Air being thus prevented upon drawing down the Sucker the Air by Virtue of it's own Spring will force it self out of the Receiver CHAP. XXX A Continuation of New Experiments concerning the Spring and Weight of the Air and their Effects by way of Letter to the Right Honourable the Lord Clifford and Dungarvan My Dear Lord HAving already given your Lordship an Account of the Design and Scope of our Mechanical Experiments without any further Preface being encourag'd by your Acceptance of my last I shall proceed to a Continuation EXPERIMENT I. Concerning the Raising of Mercury a great Height in an open Tube by the Spring of a small Quantity of included Air. IN order to make an Estimate of the Force of the Air 's Spring in it's several Degrees of Expansion We fill'd the fourth part of a Viol with Quicksilver the Neck of which was none of the largest in which we fix'd a Glass Tube with hard Wax the lower End reaching almost to the Bottom of the Quicksilver and the upper almost a Yard above the Viol which being conveigh'd into a Receiver See Plate 5. Fif 1. which was pretty Tall See Plate 5. Fig. 1. upon an Exsuction of the Air in the Receiver that in the Viol expanding it self rais'd the Mercury 27 Inches in the Tube yet when the Air was again admitted into the Receiver it subsided so far as to be almost if not quite equal with the Surface of the Mercury in the Viol And this Experiment was try'd before the Famous Savilian Geometer Dr. Wallis tho' it does not constantly succeed alike it sometimes rising higher than at others In which Experiment the following Observations were to be made First That so much Air being blown into the Viol to try whether it was stanch as was able to raise the Mercury three Inches in the Pipe upon the Exsuction of the External Air in the Receiver the Mercury rose 30 Inches above that in the Viol. Secondly When the Mercury is taken out of the Receiver it does not suddenly subside as low as before it's Ascent the Air being a little more Expanded by the Heat of the Cement when melted with an Iron Thirdly Whilst the Air included in the Viol retains any considerable Springiness after each Exsuction the Mercury will be rais'd by the Force of its Expansion a considerable Height above what that Air is able to suspend it at and makes several Vibrations before it settles Fourthly Upon the first Exsuction the Mercury rises near â…” of the whole Weight that the Expansion of the included Air is able to raise it and continues every subsequent Exsuction to rise less and less as the weight of the suspended Mercury encreases and the Spring of the Internal Air grows weaker and as the Mercury rises less every Exsuction than it did before so are the Vibrations less considerable Lastly Having observ'd the Weight of the Air in a good Barometer when it was but light the Mercury was rais'd to 29 and â…œ tho' soon after the Tryal it was but 29 Inches high To make an Estimate of the Quantity of Air which rais'd the Mercury to the usual height we counterpois'd the Viol and then filling it full of Water we found it to weigh about 5 Ounces 2 Drachms and about 20 Grains but so much being pour'd off that the remaining Water only filled the Space which the Mercury was before contain'd in it weigh'd 1 Ounce 2 Drachms 14 Grains so that the Air which by it's Expansion elevated the Mercury fill'd the Space of no more than 4 Ounces and a few Grains The Diameter of the Pipe employ'd in this Experiment was no more than the â…› of an Inch. An Argument against a Fuga vacui But besides the Spring of the Air from this Experiment we may learn what is to be thought of what some Learned Men teach concerning the Suspension of Quicksilver by a Funiculus and it 's rising to avoid a Vacuum for were the first true it might be demanded why that Funiculus raises it not above 27 Inches and as for the latter it 's objected that the Mercury being unable adequately to fill up more Space by rising than if it rose not the Reason must be invalid EXPERIMENT II. A good Quantity of Air raised the Mercury in an open Tube no higher than the Weight of the Atmosphere does in a Baroscope HAving put a sufficient Quantity of Mercury into a large Bottle capable of containing about ssij we immers'd the one End of a long slender Tube below the Surface of the Mercury and having clos'd the Neck of the Viol with Cement it was conveigh'd into a Receiver different from the former in nothing but Size where we observ'd that the Quantity of Air being greater in this Viol than that made use of in the former Experiment it was capable of expanding further and of raising the Mercury to about 29 Inches and about â…ž out of which half an Inch being deducted for the height it was elevated to by Air injected to try the Stanchness of the Bottle the Spring of the Air included in the Bottle rais'd it to 29 Inches and about â…œ The Weight of the Air in a Baroscope at the same time elevating the Mercury 29 Inches and ½ which was â…› higher than the elevated Mercury in the Receiver But having continu'd to ply the Pump still longer we learn'd that the Spring of the included Air was incapable of raising it higher than the Weight of the Atmosphere did in the Baroscope This Experiment was several times repeated with the like Success but once the Pump being ply'd more than usually the Air contain'd in a Green Glass expanded so violently that tho' it could not raise the Mercury higher it broke the Glass with such violence that the Piece which flew off crack'd the Receiver EXPERIMENT III. The Spring of the included Air will elevate Mercury almost to an equal Height in Tubes of a different Bore IN order to try whether the same Quantity of Air would by it's Expansion raise the Mercury to the same Height in a narrow as in a Cylinder of a larger Diameter we repeated the former Tryal with a Pipe of the same Diameter but much longer in which the Spring of the Air rais'd the Mercury to 28 Inches and â…› the Mercury in the Borometer being 29 Inches and ¼ high at the same time So that the Air was able by its Spring to raise the Quicksilver within an Inch as high in a large Tube as in a smaller And when the Spring of that Air was no further able to expand it self the Parts of it being put into Motion by Heat the Spring of it was so much increas'd as to raise the Mercury â… of an Inch higher EXPERIMENT IV. A new Hydraulo-Pneumatical Fountain made by the Spring of uncompress'd Air. HAVING put a Quantity of Water
We made use of a Brass Hoop about 3 Inches high and 3 Inches and 2 10 in Diameter and Cementing a round Piece of Glass upon the one Orifice the other was joyn'd to the Receiver with Cement and upon drawing out the Air the Atmosphere press'd so strongly upon the Glass as to burst it asunder with a considerable Noise like that of a Pistol How far this may contribute to account for the Noise which accompanies the Explosion of Gunpowder in Pistols we leave others to consider EXPERIMENT VIII The breaking of the Glass Plates in the foregoing Experiment may be accounted for without a Fuga Vacui THAT the breaking of the Glass Plates did not depend on Nature's Abhorrency of a Vacuum appears hence for if instead of the former Brass Hoop we make use of a Vessel Figur'd like a Conus Truncatus or a Sugar-Loaf the Cone being cut off if the lower Orifice be large and the upper not above an Inch Diameter the Glass Plate Cemented to the larger Orifice will break when the Receiver is exhausted but if the smaller Orifice be upwards the Glass Cemented to it will be whole whereas did Nature's Abhorrency of a Vacuum cause the former it would have the same Effect in the latter Wherefore I rather think the Reason why the latter did not break as the former was because a small Basis of the Atmosphere presses upon it which it is abler to resist than a larger Plate of Glass EXPERIMENT IX A Bladder burst by the Spring of the Included Air. NOT to mention of what Advantage it might be to have a Good Method to break Bladders fill'd with Air in our exhausted Receiver by supplying it with Air speedily and without danger of letting in too much from without I shall intimate That if a blown Bladder be contain'd in an exhausted Receiver the Internal Air will be so powerfully expanded as to distend the Bladder and stretch it's Fibers which when taken out again and the Bladder at the Neck being ty'd something nearer than before the Bladder so distended with Air and not liable to give way a second time to the Spring of the Included Air the next time it is put into the Receiver it is apt to burst EXPERIMENT X. A Considerable Weight rais'd by the Spring of the Air included in a Bladder TO shew that the Force of the Air 's Expansion is so great that ¼ of a Bladder being fill'd with it is able to distend it so powerfully as to swell it up tho' a considerable Weight be ty'd to the Bottom of it to keep it from Rising we fill'd the fourth Part of a Bladder with Air and tying the Upper Part of it to the Stopple it was suspended in our Receiver with a Weight suspended by a String which was ty'd to the Bottom of it where we observ'd That upon the Exsuction of the Air the Included Air expanded it self and distending the Bladder shortned it so as to raise 15 pound weight And another Bladder having both Ends ty'd to the Stopple and a Weight suspended at the Middle of no less than 28 pounds the expanding Air rais'd that an Inch from the Bottom of the Receiver but when the Air was again admitted into the Receiver it fell down again EXPERIMENT XI Bubbles Hermetically seal'd broke by the Air included HAving clos'd a Glass Bubble Hermetically seal'd in our Receiver and pump'd out the Air more than usually in such Experiments about four Minutes after the Pump ceas'd to work the Bubble unexpectly flew into so many pieces and with such force as to be broke against the sides of the Receiver into a Powder as small as Sand But this sort of Glass being capable of stretching a little before it breaks may be a Reason why the Experiment does not always succeed the Spring of the Air contain'd in it being weaken'd by that Expansion of the Bubble EXPERIMENT XII Tryals representing the Force of the Spring of Vncompress'd Air upon Staple Bodies The I. TRYAL HAving cemented a Glass Plate upon the Brass Hoop mention'd in the Seventh Experiment and joyn'd the other Orifice of the Hoop with Cement to the Pump upon that a Large Receiver was fix'd So that the Hoop supply'd the place of a Receiver and the Receiver kept the Atmosphere from pressing upon it yet upon an Exsuction of the Air out of the Hoop the Spring of that contain'd in the Receiver broke the Glass Plate into an hundred pieces The II. TRYAL AND a Receiver shap'd like a Tumbler which was capable of containing only a sixth part of what the Large Receiver did being made use of the Spring of so small a Quantity of Air presently shatter'd the Glass Plate in pieces The III. TRYAL The Force of the Air 's Spring BUT a Large square Glass capable of holding a Pound being made use of instead of the Hoop and the Glass Plate upon the Exsuction of the Air it was broke in pieces both when the Large Receiver was whelm'd over it and likewise when a Receiver not much higher than it self was made use of In which Experiments we observ'd That the Air making a greater Pressure on the Sides of the Bottles than the Top first broke them And it was further observ'd in the last Experiments that the Glasses did not fly in pieces till some time after the last Exsuction But lest it should be question'd Whether the Glasses were broke by the Pressure of the Air in the Receiver we repeated one of the former Tryals with the Brass Hoop leaving a communication betwixt the Receiver and the Cavity of the Hoop a small Tube whose Cavity was no wider than the Diameter of a Hair being lodg'd in Part of the Cement and upon plying the Pump we found that the Air having a free tho' a small Vent out of the Receiver did not break the Plate as before Yet notwithstanding if the Air be suck'd out of the Hoop too fast that in the Receiver not finding quick Vent will break the Glass Plate the Pressure of the Air in the Receiver being too strong to be ballanc'd by the Resistance of the Air in the Hoop And for a like Reason a slender Pipe blown at the Flame of a Candle upon it's first Removal into the Cold hath it's sides if thin squeez'd nearer together the Pressure of the Outward Air being greater than the Resistance of the Internal EXPERIMENT XIII Suction is able to raise Mercury no highier in Pipes than the Weight of the Atmosphere impels it HAving fitted one End see Plate 5. Fig. 2. of a Brass bent Pipe to a Stop-cock See Plate the 5. Fig. the 2. and the other End to the Top of a Cylindrical Glass Pipe near 50 Inches long the lower End of it was immers'd in a Glass of stagnant Mercury And tho' the Pump was set on work yet was it not able to raise the Mercury above thirty Inches by frequent and reiterated Suctions But Water being substituted instead of Mercury it
rose at the first Exsuction to the Top of the Pipe and when the Stop-cock was open'd it would run down through the Exhausting Brass Syphon From whence it appears that the Rise of Mercury depends not on Suction or a Fuga vacui whatever some Learned Men teach but is rais'd by the weight of the Atmosphere since a Baroscope consulted at the same time made it appear that the Atmosphere was able to suspend it at such a Height And as this is an Argument against those that dispute for a Fuga Vacui so it is against those that hold that it depends upon the Attraction of a Rarify'd Substance in the Top of the Pipe for tho' we could rarify the Air further by continuing the Action of the Pump yet the Mercury would not rise one jot higher ANNOTATION BUT the Syphon here mention'd being elsewhere made use of it may be requisite to Observe First The Pipe which bends so much is made of Metal to make it less subject to break Secondly The End of it which is joyn'd to the Stop-cock must be a little wider than any other Part to admit the Shank of the Stop-cock Thirdly The Cement which joyns the Brass Pipe and the Stop-cock being apt to be loose I rather make choice of one to which a Stop-cock is fix'd together with a Glass Syphon about 10 Inches high see Plate 5. Fig. 2. where the whole is represented And tho' this Additional Glass makes the Experiment longer and more tedious yet it is more useful and secure EXPERIMENT XIV The different Heights to which the Liquors may be elevated by Suction accordingly as their Specifick Gravity varies See Plate the Fifth Fig. the Third FROM Experiments already laid down it appearing to what Height Mercury may be rais'd in a Tube we may guess at what Height Water might be suspended by considering that it is 14 times lighter than the former But to be further satisfy'd I caus'd a small Pipe which branched it self into two see Plate the 5th Fig. the 3d So that a Cylinder being fix'd to each Branch the Liquors contain'd in the Vessels in which the lower End of the Pipe was immers'd would rise proportionably as their Specifick Gravity enabl'd them to resist the Pressure of the Atmosphere which being done and the Pump set on work Water rose in one of the Cylinders to 42 Inches and the Mercury in the other Tube not above 3 Inches so that the Water was fourteen times higher than the Mercury And to make the Experiment more satisfactory we let Air into the Receiver till the Water subsided to fourteen Inches and at the same time the Mercury was sunk to about an Inch for in this Experiment it was observ'd That the Proportion was not so exact as 1 to 14 precisely Specifies but thereabouts From this Experiment we may draw Arguments not only against what is taught concerning Nature's Abhorrency of a Vacuum but it may likewise more nicely inform us of the Specifick Gravity of Liquors For having put into one of the Vessels under the Glass Tubes Fresh Water and into the other Salt Water when the Fresh Water rose to 42 Inches the Salt Water was but 40 Inches high But having made use of a Brine made of Sea-salt melted in the Air instead of Salt Water when the Fresh Water was rais'd to 42 Inches the Brine did not exceed seven I likewise put into one of the Vessels when this Experiment was over a Solution of Pot-ashes and Common Water into the other and when the Water rose to 42 Inches the Solution was rais'd but to 30. EXPERIMENT XV. To what Heights Water and Mercury may be rais'd proportionably to their Specifick Gravities HAving put Mercury into a Bottle and pour'd Water into the Bottle upon the Mercury we immers'd one Pipe so low as to have it's End in the Mercury and another Pipe was likewise immers'd in the Water only which being fix'd by the help of a Cement in the Neck of the Bottle the whole was convey'd into the Engin and the Pipes being each divided into Inches by hard Wax with which they were mark'd we observ'd that the Water rose 15 times as high as the Quick-silver EXPERIMENT XVI The Former Experiment Illustrated HAving put Mercury into a short Tube and Water into one that was longer both of them being Hermetically seal'd at one End we inverted them both the End of each resting in a Distinct Vessel which being convey'd into the Receiver the Water in the Cylinder did not in the least subside till by Pumping out the Air the Mercury subsided within 3 Inches of the Bottom which was sooner than it ought according to Statical Rules which we conceiv'd to proceed from some Aiery Parts lodg'd in the Pores of the Water which rising to the Top of the Cylinder depress'd it by their Spring yet the Water when the Mercury subsided to the Height of an Inch was near as high as before EXPERIMENT XVII The greatest Height to which Water may be rais'd by Suction c. TO try how high Water might be rais'd by Suction in a Pump I provided a long Tube about thirty Foot long being made of several Tin Pipes closely joyn'd together with Soder and cover'd over with a Black Cement which to keep it from sticking to our Hands we cover'd with Plaster of Paris To the upper End of this Pipe was fix'd a Glass Tube about three Foot long and to the Top of that was fix'd another Pipe consisting of two pieces which made a right Angle with each other part of which was Parallel to the Horizon See Plate the Seventh Fig. 1. and the other Perpendicular the lower End being fix'd to the Engin which was plac'd upon a Flat-roofed House And a Vessel fill'd with Water being put under the End of the Pipe below the Pump was set on work and the Water after a few Exsuctions was rais'd to the middle of the Glass Tube emitting several Bubbles which proceeded from the Air formerly lodg'd in the Pores of the Water But the chief Aim of our Experiment being only to try to what Height the Water could be rais'd I caus'd the Pump to be nimbly ply'd till the Water could rise no higher which being done and the Height of the Water measur'd by a String we found it to be 33 Foot and about six Inches Quick-silver in a Baroscope at the same time standing at 29 Inches and about 3 eights of an Inch so that the Water was near fourteen times as high as the Mercury In which Experiment that the upper part of the Tube was sufficiently exhausted appear'd from several Circumstances as First If any Air got in at Crannies in the Pipe it would rise in Bubbles easily to be distinguish'd from those which rose from the Pores of the Water and tho' the Quantity of those Bubbles was considerable yet more Air being thrown out by the Pump than could get in it must needs be empty enough But In this Experiment
of the Hill was ¼ part of an Inch below the Mark it reach'd at the Latter and as the Barometer was brought lower the Mercury in the Pipe rose higher and higher But if such Observations could be made at the Top and Bottom of the Mountain Teneriff the Experiment would afford further Proof of our Hypothesis concerning the Air 's Spring and Weight An Appendix about the Height of Mountains The Height of Mountains NOtwithstanding some Ingenious Men have taught that the Height of the Atmosphere is of stupendious and others confine it to narrower Dimensions yet I shall add some Observations which may confirm what we have taught concerning it and tho' as Ricciolus takes notice the Jesuit Rector Melensius says that of all the Clouds whose Height he measur'd they did not exceed 5000 Paces yet if we allow Meteors and Comets to arise from Terrene Exhalations and that the Height of Clouds varies according to the different Degrees of the Air 's Rarefaction it will follow that the Height of most of them exceeds what Carden and Kepler allow But to proceed to what I have to relate concerning the Height of Mountains I shall relate what I have learn'd by Information And first the Ingenious Mr. Sydenham told me that the Mountain Teneriff is so high that the Top of it may be seen 60 Leagues off and that he himself had discover'd it at 40 Leagues distance like a blew Pyramid above the Clouds and he likewise told me that the Island of Madera might be seen from it tho' 70 Leagues distant and that the Great Canary seem'd so near it that one would think it possible to leap down upon it And indeed Ricâ—iolus observes that it might be seen 4 Degrees distance and Snellius also allows the Height of it to be Ten Miles tho' I believe that the way he takes to calculate the Height of it may be none of the truest he likewise by Refraction judging the Mountain Caucasus to be 51 Bolonian Miles high which is not believ'd probable since the Mountain Teneriff hath been observ'd by one who took it's Height in a Ship at Sea not to be above 7 Miles high in a Perpendicular Line yet it is esteem'd the highest Mountain in the World tho' if what Aristotle and others report of Mount Caucasus be true there may be others much higher than those For tho' if measur'd from the Foot or Level of that piece of Ground which they stand on they may be lower yet considering that the Ground they stand on may be much more protuberant from the Level Superficies of the whole Globe they may be much higher upon that Account EXPERIMENT XXVI The Pressure of the Atmosphere may be able to keep up the Mercury in the Torrecellian Experiment tho' the Air presses upon it at a very small Orifice IT being observ'd by several Learned Men That Mercury is suspended at an equal height in a close Room as in the open Atmosphere to prove that the Air having a Communication with the External even at small Crannies may have an equal Force as if the Mercurial Cylinder was immediately subject to the whole Atmosphere I shall add That if the Tube just before mention'd for a Portable Barometer be so drawn out at the Flame of a Lamp that the Orifice is but about a tenth Part as big as before the Mercury will be suspended at the usual Height and the like will succeed if instead of drawing the End of the Pipe out so a Cork be put into the End of the Tube leaving but a small part of the Orifice open to the Outward Air. EXPERIMENT XXVII An Oblique Pressure of the Atmosphere may be sufficient to keep up the Mercury at the usual Height in the Torrecellain Experiment and the Spring of a small quantity of Air may do the same IF the the Shorter Leg of a Syphon See Plate the 7th Fig. the 3d. being bent as represented by Fig. 3d. Plate the VIIth the Mercury be suspended at it's usual Height it appears that the Pressure of the Atmosphere hath as strong Effects if the End of the Tube through which it is convey'd only admits of the Pressure of the Air which it receives downwards But if instead of being so bent See Plate the 7th Fig. the 4th the End of the Shorter Leg be Hermetically seal'd as represented Fig. IV. Plate the VII the Mercury is sustain'd at it's usual Height it will appear that the Spring of a small quantity of Air is able to bear up a Cylinder of Mercury N. B. If the Tube thus Hermetically seal'd be shaken the Mercury will form some Vibrations upon the Included Air the Spring of it being compressed and expanded again successively for a while But the former of these Tryals may be made in a Pipe conveniently shapen before the Longer Leg is fill'd with Mercury and the latter by stopping the Orifice with a Cork and Close Cement which may be pierc'd with a Wire when this is us'd as a Baroscope which way may be taken with a Travelling Baroscope EXPERIMENT XXVIII A Baroscope of use but at some times TO shew that the Suspension of Mercury in a Glass Tube less than 30 Inches long does not proceed from a Fuga Vacui I caus'd one to be Hermetically seal'd at one End the Length of it being about two Foot and a half and fill'd it with Mercury a small quantity of Water being left upon it and when the Atmosphere was much lighter I found that the Mercury subsided and that there appear'd a small Bubble of Air in the Water which being no bigger than a Pin's Head was so far compress'd before as not to appear EXPERIMENT XXIX The Ascension of Liquors in very slender Pipes in an Exhausted Receiver HAving tinged Spirit of Wine with Cocheneel which bubbled in the Exhausted Receiver for some time several slender Pipes being put into it it rose highest in those whose Bore was narrowest but when the Air was let in again the Liquor in both subsided to a Level But two Pipes of different Bores being let down into that Liquor a second time tho' it answer'd the former Tryals in the Ascent yet the Surface in the slenderer Pipe remain'd something above the other when the Air was let in again But what was more Remarkable was that tho' the Liquor in the Vessel in this Tryal emitted no Bubbles yet that in the Ends of the Tubes did which were suppos'd to be caus'd by the sides of the Glass they were contain'd in EXPERIMENT XXX When the Pressure of the External Air is taken off it is very easy to draw up the Sucker of a Syringe tho' the Hole at which the Water should succeed be stopp'd FOR a further Illustration of the Doctrin of the Spring and Weight of the Air we made the following Tryals The I. TRYAL We took a Syringe of Brass see Plate 8th Fig. 1st whose Barrel was about six Inches long See Plate the 8th Fig. 1st and it's
Pillars to which the Feather is fastened being joyn'd to the upper Basis of the Bellows with Cement we fix'd a Weight to the Lower Basis and convey'd it into the Receiver See Fig. the Eighth where we observ'd upon the exhausting of the Receiver that the Air in the Bellows rais'd up the upper Basis together with it's Weight and the Air rising out at the Vent manifestly mov'd the Feather But when the Receiver was quite exhausted and the Weight upon the Upper Basis depress'd it violently we could not perceive that the Feather was in the least mov'd and the like was observ'd upon repeating the Experiment EXPERIMENT XXXVI The great and seeming Spontaneous Ascent of Water in a Pipe filled with a Compact Body whose Particles are thought incapable of imbibing it WE took a slender Pipe and having ty'd a Linen-cloth to the Iower Orifice we fill'd it with Minium and immerging it in Water in a Wide-mouth'd Glass about an Inch the Water ascended about 30 Inches and the Experiment being again repeated in another it rose 40 Inches In which kind of Experiments the following Particulars were to be observ'd First That other Powders being made use of instead of this the Experiment did not succeed so well nor was the Success much better when we made use of Ink instead of Water Secondly Our Experiment succeeded the better the finer and closer the Minium was But if the Pipe be too small the Event will not always be successful Thirdly We observ'd That the Water ascends not to it 's utmost under 30 Hours and sometimes longer Fourthly From hence it appears That the Water in our Tube rose without any swelling of the sides of the Tube which some Learn'd Men ascribe the Cause of Water's Rising in Filtres to Fifthly From hence it may be urg'd as probable That the Sap in Trees may rise after the like manner being promoted by Heat and a due Texture of Parts EXPERIMENT XXXVII Of the seeming spontaneous Ascent of Salts along the sides of Glasses with a Conjecture at the Cause of it I Have several times observ'd that the watery Part of a Solution of Sea-Salt or Vitriol being evaporated the coagulated Salts would creep up the sides of wide-mouth'd Glasses in which the Solution was contain'd and not only so but if the Experiment were longer continu'd they would rise over the sides of the Glass and cover the external Superficies with a Crust of Salt As for the Cause of so strange a Phaenomenon tho' I will not be positive in it yet it may not improbably depend on the like Cause as the Ascent of Water in the Tube mention'd in the foregoing Experiment For we may observe that the Edges of Water are not only above the Superficies of the rest of the Water but Sea-Salt as well as several others chrystallize at the Top of the Liquor they swim in and near the sides of the Glass their Coagulation being promoted by the Coldness of it which Salts when once the sides of the Glass is beset with them the Water may rise to the Top for the same Reason that it does in the slender Pipe before mention'd and Salts carri'd up to the Top of those and coagulating there still lay a further Bottom for their Ascent and so successively till they rise to the Top of the Viol And that there are Passages betwixt these saline Parts for the Water to ascend through appears since they may be broke off in Flakes separate from each other And if it should be thought that the Water in such an Ascent would dissolve the Salt it may be answer'd that the Water being so much impregnated with Salt already can imbibe no more and consequently for that Reason when it runs down the outsides of the Vessels coagulates by the way being too thick and full of Salts to continue long fluid EXPERIMENT XXXVIII An Attempt to measure the Gravity of Cylinders of the Atmosphere so that it may be known and express'd by common Weights The Weight of a Pillar of Air of a determinate size BEING desirous to know what was the Weight of an Atmospherical Cylinder of Air of a determinate Diameter I caus'd a Pipe to be made of Brass whose Diameter was an Inch and it's Length three one End of which being clos'd up with a Plate of Brass I counterpois'd it in a nice pair of Scales and found that it was able to contain about 137 Drachms 45 Grains of Mercury which being multiply'd by Tens a Cylinder of Mercury of 30 Inches and consequently an Atmospherical Cylinder able to counterpoise it must amount to 12 Ounces and about 6 Drachms And by weighing Water in this Tube before the Mercury was put into it the Water weighing 10 Drachms 15 Grains the Proportion of Water to Mercury seem'd as 13 18 41 to 1. But in estimating the Weight of a Cylindrical Pillar of Air it may be here requisite to advertise that I made use of a Brass Cylinder because the Cavities of a Glass Tube are unfit for such an Experiment since it is a hard thing to know whether the Bore of such Tubes be equal throughout their Diameter The Weight of a Cylinder of Mercury being thus found it will not be very difficult to know the Weight of a Cylinder of a different Diameter by the Assistance of the Doctrin of Proportions and the 14th Proposition of the 12th Book of Euclids Elements For since according to that Cylinders of equal Bases are to one another as to their Heights and since by the second Proposition of the same Element such Circles as the Bases of Cylinders are to one another as the Squares of their Diameters and since Mercurial Cylinders will bear the same Proportion in Weights as they do in Bulk The Rule will be That as the Square of the Diameter of the Standard Cylinder is to the Square of the Diameter of the Cylinder propos'd so will the Bulk of the former be to that of the latter and the Weight of that to the Weight of this so that the Square of one Inch being 1 and the Square of 2 being four the Weight of the latter will be four times the Weight of the former EXPERIMENT XXXIX The Attractive Virtue of a Load-Stone in the Exhausted Receiver TO try how far the Account given of the Attraction of a Load-Stone depended on what some Modern Philosophers teach viz. That the Effluvia of a Load-Stone pressing away the Air betwixt the Body attracted that Air helps the Attraction by pressing against the opsite side of the Stone We plac'd a vigorous Load-Stone in our Receiver having adapted a Cap of Steel to it to the lower side of which a Scale with 6 Ounces of Troy Weight was fix'd which being all the Load-Stone besides the Steel and the Scale was able to keep up all which being suspended at a Button which was on purpose on the inside of the Cover of the Receiver we observ'd that tho' the Receiver was exhausted as much again as
in this Experiment was that after some time the Water rising about an Inch in the Tube above the Surface of the Water without it we several times rais'd the Sucker 2 or 3 Inches and fuffered it to fall again without perceiving that the Water in the Tube was in the least Affected which is an Argument either of a Vacuum or that the Parts of that Aether are so fine that they exceed the Rarefaction of the Air so far as not to be able to effect what a Particle of Air does which is not above 1 500 part of the Quantity of a Pin's head a Particle of Air before Expansion of that Minuteness being able when the Receiver is exhausted to displace much more Water upon their Expansion than this Aether By which Experiment as well as what we have taken notice of the Reason I formerly assign'd for the rising of Water in Syphons seems to be confirm'd the Water in the Pipe made use of in these Experiments not being able to rise when the Air was exhausted tho' the Sucker was drawn up till Air was permitted to enter into the Receiver again EXPERIMENT III. Concerning the falling of a light Body in the Exhausted Receiver the Figure of it disposing it's Motion to be visibly alter'd by a small Resistance of the Air. TO discover whether so light Bodies as Feathers would be affected in their descent in the exhausted Receiver by any subtle Matter contain'd in it we fix'd a small pair of Tobacco-Tongs in such a Receiver as Fig. the Fourth Represents See Plate 1. Fig. 4. which was 22 Inches high and having joyn'd four Feathers together with Cement so as to lie across each other we fixed a small piece of Paper to them which being held in the Tongs the Feathers hung in an horizontal Posture And upon an Exsuction of the Air out of the Receiver till by a Mercurial Gage it seem'd void of Air we open'd the Tongs by turning the Stopple in the Cover of the Receiver a short String the one End of which was fixed to the Stopple and the other to the Tongs being by that means shortned upon which we observ'd that tho' these Feathers turned several times in the unexhausted Receiver yet the Experiment being often repeated we could not perceive them in the least to turn in the exhausted Receiver but to fall like a dead Weight and what was further to be observed was that the Descent of the Feathers was much quicker in the exhausted Receiver than when it was full of Air. Yet in this Experiment it was observed that the Phaenomena were less convincing than the former because we took notice that the Feathers fell without in the least turning when the Receiver was but half exhausted And we further noted in this Experiment that the Receiver being lengthened with a Cylinder of Laton cover'd over with Cement and kept from being press'd too much inward by the outward Air by a Case made of Iron Bars when the Air was let in again into the exhausted Receiver it made a considerable crackling Noise the sides of the Metalline Receiver which before were in some measure compress'd being again extended EXPERIMENT IV. Of the Propagation of Sounds in the Exhausted Receiver HAVING caused a Cylinder of Box to be turned See Plate 2. Fig. 1. with an Axle-tree at each End into the Cavity of the uppermost was received the Bottom of the Stopple and the Axle-tree at the Bottom was adapted to a Hoop of Brass fixed in the middle of a Trencher which was about 5 Inches broad and 3 thick and which had a piece of Lead fixed to the Bottom to keep it steady which being done a Wyer was fixed in the upper part of the Trencher and at the End which bent downwards was fixed a Bell and at another place of the same Trencher was fixed a Steel Spring to the upper part of which a piece of Steel was joyn'd at such a convenient Distance that when it was bent back by two Pegs placed at right Angles in the Cylinder which had several Holes made in it on purpose and the Spring on a sudden ceased to be pressed upon it would fly forcibly upon the Bell and give it a smart Stroak Things being thus ordered I caused the Receiver to be exhausted and tho' the Sound which was caus'd by turning the Cylinder fixed to the Stop-Cock so as to make the piece of Steel strike upon the Bell was scarce discernible yet as Air was gradually let in it became louder and more audible And the like Experiment being tryed by suspending a Watch which had an Alarum belonging to it by a piece of Thred which was tyed to a Glass Button purposely blown in the inside of a Receiver which was made of one entire piece so that it was less subject to break we ordered the Watch so that the Alarum should begin to go by the time that we were ready to make our Observations at which time one that held his Ear near enough to the Top of the Receiver perceiv'd that when the Air was wholly exhausted the Sound of the Alarum was scarce at all discernible but became much louder as the Air was gradually let in EXPERIMENT V. About the breaking of a Glass Drop in the Exhausted Receiver TO know the Reason why upon the Breaking of a Part of the solid Case of the Stem of a Glass Drop which upon it's first Formation falling into Water was kept full of Rarifi'd Air I say to know the Reason why such a Bottle flies in pieces when part of the Stem is broken off upon a sudden Ingress of External Air I caused the lower End of a Glass Drop to be fastened to a staple Body the Stem being tyed to one End of a String and the other End being fastened to the Turn-Key which being done and the Receiver exhausted the Stem was broke off by shortning the String whereupon the Bubble flew into a Thousand Pieces the Air inclosed expanding violently and endeavouring to rush out at that small Vent EXPERIMENT VI. About the Production of Light in the Exhausted Receiver TO try whether Light might be produced in the Exhausted Receiver without an Access of Air we made use of a Virtical Cylinder the lower Basis of which was fixed in a Staple Trencher and having fixed two pieces of Steel in the lower End of that Cylinder so as to rub forcibly against a Lump of Loaf-Sugar I observ'd that the Vitriol Cylinder being forcibly turn'd by the help of the Turning Key the Steel made Impressions strong enough upon the Sugar to cause it to afford not only several Flashes but little Sparks of fire EXPERIMENT VII The Production of a kind of Halo and several Colours in the Exhausted Receiver WE made use of a large inverted Cucurbite for a Receiver which being exhausted and a large Candle held on the Opposite side when the Stop-cock was turned to give way for the Air to pass out of the Receiver into the Cylinder the
condensed is able to lift up more than the Air in it's Natural State 3. When the Bladder was taken out of the Cylinder the Figure of it was proportionable to the Cavity which it was contained in being 2 Inches Diameter and 2 Inches and ½ long 4. From the Experiments now mentioned it appears that the Air is able at it's first Expansion to raise a Weight proportionably larger according to the different Bores of the Cylinders made use of but when it hath been a little more Expanded the Proportion is not so exact because a small Quantity of Air being to fill up ¼ or ½ part of an Inch more the smaller Quantity of Air must be much more rarified and consequently lose of it's expansive Force But comparing the expansive Force of Air in different Bores at it's first Expansion some may think the Proportion not exact since the small Bladder being able to raise no more but 10 Pound and the Weight which the larger raises being 42 it is more than a Duplicate Proportion-of what our Hypothesis requires but if we consider that comparing the Diameter of each Cylinder the Bladder in the less proportion ably takes up more Room than in the larger it may be sufficient to account for the Difference 5. Considering that the Bladders in which Air is Included may straiten the Cavities of the Cylinders the expansive Force of the Air might be more exactly determined could Cylinders be contrived stanch enough without such helps 6. And it will not a little contribute to render the Force of the Air 's Spring difficult to be determined that the Air it self at different times varies in it's degrees of Pressure Yet from what hath been said it seems probable that were it possible to contrive an exact Cylinder very tite one of an Inch Bore would be able to raise above 10 pound Weight EXPERIMENT X. An easie way of making a small Quantity of Included Air raise 50 or 60 Pound or a greater Weight in the Exhausted Receiver TO demonstrate more obviously the Air 's Spring we took a * See Plate the second Fig. 4. Brass Cylinder whose Depth was 4 Inches and it's Diameter 4 Inches and ¾ to which we adapted a †See Plate short Plug to whose upper Basis was fixed a broad Rim for Weights to stand on more firmly which being done we pressed a Bladder into the Cylinder that it might adapt it self to the Cavity of it and then observing how much the Plug was above the surface of the Cylinder we laid the Weights upon it see Plate the 2d Figure the 5th and observed that the Air in a Cylinder about 4 Inches broad lifted up 75 pound at the 5 Exsuction so high that one might discern the Mark See Plate 2. Fig. 5. and at 2 Exsuctions more it was elevated 3 10 above the Top of the Cylinder and at the same time in a Mercurial Gage the Mercury that usually stood at ⅛ above the highest Glass Mark subsided to ⅛ below the Second When the Air was let into the Receiver again after some time the Bladder subsided again and being taken out exactly answered the Cavity of the Cylinder The Receiver being again exhausted at the 24th Exsuction the Mercury in the Gage was depressed to the lowest Mark and at the 35th to ⅛ below it And the former Experiment being tryed in a small Receiver in which we heaped flat Weights one upon another the Air raised 100 pound Weight and would probably have raised much more had it not been that the Bladder was so much strained as to give way for some Air to get out at a Leak And here it may not be improper to advertise that the Orifices of such Receivers must not be very wide for if they be they will be subject to be crack'd by the violent external Pressure of the Atmosphere EXPERIMENT XI TO Compare the Gravity of Air and Water I weighed a Glass Bubble in the Receiver which I found to weigh above half a Grain more in the exhausted Receiver than before the Air was drawn out and this Bubble being weighed in the open Air counterpoised 68 Grains and an half upon which the Bubble being immersed in Water we found that the Air in it had been so far rarified by the Heat employed in sealing it up that the Nip being broke off it sucked in 125 Grains of Water the Glass together with the Water sucked into it weighing 193 ½ Grains The whole Cavity of the Bubble being large enough to contain 739 Grains of Water it weighing 807 ½ Grains so that the Proportion betwixt the Weight of the Air and Water did not quite amount to 1228 to 1. Having weighed a Glass Bubble in the Receiver whose Weight was 60 Grains the Air contained in it in Vacuo weighed 27 92 of a Grain and the Weight of such a Quantity of Water as it would contain weighed 720 ¼ Grains In which Experiment the Proportion of Air to Water in Weight was as 857 17 27 to one But Galileo says Water is but 400 times heavier than Water tho' Ricciolus is as much mistaken on the other side who says it is 10000 times heavier To inform my self further of the Weight of the Air I took the following Measures having exhausted a Receiver and when it was void of Air counterballanced it upon turning the Stop-Cock and a Reingress of Air it weighed 36 Grains more than before which succeeded when tryed a second time and likewise a third And then the Receiver being exhausted was immersed in Water and the Stop-Cock turn'd to give way to an Ingress of Water and when as much Water as was able to enter into the Receiver had succeeded in the Place of the exhausted Air we turned the Cock again to keep that Water in and the Receiver being again weighed the Water weighed 47 Ounces 3 Drachms and 6 Grains so that the Water was heavier than its bulk of Air near 650 Grains the Mercury in a Baroscope at the same time being boyed up to 29 Inches ¾ so that the Weight and condensed state of the Atmosphere being greater then than usually was the Reason why the Disproportion was not as great as at other times tho' we may reasonably suspect that the Quantity of Air contained in the Pores of the Water joyning with that in the Receiver might hinder so much Water from getting in as was requisite to fill the Space deserted by the Exhausted Air besides several Particles of Air might probably get in at the Stop-Cock whilst the Experiment was trying which joyning with the Air remaining in the Receiver might contribute to prevent a sufficient Ingress of Water From all which Experiments it appears that tho' the Weight of the Atmosphere is so various that it is impossible to know exactly the Proportion betwixt it and Water yet it is evident that Water is to Air some Number betwixt 600 and 1100 to 1 being greater or less as the Atmosphere is more or less condensed But
Pump D. D. is joyn'd by a Screw to the Stop-Cock C. E. A Vessel which fluctuates in the Receiver in which an Animal being put and the Pump fill'd with Water and joyn'd to the Stop-Cock by a Screw the Water contain'd in the Pump will by lifting up the Sucker be forc'd into the Receiver and by that means condense the Air without an addition of new and by drawing the Sucker down again the same parcel of Air will be again expanded so that Observations may be made how much the thickness or thinness of Air contributes to the preservation of the life or health of Animals PLATE VII An Instrument to distil in Vacuo See Fig A. A. A Brazen Vessel the lower part of which is shut and the upper open B. B. A piece of Tin exquisitely adapted to the Tube so as to prevent the External Air from entring in being adapted to the Edges of it A. A. D. D. C. C. A Tube fix'd in the middle of the Tin Plate B. B. D. D. A Brazen Vessel whose Orifice is contiguous to B. B. E. E. A Stop-Cock fix'd to the Perforation in the Plate B. B. F. F. A Tube-reaching from the Stop-Cock to the Pneumatick Engin. G. G. A metalline Vessel enclosing the Junctures of the Vessels with the Diaphragma and also the Stop-Cock that by keeping them immers'd in Water they may be free from External Air this is cemented to the Vessel A. with Soder The manner of using this Engin is the following viz. The Tin Plate being remov'd and the Ingredients to be boil'd being put into the Vessel A. A. then re-applying the Tin Plate A. A. and the Vessel D. D. and the Tube F. F. being apply'd to the Pneumatick Engin and the Air pump'd out the Vessel G. G. having been first fill'd with Water we shut the Stop-Cock and remove the Tube F. F. and then the exhausted Vessel being placed on the Fire Vapours will ascend through the Tube C. C. which will be condens'd in the upper Vessel and what Quantity of Air is there generated will appear by the Mercurial Gage H. in the Top of the Vessel But here it is to be noted that round pieces of perforated Paper being laid upon the Orifices of the Vessels A. A. D. D. they will be more exactly joyn'd with the Tin Plate The Junctures of the Tube F. F. both with the Pneumatick Engin and Stop-Cock are to be guarded with Cement and the Stop-Cock must be so contriv'd as to stand so far without the Vessel G. that it may be conveniently turn'd When any thing is to be conveigh'd into the Vessel the Tin Plate E. E. and the Stop-Cock may be laid aside Which may be done without any great Dissiculty for the Key being made up of two parts the one of which M. is turn'd in the Stop-Cock by a Chink into which the End of the other part O. O. which fills the Pipe N. N. fix'd to the Vessel G. G. is receiv'd so that one End being prominent outwardly whilst it is turn'd it may communicate Motion to the other Part M. But whilst the Tin Plate B. B. is is to be taken out of the Vessel G. G. it must be drawn outward Fig. 2. Another Instrument for the same Vse with the former B. B. A small Tube both Ends of which are polish'd that it may be exactly adapted to the Orifices of the Vessels A. and D. A. A. D. D. Two Vessels made of Glass so joyn'd by the Tube B. B. that Vapours may pass from one to the other E. E. F. F. G. G. I. Are of the same Use with the first Figure and the Instrument is to be evacuated by the same Method only the Glass Vessel must be placed in Balneo Mariae or on Sand and the Vapours so rais'd will condense in the Vessel D. D. CHAP. III. ARTICLE I. Several Ways to help the Production of the Air. EXPERIMENT I. Air produced from Bread TO try whether a piece of Bread which was moist and a little kneaded would yield Air I included it in Vacuo with a Mercurial Gage July 12th 76. but it yielded none On the 12th some broke in the Receiver and raised Mercury 3 Inches high and at Night it was rais'd an Inch higher tho' no external Air got in July 13th it ascended higher On the 26th Day it expanded it self so powerfully as to separate the Receiver and it's Cover the Smell of it being acid So that Air may be drawn out of Bread by such a Menstruum as Water EXPERIMENT II. JVly the 11th Bread being burnt by a Burning-Glass in Vacuo yielded Air which came from it with an Explosion whence we may guess that could Air be separated more easily from it it would produce very considerable Effects EXPERIMENT III. Septemb. 22. I Enclos'd in a Receiver From Grapes Eight Ounces of dry'd Grapes bruis'd in 7 Ounces of Water the Receiver being large enough to contain 22 Ounces Septemb. 23. Tho' the Receiver was cover'd with Water all Night the Mercury was rais'd two Inches Septemb. 30. In seven Days it was rais'd thirteen Inches Octob. 5. In five Days more it was 25 Inches high Octob. 18. The Mercury ascended slowly some Air making it's way out of the Receiver Grapes without Water did not yield Air so plentifully See Art IX Exp. I. EXPERIMENT IV. July 12. I Shut up 10 Ounces of Raisins of the Sun bruis'd From Raisins in as much Water as was sufficient to make them ferment July 14. In 48 Hours rais'd the Mercury ten Inches at Night the Mercury was 5 Inches higher the next Day it was almost as high as when buoy'd up by the Atmosphere July 16. In the Morning the Receiver and it's Cover were separated by Air which got through the Water which the Receiver was cover'd with The same Raisins were shut up in Vacuo again July 18. In the Morning the Air broke out July 19. They were enclosed in the empty Receiver July 21. The Receiver was so full of Air that some of it forced it's way out and they were inclosed in the exhausted Receiver again July 22. The Receiver was almost full The 23d in the Morning it forced it self out When the Parts of the Water have work'd upon Grapes 5 or 6 days they yield Air very fast tho' at the first they do not EXPERIMENT V. August 13. 1677. PLums were shut up in one Receiver From Plums and Pears in two others August 16. They were all full of Air and one which contain'd Pears and lay open to the Sun-Beams rais'd the Cover in 24 hours EXPERIMENT VI. Octob. 16. 77. From bsed Grs. I Enclosed two Ounces of bruised Grapes in a Receiver large enough to hold 20 Ounces of Water .. Octob. 17. The Mercury was raised half an Inch. Octob. 18. The Mercurial Cylinder was raised half an Inch more The 20th it encreased 2 Inches The 22d 4 Inches The 27th near 6 Inches Jan. 2. 78. It was not quite 10 Inches
of the Mercury was small Oct. 13 It was ½ an Inch. Oct. 17 It was 1 Inch. Oct. 18 It was 1 ½ Oct. 19 Near 4 Inches Oct. 20 The same but their surfaces seem'd mouldy Oct. 21 It was 4 ½ Oct. 22 The same the surface seem'd more mouldy Oct. 23 The same the surface seem'd more mouldy Oct. 24 The same the surface seem'd more mouldy Octob. 26 It was 5 ½ Inches high Octob. 27 It was 6 Inches high Octob. 28 It was 6 ½ Inches high No. 2 It was 7 ½ Inches high No. 6 It was 9 Inches high No. 8 It was 10 Inches high No. 9 It was 13 Inches high No. 12 It was 15 Inches high No. 14 It was 17 Inches high No. 18 It was 23 Inches high No. 21 It was 26 Inches high Dec. 8 It was 36 ½ Inches high Dec. 12 It was 39 Inches high Dec. 27 It was 39 Inches high Jan. 6 It was 36 Inches high The Air made it's way out Octob. 10. 677. Grapes with Spirit of Wine The Experiment being made with another Receiver into which was put 2 Drachms of Spirit of Wine along with the Grapes Oct. 11 The Mercury unalter'd Oct. 12 The Mercury unalter'd Oct. 13 The Mercury unalter'd Oct. 17 The Ascent was small Oct. 18 Not ¼ of an Inch. Oct. 19 It rose but little Jan. 6. The Grapes all this time afforded no Air So that Spirit of Wine hinder'd their Fermentation EXPERIMENT IX HAving conveigh'd a Peach into a small Receiver and so much Spirit of Wine as was just able to afford Vapours to rise about it March 28. 78. It had the same Colour but was the less Firm It had almost wholly contracted the Taste of the Spirit of Wine but yielded no Air. EXPERIMENT X. Air with Spirit of Wine I Conveigh'd 5 Peaches into a Receiver with as much Spirit of Wine as was sufficient to raise Vapours about them Octob. 18 The Mercury ascended not Octob. 20 It was 3 ½ Inches Octob. 21 It was 5 ½ Inches high Octob. 22 It was 7 ½ Inches high Octob. 23 It was 9 Inches high Octob. 26 It was 9 ½ Inches high Nov. 2 It was 12 Inches high Nov. 6 It was 14 Digits Nov. 12 It was 16 Digits Nov. 14 The same Nov. 16 The same Dec. 8 It was 18. Dec. 16 It was 19 ½ Dec. 27 It was 20 ½ Jan. 6 It was 23. March 8 It was 31 ½ Air without Spirit of Wine Octob. 17. Five Peaches being shut up in a Common Receiver without Spirit of Wine Octob. 18 it ascended not Octob. the 20th The Mercury was 5 Digits Octob. 21 It was 8 Octob. 22 It was 10 Octob. 23 It was 10 Octob. 26 It was 12 Nov. 2 It was 15 Nov. 6 It was 17 ½ Nov. 12 It was 20 Digits high Nov. 14 It was 20 Digits high Nov. 16 It was 21 Digits high Dec. 8 It was 26 Digits high Dec. 16 It was 26 ½ Digits high Dec. 27 It was 28 ½ Digits high Jan. 6. 78 It was 32 Inches high March 28 It was 33 ½ April 15. Liquor broke out and the Air after it From this Experiment it appears that the Vapours do not hinder Fermentation so much as Spirit of Wine it self EXPERIMENT XI Paste with Leaven HAving clos'd an Ounce and a half of Leaven'd Dough in a Receiver with so much Air as was able to bear up 23 Ounces ½ of Water April 28. The Mercury in the Gage was 2 ½ of an Inch high April 3. It was 3 ¼ of an Inch high May 4. The Mercury subsided and the Paste was Mouldy It was rais'd 2 ½ high May 6 It was 2 ¾ May 8 It was 3 May 10 It was 3 ½ May 14 It was 4 May 17 It was 4 ½ May 20 It was 5 May 24 It was 6 May 28 It was 8 June 2 It was 9 June 6 It was 10 June 41 It was 11 ½ July 5 It was 13 ½ July 19 It was 15 Paste without Leaven April 27. 78. An Ounce and a half of Paste without Leaven being contain'd in a Receiver large enough to hold 23 Ounces ½ of Water Without Leaven April 29. In the Afternoon it ascended ¼ of an Inch. April 30. There was no Alteration May 4. It ascended slowly and the Paste turn'd Mouldy May 6. It was about 4 Inches high May 8 It was 5 ½ May 10 It was 7 ½ May 14 It was 10 ½ May 17 It was 12 ½ May 20 It was 13 ½ May 24 It was 16 ½ May 28 It was 18 ½ June 2 It was 20 ½ June 6 It was 21 ½ June 14 It was 25 ½ From whence it appears that Leaven hinders Fermentation and the Production of Air. EXPERIMENT XII May 23. Paste with Spirit of Wine AN Ounce and a half of Paste on which Spirit of Wine was pour'd being shut up in a Receiver May 24th The Height of the Mercury was 1 Inch. May 26 It was near 2. May 27 It was near 2 ½ May 31 No Alteration June 1 It was 3 ½ Digits high June 6 It was 4 Digits high June 10 It was 4 ½ Digits high July 19 No Variation Decemb. 14. The Receiver being open'd the Paste smell'd subacid Paste without Spirit of Wine May 23. Without it An Ounce and a half of Paste being put into a Receiver large enough to contain 25 Ounces of Water without an Addition of Spirit of Wine May 24. The Mercury did not ascend May 26 It was 3 Digits high May 27 It was 4 ½ Digits high May 28 It was 5 ½ Digits high May 29 It was 7 Digits high May 31 It was 9 ½ Digits high June 2 It was 12 Digits high June 6 It was 17 Digits high June 10 It was 22 Digits high July 4 It was 30 Digits high July 19 It was about the height of 30 Digits The Air broke out Decemb. 14. The Mercury was rais'd 15 Digits again The Receiver being open'd the Paste was very acid From these Experiments it appears that Spirit of Wine prejudices the Production of Air And it likewise hence is evident that Paste which is made without Ferment will in time yield as much Air as that prepar'd with it EXPERIMENT XIII Octob. 11. New Ale enclosed in a Receiver NEW Ale was put into one Receiver so that the whole Cavity was taken up with it and another Receiver was likewise fill'd with the same Liquor except a small Part of it's Cavity which contain'd Air. Octob. 12. In the Receiver exactly fill'd the Mercury was rais'd a little the other had it's Cover burst and the Ale was conveighed into another large enough for the Purpose Octob. 13. In that wholly fill'd the Mercury was 12 Digits high In the other it was rais'd 13 Digits Octob. 14. The Mercury in the full Receiver was 13 Inches and the other 18. In the Evening the height of the Mercury in the full Receiver was 22 Inches and in the other 20. Octob. 15. The Height of the Mercury in the full
26 Inches high Aug. 13 The height of it was 33 Aug. 14 The height of it was 36 Aug. 15 The height of it was 39 Aug. 16 The height of it was 41 ½ Aug. 17 The height was 44 Aug. 11 The height was 47 Aug. 19 The height was 50 The Air being transmitted and the Goosberries taken out they had lost their Colour and almost all their Acidity They produced Air very regularly except a little faster when some part had been drawn out EXPERIMENT VII Sept. 12. Crude Grapes CRUDE Grapes were put into a Receiver with as much Air as rais'd Mercury 3 Digits Sept. 13 The hight was 5 Sept. 14 The hight was 10 Sept. 16 The hight was 17 Sept. 17 The hight was 19 Sept. 19 The hight was 23 Sept. 20 The hight was 25 Sept. 22 The hight was 30 It was stop'd with a Screw Sept. 23 The hight was 3 ½ Sept. 24 The hight was 32 Sept. 26 The hight was 34 ½ Sept. 27 The hight was 36 ¼ Sept. 28 The hight was 36 ¼ Sept. 29 The hight was 37 ¼ Sept. 30 The hight was 37 ¼ Oct. 2 The hight was 39 ½ Oct. 4 The hight was 39 ½ Oct. 5 The hight was 40 ½ Oct. 7 The hight was 41 ½ Oct. 8 The hight was 42 ½ Oct. 15 The hight was 46 Nov. 2 The hight was 54 Nov. 5 The hight was 58 Jan. 10 The hight was 70 There was no sensible alteration in the Gage when the Frost was most severe tho' the Grapes and their Juice was Froze Sept. 21. The Grapes being little alter'd and the Mercury not much higher the Receiver was openâ—d and the Grapes tho' more pungent had not lost their Taste but their Juice preserv'd it's red Colour Hence it appears that Grapes yield not all their Air in a little time EXPERIMENT VIII August 10. 77. Pears in Vacuo PEars cut in two being included in a Vacuum about Evening the Mercury was rais'd 10 Digits Aug. 11 It rose to 20 Aug. 13 It rose to 38 Aug. 14 It rose to 48 Aug. 15 It rose to 55 Aug. 16 It rose to 60 Aug. 17 It rose to 68 Air being Transmitted it subsided to 53 ½ Aug. 18 The hight was 61 Aug. 19 The hight was 64 Aug. 20 The hight was 70 Aug. 21 The hight was 72 Air being transmitted it stood at 61. Aug. 22 The hight was 68 Aug. 23 The hight was 74 Aug. 24 The hight was 79 Aug. 25 The hight was 81 Air being transmitted it sunk to 61. Aug. 26 The hight was 56 Soem got out being transmitted it sunk to 52. Aug. 27 The hight was 60 Aug. 28 The hight was 68 Aug. 29 The hight was 75 Aug. 30 The hight was 83 Aug. 31 The hight was 88 Sept. 1 The hight was 93 Sept. 2 The hight was 100 Sept. 3 The hight was 89 Some Air got out Sept. 4 The hight was 100 Sept. 5 The hight was 100 Sept. 7 The hight was 100 No Air got out Sept. 9 The hight was 107 Sept. 10 The hight was 107 Air being Transmitted it sunk to 99. Sept. 11 Sept. 13 The hight was 105 Oct. 8 Air got out Pears yielded their Air by fits ARTICLE XI Various Experiments EXPERIMENT I. March 16. Melted Lead in a Receiver LEad being melted in a Brass Vessel an Inch and ½ in Diameter it was conveigh'd into a Receiver and the Air pump'd out before the Lead cool'd when it was cool the Surface was concave especially in the Middle tho' when it cools in open Air the Surface is generally convex except in the Middle The same success happen'd when the Experiment was made with Tin Neither of the Metals afforded Bubbles EXPERIMENT II. Sept. 2. A Solution of Salt in Water A Solution of Salt in Water being conveigh'd into a Receiver Sept. 15. The Salt was not Christaliz'd EXPERIMENT III. August 8. 76. Artificial Air. ARtificial Air from Goosberries was included in a Receiver March 1. 7 6 7. No Alteration in the height of the Mercury EXPERIMENT IV. August 8. Air weighed A Phial which was large enough to hold 7 Ounces 5 Drachms and 3 Grains of Water having the Air exhausted was pois'd to an Aequilibrium with another weight Upon which a Piece of a Bladder which cover'd it was pierc'd with a Needle and the Air getting into it weigh'd 4 Grains ½ which Weight is to the former as 1 to 814 so that Water is 800 times heavier than Air of the same Bulk EXPERIMENT V. Jan. 16. 77. Aqua fortis and fixed Nitre AQua fortis and fix'd Nitre being mix'd in a Receiver together yielded much Air. March 5. The Air was not destroy'd nor the height of the Mercury alter'd But Nitre was produc'd in Vacuo from the Mixture EXPERIMENT VI. May 12. 76. Several Bodies in Vacuo A Phial which had a long Neck being so far fill'd with Oyl that it wrought up to the middle of it's Neck was conveigh'd into a Receiver and so much Air Compress'd into it as rais'd the Mercury 120 Inches above the usual height The Surface of the Oyl subsided ¾ of an Inch being condens'd by Cold which was evident since the compress'd Air being let out the Surface rose not again August 5. The same Experiment being made with Water there was no sensible Alteration in the height of it's Surface tho the heat might have given reason to expect some change Jan. 14. 78. A Glass Phial being fill'd with Spirit of Wine till it rose within 3 Inches of the Top of it's Neck was by the heat of my Hands caus'd to rife to the top of the Vessel Which being then Invert'd into a Vessel full of Mercury and my Hands remov'd the Cold Spirit admitted 3 Inches of Mercury into it's Neck yet being conveigh'd into a Receiver and so much Air compress'd into it as rais'd 90 Digits of Mercury the Spirit was not in the least condens'd by compression tho Cold had such a considerable effect on it When the Receiver was open'd there was no appearance of Bubbles in the Spirit of Wine It would be worth while to consider why Cold should have such a considerable Effect in condensing Spirit and why it cannot be condens'd by Compression EXPERIMENT VII May 12. 76. Spirit of Wine and Oyl of Turpentine SOme Spirit of Wine contain'd in a Glass Vessel with some drops of Oyl of Turpentine upon it were briskly mov'd about till the Receiver being exhausted they stuck to several Bubbles which rose out of the Spirit of Wine and were by them carri'd to the sides of the Vessel where they were kept except 2 Drops which the Bubbles left behind upon the Surface of the Spirit which whilst the Receiver was exhausting continued their Motion but in a little time after were wholly at rest Yet upon a Re-ingress of Air they for a little while renew'd their Motion again The same Experiment being repeated with Spirit of Wine and Oyl of Turpentine
Phaenomena afforded by Frogs in an exhaust-Receiver EXPERIMENT I. Sept. 9. 1662. A Large Frog being shut up in Vacuo Frogs in Vacuo was but little swell'd and mov'd her Throat almost as fast as before the Receiver was evacuated Her Body swell'd more and she continu'd alive about 2 hours In a little more than 3 hours she seem'd dead but being left all night upon the Grass she recover'd again EXPERIMENT II. A Frog being enclos'd in a Receiver almost totally exhausted about 11 a Clock at the first seem'd unalter'd but in six hours dy'd EXPERIMENT III. Sept. 6. 62. A Slender and a large Frog being both included in a Receiver whilst it was exhausting the Lesser skipp'd up and down and some time after but in a quarter of an hour seem'd dead The Larger Frog swell'd a little and continued alive half an hour but the Receiver leaking we pursu'd the Experiment no further EXPERIMENT IV. A Small Frog being included in a Receiver at the first seem'd lively but after mov'd up and down as if very uneasie yet was alive when the Receiver was wholly exhausted for the Space of an hour but at the latter end of the time she wanted Respiration and her Belly and Throat were swell'd In 3 ½ hours time the Air being let in the Abdomen and Throat subsided and instead of a Swelling there remain'd a Cavity EXPERIMENT V. A Large Frog being shut up in a plated Receiver exhausted in seven hours was dead being much swell'd but upon an Ingress of Air was lanker than ever TITLE IV. Of the Phaenomena afforded by a newly kitten'd Kitling in Vacuo A Kitling in Vacuo A Newly kitten'd Kitling being included in a Receiver when it began to be exhausted in a Minute after Convulsions lay with the Tongue out as if dead but when expos'd to the Air in a Trice recover'd Another Kitling of the same Age being included in the same Receiver after it had been by turns convulsive six Minutes upon pumping out the Air seem'd dead and when taken out of the Receiver lay with its Tongue out without either Pulse or Respiration but being pinch'd it presently gave signs of Life and in a quarter of an hour gaping and straining to fetch Breath it recover'd A third being put into the same Receiver after violent Convulsions and want of Breath in a Minute and half seem'd dead no more Air being drawn out than what was done at 3 Exsuctions The Pump being still ply'd and the Kitling seeming to swell some time after gave signs of Life being violently convuls'd After it had been inclos'd 7 Minutes we let in the Air and put Aq. Vitae into the Mouth of the Kitling yet it dy'd in our Hands These Animals continu'd perhaps 3 times as long alive in Vacuo as others would have done TITLE V. Some Tryals about the Air usually harbour'd in the Pores of VVater c. Air conceal'd in the Pores of Water TO try how much Air is contain'd in a Quantity of Water in reference to their Bulk We fill'd a Chymical Pipe 36 Inches long with Water and inverted it in a Glass Vessel about ¼ of an Inch deep and 2 Inches Diameter These being included in a Receiver the Air was pump'd out and upon a Re-admission of it the Bubble collected at the Top wanted 8 10 of about 100 part of an Inch. Soon after a Tube to be describ'd by and by was fill'd with the same Water and inverted and when the Receiver into which it was conveigh'd was so far exhausted that the Water in the Pipe sunk even with the stagnant Water Air was let in and rose the Water within a Tenth part and ½ of an Inch to the Top. The Tube was 43 ¼ Inches above the stagnant Water this Experiment being twice try'd the first time the Space possess'd by the Air was ¼ of an Inch and more the second it was ½ and 1 15. The first time the Water subsided level with the stagnant Water In the second Tryal within 4 or 5 Inches of it In these Experiments it was observable that tho' the Air possess'd so little Room in the Pores of the Water that the Water seem'd not to subside when it was drawn out yet the Air in the Cavity of the Tube possess'd a considerable Space Quare Whether Water freed once of it's Air will yield Air again and whether there is not Air enough in the Pores of Water to be serviceable to Fishes when suck'd through their Gills To discover more nicely what Quantity of Air is contain'd in the Pores of Water we made use of a Pipe which consisted of a Globous Part 3 ½ Inches Diameter and a Stem 9 Inches long an Inch of which at the Top was melted and drawn out 2 or 3 Inches till it was as slender as a Crow Quill This Glass being fill'd with Water was with a Pedestal conveigh'd into a Receiver and upon evacuating of it Bubbles plentifully rose and made a kind of a Froth or Foam but breaking at the Top of the slender Pipe they did not run over When the Receiver had been pretty well exhausted we left off pumping till the Water had been pretty well freed from Bubbles and so we successively pump'd and left off again till the Water seem'd quite free from Air and then letting in External Air the Water did not seem a Hairs breadth lower than before The like Experiment was try'd with Claret which made us think it worth while to try what kind of Substances may be obtain'd from Aerial and Spirituous Bodies by handling them thus TITLE VI. Of some Phaenomena afforded by Shell-Fishes in an exhausted Receiver EXPERIMENT I. Oysters in Vacuo TWO Oysters in their Shells being shut up in Vacuo whilst the Receiver was exhausting several Bubbles got out of the Shell the Oysters were alive at the End of 24 hours EXPERIMENT II. A Craw-Fish in Vacuo A Craw-Fish being included in a Receiver when the Air was pretty well exhausted seem'd dead but reviv'd upon a Re-admission of the Air when the Air was again exhausted it was void of Motion the Experiment being 3 or 4 times exhausted and Air let in again when the Fish was taken out it seem'd not to have suffer'd much harm EXPERIMENT III. ANother Oyster being shut up in a Receiver and immers'd in Water that the Bubbles which might come out of the Shell might be visible if any we found that this Fish was so strong that no Bubbles could get out of the Shell EXPERIMENT IV. A Craw-Fish stronger than the former except one small Intermission continu'd in Motion whilst the Air was exhausting TITLE VII Of the Phaenomena of a Scale Fish in an exhausted Receiver A Gudgeon in Vacuo WE fill'd the Globous Part of a Receiver which was shap'd like a Bolt-head and large enough to hold a Pint half full of Water and put a Gudgeon 3 Inches long into it which swam up and down this being done we exhausted the
Receiver so far that but one part of twenty of the Air was drawn out and then we observ'd the following Particulars First The Water except about the Fish afforded no Froth and but few Bubbles Secondly The Fish discharg'd several Bubbles at its Mouth and Gills and several after it rested half an hour stuck to its Fins and Tayl and other Parts these Bubbles by swimming would be shaken off but upon a little Rest they would appear about him again Thirdly Except at the latter End he seem'd to take in Air at his Mouth and Gills Fourthly After a while he lay on his Back and would swim in that Posture Fifthly In some time he mov'd more lively than at first An hour and half after he was included he seem'd clear of Bubbles but lay on his Back and was a little tumid yet as lively as before An hour and a ¼ after he was without Motion and stiff yet being excited by Motion he mov'd a little Air being let into the Receiver whilst he was under Water he sunk to the Bottom and seem'd a little reviv'd and being conveigh'd along with the Water into a Bason of fresh Water he was further recover'd yet could not lie on his Belly but turn'd from one side to the other his Belly seem'd much shrunk he was alive at 24 hours end and then was able to lie on his Belly TITLE VIII Of two Animals included with large Wounds in the Abdomen in the Pneumatical Receiver EXPERIMENT I. ABird in Vacuo A Small Bird whose Abdomen was open'd tranversly in about a Minute after we began to Pump had Convulsions in its Wings and being taken out was past Recovering tho' there was very little Alteration in its Lungs and the Auricles of its Heart continued to beat EXPERIMENT II. A Frog in Vacuo A Frog whose Abdomen was so much open'd that two curl'd Lobes of its Lungs came out at the Incisions was suspended by the Leg in a small Receiver which when it was in some Measure exhausted lay void of Motion its Abdomen and. Thigh being swell'd very much as if distended with some Aery Vapour One Lobe when the Frog was shut up appear'd full the other shrunk up and thus they continu'd till Air was let into the Receiver again and then the Body growing less tumid and the Lobe of the Lungs which was tumid subsiding it presently recover'd TITLE IX Of the Motion of the separated Heart of a cold Animal in the exhausted Receiver EXPERIMENT I. The Heart of an Eel in Vacuo THE Heart of an Eel being shut up in a Receiver upon a Tin Plate beat as in the open Air and the Receiver being exhausted grew tumid emitting several Bubbles out of it yet it continu'd to beat as fast or faster than in the open Air. The like Success we had with another EXPERIMENT II. THE Heart of another tho' tumid beat an hour in Vacuo and then beginning to fail I apply'd Heat to the Glass upon which it renew'd and continu'd it's Motions another hour at which time it 's Motion was renew'd by applying of Heat a second time at the end of the third hour the Motion which was but a trembling one could neither be promoted by the Air nor Heat TITLE X. A Comparison of Times wherein Animals may be kill'd by drowning or withdrawing of the Air. EXPERIMENT I. Sept. 10. Animals in an exhausted Receiver A Green-Finch being sunk in Water by a Weight was dead after it had lain half 0184 0108 V 3 a Minute without Motion EXPERIMENT II. A Sparrow which at the first moved very vigorously under Water being taken up after it had lain half a Minute without Motion was past Recovery EXPERIMENT III. A Mouse being immers'd half a Minute and some Seconds after some faint signs of Life tho not Convulsive dy'd EXPERIMENT IV. A Duck being immers'd by a Weight after it had lain quiet for a Minute was a little uneasie but being quiet at the end of the second Minute we took it out and in a little time it recover'd but being immers'd again in fresh Water it emitted several Bubbles at its Beak and Nostrils and in two Minutes time began to struggle At the end of four Minutes ceasing to emit Bubbles it began to gape which continu'd two Minutes and then its Head hanging carelesly down it seem'd dead being taken out a Minute after it was past Recovery EXPERIMENT V. A Duckling being immers'd with its Beak about 2 Inches under Water emitted Bubbles at its Beak which likewise arose from some place in its Neck about as far from its Eyes as from its Ears after which several times it endeavour'd to dive lower and having been moderately convuls'd hung its Head down as if dead at 3 Minutes end soon after a trembling Motion appeared in some parts of its Bill but that ceasing at the end of the 4th Minute it was taken out past Recovery EXPERIMENT VI. A Viper was so long kept in Vacuo that it seem'd dead but being kept all night over a digestive Furnace in a Glass Body was as lively as ever Then we immers'd it in a Glass Body stopp'd with a Cork and depress'd with a Weight where it lay a considerable time with very little Motion when four hours were almost past it swam above the Bottom of the Water and had several times put out its Tongue when a little more than seven hours were past it seem'd dead its Head and Tail hanging down without Motion N. B. Tho' several of these Animals seem to die a little sooner in Water than in Vacuo yet it does not certainly prove that the former kills them faster for in Water they are depriv'd of Air instantly In a Receiver by degrees which is evident from hence viz. That having provided a Receiver which could be exhausted at one suck the Animal contain'd in it would be dead in half a Minute TITLE XI Of the Accidents that happen'd to Animals in Air brought to a Considerable Degree but not near the utmost one of Rarefaction EXPERIMENT I. Aug. 18. A Linote being 3 hours in a Receiver Several Animals in Vacuo large enough to hold 4 ½ Pints seem'd sick but being taken out recover'd EXPERIMENT II. Aug. 18. A Linote being enclos'd in a Receiver half exhausted was not in danger of Death in less than 1 ¼ hour and then being expos'd to the Air Recover'd EXPERIMENT III. Sept. 9. A Lark being included in a Receiver of the former Magnitude together with a Gage when ¾ of the Air was exhausted in a Minute and half was taken with Convulsions and at the end of the second Minute was past Recovery EXPERIMENT IV. Sept. 9. A Green-Finch being shut up in the same Receiver half exhausted in a Minute was sick and threw Matter which she vomited upon the side of the Glass upon which she seem'd better and continu'd so for 3 Minutes and then being sick and vomiting as before she eat part of it up
Mercury being too heavy to be buoy'd up so high it will not be elevated higher than an Atmospherical Cylinder is able to raise it But those Modern Philosophers who allow not a Fuga Vacui ascribe the Ascent of such Liquors to an Impulse or Propagation of Motion by the Dilation of the Thorax for they think that the Lungs drawing in the Air the dilated Thorax propagates the Impulse till it reaches successively the Body suck'd for such thinking the Universe totally a Plenum think that such Matter not finding any other Place to move into does upon that score buoy up the Water or Mercury in the Pipe But if we consider how vast the Dimensions of the Air are and comparatively how inconsiderable an Impulse the Thorax by dilating can make it will scarce be thought that so slight a one will compress the whole Air so much as to make it impel the Body suck'd vigorously enough to rise to that height which Liquors may be rais'd to by Suction But the Ascent of such Liquors evidently depends on this that by Suction the Pressure is taken off the Surface of the Water within the Pipe and consequently it must rise and be buoy'd up by the Pressure of the Atmosphere on the stagnant Water To countenance my Opinion and to refute the others I have mention'd I shall offer the following Experiment viz. A small Bubble with a Stem being seal'd up when the Air was forc'd out by Rarefaction the Stem was broke under Water upon which the Water rush'd into the Cavity of the Bubble where if it be said to go into the Bubble to prevent a Vacuum those that say so allow dari Vacuum and subvert their own Principles and as for the Plenists upon the same Account we may ask them what became of that Air which was expell'd out of the Bubble and remain'd so till the Stem was broke since were the World an absolute Plenum before there could be no room for it without nor could there be such an empty Space within to receive the Water Besides if they say the external Air being condens'd and compress'd by that which is forced out of the Bubble occasions the Re-ingress of Water when the Stem is broke off it may justly be wonder'd that a cubic Inch of Air should be able to condense the Air so much that a Mile's distance from the place the Bubble was evacuated in it should be able to press the Water thus in again But by our Hypothesis it is accounted for without these Difficulties since the Resistance of the rarifi'd Air within the Bubble being disproportionable to the Pressure of the less rarifi'd Ambient Air it must consequently yield to it and give way to the Ingress of Water Our own Opinion propos'd and prov'd From what hath been said it plainly appears what our Hypothesis is which that I may confirm by the following Experiments I shall briefly intimate That the Ascent of Liquors by Suction in a Word depends on the External Pressure of the Air when it is taken off the internal Superficies of the Liquor in that Tube what that Pressure depends on we have elsewhere prov'd in our Physico-Mechanical Experiments of the Air 's Spring and Weight and therefore shall proceed to Experiments to confirm what we teach of Suction We took then a crooked Syphon whose shorter Leg was parallel to the longer which being hermetically seal'd and so much Water conveigh'd into the crooked End that it was of an equal Height in both Legs so much Air was contain'd in the Cavity of the shorter Leg as possesses an Inch and ½ The Instrument being thus prepar'd one was order'd to suck at the Top of the longer Leg and by all the Force and reiterated Suctions he was not able to raise the Water higher than the Air in the shorter Leg depress'd the Surface of that for when the Spring of that Air was so far weaken'd that it could not depress the Water subjacent the Water kept at the same Station being not above four Inches high which was not two Inches and an half higher than at first But as soon as the External Pressure of the Atmosphere was again admitted to the Surface of the Water in the longer Tube it was presently depress'd and the Air in the shorter Leg condens'd till the Water likewise rose in that to it's first Station For a further Confirmation of our Hypothesis about Suction I shall subjoyn Experiments to prove the following Propositions Our Hypothesis reduc'd to Propositions I. That a Liquor may be rais'd by Suction when the Pressure of the Air neither as it hath Weight nor Elastacity is the Cause of the Elevation II. That the Weight of the Atmospherical Air is sufficient to raise up Liquors by Suction III. That in some Cases Suction will not be made as according to the Hypothesis I dissent from it should although there be a Dilatation of the Suckers Thorax and no danger of a Vacuum tho' the Liquor should ascend The first Propositions prov'd To make out the first Proposition I made the following Experiment viz. I took an inverted Tube such as was formerly made use of for a Travelling Baroscope but something longer which being fill'd with Mercury it was inverted and the Mercury in the longer Leg stood above the Mercury in the shorter Leg as high as it usually does in an ordinary Barometer and then one was order'd to suck at the shorter Leg upon which the Mercury subsided in the longer and rose in the shorter the Mercury in the longer by it's own Weight depressing the subjacent and raising that when the equivalent Weight of the Atmosphere was taken off The second Proposition prov'd As for the second Proposition laid down viz. That the Weight of the Air is sufficient to raise Liquors in Suction It may easily be prov'd by Arguments drawn from our Physico-Mechanical Experiments and therefore here I shall only take notice of Phaenomena exhibited by our Travelling Baroscope for having got a Baroscope whose shorter Leg was something longer than ordinary we caus'd one by Suction to raise the Mercury up to the Top of it and then hermetically sealing it up we mark'd the place to which the Mercury had subsided in the longer which being done we unseal'd the shorter Leg and observ'd that the Pressure of the Atmosphere elevated the Mercury in the longer Leg 5 Inches The third confirm'd For a further Confirmation of the Doctrin laid down in this Proposition I shall subjovn the following Experiment We made use of a Travelling Baroscope whose shorter Leg was 2 Inches above the Surface of the stagnant Mercury and having seal'd up the End of the shorter Leg we open'd the End of the longer upon which the Weight of the Atmosphere being added to the Pressure made by the Cylinder of Mercury the Air contain'd in the shorter Leg was compress'd into half the Space it possess'd before This Experiment being try'd a second time had the like Success To
make it further appear how much the Ascent of Liquors depends on Pressure I took a Glass Syphon like the former and having hermetically seal'd up the shorter Leg I pour'd in so much Mercury as compress'd the Air in the shorter Leg into half the Space it possess'd before the Mercury in the longer Leg being at the same time about 30 Inches higher than in the other nevertheless the Mercury could not be rais'd by Suction above one Inch higher in the longer Leg whereas did the Ascent of Liquors depend on Nature's Abhorrency of a Vacuum it would have rose much higher there being no danger of leaving a Vacuum in the shorter Leg since the Air was compress'd into half the Space it naturally possesses so that the Reason according to our Hypothesis evidently appears to be this viz. that the Pressure of the Cylinder of Mercury and the compress'd Air being in a due Aequilibrium when by sucking the Air is drawn out of the longer the Air in the shorter expands it self so much as Pressure is taken off by the Removal of that Air and when it is expanded so far the Pillar of Mercury keeps it from expanding any further so that there being no other Force to raise and press the Mercury up it can be elevated no higher since the Air included in the shorter Leg acts only by Virtue of it's Spring and not as in the open Atmosphere by Virtue of it's Spring and Weight too so when it hath lost it's Spring it can propel the Mercury no higher To conclude this Discourse I shall here explain one Phaenomenon in Vacuo Boyliano which to some seems an Argument of Nature's Abhorrency of a Vacuum The Phaenomenon is That if ones Finger be apply'd to the Orifice of the Pipe that conveighs Air from the Receiver to the Pump the Pulp of one Finger will enter a good way into the Pipe and be very painful the Protuberant Part of it seeming to be drawn in by Attraction To which we give this brief Answer viz. That when first the Finger is plac'd there it receives an equal Pressure from the Air within the Pipe and from the Atmosphere but when that Air is drawn away the External Pressure finding no Resistance presses the fleshy Part into the Tube which is accordingly painful as the External Pressure in reference to the internal Resistance is greater or less To illustrate this Explication I shall add that having clos'd up one End of a Glass Pipe whose Diameter was an Inch with a piece of oyl'd Bladder and fill'd it full of Water it was immers'd in a tall Vessel full of Water the immers'd End of the Tube reaching almost to the Bottom of the Vessel and the other End emerging and standing open above the Vessel This being done we took Water out of the Tube till the Surface of it was considerably lower than the Surface of the Water in the Glass Body upon which the Bladder being more strongly press'd against by the Water in the Vessel than that in the Tube the Bladder was forc'd so much into the Cavity of the Tube as to form a Semi-Globe but if when the Water in the Tube and that in the Vessel were equally pois'd the uppermost Orifice of the Tube were stopp'd tho' the Pipe were so much immers'd that the Quantity of Water which press'd against the lower side of the Bladder were greater than that in the Tube yet would not the Bladder have the least Protuberance but if the Orifice of the Tube were left open to the Air the Bladder would suddenly be press'd so much into the Hollow of the Pipe that it 's Convex Superficies would represent a Semi-Circle The same Experiment being try'd with a Tube the lower End of which was so bent as to form a right Angle the Success was the same Nor did it vary when try'd in the straight Pipe with Wine instead of Water save that Wine not being specifically aeque-ponderant with Water a greater Quantity of Wine was requisite to settle them at first in a just Aequilibrium but when that Aequilibrium was lost by immerging the Tube into the Water the Bladder was rais'd so as to become protuberant in the Cavity of the Pipe CHAP. VIII Some Observations and Directions about the Barometer communicated by Mr. Boyle in the Phil. Transact of April 1666. Observations concerning Barometers THE Design of trying Barometrical Experiments in several Parts being only that by comparing Notes The Extent of Atmospherical Changes in Point of Weight might be the better estimated I shall lay down the following Directions for those whose Curiosity leads them that way First It will be requisite to note the Day and Hour in which Observations are made Secondly The Situation of the Place where the Barometer stands as to Height since by the Length of the Atmosperical Pillar of Air that presses upon it the height of the Mercury may vary tho' not always exactly for sometimes upon Changes in the Air not otherwise observable the Mercury will subside more than usually in that which stands furthest from the Center of the Earth when at the same time it does not proportionably subside in that which is plac'd in a lower Situation And It perhaps may be Worth Noting whether upon excessive Droughts when the Ground is parch'd and crack'd some subterraneal Effluvia may not rise which may add a specifick Gravity to the Air. Nor will it be needless when other Observations are making at the same time to observe the Weather as also what Winds blow and whether violent or more remiss for sometimes it is observ'd that when high Winds blow the Mercury is the lower tho' not always But to favour what hath been intimated viz. That the Alterations in the Weight of the Air depend on subterraneal Steams mix'd with it It hath been observ'd that after long Droughts upon a Shower of Rain so many Steams have been either prevented from rising or depress'd and precipitated that the Mercury hath subsided within 2 16 of an Inch. CHP. IX An Account of a new kind of Baroseope which may be call'd Statical communicated in the Philosophical Transactions of July 2. 1666. A new Baroscope describ'd HAving caus'd a Glass Bubble to be blown as large and thin as it possibly could be I counterpois'd it in a Pair of Scales which would turn with the 30th Part of a Grain which Ballance being suspended at a Frame both the Frame and the Ballance were placed by a good Baroscope from whence the present Weight of the Atmosphere might be learnt By which means I could discern Variations by which the Altitude of the Mercury was not alter'd above ¼ of an Inch. And it was not a little pleasant to behold that sometimes the Bubble would be counterpois'd but when the Atmosphere was very high it would manifestly preponderate and upon other Changes the Scales would preponderate on the other side and in some Days time again regain it's Aequilibrium so that by looking
first on the statical Baroscope one might foretel whether in the Mercurial Baroscope the Water were higher or lower but of all the Seasons we made our Observations in the most frequent Changes were in the Spring This statical Baroscope having exactly answer'd upon frequent Observations I shall add the following Notes concerning the Instrument And first as to the Grounds on which I proceeded in making this Baroscope 1. That the Glass Bubble and it's Glass Counterpoise are not of the same Bulk the Bubble being a hundred times bigger than the Counterpoise 2. If Bodies of equal Weight and unequal Bulks be weigh'd in another Medium the Aequilibrium will be lost for if the new Medium be heavier the Body whose Dimensions were larger will be lighter than before and Vice versâ and the Disparity of Weight in the new Medium will be greater as the Inequality of Bulk betwixt the two Bodies varies 3. These two things being laid together I consider'd that it would be the same thing in reference to the Effects what Medium these Bodies were weigh'd in provided the difference were considerable and consequently since the Baroscope made it evident that the Weight of the Air vary'd the Bubble and it's Counterpoise would be differently affected upon those Variations and would accordingly preponderate the Bubble being subject to preponderate when the Air was lighter and Vice versâ Secondly The Bubble was about the size of a large Orange and weig'd 1 Drachm and 10 Grains Thirdly If I had had any Opportunities I would have try'd whether the Aequilibrium of these two Bodies would have been alter'd by the Driness or Moisture of the Air. Fourthly When I could not get one Bubble large enough I have made use of two less which tho' they are not altogether so convenient yet if the Scales be strong enough to bear the Weight they will answer the Design of the Experiment This Instrument may be improv'd by several Accomodations As First To the Ansa of the Ballance an Arch of a Circle may be fitted which being divided into 15 or 20 Degrees will readily tell the Quantity of the Angle and how much the Position of the Cock declines from a Perpendicular Secondly A Counterpoise of Gold may be made use of Thirdly The Ballance being made of Copper or Brass will in time vary less in it's Exactness than if it be made of Steel which is more subject to rust Fourthly The Bubble and it's Counterpoise may be suspended at the Beam by which means it will be less burthen'd with Weight Fifthly The whole Instrument will be more free from Dust and irregular Agitations if placed in a Frame like a Square Lanthorn with Glass Windows and a Hole at the Top to give an Intercourse betwixt External and Internal Air. Sixthly This Instrument having a light Wheel and an Index fitted to it such as Dr. Wren us'd to open Weather-Glasses with and the Ingenious Mr. Hook apply'd to Baroscopes will discover more minute Variations Seventhly The Beam may be improv'd by being made longer and it's Ballance may be more exquisite than those I generally employ'd Thus tho' this statical Baroscope be inferior to the Mercurial one in some Respects yet in others it is more convenient For First It demonstrates to Autopsie that the Ascent and Descent of the Mercury depends on the varying Weight of the Atmosphere since here it cannot be pretended that the Changes depend on a Fuga Vacui Secondly It shews that the Air hath Weight and much more than some Learned Men would allow since in so small a Quantity of it we see considerable Variations Thirdly It is more easily provided and more conveniently removed Fourthly We are more easily satisfied of the Goodness of them Fifthly The Absolute or Respective Weight of the Air may more easily be discover'd if when the Weight and Dimensions of the Bubble is Hydrostatically discover'd upon every Alteration of the Mercury's Height in the mercurial Baroscope the statical Baroscope's Aequilibrium be restored by the Addition of Weights that Weight in the statical Baroscope answering the Variations in the Ascent or Descent of the Mercury in the other Sixthly By this Instrument we may compare the mercurial Baroscopes of several Places and be able to make some Estimate of the Gravities of the Air therein for if in one place the Bubble weighs a Drachm when the Mercury is 29 ½ Inches high and that when the Mercury is risen an 8th it is requisite to add the sixteenth Part of a Grain to preserve the Aequilibrium When I come to another Place and find the same Proportions answer I may conclude that there is no sensible Difference in the Weight of the Atmosphere in those Places but if an additional Weight be requir'd to preserve the Aequilibrium then the Air is so much heavier than when the Mercury stood at 92 ½ Inches But in making these Observations we must take notice whether the Places in which they are made are equally distant from the Center of the Earth for if one be a Valley and the other a Hill there will happen a difference upon that Account There is yet another use which may be made of this statical Baroscope which is to discover the Weight of the Atmosphere at the Top and Bottoms of high Mountains but whether that may contribute to the discovering the Height of Mountains or not I shall leave to be consider'd with more leisure CHAP. X. A Discovery of the Admirable Rarefaction of the Air even without Heat FROM what hath been deliver'd amongst our new Physico-Mechanical Experiments it appears that long since I could by the help of my Engin rarifie the Air to 152 times it 's usual Dimensions and the Virtuosi of the Florentine Academy tell us that they would rarifie it without the help of my Engin to 173 times it 's former Dimensions Yet for further Satisfaction I made the following Tryals EXPERIMENT I. Air expanded to above 8000 times it 's natural Dimensions HAving fill'd a round Glass Egg of clear Metal and furnish'd with a Pipe some Inches long with Water this together with a Viol in which Water was likewise contain'd was conveigh'd into a Receiver and when the Air was exhausted we observ'd that Bubbles were afforded plentifully in both so that the Water seem'd to boil and that in the Stem of the Glass Egg ran over This being done and the Water in both freed from Air we took them out and filling up the Stem of the Glass Egg with Water out of the Bottle we inverted it into more of the same so that the Glass Egg and Stem was wholly full except that a Bubble of Air was contain'd in the Top of the Egg whose Dimensions were a Tenth and less than two Centesms of an Inch. Then the Glasses being placed in the Receiver we set the Engin on Work and observ'd that the Bubble gradually expanded till it fill'd up the whole Capacity of the Egg except the Stem and lest the Water
should be thought to subside only for want of the Internal Air to bear it up we continu'd pumping till the Bubble in the Egg expanding further depress'd the Surface of the Water in the Stem below the Surface of the External Water The Air being thus far rarifi'd we compar'd the Diameter of the Bubble with the Diameter of the Glass and found it to be as 1 to 20 and consequently according to Euclid the Proportion betwixt Spheres being triplicate to that of their Diameters the Diameter of the lesser being one the Diameter of the other must be 8000. So that the Air expanded possess'd 8000 times the Space it possess'd before The Glass Egg being fill'd with such Water again and no Air included in it tho' the Receiver was in a great measure exhausted yet the Water did not subside till a Bubble at the last rose to the Top whose Diameter was to the Diameter of the Glass as 1 to 14 so that according to Euclid's Rule before-mention'd the Bubble expanded possess'd 2744 times as much Space as before But Dr. Wallis observing the great Thinness of the Glass thought that the expanded Bubble possessed 8232 times it 's former Dimensions N. B. Water being let into the Exhausted Receiver till it would receive no more we found that by reason of some Leaks the Receiver had not been perfectly exhausted EXPERIMENT II. June 2.62 Air expanded to 10000 times it 's former Bulk ASmall Bolt-head which was able to contain 80 Grains of Water being inverted into a Jar it was shut up in the Receiver and when the Air was exhausted Bubbles which rose out of the Water expanding themselves presently drove all the Water out of the Bolt-head but when the Air was let in again the expanded Air in the Bolt-head form'd a Bubble no bigger than a Pin's Head After this we fill'd the Bolt-head with Water clear'd of Air and when the Receiver was pretty well exhaufied a Bubble ascended to the Top of the Bolt-head which when the Air was again let in was almost invisible yet the Receiver being again exhausted it expanded it self so far as almost to drive all the Water out of the Bolt-head yet when the External Air was again admitted into the Receiver it shrunk into a Bubble whose Diameter was 1 22 part of the Diameter of the Bolt-head so that to fill the whole Cavity it expanded it self 10648 times but considering the Cavity of the Neck of the Vessel which it likewise in some measure fill'd it was expanded to 13769 times its Bulk The Diameter of the small Bubble retracted was 1 27 of an Inch. The Diameter of the outside of the Head of the Glass was 29 36 of an Inch. The Water that fill'd the Head was 60 ½ Grains The Water that fill'd so far of the Neck as the expanded Bubble possess'd was 17 ½ Grains The Bolt-head weigh'd 15 Grains EXPERIMENT III. THE foregoing Experiment being repeated we found that a Bubble whose Diameter was 1 16 of an Inch in Diameter when expanded possessed the whole Space of the Ball as well as Neck of the Bolt-head and depress'd the Surface of the Water within the Pipe below the Surface of the stagnant Water From these Experiments it appears that according to the most moderate Estimate Air expanded will possess 2744 times it 's natural Space and according to our most successful Experiments 13000. So that we may justly admire the Minuteness of those Aerial Instruments that she employs even about Visible Operations CHAP. XI New Observations about the Duration of the Spring of Expanded Air. Observations about the Duration of the Air 's Spring IT having not been as yet attempted to shew whether a Portion of expanded Air would retain it's Elasticity and it's Power of Restitution or not nor how long nor whether a Portion of Air inclos'd in a Receiver would have it's Spring vary'd upon Full or the Change of the Moon tho' I cannot much boast of the Progress I have made yet I shall subjoyn the following Attempts on that Occasion A Glass Bubble newly blown and whilst it contain'd none but rarifi'd Air had it's Stem imediately clapt into a Flame and Seal'd up Many Months after it was inverted into a Basin of Water and the Seal broke off under the Surface of it and tho' Water was violently impell'd into the Cavity of it yet the included Air had so far retain'd it's Spring as not to suffer the Cavity to be quite filled with Water Another Method I took to shew the Durableness of the Air 's Spring was the following viz. Leaving a small Portion of Air in the Folds of a Lamb's Bladder whose Neck was closely ty'd it was inclos'd in another Vessel and conveigh'd into our Pneumatick Engin and when the Receiver was exhausted the expanded Air distended the Bladder so that it fill'd the whole Cavity of the Vessel by whose sides it was guarded from the Pressure of the outward Air so that the expanded Air kept the Bladder distended two Years For further Satisfaction I contriv'd an Instrument by which I could learn whether and how long Air variously expanded will retain it's Spring by which I could not discover that the Air lost any thing considerable of it's Spring in ten Weeks time Another Instrument I made use of by which I could find that Air expanded to 1000 times it 's usual Dimensions would be sensibly affected by Heat and lose the Expansion it gain'd thereby upon a Removal of that Heat March 18. We try'd the following Experiment A Cylindrical Glass having a long Stem at the unseal'd End was fill'd with Water and inverted into Water which lay in the bottom of a large Pipe seal'd at one End and 3 or 4 Foot long which being done the large Pipe was so far exhausted that the Air the inverted Pipe possess'd the whole Cavity of it down to the Stem upon which the larger Tube being clos'd up the expanded Air possess'd the same Space 3 Months after except that betwixt the Pipe and the Stem upon extream Cold the Water rose ⅛ or near ¼ The clos'd Apex being broke open under Water it gradually fill'd the whole Cavity except a small Space possess'd by a little Bubble The Diameter of the Cylindrical Part of the Pipe was ⅗ of an Inch and its Length 3 Inches the Bubble was about 2 10 in Diameter and 2 100 in Depth so that the Bubble was according to Dr Wallis his Computation to the Space it possessed when expanded as 1 to 1350. CHAP. XII New Experiments touching the Condensation of the Air by mere Cold and it's Compression without Mechanichal Engins Of the Air 's Condensation by Cold c. TO try how far the Air is capable of being condens'd by mere Cold when the Season of the Year hath not pre-affected it I try'd the following Experiment in Autumn In the middle of September about Noon on a Sun-shiny Day we placed a Bolt head in a Frame so that the Stem was
Perpendicular to the Horizon and the lower End of it immers'd in Water This done we cover'd the Ball of the Bolt-head with a Mixture of beaten Ice and Bay-Salt upon which the internal Air being condens'd the Water rose up into the Stem and stood a good while Then having made a Mark at it's highest Station we fill'd the Vessel with Water and found that it yielded ℥ 19 and ʒvj the Weight of the Water which fill'd the Stem up to the Mark being ℥ j and ʒiij by which Number the former being divided the Quotient was 14 4 11 Drachms so that the Proportion of the two Quantities being as 11 to 158 The Space into which the Air was condens'd was to it 's former Space as 147 to 158 So that the highest Degree of Condensation it was then capable of made it lose of it's former Extent 11 158. N. B. First The Stem of the Glass ought to be long lest the Water upon the Air 's Condensation should rise into the Ball of it Secondly The Cylinder of Water was two Foot so that it might by it's Weight in some measure hinder the Ascent of more and so keep the Air from condensing to it's utmost Thirdly When the Water rose as high as it well could we observ'd it to rise and fall alternately for a little time Fourthly The Air may thus be further condens'd than by Winters Cold. But to shew that in the forgoing Experiment the Cold did not compress the Air immediately but partly in as much as it by stuffing up the Pores of the Water caus'd it to swell and so to compress the Air I took a new Glass Bolt-head with a short Neck and fill'd it full of Water so that when it was hermetically seal'd up the Liquor wrought within 3 Inches of the Top the sharp End which was made for the Conveniency of sealing being ¼ of an Inch long This being done the Bolt-head was plac'd in a Mixture of Snow and Salt upon which the Water ascended and compress'd the Air into the Conical Part upon which the Glass flew in pieces In which Experiment according to Dr. Wallis his Estimate the Air was compress'd into a 40th part of the Space it possess'd before Which is considerable above the utmost Compressure made in Wind-Guns where it is usually thought not to be compress'd into less than a 15th and according to Mersennus into an 8th part of it's former Space CHAP. XI Of the Admirably differing Extension of the same Quantity of Air rarified and compress'd The admirable different Extensions of the same Quantity of Air. THE first Thing I shall take notice of concerning the different Degrees of the Air 's Rarefaction and Condensation is That in our Climate tho' Cold will not condense it near into a 20th part of the Space it possess'd before yet it may be expanded to 70 times that Space Secondly The Air may be much more condens'd and rarifi'd by our Engins than by Heat or Cold the Proportion in respect of Expansion being as 1 to 70. But Thirdly Perhaps the Proportion betwixt the Degrees of the Air 's Condensation and Rarefaction will not be thought so great as what we have mention'd if we consider that the Air we make Experiments with here below is so much compress'd already by the Incumbent Atmosphere that for that Reason it is more inclin'd by it's Spring to yeild to an Expansive than a Compressive Force Fourthly It may be question'd how the parts of the Air which have a specifick Gravity come to be spread so thin in the Cavity of the exhausted Receiver since there is nothing in it for them to swim in and to bear them up Since the Proportion is so great betwixt the Parts of the Air and the Cavity of the Receiver they are contain'd in Fifthly It is not a little wonderful that Air should be so subject to vary it's Dimensions so that if we consider how far it may be expanded without the Assistance of Art elaborate Engins or Heat the Top of the Atmosphere must be extremely rare To conclude If we compare the utmost Degrees of Condensation and Rarefaction together the same Portion of Air may possess 520000 times the Space at one time that it did at another CHAP. XII New Experiments about the weakned Spring and unheeded Effects of the Air communicated in the Philos Transact of Decemb. 75. TO try whether as some Corrosions of Bodies in close Vessels increase the Spring of the Air so others may not weaken it and likewise to discover whether some Effects of the Air may not depend on some unheeded Qualities I made the following Experiments which I shall lay down when I shall have made some Tryals the Changes of Colour in Solutions of Copper by the Influence of the Air. EXPERIMENT I. Change of Colour in a Solution of Copper FILINGS of crude Copper being put into a Crystal Glass of a Conical Figure with as much Spirit of Salt as stood a Fingers breadth above the Filings we cover'd the Vessel with a Stopple exactly adapted to it upon a Solution of the Copper the Colour of the Liquor was a dark Brown but it soon lost that Colour and was clear again like common Water but when by taking out the Stopple the Liquor was again expos'd to the Air it first acquir'd a brown Colour upon the Top and that penetrating deeper into the Liquor by degrees it in a quarter of an hour was wholly tinged with a brown Colour again and so it successively laid down and re-acquir'd that Colour as it was stopp'd up or expos'd to the Air till at the last being kept up a Month it kept the brown Colour it had acquir'd in the Air unalter'd EXPERIMENT II. A Bottle of the same Liquor with the former and which was much clearer being expos'd to the open Air in half an hours time was not in the least alter'd but the Vessel being again clos'd up for two or three hours it acquir'd a faint Green and the Glass being again unstopp'd 24 hours the Green was deep enough but not very transparent EXPERIMENT III. ABout 3 Spoonful of the brown Tincture of Copper was shut up in a Receiver capable of holding ten times as much It retain'd it's Colour half a Year in Vacuo and then being expos'd to the Air it acquir'd a Green in about an hour without the Precipitation of any muddy Sediment EXPERIMENT IV. SOme of the aforemention'd Tincture being left a considerable time in a Window lost it's Colour and appear'd like common Water but towards the latter end of December being expos'd to the Air it acquir'd a faint and moderately transparent Green EXPERIMENT V. Filings of Copper and Spirit of Wine FILINGS of Copper and as much rectified Spirit of fermented Urine as rose an Inch above them being shut up in a Conical Glass with a mercurial Gage in some hours the Mercury in the seal'd Leg was depress'd EXPERIMENT VI. A Gage being shut up in a
degli huomini e passando per i Campi sbarbicando ogni sorte di Piante le portò per aria gettandole molti passi lontano rendendo la terra per oue scorce cosi arsa che pare non ui sii mai stata piantata cosa alcuna Arriuò nella villa decta Bagnaria del Dominio Veneto doue gettò a terra molte Case sino a fondamenti et altre discoperse e rouinò portando per aria tauole traui et ogni altra cosa che era dentro esse Case restando mal trattate molte Persone senza però la morte di alcuno Fuori di dettata Villa ui e una Chiesa chiatata S. Tomaso la quale resto scoperta e rouinata una parte del muro portando uia il Campanile e Campane che nel giorno seguente non erano per anco trouate Di lá si portò uerso Seuigliano Dominio Veneto e rouinō tutta la Campagna senza danno però della Villa stessa mentre li passò poco lontano e girando poco lungi dalla Villa stessa spiantò da fondamenti un Palazzo del D. Co. Horatio Strasoldo nel quale gli amazzò ogni sorte di à nimali che ui erano portando per aria li mobili e sino le botti esterminando parre della possessione Non restorono però offese Persone perche erano alla Campagna a lauorare e nel camino getto pure a terra due altre Case che sono nel Taglio per andare a Strasoldo spiantandole affacto con la morte di una Donna d'un Fanciullo e diuersi Animali Di là uoltò uerso Palma et arriuando sino alle mura della Fortezz agirò uerso la Villa di Priuano mezo miglio distante quale rouinò la meta spiantando da fondamenti belissimi Palazzi portando per aeria travi tavole et ogni altra cosa con la morte di molti quantità di feriti e diuersi strapazzati con far alla Campagna di molto male Di poi scorse nella Villa di Visco Dominio Imperiale e tra li altri danni fatti roninò tutto il Palazzo novo del D. Marco Foscolini Gentilhuomo di Cinidal nel quale essendoni una gran rimessa da Carozze la di cui Porta hauena tre Cadenazzi entrando il Turbine per li balconi gettò la Carozza con tanto empito nella Porta siessa che la ruppe e portò fuori la Caroza tutta fracassata gettandola sopra un muro della Corte assa alto portando il Cielo della stessa mezzo miglio lontano e vertò nel medemo Palazzo ferito e mal trattato un seruitore di esso Foscolini di cui ronino pure Braida un Brolo essendo in detta Villa restati due morti e diversi feriti S' inoltrò poi nella Villa di S. Vido di Crauglio stato Imperiale la quale rouino tutta affatto senza restaurui nemeno una Casa portando per Aria coppi travi legne sassi e mobili con la morte di moltissime Persone e moltissimi feriti e rouinati et in detta Villa non si può anddare ne con Carri ne con Caualli per la grande moltitudine di rouinazzo arbori et altro che hanno attauer-sato le strade essendo rimassi morti gran numero di animali Da questo luoco si portò uerso Villes Villa Imperiale buona parte della quale gettò a terra andar al. Territorio di Monfalcone con la morte di molte persone et quantità di animali con lasciar le Campagne per dove è passata senza piante e come strada battuta Hà danneggiato anco altre Ville ma leggiermenre ne per anco si sá quello hauerà fatto piu avanti nel detto Territorio Questo successo hà lasciato un spauento grande in queste Parti essendosi uedute cose incredibili mentre pioveuano sassi tauole arbori traui coppi huomini donne fanciulli botti sorghi uva galline animali et in conclusione ciò che incontraua portaua per aria con un rumore e fracasso così gradne che faceua terrore essendo per dette Ville un concorso grande di Popolo uicino per uedere cose che si rendono incredibili I am told that tho' the Eastern Winds blow near Tangier about ¾ of a Year yet they reach not into the Inland Country where such Winds are not common I am told by one who observ'd it in the Bottom of a Mine near the Sea that before South Winds the Water would be troubled but before East Winds it would be clearer than ordinary the Depth of the Mine was about 15 or 20 Fathom He told me likewise that the Hurricanes at Goa come but at two Seasons about the beginning of March and the 4th of October TITLE XVI Of the Air as the Medium of Sounds and of Sounds and Noises in the Air and Particularly Thunder and of the Airs Operation on the Sounds of Bodies Of the Air as the Medium of Sounds UPon the Rising of several Tempests together the Sky seems covered over with Globes of Smoaky Clouds the Air seeming black and Thick and by and by incessant Lightning with terrible loud Thunder breaks out Ludolph's History of Aethiop l. 1. c. 5. A Viol String hath been Observed upon Rainy weather to sound half a Note sharper than before and I am told by the same Person that having kept false Strings in his Pockets for some time after they became true ones and the same Person hath Observ'd that some Strings are apter to Receive a Tension than others TITLE XVII Of the Weight of the Air The Weight of a cubical Inch of Water HAving placed a hollow Cube of Brass every side of which was an exact English Inch in a pair of Scales as Horizontally as we could It 's Weight being ʒxi gr 1. ss we fill'd it with common Water and then besides the Counter-poise of the Brass Cube the Water weighed 254 ◠◠Grains and since it is a hard Matter to fill the Vessel more exactly than we did I judge that a Cubick Inch may way 256 Grains Of Quicksilver A Cubick Inch of Mercury weighed in the same Brass Cube was 3580 Grains which is to the Weight of Water as 14 to 1 Of a Pillar of the Atmosphere The Weight of the Air incumbent on an Inch Square of Air here below amounts to 18 l ½ Troy-weight i. e. 15 l. 1 17 Averdupois-weight As 11 to 14. or rather as 355. to 452 so is the Area of a Square inscribed in a Circle to the Area of the Circumscribed Circle Hence 355 452 ∷ 1 1 2732394. Hence if the side of a Circumscribed Square be an Inch that Multiplied by an Inch renders a Cubick Inch for the Solid Content In the like manner if the Height of a
with London and at the most not exceeding 52 Degrees The Ice was near six Foot deep and the Frost so violent that Bottles of Brandy would have a fourth Part turn'd into Ice the unfroze Liquor being much stronger than before The Ice which swam upon the Water was fresh from whence they supply'd themselves with fresh Water either by melting it in their Pots or by gathering it from large Cavities in floating pieces of Ice where it was melted by the Sun-Beams A Traveller told me that upon the Top of a Pyrenean Mountain in the Summer it was very hot tho' the same Day it was cover'd with Snow and another told me that the Winds at Morocco were so hot as almost to stifle him And it hath been observ'd upon the Tops of high Pyrenean Mountains that below them there were Clouds which yielded Rain plentifully out of which Lightning flash'd upwards as well as downwards Dr. Stubbs told me that in a Bolt-head about 2 Foot ½ long about 7 or 8 a Clock in the Morning which is the faint time of the Day the Water would rise but ¼ of Inch and half a quarter after which time it would subside till that time the next Day He further added that in 8 or 10 Months time in that hot Country Water would not decrease in Quantity tho' kept unstopp'd I am told by another that in the Torrid Zone near the Coast of Sumatra tho' Ice nor Frost nor Snow are ever observ'd yet he hath known Hail to fall And I am told that in the Island of Ceylon which lies betwixt 6 and 10 Degrees North Latitude in that Torrid Climate it would be so cold at the Top of some Hills to whose Tops they could ascend in half an hour that they would almost shiver And Capt. Knox told me that having spent 18 Years in that Island he observ'd a kind of Meteor in Winters Mornings between a Dew and a hoar Frost which presently vanish'd and that once there happen'd a shower of Hail which were about the size of a black Cherry but were presently melted upon the Ground The Heat is so violent in the Island Suaquena that it excoriates the Skin melts Indian Wax in a Cabinet and sears your Shoes like a red hot Iron Yet on some Mountains in Aethiopia they dread Cold more than Heat tho' no Snow falls but only a little Hail now and then which soon melts and Tellesius witnesses that in many Regions in Aethiopia the Air is more mild than in Portugal so many Degrees distant Northward At Tripoli in Barbary it is observ'd that when the Wind blows over a long Sandy Desart it as well as the Wind it brings along with it seems as hot as the Steams from an Oven And and the same hath been observ'd near the Island of St. Lovis on the Coast of Africk where it was further remarkable that the Ground was so hot that the Gentleman who related it could scarce endure to stand upon it and he further told me that when the Wind blew from a Wood in which the dead Bodies of Wild Beasts lay it stunk so that it could scarce be endured In summo ejus montis Idae sc fastigio sacellum est quod aedificiolo duntaxat constat saxis sibi invicem impositis sine calce cohaerentibus fornicis in modum constructo ad tectum praebendum Sublimi adeo loco est à vehementioribus ventis interdum ita perflato ut lapilli inde transferantur Petri Bellonii lib. 1. cap. 16. Paulo infra id sacellum planities conspicitur montibus undique cincta in quâ multa sunt pascua ubi Arietes Caprae Cretenses aestate pinguescunt Si quis ex summo montis vertice undique prospiciat pâ—â—â—… aberit quin totius Insulae ambitum videat cum 〈◊〉 vicinis Insulis Miso Cerigo sive Cythera 〈◊〉 Archipelagi Aeris intemperies in hoc â—â—â—…te adeo magna est quemadmodum ut in caeteris praeâ—â—â—… montibus ut in ipsis Caniculae ardoribus â—…ridie nullo etiam spirante vento ingens senâ—â—â—tur frigus qua de causa nec hyeme nec aslâ—…te 〈◊〉 eum incolit Nam licet pastores interdâ—…â—â—iâ—â— greges ad pascua agunt noctu tamen in valles se recipiunt In the next Chapter Latè porro patet hic mons ejusque radices 〈◊〉 maris littora ut ante diximus attingunt nam licet urbi Candiae sunt vicinae meditullium tamen insulae occupat ipse mons adeo in sublime evectus ut nives ejus verticem perpetuò tegnant tamque frigida aâ—ra mediis etiam astatis ardoribus isthic est ut vix ferri queat tametsi in convallibus magnus sit aestus Jacobi Zabarelli de-Regionibus Aeris c. 8. Contigit id meae experientiae quod etiam aliis contigisse audivi ut ascenderem ad summutatem usque montis Veneris qui omnium in Patavino agro altissimus est ibi per totum diem habui Aerem serenissimum sed infra circiter medium montis vidi nubes quae me visione vallium prohibebant vesperi autem postquam de illo monte descendi inveni factam eo die infera parte magnam pluviam cum in montis cacumine nihil pluisset ex eo intellexi me transiisse per mediam Aeris regionem in qua est facta pluvia nec tamen eam sensi frigidissimam imò vix aliquam animadverti differentiam frigidioris calidioris Aeris nam aestivum tempus erat pro aestivo tempore eram vestitus nec tamen tantum frigoris quod me laederet ex eo loco percepi pars igitur illa non est absolutè frigida sed solùm comparatione inferi Aeris calidioris Idem de Alpibus proprio exemplo edoctus testatum reliquit Bartholinus Syst Phys Instit Succinct de Terra Aere Igne C. 4. Resp 1. Mount Atlas in the Heat of Summer hath been seen cover'd with Snow and several People who have visited the Tops of high Mountains such as the Alpes and Teneriff have found it exceedingly cold I am told by one that he never heard of Snow or Ice in Guinea but in Barbary where the Plains were excessive hot the Tops of Mountains were cover'd with Snow and the like hath been observ'd in the Island Ceylon and the Mountains of Congo In the Summer 88 I plac'd a Glass in a Cave which faced the Sea it being cover'd with 80 Foot of Earth and cut right in about 130 Foot the Mercury stood ½ above Temperate and at the same time in another Glass in the open Air it stood at hot About Christmas following the Mercury in the Cave vary'd not but that without stood at Frost In New-Hampshire in New-England it is observ'd that in the Winter the North-West Wind is very cold and in Summer intensly hot It is ascrib'd to a large Tract of Woody Land which in the Winter is cover'd with Snow and in the Summer the Valleys being close keep in the Heat till
than the Air. Amongst several Tryals made with these Weather-glasses the following were remarkable Having caused a Glass-Egg with a Stem such as Fig. 1. Plate 1. Delineates to be blown at a Lamp the Stem being dipped in Water admitted into it a Cylinder of Water about half an Inch long which when the Pipe was erected would subside to the Bottom of the Cylinder just where it rises from the Egg and there it would stand but if the Glass-Egg was immersed wholly in Water or but half way in Quick-silver the Water would ascend up to the middle of the Cylinder and subside again when taken out In this Experiment several times repeated I observed That when the Glass-Egg was suddenly removed out of the Water and immersed in the Quick-silver the Cylinder of Water would be raised higher but if it was first immersed in Quick-silver and thence removed into Water it would subside but not near so much as in the open Air. These Tryals were made the 26th of June the Weather being moderate But being repeated another day when it was windy and rainy the Aqueous Cylinder upon the immersion of the Thermometer subsided June 27 in the morning the Aqueous Cylinder would subside when the Thermometer was immersed in Water but ascend when it was depressed into Mercury yet when the water had been kept in a warm Room some time till it was as warm to the Touch as the Quicksilver they would both of them immediately raise the Mercury in the Pipe The like Experiment being tryed in January in Frosty Weather the Internal Air being of an equal temper with the External when the Thermometer was immersed in a shallow Vessel of Water the Aqueous Cylinder was raised half an Inch and when it was immersed in a deeper Vessel it was raised as high again but soon subsided when taken out into the free Air. From whence it appears That we may be differently informed of the degrees of Heat and Cold when we Employ our Organs of Touch and when we make use of proper Instruments On this occasion I shall subjoyn that not only Water but moist Vapours in the Air may cause it to seem Colder to our Sensories than commonly Weather-glasses discover it to be And tho' it be generally agreed that a Themometer only more exactly measures the Effects which Cold hath upon it and our Sensories yet I my self have taken notice that at the same time the Weather hath seemed cold to me when the Weather-glass agreed not with the Information my Senses gave me which that it did not proceed from my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was apparent since others were sensible of it at the same time From what hath been said it appears That it is requisite to take notice when Birds and other Animals whose Perception is more delicate than ours seem to be affected with Cold and likewise to examin the degrees of Coldness as well by Experiments as by the Touch. For a further Confirmation of what I have delivered on this occasion I shall add what Martinius in his piece of Geography called Atlas Chinensis says speaking of the Air of that Populous Country his words are these Ad Coeli solique temperiem quod attinet majus in hac Provincia frigus est quam illius poscat poli altitudo vix enim illa excedit gradum secundum supra quadragesimum tamen per integros quatuor saepe Menses Flumina omnia adeo duro concrescunt gelu ut currus equosque ac gravissima etiam onera glacies ferat innoxie ac securissime transeant Ex iis etiam ingentia glaciei frusta excinduntur quae in futuram aestatem ad delicias servant His Mensibus omnes Naves ita in ipsa Glacie defixae sunt ut progredi nequeant ubicunque illas frigus occupat quod certo certius circa medium Novembris ingruere solet per quatuor illos Menses immotae ibi perstare coguntur neque enim resolvitur Glacies ante Martii initium haec plerunque Glaciei concretio uno fit die cum non nisi pluribus fiat Liquefactio To which he adds what is more for our present purpose Omnino illud mirum tantum non videri aut sentiri illud frigus ut Europaeos ad bypocausta subeunda videatur posse cogere aut in Europa ad Glaciem producendam sufficere unde ad subterraneas illic exhalationes pro harum rerum Causis indagandis omnino recurrendum est c. But tho' I have urged the necessity and usefulness of Weather-glasses as preferable to the Informations we receive from our Senses yet tho' they are not obnoxious to the same Causes of uncertainty they are apt sometimes to deceive us since in common Weather-glasses besides that the external or internal Air may be rarified or condensed by Heat and Cold the incumbent Atmosphere being contiguous to the suspended Liquor it may be boyed up by an additional Gravity as well as Heat in the Atmosphere and Vice versâ as we have experienced by a statical Baroscope whose Ballance would turn with the 500th part of a Grain And likewise by conveying a common Weather-glass into the bottom of a deep Pit and at another time by raising it up to the top of a Church or Steeple and comparing it at the same time with a more exact Thermometer for by this Method it appeared that the rising and falling of the Water in the common Weather-glass depended not on the temperature of the Air as to Heat or Cold but on the different altitude of the Atmospherical Pillar of Air incumbent on the Water But besides the Gravity of the Atmosphere there may be other Causes of the ascent and descent of the Liquor in common Weather-glasses as well as Heat and Cold. For not to urge that tho' the height of the same Atmospherical Pillar of Air should seem unaltered the Weather-glass remaining in the same place yet the weight of the Air may be increased by the copious dispersion of Vapours and heavy Steams through the Air and also may be diminished upon a precipitation of those by Dew or Rain which Effects may perhaps be falsly attributed to different degrees of Heat or Cold. To be satisfy'd of the truth of what I have here hinted I tryed the following Experiments I took two Weather-glasses of a more than ordinary length See Plate 1. Fig. 2d and 3d. the divisions of one of which were half Inches and those of the other not much less The one which was furnished with good Spirit of Wine see Plate 1. Fig. 3. was sealed The other see Plate 1. Fig. 2. was not sealed but was so contrived that the Air being shut up in the lower part of the Instrument might rise with Heat and fall with Cold. In these Thermoscopes I observed That in that which was sealed the Liquor regularly ascended in warm Weather and subsided in cold But in the other there being a little hole left open at the top it was remarkable That tho' when the
their In doing of which instead of Liquors made use of in common Glasses we employ Spirit of Wine tinged with Cochineele opened by the most Volatile Spirit of Urine which is not only in less danger of being froze but susceptible of the slightest degrees of Cold impressed upon it by external Bodies But tho' we think these Weather-glasses subject to fewer Exceptions than common ones yet in estimating the several degrees of Cold we look upon them as Instruments to be employed by our Reason and not quite exempt from those Imperfections we have imputed to Weather-glasses since I suspect that some sort of Steams penetrateing the Pores of the Glasses may have other effects upon the Spirit of Wine than what they have in reference to Heat and Cold For I once observ'd that having immersed the Ball of a Weather-glass in a strange kind of a Luke-warm mixture the Spirit rose up slowly 8 or 9 Inches in a Tube not above a foot long and subsided not again much above half an Inch when exposed to the Air a good while after it had been immersed in Water 5 hours The Chymist Orthelius in his Theatrum Chymicum Vol. 6. tells us That the Liquor Distilled from the Oar of Magnesia or Bismute will swell considerably in the Glass it is kept in at the full Moon and subside at the New which observation the Jesuit Casatus makes use of as an Argument And I have observed my self a Tincture of Amber made with rectified Spirit of Wine undergoe several changes when stopped up in a Bottle which other Liquors abounding with Spirit of Wine did not so that not unlikely if Weather-glasses furnished with different Liquors were kept together in the same Place there would be some disparity which could be ascribed to nothing but the peculiar Natures of the respective Liquors which tho' of different kinds may receive the same Colour from the same Metals So Copper gives the known Colour to Aqua fortis and affords a fair Solution in Aqua Regis as well as gives a lovely Blew to Spirit of Urine or Sal Armoniac and I have found that it would give a good Tincture to Chymical Oyl of Turpentine And to shew that even Spirit of Wine in Weather-glasses may be worked upon and influenced by external Bodies I shall add That I have observed in one that lay by me some time emergent Bubbles Which whether they were only made up of united Bubbles lodged in the Pores of the Liquor or some Parts of the Wine disposed to Elasticity by frequent alterations I examin not But sometimes they have been so great as to possess many Inches of space in the shank of the Weather-glass which Bubbles if they be small and lurk about the juncture of the Ball and of the Cylinder may by dividing the Spirit in the Stem from that in the Ball hinder it from rising according to the Changes of the Weather a Bubble of Air being more dicffiultly removed up and down in the Stem of the Glass than the Spirit it self in favour of which we have else-where shewn That Water will pass through a narrower space than Air except the latter be forced But to draw near to a conclusion tho' I have mentioned all these difficulties about sealed Glasses I would not be thought to do it with a design to set Men upon greater Nicities than are necessary but rather to excite us to take into our Consideration as many collateral Experiments and Observations besides those made by our Sensories on Natural as well as Factitious Bodies in judging of the degrees of Cold as we can For tho' Water be thought to be most susceptible of such an intense degree of Cold as destroys Fluidity yet besides Oyl of Aniseeds I have distill'd a substance from Benzoin which becomes fluid and consistent upon much slighter alterations as to Heat and Cold than would freeze Water or thaw it And I have observed likewise That Amber-grease dissolv'd in highly rectified Spirit of Wine or in other Sulphereous or Resinous Concretions dissolved in the same Liquor will shoot into fine figured Masses in cold Weather and re-dissolve in warm others being more rudely congealed And even in Chymical Preparations of Harts-horn and Urine I have observed That sometimes the Spirits would be clear and at other times would suffer a greater or less quantity of Salt to Chrystallize at the bottom according to the various alterations of the Weather in point of Heat or Cold. But to bring Instances from more obvious Liquors it is observed in some Parts of France by the Water-men That their Boats will carry greater Loads in Winter than Summer and on frozen Coasts in several Countries it is observed That Ships draw less Water than on our British Coasts which is an Argument that the Water is heavier and thicker in Winter than in Summer And I my self have poised a Bubble so exactly with Water in it that tho' it would swim upon the top of the Water at Night yet in the Day when the Sun had rarified the Water it swam in it would subside to the bottom And sometimes was so exactly of a correspondent weight with and so equally poised in the Water that it would neither subside nor swim upon the top but move up and down till the Water was either more rarified or further condensed From what hath been said in this Chapter it appears 1st That by reason of the various predispositions in Bodies the testimony of our Senses is not to be taken in judging of the several degrees of Cold. 2dly Tho' Weather-glasses are subject to fewer alterations than our Senses yet they may misinform us except we at the same time measure the Air 's Gravity by other Instruments 3dly Our sealed Weather-glasses are highly preferable before common ones 4thly To conclude this Chapter I shall add That I would not have Men easily deterred from making Experiments about estimating Cold because they may seem disagreeable to vulgar Notions since I doubt not but that the Theory we have is not only very imperfect but ill grounded CHAP. IV. Concerning the cause of the Condensation of the Air and ascent of Water by Cold in common Weather-glasses COncerning the Reason why Water in common Weather-glasses descends upon Heat and is raised by Cold there are three Opinions which may deserve our Consideration The Opinion of the Schools concerning the ascent of Water in Weather-glasses examined The first is that of the Schools and common Peripateticks which teaches That the external Air condensing that included in common Weather-glasses it rises to fill up that space deserted by the Air to prevent a Vacuum But not to urge That they have not yet proved that Nature will not admit of a Vacuum or that it is contrary to the Notion a Naturalist ought to have of Matter to suppose it to act any thing contrary to its own natural tendency for a publick Good I say not to urge these Arguments which we have elsewhere made use of I
shall alledge the following Experiment viz. That Experiments alledged against their Doctrine If a Bolt-head with a long Stem be made use of to try the Torrecellian Experiment with the space deserted by the Mercury in the Cavity of the Bolt-head and from whence the Mercury drove the Air continues void the Pendulous Cylinder remaining at 30 Inches without offering to ascend to prevent a Vacuum Nor will the Quick-silver rise ¼ of an Inch higher upon the application of cold Bodies outwardly tho' in a common Thermometer the same degree of Cold would make Water ascend several Inches To this I shall add another Argument taken from the consideration of sealed Weather-glasses see Plate 1. Fig. 3. in which it is observed See Plate 1. Fig. 3. That the Air instead of contracting upon an increase of Cold expands it self If it be said That the Water contracting the Air follows it to prevent a Vacuum it may be demanded Why since Nature causes the one to contract in common Glasses and the other in sealed ones to avoid a Vacuum she does not rather make the Air retain its natural extension than suffer it to be condensed and then put her self to double trouble in compelling the Water to ascend contrary to its nature But not to insist on these Arguments I shall rather urge that what is offered by them will not solve the Difficulty for whether the Water or Air be expanded into a large space since Glass is impervious to Air and Water I see not how a Vacuum interspersum and coacervatum can be avoided For if upon the expansion no other Body is added and penetrates the Glass to fill the space deserted by some Parts of the expanded Body there must remain Vacuities betwixt them Because it is impossible the same quantity of Matter should compleatly and adequately fill a greater space by being expanded the Parts of the Body being only able inadequately to fill it by receding from each other But were it allowed that upon the expansion of one of these Bodies and the condensation of the other a third Substance harboured in the space deserted by the one it may be questioned how such Matter should make its way out again Mr. Hobbes his Doctrine examined The second Opinion I shall take notice of is that of Mr. Hobbes which is to me partly precarious partly insufficient and scarce intelligible for tho' when he asserts That the coldness of Liquors depends on their being pressed with a constant Wind besides that he asserts it without Proof it will appear from an Experiment shortly to be alledged That Liquors sealed up in Glasses and suspended in Liquors not subject to freeze may be refrigerated tho' it appears not how they can be raked on by the Wind as his Hypothesis requires Secondly I see no necessity that the Cold should press upon the superficies of the Water in the Shank since by Cold it will be raised in a Weather-glassess kept in a still Place and void of any sensible Wind. Besides he ought to shew Why Air insensibly moved deserves to be styled Wind and how it is possible such a Wind should raise Water so many Inches by pressing upon it Nay further Water poured into a Bolt-head till it reaches into the Stem will subside when refrigerated and not rise And if the Ball of a Weather-glass be encompassed with a mixture of Ice or Snow and Salt the Water will readily ascend which how it will be explained by Mr. Hobbes's Hypothesis I do not see Thirdly Mr. Hobbes allowing not of a Vacuum I wonder he should tell us That by a bare Pressure the Water finding no other Place to recede into is forced to rise into the shank of the Weather-glass For since according to him the shank of the Weather-glass must be full before I see not how it should be able to receive the ascending Water except to use Mr. Hobbes's own words it can be fuller than full Besides it may be further alledged against Mr Hobbes his Doctrine that it gives us no account of the condensation of the Air by Cold in Weather-glasses in which the Water descends with Cold and rises with Heat Fourthly whereas Mr. Hobbes in explaining the depression of Water in Weather-glasses attributes it solely to it 's own Gravity it will easily appear that we must likewise have recourse to the spring of the included Air For if a Thermometer be placed in the Sun when the Water in the shank is but a little above the Surface of the Water without the Tube the rarified Air will depress the Surface of the Water in the Pipe below the other and sometimes so far that some of the rarified Air making it's way out of the Pipe as soon as the remaining Air is refrigerated again the Water will be able to rise up higher into the Tube than it did before A Modern Opinion examined The third and last Opinion I shall consider is one held by some modern Naturalists which ascribes the Ascent of the Water to the Pressure of the Air gravitating upon the Surface of that Water without the Pipe but supposes that the Air contained in it is contracted by Cold alone As for the first Part of this Hypothesis I readily Assent to it and the Author 's proposed but am apt to believe that the contraction of the included Air depends on the same Cause and that the spring of it being weakened by Cold it is condensed by the same Pressure of the Atmosphere the weight of the External Air over-powering the weakened Spring of the Internal In favour of this Opinion I shall add the following Experiments See Plate 1. Fig. 5. and First having filled a Vial capable of holding five or six Ounces half full See Plate 1. Fig. 5. and having inverted a Glass Tube into it about 10 Inches long much bigger than a Swan's Quill it being first sealed at one end and filled with Water the Orifice of the Vial was closed with Cement so that the External and Internal Air had no communication with each other It was placed in a Mixture of Snow and Salt till the Water in the Bottom of the Vial began to freeze yet notwithstanding so great a degree of refrigeration the Water in the Tube did not at all descend so that either the Air was not condensed by Cold or the Water descended not to prevent a Vacuum The Glass being left in this Posture in our absence the sealed end of the Pipe flew off being beaten out by the Intumescence of the freezing Water Having fixed another Pipe as the former which was some Inches longer and drawn very slender at the sealed end that it might easily be broken this was set to freeze as the other yet the Water descended not but as soon as the top of the Glass-Tube was broke off the external Air pressing upon the Water and by the intercourse of that upon the Air the Water in the Tube subsided 8 or 10 Inches but rose
again when the internal Air was rarified within half an Inch of the top and then the Apex being sealed up it was placed in Snow and Salt yet the Air in the top had it's Spring so weakened by refrigeration that it was not able to depress the Water tho' as soon as the Apex was broke off it subsided several Inches the external Air pressing upon it The Experiment being a third time reiterated with 3 ½ of Air in the Pipe when the Water in the Vial was in some measure froze it was able to expand it self a little But when the Apex was broke off the External Air depressed the Surface of the Water two Inches but being removed into a warm Room it ascended above an Inch higher than the uppermost Level Having put so much Water into a Vessel See Plate 1. Fig. 6. Such as Plate 1. Fig. 6. Delineates as was able to fill almost the whole Tube we caused a Mixture of Snow and Salt to be placed about the Ball of it yet we perceived not the Water in the least to rise but if at all it might well be ascribed to the the Intumescence of some airy Parts lodged in the Pores of the Water But the Apex of the Tube being broke off under Water the External Air forced the Water several Inches up into the Cavity of the Pipe Another Experiment we made with the following Vessel See Plate 1. Fig. 7 the Stem of this being no thicker than a Raven's Quill tho' several Inches long See Plate 1. Fig. 7. and the Ball being about as big as a Nutmeg we dropped a few drops of Water into the Stem which being suspended there betrayed very slight changes in the Rarefaction or Condensation of the internal Air. Watching therefore when the Air within had raised the Bubble up to the top of the Stem we immediately sealed it up and observed That tho' the sealed Glass was placed in a Mixture of Snow and Salt the Bubble did not in the least subside But if the Apex of the Stem was broke off the Bubble of Water would be sometimes depressed so low as to fall into the Ball of the Weather-glass And what was further remarkable was That when the Liquor was descending if the end of the Tube was sealed up the Water would immediately stop at the place it rested at when the Pressure of the Atmosphere was taken off Where it would continue till the Stem was broke open again and then the Water would be further depressed as the weight of the Atmosphere was able to over-power the Resistance made by the internal Air. Having made use of such a Vessel as Fig. 7. Plate 1. represents and conveyed a pretty Quantity of Water into both the Legs See Plate 1. Fig. 7. we sealed up the end of the bent Stem leaving so much Air above it as we thought convenient Which being done we placed the Ball of it in a frame in which the Tube hanging down we could cover the round Ball with Snow and Salt Upon which the Air in the Stem was able to expand it self so far that the Water in the longer Leg was raised the length of a Barly-corn higher than before and depressed as much in the other But when the end of the Stem was broke open the Water was raised 2 ¼ Inches in the longer Leg and depressed so low in the shorter that several Bubbles rose into the Cavity of the Ball. In which Experiment it cannot be supposed That the weight of the Water in the shorter Leg could be able to raise the Water in the other except by Virtue of it's Spring which being but small answerable to the Quantity of of it it cannot be expected that it should have any considerable Effect upon the Air in the other Leg tho' it's Spring were in some measure weakened by Cold. An Explication of the Figures in the first Plate Fig. 1. p. 12. A. The Ball or Egg. B C. The Stem D. The little Aqueous Cylinder Fig. 2. The open Weather-glass mentioned p. 16 22. Fig. 3. The Sealed Weather-glass or Thermoscope mentioned p. 16. Fig. 4. The Barometer or Mercurial Standard placed in a Frame B B. mentioned p. 17. Fig. 5. An Instrument mentioned p. 34. A. The Vial. B C. The Pipe cemented into the neck of the Vial open at C and sealed at B. Fig. 6. p. 35. A. The Bolt-head B. The small Stem B C. The Cylinder of Water enclosed Fig. 7. p. 36. CHAP. V. The Experimental History of Cold begun TITLE I. Experiments concerning Bodies capable of Freezing others BEfore we proceed to the natural History of Cold it perhaps may be necessary to consider what Bodies are capable of retaining such Qualities and what are not but that being a consideration not so necessary to our present purpose which is only to set down what Observations we have made in Bodies subject to be froze I shall only in short take notice That most Bodies except fire are susceptible of actual Cold and it is a Question whether even that be not rather a state of Matter in such a peculiar motion than a distinct and particular species of Natural Bodies since even Gun-powder and Spirit of Wine before they are set on fire by some other Body are actually Cold. But to proceed to what Observations relate to our Title Experiments of Bodies capable of freezing others 1. Bodies cold enough to freeze others are very few here in England Snow and Salt mixed being most remarkable which cool the Liquor contained in those Vessels which are closed up in such mixtures 2. Snow alone would not freeze Water as a Mixture of it and Salt does and tho' Water poured betwixt the Interstices of Snow or Ice freezes yet there is a great disparity betwixt exposing it to the Air and keeping it up in Vessels and tho' it is froze when covered with Snow in a Bottle all night yet that may proceed from the Coldness of the Air as well as the influence of the Snow 3. If Nitre Allum Vitriol Sal-Armoniack or Sugar be mixed in due Proportion with Snow they will enable it to freeze tho' not so intensely as common Salt 4. Spirit of Salt being shaken together with Snow in the Vials they caused a Dew which was gathered on the outside the Glass to be froze tho' the Mixture within was not and Oyl of Vitriol mixed with Snow in a thin Vial had the same Effect only more intensely 5. But not only these Acid Spirits had these Effects on the moisture of the Air condensed on the outside the Glasses but likewise Spirit of Nitre Spirit of Vinegar and Spirit of Sugar the former of these three being very powerfull tho' the latter were not so strongly frigorifick 6. Spirit of Urine mixed with Snow in a Vial froze the External moisture weakly but Spirit of Sal-Armoniack drawn from Quick-lime did it powerfully 7. Spirit of Urine and Oyl of Vitriol poured upon Snow froze moderately 8. Sal Gem with a
Spirit of Wine and immersed the Ball and part of the Stem in a Vessel of Water which was half buried in Snow and Salt and when the Water began to freeze at the bottom and about the sides the Liquor was Subsided to 5 2 ◠Divisions each Division being half an Inch and then the Weather-glass being taken out of the Water and applied to the Snow and Salt it Subsided to 1 ½ Division To this we shall add another which shews That the Water tho' froze was warmer than the Spirit of Wine when the Mixture of Snow and Salt was applied to it Jan. 15 the Weather-glass being kept in the Water till it began to freeze descended to 5 ½ but being removed into the Snow and Salt it Subsided first briskly and then more gradually till it sunk to the Bottom of the Stem but being removed into the Water again it ascended to the same height the Water had before depressed it to For a further Tryal how much Liquors may be condensed by Cold we took Oyl of Turpentine rectified in a gentle Heat and having weighed a Glass-ball with a long Stem it being one Ounce one Dram five Grains and a half we poured on it so much of the Turpentine as increased the weight to two Ounces seven Drams and thirty four Grains and a half which reaching a little way into the Stem we marked the Superficies with a Diamond after which we poured a Dram more in and successively more still marking how high each Parcel which was weighed exactly rought in the Stem till the Additional weight increased the former to three Ounces one Dram four Grains and a half and then taking a wide-mouth'd Glass with Water in it we immerged the Weather-glass in the Water as before the Vessel in which it was contain'd being first encompass'd with Snow and Salt When the Water began to freeze we mark'd the Stem of the Glass which contain'd the Oyl at the place to which it subsided and then conveying it into a Mixture of Snow and Salt when it had subsided as low as it could we mark'd the Superficies and then remov'd it into the Air till it rose to it's first station and then we pour'd so much of the Oyl out into another Glass carefully poised in a pair of Scales that the Superficies of the Oyl remain'd at the Mark which it subsided to in the Water and we found that the Oyl poured off weigh'd about 10 Grains And so much more being pour'd off as made it stand at the Mark to which the Snow and Salt depress'd it it weigh'd about as much as the former so that the Oyl was Artificially condensed so far That it subsided as much after it had been condensed by Cold strong enough to freeze Water as it was caused to fall by the force of that And by dividing the whole Proportion of Oyl by the number of Grains whose Bulk it seem'd to lose by subsiding in Water we found that it was condensed by the first degree of Cold to a 94th Part of it's Bulk and by dividing it by the Additional number of the Grains more we found that the Snow and Salt had condensed it a 47th Part of it's Bulk Having circumscrib'd Water moderately Cold with a Mixture of Snow and Salt what it shrunk was if not insensible inconsiderable To measure the differing weight and Density of the same Proportion of Water in the Heat of Summer and when extremely Cold we weighed a Glass-Bubble in it which was Heavier than Water moderately cool and by the Diminution of it's weight in that Medium we found according to the Rules of Hydrostaticks the weight of a Portion of Water of equal Bulk And then weighing it in Water cool'd by a Mixture of Snow and Salt we were inform'd by a new Decrement of it's weight of the weight of an equal Bulk of that Cold Water by which we were enabl'd to make an Estimate of the Gravity and Density acquired by the Action of Gold and by weighing the same Bubble in the same Water in hot Weather we Learnt further how much more dense and heavy Water moderately Cold and extremely Cold is than warm Water It would be of use to try such Experiments as these in Italy where they have the Conveniency of keeping Snow and of freezing warm Water speedily A Glass-Bubble which in the Air weighed 150 Grains being weighed in Water on a Day not frosty it weighed 29 ◠8 and being weighed in Water which was a little froze in a Mixture of Snow and Ice it was not above ⅛ Part of a Grain lighter than before so that the Water by Condensation lost not above a 230th Part of it's former Bulk How far it may be of use at Sea to make such Experiments as these and whether they may thereby learn to know by finding the Density of the Water in several Places what Loads to carry in their ships and what the Water will be able to bear I shall leave others to Judge But if such Experiments be try'd in several Parts our Seal'd Weather-glasses or that which contains the Pendulous drop of Water may be of use since they not being subject to be varied by the Alterations in the Atmosphere's Gravity and since they may be conveniently carried from one Country to another the different degrees of Cold in various Regions may be better Estimated a Register being kept of the degrees the Liquor or Pendulous drop stood at such times as the Tryals were made and where and when exposed to such a degree as was able to freeze To conclude this Title I shall add that in making these Experiments with the Thermometer in which the Pendulous Water is contain'd the Stem may for conveniency be held either Horizontal upwards or Perpendicular TITLE V. Experiments concerning the Tendency of Cold upwards or downwards What way or in what Line Cold acts most vigorously THAT Heat generally acts most powererfully on Bodies above it and that it's Tendency is upwards is self-evident But to discover in what Line Cold acts most vigorously and furthest we made the following Experiments A Glass-Bubble with Water in it having a flat Bottom was suspended within less than half an Inch over a Mixture of Ice and Salt but froze not A Bottle which contain'd a Mixture of Snow and Salt being held under Water it was cased with Ice especially about the Bottom so that the Action of Cold seems chiefly to tend downwards But I rely less upon this Experiment because it is observ'd That when a frigorifick Mixture is exposed in a Vial the Ice on the outside is always opposite to the Mixture not reaching higher or lower than that Mixture above half the Breadth of a Barly-corn and as the Mixture dissolves and that which swims upon the dissolv'd Part grows less and less so Proportionably the circle of Ice grows narrower on the outside till the Mixture is wholly dissolv'd and then the Ice vanishes And from an experiment shortly to be
condensed by Cold the Air breaks in to prevent a Vacuum For that Water is expanded by Cold appears from what I have said besides nothing is more commonly observ'd than that Water being froze in a Vessel whose sides are strong enough to keep it from bursting them the Superficies of the Ice is generally protuberant and convex And that the breaking of Bottles depends not on Nature's abhorrency of a Vacuum appears since should we suppose That the Fluid contain'd in a Bottle would be so far condensed as to possess less space than before it is possible there might be a Vacuum there and the Bottle not burst since Glass-Bubbles much thinner than ordinary Bottles will endure the frost tho' stopped close with Air in them But not only Water expands it self upon freezing but other Aqueous Bodies so Eggs being froze burst their shells asunder And Milk Urine Rhenish Wine and good Spirit of Wine being set to freeze in distinct Glass-Eggs the Wine being froze swell'd an Inch above the first Surface the Milk two Inches and the Urine six or seven And a Solution of Dantzick-Vitriol did not only become Opace but rose considerably higher in a Cylindrical Pipe upon Congelation Whether more stable and consistent Bodies are capable of being expanded by Cold would be worth enquiring since it hath been observ'd That in Nova Zembla the very Clocks have been froze so that they would not goe and the like hath been observ'd by Capt. James in his Voyage at Charlton-Island his Watch being froze as well as his Clocks Whether these Effects depended on any Swelling of the Ropes or whether the Spring of his Watch might be weakned by Cold or whether some Iceicles stuck to the Internal Parts of it I shall leave as bare Conjectures to be further examined into by Experience The Phaenomena of an Experiment about Freezing referrable to the VII Title read before the Royal Society Having filled a Bolt-head which was as big as two Turkey Eggs with Water till it rought a pretty height into the slender Stem being put into a Mixture of Snow and Salt it subsided a little but when it began to freeze it would sensibly swell The Experiment being repeated with a Glass whose Stem was as thin as a Raven's Quill when first the Ball of it was immersed in the frigorifick Mixture the Water presently ascended the height of a Barly-corn and presently subsided again which the Florentine Virtuosi would attribute to a Constriction of the Glass upon the Application of the frigorifick Mixture Secondly And tho' the Florentine Virtuosi relate That they have observ'd the Water after it had subsided a little to rest and then subsided again yet in all the Tryals I made I did not observe it Thirdly When the Water had subsided a little it would be at a stand till the Liquor began to freeze Fourthly The Experiment being try'd with Glasses whose Stems were unequally big upon Glaciation the Ascent of the Water in the large ones would be indiscernible but in a slender one it would ascend several Inches in a Minute till it rose up to the top of the Stem Fifthly Tho' the Forentine Academians say they have observ'd the Water to rise again before Glaciation yet I could never see such a Phaenomenon Sixthly If the Glass was taken out of the Mixture when first it began to freeze as soon as the small Iceicles were melted it would subside again yet if reapply'd to the Mixture a second time it would freeze in half a Minute TITLE VIII Experiments concerning the Contraction of Liquors by Cold. Of the Contraction of Liquors by Cold. 1 THO' the Liquors we have mention'd expand themselves upon an Intense degree of Cold yet we are not thence to couclude that all will since we have found it by experience not only in Spirit of Wine Aqua fortis Oyl of Turpentine and several other Liquors which would not be brought to freeze but also in Oyl congeal'd by the vehemence of the Cold. 2. Amongst the several Experiments made of the Efficacy of Cold to condensed Liquors I shall lay down the following 3. Spirit of Wine being put into a small Glass-Egg with a slender Stem in a Mixture of Snow and Salt subsided ¾ of an Inch. 4. Mercury being freed from Air and placed in a Bold-head in a Mixture of Snow and Salt subsided 2 Inches Common Oyl placed in the same Mixture subsided till it froze but if it were immediately thaw'd near the fire it would expand it self so much as to rise about the Mark. The Experiment succeeded a second time and being try'd a third time the Lumps of the congeal'd Oly would sink in the fluid Oyl Oyl of Aniseeds artificially froze subsided considerably in a small Pipe Empyreumatical Oyl of Gaujacum being exposed to the utmost degree of Cold would not freeze but evidently subsided Particulars referrable to the VIII Title 1. Two seal'd Weather-Glasses the one made of a Tincture of Cochineele in Spirit of Wine and the other of a blew Tincture of Spirit of Man's Blood and Copper in Spirit of Wine were immersed in Water till it began to freeze and then being remov'd into Oyl of Turpentine set in a Mixture of Snow and Salt we observ'd That the Liquor in both Thermometers subsided Oyl of Aniseeds being put into a small Glass with a large Stem and placed in a frigorifick Mixture made by a Solution of Sal-Armoniack subsided 3 Inches the substance of the Oyl being turn'd into a white Concrete which when it was leasurely dissolv'd the fluid Part emitted several Bubbles and it was further observ'd in this Concrete That tho' when thaw'd it swims upon Water yet when congeal'd it will not TITLE IX Experiments concerning the Bubble from which the Levity of Ice is supposed to proceed Of the Levity of Ice and its Cause 1. IT is usually accounted an Argument of the levity of Ice above Water that it swims upon it For tho' the superficies of small Portions of it are not sensibly emergent above the Surface of the Water yet in Greenland where huge Rocks of Ice float in the Sea they are observ'd to be as high above the Water as the Masts of Ships which could we suppose to float in an erect Posture and to be of a prismatical Form that Part immersed would be nine times as much as that above the Water As for the Reason why Ice is born up above the surface of the Water so much in Greenland more than in our Climate besides that the size of those pieces of Ice contributes to the rendring the Observation more remarkable the Water's expansion in that cold Climate may cause it to be further expanded there than here and consequently lighter 2. Pieces of Ice free from Bubbles floated in Spirit of Wine drawn from Brandy and likewise from Quick-lime and tho' if that Spirit were warmed it would presently subside yet as it cooled the Ice would ascend nevertheless some part of it being thaw'd
the Water would subside in a stream through the Spirit In warm Water the Ice would swim but in Oyl of Turpentine and the rectify'd Spirit of Wine it would sink like a Stone 3. A piece of Ice which was clear from Bubbles for as much as we could discern and very transparent would not sink in Water but another piece which in a Microscope appear'd to be full of Bubbles was nevertheless transparent and would float on Water 4. That the levity and expansion of Ice depends on the number of Bubbles dispersed through it is unquestionable but how it comes by those Bubbles is a matter that deserves our Inquiry And tho' Mr Hobbes attributes it to the Intrusion of some external airy Parts yet we observ'd That Water defended from the Intrusion of external Air was not without Bubbles when froze in a Glass hermetically sealed but being expanded the numerous Bubbles dispersed through it gave it a whitish Opacity and the same Phaenomena were afforded by Ice froze in Metalline Vessels 5. And that the Ice froze in the hermetically sealed Glass received not its Bubbles from the Air shut up with it is reasonable to believe First Since the Water must be expanded before it could divide that Air into Bubbles Secondly That the Air in the sealed Glass cannot be dispersed through the Ice and thereby cause it to expand appears since oftentimes it is so far compress'd by the swelling Ice that it breaks the Glass which it would not do could it be mixed with the Ice and dispersed through the freezing Water But Thirdly Were the expansion of Ice to be attributed to the insinuation of airy Parts it may be question'd How when Liquors begin to freeze at the bottom first the Air which is so many times lighter than Water can dive into the bottom of it and that too without being seen Fourthly If the Bubbles contained in Ice were deriv'd from the external Air depress'd through freezing Water Ice thaw'd would yield Air enough to fill as much space as the frozen Water possess'd more than the thaw'd Water 6. That the Bubbles contain'd in frozen Water are not adequately fill'd with Air tho' sometimes the Air that they contain be afforded by those airy Parts dispers'd through the Pores of Water and that they are often generated numerously notwithstanding a recess of the greatest part of that Air will appear from the following Experiments I. Water freed from Bubbles in Vacuo Boyliano and afterwards convey'd into a frigorifick Mixture expanded not so much as common Water nor was the Ice near so full of Bubbles II. Water which had been freed from Bubbles in our Prismatical Engine being froze contain'd few Bubbles but being thaw'd and then pour'd into a Glass-Cylinder it was powerfully expanded so far as to burst the Glass III. A Glass-egg with a narrow Stem being filled so far with Water that the surface of it rose an Inch within the Stem it was convey'd into a Receiver and whilst the Air was exhausting Bubbles rose so plentifully that the Liquor seem'd to boyl Which when it was in a great measure cleared of we placed it in a mixture of Snow and Salt and observ'd that the expanded Liquor being froze had risen a great way above its first height When it was placed in the open Air of such a temper as made it thaw leisurely we observ'd That the exterior part of the Ice was full of Bubbles But when that was dissolv'd the Ice in the middle was of an unusual Texture being void of Bubbles and not unlike a frosted piece of Glass whose aspereties were very thick set When the Ice was almost thaw'd we convey'd the Bubble into the Receiver but tho' the Air was exhausted we perceiv'd not that the Ice was sooner melted but the Water afforded a few Bubbles and in a little time some few appear'd in the Ice When the Ice was wholly thaw'd we took the Glass-Bubble out of the Receiver and found That the Water had subsided to its first Mark if not a little below it so that the Water when expanded rising three Inches in the Stem and the weight of the whole Water being but two ounces and a half the Ice seem'd to take up about a twelfth Part more than the unfroze Water 7. A Cylinder of Water being immers'd in a Mixture of Ice and Salt and that convey'd into a Receiver we found That when the Air was exhausted and the Water in a great measure freed from Bubbles the surface of it was considerably rais'd the Water in the bottom being turn'd into Ice as far as the Mixture wrought in which we perceiv'd besides a few large Bubbles small ones enough to render it opacous 8. To shew that the Bubbles perceivable in Ice are not filled with true and springy Air I shall subjoyn the following Experiment We plac'd a Glass-egg which was about as large again as an ordinary Egg in a mixture of Ice and Salt the Cavity of it being fiill'd with Water which rising up into the Neck stood about an Inch above the superficies of the frigorifick Mixture which circumscribed it the Diameter of the Stem being large enough to receive the end of my Finger The Particulars afforded by this Experiment were I. The Water did not sensibly subside before it began to freeze II. Some part of it began to swell in a quarter of an Hour III. In an Hour the Liquor rose 4 2 9 Inches and continu'd to rise till it was above five Inches ½ when we took it out IV. The frigorifick Mixture being below the surface of the Water it froze at the bottom first leaving the top of the Water uncongeal'd V. No Bubbles appear'd in the Water tho' the Ice was full of them some being as large as small Pease VI. We pour'd as much Sallet-oyl upon the Water as wrought two Inches in the Stem and then hermetically sealing the end of it up the Water subsided a little but was presently rais'd again to its former height in the Mixture about an Inch and a half of the Stem remaining above the Oyl filled with Air. VII The Glass-egg being weighed first in Air was left in the Water poised with its opposite weight VIII Upon the thawing of the Ice several Bubbles rose which vanish'd at the top IX The Water being thaw'd the Aequilibrium continu'd the same and subsided to its first Mark and no lower tho' it had parted with so many Bubbles X. The Glass being inverted the seal'd end was broke off under Water upon which some of it being forced up into the Pipe press'd the contain'd Air into less room than before XI The Water and the Oyl possess'd the same Places that they did before XII The Oyl being thrown out and so much Water put into the Stem as rais'd the surface as high as it was rais'd by Glaciation the Glass weighed 4374 Grains When fill'd to the lowest Mark it weighed 4152 and when empty 1032 so that the Water contain'd betwixt the two
Marks was about the 15th Part of the whole 10. A large Glass-egg with a proportionable Stem being so far fill'd with Water that it wrought up an Inch into the Stem the next Day the Water was rais'd 15 Inches The whole contain'd in the Cavity of the Egg being froze the frozen Water continuing to swell was rais'd 4 Inches higher a few drops running over the top of it but when the Ice was wholly thaw'd it subsided again 11. Another Egg about the same height being plac'd in beaten Ice and Salt the Water rose an Inch in an Hours time and several Laminae of Ice appear'd at the Jointure of the Ball and the Neck but after an Hour and a quarcer those disappear'd and the Ball seem'd to be fill'd with white Ice the Water in the Neck being rais'd 4 ½ Inches above the first Mark. Several small Bubbles ascended through the Neck till it was wholly thaw'd and the white Ice was full of Bubbles The Experiment being further prosecuted the Water swell'd till some of it ran out at the top of the Tube Upon which the top of it being seal'd up we plac'd it in a warm Room till the Water was quite thaw'd so much Air only-remaining above the Water when froze as in dimensions equall'd a small Pea. When the Ice was wholly thaw'd the Water subsided to its first Mark and then the top of the Stem being broke off under Water so much of it was impell'd by the external Air as when the Pipe was re-inverted again rose 7 Inches above the first Mark and left about an Inch ¼ above it so that the Air which caus'd the Water when froze to swell and which was generated there took up one Inch and ¼ Which being expanded through the Cavity of the Cylinder above the surface of the Water when thaw'd so far appear'd not to be Air that it wanted a Spring to resist the ingress of the Water 12. Another time the tip of a seal'd Stem being broke under Water it receiv'd 10 Inches and above ½ 13. In the same Bolt-head wherein the greatest condensation of Air was try'd the Water being froze was rais'd a Foot above its former station and then being seal'd up and leasurely thaw'd it subsided again to its former Mark And then the Seal being broke off under Water so much of that contain'd in the Basin was forc'd into the Tube as sill'd 11 Inches of it near â…› of an Inch of Air being generated in the former part of the Operation 14. Another time the Water swelling 10 Inches in the same Glass we broke off the Neb under Water and it receiv'd as much of the external Water so that in this no Air was generated 15. The like Experiments being try'd with aqueous Liquors the Neb of one that contain'd Milk being broke off under Water it was manifestly impell'd by the outward Air. And another being likewise open'd under Water which contain'd Urine it receiv'd about five or six Inches of Water 16. Another Glass which contain'd Claret-Wine being open'd under Water the Water was impell'd near an Inch above the Mark which would not have happen'd had the Bubbles been fill'd with true and permament Air. TITLE X. Experiments about the Measure of the Expansion and the Contraction of Liquors The expansion and contraction of Liquors measur'd TO measure the expansion of the Air we took a Bolt-head and pour'd in so much Water that it rose a little way into the Stem which being done and the number of Ounces it contain'd set down to those we successfully added one Ounce after another marking how high each of them wrought Which being done we pour'd out a convenient quantity and froze the remaining Water from the bottom upwards and the Ice that consisted of 82 parts of Water filled the space of 91 and ½ so that the congeal'd Water possess'd a 9th part of space more than it did before In another Experiment 55 Parts of Water being froze were extended to 60 ½ 6 of those remaining unfroze 2. Another way we took to measure the expansion of Water was by marking a Cylindrical Pipe at the superficies of the Water contain'd in it which when it was froze was rais'd a tenth part higher than before Another more exact Cylinder being made use of we found that Water froze expanded to about a ninth Part of the space it possess'd before 3. But perhaps this Method of measuring the expansion of freezing Water may suggest a difficulty to those that are acquainted with Hydrostaticks since Archimedes hath made it appear as well as Stevinus That floating Bodies will so far and but so far sink in the Liquor that supports them till the immersed Part of the Body be equal to a bulk of Water weighing as much as the whole Body 4. For Capt. James hath observ'd Ice to float a great deal above the Water and the Hollanders in their Voyage to Nova Zembla take notice of a Hill of Ice which was 16 Fathom above the Water tho' but 36 below it And Janus Munkius in his Account of Gâ—…enland observ'd That one that was but 4â— Fathom under Water was 20 above it whereas according to our Computation of the expansion of Water the Part under Water ought to be 8 or 9 times as deep as that above it 5. But to clear this difficulty I have these things to represent First That the Ice which we take notice of floats in fresh Water but that observ'd by Navigators being fresh floats in salt Water yet this is to be likewise consider'd That near the Poles the Seas are not so salt as ours or those under the Line and consequently will not be able to bear up the floating Ice so high except the coldness of that Region recompenses the want of Salt 6. But besides these Considerations that which I would chiefly insist upon for the removal of this difficulty is That these huge Piles of Ice are made up of vast Lumps betwixt which are large Vacuities which are only fill'd up with Air so that we are not to judge of their weight by the bulk they appear to be of to the Eye but by the specifick weight incumbent on that part immers'd in the Water For we see in Barges that sometimes they carry Loads which consisting of light Matter may be piled a great height above the Water without depressing the Vessel so much as heavier Bodies of less bulk which are more ponderous in Specie for the greatest part of these floating pieces of Ice as Bartholinus takes notice are compiled of store of Snow frozen together Besides it is observ'd That most of those stupendious Mountains which lay so much above Water below rested on the Ground so that probably they might have sunk much lower had the Water been deep enough for them for Mr. Hudson in his Voyage takes notice in a Bay that bears his Name of a piece of Ice sevenscore Fathom deep 7. Having said thus much of the expansion of Water it perhaps may
be expected that I should say something of the expansion of aqueous Humours and also of the degrees of the Condensation of Water and watry Humours But as for the first I doubt whether there be any expansion except of the watry Parts of them but if it may be of any use to direct us in making an estimate of the different Proportions they contain of Phlegm or other more spirituous Ingredients I would not discourage those whose Curiosity shall prevail with them to prosecute such Experiments And as for the condensation of Water by Cold tho' perhaps in hotter Climates it may be considerable yet I have not found it very sensible in all the Tryals I have made here Particulars referrable to the X Title 1. A Bolt-head whose Stem was 17 Inches above the Water being seal'd up and placed about 9 hours in a frigorifick Mixture the Water ascended 15 Inches ½ and afterwards ½ of ¼ of an Inch being neglected for an hour the seal'd end was blown off and the Bottom of the Glass broke in peices 2. Water freed from Air in our Receiver and seal'd up in a round Bolt-head in which the seal'd Apex was about 5 Inches above the Water afforded an Ice very free from Bubbles and having stood in a frigorifick Mixture about 2 hours it was raised 4 Inches and ⅜ The Conical Apex being broke with a noise and a seeming smoak we found Water unfroze under the Pipe and that the Air was condensed to a 20th Part of the space it possess'd before 3. The Globous part of a Glass-Egg 3 Inches Diameter was filled with Water and froze from the Bottom upwards after it had been Hermetically seal'd it rose 8 ½ Inches the length of the whole Stem being 10 Inches and a half But being a second time sealed up and froze with Ice in it it wrought not 4 Inches above its first station TITLE XI Experiments touching the Expansive force of Freezing Water Of the Expansive force of freezing Water 1. TO help us to make an estimate of the Expansive force of freezing Water We filled a Pewter-Bottle full of Water it being large enough to hold half a Pint In a frosty Night it crack'd the Bottle and the like success we had with frozen Water in a Pewter-box such as they keep Salves in And we found the Expansive force of Frost so strong That it burst a Bottle the thinnest part of which was 1 14 of an Inch and the thickest ◠86 It also broke an Earthen Bottle of Flanders-Metal the thinnest part of which was as thick as the strongest of the other 2. To make a more Determinate Estimate of the Expansive force of Frost we made use of a Brass-Cylinder to which we adapted a Plugg which falling a little way within the Cylinder rested upon the edges of it The length of the Cylinder was about 5 Inches and the breadth 1 ¾ The Experiment made in this Instrument was by filling it full of Water and then laying 56 pound weight upon the top of it And tho' it was a hard matter to cause the Mixture to freeze yet we were at the last able to do it and then we observ'd That the Expanded Ice lifted up the one side of the lower so high that the weight fell down but at another time it succeeded so well that the lower was uniformly raised the breadth of a Barly-corn Upon a gentle thaw the Superficial Parts being taken out the Ice appear'd full of Bubbles And in the Morning when it began to melt before the fire the weight being taken off several drops of Water dilated into numerous Bubbles issu'd out like a kind of Froth 3. Another way we took to measure the Expansive force of Cold was by driving a Wooden Plugg so fast into the end of the Brass-Cylinder That half a hundred weight and a quarter of a hundred might be suspended at it without pulling it out yet in two frosty Nights the expanding Water was able to raise it a quarter of an Inch. 4. There is one thing in these Tryals deserves to be taken notice of viz. That the Expansion of Air by Heat being sufficient to make it possess 70 times it 's former space yet the utmost degree Water by Glaciation will extend it self to is a ninth So that the former by Expansion acquires 60 times the space that Water does taking Mersennus his account of the Air 's Expansion to be true which comes short of what we have shewn it capable of being Expanded to 5. We endeavoured likewise to measure the force of Waters Expansion when congeal'd by enclosing it in a Iron-Globe whose Diameter was about 3 Inches and which had a Female Screw continued from it's Cavity to the out side to which was adapted Male a screw so close That we were forc'd to use a Vice to screw it in but our hopes were frustrated the Compactness of the metal as we suppos'd keeping the Liquor from freezing 6. It would be worth while to consider the cause of so powerful an Expansion since neither the Cartesian nor the Epicurean Doctrine are able to explain this Phaenomenon For the first only accounting Cold to be a Privation of Heat and depending upon the recess of those subtil Parts which he supposes Expansion to depend on according to him they should rather continue an Inactive Mass than retain such a Springyness And since according to Epicurus Expansion depends on an Insinuation of frigorifick Atoms It may well be question'd how parts of Matter which have such a free entrance into such Vessels should not rather find as easie a Passage out again as in without breaking them Besides in several Oyls and other Liquors which must receive those frigorifick Atoms we perceive not the least Expansion at all but they are rather condensed 7. How great the Expansive Force of congeal'd Wine Milk Urine and other Liquors is I shall leave it to others to enquire and shall only take notice That undoubtedly it is considerable since in the Dutch Voyage to Nova Zembla it was observ'd That even Iron-hoops were burst by the forcible Expansion of included Liquors And in Russia it hath been observ'd that tho' Beer and Wine would not burst Wooden Vessels yet Glass and Stone-Vessels would be often broken Particulars referrable to the XI Title 1. We took a Brass-Cylinder 2 Inches Diameter and having put a Bladder with Water ty'd close up in it so that upon Expansion it could not get out into the Cavity of the Cylinder we put a Plugg into it upon which were placed several weights which amounted to 120 Pounds yet the frigorifick Mixture being apply'd to the Cylinder the Water expanded rais'd the Plugg near half an Inch and the Experiment being repeated again the next Day the freezing Water raised 130 Pound-weight 2. An Iron-Barrel 14 Inches long and ⅜ of an Inch in Diameter whose sides were at the thickest Part 1 16 and at the least ◠16 was filled with Water and being buried in a Mixture
of Ice and Salt 2 hours it made an oblique crack in the Barrel Six Inches long and the Ice being taken out seemed full of Bubbles but very small ones and the like success we had with another Barrel of a Gun whose Muzzle and Touch-hole were stopped up with Metal nor had we less success when we buried a Pewter Bottle in a frigorifick Mixture both the Barrel of the Gun and the Bottle being burst in a quarter of an hour TITLE XII Experiments concerning a new way of Estimating the Expansive force of Congelation and of highly compressing Air without Engines A new way of Estimating the Expanâ—…e force of Congelation HOW far we were able to compress the Air by the Incumbent weight of a Cylinder of Mercury we have else where shewn but to reduce it to a greater degree of Condensation I made the following Experiments 1. Having filled a Glass-Egg with Water till it wrought about an Inch into the Stem we placed it in a Mixture of Snow and Salt and in a few hours the Surface of the Liquor was raised about 7 Inches and the Apex of the Stem being sealed up by a fresh application of Snow and Salt it was raised 8 Inches higher So that the Air being compressed into the space of an Inch possessed about nine Parts of ten of what it did before Whereupon the Stem being inverted and the seal'd end opened the Air which when the Stem was inverted rose up to the Ice and separated the unfrozen Water in the Stem from it powerfully expanding it self forced out about ten Inches of Water with Violence and Noise besides a great number of Bubbles ascended from the Bottom of the Glass to the Top. N. B. when the Air was compressed beyond seven Inches we several times observ'd That the Glass just above the Water on the inside was full of little drops of Dew which when the Apex was broke off Disappeared 2. A Vial whose neck was drawn out into a slender Pipe being filled till it wrought an Inch within the Pipe in a little time by the Expansion of the Water the Air being too much compressed the head of the Pipe flew off and the same happened to a round white Glass whose Stem filled with Air was about 3 Inches Nor was the success otherwise when we repeated the Experiment in a large single Vial whose Stem was four Inches long and it's Basis an Inch broad 3. An Oval Glass about the size of a Turkeys-egg with a neck almost Cylindrical was filled with Water within four Inches and a half and then a piece of Paper being pasted upon the Stem divided into half Inches and quarters and the Apex being sealed up by a moderate Heat the Surface of the Water was raised considerably but the Oval Part of the Glass being covered with a Mixture of Ice and Snow the Air was compressed into a 17th Part of the space it possessed before And the Ball of the Glass bursting afterwards with a considerable Noise the Ice appeared full of Bubbles which rendred it white and Opacous In another Glass whose Ball was larger in proportion to the Stem the Air was compressed into a 19th Part of it's former space before the Glass flew in pieces 3. And this way of trying how far the Air might be compressed and Water expanded by Cold we thought least Exceptionable because the Pores of Glass are more impervious to Air and Water than some Metalline Vessels for having broken open the Apex of the Stem of one of our Glass-Eggs we found that tho' the Water was but a little expanded yet not finding a way out at the Pores of the Glass the Water rose up a quarter of an Inch. TITLE XIII Experiments and Observations concerning the Sphere of Activity of Cold. Of the Sphere of Activity of Cold. IN estimating the Sphere of Activity of Cold we are not only to consider the Degree of it in the cold Body but also the Medium through which it is to pass and the Consistence and Texture of it as likewise the Instruments employ'd to receive or acquaint us with the Action of Cold Since from what hath been before laid down it appears That Weather-glasses give us a more nice account of the Degrees of it and that our Sensories may mis-inform us upon the account of their various Predispositions Besides the Sphere of Activity may be vary'd by the Bulk of the cold Body 1. But to consider the Sphere of Activity of small Pieces of Ice we have found it very small in comparison of the Atmospheres of odorous Bodies insomuch that I am perswaded we can have no sense of Cold without the immediate Contact of a cold Body since Ice approaching our Sensory or a Weather-glass affects neither tho' held as near as possibly they may without touching And the like hath been observ'd at Sea where in foggy Nights the Seamen have not been able to discern neighbouring Mountains of Ice Tho' by a Merchant who made the Observation in Greenland I am told That he perceived a manifest access of Cold upon the approach of a floating piece of Ice 2. And I am told that in Ispahan the Capital City of Persia the Ice being never much more than a Finger thick they usually pour Water upon it which as it runs over the Ice is in part froze by which means they thicken the Ice and preserve it in proper Conservatories This Experiment having been tryed in England by pumping of Water upon Flakes of Ice I found That the Pump-water being warmer than the Ice thawed it instead of increasing the Thickness of it And tho' here in England Water poured upon Snow promotes its Dissolution yet in Russia and Muscovy I am told That Water thrown upon Snow freezes it which they therefore make use of to incrustate several Bodies with Ice yet one thing is to be observ'd that generally at the same time the sharpness of the Air is so violent as to incrustate several Bodies with Ice when only Water is made use of so that in trying such Experiments we are to consider the Temperature of the Air at the same time which hath a great Influence in promoting or varying the Effects of such Tryals 3. How deep Frost penetrates into Water and Earth will be a very hard thing to determine since Earth especially may be more or less disposed to freeze according to the several Degrâ—es of Cold and its Duration the Texâ—â—â—… of the Earth and the Nature of the Juices dâ—â—â—…ed through it or subterraneal Steams Whence large Tracts of Land that lye over some Mines are always free from Snow good quantities of Lime-stone being near the Surface of the Earth 4. But tho' it be so difficult to know to what Depth Frost will reach yet that we may contribute as much as we can to the general History of Cold we shall add the following Notes After four Nights hard Frost the Ground in the Orchard was froze about 3 Inches deep and in the
Garden about 2 after ten Nights Frost the Ground in the Garden was froze about 6 Inches ½ and that in the Orchard was froze 8 ½ or more Eight Days after it was froze about a Foot Deep 5. A Pipe of Glass 18 Inches long being thrust down into a Hole in the Ground the Surface of the Water contained in it being level with the Earth the next Morning the whole Capacity of the Cylinder was froze 3 Inches from which Stick of Ice a Part of the Cylinder was froze 6 Inches deep but the rest of the Water remained unfroze The Ground in the Garden that Night was froze ten Inches deep 6. It hath been observ'd that in Moscow the Ground in a Garden was not froze above two Foot deep but Capt. James says in Charlton-Island he observ'd the Ground froze ten Foot deep and the same Author in his Journal p. 86. says That the Water does not freeze naturally above six Feet One Particular referrable to the XIII Title I am told That a Lee-ward of great Banks of Ice they may discover them by the access of Cold twenty Leagues TITLE XIV Experiments concerning the Different Mediums through which Cold may be diffused Of the Mediums through which Cold may be diffused IN trying these Experiments we are to take Notice that the Mediums are not to be too thick since from Experiments already deliver'd it appears That a compact Medium very thick will not give way to Cold. 1. Having placed a Mixture of Snow and Salt in a Pipkin and another in a white Basin glazed within and without they were both incrustated with Ice And that Cold will penetrate Pewter-Bottles appears from Experiments already laid down 2. Having caused two Cups to be made of Lattin or Plates of Iron covered over with Tin the Convex Part of one of which was less than the Concave of the other and the less having a broad Ledge by the help of which it rested on the Brim of the other so as to leave an Interval betwixt its Convex Superficies and the Concave of the other we filled that Interval with Water and putting a Mixture of Ice and Salt within the less Cup and on the outside of the other we had Cups of Ice made of the inclosed Water 2. The Learned Erasmus Bartholinus in his discourse De figura Nivis mentions an Experiment by which Air is turned into Water in the midst of Heat viz. Ice or Snow being put into a a funnel which he supposes refrigerates and condenses the Ambient Air but I rather think That the Dew which he supposes to be condensed Air is made up of moist Vapours swimming in it which is so small in Quantity That having suspended a Tunnel in the Air with a Mixture of Snow and Salt which is much more refrigerating than either Ice or Snow by themselves it gathered but a very small Quantity and that too lasted no longer than whilst the Mixture was dissolving besides those condensed Vapours were first Froze before they dropped down in the form of Water 3. That in Hermetically sealed Glasses a Mixture of Snow and Salt will freeze Vapours on the outside is evident from what hath been laid down but that Cold should not only penetrate Glass but afterwards act upon Water in Vacuo was a little more strange For having suspended a Tube of Water in Vacuo and piled Snow and Ice about it as high as the Included Water wrought it worked upon it and Froze it from the top to the bottom 4. But what is yet more strange is That Cold will act through a evidently hot Medium for drinking a good quantity of Mineral Waters timely in the Morning I observ'd a Manifest Coldness through the Muscles of my Abdomen which was in a higher degree remarkable in a Gentleman who drunk much greater quantities 5. To try whether the fluidity of Water depended on a Congenite motion in the Parts of it or whether it was conveyed to it by impulse from the Ambient Air we provided a Glass-Bubble about the size of a Wall-nut and of a Pear like shape whose Stem was purposely made crooked and suspending it by a thread in Oyl of Turpentine contain'd in a narrow Glass and this being placed in a Mixture of Snow and Salt tho' the Oyl continued fluid yet the Water in the Bubble was froze And when we went to take it out the Bubble being crack'd the greatest Part subsided to the Bottom of the Mixture but we perceiv'd That that which was pulled out was divided by a line through the middle from the top downwards And it was further observable in this Tryal That the two separable Pieces of Ice being left in a Mixture of Ice and Salt for 14 hours were very little wasted The like success we had with a Bubble of Water suspended in Spirit of Wine but another suspended in Sea-Salt was not froze at all nor was another that we hung in a sharp brine But the same Experiments being tryed another time the Water was froze both in the Bubble suspended in Spirit of Wine and in that which was immersed in the strong Brine the Bottle which contain'd the latter being crack'd which cracks were not much unlike the lines drawn from the Pole of a Globe to the Meridian reaching from the top of the Bubble downwards 6. A Bubble suspended with Water in it in a Glass immersed in Snow and Salt was froze without the Intervention of any Liquor TITLE XV. Experiments and Observations concerning Ice Concerning Ice 1. THO' in the East-Indies it hath been thought strange That Water in England should without any Artificial means be turned into a consistent Body yet it is related by some That in Russia the Ice on the contrary is found much harder than Ours 2. To make an Estimate of the Cohesion of the Parts of Ice we thought to have tryed what weight Cylindrical pieces of Ice of different Diameters would bear But being frustrated in such Tryals we try'd how much weight a Plate of it placed betwixt two Iron-Bars would bear but having not convenient weights we were forced to be content to know That it bore a much greater weight than one could suppose it capable of 3. A peice of Ice 3 Inches long and as many broad and about 4 of an Inch thick was laid cross a frame and a peice of Iron of this Figure 7 having a scale hung at the longer Leg the Horizontal Leg was placed upon the middle of the Ice and then 117 Ounces Troy-weight being put into the Scale when the Iron had melted half the Ice through on one side and a third Part of the other the weight was able to break it The Experiment being repeated when the piece of Ice was 2 Inches and a half long it bore 17 pound Averdupois and 48 Ounces Troy-weight when the Iron on one side had melted ⅔ and on the other ½ Parts of the thickness of it 4. Plates of Ice being laid upon a stool
Snow TO discover what Liquors Ice would be soonest dissolved in we contrived to freeze Water in a long Cylinder which being loosen'd by applying a warm Hand we divided some into Pieces ¼ of an Inch long and others into Inches and our Experiments being made with these Cylindrical Pieces of Ice In the first Tryal 1. In Oyl of Vitriol a Cylindrical Piece of Ice of an Inch in length lasted 5 Minutes 2. In Spirit of Wine 12 Minutes 3. In Aqua fortis 12 ½ 4. In Water 12 Minutes 5. In Oyl of Turpentine about 44 Minutes 6. In Air 64 Minutes The second Tryal 1. In Oyl of Vitriol an Inch of Cylindrical Ice lasted undissolv'd 3 Minutes 2. In Spirit of Wine 13 Minutes 3. In Water 26 Minutes 4. In Oyl of Turpentine 47 Minutes 5. In Sallet-Oyl 52 Minutes 6. In Air 152 Minutes 2. We likewise thought it worth while to try what difference there would be in the Duration of Pieces of Ice of the same Bulk and Figure but of different Liquors as also whether Attrition would contribute to the Dissolution of Ice which Iobserv'd it did Whence it appears That as the Agents contiguous to Ice are different they dissolve it's Texture sooner or later and if Snow or Ice be kept in a Place where neither the Sun nor the Air hath much Influence upon it it will continue a long time An Appendix to the XVI Title 1. In confirmation of what was said in the Close of this Title I shall add the following Account of the Italian Conservatories sent me by my ingenious Friend Mr. J. Evelyn The Snow-Pits in Italy c. are sunk in the most solitary and cooled Places commonly at the Foot of some Mountain or elevated Ground which may best protect them from the Meridional or Occidental Sun 25 Foot wide at the Orifice and about 50 deep is esteemed a competent Proportion And though this be excavated in a Conical Form yet it is made flat at the Bottom or Point The Sides of the Pit are so joyced that Boards may be nailed upon them very closely jointed About a Yard from the Bottom is fixed a strong Frame or Tresle upon which lyes a wooden Grate the Top or Cover is double thatch'd with Reed or Straw upon a copped Frame or Roof in one of the sides whereof is a narrow Door-case hipped on like the Top of the Dormer and thatched To Conserve Snow They lay clean Straw upon the Grate or Wattle so as to keep the Snow from running through whilst they beat it to a hard Cake of an icy Consistence which is near one Foot thick upon this they make a layer of Straw and then Snow and Straw again and continue S.S.S. 'till the Pit is full and then laying Straw or Reeds upon all they keep the Door locked This Grate is so contrived that the Snow melting by any Accident in laying or extraordinary Season of Weather it may drain away from the Mass and sink without stagnating upon it which would accelerate the Dissolution and therefore the Bottom is but very slightly steened c. 2. And it hath been observ'd by the Dutch-Men in their Voyage to Nova Zembla That in June the Sun was not powerful enough to melt Snow And even in warmer Climates where the Reflection of the Sun-beams is not so considerable Snow continues unthawed all Summer as upon the Top of the Alps and other high Mountains And Capt. James observes that in August Ice that was kept in the Sun-beams continued unmelted 8 Days or more and the same Author observes that the very Ground was frozen in June TITLE XVII Considerations and Experiments concerning the Primum frigidum Of the Primum Frigidum 1. THO several Sects of Philosophers have disputed about a Primum Frigidum some contending for Earth others Water others Air and another Sect for Nitre yet I am apt to believe That there is no such thing as a Primum Frigidum or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in which that Quality principally resides and from whence all other Bodies derive theirs no more than that there is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Principle subject of Residence for any other Quality For if an intense Degree of Motion amongst the minute Parts of a Body be sufficient to give it the Quality of Heat it may be enough to render a Body cold that that Motion is diminished upon a removal of its Cause so that it may be doubted whether Cold be a positive or a privative Quality The Earth not the Primum Frigidum 2. Indeed Plutarch supposes the Earth to be the Summum Frigidum But we daily see That it is froze by the contiguous Air communicating Cold to it and by the Interposition of another Body may easily be preserved from that So the Salt-Works upon the Marshes of the Island Xaintonge in France are preserved from the Dammage the Frost would do them by letting in Water by Sluces to overflow them Besides were the Earth the Summum Frigidum it might justly be wonder'd why it congeals not the Water contiguous to it sooner than Hail or Snow in the Air Since Terrene Parts of Matter cannot be brought thither without some Cause able to elevate them and perhaps to alter the Qualities of them Not to mention those Vulcano's which argue the Earth to abound with Subterraneal Fires and that in several Places where there are no such Vulcano's as in deep Mines those that work there find it very hot and troublesome And in deep Wells it is observ'd that the Water is so far from being froze that it comes up reaking hot which cannot be supposed to proceed from the Beams of the Sun since it hath been observ'd by Monsieur de Claves Livre 11. Chap. 8. That in the Southern Countries the Heat of the Sun penetrates not above six or seven Foot deep And the subterraneal Parts are so far from being extremely Cold That it is observ'd by Miners That the lower they dig the more Vapours exhalations and Heat they find And Jo. Baptista Morinus witnesses That in Mines in Hungary four hundred fathom deep after the descent of 80 fathom it is always hot but whether these may proceed from Subterraneal Fires or a Mixture of other Bodies I shall not determine since I have seen Bodies actually Cold mix'd together produce Heat And I am told That in some Parts of England they dig up a Mineral which upon a Addition of Water only becomes Hot and for a like reason perhaps those Heats in the Hungarian Mines may be caused For that Mineral Steams ascend is evident since they have been observ'd in a Perpendicular Groave not only to stink◠but by their Corrosive Qualities to corrode the wooden Ladders And Morinus himself tells us That descending into the Golden Mines at Cremnitz the Heat increased extremely as he descended which they attributed to a Mine of Smaragdine Vitriol which lay under it of which kind of Vitriol there is some even in the Cold
degree of Coldness But tho' it from hence appears That frigorifick Atoms may refrigerate the Air yet I believe not that all Winds must necessarily be cooled so since the Cold Air near the Poles swimming upon that which fills the lower Part of the Atmosphere may for want of a Reflection of the Sun-Beams be so Cold as to cool the Air suddenly when by the falling of Rain it is beat down upon us For Acosta hath observ'd upon Mountains higher than the Alps That the Air was extremely Cold. And the Hollanders who failed within 17 degrees of the Pole observ'd That their Cold Winds were chiefly Northerly and North-easterly But To conclude this Title I shall add an instance or two to shew That Cold Winds receive not so much their Qualities from the Quarters from whence they Blow as from the Regions over which they pass For Mr. Wood tells us That tho' in England the most troublesome and unwholesome Winds came from the Sea yet in New-England those are the most wholesome Because the North-east-wind coming from the Sea thaws the Ice and melts the Snow but the North-west-wind coming over the Land causes Cold. And Capt. James observ'd the like in Charlton-Island viz. That the South-wind was Coldest which came over a frozen Tract of Land Particulars referrable to the XVIII Title 1. The little sealed Weather-Glass being immersed in Water contained in a Glass-Vial greased in the inside when the Water was froze and the Ball of the Weather-Glass was incrustated being taken out the Ice was broke off Upon which the Tinged Liquor immediately rose in the shank of the Weather-Glass but presently subsided again below the former Mark from whence it appears That the Air may communicate a greater degree of Cold than Ice it self 2. Having placed a Weather-Glass made by the Standard at Gresham-College in a Cellar where Beer continued unfroze in a very sharp Winter last Night and this Morning the Tinged Liquor stood 2 Divisions and ⅛ above the freezing Mark but being removed into the Garden it subsided to the freezing Mark But tho' the Cellar was warmer than the Air yet it was not so warm as my Chamber the Weather-Glass there standing two Inches above the freezing Mark in the Morning before the fire was made and in the Summer the Tinged Spirit ascended to the 8th 9th and sometimes almost to the tenth Mark. 3. The last Night being rendered very Cold by Snow Frost and Wind this Morning the Weather-Glass being removed into the Garden the Tinged Spirit subsided two Divisions below the freezing Mark Yet the Cellar did not become so much Hotter by an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but that Oyl of Aniseeds continued undissolv'd in it till the next Morning tho' the moderate warmth of Spring or Autumn is sufficient to keep it fluid 4. A Weather-Glass being held in the Stream of Water as it came reaking Hot out of the Pump the Liquor subsided considerably and being carried to my Chamber the Air there being Colder than the Water it was depressed lower 5. Having held a Weather-Glass in the reaking stream of Pump-Water the Spirit rose about 5 Inches higher than it did at a Well in Oxford and being in some measure immersed in a Spring that usually smoaks in the Winter it was raised a little higher And the Weather-Glass being placed on the North side of the House about Noon I found that the temper of the Air then was much the same with the temper of the smoaking Spring 6. Feb. 19. The Frost having continued 3 Days the Spirit was raised as high by the warmth of the Spring as it used to be The next Day the Spring beginning to smoak the warmth of the Water raised the Spirit near a quarter of an Inch higher than it used to rise at the Spring-head some Months ago And the Water was then much warmer than the Air for the Spirit when brought to my Chamber subsided the Ground without being covered with a little Snow 7. A Gentleman told me That he had observ'd the Tinged Spirit sometimes higher when it was frosty than when it was not And he further told me That the Weather-Glass being left in Water till it was froze when it was cleared of the Ice and exposed to the Air the Spirit manifesty subsided The size of the Ball of this Weather-Glass was as big as that of a large Crab and the Stem was about 2 foot and ½ long And the distance betwixt the station which the Spirit rested at in the Water and the Air was above three Inches A Relation given me by an Ingenious Gentleman lately returned out of Poland 1. In frosty clear Weather he observ'd the Sun and two Parhelions one Eastward and the other Westward betwixt ten and twelve a Clock and when the Sun-shine appeared it was full of glittering Particles of Ice 2. A Dutch and a Scotch Ship having sailed beyond Greenland within one degree of the Pole they observed That tho' there were vast Regions of Ice near the shores yet near the Pole the Sea was open and free enough From the North-East they observ'd That there came a great rolling Sea not unlike the Spanish Seas And that the Cold was no violenter than that in Greenland And further they observ'd That sailing from Greenland the Compass first varied a Point and then two and when they came near the Pole the Compass varied 4 Points and that towards the East The Captain likewise told me That they are troubled at Sea sometimes with thick Fogs some of which last half a Day others a Day and others a whole Day And he likewise told me That lying at Anchor near Bellsound on the coast of Greenland near a very high Rock he and some others got to the top of it which they judged to be half a Mile high And when they came there they found the Weather clear and the Sky serene and so Hot that they were forced to strip themselves But below they could discern a thick fogg which when they came down they found was very Cold and Dark A Passage taken out of the Czars-Doctor's Letter 1. At Vologda in the North-East from Moscow we found the Cold Weather in December not to last 3 Days but the Rain was unusual and dangerous And for 30 years past the Winters have been so moderate That People are not froze on the Roads in several Postures but sometimes they lose their Noses and have their Faces froze 2. The Warmer the Room is in the Day the thicker the Hoar is at Night upon the Glass being sometimes an Inch thick And if it be a small Frost The Nails of the Windows and Doors will be tipped with Frost The Falconers say That the Birds creep under the Snow at Nights Bears make themselves Caves against Winter and I remember I kept one two Days without meat or drink he in the mean time making a Lather with his Tongue and sucking his Paws 3. A Wind from the Sea causes a Thaw as well as at
burning-Glass to concentre the Rays of the Moon I could neither perceive them cold or hot tho' Sanctorius tells us That they are hot and that being concentred and cast upon the Ball of a common Weather-glass the Water was sensibly depressed but since my Glass for as much as I can gather from the Narrative was better than his I must suspend my Assent 'till further satisfied by Experience for since he tells us that several of his Scholars stood by to watch the Event the Effect might in a great measure depend on the Warmth of their Breath One Particular referrable to the XXI Title The Samojedes cloath themselves with Renes Skins the Hair being outward and I have found a Pair of Cangies warmer than furred Gloves They are chiefly made use of for the Sledge tho' one may walk in the Snow with them it being so dry that a Scarlet being covered all over with it it will brush off without wetting or endammaging it To the XI Title The force of Expansion by Cold. 1. The Barrel of a Gun which was about a Foot long and of a proportionable Diameter had the Touch-hole riveted up and a Screw fitted to the Nose of the Barrel which being done it was filled full of Water and suspended in a Perpendicular Line The Screw having been thrust down as forcibly as a Man could in a frosty Night the congealed Ice raised the Screw considerably so that Ice had made it's way out at the sides of the Barrel But the Experiment being repeated and the Intervals of the Screw filled up with melted Bees-wax the expanded Ice not being able to raise it the Nose of the Barrel was cracked obliquely besides several other Flaws in other Places which gave way to the Wind blown into the Barrel to try it An Appendix to the XVII Title Of the Effects of Nitre in freezing Bartholinus citeing an Experiment wherein the Proportion betwixt Nitre and Water was 35 to 100 to try the success of it we mixed a Pound of Salt-Petre with 3 Pounds of Water and stirring it about constantly as Cabaeus directs in an Hour and half we perceived not the least Ice whereas according to him it ought to have been wholly froze in less time but we could not perceive the Vapours on the outside of the Glass in the least froze For a further Tryal we mixed two Ounces of Salt-Petre with six of Water in a Glass-Vial but by all the shaking we could not produce the least Ice tho' whilst the Nitre was dissolving the Mixture was sensibly colder and the same we have observ'd to happen upon a Dissolution of Common Salt tho' the Degree of Cold was not sufficient for Congelation which I was satisfyed in by removing a Thermoscope out of the Mixture of Nitre and Water into Water which was placed in Snow and Salt For by that means the Liquor in the Weather-Glass subsided in the latter about 3 Inches so that I am apt to think the Learned Cabaeus mistook Chrystals of Nitre for Ice It is believed by most Water-men That the Water begins to freeze at the bottom because they observe large Pieces of Ice rise from the bottom of the Water But the Truth of it is very reasonably question'd since we not only see that Water in Vessels but in Wells begins to freeze at the Top and several Arguments in proof of the contrary may be found in our Section of the Primum frigidum And as for those Pieces of Ice which they observe to emerge that Phaenomenon may easily be solved without supposing the Water to begin to freez at the Bottom For since the Water which runs along the sides of the Banks being froze several Stones may stick to it they by their Weight may cause it to subside when it is partly loosned by the Heat of the Sun and the Water by that Rarifaction becomes lighter Yet when the Water above is cooled and the Water below being warmer hath melted the Ice in some measure and loosned some of those Stones which were before froze to it the Ice becoming specifically lighter than the Water must consequently emerge On which occasion I shall here observe that Capt. James Hall takes notice That they found a Stone of three hundred weight upon a Piece of Ice In confirmation of our Solution of this Phaenomenon I might alledge the Experiments laid down in the Section of the Duration of Ice And it were to be wished that for a further Decision of this matter that either Divers were sent down or Instruments which would bring up Ice if any were there We took a seal'd Weather-Glass and having inverted the Stem of it when furnished with Spirit of Wine so that that being placed in a Hole purposely made in a Box the Ball of the Weather-Glass rested on the Box about that we placed a Mixture of Snow and Salt and found that presently the Spirit of Wine was retracted So that Liquors may be condensed without the assistance of their Gravity to depress and cause the Parts of the Body to sink together But whether in this case the Contraction was assisted by the Tenacity of the Liquor or the Springiness of some Elastick Particles will be inquired into in a more proper Place Frogs and Toads being taken up from under Ice were brisk and lively and it is observ'd that in frosty Weather they generally lye in the Bottom of Pits for their Security Paralipomena to the II and XX Titles of the frost getting into hard and solid Bodies Of the Effects of Frost on solid Bodies In England it hath been observ'd That Wood whose Diameter was a Foot through hath been froze and in Poland the Frost hath been so powerful that it hath rendred the Timber so hard that Hatchets would not cut it and the Wood with which the Houses were cover'd would give Cracks as loud as Pistols And I am told by one that his Bow being froze if he did not take a great deal of Care in thawing it it would break Marle and Chalk will be shattered with the Frost the Texture of those Bodies being by that means opened and rendered more fit to nourish Plants and Grass And I am told by an Experienced Mason that even free stone of which Houses are built will crack and flaw in frosty Weather And it is observed in England That stones dugg up in the beginning of Summer and seasoned in the Air are not near so subject to flaw as those that are dug up and worked whilst the Frost continues And it is further observed That both Earthen as well as Glass-Vessels are considerably impaired by the Effects of Frost upon them To which instances I shall add the Testimony of Maistre Bernard Palissy who says That tho' the stones of the Mountain Ardenne are harder than Marble yet for fear of Frost they are drawn out of the Quarries in the Winter And he further adds That in the Winter the Rocks sometimes crack and fall down without being cut
And it hath been observed That Iron-Instruments brought out of the Cold into a warm Room have been covered over with a white Hoar and it is not only confirmed by foreign Artists but several here That Cold hath so great an Effect on Steel as to make several Pieces of Metal more brittle than in the Summer so that they are then forced to work them another way and to give them a different temper Hot Water does not freeze sooner than Cold. It being a Tradition and also taught by Aristotle That Hot Water is sooner froze than Cold to determine the matter I made the following Experiments Cold Water being exposed to freeze in one Porringer boiled Water cooled in another and Hot Water in a Third at 8 a Clock the Cold Water began to freeze at ¼ after ten the Boild Water cooled at ¾ past ten and the Hot Water at ¼ an hour past Eleven And the like success happened when the Experiment was tryed a second time in Metalline Vessels And the Experiment being again tryed with greater exactness the Cold Water and the rest being exposed to freeze at ¼ after 6 the first beganto freeze ¼ after 7 the Water heated and cooled again ¾ after 7 and the Hot Water was not froze ½ an hour after Eight The like Experiment being tryed with Water contained in Glass-Cylinders of an equal Bore sealed at one end we found that there was very little difference in the time of their Congelation when immersed in a Mixture of Snow Salt and Water but once when the end of one of the Cylinders was drawn smaller than Ordinary the smallness of the Pipe occasioned the Hot Water to begin to freeze sooner than the Cold Water Postcript Accidentally looking upon the Circulus Pisanus of Berigardus I found That tho' that Author opposes Aristotle in other Points yet he agrees with Him That Hot Water cooled will sooner freeze than ordinary Cold Water but having tryed the Experiment I observ'd That both being exposed to freeze when by a Weather-Glass I found them of the same temper my Domestick who attended them took notice also that they both began to freeze at one time And tho' Berigardus further wonders That warm Salt-Water should be less subject to freeze for being Salt yet from Experiments already laid down it abundantly appears That tho' Salt Externally applyed promotes it yet Internally being dissolv'd in Water it prevents Congelation Particulars referrable to several Titles For a further Confirmation of the VI Title I shall add that Purchas relates Lib. 4. Cap. 19. That the Samojeds when they Bury their Dead only cover them with a Pile of stones and tho' the Dead Bodies may be seen through them yet the Coldness of the Air preserves them from stinking And the same Author tells us That in a certain Island they preserve their Fish and Flesh by hardening it in the Air better than if it were corned with Salt In Confirmation of what hath been delivered under the VII Title I exposed several Vials filled with Water and unstopped to be froze and found that the Bottles were broke in pieces by the Expansion of the frozen Water so that the Phaenomenon could not be attributed to Nature's abhorrency of a Vacuum For if either the Expanded Water could have made it's way by stretching the Glass or leaving the Superficial Ice congealed at first in the Neck or any other way easier than to break the Vessel the Vessel would probably be left intire I say probably because sometimes in such Experiments something may intervene which requires further Tryals and Observations to discover Since I have in other Experiments made it appear That the Water beginning to freeze at the Bottom rose a considerable height in the Stem without breaking the Bottle and I have sometimes had a good deal of a Liquor froze in a stopped Vial without breaking it as if the success were varyed by some uncommon Properties in the Glass or some peculiar softness of the Ice In Confirmation of what is delivered in the VII Title of the Expansion of freezing Water I shall add That the Capacity of a large Bottle being filled with Water except the Neck and that filled with Oyl the expanding Water not only elevated the Cork but raised it several Inches it being supported by a Cylinder partly consisting of Oily and partly of Watry Particles of Ice It is a General Tradition amongst Fisher-men That when Ponds or Rivers are froze up except several holes are broke up for the Air to communicate with the Water the Fishes will be suffocated and Olaus Magnus tells us That Fishes are usually found suffocated when a thaw comes where Veins of living Water do not enter But I am not satisfyed whether if the Tradition be true they may not be killed either by some Subterraneal Steams or their own Excrementitious Effluvia prevented by the Ice from making their way out of the Water and it may be questioned further whether this Phaenomenon may not be caused by excessive Cold as well as for want of Air. Wherefore to satisfie my self whether the Vulgar Opinion be true or not I enclosed some Gudgeons in a large Glass with a long Neck and having froze the Water in the Neck by applying a Mixture of Snow and Salt I found That the Fishes lived a considerable time And the like I observed when the same Fishes were contained in an Earthen Vessel with a little Water frozen over Where the External Air was wholly separated and prevented from communicating with the Water under the Ice yet one thing observable was That there was a large Bubble of Air under the Ice which I suppose came from the Fish For I have observed not only these sort of Fish but Lamprels take in Air and then being immersed under Water emit Bubbles both at their Mouths and Gills Gudgeons frozen up in Ice in a Basin recovered when it was thawed but some that continued 3 Days in Ice revived not Frogs froze in Water till they were all enclosed with Ice and till one of them was stiff with it recovered when it was thawed and Swam about tho' before some of them lay with their Bellys upwards and void of Motion As for the weight of Bodies frozen Capt. James tells us That Wood that had lain all Winter under Ice would sink when cast into the Water And he likewise tells us That the Ice of Wine is so durable that a Butt of Wine which was froze in the Winter continued unthawed in May. Purchas tells us of two pieces of Ice which they found lay fast on the Ground the one of which was 20 fathom under Water and 12 above and the other 18 fathom below the Surface of the Water and 10 above it It is observed by Purchas and several others That the Snow lying upon the Ground in Russia as well as in England makes it fruitful Of the separation of Liquors by Cold. It would be worth while to try what Effects Cold
the Mixture tho' consistent was Colder than the fluid Ingredients To try whether Water was capable of Compression we took a Glass-Ball with a long Stem and filled it with Water within two Inches of the Top then we Hermetically sealed it up and freezing it from the Bottom upwards in a frigorifick Mixtre when the included Air was compressed as much as we thought the Glass would bear we nipt off the Apex and found That thereupon the Air flew out and the Water rose ¼ of an Inch above it's former Surface So that it seemed to be compressed ⅜ of the length of the Aqueous Cylinder but whether this Phaenomenon might be occasion'd by the Spring of some latent Air in the Pores of the Water or whether it might be occasioned by some Springiness in the Ice or Whether the Glass being before distended and now reduced to it's former Dimensions occasioned this Phaenomenon I will not undertake to determine without further Tryals And To what hath been observed in this Experiment I shall add That if the Apex were broke off before the Air was much compressed it would cause no considerable Noise And further when the Experiment was a second time repeated with one of the same Glasses and the same Liquor it would rise ⅛ and ¼ in the Stem higher than before upon breaking of the Apex CHAP. VI. An Examen of Antiperistasis as it is usually taught and proved Arguments alleaged in Favour of an Antiperistasis THO' the Doctrine of Antiperistasis be asserted by Aristotle and some of his followers urge Reason and Experience in favour of it yet from what follows it will appear That what is offered is not sufficient to maintain his Doctrine For first it is Reasoned in favour of it That nothing can be more requisite for the Preservation of things and more agreeable to the wisdom and goodness of Nature than to furnish Cold and Heat with a self invigorating Power which each of them may exert when encompass'd with the other and that nothing is more Natural than for one Quality when surrounded with a Predominant one to retire into the innermost recesses of that Body where the force of it being increased an occasional Exertion of that Power is called Antiperistasis But from Reason to proceed to Experience it is offered by the maintainers of an Antiperistasis That in the Summer when the lowest and uppermost Regions of the Air are insupportably Hot the Cold flyes to the middle Region of it and there defends it self against the other two about it And as the Cold remains in the middle Region by virtue of an Antiperistasis so Lightning is but an Explosion of Exhalations pinned up in the Cold. And to this it is further offered That the Effects of Antiperistasis are not only evident in the Air but the Earth it self for in the Summer when the Air above the Earth is Hot that in Cellars to which the Cold retreats is of a contrary Quality and on the contrary in the Winter when the Air without is excessive Cold that in Vaults and Cellars is warm and even the Water drawn from Wells is warm when at the same time Rivers themselves are covered over with Ice And To these things it is further offered in Favour of an Antiperistasis That in deep Pits as well as Mines it is observed that the Air is troublesome hot in the Winter And that it is further observed That the Water in Charlton-Island hath been observed to be much Colder in June when Ice swam in it than in December and that a Well which furnished them with Water in December afforded none in July and further That in Musco the Cellars are able to defend them in Winter from the Excessive Cold and that even in those Gelid Climates Water drawn out of Wells usually steams or smoaks if agitated when newly drawn Thus much being offered in favour of the Doctrine of Antiperistasis Those Arguments exmined it is answered on the contrary first as to the rational defences of it That there it no necessity that these two Qualities should thus invigorate themselves there being no danger of them being lost out of the World since without the help of an Antiperistasis there are several substances which are plentifully stocked with matter to supply each Quality Besides according to the course of Nature contrary Qualities rather destroy than preserve one another and even the Peripateticks themselves allow That all Agents act as much as they can And we have several Instances in the Northern Countries That the Natural Heat of Animals is destroyed and not increased by the help of Cold and tho' it be commonly alledged to shew that Contraries endeavour to shun each other That a drop of Water falling upon a Table keeps in a Globular form yet the Reason of that seems only to be this viz. That the specifick Gravity of the drop is not so far prevalent above it's Tenacity as to cause it to spread besides it is prevented partly by the Ambient Pressure of the Atmosphere And that it 's Globous Figure is not owing to its aversion to spread upon a dry Body and its disposition to shun Contraries is evident since it retains the like Figure when mixed with fluid Oyl and Mercury on the contrary tho' it be apter to retain a Globular Figure upon a Table yet if put upon Gold it loses that Figure Whether the Phaenomena of slacked Quick-lime be an Argument of Antiperistasis But to pass by what Reasons may be offered against the Doctrine of Antiperistasis To proceed to examine what Experiments and Observations have been alledged in favour of it I shall first observe That tho' the slacking of Quick-lime with Cold Water be generally looked upon to be an Effect of Antiperistasis yet it appears otherwise since it will cause a much more violent Ebullition if boiling Water be made use of instead of Cold the Parts of the hot Liquor being much more apt to penetrate and dissolve it and to set the Igneous Parts at Liberty for which Reason Spirit of Salt causes still a stronger ferment than hot Water But to shew further That Water slacks not Lime because its Coldness keeps in and thereby invigorates the Power of the Igneous fiery Parts of the Lime I put a piece into Oyl of Turpentine which did not in the least dissolve it nor did Spirit of Wine tho' upon the removal of it into Water it was presently dissolved Another Argument Examin'd Another Argument alledged for an Antiperistasis is the freezing of a Pot to the Top of a stool at the fire side by a mixture of Snow and Salt but this Experiment having likewise succeded where there was no fire near it could not be said that the Effect depended upon the force of the fire invigorating the Cold. Another Experiment employed by the Asserters of an Antiperistasis is That if a Pot of Snow be set over the fire and a Vial full of Water be placed in the middle of
colour and taste of Wine In thirty eight hours Canary exposed in a spoon was covered with a thin film which grew no thicker in four days But neither Claret or Canary would freeze in Tubes or Bottles Two ounces of Spirit of Wine exposed in a spoon all evaporated in twelve hours but the same quantity of Brandy left about a spoonful of Ice void both of taste and it 's Inflammable Quality but being held betwixt my Eye and a candle it discover'd several bubbles An Ox and a Sheep's Eye were both frozen through in one Night the three Humours being Opacous hard and inseparable The Chrystalline humour was white like Whitings boil'd the waterish and glassy humour seemed to be made of flakes of Ice Sheeps Blood exposed to freeze the Serum was turned to Ice which being separated from the Blood and thawed at the fire congealed a second time into a Membranous substance but the Blood was not in the least froze The Heart and Blood in the Vena Cava of a Dog and Cat exposed dead to the Air were both froze Milk froze into white flakes being soft and with few bubbles in it and retaining the proper taste of Milk The yolks and Whites of Eggs were froze in one Night they thaw best by lying on New-Castle Coals or in a deep Cellar I am told that Eggs tho' they have been froze will produce Chickens-Eggs held near the Surface of the Water when froze will acquire a crust of Ice on the outside the inward Parts of it still remaining froze and if those Eggs whilst froze be poched they will be very tough An Egg and an Apple being suspended two Foot deep in a Cistern and taken up after twenty four hours tho' both of them were full of Ice within yet neither of them had contracted Ice on the outside Horse-Radishes and Onions froze yet Beer in which Horse-Radish and Scurvey-Grass are infused will not freeze so soon as strong Beer without them Oranges and Limons froze have a hard and tough rind and lose their genuine taste and when thawed they soon become rotten Apples Cut in the middle will have a thin Ice on both plains which may be discerned by a knife or the touch The skins of these Apples soon turn brown and they begin to corrupt there Oyl exposed look'd like Butter melted and coagulated again but in Caves and Cellars it would never appear more than Candied White Wine-Vinegar froze in a Tube without apparent bubbles Whatever hath a watry humour in it will coagulate But what will not the next Paragraph contains Spirit of Wine Aq. Mariae Coelestis c and Canary in large Vessels Soap-Boilers Lees Spirit of Salt Vitriol Salt-Petre Aqua fortis Spirit of Sulphur and Spirit of Soot will not freeze but the two last afford a Precipitate the first of the colour and taste of Brimstone but not inflammable the latter a yellowish powder more bitter than the Spirit and inflammable But tho' these Spirits would not freeze yet being mixed with twelve Parts of Water all of them froze except Spirit of Salt Nitre and Aqua fortis I am told that one having dissolv'd Ice in the North Seas found it Salt As for the figures of Liquors froze Allum appear'd in lumps Salt-Petre Tartar Milk Ale Wine and Sal-Armoniack in plates And other Liquors which composed a soft Ice seened to be composed of Globuli adhering to each others Water Kelp and Frits resembled the fibres of an Oaken leaf the interstices being filled up with smoother Ice and the middle Fibres as in Plants appeared larger than the others and made acute Angles at the lesser end of the leaf But as for the figures of frozen Urine those having been accurately describ'd by the curious Mr. Hook I shall pass that part of my task by I took the Salts of Rosemary Rue Scurvey-Grass Mint and Plantan and putting ½ or ¾ of an ounce of each into ½ of a pint of their distilled Waters the Rue and Plantan being sealed up none of them froze resembled the Plants they belong'd to but the Aromatick Waters were much enriched in their scents especially the Rosemary Kelp froze represents the leaves of Alga Marina A Recipient full of Water being froze and the top of the Ice broke there appeared a Cavity within which was thick set with Plates of Ice from which Stiriae appeared on each side like the Teeth of Combs some of which stood at such a distance that I could put my finger betwixt them A flask full of Water being froze it appear'd full of bubbles like tailed hail-shot the sharp points of all of them pointing upwards They had Cavities which would admit a Pin into them and might be discerned in the Ice appearing like black spots And in the middle of the Ice was contained a Cavity filled with Water in which were several of these bubbles imperfectly formed All the Liquors I made Experiments with did sensibly rise above the mark before they froze and more after congelation Vinegar and Urine rose ½ an Inch and Lees made of Salts of Rosemary Kelp and Frits about ½ of an Inch. Solutions of Allum and Copperas less and Saline Liquors in general less than Water which rose a full Inch and small Beer in a narrow Tube four Inches Oyl of Vitriol alone subsides below the mark hot Water subsides till it is cool and then rises again Water being froze in Beer-Glasses rises up and forms solid Triangles but the rising of it is more visible in narrow Glasses Ice in a flask rose four Inches above the Water-mark and hung two Inches out of it but in a Bolt-head it rose five Inches above the Water-mark If Glasses be filled about ⅔ full they seldom break Round Spherical Glasses usually break uniformly A Bolt-head being filled up to the neck with Water the top which was twelve Inches above it was sealed up upon which the Water being froze was raised three Inches into the neck and the Glass breaking in the thinnest Part from that point several Lines ran as from a Pole to the Meridian but none of them went round the Glass nor were they all of the same length In a flask cracked in many places the cracks were irregular Glass Bottles and stone-Jugs kept little order in breaking and Metals none at all but Woods cleave with the Grain Two oval Boxes one of Box and another of Maple containing each two ounces were fill'd full and by the Frost in one Night were cracked from the bottom to the top A Pepper-Box of Latin had its neck broke off and the joints at the bottom loosned Lead-Pipes above ground were broke in many places and some that lay a foot under ground Brass-Locks and Barrels of Pumps usually break with the Frost A Copper-Box of the shape of a Pear was cracked the fourth time it was froze The Cylinder of a silver Ink-horn bore the Frost but a silverball was considerably extended by the Frost Tobacco-Pipes and Earthen Ware were burst with the
Frost and Tiles of Houses and stone-Buildings scale upon a thaw for which Reason the North side of Buildings first decay Alabaster and Marble that have chinks in them usually break with the Frost but solid Marble does not nor does Frost affect those stones or Bitumens which will bear a Polish Ice laid on a Table and having Salt strowed upon it it stuck so fast that it could not be separated without being broke in pieces and the Salt made its way through the Ice down to the board but if Salt be strowed betwixt the Ice and the board it will not be froze to it but thawed The following Salts cause not so firm an adhesion as common Salt viz. Kelp Sandever Sal Indus Gem Prunel Armon and Pot-ashes A nail held betwixt my lips could not be remov'd without difficulty and Pain A Tincture of Cochineel with Spirit of Wine and another with a little Sea-Salt Water being froze throughout retained an equal colour in all Parts and so did a Tincture of Mades-weed and Indico A Decoction of Soot was froze without any Concentration yet Mr. Hook a worthy Fellow of the Royal Society hath observed the contrary effect Eggs and Apples-froze differed not in weight nor do Bodies weighed in sealed Glasses Frost renders Wood Iron Steel and the Bones of Animals more friable in frosty Weather especially in those that are tainted with the Lues Venerea Frost preserves Bodies from Putrefaction and confirms the Tone of Animals and fattens some it clears the Air so that musty Stone-Bottles being fill'd with Water and froze after a Thaw were very sweet it likewise destroys Animals and Vegetables so that in Greenland nothing but Glass grows as also in Nova Zembla The qualities of Ice As for the qualities of Ice it is slippery smooth hard firm and strong diaphanous interposed betwixt the Eye and a Candle appears in many round Circles from whence proceed Rays in the form of a Star a quarter of an Inch in diameter I have seen the Ice in the Thames eight Inches thick and in Garden-walks the Earth froze near two Foot thick but in rich Soils it did not penetrate above a Foot and a quarter Ice generally swims but I have seen Snow-balls compressed and moistned with Water sink Congealed Oyl of Vitriol sinks Ice is colder than Water and that quality is increased by adding Salt or Snow It hath no smell but checks that quality in other Bodies It yields both Reflection and Refraction North and North-east Winds the absence of the Sun the highest Parts of Mountains a mixture of Snow and Salt promote freezing Water falling upon Ice or Snow freezes and a mixture of beaten Ice with Sea-Salt Kelp Allum Vitriol or Nitre and Oyl of Vitriol will promote freezing and if Water be set upon such Mixtures it begins to freeze at the Bottom Salt Petre dissolv'd in Water and agitated in a cold Season turned not the Water into Ice A Bolt-head being placed in Snow in a Pan tho' the Pan was set on the Fire and thawed gradually yet the Water in the Bolt-head froze not Water frozen in Pans being set on New-castle Coals in a Cellar and likewise on Sand and on the Earthen Floor they thawed in the same order and so did Eggs and Apples A Syphon may be made of Ice through which Water will run very fast Another use which may be made of Ice is for Refraction of which Mr. Hook hath given a learned Demonstration Having formed Ice into various Figures the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were the same as those mentioned by Dioptrick Writers We may likewise make a Speculum of it by holding a piece of Paper behind it The Learned Bartholinus delivers the following Propositions of it 1. That the more subtil distilled Spirits gain a clear splendour and elegancy from Snow placed about them 2. The Rayes of Snow newly fallen glitter and dazzle the Eyes by reason of the multitude of Globuli by which they are reflected 3. A Cabbage putrified in that part which was above the Snow And I have observed great Housleek or American Aloes destroy'd by Cold in an upper Room and Sea-Onions as well as common Onions will be putrified by the Cold. 4. Snow yields Vapours plentifully when melted by the Sun-beams 5. It melts and falls off from Ivy. 6. It contains a little Earth in it which I have found true by Evaporation 7. Viscosity with Softness is greater in new than old Snow 8. Water-Cresses and Scurvy-grass will grow under Snow in Gardens but I am apt to believe they are at a perfect stand the nutritious Juice being congealed 9. Air is included in Snow Whites of Eggs being beaten into a frothy Consistence and this being laid on a Trencher soon appeared to be Snow A Pail being filled with warm Water and Hair Moss and a piece of Rosemary hung over it the rising Vapors sticking to them formed a Hoar-frost and the like is observed on the Beards of Men and the Hairs of other Animals 10. Snow abounds with Fat 11. Snow with Ice swims on Water 12. Snow-water boils Meat sooner and makes Flesh whiter I could not find that this bolds in Fish or Flesh 13. Snow newly fallen hath no taste but when it hath lain on the Ground it bites the Tongue This I could not discern 14. Worms are sometimes found in Snow I could never observe this 15. A strong Salt may be drawn from Snow by a peculiar Art 16. After much Snow plenty of Nuts It sometimes fails The Duke of Tuscany distill'd a Spirit from Wine only by putting Snow upon the Alembick and the Duke of Mantua had a Powder which would freeze Water in the middle of Summer Weather-Glasses being framed after the Italian mode and in part filled with tinged Spirit of Wine I placed one of them in a North-west Window and the other in Mr. Pullyn's Ware-house under St. Paul's Church in the warmest place the Spirit of both when they were settled on the fifteenth of Octob. 62. having the Altitude of three Inches and when that in my Study-Window was depressed an Inch that in the Cellar receiv'd no manifest alteration But when the other was depressed two Inches it subsided ¼ of an Inch which was the lowest Station it subsided to all Winter and in April following it rose not above the three Inches it first stood at above ¼ of an Inch tho' that in my Study was raised four Inches ¼ In this Cellar Liquors that were froze above Ground would be thawed in the Morning The Spirit in the Glass above ground subsided into the Ball after two days hard Frost Whence it appears that Cellars are not hotter in Winter than Summer One thing observable was that the tinged Spirit had lost its Colour in the Cellar In January a Pint-Bottle of Claret a Glass-Cane filled with Canary a Solution of Sal Gem. Train-Oyl and the Oyl of fructus Musae in a Night's time were all froze except the Sal Gem in the bottom of which
chrystallized Salts appeared The Oyl of the Fruit became very friable and of a milky-white Colour but the Train Oyl only lost its fluidity and became of the consistence of soft Grease And the same Night a Bottle of Rhenish Wine and another of strong White-wine were for the most part froze the Ice tasting weaker than the Wine but the Wine being several times froze and thawed again neither lost any thing of its Colour Taste or Strength Mr. Hook shewed me an oval Glass which had at one end a narrow Cane an Inch long in which Water tinged with Cochineel being froze the Ice on the out-side was colourless but in the middle of a deep Tincture and I have observed the like in Flasks containing the same Tincture froze Flesh Fish Eggs and Apples being held near the surface of Water and immersed in it are crusted over with Ice and I have observ'd that Mortar and Plaister of Paris will freeze I have seen Ice three Yards thick on the Banks of Thames the Water which flowed successively over the Ice being froze and gradually thickening it and I have froze a whole flask full of Water by gradually pouring it into a Pan which confirms what Olearius says of making huge heaps of Ice to preserve Bodies Tho' my Lord Verulam tells us that Eggs and Apples cover'd with a wet Cloth will not freeze yet I have not observ'd any difference betwixt them and others Oyls of Animals and vegetable Oyls by Expression subside Syrups freeze not Cold affects not Loadstones sensibly in their Operations Having exposed distill'd Waters of Plantan Poppies black Cherries Night-shade Scurvy-grass and Horse-radish to the Cold in order to make a Standard for Weather-Glasses I observ'd that the Black-cherry-water was froze first and the Horse-radish and Scurvy-grass Waters last The best way to discover when Liquors begin to freeze first is by drawing a Pin through the surface of those Liquors CHAP. IX A new Frigorifick Experiment shewing how a considerable degree of Cold may be suddenly produced without the help of Snow Ice Hail Wind or Nitre any time of the year comunicated in the Transactions of July 18. 1666. Cold produced by a mixture of Sal-Armon and Water IF a pound of powdered Sal Armoniack be mixed gradually with three pints of Water and the Liquor be stirred with a stick or a Whale-bone whilst the Salt is dissolving it will produce a considerable degree of Coldness which will not only be sensible to the touch but if it be contained in a Silver Tankard the outside of it will be covered over with a multitude of little drops of Condensed Vapours as high as the Mixture reaches and if some of it be quite wiped off before the Mixture hath lost its virtue it will again be covered over with dew And if the Ball of a sealed Weather-Glass be immersed in it the tinged Liquor will presently descend lower than it did in common Water and upon a Removal of it into the Air again or common Water the spirit will manifestly ascend And this Coldness is more or less lasting as the seasons of the Air contribute to its Coldness and as the Quantity of the Salt in proportion to the Water is greater or less or as it varies in Goodness or as the Salt is put in in grosser Powder and more leisurely And the degrees of Cold may easily be discovered by frequently immerging and removing a Weather-Glass out of it into Water and from the latter into it again Whether Sal Armoniack mixed with Sand or Earth will cool Drink better than without when the Mixture is sprinkled with Water I have not yet tryed But I have found the aforemention'd Mixture cool Liquors conveniently enough after Midsummer March 27. A sealed Weather-Glass being immersed in Water the Spirit that rested at 8 1 â— Inches descended to 7 â— 8 and then the Sal-Armon being put in within a quarter of an hour it descended to 2 1 â— â…™ Inches and before that time it began to condense the Vapours on the outside of the Glass And when the frigorifick Mixture was coldest Water placed thin on the outside would be froze in a quarter of a Minute About 3 â— of an hour after the Salt was put in the tinged Liquor being remov'd out of Water into it subsided an Inch below the freezing Mark. At 2 ½ hours after the first Solution it was at 5 ½ Inches or 4 ¾ which Mark the Liquor stood at in hard and lasting Frosts in the Winter Three hours after the first Dissolution the Liquor stood at the uppermost freezing Mark. In trying of which Experiment it was observable that some Water being shed it froze the Cucurbite to the Table it stood on In another Experiment before the Weather-Glass was put in it stood at 8 â…› but when immersed in Water it sunk to 7 â… or 6 8 in half a quarter of an hour in the frigorifick Mixture it subsided to 7 ¾ and in an hour below 5 and consequently within a quarter of the lowest freezing Mark. Salt which once hath been dissolv'd may by being crystallized in an Iron Vessel be fit for use again So March 29. the Thermoscope which in the Air stood at 8 â…ž in Water subsided to 8 and in the frigorifick Mixture made of Salt twice used before it subsided to 4 Inches but upon an addition of fresh Water it rose gradually CHAP. X. Of the positive and privative Nature of Cold. Arguments alledg'd in favour of its positive nature answered BEfore I proceed to enumerate what Arguments may be alledged either for the positive or privative Nature of Cold I shall briefly intimate that the word Cold may be either considered in reference to the effect such Bodies have upon the Sensory or upon other Bodies If in the latter then in frosty Weather the Sun may be said to warm the Air because it enables it to melt the Snow and thaw Ice as on the contrary warm Water is said to be cold in respect of a Hand that is much hotter The first Argument But to pass on to Arguments in favour of the positive nature of Cold The first Argument alledged is The considerable Effects it hath both upon the Sensory and other Bodies so that we may summ our Argument up in the words of Gassendus Ii sunt frigoris effectus quales habere Privatio quae actionis est incapax non potest To which it is answer'd That Heat and Cold depending only on a greater or less degree of motion of the parts of Matter than those about our Sensory and all Perceptions being carried to and distinguish'd in the Brain and being various as that Motion is different and it being likewise considered that when one Body communicates Motion to another it loses of its own it will follow that when I take a piece of Ice into my Hand and it is dissolved by the motion communicated to its Parts the motion which the Humors in my hand lost by putting
not that that acts positively upon them but imbibes the moisture And I have seen a Cold Liquor acquire a hardness its moisture being imbibed by a piece of Bread immersed in it as also Spirit of Wine dephlegmed by a Mixture of Salt of Tartar without so much as Heat the Aqueous Parts finding a more ready and easie passage into the Pores of the Alkaly than through the Spiritous Liquor And I know a saline Body which when incorporated with Water the Water will leave this a consistent mass and be imbibed by the Spirit of Wine And for a further illustration of the Cartesian Explication I shall add that Camphire by floating upon Aqua fortis will become a fluid Oyl and continue in that form till the subtle Spirit which by pervading it kept it fluid flyes away and evaporates for being put into Water the Spirit leaving the Camphire and being imbibed into the Pores of the Water it becomes a consistent mass again which that it depended not on the Coldness of the Water was evident since the same would happen on warm Water But tho' Cold should depend primarily on the influence of frigorifick Atoms yet since those by acting on the Body cooled may produce their effect by expelling calorifick Atoms the privation of those calorifick Atoms is the cause of freezing so tho' a Bullet kills a Man yet the issue is a privation of life and when a Room is darkned by extinguishing the light the darkness depends on the privation of light A sixth The last Argument of Gassendus is this Tametsi multa videantur ex sola caloris absentia frigescere nibil ominus nisi frigus extrinsicus inducatur non tam profectô frigescere quam decalescere sunt Censenda Esto enim Lapis Lignum aut aliquid aliud quod nec calidum nec frigidum sit id ubi fuerit ad motum Igni calefiet sane at cum deinceps calor excedet neque frigidum ullum circumstabit non erit cur dicas ipsum frigefieri potius quam minus calidum fieri rediere in suum statum But to this it may be answered that if we speak of Coldness with respect to sense I see not why any Body that grows hot by the action of the fire may not be said to grow Cold rather than Decalescere since Heat being only too brisk an agitation for our Sensory when upon a removal of that Cause and a declining of that motion it became less agitated than the Humours about our Sensory we may not then say it grows Colder and Colder till it become Ice But to conclude this Chapter I shall add that tho' I have offered these Arguments against Gassendus yet I shall wave determining the Controversie till further satisfied in some Speculations and in the Phaenomena of some Particular Experiments besides I would first know from those that would have Cold to be a positive Quality whether and on what account those little fragments of matter are Cold Whether their frigorifick Atoms have weight As also what is their Texture and whether that Quality may be destroy'd and whether they be primitive Bodies or not And why Coldness ensues the Mixture of two warm Bodies And in order to the solving of some of which it would be requisite to enquire how Water comes by its expansive force upon congelation And since Cold is a Privation of motion why upon the Mixture of certain Bodies Cold ensues tho' their Parts be thereby put into motion CHAP. XI Two Problems about Cold. An attempt to measure the great expansive force of freezing Water Of the Production of Cold by the conflict of Bodies appearing to make an Ebullition The first Problem THE first Problem I shall propose is how upon the Mixture of two or three Bodies there should ensue a great and tumultuary agitation of small Parts and yet even during this conflict not any sensible Heat but a considerable degree of Cold be produced Concerning which I shall only propose the question whether local motion be not Generical and whether the figure and size of Parts variously moved may not be able to cause a sensation of Heat and when variously modify'd a sense of Cold or whether the sense of Cold depends not on some frigorifick Atoms which are let lose in the Ebullition and affect the Sensory which would otherwise perceive a hot sensation by the effects of the motion of those Parts with which cold Aoms are mixed and which they over-power The second Problem The second Problem is Whence the vast force of freezing Water proceeds For since Cold depends on an Imminution of local motion it is not a little strange how it should be able to break resisting Bodies which require local motion to separate their Parts And tho' Gassendus tells us that they proceed from the ingress of frigorifick Atoms yet till Glaciation succeeds notwithstanding Water grows colder gradually it subsides and does not expand And Spirit of Wine and Chymical Oyls the greater degree of Cold they are exposed to contract the more and some Oyls even when coagulated are condensed instead of being expanded And as for what the Cartesians offer for the removal of these difficulties it may well be questioned how their Eel-like Particles being relaxed and their spring weakned they should be able to expand in spite of Opposition So that considering that Water when expanded is full of bubbles I was apt to suspect that the Air contained in them contributed to the effect and that a constipation of the Pores of Water might give them a springiness The great expansive force of Water froze To try the expansive force of freezing Water we convey'd a Bladder full of Water into a Brass Cylinder and fitting a Plugg to it upon that we placed a flat Board to hold Weights on and then the Cylinder being encompassed with a frigorifick Mixture upon the freezing of the Water in one Experiment the Plugg raised 115 pound weight and in another 100 pound Averdupois and in a third 254 pound weight Three saline Bodies each purify'd by the fire being mixed together Of the Production of Cold. produced a cold Effervescense with a hissing noise and a considerable Intumescense And in the mean time the Glass which contained it would grow colder than before and gather a Dew on the outside which would reach as high as the Mixture but on the concave bottom of the Glass there was no Dew that being not sufficiently exposed to the Air so that the Mixture could not be supposed to sweat through the Pores of the Glass since it tasted not in the least of saline Ingredients But least our Senses should misinform us of the degrees of Cold in this Mixture we at another time immersed a Weather-Glass in which the Liquor subsided above four Inches lower than in common Water Tho' the Acid Liquor it self being kept all Night in a Room with Water was of the same temper with it which appeared by a Weather-Glass immersed
penetrate the minuter Pores and to dissolve the Lime EXPERIMENT V. Quick-lime being immersed in Spirit of Wine in a Retort and the Spirit and Phlegm drawn off the remaining Quick-lime instead of being slacked was a more fiery substance than before for if a piece of it was thrown into Water it would hiss like a Coal and heat the Liquor which property it retained several weeks being kept close from the Air. Whence it appears how much the Texture of Quick-lime and the association of the Spirit of Wine improving that Texture contribute to the Phaenomena offorded by Quick-lime and that the Spirit of Wine was associated with the Quick-lime is probable since Part of it became a Spiritless Phlegm and I have observ'd Quick-lime and Spirit of Wine sometimes to come over in white fumes To which I shall add that in such distillations the Odour of the Spirit hath not only been changed but its taste rendered more fiery and brisk But the success is not always the same being diversified according to difference of the Quick-lime which may be more or less calcined or the stone may be of a different nature it self EXPERIMENT VI. But to proceed to other Experiments which shew that Heat may be produced mechanically A nail hastily hammered grows hot the Parts of the metal being by that force vehemently and variously determined tho' the hammer and Anvil be not warm so that hence it appears that it is not requisite a calorifick Body should be hot it self the Hammer being able tho' cold to warm the Iron it beats upon and so the head of a nail grows hot when it can pierce no deeper into wood the force of the beating Hammer being not spent in depressing the nail but putting the resisting Parts into agitation EXPERIMENT VII And once I caused a piece of Iron to be beaten by three Smiths till it grew so hot as to kindle Sulphur upon it EXPERIMENT VIII And that Heat may be produced by percussion and attrition appears further since Iron grows hot by being boiled a knife by whetting a Brass nail by being rubbed and flints by being struck together EXPERIMENT IX To shew that Heat may be produced without the attrition of contiguous Air I placed pitch under Water and by the Sun-beams cast into a Focus by a burning Glass upon it it was not only melted but seemed to boil and smoak EXPERIMENT X. The Powder of slacked Quick-lime washed from its Salts being mixed with Sal-Armoniack and melted together the cold mass being put into a Glass upon an affusion of Water grew too hot to be touched with ones hand tho' the Sal-Armoniack it self in Water produces Cold. EXPERIMENT XI Sal-Armoniack and filings of Steel being sublimed together the Caput Mortuum in which the greatest Part of the Salt remained instead of increasing the coldness of Water being poured upon it several Months after the Caput Mortuum was first laid up gave the Water a notable degree of Heat EXPERIMENT XII Equal Parts of Antimony and Sal-Armoniack being sublimed with several degrees of Heat in a Glass-Vessel we obtained three several substances which being severally powdered the Caput Mortuum which was like Antimony being put into Water in which a Thermoscope was immersed scarce raised the Liquor sensibly But the yellow sublimate which consisted of the Sulphureous flowers of Antimony and the more Volatil Salts of the Sal-Armoniack caused the Weather-Glass in another parcel of Water to descend a quarter of an Inch and the lower sublimate which was black being put into a third parcel of Water the Liquor in the Weather-Glass subsided near three Inches But the like Experiments being tryed with the Caput Mortuum of Minium and Sal-Armoniack it neither caused the Liquor in the Weather-Glass to rise or fall but the sublimate raised from these ingredients caused the Liquor to subside a little EXPERIMENT XIII Whether Solvents dissolve Minerals and cause that Heat observable in their Action by any Antipathy betwixt the Mineral and the Menstruum or whether it did not rather proceed from the violent agitation of the parts of the Metal either dissolv'd by the insinuation of its parts into the Pores of the Metal or by obstructing the passage of some aethereal Matter through those Pores which wanting its usual course dissolves the Metal by forcing a new way I shall not undertake to determine but having agitated Oyl of Vitriol with four times its weight of Water thereby it obtained a sensible Heat from which Experiment it appears that the Heat produc'd by Minerals depends not on a conflict of Acid and Alkalies since Water is void of either of those chymical qualities EXPERIMENT XIV If a piece of wet Ice be thrown into a Viol which before contained Oyl of Vitriol the Oyl mixing with the Water dissolves the Ice and causes a strong Fermentation and a violent Heat EXPERIMENT XV. Half an ounce of Spirit of Wine being mixed with an ounce of Oyl of Vitriol acquired a considerable degree of Heat presently and almost most filled the Bottle with Fumes and the Bottle grew so hot at the last that I could not hold it in my Hand The like Succeeded only in a more remiss Degree with common Brandy and also with Aqua Vitae EXPERIMENT XVI Tho' the Chymists teach that the Incalescence of Bodies depends on an Antipathy of the mixed Bodies yet I found an intense Heat ensue the Mixture of Parts of the same Bodies viz. Calcin'd Colcothar and Oyl of Vitriol EXPERIMENT XVII Oyl of Vitriol and Oyl of Turpentine mixed together produce a considerable degree of Heat EXPERIMENT XVIII An ounce of rectify'd Petroleum being mixed with an equal weight of Oyl of Vitriol the former Liquor seemed to work upon the surface of this like a Menstruum upon Metal the Fumes of the Oyl of Vitriol rising into the Ol. Petrae and the mutual re-action of both the Liquors caused a moderate Warmness And we had almost the like success with Petroleum and Spirit of Nitre But in these last mention'd Tryals Spirit of Salt made use of instead of Oyl of Vitriol had no such considerable Effects EXPERIMENT XIX Oyl of Vitriol caused a considerable Effervescence upon Filings of Steel especially if they be soaked in Water And it will grow sensibly hot with Lime Oyster-shells Chalk Lapis Calaminaris c. EXPERIMENT XX. Oyl of Vitriol grows hot with Cherries and likewise with Raisins of the Sun beat in a Mortar as well as with several other Vegetable Substances and very considerably with Crumbs of white Bread EXPERIMENT XXI Oyl of Vitriol causes a considerable Heat if mixed with minced Flesh EXPERIMENT XXII Tho' Sea-Salt imparts a Coldness to Water yet with Oyl of Vitriol it causes Heat yet with Sal Armon part of which consists of common Salt it produces a Coldness EXPERIMENT XXIII Common Sulphur acquir'd a Heat by attritition and emitted sulphureous Steams copiously so that Sulphur it self as well as other Bodies ows its Heat to local Motion EXPERIMENT XXIV Equal parts
convenient for the more commodious discerning of the Phaenomena of this Experiment to try it in a dark place And fourthly it is convenient to advertise that the Sulphur frequently so obscures the Glass with its fumes which partly stick to it that sometimes it is very difficult to discern what happens within the Glass Fifthly it is requisite the Heat of the Iron should be considerable that the Flame of the Sulphur may be more lasting the flaming of it depending on the Heat of the Iron and not the force of its own Flame EXPERIMENT III. A very volatile and saline piercing Liquor being dropped upon filings of Steel the Mixture grew hot and emitted out of the Vial it was contained in very fetid steams which would kindle at the flame of a Candle and continue to burn a good while where we convey'd it into our Receiver and upon the first Exsuction of Air it flamed brisker than before and likewise upon the second and third but after it went out it would not be kindled again tho' the Air was let in upon it EXPERIMENT IV. Spirit of Wine being impregnated with a Mineral which tinged its Flame I convey'd it into the Receiver in a small Glass-Lamp with a slender wick and observed that in half a minute after the Pump was plyed the Flame was extinguished But letting Air in and out as occasion required I observ'd that when the Flame began to decay the Turn-Key being successively drawn almost out the Flame lasted a minute and a half and sometimes longer The Turn-Key being taken out in the beginning it lasted two minutes or better A Pipe being bedded in the Cement at the bottom of the Glass and having at each end an open Orifice almost of the bigness of that which the Turn-Key usually fills the Flame burnt very well and would have continued longer than it did if we would have permitted it The Orifice at the top being stopped the lower was left open yet the Flame began to decay but Air being blown in with a pair of Bellows it was presently refreshed again yet in a minute after it was quite extinguished EXPERIMENT V. Flame preserved under Water Tho' it is taught that Naptha and Camphire will burn under Water yet I could never find that they would but three ounces of Gun-Powder a drachm of well burnt Charcoal good Sulphur half a drachm of choice Salt-Petre near a drachm and a half being all powdered and mixed together a Quill or a Tobacco-pipe stopped at one end being filled with this Mixture and kindled in the Air would burn till it was wholly consumed under Water the force of the Flame keeping the Water from breaking in upon it at the open end In which Experiment Flame seems to be continued without Air there being no Air to preserve it under Water but what may be lodged in the Pores of the Water except some moist Particles betwixt the Particles of the Nitre in favour of the necessity of Air to preserve Flame may be supposed to be rarified and form Air for a time as the rarified exhalations which flow out of an Aeolipile which are not true and permanent Air but presently return to Water again EXPERIMENT VI. Of the flaming of a Metal in Vacuo Having placed the piece of Iron so often made use of in our Receiver we designed to let a parcel of Sulphur fall upon it but when we went to drop the Sulphur down by accident it fell on one side the Iron and whilst we were considering what to do we discerned a a blue Flame in the middle of the Glass which continued much longer than that of ordinary Sulphur and when we opened the Receiver we found that it was afforded by a metalline substance which lay melted in the middle of the concave superficies of the Iron being a composition of Lead and Tin but tho' these Metals mixed so opened the Bodies of each other as to yield a Sulphureous fuel for Flame in Vacuo yet in the open Air they would not The III. TITLE Of the difficult Propagation of actual Flame in Vacuo Boyliano EXPERIMENT I. HAving kindled some Sulphur which was of a peculiar sort upon the Iron so often mentioned I let down a piece of Spunk upon it when the Receiver was exhausted and by being contiguous to the flames it was turned into a substance as black and brittle as Tinder and disposed to kindle when touched with fire EXPERIMENT II. Another parcel of the same Sulphur being kindled in Vacuo Boyliano Camphire tho' in the open Air disposed to draw the Flame of Sulphur yet it was not kindled by hanging in the Flame of it And a Match being partly dipped in Sulphur and let down upon the hot Iron burnt as far as the Sulphur raught but no further EXPERIMENT III and IV. Having placed a piece of Paper upon the Plate of our Pump and whelmed over it a very clear and thin Receiver we laid a train of Gun-Powder upon the Paper and observed that tho' by a good Burning-Glass several grains would be exploded yet those would not kindle those that were contiguous to them the Propagation of Flame so much depends on the free access of Air. And to confirm this I shall add that a little Instrument made to try Gun-Powder being charged and primed and suspended in Vacuo tho' by the help of a Burning-Glass the priming would be exploded yet that would not kindle the Powder contain'd in the Box but when the exhausted Air was let in again and the Pan new primed tho' the Receiver was shut it would in that close Air go off readily and also in the open Air. EXPERIMENT V. Gun-Powder being put into two Bubbles one of which was exhausted and the other not they were placed upon Live-coals upon which when they had stood a while they where both burst in pieces but without the appearance of any Flame which effect seemed to depend on this viz. That the Heat of the coals acted not only on a few grains of Powder at once but upon the whole Area so that every Particle being equally acted on as to sense they were exploded at the same time so the Focus of a Burning-Glass acting uniformly on Aurum Fulminans causes it to explode at once but it may be so ordered that the Focus not sufficiently warming one Part a partial explosion will only ensue CHAP. XVIII New Experiments about the relation betwixt Air and the Flamma Vitalis of Animals EXPERIMENT I. Animals included in Receivers with Flame and Air. REctified Spirit of Wine contained in a Glass-Lamp with a thin Wick and at the same time a small Green-Finch being both conveyed into a Receiver eighteen Inches high and which was large enough to contain about twenty pints of Water the Flame of the Lamp was extinguish'd at the end of two Minutes but the Bird being brisk at the end of the third Minute was taken out And when the Bird recover'd again the Experiment being repeated
and Garcias ab Horto pretend to be Eye witnesses of Carbuncles which shone in the dark and Marcus Paulus Venetus tells us that the King of Zeilan had a Rubie as thick as a Man's arm and a Palm long And two Russian Cossacks tell us that they heard from the People of Cottay that their King had a Rubie which would shine Night and Day And Benvonuto Cellini an Italian Writer gives us an account of a Carbuncle which afforded a considerable Light in the Night And we our selves have been informed of a shining substance found in Scotland And I am further told that a Dutch Admiral had a Diamond which when he opened a Coffer under Deck in a dark Room would shine by its native Light which is the more strange because that is a much colder Climate than the East-Indies for it is observable that warmth much contributes to the shining of such stones since rubbing will cause some to shine which when cold will not which makes me the less doubt of what is said of right Turquois viz. That it changes colour as the wearer is sick or well and loses its splendor after Death which is attested by the Observations of Boetius de Boot and Olaus Wormius and tho' Antonio Nâ—ri tells us that a Turquois discoloured and grown white will regain its colour if immersed in Oyl of sweet Almonds yet Wormius tells us that a Nephritick stone being dipped in a Decoction of herbs lost its virtue And it is observed that the Texture of Oculus Mundi will be so changed by being left in Water that from Opacous it will become Transparent which acquired lustre it will soon lose in the Air. Observations made on Mr. Clayton's Diamond It was a flat Table Diamond â…“ of an Inch long and less in breadth of a bad Water and less vivid in the day than other Diamonds being blemished with a whitish Cloud about the middle of it which blemish covered near a third part of the stone This Diamond being looked upon in a shady place in the day and also with a Microscope neither any thing peculiar in the stone nor any light was perceived Secondly when the Candle was removed in a dark Room it did not shine without being rubbed or otherwise prepared Thirdly I could neither produce Light by rubbing together two Pebbles nor by a vehement attrition of Rock-Crystal nor by two Diamonds as by this stone Fourthly it was hard enough to grave upon Rock-Chrystal with it and was endewed with an Electricity Fifthly by rubbing it in the dark it would be excited to shine like rotten wood but much fainter than the scales or slabber of a Whiting or than Glow-worms and it presently ceased after the attrition was ended But being rubbed brisksly it would continue its Light much longer so that it lasted eight times as long as it was a rubbing Sixthly holding it near a faint fire excited its Luciferous Qualities a little but by holding it near a Candle it was more apparently excited in a dark Room and it acquired a little glimmering by being held near a red piece of Iron as also by being contiguous to my naked Body sometime Seventhly by being rubbed till it acquired Luciferous Qualities it was also Electrical but not when it was excited to shine by the Heat of the Fire or a Candle Eighthly attrition varied its Luciferous Qualities as the Cloath varied in colour but on white and red it succeeded best It was likewise excited in some measure by being rubbed upon a white wooden Box and a purely glazed Earth which excited it much better than any other Body except white ones Ninthly when it was excited being plunged into Water Spirit of Wine Oyls of all sorts Acid Spirits and Alkalizate Solutions none of them destroyed its shining properties but when it was taken out of the Water it was not so easily excited as before Tenthly neither Spittle nor warm Liquors would extinguish its Light but being rubbed with a transparent horn I could discover Light through it and sometimes little sparks of fire Eleventhly being rubbed upon a blue Glass the faint Light was not visible through it but being first excited and then applyed to the Glass the Rays were tinged in their passage through it Twelfthly by pressing it hard upon a piece of white Tyle it became Luminous as also it discovered a short Coruscation when I pressed my finger upon it And if I thrust or stuck the point of a Bodkin against it it would discover a short but not a lasting Coruscation so that its Light seemed to be promoted by pressure rather than attrition The same Experiments being tryed with other precious Stones some Diamonds would by attrition be brought to a glimmering Light but others would not but neither the other precious Stones nor Artificial or Natural Chrystal would afford the least glimmering of Light CHAP. XXIV The Aerial Noctiluca or some new Phaenomena and a process of a Factitious self-shining substance Of an Aerial Noctiluca PHosphorus's are either natural as Glow-worms some sorts of rotten Wood and Fishes or artificial which are the chief subject of this discourse and are either First such as will retain a Lucidness sometime after they have been exposed to the Sun-Beams as the Bolonian Stone and Phosphorus Hermeticus of Balduinus which may be made of Chalk the latter of which succeeds much better than the former for it is presently excited in the Sun-Beams and even at the flame of a Candle and continues to shine a considerable time in the dark yet this advantage the Bolonian Stone hath above the other that it retains its Virtue of being excited much longer Or Secondly self-shining substances such as are usually called Noctiluca and are either consistent or liquid such as Mr. Crafft brought to London the consistent one being of a gummy Nature and constantly lucid but the other apt to vanish if exposed to the open Air. To which I shall add one of my own preparation which does not shine it self but when exposed to the Air the Effluvia mixing with it became lucid which therefore I call the Aerial Noctiluca In preparing of which from some Parts of a Man's Body it was not only difficult to hit upon the true degree of Heat but the Vessels in which it was raised by Distillation being not able to hold out so long as they should we were forced to save the Luciferous matter by small parcels and in distinct Vials Observations made on the Liquor which was contain'd in the second Vial which tho' it was large enough to contain two ounces had but a spoonful of the Liquor in it 1. By Day-light this shining Liquor was not near Diaphanous but of a muddy grayish colour And when it was disposed to shine in the dark the Cavity of the Vial above the Liquor seemed to be full of whitish fumes tho' at other times transparent 2. The Vial when close stopped was not Luminous in the dark but the Light or Flame appeared as
incumbent on the other parts of it which will appear from the following Experiments And first If a Cylindrical Pipe open at both ends be held in a perpendicular Posture and the lower end be immersed three Inches in Water the Liquid within the Tube having a free Communication will be of an equal height with the external Water and in thin Tubes a little higher But if Oyl be gradually poured upon the Water without the Pipe the superficial Plain will have a greater Pressure upon it without than within and consequently the Water under the Tube finding not so great a Pressure within the Pipe as without it gradually rises 'till the external and internal Pressure upon the imaginary Plain be equal But since this will be further evident from what is contain'd in the following Paradoxes I shall proceed to them as soon as I have laid down the following Experiments to shew Air is not a Body devoid of Weight as some Peripateticks suppose The first is that a Glass Bubble being blown whose Capacity was short of two cubical Inches it was instantly hermetically sealed whilst hot and when it was cool being placed in a nice pair of Scales and then the Apex of the Stem being broke off the Air rushing in with a noise caused the Bubble to preponderate half a Grain tho' by breaking of the Stem under Water it appear'd that the rarify'd Air remaining in the sealed Glass possess'd one fourth of its Capacity Another time the same Experiment being tryed the Air contain'd seem'd to weigh near three quarters of a Grain and the Capacity of the Receiver being filled with common Water it weighed 905 Grains So that allowing the Air contain'd to take up one fourth and that the weight of the remaining Part was ¼ probably the weight of the whole was about a Grain and consequently the Water weighed little more than nine hundred times as much as an equal Bulk of Air. PARADOX I. paradox 1 That in Water and other Fluids the lower Parts are pressed by the upper If in a Glass of Water See Plate 2. Fig. 1. A B C D see Plate the second Fig. the first a Cylindrical Tube be immersed which contains Oyl of Turpentine and that Oyl be suspended there by keeping the upper Orifice close after it hath been suck'd up to a convenient height 'till the Pipe is depress'd to a convenient Depth in the Water if the lower end of the Pipe B Q be immersed 'till it reaches to the imaginary Surface G H and the Oyl X Q presses no more upon that imaginary Surface than the Water without the Tube then the Oyl will be suspended there and not be able to depress the Surface of the Water below it but if the Surface of the Oyl in the Tube be much above the Water and it presses more upon the imaginary Surface G H than the Water without then it will make its way through that Surface 'till the Oyl within and the Water without are brought to an Aequilibrium again so that they both equally press upon the Surface G H and the like will happen if the Tube be raised to the Surface D S and gradually on to the Surface L M for as the Pressure of the external Water grows less and less as the imaginary Surface is nearer the top of the Glass so the Oyl in the Tube growing preponderant falls out at the lower end of the Tube 'till the Tube T V being almost raised to the Surface L M but a little Water pressing upon that Surface the Oyl is almost wholly fallen out of the Cylindrical Cavity of it But if instead of raising the Pipe P Q it be depressed to the Position N O the Water incumbent on the Surface E F on the outside the Pipe being more powerful than the Cylinder or Oyl W AE which is only aequiponderant to a Cylinder of Water leaning on the Surface G H the Oyl must be buoyed up by the Pressure of the external Water and the Space O AE filled with Water so that the Oyl betwixt W AE and AE O being both aequiponderant to a Cylinder of Water they may equally press upon the Surface E F with the Water on the outside And agreeable to what hath been said it is that the Cylinder of Oyl X Q will be something above the Surface L M when the Tube is only immersed to the Surface Q. Since Oyl of Turpentine being specifically lighter than Water the Cylinder must be longer to press upon the Surface G H equally with a Cylinder of Water no longer than from the Surface L M to G H. And if a heavier Liquor than Water were made use of the Surface X must be more above L M than in Water otherwise it would not press equally upon the subjacent Surface From whence appears the Truth of the Proposition for if the Oyl be kept suspended at a different Height as the external Water is deeper to countervail it and if as it is raised from G H to I K the Oyl in the bottom of the Pipe is pressed out it must needs follow that it is pressed down by the weight of the incumbent Oyl since then the surface of the Water I K being not equally pressed upon from without as by the Oyl it is able to break that Surface and make its way out But before I proceed to the following Propositions I shall subjoin the following Advertisements First What we say of the Pressure of Fluids upon one another is to be attributed to heavy Fluids in general except some reason appears for a particular exception in some Places Secondly That in slender Pipes the Surface of the Liquor within is generally above the Surface of the external Thirdly Small Pipes are the fittest for these Experiments because in larger the emerging Oyl passing through the Water obscures the Light of what is design'd to be visible Fourthly We make use of Oyl of Turpentine rather than any other Liquor because clear and colourless and not apt to stain ones Cloaths and as for the offensive Smell that may be corrected with Oyl of Rhodium or any other odoriferous Oyl tho' any other Liquor may be made use of that will not mix with Water Fifthly Oyl of Turpentine may be tinged with Copper to render the Phaenomena within more visible for which reason we often employ a Decoction of Brasil instead of clear Water or of Log-wood or red Ink it self Sixthly the Figure of the Glasses may be what you please but the Pipes must be broader or longer as occasion requires Seventhly The Pipes are to be filled by sucking up the Air to a convenient Height and then stopping the Orifice above with ones Finger but if it be too high the Experimenter may let it out as he pleases by admitting a convenient quantity of Air in at the Top by gradually removing his Finger Lastly In such Experiments as require a considerable disparity betwixt the two mingled Liquors we may make use of Oyl of Tartar per
Water are raised by it as Wood and drops of Oyl the Reason of which seems to be this that there is a greater Pressure upon the lowest part N than upon the upper part of the drop M because that upon all the Surface K L there is an uniform Pressure of the Water A K. B L and upon all the Parts of the Surface H I there is a greater weight of Water A H. B I except at the part N for there the Oyl G being not so heavy as so much Water it is consequently unable to resist the ascent of the Water beneath it for which Reason it is buoyed up and the case being the same with that and any other Parallel Plain where-ever it is in its ascent it must be by the same Reason gradually raised up for the Oyl being pressed against by two Pillars of Water the one above and the other below and the lower being longer by the thickness of the rising Body than that which lyes upon it it must consequently be buoyed up and more or less swiftly as the lower Basis presses more or less on the subjacent superficies And for the like Reason when two pieces of stick of a different length are immersed in Water the longest rises the fastest for if O P were two foot high and Q R but one and both rested upon the same imaginary Plain the one hath a Pillar of Water a foot longer to resist its rising than the other and as the emerging Body rises slower as the proportion betwixt the upper and the lower Pillar of Water is less so thence may be deduced a Reason why in some Liquors whose whiteness depends on the intermixture of drops are so long a rising the minuteness of them rendering the difference of the upper and lower Pillar of Air inconsiderable but as these drops by moving up and down unite into larger the difference growing more considerable they are accordingly buoyed up in less time and swim upon the top of the Water And for the same Reason See Fig. 3. Plate 2. that these Bodies float upon Water a Cubick Inch of Wood is by its specifie Gravity only so far depressed into the Water contained in the Vial A B. C D till the Water about it makes an equal Pressure upon the imaginary Surface X W and because the Wood is not so heavy in Specie as Water therefore part is kept emerging above the superficies of it But to shew further that the weight of a floating Body is equal to as much Water as its immersed Port takes up the Room of I shall subjoyn that having placed several Marks upon the Surface of a floating Glass and when it was taken off the Water put just so much Water into it as filled it up to those Marks by that means I found that the weight of the Water which was sufficient to fill the space possessed by the floating Vessel below the Surface of the Water was equal to the weight of the whole floating Vessel and all that was contained in it And the same end may be obtained another way viz. By first filling a Cistern or Pond with Water by a Vessel of a known capacity and then having emptyed it again for if the Vessel be placed in that Cistern or Pond and Water put into the Cistern again till it floats the Vessel and fills the Cistern or Pond full as much as it falls short of the weight of Water first contained in the Cistern so much is the weight of the floating Body PARADOX IV. That in the ascension of Water in Pumps c. There needs nothing to raise the Water but a competent weight of an external fluid The truth of this Paradox sufficiently appears from what hath been before delivered however to make it plainer if possible I shall add that if a tinged Liquor be sucked up about an Inch into a Tube and whilst the upper Orifice is covered with ones Thumb it be depressed in Water till the superficies of the external Water is above the Surface of the internal and then a considerable quantity of Oyl be poured upon that and when ones Thumb is taken off the upper Orifice of the Pipe the external Fluids will by their Pressure raise the tinged Liquor above the Surface of the Water tho' not quite so high as the Oyl From whence it appears that a Liquor may be raised in a Tube by the Pressure of an external fluid and that lighter than it self in Specie which may illustrate what we have said of the rising of Water in Pumps where by the Pressure of the Atmosphere the Water is buoyed up when the Pressure of the incumbent Atmosphere is taken off the internal superficies by the rising sucker and makes way for the Water to ascend within the Pipe I took likewise a small Tube whose Diameter was the sixth part of an Inch and having immersed it an Inch in Quick-silver I put my Thumb upon the upper Orifice and kept it there till I had immersed the Tube eighteen Inches in Oyl by the weight of which pressing against the Quick-silver it was not only kept from falling out of the Pipe but raised a little and as when the Tube was raised some of the Mercury would fall out so when it was depressed the Mercury would be buoyed up by the greater weight of the external Liquor upon it And indeed that the Water in a Pump may be raised by the Pressure of an external fluid will appear more fully to him that shall consider that in the Torrecellian Experiment the Pressure of the external Air is able to raise Mercury in a Tube twenty nine or thirty Digits which is equiponderant to a Cylinder of Water thirty three or thirty four foot high paradox V PARADOX V. That the Pressure of an external fluid is able to keep an Heterogeneous Liquor suspended at the same height in several Pipes tho' those Pipes be of very different Diameters This is evident from what is represented in Fig. 6. Plate the second See Fig. 6. Plate 2. for if the Orifice of that Vessel A B C D be closed up with a Cork and that Cork have four holes in three of which the Pipes are fixed and in the fourth the Tunnel and if when so much Water hath been poured in as reaches to the Surface E F Oyl be poured through the Tunnel till it reaches to the Surface G H it will depress the Surface of the Water down lower and the Oyl not being able to get into the Pipes L. M. N. by its weight it will cause the Water to rise to O P Q the Surface of the Water which before rested at E F being depressed down to I K upon which imaginary Surface the Water contained in the Tubes answerable to their Bulk making an equivalent Pressure with a Cylinder of external Oyl of the same Bore the Water must consequently be buoyed up to the same height in all except the last Pipe be very small but the
so close upon it that the Water should not be able to get out between them To the midst of this bottom was fastned a long string for a use to be hereafter mention'd the Instrument being thus prepared the Water was poured in at the top of the Pipe A B which pressing upon the false bottom C D against the subjacent rim G H contributed to render the Vessel more close and to obstruct its own passage whereupon we tyed the upper end of the string I K to a beam and put so many weights into the opposite Scale as were sufficient to raise the false bottom C D from the rim G H. And then deducting from that weight the weight of the false bottom and the Water contained in the broad Cylindrical Box B E C H. G D F we found that the Pressure which was made upon C D was much greater than what reading Stevinus would make one expect and than all the Water contained both in the Pipe and Cylinder would have been had it been contained in an uniform Cylinder paradox VII PARADOX VII That a Body immersed in a fluid sustains a Lateral Pressure from the fluid and that increased as the depth of the immersed Body below the Surface of the fluid increaseth This appears from what is represented by Plate the third Fig. the fifth See Plate 3. Fig. 5. where Oyl being sucked up into the Pipes G F K and they sufficiently immersed in the Water contained in the Vessel A B C D so that the Surface of the Oyl I K may be but a little above the Water the Imaginary Pillar of Water H G will suspend it there but if the Pipe be raised the Oyl becoming too heavy to be kept up by so short a Cylinder the incumbent Cylinder will force it out of the Orifice G but if the Pipe be further immersed the Water will raise the Oyl in the Tube and fill part of the Cylindrical cavity below it To this Experiment I shall add See Plate 3. Fig. 6. that having stopped the Mouth of the Vial ABCD represented by Fig. six Plate the third with a Cork and Cement and bored with a hot Iron a hole to receive the Pipe G H and the other E F I stopped the Orifice G with a Cork and Cement likewise and then pouring in Water through the Pipe E till it rose to the Surface I the Bubble X was so nicely poised that it swam but as soon as by pouring in more Water the Surface was raised to K the Bubble X subsided to the bottom From whence it appears that the whole Water contained in the Pipe E presses upon the whole Water within the Glass otherwise it could not compress the Air in the Bubble and make it sink and likewise that it not only presses upon that subjacent but likewise upon those Parts that are latterally situated in Respect of it And that not only the upper Parts of the Water but even the Cork that is below the Surface of the Water I is pressed by the weight of it and obliquely too appears since if the Orifice G be not closely stopped the Water will be raised through it and if instead of a Cork and Cement it be only stopped with ones Thumb one may perceive an evident Pressure of the Water against it And that the subsiding of the Bubble depended on the Pressure of the Water above it appeared since if part of the Water was poured off by inclining the Vial it would presenty emerge again And one thing in this Experiment worthy our notice was that if the Glass A B. C D was not wholly filled but the space betwixt L M filled with Air yet the Pressure of such different Fluids may be so easily communicated from one to the other that the Bubble would descend equally as if it were filled with Water paradox VIII PARADOX VIII That Water may be made to depress a Body lighter than it self as well as to buoy it up The truth of this Paradox will be easily made out by the following Experiments for if a Glass Syphon See Plate 3. Fig. 7. of the Figure represented by Fig. 7. Plate the third be filled from H to I with Oyl of Turpentine and immersed in the Glass A B C D till the Orifice A of the shorter Leg be under Water if then the Orifice E be unstopped and the whole Tube E I F G H be depressed gradually the incumbent Water H K will press the Oyl out of the shorter Leg H G into the longer E F. And For a further confirmation of this Paradox as well as the foregoing and the second I shall subjoin that having provided a Pipe of the Figure represented by Fig. 8. and sucked so much Oyl into it as filled the space L M N P See Fig. 〈◊〉 I immersed it in Water and upon the opening the Orifice O as the Pipe was gradually depressed the Oyl was pressed out of the Pipe L M to N and from thence to what height I pleased in the Pipe O P N. PARADOX IX paradox IX That whatever is said of Positive Levity a parcel of Oyl lighter than Water may be kept in Water without ascending in it Considering that since the Surface of a Vessel of standing Water is Physically speaking Horizontal the Water that presses against the lower part of the immersed Body must needs be deeper than that which presses against the upper and that this is the Reason why Bodies lighter than Water emerge I concluded that if the Water upon the upper Surface of Oyl in a Tube could be so high as to ballance the Pressure of that Water below Oyl might be suspended betwixt two Parcels of Water To try the Result I sucked an Inch of Water into a Tube and by stopping the upper Orifice and by that means suspending the Water in the Tube I removed it into a Vessel of Oyl and then opening the upper Orifice till an Inch of Oyl was buoyed up into it I removed it again into a Vessel of Water and immersed it so far in that till the Water below the Oyl was equal in height to the Water above it in which station the Cylinder of Oyl and Water being equal in weight with the Pressure of the external Water the Oyl Q. R. was suspended betwixt the Water S. R. and that below it P. Q. the Surface of the Water in the Pipe T. S. being so much above the Surface of the Water A D. as was requisite to make the Oyl and Water contained in the Pipe to press equally on the Surface G. H. with the external Water See Plate 4. Fig. 1. as Plate 4. Fig. 1. represents PARADOX X. That the Cause of the Ascension of Water in Syphony paradox X and of flowing through them may be explained without having recourse to Nature's Abhorrency of a Vacuum To demonstrate this See Plate 4. Fig. 2. we provided a Glass Tube A B. C D. of a convenient wideness and half a
Air contained in it may be sufficient to hold as much Air as will keep the whole Stem from sinking under Water if the Ballast which is to keep the Vessel immersed in an erect posture is to be contain'd within the Vessel the Stem ought to be hollow but otherwise to consist of a small Cylinder without any Cavity and of a convenient length The Instrument I employ for Guineas hath its Ball as big as a Hens-egg and the Stem about four or five Inches long being soddered on to a hole in the Centre of the uppermost Convex part of the Ball and to the Centre of the lowermost is fixed a piece of Wire to lay the Guiny upon or a screwed stirrup to fix it in If you have a mind to try pieces of Gold of greater weight the stirrup ought to be fixed to a small Cylinder upon which several pieces of Metal being fixed and having holes in the middle that they may be put on or taken off as occasion requires the Instrument may be adjusted to any piece of Gold tho' twice or thrice as heavy as a Guiny To adjust this Instrument for the use of Guineas it must be lightned by the use of a file or made heavier by the addition of Ballast that it may be sufficiently immersed in the Water without sinking and then a mark being fixed on the Stem at the Surface of the Water a piece of Brass must be substituted in the place of the Guiny of the same weight or a grain or two heavier in the Air and a mark set at the Surface of the Water when it is immersed by that weight In which method of adjusting the following Particulars are to be minded First the Guinea must be placed exactly with its middle in the screw that it may not incline the Tube but let it stand erect Secondly Quick-silver Ballast in Metalline Instruments is apt to dissolve the sodder Thirdly the marks may be made of chewed Mastick fixed in small holes or by fixing a Silver or a Golden Wire in a nick made round the Stem Fourthly one of the heavyest Guineas is to be made use of in adjusting this Instrument and care must be taken that ½ of an Inch be left above the Water because all Waters themselves are not of an equal weight yet those circumstances vary not the success since the difference in the immerging this Instrument in several Waters is in considerable in respect of the difference betwixt a piece of Brass and Gold of an equal weight in the Air it being an Inch and three quarters Fifthly before we can determine by this Instrument whether the Gold be good it must be weighed in the Air to see whether it be of a just weight and then this will discover whether it be genuine for otherwise we may think the Metal not good when it only wants weight in the Air. The Explication of the Figures See Plate 1. Fig. 00. Fig. 1. A B. The Stem or Pipe C E. The two Parts of the Ball soddered together B C D E. The Ball it self F. The screw G. The stirrup somewhat out of its Place H. The mark to which Copper of the weight of a Guinea in the Air depresses it I. The mark to which the Gold sinks it Fig. 2. The screw by it self to be taken off or put on the undermost Stem of the Instrument Fig. 3. The Perforated Plates to be put upon the lower Stem as ballast Fig. 4. The lower Stem with a Perforated Plate upon it Fig. 5. The stirrup which my be made use of instead of the screw Fig. 6. A. B. C. The Glass Instrument D D D. The Coin supported by four Horse-hairs Fig. 7. The undermost Stem of a Glass Instrument to which a screw is fastned with Horse-hairs or otherwise Fig. 8. A B C D. The Instrument for estimating the specifick Gravity of Liquors E E The Quick-silver or Water employed as Ballast The third Section Representing the uses of this Instrument as relating to Metals The first Vse Is to distinguish true Guineas from Counterfeit The second Vse In examining a piece of Gold lighter than a Guinea so much Ballast may be added as will make that amount to the weight of a Guinea and if the Gold be heavier so many of the perforated Plates must be taken off the Stem that the Instrument may not be sunk by it and when a Coin but a little heavier than a Guinea is to be tryed it may be convenient to place a perforated Plate upon the upper screw so that it may lye upon the Ball and be taken off or lightned with a file as occasion requires That several pieces of Gold may upon some occasions be fix'd at once the aperture of the screw ought to be wider than what will just admit of a Guinea If the Instrument be well proportioned so that a piece of Gold a little heavier than a Guinea may not depress it under Water it may be examined without altering the weight of the Instrument And acording to the method above laid down a half Guinea may be tryed by placing a true half Guinea with it in the screw The third Vse This Instrument may be adjusted to try Silver Coins which are lighter than half a Crown by weighing Silver in it and marking the Surface of the Water upon the Pipe and then observing what difference there is betwixt that and an equal weight of an ignobler Metal in the Air. And tho' several Instruments would be more convenient for the trying of these different Metals yet by altering the Ballast Plates one may be made to serve the turn The fourth Vse And by the like method an Instrument may be adjusted to discover whether Tin be more or less adulterated with Lead since Tin being the lightest of Metals the Lead will depress the Instrument lower if mixed with Tin as Gold on the contrary is the heaviest Metal and is lighter upon the addition of another Metal The fifth Vse It may enable us to guess at the Qualities of Metalline Mixtures and the proportions of the ingredients for by adjusting how much such a weight of Gold will depress the Stem by afterwards trying how much lighter in Water the same weight of allayed Gold in the Air will be and at the same time observing what was the proportion of Silver in the Alloy we may be enabled to judge how much other pieces of Gold are alloyed by comparing their weight in Water with this Standard provided they be of the same specifick weight in the Air with the Gold unalloyed And the same measures may be taken to make an estimate of the alloys of Silver with Copper or of Copper with Tin CHAP. IX Observations of the growth and increase of Metals About the growth of Tin I am told by the Master of a Tin Mine that after a Tin Mine had been quite drained of its Ore by washing and vanning about 120 years after it yielded rich Ore again and that a good quantity
vitrify'd Sand as filled a Retort and two or three fluxing Additaments of small price sixteen grains of pure Gold And tho' by some it is thought strange that there should be a necessity of fixing Gold yet I have elsewhere made it appear that by a small addition of another Substance Gold may be sublimed without a naked Fire and form several Crystals like Rubies And if Sands as well as Earths and Stones abound with Mineral Ingredients it may be convenient to take an account where such Substances are found and likewise to take a Sample of them as also of the Ores of different Mines and to try them Hydrostatically for I have observ'd that in English Lead Ores of several kinds those in which thirty pound of Lead is only to be got out of an hundred of Ore are looked upon as not worth working those that yield half their weight of Metal are indifferent and other Ore which yields from fifty five to sixty in the hundred is looked upon to be very good but those that afford eighty Pound in the hundred are accounted very rich but I have not met with any that afforded more than seventy five in a hundred weight Which Ore seemed to consist wholly of Metal and was made up of Parts of a Cubical Figure and much resembling Dies placed one by another But besides what hath been already proposed to be inquired after concerning Metalline Fossils not only its Proportion is to be consider'd but the plenty or scarceness of the Mineral the easiness or difficulty of coming at it as also its depth and freeness from Waters its nearness to plenty of Fuel its nearness to Water to drive Mills and to transport it c. are to be consider'd likewise before one begins to work a Mine An Explication of the Instruments employed in these Experiments and those in the following Chapter aa The Beam See Plate 1. Fig. 00. bb the Dishes cc the Frame to suspend the Beam upon which d a sliding Socket e its Arms containing f a Pulley over which g another Pulley passes h a Line fastned to i a moveable Weight by which the Beam is raised up or let down k a Hair to suspend l the Body to be weighed in the Water held in m the Glass Cistern n the Bucket for Liquors o the Box of grains p the Forceps to manage them q the Pile of Weights r the Handle of the Ballance ssss the Table CHAP. XI Medicina Hydrostatica FROM what is contain'd in the fore-going Chapter it appearing that white Marble or Crystal may be a Standard to distinguish mineral Substances from other Bodies I shall here subjoin the way of weighing sinking Bodies in Water The method of weighing Bodies And first the solid Body to be examin'd is to be suspended by a Horse-hair at one of the Scales just now described and there to be counterpoised then the Weights being taken out by deducing from the weight of the Body in Air the weight of it in Water by the Remainder divide the whole weight of the given Body in the Air and the Quotient will shew the Proportion in specifick Gravity betwixt the examin'd Solid and as much Water as is just equal to it in Bulk For Example if the Weight of a Cubick Inch of Rock-Crystal be 1169 grains in the Air and 738 in Water the Remainder will be 431 grains by which the 1169 grains being divided the Quotient will be found to be 2 × 71 100 or near enough 7 10 for the proportion of the Gravity of white Marbles to Water In which Direction it is requisite to observe first Cautions requisite to be observ'd That what we have said implys that the Body weighed must be heavier than Water Secondly Horse-Hairs are more convenient than other strings because they are nearer to a specifick Gravity with Water Thirdly Where the Figure of a Body disabled us from suspending it by tying a hair about it we platted a sort of net of Hairs to hold it in Fourthly So much of the Hair as is above the Water must be counterpoised by a Weight in the other Scale Fifthly Sometimes instead of the Scale I counterpoised the opposite with a weight of Lead and suspended the Horse-Hair at the String but when I did not take off the Scale I caused it to be perforated in the middle Sixthly Care must be taken that the Water below touches not the bottom of the Scale and that the Body be freely suspended and wholly immersed in the Water Seventhly Care must be taken that no Bubbles of Air be contained in the Pores of the Body weighed since the success will be apt to fail in some Tryals upon that account And these circumstances being observed it will be easie to know by the method proposed the difference betwixt the specifick weight of other Bodies heavier than Water It being agreeable to that Hydrostatical Paradox of Archimedes That a Body heavier than Water weighs less in Water than in the Air by the weight of as much Water as is equal to it in Bulk or Magnitude And The first Use of this method of weighing Bodies By this Method we found That the weight of Lapis Hematites to Water was as four 15 100 to one and by subliming it with Sal-Armoniack we found by the Astringency of it that it abounded with Metalline Parts of a Martial Nature which was further confirmed by observing that a grain of it turned an Infusion of Galls black Lapis Lazuli was to its bulk of Water in weight as three to one A Load-Stone which besides Magnetical hath Medicinal Vertues appeared to be as four 93 100 to one Lapis Calaminaris was as four 169 100 to one In which Concretes the Medicinal Virtues seem to depend on the plentiful mixture of metalline Ingredients but some Bodies which abound less with Mineral Substances may be as operative by reason of some more active Particles But This Hydrostatical method of weighing Bodies Use II may be further serviceable in distinguishing Stones from Plants or other petrified Substances as Coral which weighs in proportion to Water as two 68 100 to one and therefore appears to be a Stone being heavier than Crystal A monstrous Pearl taken out of an Oyster which weighed 206 grains was to Water as two 51 100 to one A Calculus Humanus which weighed six drams and a half was in proportion to Water as one 76 100 to one and another that weighed four drachms and a half was to Water as one 69 100 to one These Stones tho' the productions of Distempers have been accounted better than Oriental Bezoar in their Effects Choice Bezoar Stones which weighed three drachms in the Air being weighed in Water one of them was as one 47 100 to one another somewhat lighter was as one 53 100 to one a third which was taken out of another Stone which being weighed in the Air weighed six drachms wanting nine grains was in proportion to Water as one 55 100 to
The weight of the Ball of Crystal we employed was to its bulk of Water as 2 57 100 to 1 and the weight of the Prism as 2 66 100 to 1. And this method of weighing Amber in different Liquors may not only acquaint us with their specifick Gravities but also from thence we may learn to know which are most Spirituous For tho' a piece of Amber weighed but 6 ¾ grains in Water yet in common red French Wine it weighed 8 ½ in Nants Brandy 17 ⅛ and in rectifyed Spirit of Wine 34 ⅛ This Hydrostatical method of estimating may likewise contribute to discover the strength of Acid Liquors those that are strongest causing the solid to weigh less as they are stronger the greater decrement of weight proceeding from the greater proportion it contains of Salts that are not Volatile It may likewise save the wasting of several Liquors as Spirit of Wine or Brandy in trying their goodness And further it may be imployed in estimating the intensive weight of Wine Beer Ale Mead Cyder c. and distinguish their goodness without consuming them But Amber will not be heavy enough to distinguish the strength of Oyl of Tartar per deliquium and such heavy Bodies since they are too heavy for it to subside in Besides the afore-mentioned there may be another use made of our Hydrostatical solid viz. To shew when Menstruums are of a convenient strength For that there is a peculiar degree of Spirituousness requisite in some Solvents is evident since if Aqua Fortis be too strong it will not be able to dissolve Silver no more than if it be too weak till it is diluted by an addition of Water and it is much more fit to dissolve filings of crude Lead when more dilute So rectifyed Spirit of Wine is not always the most proper Menstruum for gummy Bodies since it dissolves only the purest Resin and leaves the Mucilaginous Parts behind which may be as good in Medicine as the other and further we see that Gum Arabick and Tragacanth are not so easily dissolved in good Spirit of Wine as in weak Liquors and the like may be observed in dissolving Myrrh To what hath been said on this occasion there is one thing to be added that when this Expedient is made use of in Oyl of Vitriol or Tartar per deliquium it is necessary to put something into the Scale to compensate the lightness of the Horse-hairs since in such Experiments the specifick Gravity of the Liquors exceed the Gravity of the Hairs and consequently they will be apt to buoy up the Body immersed and misinform us in its true specifick weight To the afore-mentioned ways of Hydrostatically estimating Liquors we may add the following And first it may be done by filling a Vessel with a slender Stem successively with different Liquors and weighing them as also it may be done by a Brass Cylinder made heavier at one end than the other by which it may be made to float and to swim deeper or higher above the Water as the Liquor contained is heavier or another way is by fitting too Bubbles together with Cement by which their Stems being joined and the one caused to sink lowest by a Ballast of Mercury as the other is filled with a heavier or lighter Liquor it will manifestly preponderate Another way proposed by Mersennus is by weighing a Glass and a Stopple in Water and then filling the Bottle quite full and putting in the Stopple for the weight of the Glass and Stopple being deducted from the weight of the whole the remaining weight will be the weight of the Liquor proposed But instead of this we made use of a round Glass-Ball with a Glass Stopple which being first weighed in Air and Water and counterpoised there we were able to discover the weight of the Liquor contained and its proportion to the bulk of the Liquor it was weighed in and if the Bubble were too light to subside in some heavy Liquors we would bring it to a just weight by a Ballast of Mercury But since such Vessels as these are very hard to be got and some other inconveniencies attend it we think it less satisfactory than those other ways we made use of and proposed before A sixth Use that may be made of these Hydrostatical Tryals Use VI is in reference to several Medicinal Bodies for thus the Jucies of Plants may be weighed if when they are contained in our Hydrostatical Jar delineated in the Figure above they be hung at a nice Ballance in Oyl instead of Water since they are not subject to mix with it And by this means we may be satisfied whether Juices of Plants alter their specifick Gravity when kept a good while and after fermentation And by this method likewise we may be able to weigh Honey Vinegar Verjuce c. As also we may compare and weigh the Juices of Fruits of different kinds and the subordinate Species of each kind as also the several Juices in their several states of Crudity or Maturity But the use of this Hydrostatical Bucket being very tedious and difficult to those that are not very skilful in making Experiments the other will be more useful which are tryed with Amber But to what hath been already delivered on this subject I shall add that tho' in several Tryals made with precious substances a nice Ballance is requisite yet in most cases the difference betwixt Bodies is great enough to be discerned by a Ballance not altogether so nice for let the Ballance be never so nice there is difference in the Textures and Compositions of Bodies of the same Denomination for which as well as in defect of a nice Ballance allowances are easily made But perhaps it may be objected by some against the method I have been proposing that since I generally weigh most Bodies in Water it will be a hard matter to make them with any exactness since it hath been observed that most Waters themselves differ in specifick Gravity But to this I shall briefly answer that I have not perceived so considerable a difference as will frustrate these Experiments in which we require not a Mathematical but a Physical certainty CHAP. XII Hydrostatical Stereometry applyed to the Materia Medica IT being usual for Physicians in the descriptions of several Parts of the Materia Medica to signifie the size of Bodies by very indeterminate Terms I thought that they might be assisted by Hydrostaticks to give descriptions much more exact and satisfactory and for that end having made two hollow Brass Cubes whose Cavities being Cubical Inches contained 256 grains or a Cubical Inch of Water it being a Law in Hydrostaticks that whatever Body is weighed in Water it loses so much of its weight as an equal bulk of Water weighs I concluded it would thence follow that whatever solid was weighed in Water if in that fluid it lost 256 grains of its weight it might be said to be a Cubical Inch and as it lost more or
less so it might be said to be of a Magnitude proportionable for if it weighed but 128 grains less in Water it might be said to be of such a bulk of Water but if it weighed 256 wanting thirty two grains that being an eight of a whole Cubick Inch of Water the bulk of the Body may be said to be ⅞ of a Cubick Inch. And if the Body weighs one ounce thirty two grains amounting to 512 grains or one ounce and a half forty eight grains amounting to 768 grains the bulk of the Body will be equal to two or three Cubical Inches And if after the Division there remains a Fraction it will not be difficult to estimate it and to know the exact bulk of the Body since the Cubical Inch consists of such aliquot Parts as are easily and regularly divided and subdivided And thus we may easily know the bulk of a Body that is heavier than Water but if it be specifically lighter it will be a difficult matter The method Mersennus proposes is this viz. First weigh the Body to be examined in the Air. Secondly take a piece of Lead of a determinate weight and able to sink the other Body in Water Thirdly weigh the Plate in Water and the weight it loses in Water will be the weight of Water equal in bulk to the Body weighed Fourthly tye together the Plate of Lead and the lighter Body and note the weight of the Aggregate Fifthly weigh the Aggregate in Water and substract the weight of it there from its weight in the Air and the difference will be the specifick weight of the said Body in Water Sixthly from this difference substract the formerly found specifick Gravity of the Plate alone in Water and the remains will give you the weight of the lighter Body in the same Liquor And then dividing the obtained weight of the light Body in Water by 256 grains and it will give you the solid content of that naturally floating Body To illustrate this method I shall subjoin the following Experiment I. The Oaken Cube in Air weighs seven drachms thirteen grains and a half 193 ½ II. The weight of the Lead in Air four drachms 240 III. The weight of the Lead in Water three drachms and a half ten grains 220 which being substracted from its weight in Air leaves for its specifick weight in Water 020 IV. The Aggregate of the two in Air is 433 ½ V. The weight of both together in Water is 162 which being substracted from its weight in Air gives the difference of both the Aggregates 271 ½ VI. The difference betwixt the weight of Lead alone in Air and in Water or which is all one the specifick weight of the Plate alone viz. 020 Being substracted from the difference of the Aggregates in Air and in Water gives for the weight of the Cube proposed which wants but four and a half of the weight of a Cubical Inch of Water 251 ½ The same method that hath been taken with solids not subject to dissolve in Water may be taken with Alloms c. Which is only by employing Oyl of Turpentine instead of Water for a Cubical Inch of that weighing 221 grains and ⅛ the difference of the weight of a solid in the Air and in that Oyl being divided by that Number the Quotient will give you the solid contents of the Examined Body But to discover the weight of Bodies which are apt to imbibe too much of the Liquor they are weighed in we may guard them from it by a thin coat of Bees-Wax and having first taken the weight of the Wax in Air and then fastned it to a Plate of Lead substract the weight of as much Water as is equal in bulk to the Wax and proceed with the Body contained and the Plate of Lead as before taught and having thus obtained the Weight of the proposed Body in Water by dividing it by 256 grains by the help of the Quotient we may obtain the solid contents of the proposed Body Another way I devised for to learn the solid contents of a Body without imbibing Water into it was by finding the weight of a Cubick Inch of Mercury and also the specifick weight of the Vessel and then pouring upon the Body contained in that Vessel as much Silver as it would hold by knowing the weight of that Quick-silver from the weight of the whole which the Vessel would contain one might be acquainted to how much Mercury the matter contained was equal Having thus proposed a Hydrostatical way of trying Bodies I shall leave it to others to contrive an Instrument more apt for such uses than I have done And shall to what I have said add that these kind of Experiments do not always equally answer in success being apt to be diversifyed as well by the want of uniformity in the Qualities and specifick weight of Bodies of the same Denomination as by the difference in Water in intensely Hot and Cold Weather as also upon the account of less exact Ballances But another reason is the difference of weights of the same Denomination for we are told by a diligent Mathematician that cum omnia grana vel semina quae reperiri solent in atriis venalibus Lutetiae and stateram expendisset vix granum ullum inter ejusdem Speciei grana grano alteri exacte respondisset in incertis Ludere noluit And the same Author tells us that 688 Roman grains are but equal to 576 French grains and this estimate of their difference by another Ballance was found to be thirty six grains false And the same Author receiving two accounts of the number of grains contained in a Roman ounce the one told him there were 612 the other 576. And tho' our weights as well as those made use of by Gheraldus have twenty four scruples in an ounce yet he divided his scruples into twenty four grains whereas we divide ours but into twenty And Mersennus p. 37. lib. 16. tells us that cum autem dixi Chelinum undecim dici denariorum credunt tamen alii decem duntaxat nil assero And. To what hath been said I shall only add that tho' this method of weighing Bodies be not Mathematically exact yet it comes as near Physical exactness as we can expect and may be of use till some more nice way of Tryals be found out A Table representing not only the Weight of several Bodies in Air and Water but their Proportions in Weight to an equal Bulk of Water A Weight In Air in Gr. In Water in Grains Proportion AMber 306 12 1 4 100 to 1. Agat 251 156 2 64 100 to 1. A piece of Allom-stone 280 ¾ 152 ¼ 2 18 100 to 1. Antimony good and supposed to be Hungarian One 391 295 4 7 100 to 1. B    Bezoar stone 187 61 1 48 100 to 1. A piece of the same 56 ½ 22 1 64 100 to 1. A fine Oriental one 172 60 1 53 100 to 1. Another 237 61 1 34
peculiar modification of Rays of Light on the superficies of Bodies different from each other in other Qualities EXPERIMENT VI. Having put into a Glass-Vessel an Oculus Mundi whose Diameter was about a third part of an Inch the Colour of which was white and its figure Convex by degrees the whole was turned brown and in nine minutes time being taken out of the Water was Semidiaphanous which being a gain put into the Water and after a little less than half an hour taken out again was almost as yellow and Diaphanous as Amber But being for some time exposed to the Air it began gradually to grow Opacous and to be marked in several places with white streaks which by degrees expanding themselves united so as to make the whole Surface of the Stone of a cream white EXPERIMENT VII Remarkable Observations about Hurricanes Observatious about Hurricanes I am informed by the Governour of the Bermudas Islands that these are the foreruners of them First at some distance from the shore the Sea would swell Secondly the Water about a day after would beat violently against the shore and adjacent Rocks which could neither be attributed to Winds or Tydes or any other cause besides which it would sometimes on a sudden invade the shore successively as suddenly subsiding again without any manifest cause where it is observable that as the incroachment upon the Shore is greater the recess of the Water is proportionable Thirdly an unpleasant smell in the Air would preceed the Hurricane Fourthly long and visible streaks appeared in the Air of very different Colours as white blue red or green without the least appearance of Clouds EXPERIMENT VIII A Monstrous Pearl Of a Monstrous Pearl Yester day was brought to me a Pearl of an Orient colour except one spot which I suposed was the place where the Umbelical Cord fastened it to the Shell it was an Inch and a half long and about 8 10 of an Inch broad EXPERIMENT IX A strange Observation about the Influence of the Moon Observations on the Influence of the Moon I am informed by a Gentleman that upon a fall had several pieces of his Skull taken out that he not only observed pricking Pains at the full of the Moon about the Meninges but likewise that the Chirurgeons perceived an Intumescence and expansion of those Parts EXPERIMENT X. An uncommon Experiment about Heat and Cold. For a further Confirmation of our Doctrine of the Origin of Heat and Cold Of Heat and Cold. I shall lay down the following Experiment we immersed the Ball of a Thermoscope Hermetically sealed in a Cylindrical Vessel which contained Oyl of Vitriol and presently cast Sal-Armoniack into the Oyl upon the Mixture of which there succeeded a violent Ebullition and likewise a gradual succession of coldness which was both perceived by touching the Vessel and likewise by the descent of the Spirit of Wine in the Thermometer yet this Mixture instead of a cold Effervescensce presently upon the addition of an equal quantity of Water became violent Hot. CHAP. VIII A Collection of Chymical Experiments A collection of Chymical Medicines MY design in following Experiments being rather to lay down such as may be instructive to the Reader than Ostentations of my own skill I shall give this short Advertisement that I have upon that account rather made choise of such as are easie than those that are difficult to be prepared those being more proper for my design which is to lay down Fundamentals for compiling of natural Phylosophy because they are likely to be most Intelligible for it does not always happen that that which is most pleasing to the Eye is most useful for tho' Gold and Diamonds are valuable in themselves yet a piece of Steel or Flint are in effect in some respects of greater use to Mankind EXPERIMENT I. To dissolve crude Gold with dry Bodies Tho' Chymists so much boast of their Aurum Potabile Crude Gold dissolved by a dry Body as to think it a curious preparation yet it is possible to make one without the help of a furnace or so much time after the following manner Having ground four Parts of pure Nitre with two of Rock-Allom and one of Sal-Armoniack I put the Mixture into a new Crucible keeping it in a moderate Heat till the Mixture contained in it was dry which being taken out and presently pulverised it afforded a Golden Tincture in highly rectifyed Spirit of Wine EXPERIMENT II. Luna Cornea by Distillation Luna Cornea by Distillation Three ounces of Silver being put into a Retort upon six ounces of strong Sublimate by a strong Fire the Sublimate was carried to the top of the Vessel leaving the Silver half melted and turned into a Semidiaphanous horny Substance which would melt at the flame of a Candle like Wax N. B. That if there be any Phaenomena in this or other Experiments above what the Title promises the Apology I make for them is that as they may tend to the promoting of natural Philosophy as well as the other so I was not willing to pass them by without Notice EXPERIMENT III. Mercury growing warm with Silver Mercury growing warm with Silver Having gradually mixed the precipitate of Silver made with Copper with two drachms of Antimonial Mercury in a Man's hand till it had reduced to a yielding consistence three quarters of its own weight we put the Amalgama which was noted to be sensibly warm during the Mixture and of an uniform consistence into a Glass Vial which in two Nights time became a hard and brittle Concrete EXPERIMENT IV. The lasting Disposition of a certain preparation of Mercury to grow Hot with Gold I sent a Mercury to the Royal Society which was prepared with a great deal of pains in my Furnaces Mercury growing Hot with Gold which being mixed in one hand with a due proportion of Calx of Gold might be perceived to acquire a sensible Heat which faculty it retained being Hermetically sealed in a Glass Egg ten or twelve years And what is more remarkable is that the Mercury being separated by Distillation would when mixed again with Gold reiterate the former Incalescence EXPERIMENT V. An uncommon method of working upon Antimony A particular way of working upon Antimony In the common method of operating upon Antimony the Air not only influencing the fire in its Operation but also bearing up several of its Particles which work upon each other as in a Medium I took the following method to try what effects the fire would have upon it viz. I laid S S S of common Chalk and Antimony powdered in an Earthen Pot and placed it in a digestive Furnace where it continued about twenty four hours having taken care that the first and last Stratum should be of Chalk and that the Layer of Antimony should be pretty thin EXPERIMENT VI. A method very uncommon of making a Calces of Gold Calces of Gold Preparations of Gold
scarce discernable if at all as in Loadstones Ambergrease c. Those requiring a long time to make their Consumption discernible in which time we are not sure but the Weights themselves may have lost of their weight as well as the Counterpoise and consequently not be able to discover the loss those sustain But there are several other besides statical ways of trying whether Bodies emit Effluvia or not and there are several peculiar ways requisite to cause them to emit them as Glass c. affect the Nostrils upon an Attrition I had a Diamond as well as a Ruby which would be excited by a gentle heat in my Pocket or only by strokeing my Finger over the former tho' sometimes they would fail to be so easily or uniformly excited and it is not a little strange that upon the Tread of a Hare or Partridge Effluvia should be so long emitted as to give a Scent to Dogs several Hours after And if Load-stones and other Bodies may have Constant Atmospheres which are only to be discover'd by particular Bodies several other Substances not yet taken notice of may emit Effluvia which by peculiar Methods may be discover'd CHAP. IV. Of the Strange Subtlety of Effluviums Of the subtlety of Effluviums THE subtlety of the Effluviums will be most aptly represented by considering I. The strange extensibility of some Bodies whilst their Parts remain tangible II. The Multitude of visible Corpuscles that may be afforded by a small Portion of Matter III. The smallness of the Pores at which the Effluvia of some Bodies will get in IV. The small Decrement of Bulk or Weight that a Body may suffer by parting with great store of Effluvia And V. The great quantity of Space that may be filled as to Sense by a small quantity of Matter when rarify'd or dispersed And First I have observed that a Grain of Silver Wire amounted to 27 Foot or 324 Inches and since half an English Inch may be divided into a 100 Parts by diagonal Lines it must consist of 64800 true Metalline Parts which may be well conceived to be made of Parts yet more minute And I had a gilt Wire an Ounce of which made a Wire 1000 paces long allowing Five Foot to a Pace and 720 Foot above and had this Wire been drawn out to an equal smallness with the Silver Wire the Gold would have been divided to an indefinite number of Parts being sufficient to cover the superficial Area of so long a Wire And I have known Silk to be drawn out of the Mouth of a Worm which tho' it weigh'd but two Grains and a half was 300 Yards long But to evince the great extensibility of Matter we took six beaten Leaves of Gold the sides of whose Squares were 3 Inches and 2 8 which Number being reduced to a Decimal Fraction viz. 3125 100 and multiplyed by it self affords 10â—5â— 10000 for the Area of each and this multiplyed by 6 the Number of the Leaves amounts to 6313750 10000 square Inches for the Area of the six Leaves of Gold which weighed but 1 Gr. ¼ so that 4 Grains was extended to above 50 square Inches And if each of these Inches may by Lines drawn from opposite Points be divided each into 100 Parts one Grain of Gold must be divided into 500000 little squares discernable by a good Eye and if an Inch were divided into 200 Parts as I have one by me that is then a Grain may be divided into 2000000 of squares And to be satisfy'd further of the extensibility of Gold I enquired and was told that 8 Grains of Gold would gild an Ounce of Silver Wire as fine as a Hair and which would reach betwixt 90 and 100 Miles But supposing the Wire to be as fine as that first mentioned and that 8 Grains of Gold went to gild it a sheath of Gold weighing but 8 Grains may be extended so as to reach 60 times as much in weight of Silver Wire as it covers and consequently a grain of that Wire being twenty seven foot long the ounce of Gold would reach to 777600 foot i. e. 155 ½ miles and if this Gold Wire were cut into as small thongs or lists as posibly it might be it must reach to a stupendious length But secondly to shew into what a number of visible Corpuscles a Body may be divided we put an ounce of Water into an Aeolipile and having placed it upon a Chafing-dish of Coals we observed that Vapours streamed out or above sixteen minutes and considering a few intermitting gusts afterwards and what drops of Water were condensed in the top of it I guessed that had the whole been driven out in Vapours they would have continued twenty minutes N. B. to the Orifice of the Aeolipile we applied a long Tube twenty Inches long and an Inch in Diameter the remoter end being continued about six Inches longer and so far expanded that its Diameter was four or five Inches and by the help this Pipe we were able tho' not actly to measure the Extension of the rarified Vapours To this instance I might add the prodigious expansion of some Inflamable Bodies when turned into actual flame as Spirit of Wine c. Which being burnt in a Glass Lamp so contrived that the Surface of the Liquor was still Circular the waste made in ¼ of an hour was very small tho' the Physical superficies of the Liquor must needs be successively rarified and expanded and fly away in streams and if so little of this Liquor was able to afford matter for flame so long the same bulk of a more compact Body may easily be supposed to be capable of being expanded to much greater Dimensions And to these instances I shall add that half a grain of Gun-Powder being exploded under a Vessel whose Basis was eight Inches and its Altitude twenty and its figure such that it was more Capacious than a Cone of that size the exploded Gun-Powder was observed to fill the whole Cavity of the Vessel as to sense and successively issued out of the upper Orifice for half a quarter of an hour so that the Diameter of it being two Inches many Myriads of visible Corpuscles must be conceived to throng out in so long a time as they crouded out one after another But to make a kind of an estimate of the Expansion of this Substance we filled the Vessel full of Water and found that the weight of it amounted to 320000 half grains And if we suppose the specifick Gravity of the Gun-Powder to be as much again as that of Water we my probably guess the smoak to posses 500000 times the space that the Gun-Powder did And as a further Argument of the great minuteness of small Parts of matter I shall urge the smallness of Cheese-mites which being so small as not to be discernable to a naked Eye but when they move must be made of extremely fine Parts otherwise there would not be room enough for an Organical Body
and if an Organical Body furnished with all the Parts requisite for the Preservation of Life be contained in so small a compass how minute must they be at the first since the Eggs out of which they are formed bear but a small proportion to them when perfectly formed and even comparative Observations tell us that a Mite being ten days a hatching the Rudiments of its Body at the first must bear but a small proportion to the bulk of that small Egg and to this I shall add that tho' these Creatures be so very small yet I have been able to discern single hairs growing upon their Legs Another instance of the Extension of matter minutely divided is this viz. We dissolved a grain of filings of Copper in Spirit of Sal-Armoniack pouring the Solution into a tall Cylinder four Inches in Diameter and successively filling it four times with distilled Water still pouring it off into a Conical Glass which being done and the weight of the Glass Cylinder deducted from the Joint weight of the Liquor contained in it we found that one grain of Copper was able to give à Tincture to 28534 times its weight of Water tho' its specifick Gravity is not half so much as that of fine Gold and if we estimate the proportion not by weight but the bulk of these Bodies the bulk of Water to Copper being as nine to one the aforementioned number multiplyed by nine will give us the proportion betwixt the tinged and tinging the Body so that one grain of Copper gives a colour to 256806 parts of Limpid Water and by prosecuting this Experiment further I found that it was able to give a manifest Tincture to above 385200 and a faint but discernable one to above 513620 times its bulk of Water To shew that the Effluvia of Bodies may enter in at very small Pores I shall intimate the effects of Cantharides held in the hands of some Persons and on the Neck of my own Bladder when applyed outwardly to my Neck And not only Scaliger tells us of Spiders in Gascony whose Virulent Poyson would penetrate the Shooes of those that trod upon them but Piso speaking of a Fish called Amoreatim and by the Portugals Peize sola he says Quae mira sane Efficacia non solum Manum vel levissimo attactu sed pedem licet optime calceatum Piscatoris incaute Pisciculum conterentis Paralysi stupore afficit instar Torpedinis Europeae sed Minus durabili Lib. 5. Cap. 14. And to shew that some Emanations even of solid Bodies may be subtle enough to get through the Pores even of the closest Bodies I shall add that a needle being Hermetically sealed up in a Glass Tube and that laid upon Water a Load-Stone would cause the Needle to leap up in it and by the help of the Load-Stone I could lead the Tube from one part of the Surface of the Water to another as I moved the Load-Stone And to shew that the Magnetical Effluvia of the Earth may penetrate so close and compact a Body as Glass I shall add that a Cylindrical piece of Iron being sealed up in a Glass Cylinder and held in a Perpendicular Posture it acquired such Magnetical Virtues as to become a North Pole and according to Magnetical Laws to drive away the North Point of a Needle but being inverted and held under the Point of a Needle it became a South Pole and attracted it Another Proof of the great subtlety of Effluviums may be taken from the small decrease of Weight by parting with store of such Emanations as Vitrum Antimonii Crocus Metallorum and Quick-silver the two first of which give a Vomitive Virtue to a vast quantity of Wine without growing sensibly lighter and so Quick-silver impregnates Water with a Virtue of killing Worms And a piece of Ambergrease which weighed about 100 or 120 Grains being suspended three days in the open Air lost not sensibly of its Weight notwithstanding the quantity of odoriferous Steams it must have parted with in that time Assa Foetida in about six Days lost about half a quarter of a Grain one Ounce of Nutmegs in six Days lost 5 Grains ½ and an Ounce of Cloves 7 grains â… And tho' Loadstones emit Effluvia without a sensible loss of weight yet I suspect that as these Magnetical Particles fly out of one Pole they enter in at the other and so make the Pores of the Load-stone their constant Thorow-fares To these Instances I shall add that a Grain of Copper being dissolved in a spoonful of a Menstruum and that put into a Glass-Lamp the Metal tinged the Flame which continued half an Hour and six Minutes so that supposing the Flame to have streamed through a Cylindrical Pipe so long that small parcel of Metal must be divided into a vast Number of small Parts for Water which ran through a Cylinder whose Diameter was but half as great as that of the Flame amounted to above Nine Gallons or Seventy two Pounds The last Particular I shall insist upon to shew the strauge subtlety of Effluviums is the great quantity of space a small parcel of Matter may be extended to and as to Sense possess it this we may be enabled to guess at by considering how long a Dog will distinguish the Scent of Partridges Hares c. after they have left the Place and will almost give one sufficient grounds to guess how long the Animal hath been gone from thence before And I am told that a Blood-hound will not only perceive the Seent of a Man that hath gone over a piece of Ground several Hours before but that the scent of a Deer will continue upon the Ground from one Day to the next And if we consider that the eighth part of a Grain can scarce be suppos'd to be left on the Ground where such an Animal hath stood and likewise at what distance it may be scented and how long that scent continues it will be sufficient to convince us of the extraordinary minuteness of those Parts of Animals which were rendered more apt to be dissipated in Effluviums by their having been first strained through the Pores of their Bodies Nor is it less remarkable that Birds especially Crows are able to discover the smell of Gun-powder at a considerable distance and that they are I am satisfi'd by my own Observations as well as the Relations of others And on this occasion I shall add That Julius Palmarius in his Tract de Morbis Contagiosis observes that Horses Beeves Sheep and other Animals have grown mad by eating the Straw that mad Swine have lain on which may give us Reason to suspect that the Feet of distempered Animals may leave an Infection upon the Grass they tread on But to prosecute the chief aim of our Discourse I shall add That since Corpuscles that are too minnte to be visible may affect an Organ of Sense it is not improbable but that there may be a great many which may be so fine
Titles for the Natural History of Blood I. Of the Colours of Human Blood Arterial and Venal II. Of the Taste of Human Blood III. Of the Odours of Human Blood IV. Of the Heat of freshly emitted Human Blood which is observed to be much violenter after it hath run a while than when it first began The Blood that came out of the Veins of a young Gentlewoman falling upon the Ball of a Thermoscope caused the Liquor to ascend above an Inch nearer the smaller and upper Ball of the Glass And in another Tryal it was raised almost as high as to the Ball of an ordinary Thermoscope but being held in the Blood of a healthful and lusty Man the Heat raised the tinged Liquor a good way into the upper Ball which was higher than the Heat of the Air in the Dog-days usually does and the Blood of a healthful Man continued its Heat so lo long that it raised the tinged Liquor three or four Fingers breadth when it was coagulated V. Of the inflamability and some other Qualities of Human Blood A piece of Human Blood being dryed 'till it was fit to be powdered and then held in the flame of a Candle it took Fire and afforded a flame not much unlike that which caused it burning with a Crackling noise and here and there melting and if it was laid upon live Coals and now and then blown it would yield a very yellow Flame and during its Deflagration would seem to fry upon the Coals and in a great measure to melt into a Black Substance almost like Pitch And some of the Powder of Blood being cast into the flame of a Candle they took Fire in their passage and flashed not without some noise as if they had been Rosin VI. Of the Aerial Parts naturally mixed with Human Blood and also found in its distinct Parts VII Of the Specifick Gravity of Human Blood entire It may be different in several Persons according to their Sex Age Constitution c. as also in the same Person according to the time of the Year the Day or as it is taken out at a less or greater distance from a Meal But to make an Estimate of its Specifick Gravity we took the Blood of a sound Man and put it into an oblong Glass and when it was setled we marked with a Diamond that part of the Glass to which the Liquor wrought and then weighing the Glass and the Blood contained in a very Tender Ballance we poured out the Blood and having washed the Vessel we filled it up to the same Mark and then weighed it in the same Ballance and then weighing the Glass and deducting that from the weight of the Glass and the two Liquors the Water weighed nine Ounces six Drams and fifty Grains And the Blood equal to it in Bulk weighed ten Ounces two Drams and four Grains so that the Blood being three Drams and fourteen Grains heavier it was about â— 2â— part heavier than Water VIII Of the Specifick Gravity of the Fibrous and Red part and of the serous part of the Blood IX Of the Consistence of entire Human Blood X. Of the Disposition of Human Blood to Concretion and the time wherein it was performed XI Of the Liquors and Salts that coagulate Human Blood Clotted Blood being kept some Hours in Spirit of Wine which is a Menstruum fit to dissolve some Bodies it was taken out as hard as if it had been dryed by the Fire XII Of the Liquors and Salts that obstruct or dissolve its Coagulation XIII Of the Liquors c. that preserve Human Blood XIV Of the Mixture that Human Blood may receive from Aliments XV. Of the spontaneous or Natural Analysis of Human Blood into a serous and a fibrous Part. XVI Of the respective Quantities of the serous and fibrous part of Human Blood XVII Of the differences betwixt the serous and the Red part of Human Blood XVIII Of the Artificial or Chymical Analysis of Human Blood and first of its Spirit XIX Of the Volatil Salt of Human Blood and of its Figures This Salt is so fusible that one part of it may be brought to boil whilst the other flies way and this Observation will hold in most Volatil Salts And tho' this Salt when sublimed looks white and Clean and a very homogeneous substance yet I am apt to think that it is made up of Parts of Matter of sizes and shapes different enough for having weighed some Grains of re-sublimed Salt of Human Blood that seemed pure its smell was very strong and diffusive so that one would have expected it to fly away in a little time but we observed that it was very little diminished in seven or eight days time yet what remained had lost its Odour but retained a saline Taste and being put upon a Solution of Sublimate in common Water turned it White so that its diffusive and penetrant Humour seemed to depend on some more volatil Parts of the Blood But it may be a Question to be solv'd by further Experience whether the fixedness of this Salt may not proceed from the Coalition of an Acid Salt in the Air. A Dram of Volatile Salt of Human Blood sublimed in a Lamp-furnace was put into common Water and when a Thermoscope was brought to its right temper being immersed in this mixture the tinged Spirit of Wine manifestly subsided about 2 10 parts of an Inch tho' a considerable part of the Salt lay undissolved in the bottom of the Water And when the Liquor would descend no further we added to the Solution strong Spirit of Nitre 'till it would no longer make a manifest Conflict with the Salt and then we observed that whilst the Conflict lasted the Spirit of Wine rose above three Inches and a half higher than the station it stood at before The figure of this Salt may be either considered in reference to single Grains or an Aggregate of them when they are raised and sublimed to the top of the Glass the latter of which may be best observed when they fasten themselves to the inside of the Glass that is set to receive them for in the begining of the Operation one may observe the little saline Concretions to lye in rows sometimes straight enough and sometimes more or less crooked with different Coherings and Interferings so that they sometimes represent either Trees or their Branches or Harts-horn c. which are casual figurations depending on several accidental causes and circumstances as the degree of fire made use of to sublime the Salt the quantity of the ascending matter in reference to the Capacity of the Vessel that receives it And the like diversity of Configurations I have observed amongst the Salts of other Volatile Salts as well as those of Human Blood And as for the single grains of the Salt of Human Blood I discovered a good many of them to be finely shaped but whether they were accidental or not experience must determine But these figures were
high Octob. 16. 77. Three Ounces of bruised Grapes being included in an exhausted Receiver large enough to contain 30 Ounces of Water with half an Ounce of Spirit of Wine Octob. 17. The Mercury did not ascend much Octob. 18. It was not an Inch high Jan. 2. 18. The Receiver was quite full and some of the Liquor as it was poured out produced Bubbles in some Turpentine about the Orifice which broke outwardly Tho' Spirit of Wine promotes the Generation of Air in Vacuo yet in the open Air it hinders it See the II. VIII and XIV Exp. Art II. EXPERIMENT VII July 19. 78. MVST expressed From Must bruised Grapes were put into a Receiver when it was 10 Months old The 21. The Mercury was no higher 23. It was raised 3 Inches 24. Raised 5 Inches 25. In the Morning it was 104 in the Evening 137 and the Must made its way out 26. More Must got out The Air was further expanded but the Mercury was suspended at the same heighth 27. The Screw being left open half the Must got out From thence it appears that by keeping Grapes for some time their Fermentative Virtue becomes more powerful EXPERIMENT VIII Jan. 30. BOiled Apples being put into Receivers From boil'd Apples with and without Sugar they both presently filled them full of Air. Jan. 31. Raw Apples being shut up in Receivers in one of which was put a third part of Sugar and the other without Feb. 10. The former had yielded some Air. Feb. 14. The raw Apples and Sugar rais'd the Mercury 30 Inches Those which were boyled raised it two Inches In the other Receivers we had no Air generated Feb. 18. In the Receiver in which the raw Apples and Sugar were enclosed the Mercury was raised 56 Inches The Boiled Apples and Sugar raised it 3. The raw Apples had yielded little but in that which was almost full the Apples were very little Fermented but of a very pleasant Taste Feb. 21. The Cover was broke and the Apples and Sugar had lost some of their Juice but they were not Rotten March 1. In the great Receiver in which raw Apples were shut up the Mercury was rais'd 25 Inches In the little One not above 7. Where Boiled Apples and Sugar were contained it was raised 9 Inches March 8. In the large one it was 29. In the less 22 ½ That where the Boiled Apples were stayed at 9 Inches March 17. Some Juice got out of the large Receiver In the less the Mercury stood at 67 Inches and the boiled Apples and Sugar raised it 15 Inches From whence it appears that the Sugar and the largeness of the Receiver as well as the Crudity of the Fruit contributed to the Production of Air. ARTICLE II. Several ways to hinder the Production of Air. EXPERIMENT I. Decemb. 20. 78. DOugh made without Leaven From Dough. but with the same Meal with Bread-Corn being enclos'd in a Receiver where the Heat of a Fire kept it warmer than at Midsummer in 10 hours it yielded no Air So that if Dough be once too cold it hinders it's Fermentation for the future which I the rather believe because Dough being shut up in the Summer presently generated Air. EXPERIMENT II. May 23. THree Ounce of Dough Leaven'd being enclos'd in a Receiver large enough to hold 50 Ounces of Water I put Spirit of Wine to it May 24. The Mercury was Three Inches high May 26. The change was small May 27. None at all May 29. None at all June 2. It ascended a little June 14. Not at all Decemb. 14. Being taken out it smell'd subacid And being put into an Empty Receiver it swell'd so much as to take up twice as much space as before with a gentle Ebullition May 23. The same Quantity being of Dough shut up without Spirit of Wine May 24. The Mercury was 19 ½ Inches high May 26. It 's Heighth was 38. May 27. No alteration Decemb. 14. It continued at the same Heighth and the Dough smell'd subacid From whence it appears that Spirit of Wine prevented the Generation of it in the last Experiment EXPERIMENT III. August 29. PEars From Pears and a Mercurial Gage being clos'd up in a Receiver fill'd with Water such a Quantity of Air was pressed in as was able to raise the Mercury 26 Inches higher than it us'd to be In a little time they were all made like a Pultis for Consistence Aug. 30. In 24 hours the Mercury was depress'd an Inch and an half Aug. 31. It remain'd at the same Heighth Sept. 1. They began to yield Air the Mercury being rais'd to 27 Inches Sept. 2. In 24 hours it was rais'd 8 Inches higher Sept. 3. The Heighth of the Mercury was 17 Digits higher the heighth being 52 Inches Sept. 4. The Mercury was buoy'd up 7 Inches further rested at 59 Inches Sept. 5. The heighth of the Mercurial Tube was 64 Inches And a Pear broken in the Receiver was turned Black Sept. 6. It was rais'd 3 Digits and ¼ higher than what is usual Sept. 7. It was 3 Digits lower and rested again at 64 Inches Sept. 8. This day the Mercury subsided to 58 Inches Sept. 9. It was rais'd up 3 Digits higher again and was suspended at 67 Digits Sept. 10. In 24 hours it was rais'd 1 ½ higher being suspended at 69 Inches Sept. 11. It descended to 67 Digits again the Night being very cold Sept. 12. No Alteration happen'd at all Sept. 13. It subsided further to 64 Digits the Cold was sharper Sept. 14. It was 70 Digits high Sept. 16. It subsided to 69. Sept. 19. It stood at the same heighth Sept. 20. It was rais'd again to 71. Sept. 23. It subsided to 69. Octob. 1. It was buoy'd up again to 75 Digits Octob. 3. On the 2 there was no alteration To Day it stood at 70 the Weather being exceeding cold Octob. Yesterday the Mercury remain'd at the same heighth but this Day being Rainy it rose again to 75. Octob. 7. The Weather being the same the Mercury was at a stand Octob. 10. This Day it subsided to 69 Inches the Rainy Weather continuing Octob. 12. To Day it was Depress'd to 65 Inches Cold Weather coming on again Octob. 13. It was 64 Inches high Octob. 14 It was 69 Digits high Octob. 15 It was 74 Digits high Octob. 24 It was 68 Inches The Season being cold Nov. 2. It was 64. The Cold more violent Nov. 5. The Mercury was 80 ½ Inches high The Cold more moderate Nov. 2. It was 65 Inches high It was sharp frosty Weather Nov. 27. It was 68 Inches high A Thaw coming on Dec. 6. It was 61 Inches high The Weather being very Frosty From the former Experiment it appears that Fruits yield not Air plentifully when violently compress'd in the Air The Air afforded when they are compressed not being ⅛ of what they yield in the Empty Receiver But that the Cold might concur to hinder the Generation of Air will be evident from the following
were firmer than before their Taste and Smell discovering them to be mouldy Factitious Air. Septemb. 10. 77. Having included 2 Ounces of unripe Grapes in a Receiver which was large enough to contain 8 Ounces of Water and as much of factitious Air of Pears as sustain'd a mercurial Cylinder of 10 Digits Sept. 11. The Mercury subsided to 8 Digits Sept. 12. It ascended 3 Inches Sept. 13 It rose to 16 Sept. 14 It rose to 20 Sept. 15 It rose to 23 Sept. 16 It rose to 24 Sept 17. It was sustain'd at 28 Inches the Colour of the Grapes being turn'd Yellow Sept. 18 It was 29 Sept. 19 It was 30 Sept. 20 It was 31 Sept. 21 It was 33 Sept. 23 It was 35 Sept. 24 It was 20 Some Air got out The Grapes were Yellow Sept. 24 It was 21 Sept. 25 It was 22 Sept. 26 little Variation Sept. 27 It was 22 Sept. 29 It was 27 Sept. 30 It was 28 Oct. 1 2 It was 28 Oct. 5 It was 30 Oct. 6 It was 31 Oct. 10 It was 31 ½ Oct. 13 It was 31 Nov. 9 It was 13. Some Air made it's way out Nov. 19 It was 29 Inches high Dec. 20. The Grapes had acquir'd a greater degree of Firmness The Taste and Smell being not less grateful than before In which Experiment the firmness seems to be effected by an exhalation of the Spirits and it hence likewise appears that Factitious Air may preserve the Taste tho' it causes a change in Colour EXPERIMENT IV. July 18. HAving enclos'd two Pieces of Oranges Artificial Air from Oranges the one with Common Air and added as much Factitious Air of Cherries as was sufficient to bear up 12 Inches of Quicksilver and the other without any addition to the Air contain'd in the Receiver July 20. The latter seem'd Mouldy the other not appearing to have undergone any Change July 23. The Orange contain'd in the Factitious Air was unalter'd the Mouldiness of the other being encreas'd July 26. That in the Common Air seem'd Putrid as likewise the other did but without Mouldiness August 1. No farther Alterations appearing in the Oranges I open'd the Receivers and observ'd that in the Artificial Air which held the Mercury 26 Inches high was well Tasted and Firm only the Top of the Rind had lost a little Juice that in the other Reciver seem'd Rotten except the Rind It may be here observ'd that Factitious Air of the Cherries hath different Effects on several Fruits EXPERIMENT V. Factitious Air. July 20. 76. Artificial Air from Beef HAving compress'd Air made of Cherries in a Receiver with a Piece of Beef so that it bore up a Cylinder of Mercury 27 Inches high July 21 There was no considerable Change in the Height of it July 22 There was no considerable Change in the Height of it July 23 There was no considerable Change in the Height of it July 25 There was no considerable Change in the Height of it July 26 The Receiver and Cover were separated the Flesh Stunk Common Air. July 20. 76. Beef being shut up with Common Air The Mercury was rais'd July 21 0 July 22 1 Inch. July 23 5 ½ July 25 9 ½ July 26 14 ½ towards Night 18. July 27 21 ½ towards Night 25. July 28 The Air got out Hence it appears that the Artificial Air of Cherries hindred the Generation of it from Flesh EXPERIMENT VI. Common Air. March 14. 76. Artificial Air from Onions TWO Onions being enclos'd with Common Air in a Receiver March 28. The Mercury on the Sixteenth was depress'd ¼ of an Inch but after was buoy'd up 2 ¼ And the Air geting out the length of the Roots was increas'd April 28. They were putrifi'd and corrupted May 9. The Mercury neither ascended nor subsided but the Roots were putrifi'd Factitious Air. March 17. 76. Onions bing included with Air obtain'd from Paste March 28. They took Root just as they usually do in Common Air. April 28. The Extremities of the Roots began to putrify perhaps because the Artificial Air might be moister The Mercury Ascended 9 or 10 Inches May. 18. One of them began to corrupt From whence it appears that Vegetation is not hinder'd by artificial Air and it likewise appears that the Quantity of Air is increased EXPERIMENT VII Common Air. August 25. Artificial Air from Grapes SIx Ounces of Grapes being shut up in a Receiver large enough to contain 25 Ounces of Water Aug. 26 It 's Ascent scarce discernible Aug. 27 1 Inch. Aug. 28 It 's Height was 1 ¼ Aug. 29 It 's Height was 1 ¼ Aug. 30. The Mercury subsided a little the Grapes were not equally alter'd as in Artificial Air of Pears Aug. 31. The Grapes being open to the Atmosphere Septemb. 7. Their pungent Taste was something abated tho' they retain'd their Colour Factitious Air. Aug. 25. Two Ounces of Grapes being shut up in a Receiver large enough to hold 8 ½ of Water so much Air of Pears was thrust in as was able to raise it 15 Inches Aug. 26. Some Air getting out a supply was added which rais'd the Mercury to 17 Inches high Aug. 27. The Mercury subsided to less than 16 Inches towards night it ascended again to 17 Inches Aug. 28 It rose to 19 Aug. 29 It rose to 21 Aug. 30 It rose to 22 Aug. 31 It rose to 23 ½ Sept. 1 It rose to 24 Sept. 2 It rose to 24 Sept. and 4 thay acquir'd a Yellowness Sept. 5. Air got out Sept. 7. The Grapes were insipid and of an ungrateful Taste From this Experiment we may argue for the Power of Artificial Air in changing Colours It promotes the Generation of Air and preserves Tastes EXPERIMENT VIII Factitious Air. Aug. 2.76 Artificial Air from Gilliflowers A Gilliflower being enclosed with Air of Paste in a Receiver Aug. 4. It was moist and alter'd it's Colour Aug. 9. It was in some measure alter'd Aug. 12. Their Moistness increas'd gradually without Mouldiness Aug. 31. It was not so fresh as those in Vacuo Aug. 2. Common Air. Being enclos'd with Common Air. Aug. 4. It was unalter'd Aug. 9. It was wet and almost Colourless Aug. 12. It was very Mouldy Aug. 4. Vacuum Two Gilliflowers being shut up in Vacuum Aug. 4. They seem'd moist But in a year after underwent no Alteration From whence it appears that factitious Air renders Colours more subject to change EXPERIMENT IX Common Air. July 24. Artificial Air from Apricocks and Plums A Pricocks and Plums being inclosed in a Receiver July 28. There was no Change in the Fruit but that one Plum which was cut in pieces was a little mouldy Aug. 11. The Colour Taste and Consistence of the Fruit were all very acceptable July 24. Artificial Air. The same Ingredients being shut up with so much Artificial Air of Cherries as kept a Cylinder of Mercury up to 22 Inches July 25. It subsided 3 Inches and rose to 22 again-towards Night July 26 It rose 28 July 27 It
rose 34 ½ July 28 It rose 36 July 29 It rose 40 July 30 It rose 44 Foot high Those Apricocks which were cut in pieces were moist and began to dissolve in Water July 31 The Height was 51 Aug. 1 The Height was 60 Aug. 2 It was 65 Foot high The Fruit being taken out were of a grateful Taste and as far as they were immersed in Water very soft From whence it is evident that the Air of Cherries hastens Alterations in Colour and Firmness in Apricocks EXPERIMENT X. July 30. PLums cut in pieces being shut up in Vacuo and likewise with Common Air and in another Receiver with Common Air of Gooseberries Aug. 2. In the latter they were unalter'd In common Air they grew mouldy In Vacuo they became soft Aug. 5. In the Artificial Air they became red soft and moist In Common Air black and mouldy yet firm In Vacuo they were near a Dissolution August 7. They became soft in Common Air. August 8. They became red instead of Black Artificial Air seems to promote Alteration EXPERIMENT XI Sept. 24. Peaches shut up in a Receiver FIve Peaches being clos'd in a Receiver with Artificial Air of Grapes together with Common Air. Sept. 25 The Mercury was 21 Inches high Sept. 26 It rose to 23 Sept. 27 It rose to 31 Sept. 28 It rose to 39 Sept. 29 It rose to 42 Sept. 30 It rose to 45 Oct. 1 It rose to 48 Oct. 2 It rose to 48 Oct. 3 It rose to 52 ½ Oct. 5 It rose to 52 ½ The Peaches were Wet Oct. 6 It rose to 58 Oct. 7 It rose to 58 Oct. 8 It rose to 61 Oct. 11 A little higher Oct. 19 It rose to 95 Oct. 25 It rose to 61 Very Cold. The Cold abating it Ascended Oct. 27 Oct. 30 It rose to 61 ◠◠Nov. 2 It rose to 59 Very Cold. Nov. 6 It rose to 61 A Thaw Nov. 7 A little heigher Nov. 9 At the same height Nov. 9 In a Month it gradually ascended to 8 Inches April 1. It was 96. When the Receiver was open as the Air broke out it emitted several Bubbles their Taste and Colour were good the consistence of them was as if they had been boil'd And in three hours time they were Rotten Bodies corrupt less in a Mixture of Factitious and Common Air than in the Latter it self EXPERIMENT XII August 4. Pears enclos'd in a Receiver FOur Pieces of Pear being clos'd with Common Air in a Receiver August 6. The Colour of this Fruit was equally alter'd as of others The Mercury ascended not August 7. The Mercury ascended a little the Alteration in the Pears being small August 8. They were very little Alter'd the Cylinder of Mercury was 4 Inches August 9. It was 4 ½ Aug. 10 It rose to 6 Aug. 11 It rose to 10 Aug. 13 It rose to 16 Aug. 4 It rose to 20 The Pears grew softer Aug. 15 It was 21 Aug. 16 It was 19 Aug. 17 Air got out Aug. 8 The Air being got out and the Fruit taken out it was rotten August 4. Other Pieces of the same Fruit being shut up with as much Artificial Air of Cherries as sustain'd 23 Digits of Mercury above it's usual height August 6. The Colour of them was a little alter'd August 7. They were almost all Rotten The Mercury neither subsiding nor ascending August 8. They were in some Measure alter'd August 10. They gradually became softer The Mercury being rais'd 40 Digits Aug. 11 It rose to 51 Aug. 13 It rose to 61 Aug. 14 It rose to 67 Aug. 15 It rose to 73 Aug. 16 It rose to It Descended tho' no Air made it's way out August 17. The Mercury was 67 Digits high No Air got out August 18. The Mercury subsided not The Taste of the Fruit was Acid and their substance very soft the Air contain'd in the Receiver likewise smelling very sharp August 4. 77. Pieces of the same Fruit being enclos'd in a Receiver August 6. They alter'd their Colour August 7. A piece of a Pear became soft and another in Artificial Air was putrid the Day before August 8. They were all soft and one was Mouldy August 9. Their Rottenness gradually encreas'd August 11. They were altogether Rotten and Mucid From this Experiment and the former it appears that Rottenness is equally promoted in included and open Air tho' much faster carri'd on in the Latter August 4. 77. Several Pieces of Pears being shut up in Vacuo August 6 The height of the Mercurial Cylinder was 5 Digits Aug. 7 It rose to 8 Aug. 8 It rose to 10 Aug. 9 It rose to 12 Aug. 10 It rose to 14 Aug. 11 It rose to 16 Aug. 13 It rose to 20 Aug. 14 It rose to 23 Aug. 15 It rose to 25 Aug. 17 It rose to 28 August 20. They were not in the least Chang'd till to Day when being soft the Mercury was at a stand August 26. All things Remain'd as before From which Experiments it appears how apt Artificial Air is to soften Fruit. EXPERIMENT XIII August 21. 77. Apricocks shut up in a Receiver SIX Apricocks being divided into Quarters one Piece of each was inclos'd in a Receiver August 22. They seem'd Riper August 23. One piece which touch'd the Water acquir'd Mouldiness the other beginning to putrify The Mercury ascended a little August 24. Those next the Water were not only Mouldy but all Rotten August 25. Putrifaction gradually became greater The height of the Mercury was 7 Inches Aug. 26 It rose to 15 Aug. 28 It rose to 30 Aug. 29 It rose to 30 The Fruit was almost dissolv'd Aug. 30 It rose to 33 Aug. 31 It rose to 38 Sept. 1 It rose to 38 Sept. 2 It rose to 38 Sept. 3 It rose to 38 †A little Sept. 4 It rose to 41 Sept. 5 It rose to 43 Sept. 7 It rose to 45 Sept. 8 It rose to 46 Sept. 9 It rose to 46 Sept. 22. The Mercurial Cylinder vari'd little The Fruit was almost dissolv'd Octob. 1. The Taste of the Fruit which remain'd undissolv'd was subacid and grateful The Mercury then standing about 46 Inches high August 21. 77. A Quarter of each of the same Fruit being plac'd in a Receiver which was not sufficiently guarded from the outward Air August 22. They became as flaccid as if they were wither'd August 23. Many were Rotten and Mouldy August 24. They were wholly putrifi'd August 21. A Quarter of each of the Apricocks being shut up in a Receiver and a sufficient Quantity of Artificial Air from Pears added as rais'd the Mercury 20 Inches August 22. The Mercury stood still but became Riper than those in open Air. August 23. The Alteration was not so great as in Common Air. August 24. They were unalter'd August 25. They began to yield Air but the Quantity was not discernible August 26. They underwent no considerable Change August 28. They began to be a little moist Yet the Alteration they underwent was not