CHAP. I. Considerations and Experiments concerning the Origin of Forms and Qualities.

The Divi­sion of this Chapter.THAT before I descend to a more particular Consideration of the Do­ctrin of Forms and Qualities, I may premise some General Apprehen­sions of the Doctrin, to be collated with, and to be either confirm'd, or disprov'd by what follows of Particular Forms and Qualities; I will, at the Entrance, give you a short Ac­count of our Hypothesis, compriz'd in the Eight following Particulars. We teach then (but without peremptorily asserting it)

Matter De­fined.I. That the Matter of all Natural Bodies is the same, Namely, a Substance Extended, Divi­sible and Impenetrable.

Motion the Catholick Agent of the Uni­verse.II. That since there could be no change in Matter, if all its Parts were perpetually at rest amongst themselves, to discriminate the Catho­lick Matter of the Universe, into a Variety of Natural Bodies, it must have Motion in some or all its Parts, which Motion must be variously determined.

And though it is manifest to Sense, That there is Local Motion in Matter, yet Motion is not congenite to Matter, nor coeval with it, Local Motion being not included in the Nature of Matter, which is as much Matter when at rest as in Motion: And though it be hotly dis­puted, How Matter came by that Motion, by those who acknowledge not an Author of the Universe; yet, since a Man is not the worse Naturalist, for not being an Atheist, we allow that the Origin of Motion in Matter is from GOD; and that, since it is unfit to be believ'd, that Matter in Motion left to it self, should ca­sually constitute this Beautiful and Orderly World, Guided by GOD in the Crea­tion of Things. it is not amiss to think, That the Wise Author of Things, guided the first Motions of the small Parts of Matters so, that they might convene after a Manner requisite to compose the World, and especially did contrive those Curious and Elaborate Engins, the Bodies of Living Animals, enduing most of them with a Power of propagating their Species. But to pass by such Notions, I shall proceed to what re­mains requisite to explicate the Origin of Forms [Page 3]and Qualities, as soon as I have taken Notice, That Local Motion seems to be indeed the Princi­pal amongst Second Causes, and the Grand Agent of all that happens in Nature; Bulk, Figure, Rest, Situation and Texture, being the Effects of Mo­tion, or the Conditions and Requisites, which Modifie the Operation, as in a Watch, or Key, it is Motion that makes all the other Requisites useful.

Motion, Size and Shape, three Pri­mary Affe­ctions of Matter.III. That Matter being Naturally by a va­riously determined Motion, divided into Parts, each of those Parts must needs have a peculiar Size and Shape: So that there are three Essen­tial Properties, or Primary Affections of the Parts of Matter, Magnitude, Shape, and either Rest or Motion; the two first of which may be call'd Inseparable Accidents: Inseparable, because Bodies extended and finite, cannot be devoid of a Determinate Shape; Accidents: because that whether Physical Agents may have a Power to alter the Shapes, or subdivide Bodies or not, yet mentally they may do both without destroying the Essence of that Matter.

Whether there be in Bodies Qua­lities and Accidents, distinct En­tities from them.Whether these Accidents may be call'd the Modes, or Primary Affections of Bodies, to di­stinguish them from those more compound Qua­lities (as Colours, Tastes, and Odours) or the Conjuncts of the smallest Parts of Matter, I shall not now determine; only one thing which is taught by the Modern Schools concerning Acci­dents; Namely, That there are in Natural Bo­dies Real Qualities, and other Real Accidents, which are no Modes of Matter, but Entities di­stinct from it, and which may exist separate from all Matter. To clear this Point, we must take [Page 4]Notice, That Accident is used in two several Senses; for sometimes it is opposed to the fourth Predicable (Property) and is defined, That which may be Present or Absent, without the Destruction of the Subject; as a Man may be sick or well, yet a Man: And this is call'd Accidens Praedicabile, to distinguish it from what they call Accidens Praedicamentale, which is opposed to Substance; and as Substance is commonly defined to be a thing that subsists of it self, and is the Subject of Accidents; so Accident is said to be Id cujus esse est inesse: And therefore Aristotle, who usually calls Substances [...], Entities, calls Accidents [...], Entities of Entities, these needing a Subject of Inhaesion. And we are likewise to take Notice, That, according to them, That is said to be in a Subject, which hath these three Condi­tions; That however it (1) be in another thing, (2) is not in it as a part, and (3) cannot exist sepa­rately. This premised, it will appear easily, that if they will not allow these Accidents to be Modes of Matter, but Entities really distinct from it; they make them indeed Accidents in Name, but represent them under such a Notion, as belongs only to Substances, the Nature of a Substance con­sisting in this, that it can subsist of it self. So that we may consider, when a Bowl runs along or lies still, that Motion or Rest, or Globous Fi­gure, are not any parts of the Bowl, nor real and Physical Entities distinct from it, but certain Modifications, and several Capacities in relation to the Matter of that Bowl.

CHAP. II. Further Considerations concerning Particular Qualities.

HAVING said thus much of the Qualities of Bodies in General, I now proceed to Particulars: And here I shall not spend Time in reckoning up all the Different Significations of the Word Quality; since what follows will explain, what Sense we use it in: I shall there­fore only in short intimate, That several things have been accounted Qualities, Primary Modes of Matter, and Complexi­ons of Qua­lities mis­taken for Real Qua­lities. which seem ra­to be Complexions of them; as Inanimal, Ani­mal, Health and Beauty; the last of which seems to be the Result of Symmetry and Complexion, with Agreeable and Delightful Colours. There are other States of Matter also, as Rest and Mo­tion, Size and Shape, usually call'd Qualities, which are rather to be accounted Primary Modes of Matter. But this concerning Names rather than Things, I shall (waving the usual Divisions of Qualities) treat of them according to the follow­ing Division: viz. First, I shall consider them under two Heads; to wit, Manifest and Occult Qualities; the former of which we shall divide [...] [Page 20]gredients of a Body, is evident; since Water Hermetically Sealed, being froze, instead of re­taining Fluidity and Transparency, becomes Brittle, Firm, and sometimes Opacous; which Qualities upon a Thaw it again loses. Also fixt Metal, barely by being hammer'd, becomes brit­tle; which Quality it presently loses, when heated in the Fire. And Silver, by being hammer'd, puts on Qualities, which it by no means had when cold; as a Power to melt some Bodies, and to dry others; with several others, which it only acquires, by Virtue of the invisible Agitation of its Parts, put into Motion, by hammering.

I might add several Instances of this Kind, but having mention'd them in other succeeding Cha­pters, I shall omit them here; and pass to

The Third Consideration, which hath been prov'd in the preceding Chapter; which is, That we are not to consider the Effects of Mix'd Bo­dies, as the bare Result of the Parts of Matter of such a determinate Texture; but as plac'd a­mongst other Bodies, on which they may vari­ously act, and be acted on.

But Fourthly, to remove this Objection, we must consider, That the Peripatetick, as well as Chymical Principles, are incapable of accounting for the various Phaenomena of Nature, which the Corpuscular Philosophy hath a greater Advan­tage in: For neither the different Colours of the Planets, nor the Generation and Perishing of Spots in the Sun, are to be accounted for by the Doctrin of the Peripateticks, nor Chymists; be­sides several Phaenomena relating to Magnetism, Musick, Dioptricks, Catoptricks and Staticks.

And indeed, I should think it not a little [Page 21]strange, that the various Textures, The Diffe­rence in A­gents and Patients di­versify the Actions. as well as Mo­tions of Bodies, would not more sufficiently ac­count for the Phaenomena of Nature, than the Cosideration of Quiescent Ingredients; for as all Natural Bodies, act on one another by Motion; so that Motion is variously determin'd, accord­ing to the different Textures of the Agents and Patients.

But to proceed to the Second Objection against the Corpuscularian Philosophy; which is, A Second Objection a­gainst the Corpuscu­larian Phi­losophy an­swer'd. That it is impossible, so great a variety of Qualities should arise from so few Principles, as Matter and Mo­tion. In answer to this, I shall endeavour to shew, that it is possible those Catholick Affections of Matter, should be deriv'd from Local Motion; and that those Principles being variously combin'd and joyn'd together, should afford Phaenomena, as various as any to be observ'd in Nature.

And First; If we allow what is undeniable, viz. That the Tendency of Matter, as to Motion, is different in several Parts of the Universe; it will follow, that by Local Motion so diversify'd, Matter must be divided into Parts distinct from one another; and consequently, being Finite, must necessarily have a determinate Size, as well as Shape: And since all the Universal Bulk of Matter, hath not its Parts in a constant Motion, some of them, being intangl'd together, must needs be at Rest. And hence the Primary Af­fections of Matter flow.

But there are yet other Affections of Matter, belonging to the lesser Fragments of it, in Respect of their Situation, as Posture, either Horizontal, Erect, or Inclining, in reference to our Horizon; and also a peculiar Order, in Relation to each [Page 22]other; the Union of which Parts collectively consider'd, may properly be call'd Texture, or Modification. And since most Bodies are made up of Parts something Irregular; it is impossible but that there should be Interstices, or Pores left betwixt them. And further, some Parts of Bo­dies, being very subtile and fine, and easily put into Motion by Heat, or other proper Agents; such Bodies cannot but emit good store of Efflu­viums. And when Particles of Matter are fitted and adapted, so as to adhere together, they form those similar Bodies, call'd Elements, which be­ing mix'd with one another, constitute Com­pound Bodies; which being again associated with Compounds, form Bodies, still more Complex; which Compounding and Decompounding of Bodies, The Diffe­rence be­twixt Mix­ture, and Texture. may be Properly call'd Mixture; which differs from Texture, because it implies a Hetero­geneity of Parts, which the latter does not. And Lastly, all Bodies, whether Simple or Compound, are to be consider'd, as plac'd in the World, as it is now constituted, and rul'd by The Ʋniversal Fabrick of things, as well as the Laws of Motion.

The Phoeno­mena exhi­bited by the Corpuscu­lar Princi­ples very numerous.From hence it appearing, That Matter is very Naturally diversify'd by eleven Primary Affections, to which it self being added, makes twelve; we may by Parity of Reason consider, that if such an inaccountable Number of Words, may be made of the 24. Letters; it will not be hard to think, that so many different Modes of Matter may arise from such Finite Principles, as could Reasonably be suppos'd to result from the va­rious Associations of those ten Letters.

And indeed, an inaccountable Number more: since every one of these Principles admits of an [Page 23]Incredible Variety. As first, there may be a vast Variety of Associations in respect of the Figure or Number, or Order of the Parts joyn'd; as in Fi­gure, some may be Triangles or Squares, others Pentagons, &c. There may also another Variety proceed from the Different Shapes and Sizes of the Parts of Matter united; their Figures being either Spherical, like a Bullet, Elliptical, like an Egg, or Cubical, as a Dye, &c. together with a great many others: Examples of which the In­struments of Carvers, Gravers, &c. afford; those Tools being not only of different Sizes, but also various Shapes. And there is no less Variety in the Degrees of Motion; since Motion may be in­finitely different in Swiftness or Slowness, Uni­formity or Difformity; as also, according to the different Lines in which Bodies move, as Streight, Circular, Hyperbolical, Ellyptical, &c. as also ac­cording to the differently Figur'd Parts they strike against; to which Causes of Variety, may be added the different Sizes or Shapes of the Bo­dies mov'd: as also, the several Degrees of Compound Bodies, and the different Modifica­tions of their Ingredients; and likewise of the Mediums through which they move, as well as the Degreess of Impulse. And the Effects of these may be vary'd again, according to the different Situation or Determinate Natures of the Bodies they strike against.

Musical In­struments afford in­stances of the various Effects of Motion.And, that Motion is able to produce a vast Variety of Effects, we may learn from Musical Instruments; where according to the Difference of the Air's Motion, arising from the various Vi­brations of the Strings, &c. different Sounds are produced; which, as they are more or less co­incident [Page 24]cause either Concords or Discords in Sound.

But it would be too tedious to mention all the Diversities which might happen in Quali­ties, by the various Combinations of our Ten Principles; and therefore, since from hence their Fertility may sufficiently appear, I shall proceed to

A Third Objection answered.The last Difficulty raised against the Corpus­cular Philosophy, which is, That if the Qualities of Bodies depend on the Size, Shape and Tex­tures of Bodies, all Bodies of the same Colours must have the same Textures; and if the same Textures; the same Qualities in other respects: But we see it is contrary, since the Calx of Harts­horn is insipid, and yet the Volatile Salt of Harts­horn is very strong Scented, and of as strong a Taste: To which a great many more Examples might be added were it necessary.

Considera­tions in or­der to re­move the Difficulty.But I shall rather, since it is not requisite, of­fer the following Considerations to remove the Difficulty.

First, That several Heterogeneous Parts may be lodged in the Pores of a Body, which tho' of a different Nature from the Body it self, yet they may produce some considerable Effects; as in Perfumed Gloves, the Odoriferous Parts are both different in Substance, and have diffe­rent Qualities from the Leather the Gloves are made of.

The Second Consideration is, That Parts of very different Natures may be linked together, not in an Essential Structure, but a Juxta-Posi­tion, or Peculiar kind of Composition, and yet afford the same Qualities, notwithstanding their [Page 25]Essential Differences; for invisible changes in some Parts of Matter, may be sufficient to cause new Qualities, tho' the Essential Parts of those Bodies be unaltered; and not only so, but di­versified enough to denominate them of dif­ferent Species. So a Bar of Iron, by being ham­mer'd, may feel hot, though there be no visible alteration in the Nature of the Metal by an in­tense Agitation of the Insensible Parts of it.

But to illustrate this Consideration a little further; tho' a Piece of Iron, Wood or Tin, should have sharp protuberant Parts, yet are they distinct Substances, notwithstanding they all agree in that Quality of Roughness; and if those rough Parts were worn off, and the Body endowed with a smooth Quality, yet still would they in respect of their Substance, remain unaltered: And tho' the superficies of Steel, Brass, Flint or Marble should be polished as to become Specular, their Essential Differences would still be the same. And as I took notice before, tho' Air be put into an Undulating Motion by different Instruments, yet if the Mo­tion be raised to the same degree, it causes the same Sound, and produces the same Note. So that Bodies may agree in some Extra-Es­sential Attributes, and yet be different in their Essential Modifications: To confirm the Truth of which, Heat will afford us an Eminent Ex­ample, which may be produc'd in a Body, by putting its Parts into Agitation, without de­stroying the Essential Properties of the Body so affected: So that the Essential Nature of a Body may not be concern'd in reflecting the Rays of Light, which produce those Extra-Essential [Page 26]Qualities, which are called Colours; since to produce Whiteness in a Body, it is suf­ficient, that the Surface of that Body be so mo­dified, as to reflect the Rays of Light copious­ly and undisturbed, whatever the Essential and proper Texture of that Body is.

Different- Qualities afforded by Bodies Ho­mogeneous as to Sense.And here it may be proper to take notice, that there are several Bodies Homogeneous as to Sense, which afford different Qualities; as Salt-Peter, becomes fluid and transparent, when briskly agitated in a Crucible; whereas it hath other Qualities when cool, being a hard and white brittle Substance: And the Powder of A­labaster being duly exposed to a convenient heat, acquires several Qualities not different from those of fluid Bodies. So Aqua Fortis although it be transparent and clear, yet if rais'd in the form of Fumes, it puts on a red Colour.

The Third thing I would propose to remove this difficulty is, what hath been several times hinted before, viz. That a Body is not to be considered barely as a determinate Substance, but as a part of the Universe, and placed a­mongst other Bodies. But

Fourthly, As to that part of the Objection, which questions the Corpuscular Principles, in making it appear, why a Body so qualified as to cause whiteness, should have other Quali­ties which are of no Affinity with it; what hath been already delivered, may be sufficient to re­move it, viz. That the Extra-Essential Parts may be so qualified, though the Essential Parts be not altered; which we have more reason to believe, since most sensible Qualities are only relative Attributes, and may result from an ac­cidental [Page 27]Motion, or more than ordinary Laxity or Density of Parts, or some other such like Affections.

Several Qualities exhibited by Venice TurpentineTo illustrate which, if a Third part of Ve­nice Turpentine be evaporated, we may obtain from it a Colophony of a Reddish Colour, which being beaten small, will lose its Trans­parency, and be turned into a white Opacous Powder; which with a Moderate heat will a­gain be restored to its former Transparency, Fludity and Colour; into which fluid Body, if one immerges the end of a Quill, something below the Surface, and blows Artificially, it will rise in Bubbles, curiously adorn'd with vivid and lively Colours; and if in that state you take it into your Hands, it is Viscid enough to draw into Strings; and if put into a Triangu­lar Figure, will like a Triangular Glass, yield a variety of Colours: When cold, it is very brittle, and if moderately rubbed, it is en­dowed with an Electrical Virtue of attracting Straws: The same Phaenomena will appear up­on managing purified Rosin after the same man­ner.

Another Experi­ment of the like Nature tried upon Putrified Urine.To this I shall subjoyn another instance, to shew, that a Homogeneous Body, may, by shape or other Mechanical Affections, have different Qualities in respect of our Senses, and the At­tributes assigned to it upon that Score: The instance is in Putrified Urine Distill'd, the Spi­rit of which, when it hath by frequent Distilla­tions been dephlegmed, hath a pungent Taste, and swims in a Phlegmatick Vehicle, being also of a very offensive Smell; whose Salts when freed from the Water, are of a white Colour, and are [Page 28]sharp and caustick if applied to an Excoriated Part; besides which Qualities, they likewise make the Eyes water, and cause Sneezing. And in respect of Physick, their Qualities are no less noted, being Diuretick, Diaphoretick, and Specifick in Hysterick Fits; when mixed with Fi­lings of Brass, they turn them into a green Co­lour; yet if mixed with Blew Juices of Plants, they change that Colour for a Green one. They dissolve Copper, yet destroy the Corrosive Vir­tue of other Acid Menstruums; and precipitate the Copper when dissolved by them: Yet if com­mon Salt be associated with it, this Salt ceases to produce most of the forementioned Effects, and forms a Body very like Sal Armoniack: which change may probably depend on the Motion and Shape of its Parts destroyed, since by Eva­porating most of the Liquor, I have found the Salt not only much less Fugitive and Volatile than that of Urine, but the Crystals of a different Figure, being like Combs and Feathers. And

These Considerations, together with the Ex­tra-Essential Changes of Bodies, may let us see, that Substances may work variously upon dif­ferent Senses as well as other Bodies; and those Effects too, may depend on Extra-Essential Changes, which may be wrought in Motion, Shape and Texture, &c. the Essential Mo­difications of Bodies nevertheless agreeing. So that from what hath been said, the Objection, I hope, will seem less considerable, and not so perplexing as some imagine.

And these Three Difficulties I have the ra­ther considered, because they may not only ex­plain, but confirm and illustrate what is de­liver'd [Page 29]in the Chapter before, concerning Forms and Qualities; and may also clear and render more Intelligible, some things hereafter to be related.

CHAP. III. Of the Origin of Forms.

THE Origin of Forms, Pyrophylies, is one of the most Noble, yet most Obstruse En­quiries in Natural Philosophy; so that the Wi­sest of the Peripateticks, have either confessed their Inability, or given Explanations of them very insatisfactory. But not to examine all their Various Opinions on this Point, I shall only here briefly consider the Opinion of the Mo­dern Aristotelians, having already in our Hy­pothesis laid down in the foregoing Chapter, our Thoughts on this Subject.

The Doctrin of the A­ristotelians considered.The Controversie betwixt us and the Schools is this, Whether the Forms of Natural Bodies be eduted out of the Power of the Matter, and whe­ther they be substantial Entities distinct from Mat­ter? That they are not, appears from what is contained in the foregoing Chapters; and there­fore what I shall here insist on is, that the Doctrin of the Peripateticks is to me Incomprehensible; for tho' the Schoolmen make use of an Obscure Distinction, viz. That in producing Forms, the Power of Matter is partly Eductive, and partly Receptive; yet since they deny Forms, to exist in Matter; it is hard to conceive how they [Page 30]should be educed, before existent: And since the Receptive Power, only enables Matter to receive a Form, how can it help to produce it, when the Form must be produced before the Receptive Power can lodge it?

It is manifest, that the Body hath a Recep­tive Power in Relation to the Soul, Forms not educed out of the power of Matter disproved. which ne­vertheless they allow to have a Substantial Form, yet not educed out of the Power of Matter. It's true, were the Form of a Body a more subtile Portion of Matter, as Spirit is of Wine, the Eductive Power might be considerable; and sig­nifie the same, as if it were granted, that the Form is but a Modification of Matter; which would amount to this, viz. That by proper A­gents, Matter may be so disposed, as to pro­duce a Body of this or that denomination: As the Form of a Sphaere may be conce [...] [...]o exist potentially in a Piece of Brass; because that Me­tal is capable of being put into such a Form: But this they disallow, because, if it were granted, Forms would be but Accidents. And as for the other way of educing Forms out of Matter, as Spirit out of Wine, that cannot be granted by them; because, then Matter and Form would be the same Substantial Principle diversified by Accidents.

But they tell us strange things of the Efficacy of the Agent, which works upon the Matter out of which Forms are to be educed: To which it may be briefly answered, That the Agent can only act as a Physical Agent; and if the Form produced by it's Operation, be a Substance not preexistent in that Matter it works upon, and which constitutes the Body, the Form must ei­ther [Page 31]be made of some Parts of that Matter, or created de novo; if they allow the former, then the Form is not a Substance distinct from Mat­ter; but if they will not allow it to be made of Matter, it must be de novo, i. e. out of nothing; which being granted, Natural Bodies must be produced by Creation and Generation, and not by the latter only; and it's strange if they allow that a Physical Agent can effect that, which Antient Philosophers thought too great to be ascribed to God himself.

The Aristo­totelian Do­ctrin of Forms con­trary to Reason.And as for these Reasons, what they say of the Origin of Forms, is to me Incomprehensible; so, that what they deliver concerning Substan­tial Forms is irreconcilable to Reason: For though they allow these Forms to be Substances, yet they teach, that they depend upon Matter, both in fieri and in esse: i. e. they cannot exist out of the Matter which supports them; which is to give them the Name of Substances, but the Nature of Accidents. Nay, these imaginary Forms as much invalidate the Doctrin of Cor­ruption, as that of Generation; for if a Form be a Substance distinct from Matter, it must exist of it self, as the Soul of Man does, when the Body is dissolved: But they assert, that in Cor­ruption the Form ceaseth to exist; by which means they make it an Accident, and likewise contradict what they commonly hold, viz. That upon Corruption Bodies are resolved into their first Principles; since if what they assert of Forms be true, Bodies are but partly dissolved into their first Matter, and partly annihilated or restored to the common Stock of Forms; which, notwithstanding any thing to the con­trary, must be immortal.

Arguments alledged by the Schools in defence of their Do­ctrin an­swered.But to examine some of the most Plausible Ar­guments brought by the Schools to evince their Doctrin of Forms: First, they argue thus, Om­ne compositum substantiale requirit materiam & for­mam substantialem ex quibus componatur: Omne Corpus Naturale est compositum Substantiale, Er­go, &c. In which, Syllogism for Brevity sake I shall deny the Minor, because nothing in Na­ture is composed of Matter and a distinct Sub­stance, but Man.

The Second Argument they bring, is, that if Substantial Forms were deny'd, all Bodies must be Entia per Accidens; to which it may be an­swered, that there is no such Necessity, since Matter, Figure, Texture and Motion, ordinantur per se & intrinsice, to make up natural Bo­dies.

Another Argument which they alledge is, That if there were no Substantial Forms, there could be no Substantial Definitions; which comes to no more, than that if we don't grant some things which are not in Nature, we shall want a Foundation for our Definitions: And indeed if we must define Natural Bodies by Imaginary Forms, which we know not, it is better to exchange Substantial for Essential Definitions, grounded on the Essential Differences of Natural Bodies themselves.

Their Phy­sical Argu­ments con­sidered.These Arguments for Substantial Forms being examined, I shall briefly consider the Physical Arguments usually alledged for the proof of them.

The first is, the Spontaneous cooling of hot Water; an Action usually attributed to the Power of the Substantial Form; which might [Page 33]be plausible, were it not otherwise to be explain­ed; for Bodies esteem'd cold, having their Parts in a less Agitation than the Natural Juices about the Sensory, cause that Sensation; but when the Parts of that Water, by the heat of the Fire, are put into a Violent Motion, stronger than that of the Parts of Matter about our Sensory, it becomes hot; which hot Water be­ing removed from the Fire, and the Agitation of its Parts being diminished, it returns to its just Temperature: To effect which, a Substan­tial Form is no more requisite, than when a Ship is put into a violent Motion in a Storm, there is required a Substantial Form to stop its Motion upon the ceasing of that Storm. And in opposition to Substantial Forms, it may be likewise considered, that Water in upper Rooms in hot Climates, will be kept warm, and in Nova Zembla, in the Form of Ice, meerly by the Temper of the Air, in spite of the Sub­stantial Form.

Another Argument urged is, that Matter be­ing indifferent to all Accidents, it wants a sub­stantial Form to link the Accidents requisite to every Particular Body together. To which it is answered, that the World being now made and constituted, the Phaenomena of Nature de­pend on one part of Matter acting on another; so that especially fluid Bodies frequently change their States, being altered by the several Sea­sons of the Year, and Temperature of the Air, which is evident from the different Effects it hath on Weather-Glasses. So that the Accidents observable in most Bodies, depend on Agents and Efficient Causes, which produce in Matter [Page 34]what in the Precedent Chapter we call an Essen­tial Form: And there is no need of a Substan­tial Form to keep those Accidents together, since they will continue in the same state, till some other Agent works on them, which is strong enough to destroy and change the Tex­ture and Form of that Matter; which Agent, the assistance of a Substantial Form being not able to resist, the Body in spite of the Peripa­tetick Doctrin must be chang'd; an instance of which we have in Lead, which (tho' when melted, it returns to it's pristine state upon cooling) if it be long continued upon a Violent Fire, will be turned into a reddish brittle Glass, and lose all its former Qualities; and retains those new acquired ones, till some powerful Ex­trinsick Agent, cause a fresh Change. On the contrary, Oranges, Tamarinds, Senna, and se­veral other Bodies, retain the same Qualities, when gathered and removed from the Soul of the Tree, and without the influence of its Form, which they had before whilst growing: And the colour of Snow soon perisheth, notwith­standing its Substantial Form, its Texture being altered by a Dissolution.

The Parts of a Body may adhere without the help of a Substantial Form.But there is still another Argument general­ly alledged in favour of Substantial Forms; which is, that without them, the various changes observable in Bodies, and the adhering of se­veral Parts of Matter united into one Totum, would be unaccountable. As to the first Part of this Argument, it is easily answered, since Local Motion variously determined, is able to effect considerable and various Changes in Bo­dies; an Instance of which (besides what hath [Page 35]been said in the first, and the preceding part of this Chapter) we have in Tallow, which by the Mechanical Effects of Fire, exchanges Heat for Coldness, Fludity for Firmness, and instead of Whiteness, puts on Transparency. And be­sides the Changes which are caused by the Ac­tion of one single Quality in an Agent, as Heat; the Operations of Bodies, proceeding from the Texture of the whole, are various, as appears by Factitious Vitriol, which is made of Iron and a Corrosive Menstruum, yet hath all the Quali­ties of Natural Vitriol.

And as to the Second Part of the Argument, viz. That the Parts of a Body could not be u­nited into one without a Sustantial Form; I answer, That a Connexion of Parts convenient­ly figured is sufficient; as when a Pear is grafted on a White-thorn, or a Plum is inoculated on an Apricock; there is a Union of Two different Forms meerly by a Connexion of the Parts of Matter, and the Parts grafted or inoculated, receive Nourishment as naturally, as if they were supposed to be joined by a Substantial Form, to a Stock of the same Form and Tex­ture with themselves. Another Instance of U­nion by a Connexion of certain figured Parts, we have in Glass, where the Particles of Sand are linked together with the Saline ones, by the help of Colliquation, and the violent Action of the Fire.

But to conclude; I am not ignorant that it is alledged in favour of Substantial Forms, that they render Natural Philosophy much more per­fect, and that it would be very imperfect with­out them; which comes to no more, than that [Page 36]if we must not explain things difficult by things unknown, we must be imperfect; where I think the Imperfection is not at all remedied; for should it be ask'd why Jet attracts Straws, or why Rhabarb is a Cholagogue, and the An­swer should be, by reason of their Substantial Forms; it would be all one as to say, by I know not what, because those Forms are unknown.

Being therefore in things purely appertaining to Natural Philosophy, unwilling to believe what is not intelligible, I shall leave the Doctrin of Substantial Forms, to those that have clearer Heads than my self, and shall rather proceed upon Intelligible Principles.

The Form of a Body is its Essential Modifica­tion.I shall therefore briefly intimate what hath been delivered before concerning our Notion of Forms, viz. That the Form of a Body is its Essential Modification; and tho' Matter at the first Beginning of things, had both Form and Motion from the wise Creator of things; yet now the various Forms of Bodies depend on the Effects of Local Motion, which divides, and variously transposes, and so alters both the Textures and Forms of Natural Bodies, tho' I say, at the Creation, the Parts of Matter were guided by a Supream Power, so as to con­vene into an orderly and well contrived Fa­brick.

CHAP. IV. Considerations concerning Subordinate Forms. as they are usually held by several Learned Modern Philosophers.

IT is usually held by several Modern Philoso­phers, That besides the Specifick Form of a Body, The Notions of Modern Philoso­phers, con­cerning Sub­ordinate Forms, there are several Subordinate Forms in Determinate Parts of it, subservient to that which is the Common Form of the whole Sub­stance; and which, upon the Dissolution of a Body, become Specifick Forms themselves; the Specifick Form which presided over them before, being destroy'd: As when in a Living Animal, the Soul, which is the Specifick Form of that A­nimal Body is separated from it, the Forms which were before lodg'd in every Part, as sub­ordinate to that, become the Specifick Forms of each Part: But tho' Sennertus ingeniously al­ledges the Specifick Virtues of Plants in favour of this Doctrin, yet we have reason to repute them invalid Arguments; since we see, That several Flowers retain their Natural Colours and Smells, and for ought we can perceive, the same Virtues with which they were endu'd when growing, af­ter they were gather'd.

Considered, and exami­ned.But since this Doctrin hath been made use of, to corroborate their Notions of Substantial Forms; I shall make it appear, that what they atrtibute to Subordinate Forms, may be explain'd by the Corpuscular Philosophy. In order to which, I shall consider and observe,

First, That the Technical Word Form is usually made use of, to signify some conspicuous Phaeno­mena of a Body, upon the Abolition of which it is said to change, or deposit its Form.

Secondly, That those Parts, or Substances usu­ally held to be the subject of Inhesion to a Subor­dinate Form, are Organical; and tho' some appear as to Sense Similar; yet are they compos'd of Parts very different: As Vitriol, which tho' to Sense it appears to be a Similar Substance, yet it is by Art discover'd to consist of Saline Parts, united with a Metalline Substance: And Rhubarb, which in­stead of that Specifick Form it had whilst grow­ing, according to their Doctrin, exerts its Sub­ordinate or Substantial Form, when laid up for use, retains Virtues, which are different from each other; as a Styptick Virtue, when the Pur­gative is extracted: So that there is no Reason but that it should have Subordinate Forms, agree­able to each of these Qualities, distinct from those which are call'd Forma Mistionis, by the Schools: But further, we may observe in an Almond, which tho' when gather'd, it loses its Vegetative Form; and that which was before Subordinate becomes the Specifick Form of it: yet there is no Reason why we should deny Forms Subordinate to that, since by a bare Pressure, it discovers it self to consist of an Oyl and an Insipid Substance, both of which have Forms distinct from that of the entire Fruit: To these, Observati­ons to prove Subordi­nate Forms. I shall add two Instances more; the first of which is in Sulphur Vive, which by being kindled under a Bell, yields oyly Parts which are spent in a Flame, and Saline Corpuscle, which, being condens'd by the Moisture of the Air, ad­here to the sides of the Glass, and constitute a [Page 39] Menstruum violently corrosive, which will afford a dry brittle Salt. The Second Instance is in Cinnabaris Fossilis, which is a Substance com­pounded of three Forms, very distinct from each other; as that of Mercury, and Sulphur, which is also a Compounded Substance: From all which it appears, that there are in most Concretes, be­sides the Substantial Forms of the whole, Forms Subordinate to those, belonging properly to the Parts of those Compound Bodies. But,

A Com­pound Form what.Thirdly, That all the Ingredients of a Com­pound by Uniting, make one Form, upon the Union of which all the Effects of that Body de­pend, is evident in Gun-powder, the Action of that Compound depending on the Concurring and united Effects of Charcoal, Nitre, and Sul­phur: So that

Fourthly, Tho' a Compound acts by Virtue of its Composition, and ad modium unius; yet each of its Ingredients retain their particular Attri­butes, as well as their Modifications, which distinguish'd them from other Bodies before that Composition was made: and this is evident from what some of the Aristotelians write concerning the Life of an Embryo; viz. That an Embryo hath a Vegetative and Sensitive Life, before that of a Man; where the Vegetative and Sensitive Souls, pre-existent to the Rational, are not destroy'd, but only depos'd by the Succession of a Super­added Soul; which become the Specifick Form; from whence it Naturally follows, that there are Forms which in respect of others are only Prepara­tory, and dispose the Matter modify'd by them, to receive a more exquisite Stamp, or a more per­fect Form; which, if it be not added, those ruder [Page 40]Forms, are nevertheless Specifick in respect of those Bodies they are the Forms of.

But tho' I make use of these Arguments, I would not be thought to adopt altogether what these Men teach, In what Sense the Soul may be said to be the Speci­fick Form. having elsewhere explain'd, in what Sense, according to their Doctrin, the Souls of Living Bodies may be said to be their Forms, by observing the Difference betwixt Animating and Natural Forms, as to the Manner of their In­forming the Bodies they belong to. As the Soul is not the sole Architect of the Body, nor do the Properties of the Body flow from it, tho' in other Bodies the Compound Form, as well as Qua­lities, depend on the Forms of the Ingredients of that Body united. In what the Speci­fick Forms of an Ani­mate Body differ from those of an Inanimate. And indeed the Properties of a Body are so far from flowing from the Specifick Form, where the Soul alone is esteem'd so; that in Brutes, as well as Plants, several Qualities re­main undestroy'd, after the Form is destroy'd; as Shape, Colour, and Vertues, &c.

And tho' it be held by some, That there's a Forma Cadaveris, that keeps the Parts of a dead Body united, and preserves their Qualities en­tire; yet, since it is only held as necessary, to sup­port the Peripatetick Doctrin, we shall not dispute it; but shall only say, That the Fabrick and Con­nexion of the parts of a Body, are sufficient to preserve the Pristine Qualities of it from Disso­lution, till the Internal Agitation of the Juices breaks that Texture: which is apparent by what hath been observ'd in very cold Countries, as Russia and Sweden; where the dead Bodies are for several Months kept unburied, and uncorrupted: and in Aromatick Plants, there is an undeniable Argument, since after the Vegetative Soul is [Page 41]de­stroy'd, they continue uncorrupted for several Years.

The Forms of the In­gredients of a Com­pound truly esteem'd Forms.But to determine whether the Soul be the sole true Form of an Animate Body, is not our Design at present; and therefore I shall only bring an In­stance or two to shew, That the Forms of the Sim­ple Ingredients of Compound Bodies are as truly Forms, as those of a Complex Body. The first is, That the Spring of a Watch is as truly a Spring before it is made a Part of that Watch, as after; and as truly hath its Form: And tho' Copper by Corrosive Spirits be turn'd into a Vitriol, and consequently the Form of Copper, in respect of that Vitriol, becomes a Subordinate Form; yet it is as truly one as that of any other Body.

[...], hard to be determin'd amongst Natural Bo­dies.And tho' Aristotle attributes to Forms [...], yet it is a Matter of Difficulty to know what Form is most Noble; since Pearls, which are of the greatest Value, being prepar'd in the Form of a Magistery, are of little Value to them that only wear them; tho' by a Sick Man the latter is more to be priz'd.

Fifthly, But tho' it be so difficult to distinguish Valuable Forms, from those of less Esteem; yet there may be allow'd some Distinction amongst Subordinate Forms, in as much as some belong to Similar, and others to Organical Parts.

Sixthly, amongst the Parts of Plants, or Ani­mals, there may be some Parts so modify'd, as to put on the Form of Seminal Principles, which upon the Dissolution of that Body, may act as such, in actuating and guiding some Parts of Mat­ter so, as to convene into Insects, &c.

Seventhly, Upon the Dissolution of the Spe­cifick Form of a Body, the Body is to be consider'd [Page 40] [...] [Page 41] [...] [Page 42]as beset with other Substances, which may act upon it; as the Sun, Air, or some other A­gent; by means of which the Seminal Principles may be put into Action, or new Forms may re­sult, from new Contextures of that Matter.

Sennertus his Opinion agreeable to the Corpu­scular Phi­losophy.These Observations being premis'd, I shall en­deavour to shew, That what the Learned Sen­nertus delivers, is agreeable to the Corpuscula­rian Philosophy.

I agree then with the Learned Sennertus, That the Faculties of Plants and Animals, depend not on the Materia Prima, and Vegetative or Sen­sitive Soul; nor on the Form of Mix'd Bodies, consider'd barely as such; but that there is some­thing else requisite to produce that Variety of Effects, observable in Specifick Medicines.

But tho' I allow these things, yet I disallow their Way of Explaining them, as well as a great deal more which they assert; as, That Subordi­nate Forms act under the Superintendency of Specifick Forms; Subordi­nate Forms act not un­der the Su­perinten­dency of the Specifick Forms. forasmuch as we may as ea­sily attribute the Effects of a Compound Body, to the mix'd Action of the Compounded Ingre­dients, as to the Subservient Actions of Subor­dinate Forms, which united will have an Action in common, and proper to their Complex Mo­dification; it being different from what each of those Ingredients would produce separately. As in a Ballance, the Scale, which by its Specifick Gravity ought to tend downwards, is rais'd up­wards, by the Addition of a Weight in the other Scale. So an Arrow, by the Spring of a Bow, is forc'd to flie in a Line, different from what its Specifick Gravity would incline it to, and with greater Violence. And as a Clock, whose Parts [Page 43]concur to the forming of an Engine, proper to produce such Effects, as usually are produc'd in that Machine, does not act by Virtue of a Su­perintendent Specifick Form; but the Parts are set on Motion, and move Mechanically by the help of Weights; so, several Subordinate In­gredients, may have a Joynt Effect, each of those Bodies cooperating, and modifying each other's Actions. Likewise Gun-powder, acts not by Virtue of a Specifick Form, superintending Sub­ordinate ones, but Mechanically, by Virtue of the Joynt Effects of its Ingredients; which is evi­dent, since the Effects of the Composition are so different from what the separate Ingredients would produce; and as from hence it appears, that the Efficacy of it depends on its Mechanick Texture; so, to make it appear, that the Ingre­dients were but slightly mix'd, I boyl'd the Pow­der of it in Water, and, evaporating the filtred Liquor, obtain'd Cristals of Salt-Petre, the black stuff remaining in the Filtre, being insipid, and in­flamable like Sulphur: And this black Matter being boyl'd in a strong Lixivium, so as to dissolve the Sulphur, the Sulphureous Liquor will run through a Filtre, leaving the Charcoal behind; into which Liquour if an Acid Spirit be dropp'd, the Sul­phur precipitates in the Form of a white Powder.

But to illustrate our Doctrin of Forms and Qua­lities a little further, I shall add, That a blue and yellow Powder being mix'd in a just Proportion, produc'd a green Colour: which did not hap­pen, because those two Ingredients were subser­vient to a Predominant Form; but because they both being joyn'd made a Compound Impression [Page 42] [...] [Page 43] [...] [Page 44]upon the Eye. And likewise in making Subli­mate or Vitriol; all that is requisite to enable them to produce Effects proper to such Bodies, is, that the Parts should be in a proper manner contex'd and modify'd together; and then, they are not only capable of performing what is usually ascrib'd to them, upon the Account of their more specifick properties; but some, which are not different (as Vomiting, and Purging, &c.) from those Effects, which are said to be produc'd upon Vegetables, upon the account of a Super­intendent Form.

So that tho' the Operations of Compounded Substances depend on the United Texture of Sub­ordinate Forms, Neither are the Actions of Com­pounds wholly to be attributed to their Union. yet, as I have before taken No­tice the Actions of those Bodies, are not wholly to be attributed to their Union; since upon the Dissolution of that Contexture, each Body hath its determinate Form and Virtue; as when the Ingredients of Gun-powder are again separate; or as when a Rose loses its Specifick Form, by being taken from the Tree: But,

To conclude this Discourse, we shall again take Notice of what we have before hinted at in the beginning, viz. The unfixt use of the Word Form, and that a Body is said to be of this or that Form, upon the Account of a very few Qualities: If then the Form be nothing but a Congeries of Accidents, it may, by proper Agents, lose that Form, the Subordinate ones still remaining un­dissolv'd; The Modi­fications of Bodies two­fold. till a more powerful Agent destroys them too: (so that a Body may have a twofold Modificatiod:) As for Instance, The Spring of a Watch, may, by being put into the Fire, lose that Elastick Virtue; yet nevertheless the Sub­stance [Page 45]is Iron, and retains Qualities proper to such a Substance. Again, another Instance we have in a Rose, which when it hath lost its Faculty of receiving a Nutritious Sap from the Tree, yet it retains other Qualities, which depend on the Texture and Modification of its solid Parts, the former being only Qualities, in respect of the Spe­cifick Form; but the latter, the Result of its Con­texture.

To illustrate this Notion a little further, I shall make use of the following Comparison, viz. That as a Mill, which is an Organical Machine, per­forms what belongs to it as such, as long as it is supply'd with Water; so a Plant is enabl'd to ef­fect several things, whilst actuated by a Vital Spirit: And further, as a Mill upon the Con­sumption or Congelation of that Water, still re­tains the same Parts it had before, so do the Parts of a Plant, tho' the Soul ceases its communicative Virtue. And to continue the Parallel further, as the Constituent Parts of a Mill are not de­stroy'd, tho' the Faculty of Operating as such be lost; so neither is the Water, but only by reason of Congelation, or Evaporating in the Form of Exhalations, ceases to coexist in a Form fit to turn the Mill: So tho' a Plant or Flower be lopt off, and retains the same Texture of its solid Parts, yet when it ceases to be water'd with a continual supply of Sap, the Sap is only dispers'd in the Air, or intercepted, and spent in some other Part of the Tree: From whence it appears, that nothing at all perishes, but only the Manner of Union, and the Particular Modification of those Parts of Matter cease; so that those solid Parts are no longer fitly adapted to be nourish'd by [Page 46]those Fluids. Which Instance may serve to il­lustrate our Doctrin, tho' there be considerable Difference betwixt the things compar'd, inas­much as a Plant hath not always that Aptitude to be again actuated as the Mill hath.

But there are some Instances, which may ren­der the Difference less considerable, if we consi­der that the Rose of Jericho, which tho' for seve­ral. Years gather'd, and wither'd, is so far re­fresh'd by Water, as to seem but lately gather'd: And I have observ'd, that tho' a Plant of Aloes had several Years hung near the Ceiling of my Chamber, yet it was by the use of a convenient Liquor, so far renew'd, as to perform several things, which are usually the Effects of Life and Growth. And the like is confirm'd by what may be experimented in Wasps, which, tho' drown'd in Water, will yet recover Life by the Heat of the Sun.

The Quali­ties of a Body whose Specifick Form is de­stroy'd, de­pend not on the United Action of the whole IngredientsBut to wave needless Illustrations, I shall pro­ceed to observe, That tho' a Body hath laid down its Specifick Form; yet the Qualities remaining, are not always the Result of the united Subor­dinate Forms; but depend sometimes on the de­terminate Forms of Particular Parts of that Body, tho' the Union be such as to preserve the Structure, as to Sense, unalter'd; as appears when an Extract is drawn out of Rhubarb, or the Juice of Oak-Bark is extracted by Water, the Remain­ing Substances, tho' as to outward appearance the same, New Qua­lities may be added upon a Dis­solution of a Speficick Form. retain not their Specifick Virtues. Besides, upon the Abolition of Specifick Forms, several new Qualities may be added to a Body, which it had not before, by the Influence of ex­ternal Agents: As when Musk results from the [Page 47]Action of some External Body upon Flesh: For not only the Seminal Rudiments, latent in Bodies that have undergone a Change, exert them­selves; but several outward Agents, to which those Bodies are expos'd, do, by agitating and altering the Textures of that Matter, promote such a Favourble concourse of Circumstances, that Noble and very Exquisite Forms, may result from their Union and Contexture. As a Lime-Stone, being Physically chang'd by the Influence of Congruous Particles, when expos'd to the Air, will yield Salt-Petre, genuine and inflam­mable. And I have often observ'd an Efflore­scence upon certain Marcasites, agreeable in both Colour and Taste, as well as other Operations, with Vitriol, which could be nothing but the Ef­fect of outward Agents, changing the Texture of those Parts, which lay open to the Air for some time.

The Modi­difications of a Body may be two­fold, first in respect of ths Speci­fick Form, secondly in respect of its own Parts.But to wave there things, I shall illustrate a little further, what I just before hinted concern­ing a twofold Modification of Matter, viz. the Relation it hath to a Specifick Form, and that which is the meer Result of Texture amongst its own Parts: what I shall offer, is, That some things are attributed to the Soul or Specifick Form, which may be effected by the meer Subor­dinate Association of Parts, promoted by a mu­tual Concourse of Natural Agents; as the Ex­crements may be voided when a Man's dead, or Fruit may be ripen'd after it is gather'd, without the assistance of the Expulsive Faculty of the Soul in the former, or the Perfective in the latter. Agreeable to this, the Inquisitive Oviedo relates a Story to the Emperor Charles the Fifth, of a [Page 48]Fruit in the West-Indies, call'd Anana's, which are gather'd as soon as One is ripe, the rest being kept in Chambers to acquire Maturity after­wards. And the Learned Josephus Acosta relates the following Account of the Fruit of a Plane-Tree to the same, viz. That they usually gather it when green, which being laid up in a Vessel mix'd with a certain Herb, gradually ripens. But the Diligent Piso tells a Story, more to our Purpose, of those Brasilian Plants, call'd Pa­coeira, and Bananiera; for concerning the Fruit he says, Continentur plerumque in Ʋno Ramo, qua­tuordecem aut sedecem numero, ut it a una Planta, proferat septuaginta aut octuaginta, qui subinde Vi­rides avulsi, nunc in Aedibus, nunc in Navibus su­spenduntur, donec justam maturitatem & flavedinem consequantur: And he also says of the Boughs, when lop'd off, Ramus autem ille fructibus onustus, interea dum illi maturescunt, augetur, floresque sem­per protrudit, ex corpore illo foli [...]ceo, &c. And it is not less remarkable, that Onions, and such like Fruit, as well as Potatoes, will shoot of their own accord, tho' suspended in the Air.

But not here to take Notice how far these things may result from the Exertion of Latent and Seminal Principles, I shall rather observe, That several things usually ascrib'd to the Soul, may result even from the Texture of the Body, concurring with external Causes; as the Hair, or Nails will grow considerably for a long time, after the Body is dead.

A Cessa­tion of Vi­tal Functi­ons upon Death, no Arguments of the Soul's Superinten­dency whilst living.And tho' by the Espousers of Sennertus his Opinion, the Cessation of the Vital and Animal Functions upon Death, are look'd upon as strong Arguments, That the Soul is the Agent, which [Page 49]effects whatever is acted in the Body; yet I con­ceive it depends on somethings very precarious; since notwithstanding what is manifest to us, the Cessation of those Faculties may depend on the in­ternal Organization, which may in some measure be destroy'd; Since the Body consists of Parts, not only solid, but soft; as the Brain, and also liquid, as the Humours; a right and convenient Coap­tation of which is required to preserve Life, considerable Changes in the Humours, being e­nough to obstruct Circulation, on which Life so much depends. Thus in Palsies, tho' there be no visible Change; yet by an Indisposition, either in the Humours or Vessels, the Parts become void of Sense as well as Motion: And even Sleep it self, so alters the Disposition of our Bodies, that Odours and Sounds are not perceiv'd by a sleep­ing Man, tho' nothing externally obstructs the Operation of the Soul, which lodges in the Bo­dy; and what considerable Alterations in the Humours may be effected, without our Percep­tion, may be urg'd, from the Effects which Thun­der hath upon Wine, in turning it into a Vi­negar, sower and uninflamable.

The former Doctrin of Subordi­nate Forms, apply'd to Inanimate Bodies.But to render what I have said of Subordinate Forms, more intelligible, I shall lay it down in certain Propositions, without making long and tedious Excursions, applying it chiefly to Inani­mate Bodies: And first I shall consider,

1. That the signification of the Technical Word Form, is indeterminate; since it is not agreed what is enough to determine, what Forms Bo­dies are of; it being not only disputed, whether Water, by being froze, loses its Form or not; But further, several Bodies have no particular [Page 50]Forms assign'd to them; as Ink, Gun-powder, Beer, Coal, &c. Nay, some Bodies consider'd in different Respects, may seem to have more Forms than One, as in Vitrum Saturni, which is made of Lead, it may be doubted, whether it hath the Form of a Metal or Glass; since it hath a great many of the Qualities of Both, as Fusi­bility, Transparency, and Brittleness; and will, contrary to common Glass, dissolve in Aqua For­tis, yield a sweet Solution, and may be reduc'd into a Malleable Lead by Fire; so likewise Amel, whose Ingredients are calcin'd Tin, together with Salt and Sand, and some burnt Copper, will again yield most of the same distinct Ingredients; yet the Compound had not all the Properties be­longing to these Bodies. But,

The Noble­ness of Forms, hard to be distin­guish'd.II. It is a Matter of Difficulty to determine the Nobleness of Forms.

This is not only evident from Examples be­fore given, but several others; as Glass of An­timony, is more apt for some uses than Crude An­timony, and vice versa. Again, it hath been for­merly a Dispute, and may be a Doubt still, Whe­ther the Powder resulting from Gold and Silver precipitated, be a Nobler Metal than Gold; of which were a Spagerical Physician, and a Gold­smith to judge, the Former would value the Powder, as much as the Latter would the Gold. Again, tho' Silver Soder be the Result of Silver, alloy'd with Copper or Brass, and of very great use; yet it may be question'd, whether it is not by that means render'd less valuable. And tho' a Plant be petrify'd, and for that reason valu'd as a Rarity; yet is that New Form in it self less Noble than the former.

The most Noted Qua­lities of a Body, deno­minate its Form.III. Tho' several Alterations are made in Bo­dies, by a Recess or Access of Qualities, yet they retain the same Denomination, and are said to have the same Form, by reason of some Eminent Quality or Use; which is proper to them.

For which reason Vitrum Antimonii is call'd so, because it hath the Fusible and Transparent Qualities of Glass; tho' it, in other Respects, besides its Vomitive and Purgative Properties, hath Qualities different from Glass. So all Un­ctuous Bodies, as Oyl of Almonds, Olives, &c. are call'd Oyls, because Fluid, and not apt to be mix'd with Water; yet there is a great deal of Difference betwixt them, and Empyreu­matical Oyl of Guajacum or Box: So likewise several Substances of very different Effects, are reckon'd amongst Salts; because they readily dissolve in Water, and are very sapid; so that the Word Form, seems to be apply'd to Bodies on the account of some Metaphysical Conceptions, and in respect of some General Use; rather than Physical Forms, by which Substances of the same Form, are said to be of the same Specifick Nature and Virtue. From whence it may be thought that several Substances are generally Class'd to­gether, as they are alike States of Matter, rather than agreeable Forms: As Water and Wine may be turn'd into Ice, or Tallow and Mineral Con­cretes, may become of the number of Substances which constitue Flame.

The Acti­on of seve­ral Com­pounds de­pends on the Union of their Parts.IV. That by Compound Bodies, several Effects will be produc'd, upon the account of the Union and Joynt-Action of their In­gredients.

These Operations, by the Schools, are said to be done Actione Communi; as when a Man dis­putes vivâ voce, the Rational Soul concurs with the Vocal Organs, to the Forming of Syllo­gisms: Or, to use a plainer Instance, as a Bullet acts on a Plane, by Virtue of its whole Specifick Gravity, tho' it touches the Plane but in a Point; the other parts acting on it by the Intervention of that: Or as in a Pair of Scales, the whole Sub­stance of a Man, and all that he hath about him, presses upon the Scale, tho' he touches it but with his Feet. But to use an Instance of the Con­current, or Actio Communis, of an Organical Body; the Effects of a Compound Body, are like that of a Watch, where if any Part be wanting, the Complex Action so much depends on the Common, and Joynt-Action of the whole, that the Action of the whole is destroy'd.

Inanimate Bodies have Subordi­nate Forms.V. It is agreeable to Reason, to admit of Sub­ordinate Forms, in Bodies Inanimate.

Against this it is objected, That one Body can­not have two Forms. To this it may in short be answer'd, That tho' a Body can have no more than one Adaequate Form; yet being a Compound, it may have several, which are Subordinate to, and Parts of that; as the Parts of a Watch have each their own Forms, which are Subordinate to the Form of the whole.

A Second Objection is, That a Body having a Compleat Form, whatever is Concurrent to it, makes it Ens per Accidens. To this it may be an­swer'd, That according to the Schools, the Soul and Body, which have each separately distinct Forms, being joyn'd, make Ʋnum per se, and not per Accidens; and the Rational Faculties, which [Page 53]are its Accidents, are said to make Ʋnum per se: So that thence, by Parity of Reason, tho' a Con­geries of Accidents, concur to the Forming of a Body, yet the Operation and Property of the whole United, being one, it may as well be said to be Ʋnum per se. Add to this, that the Peripa­teticks have not scrupled to teach, That the Forms of Elements, are not destroy'd by being mix'd, yet they hold each of the Bodies made up of them, to be Ʋnum per se.

But it may be further answer'd, That tho' a Form be compleat in it self, yet the Form result­ing from the Union of another with it, may be far more Noble, and perform things much more curious than before: As when Sulphur and Nitre are added to Charcoal; or when a Spring is added to the other Parts of a Watch, where by the Addition of these Forms, the pre-extent are not destroy'd, but improv'd; the whole, in each Composition, making one Compound Form.

A Super­added Form may modify the Actions of Subor­dinate ones, without de­st [...]y [...]ng them.VI. Sometimes a Superadded Form is Acci­dental to a Pre-existent; yet it modifies the Ope­rations of it, without altering its Nature.

As a Needle, which hath its Form consider'd as Steel, besides its Figure as a Needle, and by being touch'd with a Load-stone, acquires seve­ral other Properties; as to attract others, and instead of its Indifferency to move any way, re­gulates its Motion, so as to point North and South; of which Properties it is again depriv'd by being drawn upon the Pole of a powerful Load-stone.

But that we may more clearly understand, how a Superadded Form modifies the Actions of a [Page 54]Body, we need but reflect on the Parts of a Watch, from whence the Forma Totius proceeds; where we may see, how the Spring, by being bent, acquires a Tendency to expand, and how the Wheels moderate that Expansion: From whence we may gather how the Parts of a Body, which united, make the Forma Totius, concur in super­adding several New Qualities to the whole. So a piece of Lead is Vitrify'd by the Action of the Fire, by which Action the Parts, which before were pliable, become brittle; and being other­wise rang'd as to Situation, give way to the Rays of Light, and becomes Transparent: And Salt-Petre, by the Addition of Coal and Sulphur, instead of burning by degrees, and leaving an Alkalizate Salt behind it, flashes all away at once.

Compound may act by Vir­tue of one single Ingre­dient.VII. Besides the Actions of a Body, which are specifick, in respect of the whole; it may have several Operations depending on the se­parate, and particular Properties of an Ingre­dient.

This may appear from what hath been deli­ver'd above: But to make it more clear, I shall again intimate, what hath been before deliver'd, viz. That the Parts of a Watch, retain seve­ral of their Pristine Qualities, when put toge­ther, as they did before: To which another In­stance might be added, from what is elsewhere said of Gun-powder. To which it may be added, That several Ingredients in Physical Composi­tions, retain their own Qualities, tho' the Com­position hath in General a Particular Effect upon the account of its Mixture. As for Instance, Ambergreece retains its Smell, as well as Aloes its [Page 55]Taste, when made up into Pills with other Ingre­gredients; and Opium likewise its Soporifick Qua­lities, tho' mix'd with so great a number of In­gredients as those of Venice-Treacle.

Another Example we have in the Precipitate of Gold and Mercury by Heat, which tho' it hath a red Colour, different from both the Ingredients, yet the Mercury retains its Salivating Faculty.

The most noted often esteem'd the Specifick Form.VIII. That is often call'd the Specifick Form in several Natural Bodies, which is not the Presi­ding, but only the most Eminent.

To prove this, we are to consider, what hath been already observ'd: As First, That the Sig­nification of the Word Form, is made use of Ar­bitrarily, and without sufficient Distinction. Se­condly, That Forms are only Respective, and the Result of a Determinate Coexistence of the Parts of Matter. Thirdly, That they are attributed to Bodies, upon the account of some particular Qualities; as Unctuousness in Oyls, &c. or some particular Use. Pourthly, Agreeably to these, a Body must be endued wich several of those Qua­lities, upon the Account of which Bodies are re­ferr'd to different Classes. As in Vitrum Anti­monii, in which besides those Qualities by which it is referr'd to Glass, it hath a Vomitive and Purgative Faculty, by which it is brought into another Class in Physick. Fifthly, It is not re­quisite, that these Forms should depend on one another; since neither the Vomitive nor Purga­tive Faculty depend on the Form of Glass, they both being inherent in the Calx, before it was Vitrify'd, and would be preserv'd, tho' the Glass, without an Addition of other Matter, should be turn'd into a Regulus. Sixthly, To these Obser­vations, [Page 56]we may add, That the Qualities of Bo­dies, are said to be less or more Noble, in respect of their different Uses: As in Glass of Antimony, tho' the Glass may be taken for the Noblest Form by an Artist, yet its other Antimonial Qualities are more Eminent amongst Chymists and Physicians. Seventhly, From these Considera­tions we may gather, that the most Predomi­nant Form is not always that which denominates the Form of a Body; but sometimes that which is most Eminent, that is, most regarded.

Some are ra­ther Con­current Forms, than Subordi­nate.IX. The Forms just now mention'd, are ra­ther to be esteem'd Concurrent, than Subor­dinate.

And indeed, where the Denominating, or most regarded Form, may be so vary'd, they ra­ther seem Concurrent than Subordinate, in respect of the Body, whose Attributes they are.

So that the Subjection of some sort of Forms, seems very difficult to be explain'd. And in­deed we are so apt to mistake Names for Things, since by only denominating some Bodies, which have Particular Operations, we are apt to attri­bute what is the sole Effect of Modification, to that Metaphysical Conception, which we have of an Aery Form, rather than to the Body consider'd as a Physical Agent, endued with a Mechanical and Adventitious Texture. And it is so far from Appearing that there is any thing of Super­eminency, or Dominion of one Form in all the Operations of a Compound Body, that in some Simple Bodies, the Specifick Form is not in the least concern'd in the Effects of them; as Water will scald by Virtue of its Adventitious Heat, which is contrary to those Qualities attributed to [Page 57]its Form as such. And so Springiness may be ad­ded to, or taken away from Silver, without alter­ing the Specifick Form of the Metal; nor does the Form of a File, consider'd as Metal, affect what is attributed to it, upon the Account of those Aspe­rities: Nor is the more than usual Hardness the Product of the Substantial Form, but an acquir'd Temper given it by the Smith.

It would be an easy Matter to add several other Instances: But to conclude; Tho' the uncertain Signification of Terms, hath made the Foregoing Discourse the more Difficult and Dark; yet I hope it may serve to detect some receiv'd Errors, and promote a truer Theory concerning these Matters.

CHAP. V. Experiments and Thoughts about the Pro­duction and Reproduction of Forms.

Bodies di­stinguish'd into Spae­cies how.IT was not without Grounds that I intimated in the preceding Chapter about Qualities, that Bodies are in a great measure distinguished into several Species by a sort of Tacit Agree­ment; there being as yet, no Diagnosticks suf­ficient to distinguish the several Species of things, but they are rather taken for distinct Species, by being known by such Names, than any true Characteristicks. As for instance, some well skill'd in the Writings of Aristotle, hold, that Water and Ice are not esteemed distinct Kinds [Page 56] [...] [Page 57] [...] [Page 58]of Bodies, they both having the same Nature; yet Galen not without Reason, favours the con­trary Opinion, since they differ both in respect of Fluidity and Firmness, as well as Transpa­rency: Besides, Ice and Salt beaten together, will freeze other Liquors, whereas Water and Salt will not; where there seems to be diffe­rence enough to denominate them Two distinct Species of Bodies, as well, as that Must, Vine­gar, Wine, Spirit of Wine or Tartar, should be esteemed so; or that a Chick should be thought different from the Egg which was hatched. Yet some Aristotelians have been ve­ry doubtful whether the Natures of them be different or not, as also whether Clouds, Hail▪ Rain or Snow differ in Specie from Water▪ tho' the Writers concerning Meteors us [...]ly treat of them as different.

And if so small an Accident as Mo [...] o [...] whatever distinguishes Wind and Exhala [...] is enough to entitle them to distinct Species of Bodies, a Greater Right may be presumed [...] Paper and Rags, Glass and Wood-Ashes, should be esteemed so too; as also Soap, Sugar, Gun­powder, &c. For it is not a sufficient Objection that most of these Bodies are Factitious; for the present state of a Body, denominates its Species, however it came by that Nature; as the Salt which is made in the Isle of Man, by the Sun acting upon the Sea-water, is as much Salt, as that which is artificially made by the Heat of the Fire, by boiling Sea-Water in Chaul­drons; and Silk-Worms and Chickens hatched by the heat of Ovens or Dunghils, are equally as much Silkworms or Chickens, as those pro­duced [Page 59]by the heat of the Sun, or warmth of a Hen.

The Pro­ducts of Art, the Effects of Nature.Besides, the Objection, that most of the fore­mentioned Bodies are Factitious, is less va­lid, since they seem equally performed by Na­ture, the Artificer being only concerned in putting Natural Agents together, which take the same Measures in causing their Effects, as if they had casually been brought together by Chance: As in Chymistry, the Agent which is Fire, operates upon the Subjects it hath to work upon as Fire, and not as it is barely an Instru­ment of a Chymist; and therefore tho' the Ap­plication belongs to the Chymist, the Action is as much Natural, as the Productions of Aetna or Vesuvius; where by the internal Action of the Fire, Stones are Calcined, and Metals not only colliquated, but Metalline Flowers and Ashes dispersed about the adjacent Parts.

And I am not without Probability inclined to believe, that several Minerals as well as o­ther Bodies, which lie near the Center of the Earth, are rather the Productions of Subterra­neal Fires, changing the Textures of other Bo­dies than that they have lodged there, since the first Creation of things; for we see, that Lead becomes Minium, and Tin Tutty, in a very small time, and the Fumes of Sulphur, u­niting with those of Mercury, convene into that delicate red Mass called Vermilion, which hath so far the similitude of a Mineral, that it hath been called by the same Name of Cin­nabaris: So that we may easily conceive, how in the Bowels of the Earth, certain Mineral Fumes penetrating and uniting with a stony Concre­tion, [Page 60]Minerals may be formed: From whence it may appear, that a Congeries and Union of Accidents, is as sufficient to discriminate the several Species of Bodies, as the imagination of Substantial Forms.

The Arti­ficial Pro­duction of Vitriol, cor­respondent to the Na­tural.But to illustrate the Mechanical Origin of Forms, we may take notice of the Artificial Production of Vitriol, which is so like the Na­tural, that it makes us able to guess what Mea­sures are taken in the Natural Production of it. And since Vitriol is not a meer Salt, but rather (to use a Chymical Term) a Magestery, it is requisite to observe, that according to the sense of that Word, it is not prepared by a Se­paration of Principles, but by the changing the Form of a whole Body, by an Addition and intimate Union of a Saline Menstruum: A­greeable to which Notion it is to be noted, that an Acid Spirit, and a Metalline Substance, may be drawn as well from Artificial as Natu­ral Vitriol; and consequently both must be e­qually natural Vitriols in the strict sense of that Word.

But these are not the only Characteristicks of the Natural Agreement of Factitious and Natural Vitriol; since Vitriol of Mars, whe­ther prepared by Oyl of Vitriol or Spirit of Salt, hath both the Colour, Transparency, Brittleness, aptness to Fusion, and Styptical Taste, with the Vitriol of Marchasites; as also several other Qualities, as to turn an Infusion of Galls into Ink; a Vomitive Faculty, when taken in a small Dose; as also to be endowed with Crystals of very Curious Figures, and a Dis­position to run per Deliquium, as Guntherus [Page 61]Belichius hath observed common Vitriol made use of in Germany to have.

And here we see, that the same Qualities may arise from the Union and Association of Two Ingredients, which are to be found in Common Vitriol; without the Incomprehensible force of Imaginary Substantial Forms, or a Generation of a Form distinct from the Ingredients and their Essential Modification; or a Texture of Parts of convenient Shapes and Sizes: Neither is there such an Intimate Mixture, as the Schools imagine, of these Two Ingredients, but a Juxta-Position and new ranging of their Parts in respect of Order and Position: Which is e­vident, since by Distillation the greatest part of the Vitriol may be drawn off, leaving the Metalline Substance behind; and that most of its Qualities depend upon the Position of its Parts is plain, since through a good Burning Glass, the Sun Beams will so alter their Order and Texture as to turn it red.

CHAP. VI. Doubts and Experiments, concerning the Cu­rious Figures of Salts.

The Figures of Salts to be account­ed for, with the help of a Plastick Power.THO' I am not willing to acquiesce in the Doctrin of Substantial Forms, since to me they are Incomprehensible; Yet I am as forward to own, That I acknowledge the Admirable Wis­dom of our CREATOR no less, because He hath thought fit that the Changes and Altera­tions in Matter, should depend on Accidents easy and intelligible, at least with less Difficulty to be conceiv'd, than the incomprehensible Doctrin of Substantial Forms: And tho' the Curious and Delicate Shapes of Salts, be Generally us'd as Ar­guments of the Great Plastick Skill of Substantial Forms; yet I must own, I think them very slight things, compar'd with Organiz'd Bodies; and therefore I would not have it inferr'd, That be­cause the Figures of Salts may be accounted for, without the Assistance of Plastick Powers, that therefore the Bodies of Animals may.

That Substantial Forms are not necessary to the Production of those Curious Figures in Salts, I am induc'd to believe; First, Because a Concrete of no less Curious Figured Parts, than other Vitriols may be made by a bare Connection of Metalline and Saline Bodies. Secondly, because according to the different Quantities of Liquor, or the space of Time they shoot in, their Figures vary: Accord­ing to which Agricola, lib. 12. p. 462. de re Me­tallica, speaking of the Cords that are immerg'd [Page 63]into Vitriol-Water, for the Crystals to stick to, says, Ex his pendent restes lapillis extentae, à quo Humor spissus adhaerescens densatur, in translucentes atramenti sutorii, vel cubos vel acinos, qui Ʋvae spe­ciem gerunt.

Crystals ob­tain'd from an Alkaly.I remember also, that having a long time thought that the Method usually taken in pre­paring Alkalyes, such as Salt of Tartar, &c. was the reason, why they are gather'd in the Form of Calx; I took care to dissolve Alkalyes well pu­rify'd in Water, slowly evaporating it, till crusted over, with an Icy Crust; which being preserv'd entire, lest they should want a suffi­cient quantity of Liquor, to give them liberty to move, in order to their more Curious and Con­gruous Coalitions, I continued them in a mo­derate Heat for some time, and then breaking the Crust, I had a variety of figur'd Lumps of Crystalline Salt; transparent, and not much un­like white Sugar-Candy.

From Oyl of Vitriol, and a Solution of Sea Salt.Likewise having several times distill'd Oyl of Vitriol, and a strong Solution of Sea-Salt to­gether, till the Matter left behind was dry; that Salt Substance, when dissolv'd in Water, filtrated and evaporated, would shoot into Salts, of Figures differenr, according to the various Proportions of the Ingredients; yet nevertheless tho' sometimes in the same Glass the Salts would be of different Figures; yet would they be more exquisitely figur'd, than those of Vitriol often are. And from a Mixture of Spirit of Wine, and Spirit of Nitre, digested long together, From a Mixture of Spirit of Wine, and Nitre. I have got Crystals much like in shape to Crystals of Salt-Petre; and I have obtain'd Plates of Crystals, made up of solids, very curiously shaped, [Page 64]and so congruously adapted, as to make a very plain Surface, much different from what I have elsewhere mention'd from a Solution of Silver in Aqua fortis, or Spirit of Nitre; when I have order'd it so, that it should shoot leisurely.

Thirdly, I have several ways made it appear, That Insensible Parts of Matter of various, tho' very curious Shapes, guarded with plain as well as smooth sides, will convene into Bodies diffe­rently shap'd. And tho' Blood, Urine, and Hart's-Horn, might probably have their Sub­stantial Forms destroy'd by the Fire; yet foras­much as the Saline Parts, with which they are im­pregnated, are of the Figures just now men­tion'd, in the Liquors they have been expos'd, to shoot leasurely; I have observ'd several Masses, the surface of some of which were Plains, very curious and delightful, and the Figures of others exactly Geometrical: And stillatious Acids, as well as the Bodies they are appropriated to dis­solve into Crystals variously figur'd, according to the Nature of the Menstruum, or the Bodies it works upon; as I have experienc'd with a Men­struum which would dissolve Gems, and likewise with Coral dissolv'd in Spirit of Verdigreece: For which Reason, when I try'd whether the Shapes of the Particles of Silver, dissolv'd in Aqua fortis, would dispose them, Salts ob­tain'd from a Solution of Copper. without a Coagulation with Salts, to shoot into smooth and flat Concretions; I observ'd, that Part of the Solution being di­luted with distill'd Rain-water, and a Copper-Plate immers'd in the Liquor, after it had re­main'd there a while, Clusters of Metalline Bo­dies, devoid of Transparency settled about it, joyn'd together in Plates very thin, yet very [Page 65]glossy and flat, the Edges of the largest, being prettily shaped.

From Gold.And that the Particles of Gold are apt enough to associate with Congruous Salts, and to com­pose Bodies of determinate sizes, I have ob­serv'd in Crystals, afforded me by Gold, dissolv'd in Aqua Regis, and being preserv'd in a cold place, till the superfluous Moisture was evaporated: And from the Parts of Gold divided by a stronger Menstruum, so minutely as to be capable of be­ing sublim'd, I have obtain'd Crystals much of the same shape, tho' different in size from one another.

And I remember, having long since dissolv'd several Saline Bodies together in Water, by a gentle Evaporation, they have yielded Con­cretes, different in shape from each of the Ingre­dients; but it oftentimes is very difficult to asso­ciate them, because some are dispos'd to Cry­stallize sooner than others: As may be observ'd in purifying Barbary Nitre, from the common Salt it is mix'd with; and as Agricola, lib. 12. de re Metallica, takes Notice, where a Vitriolate Substance, and that from whence Allom is drawn, are joyn'd together; yet Venetian Borax, Crystals ob­tain'd from Venetian Borax. tho' made up of several Salts, yields Crystals of very Regular and Geometrical Figures: And the Ca­put Mortuum of common Aqua fortis, which con­sists of Bodies disagreeable in Nature, by fre­quent Solutions and Coagulations of their Saline Parts, yield Salts of very curious Figures, as Tri­angles, Rhomboids, Hexagons, Prisms, and Py­ramids, compos'd of several Triangles, meeting in a Vertical Point, and as curiously shap'd as Cornish Diamonds.

But the Acquisition of new Shapes, by being compounded, is not only practicable in these Grosser, but even in Chymical Salts, which affect one another, with an Ebullition; because in that Conflict, the Volatile Spirits unite and lose much of their Force; so that being less apt to fly away upon Evaporation, Salts ob­tain'd from Spirit of Urine, and Nitre, &c. they form curiously shap'd Crystals; as I have Experienc'd with Spirit of Urine and Spirit of Nitre, Spirit of Sheeps Blood and of Salt, Spirit of Nitre and Oyl of Vitriol, and likewise with Spirit of Salt and Spi­rit of Urine; the last of which shews, how much Compound Figures are owing to the Union of the Particles of the Ingredients, of which they are compos'd; the Spirit of Ʋrine and Salt, afford­ing Concretes different from those of Oyl of Vi­triol and Spirit of Ʋrine; the shape of the first being like that of a Comb, whose Teeth stand out on each side; or like a Feather, the Crystals on each side being so much inclin'd: Crystals of a like Figure to which, From Soot and Sal Armoniack. arise from a just Propor­tion of Soot dissolv'd, and coagulated with com­mon Sal Armoniack.

Fourthly, To confirm what I have above de­liver'd concerning the Origin of Vitriol; and also to make it appear, That the Figure of its Parts depends on the Texture of its Ingredients, I shall add another Particular, which is, That having compar'd the Composition of Artificial Vitriol, I thought it might reasonably be rank'd under the same Species with the Natural: To which I shall subjoyn, that having also consider'd, that Oyl of Vitriol, and Spirit of Salt, were improper Men­struums to dissolve several Metals, I made use of Aqua fortis, which with Copper, made a Curious [Page 67] Vitriol; and with Silver, it afforded Crystals shoot­ing into thin Plates; and with Lead and Quick Silver, it yielded Crystals far more thick, and dif­ferently shap'd from each other.

Now if from hence it appears, That the Cu­rious Figures of Salts, generally alledg'd as Ar­guments of the Necessity of Substantial Forms, de­pend meerly upon Texture; why may not the more Ordinary Phaenomena of Nature, since it is manifest that Matter, and a Congeries of Acci­dents, are sufficient to account for what is usually attributed to Imaginary Forms? Neither can I see Reason, why Arguments grounded on the Qua­lities and Effects of Bodies, esteem'd factitious, may not be sufficient to shew us, what may be ascrib'd to the Mechanical Affections of the univer­sal Mass of Matter; since it is not agreed how fa­ctitious shall be distinguish'd from that Species of Body, call'd The Productions of Nature. In fa­vour of which Gun-Powder is no despicable In­stance; where by a bare Mixture of Nitre, The Ingre­dients of Gun Pow­der. Char­coal, and Sulphur, without the least shadow for the Pretence of a Substantial Form, a Body is produc'd, of Effects more prodigious, than any of Nature's Production: Nor can Nature pro­duce a more Noble Concrete than Glass, which is but the Product of Matter, brought together by Art; where in less than an Hour, an Opaque Body becomes transparent, and acquires several other Qualities, for as much as appears to Sense, with­out the Addition of any other Body; which yet by another change, in a trice, may make a Sub­stance not Glassy, but Opacous.

Substan­tial Forms not necessa­ry to Dis­criminate Bodies.Nay, the Aristotelians themselves allow, That there may be slight Changes in Matter, so as to [Page 68]distinguish Genus's, without an Introduction of Substantial Forms; as in Coral, which in the bot­tom of the Sea is tender, and grows like a Plant, yet when harden'd in the Air, it is by several Eminent Writers, class'd amongst Stones: And indeed, its Calx is very much unlike the Ashes of Plants, being apt to be corroded by Vinegar, as Lapis Stellaris, and several other Mineral Stones are.

And a thing equally to be admir'd, is to be seen in Sombrero, an Island in the East-Indies, near Sumatra, according to Sir James Lancester; who relates a Story of a Worm, which is trans­form'd into a Tree; and that again into a Stone, much like white Coral: And Piso, in his History of Brasil, vouches many Witnesses for the Trans­formation of Animals like Grass-hoppers, into Ve­getables. Likewise Michael Boym, a Jesuit, af­firms, That he saw in the Island Hainan, in China, Crabs, which pull'd as out of the Water, were im­mediately petrify'd.

But, Pyrophilus, that I may draw to a Conclu­sion, I shall only further add, to what hath gone before, Oyl of Vi­triol turn'd into Allom. that Remarkable Experiment of Hel­mont's, which is that Oyl of Vitriol may be turn'd into Allom, by the Fumes of Mercury: To which may be added another Instance, presented us in the Production of Salt-Petre: For if on the white Salt, afforded by Solution of Pot-Ashes, Spirit of Nitre be pour'd, Salts ob­tain'd from Spirit of Nitre and Pot. Ashes. till they cease to ferment, that Mixture will yield Crystals endued both with the Shape, and other Qualities of Nitre.

CHAP. VII. Experimental Attempts concerning the Re­dintegration of Bodies.

HAving already to confirm the Origin of Forms, as intimated in our Hypothesis, al­ledged the Measures taken in the Productions of Forms, I now proceed to illustrate it from their Reproduction, which might prove the stronger Argument of the Two, could it be clearly made out; because to Re-produce a Body, whose Substantial Form hath been destroyed, may argue, that a Form is only a Modification of the Parts of Matter of which a Body is com­posed, in such order in reference to each o­ther, as is requisite to produce such Properties: Whereas were those Parts otherwise placed, they would make up a Body of a different Nature; which would be again of the nature of the for­mer were the Parts of which it consists associated in their former Order.

But tho' an Adaequate Redintegration of Bo­dies Chymically Analized were impossible, by Reason of some Dissipated Parts; yet such a one as is possible, may be sufficient to our Pur­pose; which is the Experiment concerning the Reproduction of Salt-Petre. But Experimental Attempts of this kind being very difficult, all that I shall do at the present, is, to represent that Difficulty. And

An At­tempt to re-unite the Parts of Amber.First, we shall do it by relating our Suc­cess in an Attempt to dissipate and re-unite the Parts of common Amber; for having put Four or Five Ounces of Amber into a Glass Retort, by a gentle Heat it began gradually to melt and bubble; and after the Operation was ended, we found in the Receivers half the weight of the Amber, consisting of a Mixture of Volatile Salt, Spirit, Phlegm and Oyl; and in the bottom of the broken Retort, we found a Cake of Matter very black, yet so smooth, that nothing could be finer Polished; so that it might very well have supplied the place of a Looking-Glass; which, when it was broke, the Fragments were accompanied with a more than ordinary Lustre. All which divided Parts of Amber be­ing mix'd in a Glass Body, to which a Blind Head was luted, and placed in Sand, the Fire being by Accident increased, the Fumes raised the Vessel out of the Sand, which falling, the Top of it was broke, by striking against the side of the Furnace, and the Fumes flew away. The remaining Matter was very like Tarre, but would not Tincture Spirit of Wine; tho' with Oyl of Turpentine, it would make a Blood-Red Balsom. The whole Process be­ing again renewed, and some Accidents hap­pening, we could not finish the Experi­ment.

An At­tempt to re-unite the Parts of Roch-Al­lom.But notwithstanding the Difficulty of Tryals of this kind, having once drawn what Quan­tity I could of Phlegm and Spirit from Roch Al­lom, and poured it again upon the Caput Mor­tuum, after some time, some Parts were so as­sociated again, as to form several curiously figur'd [Page 71]Crystals: An At­tempt to re-unite the Parts of Vitriol. And though Vitriol may seem a Body unapt for such Experiments, yet I once drew from blew Vitriol a Phlegm and Spirit together, with a heavy Oyl, which be­ing divided into several Parts, the red Caput Mortuum was divided into an equal Number, one part of each of which being mixed over Night, in the Morning I found several Grains of pure Vitriol upon the Surface of the Matter; which I again found upon the Mixture of an­other part of the Powder and Liquor, only more in Quantity; and this Experiment was also confirm'd by a Third Tryal.

As also of Antimony and Oyl of Vitriol.To these I shall add, what happened upon the digestion of powdered Antimony, with a double quantity of Oyl of Vitriol: For having drawn from it a little Liquor, together with a considerable Quantity of combustible Antimo­nial or Antimonio-Vitriolate Sulphur, the Caput Mortuum remaining in the Report was light and friable, and upon the upper part white like common Wood-Ashes; the rest being like a Cinder. Whereupon we exposed it to the Fire, in a Retort of Glass well Coated, and fitted with a Receiver; and after some time separating the Vessels, we found very little Sulphur sublimed; and not the least Antimonial Quicksilver, but the Caput Mortuum was united into a Mass of black Antimony, covered over with white transparent Glass. From whence we may infer, that Antimony generally abounds with more Sulphur than is requisite to consti­tute that Mineral; though in this Experiment we might suspect, that part of it was turned [Page 72]into Glass, by the Loss of the Sublimed Sul­phur.

Another to re-unite the Parts of Vitriol.But amongst all my Experiments of the Re­dintegration of Bodies, the following was the most successful; for having distilled from se­veral Ounces of Turpentine in a Glass Retort, a considerable Quantity of Transparent Li­quor, and a dry brittle Caput Mortuum, I re­duced the Caput Mortuum into Powder, which by that means was turned from a Red, to a pure Yellow Colour; and being mixed with the Liquor, was formed into a Red Balsam; which, by a continued Digestion, began to lose that Colour, so that the Powder being wholly dissolved, it could not be distinguished from Laudable Turpentine.

CHAP. VIII. Experiments concerning the Origin of Qua­lities and Forms.

HAving in some of the foregoing Chap­ters, given a short Scheme of the Princi­ples of the Corpuscularian Philosophy, for the better understanding our Experiments concern­ing the Productions and Changes of Particular Qualities, I shall now lay down such Natural Phaenomena as induced me to take up such Notions, in which, not Art but Nature disco­vers her Operations.

CHAP. IX. A Continuation of Experiments concerning Forms and Qualities.

CHAP. X. An Experiment, with some Considerations touching the differing Parts and Redin­tegration of Salt-Petre.

SALT-PETRE is a Concrete so universally concern'd in the Composition of most Bo­dies, that it will be of no small Import to Na­tural Philosophy, to enquire throughly into the Nature of it; which will in some Measure ap­pear, by considering how many Substances may be drawn from it, or turn'd into it; which will be briefly intimated in the following Experi­ment.

An At­tempt to re­dintegrate the Form of Salt-Petre.Having, according to the usual Method, Cry­staliz'd Nitre, we melted four Ounces of it in a Crucible into a Limpid Liquor, throwing in Live-Coals successively, till it would kindle and fulminate no longer; and continuing it in a strong Fire a considerable time, to dissipate the remaining Volatile Parts, and then breaking the Crucible, we divided the fix'd Nitre immedia­tely into two Portions; one of which being dis­solv'd in as much Water as was sufficient, we drop'd in Spirit of Salt-Petre, till the Ebullition, rais'd by the Mixture of these Liquors, wholly ceas'd; and then filtrating the mix'd Liquor, we expos'd it to the Air in an open Glass-Viol; and on the other Part undissolv'd, we likewise dropt the same Spirit, till the Firmentation ceas'd, exposing it to the Air in an open Glass-Jar.

In the former Mixture, wherein the Water was put, in a few Hours certain Crystals of Salt-Petre stuck to the Lower Parts of the Glass, amongst which were several other Crystals, like Mustard-seed, encompass'd with a downy Sub­stance. The Crystals the next Day being consi­derably greater, were taken out, and both by their Burning and Shape, appear'd to be Ni­trous, ( Nitrous Salts being furnish'd with flat Sides, which when opposite are usualy parallel;) and as for that downy Matter which adhered to some of them, we judg'd it to proceed from the Disproportion of the Volatile and Fix'd Parts of the Nitre, which were to be joyn'd together a-new. These things being observ'd, we pour'd the remaining Liquor into an open Glass-Vessel, which in about three Weaks-time, being again [Page 106]Saturated with Petre, we pour'd it from the Salt, and evaporated it in a Digesting Furnace.

The other Mixture, which was only fix'd Nitre and Spirit of Salt-Petre, for the most part presently Subsided in the Form of a Salt, which when dry'd in the Air, was of very irregular Fi­gures; and, in some Parts, not much diffe­rent in Shape from Salt-Petre; which it also much resembled in Burning, tho' the Deflagra­tion was in some measure peculiar to it self. But this Salt, together with the Liquor swimming upon it, being preserv'd in the Air for about a Month longer, after Evaportion, the one half shot into Crystals, which burnt much like Petre, and had a Similar Figure, tho' a different Taste; and the other half, being speedily exhaled, shot into Crystals, of a distinct Figure from all others.

Cautions to be observ'd in the Fore­going Expe­riment.Now to make this Experiment clearer, the fol­lowing Things are to be observ'd;

• 1. That in Fixing the Nitre, New-Coals are not to be cast into the Crucible, till the former are almost spent, or be thrown out by the violent Exhalations of Nitrous and Volatile Parts.
• 2. That the Quantity of Spirit of Nitre dropp' upon the Fix'd Nitre, was almost proportionable to the Salt-Petre, spent in the Fixing of it.
• 3. That this Fix'd Nitre was very little different in Taste from Salt of Tartar; had the same aptness to Absorb Air, and to re­laxate in moist Air: Yet it differ'd in Colour, being betwixt a Blue and a Green One, which it lost upon the Affusion of Spirit of Nitre.

Another Method of Reuniting the Parts of Salt-Petre.But this Method being tedious, I shall propose a Way more expeditions, which is this; Having run Fix'd Nitre per deliquium, and by Filtra­tion separated it from its Faces, we dropp'd upon [Page 107]the Liquor Spirit of Nitre, which, after a Fer­ment usual to a Mixture of those Liquors, pre­sently shot into Crystals, in Shape, as well as Na­ture, manifestly Nitrous.

A Third Method.Another way we took was this: Having Im­pregnated a Solution of Fix'd Nitre in Water, with Spirit of Nitre, and filtrated it through Cap-Paper, the Cool Liquor, in a short time, shot into Crystals, like those of Petre; and the Liquor, being again Evaporated, afforded a fresh Quan­tity of Crystals not unlike the former.

But lest the Sal-Petre re-produc'd by the Coali­tion of these two Bodies, should be thought to lodge in the Fix'd Nitre; and only to be unyok'd by their Solution, it is requisite to annex, That the greatest Quantity that can be suppos'd to remain in the Fix'd Nitre, would not amount to such a Quantity as that Mixture affords: And to make the Matter less suspicious, we impregnated a So­lution of Pot-Ashes, after the same manner as we had done the Fix'd Nitre, Salt-Petre obtain'd from Pot-Ashes, A­qua fortis, and Salt of Tartar. which after Filtra­tion and Evaparation, shot into Crystals, which 0103 0207 V 3 were very like Salt-Petre in Taste, as well as their Deflagration upon Live-coals. We likewise ob­tain'd a small Quantity of Salt-Petre, from Aqua fortis and Salt of Tartar associated.

But to draw Inferences from the Foregoing Experiment; from hence we may learn, That the Sensible Qualities of Bodies may be accounted for by the Mechanical Motion, together with the Figure and Disposition, or Modification of their Parts.

And first, tho' Salt-Petre be a Body inwardly, and in it self cooling; yet the Parts of it diffe­rently Modify'd, in our Experiment, being put [Page 108]together, do immediately put each other into so violent a Heat, that I could with much ado hold the Glass in my Hand; so that Heat seems to be nothing but a quick Motion of the finest Particles of Bodies, since it no longer con­tinu'd in that Mixture, than the Parts of it were in Agitation.

Upon the Mixture of these two, viz. the Spirit of Nitre, with the Fix'd, there was likewise produ­ced an audible Sound, proceeding from the Percus­sion of the Air, by the swiftly and impetuously agi­tated Parts of the Mixture: A Sound like to which is produc'd by a hot Coal cast into Water, or into melted Nitre in a Crucible, tho' the Latter causes a Sound much louder. Which Sound probably proceeded from the Percussion of the Air, be­cause the Motion of a Bullet, or a Stick, where the Quickness of the Percussion puts the Air into an Undulating Motion, will cause a Sound, as soon as that Undulating Motion reaches the Ear; and it is further confirm'd, because that Sound no longer continues, than the Parts are violently agitated: And here it is to be observ'd, That the Sound, produc'd by the Mutual Conflict, ceases long before the Heat, which is acquir'd by that Ebullition; from whence it may be in­ferr'd, that the same Intestine Motion of Parts which are able to produce Heat, are incapable of causing Sounds; as Amber continues warm a considerable time after the Sound, made in rub­bing of it, ceaseth.

Several Qualities flow from an Altera­tion of Tex­ture.We observ'd likewise, That the Fix'd Petre was of a Colour betwixt Blue and Green, which it presently lost upon the Mixture of the Acid Spirit, the Disposition of Parts being so alter'd, [Page 109]as to reflect the Rays of Light differently to the Eye; A Change not unlike which happens upon the Exposing Fix'd Nitre to the Air: And it is not less to be admir'd, That Soot, which is Black, and a Congeries of Opacous Exhalations, should, by the help of a good Fire, fill the Receiver with Fumes as white as Milk: And the Colours to be observ'd upon the Sublimation of Black Anti­mony, and White Sal-Armoniack are no less pleasant.

But to return to the Experiment: Having not long ago attempted to make Salt-Petre, of Salt of Tartar, and Aqua fortis, the Mixture united, prov'd to be of a very Green Colour, which re­sided more peculiarly in some Parts of it than others, tho' the Salt of Tartar was a particular Preparation, whose Crystals were as white as Su­gar Candy. It is on this occasion likewise further to be observ'd, That tho' Fumes of Nitre, rais'd Distillation, be of a Red Colour; yet they condense into a Liquor altogether void of it; and also, That Fix'd Nitre, tho' an Opacous Body, yet does it unite, with the imbib'd Spirit, into Diaphanous Crystals.

Several Qualities destroy'd. and regain­ed by the Redinte­gration of Salt-Petre.There is likewise to be observ'd, Upon the Mixture of these two Ingredients, a very offen­sive Smell, caus'd by the Spirit of Salt-Petre, emitting stinking Exhalations, stirr'd up by the Mutual Conflict betwixt it, and its Fix'd Salt; where it is strange, that this Mixture should have a Smell, which is neither in Nitre, nor either of the Ingredients; and yet, that it should lose that Smell again, when turn'd into Nitre.

Besides the Taste of the Spirit, being strongly Acid, and the Taste of Nitre, like that of Salt [Page 110]of Tartar; it is surpizing, that these two should unite into a Body of so much less pungency in Taste as Nitre, bateing that it is a little shar­per by reason of some Spirituous Parts sticking to the Particles of the Nitre.

But besides these there are several other Re­flections may be made on the preceding Experi­ment; for it seems a Question, whether there is any real necessity of a distinct Sulphur to render a Body Inflammable, or whether rather Inflammability depends on a disposition of Matter to be put in­to Motion by the help of adventitious Bodies; as when the Ingredients of our Experiment are mixed; or when a Piece of Iron is cast into Spirit of Nitre; for the Parts of that Liquor, which before were quiet and cold, meeting with Pores which disorder their Motion, they presently begin to move among one ano­ther with a strange Rapidity, and to cause such a Heat, that the Vessel would burn the Hands of them that held it: And here it may not be amiss to take notice of one thing further, that Occurs in our Experiment, viz. that tho' Ni­tre put upon a burning Coal, or a burning Coal being cast into it, will consume it self, in a Blue Flame, yet when it is contiguous to the Sides of the Crucible which is red Hot, it melts without the least Flame. It may be also worth Enquiry, why Nitre which is a solid Body should not rather stick in the Form of Sublimate to the Receiver, like Sal Armoniack, than con­dense only into a Liquor, which does not again coagulate as some Volatile Spirits do.

But leaving these Phaenomena, I shall observe further, that though Spirit of Nitre, exposed to [Page 111]the Air Insensibly exhales, yet when associated with it's own fixed Salt, it admits no such Efflu­viums. Another thing to be observed is, that up­on a Mixture of these two Liquors, several Saline Parts are tossed out of the Glass into the Air, which falling down again, several Grains of Salt will remain on the outside of the Vial, which will be visible if the Experiment be tried in the Sun Beams. And that there is a very brisk Mo­tion amongst the Parts of Spirit of Nitre, is evident by dropping some of it into a solution of Salt of Tartar; for immediately some Grains were shattered in Pieces, and thrown up to the top with a seeming Violence; till the strength of those Liquors was mutually diminished by their frequent Occursions: And that the Parts of each have contrary tendencies in their Mo­tions is plain, from this, viz. if when the Fer­ment ceases, more of one of these Liquors was dropped in, there followed no Ebullition, till some of the other was added to Ferment with it.

The same Particles of Matter have diffe­rent Effects when in a Fluid, from what they have in a solid Form.And here it is seasonable to observe what different Effects the Parts of these Bodies have when at liberty and disjoyned in Liquids, from what they produce when locked up in Con­cretes, tho' their Effects, even then, are not wholly to be attributed to the briskness of their Moti­on, but also, to their determinate Sizes; by which means Aqua Fortis, which leaves Gold untouched, will dissolve Silver; yet, by an Addition of Sal Armoniack, it having acquired a new Figure, and a peculiar Motion, it Works upon Gold; and for the like Reasons a Solu­tion of fixed Nitre will dissolve Ʋnctuous Bo­dies, [Page 112]which the Acid Spirit will not Work upon.

Again we may observe, that the several sub­stances into which Salt-Petre is reduced, viz. the fixed Salt and the Volatile Liquor, are both different from the Concrete it self; which is an Argument against those Chymists that pretend, that Bodies Distilled, retain the Virtues of those Bodies they are Distilled from; Chymistry rather de­stroys than discovers the Princi­ples of Bo­dies. for the Acid Spirit of Nitre will precipitate the same Bodies, which fixed Nitre dissolves. And so Spirit of Nitre will turn a Tincture of Brasil into a Yellow Colour, which it will lose, and in some Measure by an addition of a Tincture of fixed Nitre, regain the former, whereas a Solution of Salt-Petre changes neither of these Tinctures. Eut to proceed,

This Experiment gives us Reason to believe, that the Air is considerably concerned in the Production of Salt-Petre, and in giving a Figure to it's Salts; since the Crystals, which shoot in the Solution exposed to the open Air, are of a more exact Size and Figure, than those obtained after a quicker Evaporation. Besides which we have observed, that a Mixture of Aqua Fortis and Salt of Tartar yielded Crystals much more like Nitre, when it had been exposed to the the Air for some time, than what it afforded up­on an immediate Crystallization.

As for the Reason why the Crystals which shoot in the Air, are more naturally Figured than others; I conceive it to be, because the Air is a more quiet and undisturbed Vehicle for them to move leasurely in, by which means they have the Liberty of uniting as they ought, to form Crystals of a natural Figure, which Guess [Page 113]is confirmed, because the Crystals which shot in Water, where they have room enough, and an indifferent Vehicle, were more perfect than those, which were produced by a Mixture of the nitrous Powder and Saline Spirit, where they were forced, for want of Room, to Cry stalize, before they had time to Convene after a manner requisite to make them of a natural Figure and Size.

But to proceed: This Experiment, which shews how a Body divided into different sub­stances, by Distillation, may be again united into an Original Concrete, will be a very strong and convincing Instance to prove, that the Forms and Qualities of Bodies depend on an essential Modification of their Parts; and that the difference observable in particular Sub­stances, depends on a different Texture, and a Co­alition of Parts of different Figures and Sizes; so that the Redintegration of Bodies is no more, but a restoring of their former Parts into the same Or­der and Position, being Artificially handled, so as to acquire their former Sizes and Figures in order to their Coalition.

Yet this I think necessary to be represented, viz. that the Composition of Nitre is so little Organical, that it will be hard to judge what success, in order to Redintegration, may be ex­pected in other Bodies, where the Fabricks of them are so curious, by Reason of their numerous In­gredients, and the curious Contexture of them, that the latter is not to be imitated by Art, in the Production of Substances much less Organical, than the Parts of living Animals.

Chymical Medicines laid aside too rashly.The last Observation I shall make on our Ex­periment, is, That from what hath been said it [Page 114]may be thought that some Chymical Medicines may be too Rashly laid aside by some Physitians, who suppose, that the Menstruums made use of in their Preparations, are in some measure mix­ed with them; since, besides that those Salts may by care be washed away, several Parts of them may be so altered by Corrosion, that those, associating with other Particles of the Body they work upon, may degenerate into an innocent Concrete: An Instance of which we have in our Experiment, where a corrosive Spirit and a Caustick fixed Salt, unite into an innocent Me­dicine. And that Corrosive Salts may in a great measure be dulcified by their acting on other substances, is evident in a Mixture of Spirit of Vitriol and Crabs Eyes, or any other testaceous Body. And again, though Vinegar power­fully corrodes calcined Lead, yet uniting with it, it constitutes a Sweet Body, in which the sharpness of Vinegar is perfectly destroyed. And tho' it be an Argument usually alledged against the use of Medicines so prepared, that from several of them corrosive Particles may be drawn; yet since the same may be Effected by the Action of Fire upon Salt-Petre, the Ob­jection is as invalid as the general Practice of Physitians can make it.

CHAP. XI. Containing the History of Fluidity.

WHETHER Fluidity and Firmness, might not with more Reason be esteem'd States than Qualities of Bodies, or not; this is most [Page 115]certain, that they are to be accounted the most General Affections of Matter, all Bodies being either Fluid or Solid: If then these Qualities or States of Bodies be so General, it will be of mo­ment to consider the Causes of them; and the rather in this place, because the Foregoing Expe­riments of Salt-Petre may serve to illustrate them.

The Defini­tion of a Fluid Body.To proceed then: A Body is said to be Fluid, because it consists of Parts, which easily slip upon one another's Surfaces to and fro, when mov'd, by Reason of the Porous Interstices, which re­main betwixt those Parts, which they are made up of, they not being wholly Contiguous on every side; and also, because by Virtue of that Motion, they spread and diffuse themselves on every side, till oppos'd by some Solid Body, to the Internal Super­ficies of which, they presently adapt themselves.

And what Thoughts Epicurus, and the An­cient Corpuscularians had of Fluidity, will appear from these Verses of his Paraphrast Lucretius.

And indeed, we may rationally believe, That the Smoothness of their Parts may much con­tribute to the Fluidity of Liquors, as well as the Globular Figures of them; tho' there are several Fluid Bodies, whose Parts are of Figures very various, besides Flame and Air; the Figures of whose Parts are very irregular.

Bodies whose Parts are less con­densed than Water, to be esteemed Fluid.And here we are to take Notice, That to render a Body Fluid, there is no need that its Parts should be so closely condens'd, as those of [Page 116]Water are; since Flame and Smoke may be so manag'd, as to resemble Liquid Bodies; of the Latter of which we have Proof, by blowing Rosemary-Smoke into a Glass-pipe, which, if when it is fill'd, the lower End be stopp'd, and the Pipe be held in a Perpendicular Line, the Surface of the Fumes will subside till Level; and tho' the Pipe be inclin'd several ways, yet the Superficies of the Smoke answers to the Horizon, till the Glass be further inclin'd; and then, the Smoke will run along the Pipe like Water, dispersing it self afterwards in the Air.

But to return to the Cause of Fluidity: We con­ceive that there are Three things requisite to render Bodies Fluid: Minuteness of Parts re­quisute to Fluidity. 1. The Minuteness of the Particles which constitute them; by which they are dispos'd to an Intestin Motion, and to be preserv'd in it more easily; as the Parts of Lead, Quick-silver, and Gold, when dissolv'd by a Men­struum, are easily rais'd and mix'd with the Parts of that Menstruum. Nay, Fluidity so much de­pends on the Minuteness of the Parts of Matter, which constitutes Fluid Bodies, that the Parts of Antimony, dissolv'd and broken into small Cor­puscles, may be turn'd into Butter of Antimony; and, that Butter of Antimony, is chiefly made up of the Substance of the Antimony, is evident, since by a Mixutre of fair Water, a white Calx will precipitate, easily convertible into Glass of An­timony. And Nature her self supplies us with further Instances; since the very Substance of Bones, is, by Comminution in the Stomachs of Dogs, turn'd into a Liquor: And to confirm this Ob­servation, I shall add, That I knew a certain Gen­tleman, who was a close Student, who liv'd for se­veral [Page 117]Days together without the least Drink, tho' in the mean time he sweat moderately, and easily enough, his Urine being agreeable to his Con­stitution, as the Urine of other Men's generally is to theirs: But that Solid Substances may yield, and be turn'd into Fluids, by a Comminution of their Parts, may be evinc'd by the Fusibility of Metals; since the more the Massy Particles of Me­tal are broke into small Parts, the more their Flui­dity is encreas'd.

A Fluid may be ob­tain'd from a Consi­stent Body.And here it may not be unseasonable to en­quire, how it comes to pass, That a Transparent Liquor should be drawn from such Brittle Bo­dies as Common Salt; I know it is usually alledg'd, That the Fire only separates the Moist, from the Dry Parts; but since Bodies already Calcin'd or Melted, must needs by the Action of the Fire, have their moist Parts likewise so separated; it is rather probable, That the Fire only divides their Parts, and puts them into a violent Agita­tion, by which they are rais'd in the Form of Va­pours, which falling into the Receiver, condense into a Fluid; whose Parts, by reason of their Shape and Size, being apt for Motion, continue to move up and down, and so preserve that Body in the Form of a Fluid, the Motion of the Air, or of some Interpos'd Bodies concurring to preserve the Parts of that in Motion likewise; and that the Air abounds with Parts, perpetually in a va­rious Motion will appear by and by.

Some Bodies more easily preserv'd fluid than others.But in the mean time that a much greater De­gree of Motion is requisite to preserve some Bo­dies in a Fluid Form than others, is plain, since seve­ral Bodies will be froze with one Degree of Cold, with which others will not; and tho' the Watry [Page 118]Parts of Wine, in some Countries, will freeze; yet the Spirituous Corpuscles of the same Liquor remain untouch'd: And tho' it is evident, by the help of good Weather-Glasses, that Cold condenses the Air; yet it was never so far con­densed, as to become Ice; because the perpe­tual Motion concurring with the Minuteness and Shape of its Parts, they are always in an Agita­tion requisite to keep it in that Form; and it is not improbable, but that the Parts of Salt are very Minute; since, from Experiments before mention'd, it appears, That Spirit of Salt and Ʋrine, will unite into a Sal-Armoniack; and it is further confirm'd, since, Common-Salt, mix'd with Aqua fortis, will dissolve Gold, as well as Spirit of Salt joyn'd with the Latter: and tho' Crude Nitre it self, be mix'd with Spirit of Salt, the Re­sulting Mixture will supply the Place of an Aqua Regis. And I am inform'd that, that a Chymist in Holland, drew no less than fourteen Ounces of Spirit from a Pound of Salt, a whitish Clay being made use of instead of the Common Caput Mortuum; and that when he had dephlegm'd the Spirit, twelve Ounces remain'd very highly re­ctify'd; which may be something in favour of Beguinus, who pretends to have got a Pound of Spirit from a pound of Salt. But it may be a Que­stion, Whether the Fluidity of these Bodies may not in part proceed from the Action of the Fire, working upon some Parts of the Concrete; since a Phlegm or Water may be obtain'd from Re­ctify'd Spirit, so as to change Part of it into a moist Body like Water. And this will rather be thought probable, if we consider and believe what the Famous Helmont says, viz. That he could reduce [Page 119] Oyl and Salt into Insipid Water, The Figures of the Parts of Bodies, as well as their Sizes, contribute to tseir Fluidity. without the help of that Noble Alkahest, which would render Gross Bodies wholly Liquid.

And here it is requisite to add, That it is not only the Sizes of the Parts of Bodies, that endues them with a Disposition to Fluidity, but also, their Shapes; and I am the more confirm'd in this Opinion, because, having distill'd Oyl of Olives in a Glass-Retort, per se, near a third Part of it was coagulated in the Receiver, into a whitish Substance, not very much unlike Butter; where the distill'd Substance, which usually is fluid, tho' drawn from solid Concretes, was on the con­trary in this Experiment, a Consistent one, yielded by a Liquid; for which no other Reason can be given, but that the Shape of the Liquid Parts were so alter'd, as to become unfit for Motion.

But to return to the Reason of Fluidity, it is evi­dent, That in pouring of Sand, Corn, Flower, Apples, Walnuts, &c. out of a Sack, that that Aggregate of Bodies, whose Parts are the least, appears most like Liquids; and it is commonly ob­serv'd, That Whites of Eggs, by being beaten with a Whisk, presently lose their Clamminess and Viscidity, and are reduc'd to a thin and fluid Substance, their Parts being broke asunder, and more minutely divided. And I have observ'd, that That Jelly (which is by the Vulgar thought to fall from a Star) by being a long time digested in a well-stopp'd Glass, became a permanent Liquor.

Again, it is observ'd, That when Silver is to be cast in Moulds, and to receive the Curious and Fine Impressions of Hair-Lines, the Metal is not only to be pour'd in very hot, but to be kept a Considerable Time in Fusion, before it is thin [Page 120]enough to run into those Lines, and to take exact Impressions of them; from whence it appears, That Bodies already fluid, may become more fluid; and the like Instances might be brought from other Bodies, as Turpentine, Oyl, &c. And if what Helinont asserts of the Liquor Alkahest, be true, viz. That it will turn all Substances, whether Minerals, Metals, Plants, or Animals, into a fluid Substance, of an equal Weight with each other; then it follows, That to divide a Body into Parts small enough, is enough to make it fluid. And to this I must add, that considerable Changes may be effected, meerly by a long Digestion in Vessels well stopp'd, and plac'd in a Convenient Heat.

2. The Second Requisite to constitute a Fluid Bo­dy, is, That it should have considerable Vacuities or Pores, betwixt the Parts of it; Porousness in Bodies requisite to their Flui­dity. for if there were no such Spaces, the Parts being put into Motion, would not have Space to continue it in, nor could one Particle by the Impulse of another, be forc'd to give way. But before I proceed, it will be requi­site here to Note, That by Spaces, I would not be thought to mean Vacuities properly so call'd; but that there is no such Substance betwixt them, which will obstruct the Motions of the more Solid Parts.

This Caution being premis'd, I shall (to illu­strate this Second Requisite) observe, That Snow, which is of an open and slight Texture, before it is compress'd, may soon be squeez'd into so close and compact a Lump, as to resist a very strong Pressure; the Air, which before was interpos'd betwixt the Parts of it, being press'd out. Again, we may observe, That when Water is clos'd up in a Bladder, and wants its Liberty to move in a yielding and free Medium, the Parts thus [Page 121]confin'd together, resist Impressions like a Solid Body; and this Experiment I the rather made use of, than a Bladder distended with Air, because the Distention of that, might partly be attributed to the Spring of the Included Air.

How such Vacuities contribute of Fluidity.But it is further to be observ'd, That tho' such Vacuities are necessary to constitute Fluid Bodies, yet they are only so, to use School-Term, as Removens, prohibens, i. e. they prevent the Inconveniencies which must be the Conse­quence of a Plentitude, viz. Want of Liberty to move; or in other Words, as they dispose the Parts of a Body, to yield to each other's Motion. And here I would Note, That tho' in most Li­quid Bodies, this Doctrin may take place; yet I conceive it not altogether absurd, to Question, Whether Matter may not be so exquisitely agi­tated and divided, as to fill up these Vacuities, and to be squeez'd into any Figure, as Occasion requires. But not to spend Time in examining this Point at the present, I shall proceed

A Perpe­tual Motion if Parts re­quisite to Fluidity.3. To the Principal and last Requisite, in Mo­difying a Fluid Body; which is, That all the Par­ticles of a Fluid Body, should be separately and variously mov'd up and down, either by Virtue of some subtle Matter diffus'd through their Sub­stance, or an inherent Quality of their own. For the Difference betwixt Solid and Fluid Bo­dies, seems to consist in this, viz. That the Parts of Solids are at rest, and not so apt to yield to the Pressure of One's Finger, as the Parts of Liquids are, which are in Motion; since the Latter be­ing already agitated to and fro, it is much more easy to guide that Motion, than to put the Parts of a Body into Motion; whose Parts, according [Page 122]to the Laws of Motion, must be at rest, till mo­v'd by an Agent powerful enough to put them into Motion.

But when once they are put into Motion, by the same Laws, they must continue so, till stopp'd by some other Body; and consequently, they must be in a perpetual Change, as to their Places and Order: so that hence it appears, why some Bodies come to be so soft, since such small Parts of Matter, being in Perpetual Motion, must needs yield very easily to the Touch, and give way to the Impressions of other Bodies. And also, it cannot but dispose them easily to be confin'd by the Vessels they are contain'd in, and as apt to disperse themselves, when Liberty is given them.

Having premis'd this Brief Account of Fluidity, I shall now proceed to illustrate it by Experi­ments: And first, by that concerning Salt-Petre.

The Doctrin of Fluidity illustrated by Experi­ments. Salt-Petre then may become a Fluid Body, either by having the Particles of it dissolv'd in Water, so that they may move up and down, and to give way to the Impression of an External Agent, as the other Parts of that Liquid do; or it may put on a Liquid Form, by being ex­pos'd to the Air in a moist Cellar, where by run­ning per Deliquium, the Salt-Petre will be dissolv'd, and put on so far the Form of a Liquid, as to have all it's Parts in an Agitation, sufficient to rank it amongst Fluid Bodies.

But Salt-Petre may put on a Liquid Form, without the Addition of a Liquid Body; as first, It may be reduc'd to so fine a Powder, as to re­semble a Liquid, in the pouring of it out of one Vessel into another, besides the other Requisites [Page 123]of a Fluid Body; viz. That it hath Vacuities betwixt its Parts, and that they may be easily put into Motion; only they differ from the Parts of Liquids in some Respects, since the Powder hath not it's Parts always in Motion; besides the Vacuities are more sensible: But not­withstanding, if by the force of Fire each of these Parts be again subdivided, those insensible Corpuscles, being violently agitated, make up a Fluid Body: So the Particles of Metals, being by the same Agent seperated and put into Mo­tion, do not only move variously one amongst another, but are sometimes toss'd a considerable height into the Air. And not only Fire, but some other Bodies, which are sensibly Cold, may, pro­vided the Texture and Motion of their Parts be rightly dispos'd, reduce several Substances to a Liquid Form; so Camphire puts on the Form of an Oyl, when swimming upon Aqua fortis: And when Salt-Petre is by the Action of Fire, endow'd with a Fluid Form, it is equally a Fluid, as when incorporated with Water, there being very little difference betwixt these two States of Nitre; only that in the Former, the Agent, which keeps the Nitrous Parts in Motion, is more Vola­tile and Brisk, and divides it into smaller Parts, without making an Addition to its Bulk.

But, perhaps, it will be a Scruple, Whether the Powder of Nitre be an Imperfect Fluid, when pour'd out, or rather like a heap of Sand, not reduc'd to a permanent State of Fluidity: To remove this Scruple, we may take Powder of Alablaster, or instead of it, Plaster of Paris, and we shall find, that by putting it into a hot Vessel, by the continued Action of the Fire, the Parts of [Page 124]that Powder will be so agitated, and, by the As­sistance of the more Spirituous Parts, kept in Motion, as to Boil and emit Steams like a Fluid Body, and altogether resemble a Coherent Substance; yet, if it be remov'd from the Fire, it again subsides in the Form of a Powder, tho' for once again it will assume the Form of a Li­quid, if expos'd to a competent degree of Fire; yet when the Ebullition of the Parts of it are most violent, if a small Portion of it be thrown upon a piece of Paper, it appears to be nothing but a very fine Powder: From whence it is evident, that Fluidity depends on a vehement and various Agitation of Parts; which Fluidity the same Body may be depriv'd of, by losing that Intestine Motion.

What the Motion of the Parts of Fluids de­pends on.And thus it briefly appears how much Motion contributes to the Fluidity of Bodies. And here, tho' it would be very desirable to determine what is the Essential Cause of that Motion; yet since it is a Matter of too much Intricacy, it be­ing by some held to be inherent in Matter, and by others to be promoted by Impulse, I shall ra­ther pass it by, than enter upon an Examination of those two Points; especially, since there would be the same Necessity of Discussing others, which equally relate to the Cartesian Principles: It may therefore suffice in short, that neglecting the Unintelligible Doctrin of Substantial Forms, we rather ascribe it to those Catholick Affections of Matter, Motion, Shape, and Situation.

But to omit what we have elsewhere deliver'd concerning these Catholick Affections of Matter, we shall observe, what this Experiment further affords us: We are therefore to take Notice, That there [Page 125]is a difference remarkable betwixt a Fluid, and a Body which hath a Quality of Wetting Bodies which are Contiguous to them; since every wet Body is Fluid, but not vice versâ: For Air, Flame, Melted Liquors, or Salt-Petre, tho' fluid, are all void of a Wetting Quality.

Humidity a Relative Quality.Whence we are led to consider, That Humi­dity is but a Relative Quality, depending on the Congruity that one Body hath to stick to the Pores of another; whence some Fluid Bo­dies, whose Parts are not adapted, so as to ad­here to the Pores of other Bodies want that Qua­lity, as Quick-silver, which slips over the Sur­faces of most Bodies, without sticking to them; tho' in Respect of some (as Gold or Tin,) it may be esteem'd Fluid; since, inasmuch as it dissolves them, it hath much the same Virtue as Liquids have in softening other Substances: And that Humidity depends on an apt Configuration of the Parts of Matter, and their Congruity with the Pores of other Bodies, is further evident, since Water it self, in respect of some Bodies, is not moist as the Feathers of Swans, Ducks, &c. Add to this, That it is further observable, that when the Texture of a Liquor is chang'd, it may adhere to Bodies it would not stick to before: As for Instance, Tho' neither Quick-silver, Lead, Tin, or Tin-glass, will stick to Glass; yet a due Pro­portion of each mix'd together will presently, without the Assistance of Fire, adhere to it. That the Pores of a Body can­not be per­ceiv'd no Argument of their Non-exi­stence.

But further: If it be objected, That the In­sensible Agitation of the Parts of Fluid Bodies, are but Imaginary and Precarious; since the Smallness of them, makes them too fine to appear: I must answer, That since their Vacuities, are [Page 126]so small as not to be Visible, it is as impossible to discern their Parts, and consequently the Mo­tion of them; since one Part is so presently suc­ceeded by another, that the Eye hath always a whole heap before it, tho' separated by Pores so small as to be undiscerned. And tho' the. Vacuities betwixt the Parts of powdered Nitre, be so large, as to be discern'd by the Eye; yet when it's Corpuscles, by the Action of the Fire, are render'd more Minute, not only Salt-Petre, but Gold also, are said to possess a less Space, and consequently must leave less Vacuities be­twixt their Parts, and which are altogether In­visible to the Eye: For which reason the Body appears continuous.

The Motion of the Parts of Liquids variously determin'd.And that the Particles of Fluid Bodies, are in Motion, variously determin'd, appears from their Effects; since they not only penetrate, but putrify some Bodies, and presently dissolve them; as when Sugar is cast into Water, that sweet Substance is dissolv'd, and its Parts so much as­sociated with those of the Water, as to be car­ry'd up to the Top of it; which is further ob­servable in Sea-water, whose Salts upon Evapo­ration swim at the Top of the remaining Liquor; and it is not less remarkable, That a Solution of Gold in AquaRegis, will presently Tincture twenty times as much fair Water: And further, That the Particles of Flame may be discern'd to move very fiercely, even by the Eye, is commonly known, and further confirm'd, both by their Operations, and the Rays which every way ex­pand themselves, and strike against the Neigh­bouring Bodies. And that the Air hath it's Parts in a constant Motion, variously agitated, [Page 127]we have ä great deal of Reason to believe; since we may easily discern whole swarms of Motes swim up and down in the Sun-Beams: and not only so, but in clear Sun-Shine Days, we may perceive on the Walls of Churches, and other Spacious Buildings, certain obscure Shades to quiver and tremble: And we have yet a fur­ther Instance in Salt of Tartar, which, after Fusion, being for a considerable time left in a moist Cellar, will dissolve, and put on the Form of a Clear Liquor, by imbibing the Moistness of the Circumambient Air, which penetrates, and gets into the Pores of the Salt by an Intestin and Powerful Motion. And it is further to be Noted, That if in Summer, cold Water be put into a Glass, the moist Vapours which move about it, will be condens'd on the outward side of the Glass, and appear in the Form of Dew, those Moist Particles, which swim in the Air, being, by the Perpetual Motion of it's Parts, successively driven upon the External Superficies of it: In trying of which Experiment it is Re­markable, That the Dew on the out-side, was not to be observ'd above the Surface of the Li­quor contain'd in it. And these Relations are the less to be wonder'd at, if we consider, that so weighty a Body as Lead, may be rais'd in the Form of Smoke, a considerable height into the Air, by the Assistance of proper Vessels, plac'd in a convenient Furnace; which Smoke, will be soon scatter'd and dispers'd, by the Various Motion of Aerial Particles: And this Experiment does not only shew, that the Parts of Air are in a Perpetual Motion, but also how much the Minu­teness of them contributes to their Fluidity.

And tho' Quick-silver much exceeds any other Body in Weight, except Gold, yet it's Minute Parts, agitated and rais'd in the Form of a Va­pour, will, like other small Particles of Matter, glide to and fro in the Air; whence it hath often-times happen'd, that in Evaporating of it, several pieces of Gold have been so whitened over with the Fumes of it, as not to be got off again without a great deal of Trouble.

But to make it almost Visible, that the Parts of Liquid Bodies, are perpetually in a variously determin'd Motion, mix a Solution of unrefin'd Silver in Aqua fortis, with 15 times its Propor­tion of Fair Water, Decanting or Filtrating the clear Mixture: In which Liquor the Parts of the Silver are not in the least discern'd, tho' upon Immerging a Copper-Plate into it, the Particles of that Metal, which before swam up and down in the Mixture, presently adhere to the Copper, and crust it over with a Metalline Powder; and if the Copper Plates remain in that Liquor for a Night, the whole scatter'd Corpuscles of Silver will be collected together about them, the Li­quor being Tinctured with a Blue Tincture, by some Parts of the Copper, corroded and divi­ded into Parts, by the Salt Parts of the Aqua fortis. And to render this Experiment still more Useful, I have observ'd, That by letting a piece of Spiltre lye in this Tincture for some Days, the Copper Particles were gather'd round about that also, from all the Parts of the Liquor; which could not be, were not the Water in a Perpetual Intestin Motion; so that its Parts might, by often changing their Places, suc­cessively [Page 139]strike against the Spelter, and so leave the Silver behind.

To this Experiment may be added another, which I have long since try'd, when first I be­gan to consider the Reason of Fluidity. I drop'd then, into Spirit of Wine, moderately Deflegm'd, a small quantity of Oyl of Turpentine, letting it fall so far, that it might by the force of it be broke into small Drops, which by reason of their Tenacity, being unapt to mix with the Spi­rit, would swim upon it, and be mov'd up and down, variously and irregularly, by the Spirituous Parts of the Liquor, which struck against them in their Ascension; and whilst these Spirituous Parts continue to exhale, it is pleasant to be­hold, how the Globous Parts of the Oyl will sometimes be gather'd together, and almost unite, and presently after, be again dispers'd abroad, and move to and fro amongst one another; and this Motion would continue, till the most Agile and Spirituous Parts of the Liquor were wholly spent. And lest this Motion of the Oyly Parts, should be suspected to arise from some Antipathy betwixt it and the Liquor, I try'd the Experiment with small chop'd Straws, which were likewise impetuously, and confusedly mov'd up and down on the Superficies of the Spirit: From whence we may learn, That there may be an Intestin Motion of the Parts of a Liquid Sub­stance, tho' it be not discern'd by the Eye. I might here reckon up a great many more Phae­nomena exhibited by this Experiment; but it shall suffice to take Notice, besides what hath been already deliverd, That some of the afore­mention'd Spirit, being clos'd up in a Glass, [Page 128] [...] [Page 139] [...] [Page 128] [...] [Page 139] [...] [Page 140] Hermetically seal'd, to try whether the Oyly Drops would continue their Motion, when the Vinous Spirit could not exhale, the Vessel was presently broke, without any force otherwise discernible, than by the effects of it.

And that the small Parts of the most weighty Liquors, are actually in a Continual Motion, may not only appear from what hath gone before, but may be further confirm'd; since Quick-silver will not only penetrate into the Pores, but de­stroy the Texture of so solid a Metal as Foliated Gold: And Salt of Tartar, tho' cold, is able to extract Tinctures from several Bodies: And that the Parts of Oyl of Vitriol are in a Perpe­tual Motion, may be evinc'd, by the Corrosive Qualities of it, which it powerfully exerts with­out the Assistance of Heat, not only in Corroding Metals; but if pieces of Camphire be thrown into it, they are presently turn'd into an Oyly Substance. And whoever is unwilling to believe that there is an Intestin Motion of Parts in these two Oyls, may easily be undeceiv'd, by the Heat and Ebullition, which follows upon the Mixture of them agitated together in a Glass.

But here we are to observe, that tho' it be an Essential Property of Fluid Bodies, that one Par­ticle readily gives way to another; and that the other is as apt to succeed in the Place of it inter­changeably; yet that is not to be conceiv'd of all Fluid Bodies in General; but is to be understood only in such Bodies, as are either Simple and Homogeneous, or as have an Aptitude to mix with each other, as Wine and Water; since there are some Liquid Bodies, which will not be mix'd together; but like compact Substances, [Page 141]resist the Impressions of each others Superficies; and it is not a little strange that Lucretius and some other of the Antient Atomists should over­look so obvious an Observation, since it is ap­parent in Oyl, which will not mix with Wa­ter; but more eminently in Quicksilver, which denys to mix any of those Liquors which were familiar amongst them.

But to add an Experiment which is more re­markable, having so prepared and opened the Body of Copper with a sufficient Quantity of Sal Armoniack, as to render the prepared Mineral inflammable; I applied some Grains of it to the Wiek of a Candle, by the force of whose Flames it was not only Melted, but carried up along with the Tallow to the Bottom of the Flame; where it was observable, that the Flame of it was both lasting, and as distinct from that of the Candle, as if the two Flames had been separated by the Interposition of some other Body.

Why some Liquids are unapt to mix with each other.But to return to what I have said of the un­aptness of Liquors to mix with one another, the reason in general seems to be no other than the particular Texture and peculiar Motion of their Parts. And this I am the rather induced to believe, because Salt of Tartar, dissolved by the moistness of the Air into a Liquid Form, will readily mix with Spirit of Wine, the Texture be­ing only changed by an addition of Water; tho' before, they both had their distinct Su­perficies; and tho' mixed by a Violent Motion, yet would presently separate again, and each regain it's former Position. And Oyl or Spirit of Turpentine, gently drawn off from Sea-Salt, [Page 142]Melted or well Decrepitated, will readily mix with Spirit of Wine, though there was no sensible difference betwixt that Oyl and ano­ther which would not. Again, a Solution of Salt of Tartar, digested for some time with Oyl of Almonds, would be turned into a soft Saponary Substance; tho', by a strong Agitation, Lixivial Liquors cannot be mixed with Oyls. More­over, tho' cold Quicksilver will not mix with Oyl of Vitriol, yet, the boiling Oyl will, by piercing it's Substance, both alter and incor­porate with it.

The Super­ficies of Li­quids by pressing one against ano­ther, give each other a determi­nate Figure.There remains one thing, yet to be taken no­tice of concerning the Difference in fluid Bodies, which is, That some of them, which will touch each others Superficies without Mixture, will al­so reduce them to a determinate Shape. As for Instance, if Spirit of Wine be poured upon Oyl of Tartar per deliquium, tho' the contigu­ous Superficies of both be parallel to the Horizon, yet the upper Superficies of the Spirit will be endewed with a visible Concavity, if the Ex­periment be tryed in a slender Glass unstopped. In which Liquors it may be further noted, that upon a Mixture of Oyl of Almonds, it present­ly separated the one from the other, the Super­ficies of the Oyl of Almonds contiguous to the Oyl of Tartar, being Level as well as that, which was next to the Spirit of Wine: But if Oyl of Turpentine be poured upon it instead of Oyl of Almonds it will be divided into several Portions, some of which Swimming in the Spi­rit of Wine, will be of a Globular Figure, and o­thers which rise to the top of the Liquor, will be partly Level with the Superficies of the [Page 143]Liquor, and partly Sphaerical, on the immersed Superficies. And it may be yet further observed, that some Globular Parts would, tho' the Li­quor was shaken, continually Swim upon the Oyl of Tartar, being contiguous to it only in a Point. But what is more Remarkable is, that several drops of Oyl of Turpentine falling into the Spirit of Wine, lay upon the Superficies of the Oyl of Tartar, like so many Hemispheres, their convex Superficies being upwards; yet by degrees they became Globular, being equally pressed on every side, and touching the Oyl of Tartar only in a Point. And these Experiments I have the rather recited, because, they being added to that which may be observed in the Torrecellian Experiment by suspending Mercury in the Air (by admitting Air into the Glass Tube, so as to separate the Mercurial Pipe into several Short ones, which will have on each side a Superficies something convex) because I say, they might be of Use in Accounting for the different Con­figurations of Fluid Bodies, as well as the di­stinct Superficies of 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 [Page 144]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 [Page 145]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 [Page 146]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.

CHAP. XIII. Containing the History of Firmness.

ALTHO' the Compactness and Solidity of Bodies, is usually attributed to the Coa­gulating Qualities of a saline Ingredient, by the Chymists, yet since their Explications are [Page 158]not intelligible, I shall proceed to enquire after another Cause. First then

The Solidity of a Body being a Quality con­trary to Fluidity, A Definiti­on of Solidi­ty. seems to consist in this, viz. That the gross Parts of solid Bodies are so en­tangled and interwoven together, that they are unapt to diffuse themselves several ways, like flu­id Bodies; and that the Figure of their Super­ficies is rather to be attributed to the Connection of the Parts that compose them, than to the Impressions of outward Bodies. In which De­finition these three Things appear to be the Causes of Solidity, viz. Grossness of Parts, Rest, and the Implication of the constituent Parts.

The Gross­ness of the Parts of a Body con­tributes to its Solidity.And First, That the Grossness of the Parts of a Body contributes to the Solidity of it, is evident from what hath been already said of Fluidity; for if Minuteness of Parts is requisite to pro­duce such a Quality as Fluidity, it must follow that the Inaptitude that is in grosser Matter to be put in Motion must be a further Argument, That the Grossness of Particles is conducive to Firmness.

But here it is to be noted, that by Grossness or Minuteness of Parts, I would not pretend to decide the Controversy, Whether Bodies may be indefinitely divided into smaller Parts; but I would only intimate, that tho' mentally all Bo­dies may have an indefinite Divisibility, yet the Parts of solid Bodies are made up of a Number of such minute Parts, as convening together form those grosser Corpuscles, which, when united, are not to be dissolved by the external Impressions of ambient Air or Aether, or any [Page 159]thing else, usually reckon'd amongst the Causes of Fluidity.

Secondly, It is to be noted, That tho' I have said, that the Grossness of Bodies contributes to their Firmness, yet I would be understood to mean, caeteris paribus; for the gross Parts of a Body, by being broke and divided into smaller, may be so dispos'd, to lye nearer one another, so as upon their more close Union, to put on the Nature of Firmness more conspicuously, by affording a more full Contact to other Bodies, especially, if those minuter Parts be so adapted, as to leave smaller Pores betwixt them. But this being evident from what hath gone before, I shall pass on to

Rest contri­butes to the Solidity of Bodies.The other Requisite for the producing of so­lid Bodies, viz. Rest, which, tho' it is taken notice of by the Ingenious Des Cartes, yet since it is not confirm'd by Experimental Philosophy, I shall here illustrate it a little further; first ob­serving, that it is agreed on to be one of the Laws of Motion, That when a Body is at rest it will continue to be so, till forc'd to move by the Impulse of an outward Agent; and what­ever may be urg'd by some Atomists, concerning the Adhesion of the minute Parts of Matter, yet, that a Juxta-position of Parts is sufficient, with­out the Addition of a Cement, is evident; since several Pieces of Glass, if exactly fitted and polished, will adhere so firmly together, that by lifting up the uppermost the rest will adhere so closely as to be rais'd with them; which will also succeed, if two Marbles exactly polished and ground, have their Superficies ap­ply'd to one another; and it is further remark­able, [Page 160]that if two Glasses be rubb'd one against another, the one will be suspended at the other, without any visible Prop to support it, and pre­serve it from falling. But here it may be ne­cessary to take notice, that an exact and level Superficies is not always requisite to make the Experiment succeed, since a concave and a con­vex Glass rightly adapted will adhere with the same degree of Cohesion; an Example of which we have had in a Glass Stopple, duly adapted to the neck of a Bottle; by which the Bottle, containing a Pound weight of Liquor, might several times be lifted up from the Table; which could proceed from nothing, but the close con­tact of those two Bodies; unless it be urg'd, that by pressing the Stopple down the small As­perities of the one might be squeez'd into the small Pores of the other.

A Juxta-position of Parts, not the only Cause of their Adhe­sion.But tho' from hence it may be argu'd, that a bare Juxta-position is sufficient to account for the Cohesion of the Parts of some Bodies, yet it is not to be deny'd, but that their strict Contact may be promoted by the Spring and Pressure of the Atmo-sphere; since by reason of their Juxta-position, the Air, which presses upon the low­er Superficies, hath not an equal Pressure to ba­lance it on the other Side of the same Piece; it be­ing immediately contiguous to the lower Superfi­cies of the Piece adjoyn'd to it; by which Means the Pressure of the Air resisting the Gravity of the Glass, instead of tending towards the Centre it is boy'd up and press'd against the upper Piece, just as if a Board were press'd with ones Hand against the Cieling of a Room, which will con­tinue in that Place as long as the Pressure with [Page 161]ones hand is continu'd: And indeed, That the Air does so press upon the lower Superficies of Glass is but the natural Effect of the Weight and Spring of it, which being bent and press'd to­gether, by the Weight of incumbent Air, will naturally recoyl and fly back, from the Superfi­cies of the Earth, upon any Body which is in the Way to be press'd upon.

The Weight and Spring of the Air may contri­bute to the Cohesion of Parts.To confirm this Conjecture I shall add, that if a Piece of Glass be stuck to the Superficies of a Looking-glass parallel to the Horizon, it will stick fast to it, except it be mov'd by one Hand; but if the Horizontal Superficies be inclin'd, the smaller Glass will readily slip from one Side of the greater to the other, accordingly as it is differently inclin'd. The Reason of which is, partly because the Gravity of it does not resist the Horizontal Motion, but only that which tends from the Centre; and partly, or chiefly, because the Pressure of the Air on both Edges of the Glass is equal, and consequently its own Gravity makes it tend either this or that way, as the Glass is variously erected or inclin'd; where­as the Superficies adhering to the Looking-glass receives no Pressure proportionable to the Pres­sure of Air recoyling against the lower Surface. And for a like reason, if the neck of a glass Vi­ol full of Mercury be immers'd in fluid Quick-silver, the Bottle will continue near full, as long as the neck of the Glass is immers'd in the Quick-silver, tho' it be several ways inclin'd; the Reason of which seems to be, only the Pres­sure of the external Air upon the Surface of the Mercury; by which Means it is forc'd up against the Surface of the inverted Glass, so [Page 162]that for want of an equivalent Pressure upon the Mercury in the Glass it is kept from subsiding; for that it does not proceed from Nature's Ab­horrency of a Vacuum is plain, from what hath been try'd concerning the suspended Mercury in the Torrecellian Experiment; and that it may appear more fully, that the Exclusion of Air, as well as its immediate Contact, contri­butes to the keeping of Bodies from falling asun­der, it will suffice to relate, that having suck'd a good Quantity of Air out of a Bottle, and apply'd a Book which was next at hand to the Orifice, it stuck so firmly to it, that, tho' the Weight of it was 20 Ounces, it would be rais'd a considerable Height, and tho' but a small Part of its Superficies adher'd to the circular Edges of the Glass. The Reason of which seems to be no other, than that the Pressure of the ex­ternal Air overpowers the weak Resistence made by the Air in the Bottle; and since the Resi­stence of the internal Air is so weak, the whole Orifice of the Bottle seems in some Measure to be a common Superficies; for as much as the Pressure of the Air in the Bottle, scarce makes any sensible Impulse upon that Part of the Book encircled by the Edges of it.

The Solidi­ty of Glass depends on a Juxta-po­sition of Paris.And it is not altogether improbable, but that the compact Texture of Glass, may depend on a like Juxta-position of Parts, since the Parti­cles of Fire, in the making of it, may so divide the Parts of the Ingredients as to render them subtile enough for so strict and close a Uni­on, as is requisite to exclude Air from betwixt them; for it is not only obvious, That Air cannot penetrate the Pores of it, when heated [Page 163]in Distillation, but in blowing of Glasses where it hath not the least Vent; through the Pores of it, tho' impell'd with Force, yet its Pores are fine enough to give way to the Beams of Light and Heat, and likewise to the fine Effluvia of a Loadstone, without damaging the Texture of it in the least; nor would it be more absurd to conceive that the Parts of Salt-petre or Ice were after the like manner joyn'd together, by a Juxta-position.

But to return to the Place from whence we have made this short Digression; tho' from hence it appears, that the Spring of the Air may contribute to the Cohesion of the Parts of Solids; yet it is not altogether necessary, since the same may be accounted for by the Air con­sider'd barely as a Weight; for the Air being a fluid Body, and pressing by its Gravity towards the Centre, it must needs diffuse it self every way, when resisted by the Surface of the Earth, and consequently expand it self orbicularly, by which means the whole Pillar of Air incumbent on it, being virtually incumbent on the lower Superficies of the Glass, whatever separates one from the other, must out-balance that Pressure of the Air; otherwise (there being no Air betwixt the two Glasses) they must needs stick together; but it is not necessary that the contiguous Superficies of these two Glasses should be equal to the Horizon, since if they be perpendicular, the Sides of the Glasses have a collateral Pressure from the Pillars of Air pres­sing against them, and consequently the Diffi­culty must be as great to separate them.

But to try more exactly, How much the Pres­sure of the Air is concern'd in the former Expe­riments, we took two polish'd Marbles, as smooth as we could get, and fastned Wires to the up­permost, so that the lowest could not slide off the other Horizontally, but, if any way, must fall Perpendicularly; which Caution being observ'd, we found, the one would not only draw up the o­ther, but a Pair of Scales fixed to it with 16 Oun­ces of Troy Weight; and to make the Experiment more compleat we found, That when the Sur­faces of the Stones were wet with pure Spirit of Wine, the Air being by that Means kept from insinuating it self betwixt the Stones, the up­permost would not only draw up the other with a pair of Scales, but an hundred, and sometimes a hundred and thirty Ounces of Troy Weight; tho' the Diameter of the Stones exceeded not an Inch and two Thirds: But having repeated the Experiment with Oyl of sweet Almonds instead of Spirit of Wine, we found, that it took up above four hundred Ounces Troy Weight: And that it may not be suspected, That this Difference proceeds from the more clammy Parts of the Oyl, which caus'd the Stones to adhere more closely, I shall add, That the contiguous Surfaces being held perpendicular, tho' they would easily slide off each other, when moisten'd with Oyl, yet would they not slip down, when moistned with Spirit of Wine, without an additional Weight joyn'd to one of them, the Protuberances of one, perhaps, being fastned in the Pores of the other.

But to shew, That the Adhesion of these po­lish'd Marbles is proportionably greater as the Diameter of them is larger, and consequently as they are press'd together by a larger Pillar of Air, I repeated the same Experiment with Spi­rit of Wine, and took up about four hundred and seventy Ounces; but when I made use of Oyl of Almonds, the Weight rais'd, was much more considerable, being a Thousand three hundred and forty four Ounces of Troy Weight; besides at the same time the Marbles were ob­serv'd to stick close together: And here again, lest it should be suspected, that the Oyl made the Adhesion more close, I shall relate this Ob­servation, viz. That tho' it requir'd so great a Weight to separate these Stones when their con­tiguous Surfaces were in an Horizontal Line; yet would they easily slide one upon another, not unlike the contiguous Glasses before mention'd; and for the same Reasons; and if they were the least inclin'd either this way or that, their own Weight was sufficient to separate them: From whence it appears how much the Air may be concern'd in compressing the Particles of solid Bodies together.

And lest it should be further objected, That the Cohesion of these Stones rather proceeds from Nature's Abhorrency of a Vacuum, than the Cause assign'd by us, I shall add these Consi­derations; First, That if it were so, the same Reason would hold when a much more consi­derable Weight is fastned to the lower Marble; yet we see, that then, notwithstanding Nature's Abhorrency of a Vacuum, they presently part. Secondly, That the Pressure of the Air is suffi­cient [Page 166]to account for it: Which to make it more plausible I shall add, that tho' the Stone were fastned to the Ground, yet it would require as much Force, to separate the Uppermost from it in a Perpendicular Line, as to lift up a weight aequiponderant with the Stone, and the Pil­lar of Air incumbent on it, since there is nei­ther Air, nor any other Body, betwixt the two Stones to help to raise the Lower up, and in part to sustain the weight of the incumbent Atmosphaere; and therefore it needs not seem strange, that when the lower Marble and the weight affixed to it, is not sufficient to ballance the weight of the Atmosphaere, it should rise a­long with the Uppermost when drawn up, ra­ther than be separated from it; since it is usual, for two Bodies, when joyned together, to move the same way, if they be not separated by Weights or some other Force; which is obser­vable in trying of Load-stones; for if the Load-stone be able to raise a Body more ponderous than it self, the Knife will as soon raise the Load-stone as the Load-stone will lift up the Knife.

To Illustrate what hath been said I shall add an Experiment registred amongst my Adver­saria, which is this, viz. Having immerged a Glass Syphon with a Brass Valve cemented on one end, almost half a Yard in a tall Cucur­bite, till it touched the Bottom, I filled it with Water, till the Superficies of the Water in it, was equal to that in the Cucurbite, which being done, I took a pair of Scales, putting an Ounce weight into one Scale, and fixing a String to the other, one end of the String being likewise fastned to the Valve, fixed to the bottom of [Page 167]the Glass Tube; where it was to be observed, that by that single Ounce I was able to open the Valve, whereas when the Water was poured out of the Pipe, and it was immersed again, the Valve would not be open'd again without the Additional weight of four Ounces; And in this Experiment it was further to be obser­ved, that as the Valve was raised higher and higher in the Cucurbite, a weight portionably less was sufficient to open it. In which Expe­riment, if fuga Vacui resisted the opening of the Valve, it would have required the same weight at the top of the Water as in the Bot­tom, the Valve being in both places under Water. And therefore the difference rather proceeds from the Compressure of the Ambient Water, that presses the Parts of the Valve to­gether. And tho' Air be a Body much more light than Water, yet considering that the difference is but about as much as 1000 to 1, and that the Particles of Air, which press upon our Atmosphaere, are incumbent upon each other for several score Miles in height; it is not absurd to expect, that their pressure should be considerable, and sufficient to press the two Marbles together.

For a further Confirmation of our Doctrine of Firmness, to this I shall add another Experi­ment, which is, that having suspended the afore­mention'd coherent Marbles in a large Glass, when the Air was considerably exhausted the lower presently fell from it; And tho' the uppermost was let down to it, yet it could not be raised, till fresh Air was admitted into the Glass again, and then they were again pressed [Page 168]strongly together and became coherent as in the open Air.

Rest it self for the most part suffici­ent to cause Rest.But to return to our Discourse from which these Experiments have made a Digression; tho' the Pressure of the Air may so joyn Bodies to­gether, as to make them coherent; yet gene­rally, Rest it self is sufficient to render a sub­stance Solid; for since from what we have said above, concerning Fluidity, it appears, that it depends on the Motion of Minute Parts one a­mongst another; to deprive Matter of that Motion is enough to render it Solid, the Parts of a Solid being contiguous and at rest.

The Opini­ons of some Antients and Mo­derns brief­ly refuted.I know it is by all Philosphers, whether Mo­dern or Antient, usually held, that there is something else requisite to keep the Parts of a stable Body together: For some hold, that a Substantial Form is requisite; but since it is equally as difficult to conceive, how Matter should be so variously united in several Substances, by a substantial Form as without it, we may as well fly to imaginary Substances which are united by their peculiar Texture.

Others think, that the Particles of solid Bodies are linked together by a Spirit dif­fused throughout the World, or by a certain sort of Glue, which Glews their small Corpuscles together. But as to the first its altogether un­likely; for it may as well be a Question how those Parts stick to the Spirit, as how they stick to one another themselves; and it will be no less difficult to conceive, how the Particles of that Spirit it self come to be fastned together. Be­sides, were that true, it would follow, that Ice, which is looked upon as a Body void of Spirit, [Page 169]must abound with it; since the Parts of that brittle Substance, could not be joyned by a Spirit which was not betwixt them: Nor is it more Reasonable to suppose them joyned by a Cement, since it might likewise be asked, how the Parts of that Cement were linked together, which should it be affirmed to be done by a Sub­stance yet finer, the Question might still be con­tinued ad Infinitum; so that, it would at last be allowed, that some Parts of Matter must ad­here without a Cement, or there must be Ce­ments finer one than another ad Infinitum; which since it cannot be allowed, we may as well sup­pose, that the Parts of a Body adhere without a gross Cement, as that the Parts of a subtile Cement can stick together without another Sub­stance to Cement them; especially, since the Corpuscles of a Body may be so figured and contrived as to be linked amongst one another very firmly; an agreeable Contact, with a real rest of Parts, contributing to render the united substances a Solid Body.

But in favour of the former Opinion, it is urged by some, that the Spirit which they sup­pose joyns the Parts of a Body together, con­sists of Parts indivisible; and consequently, there is no need of another substance to Unite them: But since Bodies as Solid and Adamantine as these can be supposed to be may be broke, a bare Affirmation must not be taken for Proof; for to suppose, that these Parts of Matter were made up of hooked Parts; it would be as rea­sonable to believe, that those hooked Parts might not be broke, as that by a violent Agent the Particles of the most Solid Bodies cannot be divided, since it is plain they may.

But to proceed, The last thing we suppos'd necessary to constitute a Body, was the Texture of its Parts; and indeed tho' a Juxta-position and Rest of the Parts of a Body, are sufficient to render it Solid; yet if those Parts are more in­timately interwoven with one another, so as to be linked together like Hooks, it must contri­bute to render the Body much more firm, Parts so joyned, being much more difficultly separa­ted, and put into Motion, than those which have only an immediate Contact; And it may not a little serve to confirm our Opinion, to take Notice, that in an Egg or Water, by a meer alteration of Texture, the Disposition of Corpuscles of those Substances are considerably changed; as when an Egg is, by the insinuation of the Parts of Fire, so altered, as to become hard; or as when the Latter as well as Water is beaten into a Froth, which in some Measure is like a Solid Body, as long as they continue in that Form.

Having thus far inquired into the conjunct Causes of Solidity, we shall consider briefly, how many Ways a Body may come to be so Modified, and what things are requisite to make Bodies apt to put on such a Form.

The Figure of the Parts of a Body contribute to their So­lidity.The first and most remarkable thing is the Fi­gure and Shape of the Parts of Matter, as if they be hooked or otherwise shaped, so as to entangle one within another, they will be with more difficulty separated; which is evident in close-set Hedges, where by pulling away one Bough the slender Twigs of others interwoven with it, make it harder to be separated; and not [Page 171]without pulling some others along with it; [...]o likewise the slender Threds, which make up Cables, being twisted and wound one within another, are capable of sustaining a much grea­ter Weight, and require much more Force, to braeke them. And indeed this Configuration of Parts seems to have been the Opinion of the antient Atomists, of which Lucretius hath given the following Account in these Verses;

And indeed the correspondent Figures of Bodies may be so numerous, that the same Par­ticles, which before in two distinct Bodies were Liquid, may, by an Union, have their Parts so interwoven with one another, as to be­come Solid; an Instance of which hath been given in the foregoing Chapter concerning Salt-Petre, where by a Mixture of a Liquor distilled from Nitre, with a Mixture of fixed Nitre run per Deliquium, a third Substance will be obtain'd firm and brittle, viz. a Saline Body. To this I shall add another, mentioned with a different design by Lully and Hartman, which is the follow­ing, viz. If two Parts of rectifyed Spirit of Wine; be mixed with one of Spirit of Urine ex­quisitely Dephlegmed, they will in a Minute unite into a consistent Body; but in this Experi­ment [Page 172]it is to be Noted, that the Spirits must be more rectified than those usually made use of by the generality of Chymists; and I shall further observe, that having my self had the Curiosity to try it, I found that Spirit of Harts-horn well rectifyed would have the same Effects, if made use of instead of Spirit of fermented Ʋrine. And it may be fit yet further to observe that tho' there was such a predisposition in the Parts of fermented Ʋrine to Coagulate with Spirit of Wine, yet the highest Spirit of unfermented Ʋrine be­ing of a different Texture would not Coagulate as the former. And it is further to be noted, that if this white Coagulum was kept in a Glass well stopped for some Months, by the means of Heat it would be Melted into a limpid Liquor; those Parts of the Liquor which were intangled one within another being broke and dissolved, so that the Particles of the united Liquors being again restored to such Figures as would enable them to move upon one another's Surfaces, the Coagulum assumed the Form of a Fluid Body.

To this I shall subjoyn two Experiments which seem to have an Affinity with the former; the first is, That rectified Spirit of Wine, by being digested with Saccharum Saturni prepared with Spirit of Vinegar, so far changed its consistency as to remain in a Glass without floating as a Liquid when the Glass was inclin'd; the Second is, That by the Addition of a dry Body, from whence nothing could be obtain'd by the help of the Fire, to the Coagulum just now mention'd, the result of this Mixture was a permanent Liquor.

But for as much as the fore-mention'd Experi­ment [Page 173]which produc'd the Coagulum upon the Mixture of Spirit of Wine and Urine is difficult to be performed, since it is a hard Matter to ob­tain Spirits fine enough for such a pourpose, I shall subjoyn a more easy one, which is, That if Spirit of Salt be added to the White of an Egg beaten to a certain Thinness, the Mixture will be so much Coagulated as not to afford the least Drop, tho' the Glass in which the Experiment is tryed, be turn'd with the Mouth downwards for a considerable time. And Sir Francis Bacon relates an Experiment much to the same purpose; which is, That if the White of an Egg be shaken with Spirit of Wine it presently turn into such a Coagulum as will not yield one Fluid Drop in a Minutes time, and tho' that great Naturalist at­tributes the Effect of this Mixture, to the Heat of the Spirituous Parts; yet I rather think it the Effect of the particular Texture of its Saline Parts, since other Salts which are accounted cool, have the same Effect; And not only so but tho' Spirit of Wine will Coagulate the Whites of Eggs, yet it hath not that Effect upon the Serum of Mans Blood, tho' the Heat of the Fire will Coagulate the one as well as the other.

But it does not only experimentally appear, that a consistent Body may result from a Mix­ture of two Fluids, but also that a Fluid may un­dergo such an Alteration as to be changed into two Consistent Bodies; and this is evident in distilled Sallet Oyl, since the Substance drawn over is devoid of Fluidity as well as that which remains behind; and to make it appear, that the Reason of it is the bare result of Texture and the hooked Figures of its Parts, if we add to [Page 174]the Oyl a sufficient Quantity of Common Salt, it affords an Oyl, which falls in drops into the Re­ceiver, and retains its Fluidity. And to this it may be added, That by adding two pound of Brandy, and one of Sea-Salt to eight Ounces of Oyl of Amber, the Texture of that Oyl was so far from being so chang'd, as to come over clear and transparent; as Essential Oyls drawn off in Lim­becks, usually do. To which we may likewise add, That the Texture of Oyl of Aniseeds, di­still'd in a Limbeck and Refrigeratory, with a sufficient Quantity of Water; will, by the Win­ter's Cold, be coagulated into a white brittle Substance, tho' it continues Fluid all the Summer.

The Tex­ture of Bo­dies contri­butes to their Flui­dity, or Fir­mness.And to make it further appear, how much the Alteration of Texture contributes to the Fluidity, or Firmness of Bodies; and to what weak, and al­most inconsiderable Agents, those Effects may be attributed; I shall subjoyn another Experi­ment, which shews, that the Particles of a Body may be sufficiently agitated, to render it Fluid, by another not sensibly hot; for having melted coagulated Oyl of Aniseeds by the Fire, and put it into two Glasses; the one was congulated again in a short time; yet the other continu'd dissolv'd, being only cover'd over with a Men­struum, in whose Parts there is no sensible Heat.

To this I shall add another, of a much like Nature, which is the following. Having pow­der'd some of that brittle Gum or Colophony, which remains upon the Evaporation of about a fourth Part of Venice Turpentine, I mix'd so much of it with Spirit of Wine, that, the Li­quor being wholly impregnated with it, some part might remain undissolv'd; which never­theless [Page 175]had its Parts put into an Agitation, suf­ficient to render it, in some measure, a Fluid, tho' a Viscous Substance, notwithstanding the Force of the Menstruum was spent upon what had been dissolv'd; but tho' this Substance was kept in a Fluid Form in the Menstruum; yet in the Air, it would harden in a little time. And in this Experiment, it is likewise observable, That tho', by a violent Agitation, the Viscid Matter was mix'd with the Menstruum, yet it presently separated, and subsided again.

The Tex­tures of Li­quots con­tribute to their Mix­ture.And this suggests to my Memory an Experi­ment, which shews how much the Textures of Liquors contribute to their Mixtures with each other; for tho' it be usually in General asserted by the Chymists, That Salts and Oyls will not mix together; yet I obtain'd an Opacous Liquor, like Balsam in Consistence, from a Mixture of an equal weight of Oyl of Turpentine, and Oyl of Vitriol: And that it might more evidently ap­pear, that the Mixture of these two Fluids, de­pends on the peculiar Texture of each, I com­mitted the Mixture to Distillation; and obtain'd a gross Substance, which seem'd to be that which united the other Liquors: For as soon as this was drawn off, the Liquors presently succeeded, but separate one from another, being not to beunited again, by a Violent Agitation, but so as to se­parate again, and swim one upon another. To this may be added the Liquor, which we have mention'd in another place, obtain'd by Distil­lation from Benzoin: One Part of it always continuing in the Form of an Oyl; and the other, according to the Difference of the Weather, ei­ther shooting into clear Crystals, or preserving [Page 176]it's Fluid and Oyly Form. To which may be subjoyn'd what we have formely taken Notice of concerning Salt-Petre; which, tho' when mix'd with Water, it becomes Fluid; yet, upon an Evaporation of some Part of that, it presently shoots in Solid Chrystals: From whence it not only appears, what a gentle Agitation of Parts is sufficient to keep a Body Fluid; but from hence we may observe, That sometimes Solid Bodies result from a Mixture of Liquids: So Oyl of Vi­triol, distill'd with Quick-silver, leaves a white Calx behind it; and if we consider how Mercurius Dulcis is prepar'd, we shall find, that that Solid Substance consists for the most part of Quick­silver, the Salts united with it being scarce one Part of three of the Composition. And tho' Fluidity be opposite to Solidity, yet may it conduce to the Production of a Solid Body, since those Particles which lie in the Form of a Powder, and are not in a capacity to unite, may, by swimming in a Fluid, have the Opportunity of frequent Occursions, so that their Motion bring­ing them often together, they may, in time, be dispos'd to unite into one Body; which is evi­dent in Powder of Alablaster; which, if when it hath been boyl'd for a considerable time, it be well burnt, and reduc'd to the Consistence of a thin Pap, with clear Water, will become firm, and admit of, as well as retain, any Form im­press'd upon it, by the Internal Surface of whatever Mould it is cast in: Where, that the Parts of the Alablaster are put into Motion, and variously agitated in the Water, is evident, from that sensible Heat, which for some time, suc­ceeds the Affusion of Water; and this hath been [Page 177]sufficiently experienc'd, by filling a Glass full of this Mixture, which some time after it was stop­p'd, broke the Viol, and harden'd into a Sub­stance, correspondent in shape to the Cavity of it; several Spoons-full of this Liquor it was moisten'd with, being squeez'd out at a Crack, which was made by the Swelling of the Powder; and this Substance acquires such a Degree of Firmness, as to endure several strokes with a strong piece of Iron, without breaking.

But there are several other Substances, which may acquire a greater degree of Solidity, than the Powder of Alablaster burnt; for the Learned Hydrographer Furnier, Hydrograph. lib. 2. cap. 6. relates a Story of a sort of Sand in the King­dom of Naples, near Cuma and Puteoli, two parts of, which mix'd with a third of Quick-lime, be­comes a hard Substance like Flint, when it hath lain or some time in the Water: To which Re­lation he subjoyns, That the Lime-ashes of a certain Marble, near Tournay in Holland, being cast into Water, upon a heap of Stones, petri­fies to that degree, as to change into a Substance as hard as Marble.

But to return to what we have digress'd from, That the Variously determin'd Motions of the Parts of Matter, contributes to their Union and Coalitions, into Solid Substances, appears from those Curious Salts, which Spontaneously shoot and Crystallize in the Bottom of Spirit of Harts-Horn, when it hath been expos'd to the Air for several Months: For those Particles, by fre­quent Occursions, are by degrees so dispos'd to unite, that at the length those Parts, which [Page 178]are most apt to cohere, meeting together, they form exquisitely figur'd Crystals, which adhere to the sides of the Vessel. And it is not less Remarkable, That tho' a Tincture of Amber, drawn with pure Spirit of Wine, for some Years continu'd Fluid; yet, at the last, some of its Parts were so combin'd, as to form little Par­cels of Amber, almost Spherical in Shape, which adhered partly to the Sides, and partly to the Bottom of the Vessel.

Solidity may proceed from the In­terposition of the Mi­nute Parts of another Body.But there are yet other ways, by which Bo­dies may become Compact and Solid, as first by the Insinuation of Small Particles of Matter, into their Pores and Recesses; which may pro­duce their Effects various ways: First, by dri­ving out those Particles, which being dispos'd to Motion, hinder'd the Cohesion of the Fluid Parts. Secondly, by obstructing the Motion of the Fluid Parts: And, Thirdly, by altering the Constituent Parts of the Fluid, so as to render them unapt for Motion, and inclinable to a mu­tual cohesion: So the Particles which constitute Rennet, by Uniting with some Parts of the Milk they are mix'd with, link them together, and cause them to unite into a Coagulum; and that the Parts of the Rennet cause them to coagulate; and that they unite those Viscid Parts, and link them together, is plain; since it is a usual Complaint that the Cheese made where Rennet is us'd, tastes very strong of it. And that the Coagulating Virtue depends on the Saline Parts of the Rennet, appears; since other Acid. Li­quors have the like Effect in Coagulating Milk, as Juice of Limmons, &c. as also a very small Quantity of Oyl of Vitriol, artificially mix'd with [Page 179]it. To which I shall add, That some Years past, I prepar'd a certain Salt, endew'd with Qualities not unlike those ascrib'd to Glauber's Sal Mira­bilis; which would not only, like other Salts, when dissolv'd in Water, upon Evaporation, shoot into Crystals, it self; but also would coa­gulate, and Crystallize a treble Quantity of Wa­ter with them, which would so far put on the Nature of a Salt, as to become brittle, and to be reducible to Powder.

A Liquor turn'd into a Consistent Body, by the Addition of a Powder.And it may not be fruitless here to subjoyn, That tho' the Particles of Oyl of Vitriol, be in so violent an Agitation, as to acquire a Sen­sible Heat, upon their Mixture with some Bo­dies; yet I so alter'd the Texture of that Li­quor, as, by a Mixture of a certain whitish Powder of my own Preparation, to render it a Consistent Body: In which Experiment, it was observable, That several Days, after the Oyl was coagulated, the Powder remain'd undis­solv'd in the Bottom of the Viol; so that the Coagulation seem'd to be effected by some subtile Effluvia, insinuating themselves into the Pores of the Liquor. To this Experiment, I shall subjoyn another, in which the same Effect was produc'd, by leaving Oyl of Vitriol upon Crystals of Salt-Petre well dry'd; where it was to be noted, That the Oyl was not only Coagulated, but seem'd to be joyn'd together, by certain Fibres, which were form'd out of the Saline Effluvia of the Salt-Petre, dispers'd through the Body of the Oyl. And that those subtle Effluvia, which insinuate themselves into the Pores of a Fluid Body, may so alter the Texture, as to render it Solid, is more eminently evident, from the Fumes of [Page 180] Lead, which Coagulate and harden, Quick­silver; and that Lead, does really emit such Fumes, is evident, from the Effects which a Physician] observ'd in himself; viz. both Vo­miting and Purging, by barely holding his Head over melted Lead, several times successively. and it hath been observ'd by the Famous Geo­metrician Dr. Wallis, That the Fumes of Lead, have, by being several times melted, been so spent, that the Lead, after the first time it was melted, sometimes lost it's a Coagulating Vir­tue. And Phaenomena not much different from the former, are exhibited by the following Expe­riment: For if either Common, A Fluid turn'd So­lid. or Oyl of Sweet Almonds, be pour'd upon Aqua fortis, the Steams of the Latter will soon Coagulate either of them; whereas if Camphire, which is a brittle Substance, were cast upon the same Aqua fortis, it would be turn'd into an Oyly Substance; A Solid Bo­dy turn'd Fluid. which shews how much the Effluvia of Bodies may contribute to Fluidity, or Firmness, accordingly as the Bo­dies acted on, are pre-dispos'd to assume diffe­rent Forms: And before I leave this Experiment, it may be material to take Notice, That tho' Oyl of Tartar, per Deliquium, be endew'd with an Extraordinary Faculty of Mortifying Acids, yet it would not reduce the Coagulated Oyl to a Fluid Form.

But to proceed: The Last way by which such Penetrating Effluvia may conduce to the Soli­dity of Bodies, is, by putting those Bodies into such Violent Motions, as they may, by being impell'd upon, and knock'd one against another, be dispos'd to Union, and to be entagl'd one within another.

And tho' this Concurrent Cause, never acts separately, without the Joynt-Action of the aforemention'd Ways, yet is it necessary to make a Distinction; because this differs from the For­mer, in as much as these Effluvia, contrary to the other, make up no part of the Body, upon which the Alteration is wrought, but only agi­tate the Parts of it: So that the Figure and the Texture of the Parts of the Body, become diffe­rent from one another, A Compli­cation of Parts suffi­cient to ren­der a Body Solid. and more complicated. And that a bare Complication of Particles, is suf­ficient, in a great Measure, to render a Body stable, will appear from an Observation very common; viz. That That tho' from a heap of Osiar-wands, a single Twig may be taken, with­out removing the rest; yet if they be twisted together in the Form of a Basket, the whole follow upon the taking up of one; and the same may be observ'd, in most of the Works of Mechanicks. And what great Effects bare Motion may have, in altering the Textures of Bo­dies, is manifest, and very obvious in Churning; where the Branched Particles, which are dis­pers'd and diffus'd through the whole, by fre­quent Occursions, are so freed from the rest of the Liquor, that they presently unite, and form that soft Oyly Substance call'd Butter; and not only so Homogeneous a Body as Milk, may be so al­ter'd by Motion, but even Oyl of Turpentine, may be render'd a Consistent Body, without the Assistance of any other Agent, than Mo­tion given to it's Parts by Distillation, the Sub­stance drawn off being a Stable and Consistent Coagulum. And to illustrate farther, what we have deliver'd of Fluidity and Firmness; I shall [Page 182]add the following Experiment; viz. That Oyl of Wax, being distill'd, afforded a Substance not unlike Butter; which when it had stood a while, was dissolv'd, without the Influence of any Ex­ternal Heat, into a Transparent Oyl.

A Change of Qualities succeed a Change of Texture.But further: Fluidity and Firmness so much depend upon Texture, that the same Corpuscles, which united one way form a Fluid, by an op­posite Texture, may become Solid, and è con­versò: And this is not only evident, in Water successively Froze and Thaw'd again; but also in Metals, which, after Fusion, put on their Pri­stine Form, upon Cooling: But a more Emi­minent Instance is, That Quick-silver being kept in a Sand-Furnace, for about ten Weeks, in a Glass-Vessel well stopp'd; the Particles of that Body, being variously entangl'd and wound to­gether, constitute a Red Powder; which may, by Chymists, be precipitated per se; and in a few Hours, if a quantity of Quick-silver be distill'd in a Glass Retort, a Red Powder, like the for­mer, will remain in the Bottom, as well as about the Sides of the Vessel: In which wonderful Phaenomenon, it is not absurd to imagine, that the Change is wrought, much after the same man­ner as in Whites of Eggs, which by an Altera­ration of Textures, become hard; or, that by frequent Revolutions, the Parts of that Liquor are so link'd one within another, as to put on a different Form; and whatever may be the Me­thod by which this Change is effected, yet, that it depends on an Alteration of Texture, is most certain; since that Powder being rais'd in the Form of Fumes, in a convenient Glass, condens'd into Running Mercury, in the Neck of it.

But to prove further how much Motion, or Rest, contributes to the Fluidity or Solidity of Bo­dies, I shall add, That I once had Mercury, which I looked upon to be Mercury of Saturn, which by being barely agitated to and fro, would put on the Form of a Black Powder, which would again be­come fluid Mercury, by grinding it in a Glass-Mortar.

Fluids con­sist not of Parts divi­sible into Fluids, as Quantity into Quan­tity.From which Experiments of Mercury, we may learn, what may be thought concerning the Opinions of some Modern Philosophers, who are of Opinion, That Fluid Bodies may be divided into Fluid Bodies, as Quantity into Quantity; as if every Particle of a Fluid Body, must be Fluid it self; since, from the aforemention'd Expe­riments, it is evident, that the Particles which constitute Fluids, are Solid in themselves; foras­much as, upon a bare Change of Texture, they ap­pear in that Form; which is render'd further probable, if not evident, both since the Par­ticles of which Salt consists, being dissolv'd in Water, put on, as to Sense, the Forms of Fluids; as well as, because the Corpuscles of so Solid a Body as Silver, do the same, when dissolv'd in Aqua fortis: And on the contrary, the Calx, re­maining behind, after a Distillation of Quick­silver, with four times its quantity of Oyl of Vitriol, in a Sand-Furnace, is a Consistent Sub­stance, which, if dissolv'd in Water, will after Evaportion, shoot into very brittle Crystals; which rather proceeds from the Parts of the Oyl condens'd, than from those of the Metal; since the Calx remaining behind, exceeded the weight of the Mercury, the Liquor drawn off, being not equal to that of the Oyl. And [Page 184]I am further confirm'd in this Opinion, because I have observ'd several Crystals sometimes to adhere to the Sides of a Glass, in which Oyl of Vitriol was contain'd, which were again re­solv'd when expos'd to the open Air into the pristine Form of Oyl. But it may be further urg'd, as an Argument against the Divisibility of fluid Bodies into such fluid Parts, that if it were so, all Bodies would be equally dispos'd to insinuate themselves into the Pores of other Bo­dies; and it would not happen, that one Body should be more inclin'd than another.

Motion as well as Mi­nuteness of Parts requi­site to Flui­dity.It is not indeed to be deny'd, but that a fluid Body may be divided into very small Parts, consider'd barely as Matter; and that Minute­ness of Parts may render it more apt for Moti­on, and consequently more fluid; but it does not therefore follow, That the Parts of a fluid Body are indefinitely so divided, because consi­der'd as Matter, they may be Mentally, since it does not appear, that they are Naturally so divi­ded: Besides, to render a Body fluid, Motion as well as Minuteness of Parts is requisite, which appears from what we have said before concerning Powder of Alablaster, which puts on the Form of a fluid, by having its Parts vio­lently agitated. But

Solidity not altogether proceeding from Saline Parts.From what hath been already premis'd it ap­pears likewise, What Thoughts we are to en­tertain of the Doctrin of the Chymists, who assert, That Coagulation, Stability, &c. are the Effects of saline Parts. For tho' Salt hath a Power to curdle Milk and coagulate other Hu­mors; yet the hardning Properties of it are not the Effects of any inexplicable Qualities in­herent [Page 185]in it; but of the Shape and Motion of the Particles which constitute it, which, by in­sinuating themselves into the Pores of a Body, and sticking several Parts together, do like a Wire fasten them one to another. But notwith­standing the saline Parts of a Body may thus contribute to the Solidity of it, yet it is not an Ingredient altogether necessary; since the Parts of a Body may be so interwoven, and, by rea­son of their Figure and Contexture, be so dis­pos'd to Union, as to form a solid Body without the Association of a saline Ingredient; besides, it might be urg'd, That Salts themselves may easily be reduc'd into fluid Substances, by a Mixture of Water; and several of them, as Salt of Tar­tar, &c. will, without the Addition of any other Body, barely by being expos'd to the Air, be render'd fluid.

But not to insist upon these Instances, I shall rather desire to know, what Salt can be sup­pos'd to insinuate it self into, and cause Solidity in Mercury, when it coagulates in the Fumes of Lead? Or what Access of saline Parts can be imagin'd in the Preparation of Mercury preci­pitated per se? And it may as well be question'd, how any saline Body can penetrate the fine and subtle Pores of Glass? When, in a cold Night the Water contain'd in it is frozen, and is tur­ned to so consistent a Substance as Ice. And it may be likewise noted, That tho' the Shells of Hens Eggs be soft when first lay'd, yet they pre­sently harden without the Addition of any other saline Ingredient. And that this Effect cannot be wholly attributed to the Influence of the Air, it may be urg'd, that it hath often­times [Page 186]been observ'd, That Shells have been found hard several times in the very Bodies of the Hens, before they were laid.

But that which I look upon to be a more con­vincing Argument, is, that in Aegypt, where Eggs are hatch'd by the Influence of a moderate external Heat, that fluid Substance is chang'd into several Parts, of very different Degrees of Consistency, without the Addition of any other Body, or the Accession of a new Salt.

But further, I shall make use of Arguments drawn from the Concessions of the most Emi­nent of their own Writers; for in transmuting of Quick-silver into Gold, by a white or red Tincture, the Quantity of it being only a Grain to a Pound of Quick-silver; it may justly be demanded, How so small a Quantity should change six or seven Thousand times its Weight, whereas even that Grain is not altogether sa­line, Part of it being a▪ sulphureous Substance? And it is observ'd, that Helmont affirms upon his own, as well as the Experience of Raymond Lully, that if the Alkahost were drawn from Quick-silver, the fluid Mercury would be so coagulated, as to be capable of being reduc'd into a Powder, tho' not the least of the saline Liquor was left behind. And I am credibly inform'd that the present Duke of Holstein hath by him a certain Glass Spirit of Urine, which in cold Weather shoots into Crystals, and in warm dissolves into a limpid Liquor, which Spi­rit was no otherwise prepar'd than by cohoba­ting the distill'd Spirit so often, till the whole saline urinous Substance was brought over uni­ted together into one Mass.

And for a further Confirmation of the Do­ctrin by us deliver'd, to these I shall add, that it hath been observ'd, that if so much as Juice of Lemmons falls into a Caldron of Sacharine Syrup, it keeps the whole Mass from Thick­ning into a Sugar; and this is confirm'd, both by the French Publisher of the Natural and Mo­ral History of the American Islands, call'd Les Isles Antilles Histor. Moral. Cap. 5. and also by Gulielmus Piso Histor. Nat. & Med. Brasil. l. 4. c. 1. the latter of which expresses himself in these Words, Si Momentum succi Limonis, vel Acidi quid injiciatur, Sacchari Consistentiam nun­quam acquiret, sed in totum perditur; and it may be further observ'd to our present Purpose, that in making of Sugar, the Juice squeez'd out of the Canes, is usually first depurated in large Vessels of Copper, from whence it is remov'd into Vessels of a less Size, in order to a farther Depuration; where we are to note also, that whilst it remains in the larger Vessels, they usu­ally add very strong Lees to promote Depura­tion, and when the depurated Liquor is re­mov'd to the small Vessels, it is the Custom to add Oyl or Butter to preserve the Liquor, and to prevent it from boiling over, which Prepa­ration Piso takes notice of, together with the above-mention'd Author, the Words of the former being these, Observatu dignum, si Oleum majoribus inderetur Ahenis, in quibus Liquor pri­mus, Caldo dictus, purificatur, Saccharo conficien­do planè foret ineptus; vicissim si minoribus lixivi­um sicut majoribus infundatur, aequè impossibile Saccharum conficere. The Fluidity and Firmness of Bodies depend so much upon the peculiar [Page 188]Texture of the Matter which constitutes them, rather than on a saline Substance.

To these Authorities, for a further Confir­mation of our Hypothesis, I shall add a few Experiments of my own; and first, having pre­par'd a Liquor not much inferior in Saltness to Aqua fortis, and then put small Fragments of solid Harts-horn into it, we found, that they were gradually soften'd, the Particles of the Liquor insinuating themselves into the Pores of the consistent Body, and rendring it in a few days time of the Consistence of a Mucilage: We mix'd likewise Spirit of Vinegar with Salt of Tartar, An insipid Water drawn from Sp. of Vine­gar & Salt of Tartar. till the Ebullition wholly ceas'd, and by Distillation obtain'd an insipid Water from the Mixture; and so successively pour'd fresh Spirit of Vinegar upon the Mixture, and again extracted the insipid Water, repeating reite­rated Affusions and Distillations, till the fix'd Salt was sufficiently impregnated with the Acid Parts of the Vinegar; and then we obtain'd a Mixture, tho' made up of pure and elementary Salts, which so far emulated a fluid Body, as to depose its saline Form when influenc'd by a very moderate Heat. Camphire dissolv'd in Oyl of Vi­triol, &c. Again, we mix'd some Pieces of Camphire with Oyl of Vitriol, by which they were presently dissolv'd into an Oyl, and when violently agitated together, readily mix'd with the Oyl of Vitriol, and seem'd to consti­tute a uniform Liquor for several Hours; yet by an Addition of four times as much fair Wa­ter, the Camphire presently assum'd its own Form again, and swam upon the Top of the Liquor; where it is to be noted, That the saline Parts of the Oyl of Vitriol render the Cam­phire [Page 189]Fluid, instead of making it more Solid; and on the contrary, that Fluid is turned into a Consistent Body again, by a Body so much void of Saltness as Water.

And that a Body may acquire those other Qua­lities, viz. Hardness and Brittleness, without an Addition of Saline Parts, is evident, from the different Tempers that may be given to a Piece of Steel; for if it be immerged in Water red hot, it acquires a Brittleness and Hardness, which it hath not, if leisurely cooled in the Air; yet if it be again heated till it turns to a deep Blue, it acquires a comparative softness and apt­ness to bend. And that an Alteration in Tex­ture, is enough to render a Body more or less Solid, is evident in Snow; for its Parts being compressed more closely together, it is abler to resist the Impressions of other Bodies; and yet when further, by thawing it, it's Parts are brought closer together, it hath a greater de­gree of Solidity and Firmness, when Froze a­gain; the Texture being much more close and compact, than that of the Snow.

But by some it is taught, that Induration de­pends on a certain inward Principle, A Plastick power inhe­rent in Be­dies. or a Pla­stick Power, called by some a Form and by o­thers a Petrifying Spirit, lodged in a Liquid Ve­hicle. And indeed, since I have observed, that some Stones dug out of the Earth are endewed with such curious and exquisite Figures, as if they had been the product of Art; I cannot but ac­knowledge a Plastick Power, which the wise Creator of Things hath implanted in certain Particles of Matter, which produce both the determinate Figure as well as consistnce of those [Page 190]Bodies: Plastick Power what? But we disagree with the generality of those Philosophers, as to the Manner in which this internal Principle produces its Effects; and since the Manner of it, by them, is not intel­ligibly explained, it will be necessary to Consi­der, how many ways Nature takes to render Bodies Solid, by which we shall be better Qua­lify'd to Judge of the Manner which those Par­ticles operate by, in which the Plastick Power is said to lodge.

But to proceed; For as much as Hardness is the highest degree of Firmness, we shall endeavour to make it appear, that an Alteration of Texture, concurring with other dispositions of the compo­nent Parts of a Body, is enough to render it hard without the Addition of an adventitious Salt.

The Tradition is common amongst those, that search into the Secrets of Nature, that Co­ral, tho' a hard Substance with us, is a soft Body whilst remaining under Water, according to that of Ovid,

And tho' Beguinus Tyrocyn. Chym. lib. 2 Cap. 10. hath urged very strong Arguments against this Tradition; yet, that it hath sometimes been found true, appears from what Gassendus lib. 4 An. Dom. 1624. relates of an Ingenious Gentle­man, who Fished for Coral near Toulon, viz. The Plants, which were pluck'd up, and drawn out, were neither red nor handsome, till their [Page 191]Bark was pulled off; in some Parts they were soft, and would give way to the Hand, as to­wards the Tops, which being broken and squez­ed, they sent forth Milk like that of Figs. To which may be added the Testimony of the Jesuit Fournier, Hydrograph. lib. 4. Cap. 27. And I am informed by one that Practises Physick in the East-Indies, that he gather'd white Coral di­vers times on the Sands of the Island Mehila (not far from that of Madagascar) which is usually as soft as an Onion; and is observed to decay, if it is not gathered at a certain Season of the Year. Agreeable to which Piso lib. 4. Cap. 68. making mention of several stony Trees on the Brasilian Coast; says, E fundo erutae mox durissimae; si inso­lentur in Littore, siccae niveique coloris fiunt, which may be favoured by the following Relation of Scaliger's. Ex bovillis Oppidanus adjutus Medica­mentis eminxit vitrum sane ex illa Nobili Paxagorae pituita dum mingeretur, albuminis Mollitie, emis­sum vitri duritie ac splendore, Senatoris filius ejecit, puttis modo multis, & maximos: Qui aeris Contactu, postea in Gypseam tum speciem tum firmi­tatem concrevere; hic quoque nunc recte valet. And I have been informed by a Merchant, and likewise a Chymist of Dantzick, that several Lumps of Amber have been taken up soft upon their Coast which presently grew hard in the Air; which I the rather believ'd, because I have several times observed, both Spiders, Flys and Straws enclosed in Amber.

Observa­tions of In­durated Bo­dies.And here we may take Notice, that tho' it from hence appears, that some Bodies which are soft under Water, become hard when ex­posed to the Air; yet it is a Matter of difficul­ty [Page 192]to determine, how much, the Infiuence of the Air contributes to the hardning of them: For Gassendus in Vita Piereskii. lib. 1. says, he hath observed in the lesser Streams of the River Rhos­ne, where he usually washed himself, several Lumps of hard Substances, upon the same Place, where he was wont to find the ground smooth and soft; and that some time after, the same hard Substances remaining in the Water, as well as some which he carried home with him, were turned into perfect Pebbles; from which relations, and also what we have before observed concern­ing the Powder of Alablaster, it appears, how much the Mechanical Textures of Bodies, toge­ther with other Mechanical Qualities contri­bute to their various Forms; for besides the aforementioned Instances I have observed, that that bony Substánce, so much esteemed by Phy­sitians, which is usually taken out of the Deer's Heart, and is of a hard Consistence, hath ap­pear'd, in one of those Creatures which I pur­posely look'd into, to be soft and flexible like Cartilages.

And indeed Solidity seems so much to depend upon Texture, that it may justly be doubted, whether the most solid Bodies have not before their Concretion been in Fluid Forms; since a­mongst other Rarities I have seen, in the midst of Stones, the exact Figures of Fishes with their Scales and Finns, &c. And I have known, not only Wood, but several other Substances as Lead-oar, Minera Antimonii, Marchasites, &c. found in the midst of stony Concretions; which are strong Arguments that those Stones have been before their Indurations in the Forms of [Page 193] Fluids; and from hence we may have ground to Question the Opinions of some, who think, that Stones and such like, or more solid Concre­tions, have been existent in the same Forms since the Creation; since we may with probabi­lity enough presume, that these Concretes are the Results of Matter, newly modified; and united after a different Manner from what they were before; otherwise it would be impossible, that such things should be lodged in such hard Concretes; And these Considerations and Ob­servations may farther confirm, what we have elsewhere noted concerning the growth and in­crease of Minerals.

But the most eminent Instances, to shew, how much the Fluidity and Firmness of Bodies, A very re­markable Instance to shew how much Flui­dity, &c. depends on Texture. is owing to the Texture and various Coalitions of their Parts, are in those Waters, which when permitted to rest, instead of Fluidity acquire a stony hardness. And it hath been observed in some hollow Caves, that by the Coagulation of a certain Humor, which issued out of the top of it, several Concretes have been formed like Ici­cles; of which I have some by me now, ga­thered by a very ingenious Person, which are of a perfect stony hardness, being 8 or 10 Inches in Length, and of a proportionable Thickness; and I have also now by me, certain stony Con­cretes sent me from a famous petrifying Cave in France.

And if we will give Credit to Aventinus as well as some other Authors, he hath recorded, in his History, that several Men and Women were at once Petrify'd by a Terrene Spirit, and changed into Statues; that Petrifying exhalati­on [Page 194]operating much after the same Manner, and altering the Texture of their Bodies, as when by Incubation and the subtile Insinu­ations of calorifick Atoms, the Parts of an Egg are so newly modifyed and disposed, as to put on the Form of a Chick. And it is Testi­fied by Pamphilio Pixcentino, of a Woman in Venice, who upon eating of an Apple, was tur­ned into a very hard Stone, after she had been hideously tortured for about 24 hours; Mixture sufficient to produce Pe­trifaction. which History together with Observations of my own, which I shall add, will be a good Argument to prove, that even Mixture is sufficient to petrify some Bodies; the Observation is in the following Experiment, viz. If two Ounces of Quick-silver be mixed with two Ounces and a half of Verdi­greese, together with about an Ounce of com­mon Salt, and put into a Frying Pan; when that Mixture hath been Boiled for a considerable time, with an equal Quantity of Vinegar and Water, gradually infus'd, as it wasts by Effluvi­ums, the Mixture, washed and cleansed from its Salts, will afford an Amalgama not unlike Quick-silver; which, if Dexterously prepared, may be cast into Moulds and formed into imbost Im­ages; and it is in this Amalgama very remarkable, that tho' at the first it is so soft, as in a great Mea­sure to emulate a Fluid Body; yet when for some hours exposed to the Air, it becomes hard and as Brittle as Steel; where the Induration seems to result from the Coalitions of the mixed Ingre­dients, and their new Texture, rather than from any innate Principle; The Particles of the Fluid Mercury being so intangled and interwoven one with another, as to lose their former Fluidity, [Page 195]and to convene so closely as to unite into a Solid Body. And that the Induration depends on a Mu­tual Combination of the Saline Ingredients with the Mercury, is beyond doubt; since not only a true and perfect Copper may be obtained from the Amalgama; but when it hath been for some time exposed to the Air, the Surface will be covered over with the Saline Parts of the Verdigreese, which have freed themselves from their more intimate commixture with the metalline Particles of the condensed Quick-Silver.

But lest it should be Questioned, whether the Particles of Salt can have any sensible Operati­on, when mixed with a Body so firm as con­dens'd Quick-Silver, I shall add, that in Bodies much more firm, it hath been observ'd, viz. in those Stones from which Vitriol is got; for it is remarkable in them, that when they have been for some time exposed to the open Air, the in­ternal Agitation of the Saline Parts, is so vio­lent, that several of them will not only swell, but even burst asunder. And I remember that having preser [...]'d a Mineral, much of the same Nature with these Stones, in my Chamber, the Superficies was cover'd with a Powder, both in Colour and Taste resembling Vitriol.

And that the Motion of the Parts of this A­malgama, whilst it was Fluid, which they might be put into, by the external force of the Fire, might contribute to their Concretion, we have suffi­cient Reasons to believe, from what is related and observ'd by experienc'd Masons, viz. That the best Morter will not acquire it's utmost com­pactness, under 25 or 30 Years, and that, after [Page 196]a long time, it becomes so hard, as to be more unapt to break than the Stones it Cements.

But lastly, that the Condensation of the Parts of the Quicksilver, depends on the Mixture of the Ingredients, and the Texture thence resulting, is evident; since the Proportion of the Ingre­dients being vary'd, the Condensation of the Mercury was neither so speedy, nor so firm.

And that it may appear, That Nature and Art sometimes take Measures not unlike, in the Hardning of Bodies, I shall add a Passage from a Jesuit, nam'd Pierre Belleprat, who relates it as an Observation in the American Continent, where he was sent to preach to the Indians: A Strange Sort of Earth. The Relation is, That near the Mouth of the River, there is to be found a Green sort of Clay, which being soft, and capable of being put into any Form, whilst under Water, grows so hard when expos'd to the Air, as not to be much softer than Diamonds; and this, he says, the Natives usually make Hatchets of, which they cut their Wood in pieces with. But,

A Concrete resulting from a Mix­ture of Spi­rit of Wine. and a So­lution of Coral.To conclude this Discourse, I shall add an Experiment, which will be a farther Confirma­tion, That Fluidity and Firmness, depend on Texture, and the Motion or Rest of the Insen­sible Parts of Matter. The Experiment is, That having made a Solution of Coral in Vinegar, so strong, that part of it fell to the Bottom; I pour'd Dephlegm'd Spirit of Wine, upon the Clear Decantated Liquor, so gently, that it might swim upon it for some time; where it was suprizing, that upon a violent Agitation, the two Liquors being mix'd together, united into a Concrete so firm, as not to afford the least [Page 197]Drop of a Fluid Liquor; yet by adding an equal quantity or thereabouts of Spirit of Nitre, it would again lay down that Viscidity, and be­come a Transparent Liquor.

And here it will not be amiss to specify, That this Experiment is so difficult, that it scarce succeeds, without a great deal of Caution; for, First, If the Tincture be not strong enough, or the Spirit of Wine not rectify'd, the Coagulation will be but partial, and not so quick: Secondly, The Experiment hath succeeded in a Wide­mouth'd Glass, where it had a free access of Air, tho' it would not in one which was closer: Thirdly, Upon an Infusion of Spirit of Nitre, the Mixture must be stirr'd with an In­strument, made of Gold, Wood, or Glass, lest the Menstruum corroding it, should render the Ex­periment unsuccessful: And Fourthly, The quan­tity of each of these Ingredients is hard to be defin'd, by Reason of the Difference in respect of the Strength of the Tincture, and the Spi­rituousness of the Spirit; but it is rather to be learnt, by Varying the Proportions, if the first Tryal does not succeed.

Having made this Progress in the History of Fluidity, and Firmness; It might be seasonable to pass on, and consider those other Qualities relating to it; as Hardness, Brittleness, Softness, &c. but remembring the Advice given by some of the Ancients, Noscenda est Mensura sui; I shall leave them for others, who are better able and more at leisure; being content, that I have explain'd the two former Qualities more Intelligibly, than some of the Peripateticks, or Chymists; having lay'd open a Way to accommodate Chymical Ex­periments, [Page 198]to the Explanation of Fluidity and Firm­ness, so as to deduce those Qualities, from more Intelligible Principles, viz. Size, Shape, and Motion.

CHAP. XIV. An Essay of the Intestine Motions of the Particles of Quiescent Solids.

The Signifi­cation of the Word Rest limited.THE Word REST, is of so Ambiguous a Signification, that before the Question, Whether there be in Bodies any Absolute Rest? can be answer'd, it is requisite to consider, That in the Common Acceptation, it is us'd to de­note, such a Rest as is not perceivable to Sense; but when taken in a more Strict and Philosophical Sense, it usually signifies such an Absolute Rest, as to intimate a total Negation of Motion. In which latter Sense, if it be taken, I will not af­firm, That there is such a Rest, even in the Parts of Solids; since it is not improbable, but that there is Motion, tho' imperceivable by Sense, even in the most Solid Bodies. In favour of which Opinion, were it necessary, I should offer Arguments à priori, deduc'd from the Doctrin of the Epicurean and Cartesian Principles.

For should we allow the World to arise from a Casual Concourse of Atoms, and that there were actual Motion in all of them; it would not be absurd to think, That tho' in Forming Con­cretes, they are usually wound one within another, [Page 199]yet there is a continual Endeavour to Elasti­city, by which they continually strive to dis­entangle themselves, and to fly away, and con­sequently the Result of those Endeavours must be a Motion amongst those Atoms.

And on the other side, should we, with Cartesius, allow a Continual Circulation of a Materia Subtilis through the Pores of Bodies, we may imagine, That the Insensible Atoms, which constitute that Body, will be shak'd and disturb'd by it, tho' not so much as to be perceiv'd by Sense: So in the Summer, the Leaves are carry'd off the Trees with gentle Gales of Wind, which are not perceiv'd by those that stand some Distance off.

But not to enlarge upon this Point, it may appear, from several of the Phaenomena men­tion'd above in the History of Fluidity, that the Particles of Bodies may be in Motion, tho' that Motion is not discern'd; and Particularly, that of Water; where tho' its Parts be in a very Va­rious Motion, yet to Sense they seem to be as much at Rest, as those, which form the Glass, in which the Water is contain'd. And that there may be a like Motion, in the Substance of Silver or Iron, may be argu'd from what is evi­dent to the Touch, or by throwing Water upon them when hot, it being peculiar Properties in them when hot, to burn the Fingers, and to set the Water a-boiling; and the like Qualities, tho' not so violent, may be rais'd without the help of Fire, by barely Hammering of Iron, or Silver; they not only, by that means, acquiring a Power to heat, but likewise to raise Water into Va­pours.

Argument to prove Motion in Solids.But if to this it should be objected, That tho' the Motion be indiscernible; yet the Agent that gives it that Motion is not, since we can discern how those Qualities are added to it, and how the Alteration is wrought: I answer, That tho' a Vigorous Loadstone, appears to be drawn along it's Axis, and back again, the Alteration is not vi­sible in the Body of the Iron; yet it certainly loses, after it hath acquir'd, those Noble Faculties, viz. it's Attracting and Directing Virtues properly belonging to Magnetical Bodies: But, that there may be in Metals a Motion, tho' not discernible, is further evident in a Bell; which a long time after it has been struck with the Clapper, conti­nues to put the Air into an Undulating Motion; and thereby to cause very odd Sounds; which must be an Argument, that the Partieles of that Bell are in a very nimble Agitation; otherwise they could not communicate Motion to the Circum­ambient Air, and thereby cause such a Noise in the Ear.

But I must confess there are two Difficulties, Objections answer'd. which occur to what I have been offering: As First, That it is hard to imagin, how the Inter­nal Parts of such Solid Bodies should be work'd upon, by Agents so weak as the Air, and espe­cially some parts of Matter more Minute, which are dispers'd through it: And Secondly, It may be question'd how any Parts of Matter can be mov'd so slow, if at all, as to be so long in moving from the Internal Parts of a Needle, to the Su­perficies, as our Hypothesis requires: But,

To the First, I answer, That those External Parts are not the sole Causes of these Motions, but only assistant to the Principal; which is evident from [Page 201]what hath lately been noted concerning the Con­nate Dispositions to Motion, attributed to Mat­ter, according to the Epicurean and Cartesian Phi­losophy; and by the Effects of a Loadstone upon the Needle, we may be taught to guess, what lasting Changes may be produc'd, in the Textures of Bodies, by the Influence of very Insensible Parts of Matter. And as for the other Part of the Objection, viz. The Slowness of Motion, which Nature makes use of in some of her Works, are altogether as inconceivable, as the Motion of a Shadow upon a Dial, or of an Index upon a Clock: And Nature may upon other Accounts, and undoubtedly does, make use of Motion in a degree yet more remiss. But not to insist upon the Slowness of Motion, which Nature makes use of, it may be otherwise offer'd against this Obje­ction, that the Motion of the Insensible Cor­puscles of a Loadstone cannot be suppos'd to be in a Direct Line, since they must not only pass through Pores very crooked and intricate, but must also meet with several other Particles of Matter, which will oppose them; and not only drive them back, but also make their Passage still more intricate and winding, by driving them from one side to another, as well as several other ways, by which their Motion may be retarded. Besides it is but Reasonable to suppose, That it is much more easy to keep a heavy Body in Mo­tion in its own Medium, than to remove it from that to another.

But to decline Speculations, Instances alledg'd. I shall bring Instances to confirm what I am about to prove, viz. That the Corpuscles, which constitute Bodies, are in­clinable to Motion, and that their Motion is [Page 202]very slow: The first Instance I shall mention, is in a Spring made of Steel, which, tho' it be press'd and squeez'd together for some time, it will, upon a Cessation of that Pressure again, un­bend it self, and recover its former Position; but if it be kept long in that compress'd Posture, it will by degrees lose that Power of Restitution, and continue in its crooked and unbended Figure: From whence we may learn, That tho' Elastick Parts may be endu'd with an Endeavour to ex­pand themselves, yet they may be a long while in working their Effect; since we see, that Steel being put into a Springy Form, retains that Springiness for a long time.

The Effects of a Bar of Iron held in a Perpendi­cular Po­sture in a Mariners's Compass.But to confirm what I have been discoursing of, and to evince what considerable Changes the Air may Effect in the most Solid Bodies; I shall add this Observation, viz. That if one End of a Bar of Iron, held perpendicularly, be apply'd to the Point of a Mariner's Compass, it will force it away towards the East or West; but if the Position of that Bar be alter'd, it pre­sently loses its Magnetical Qualities: Yet it is observ'd, That if this Iron Bar be kept long in a Window, it's Magnetick Qualities become much more durable and constant; from whence it ap­pears, That the Air together with the Magneti­cal Effluvia of the Earth, may work changes very lasting upon the Particles of Solid Bodies, by insi­nuating themselves into their Pores; and that the Motion, which must needs be concern'd in al­tering their Texture, must likewise be very slow, since it cannot in a little time acquire such Mag­netical Virtues.

But to proceed to a further Confirmation of what we have deliver'd, the first Observation I take Notice of is, that it is usnally observ'd, That if Lignum Vitae, which is one of the hardest Woods, be work'd before it be sufficiently sea­son'd, it will be very fragile, and subject to break; so that curiously work't Vessels expos'd to the Sun, have broke in pieces: And it hath been observ'd likewise, That several Cavities have been found in the Substance of it, full of a certain Gum, which some People much esteem in Venereal Distempers; to which may be added, That in the Seasoning of this Wood, for some particular uses, it is requisite to keep it longer than others, so that less than twenty Years will not make it fit for some uses. From whence we may infer, That if this Wood requires so long time to acquire it's utmost Compactness, and to evaporate its Watery Parts, the Motion of those evaporated Particles, must not only be very lasting, and durable, but slow.

And if it be allow'd, that those Gummy Parts were collected in their Cells, after the Felling of the Tree, as it is highly probable, it will be further to our Advantage, because it shews how the Parts of a Gross Body do permeate the fine Pores of a very Solid and Inanimate Substance; where the Motion must need be very insensible and slow. But what is more strange, I am in­form'd, that the Wood of which certain Mu­sical Instruments are made, sometimes, tho a much softer Wood than Lignum Vitae, requires at least forty Years Seasoning, and does not ac­quire its best Resonance under Fourscore.

But further, That there is not only a Change of Texture in Solid Vegetable Substances, but even in Stony Concretes, appears from what is observ'd in Building; Observati­ons made in Quarries. where some Walls acquire not their Utmost Solidity under forty Years. To which I shall add, what is further observ'd in somes Quarries by Masons: And First, that there are Marchasites to be found, which being much more hard than Stones or Marble, and which consist as well of a Metalline, as a Stony Substance; yet have such a Degree of Motion in their Parts, as not only to burst, but, if long ex­pos'd to the Air, to be cover'd over with Vi­triolate Efflorescences. To this I shall add, That an Ingenious Friend of mine had a Turquoise-Stone, in which there were certain Spots of different Colours from the Gem it self, which were ob­serv'd to shift their places several times; which that there might be no doubt of, I employ'd one to take the Picture of it with those Spots in it, at several distant times, one after another, which Pictures, when compar'd, shew'd, that the Spots had shifted their Places; having pass'd up and down through the Substance of so solid a Gem, ve­ry slowly, in a Figure as irregular. And I am in­form'd by a Jeweller, that he once had one of these Stones, which had a different Blue in two several Parts of the Stone; and that, in some time, the one overspread the whole, and mix'd with the other: And an Ingenious Friend of mine told me, That he had observ'd a certain Cloud in an Agate, to move several times from one place to another.

Motion in the Parts of Solide.But there is not only an Intestin Motion of Parts in such Solid Substances as these, but in Bodies [Page 205]look'd upon to be of the Closest and most Compact Textures; for I have now a Diamond by me, which being rubb'd, will easily become Electri­cal, and shine in the Dark; which Qualities can­not be added to it, without a Change of Tex­ture; and that in altering that Texture, there is an Internal Motion of Parts, will easily be evinc'd; because, otherwise the Texture could not be chang'd; and further, because a very gentle Agent is sufficient to put the Parts of a Diamond in Motion.

And to this Relation I shall add, That I have often observ'd, a Dulness and Clearness to suc­ceed each other, in a Diamond, which I now have set in a Ring with the Former, which Chan­ges could be attributed to no Manifest Cause: And I have observ'd no less suprizing a Change, in the several Degrees of Electricity, which could not be effected by any Cause that I could think of: And I have been inform'd, by one who had a certain Hungarian Diamond, that it would acquire a much greater Degree of Sprightness, by lying some time in Water: From all which it appears, That Considerable Changes may be effected in Diamonds, by Agents, which, to Sense, Operate very gently. And if Diamonds are generated in the Earth, as I have observ'd other Stones to be; it is reasonable to think, that the Hardness of their Substance, proceeds from the Closeness of their Parts, depending on the In­testin Motion of their Insensible Corpuscles, by which they are brought to convene closer than ordinary: And this I am rather Inclin'd to be­lieve, because I have been told by an Eminent Jeweller, That the Diamonds of late Years, are [Page 206]much more soft than those he formerly us'd to deal in: And the truth of this is further con­firm'd, by what Egrezes a Frenchman writes of Diamonds, P. M. 17, 18. brought from the Mine, call'd Gazerpoli; the Sense of the Words is this: They are very clear, and of a good Water, but they cannot be ground by Mutual Attrition, ex­cept with Stones of the same Mine: for if one should employ for that purpose, the Stones of another Mine, those of Gazerpoli would be broken in pieces: They do also easily break upon the Wheel, and those that are not vers'd in the Knowledge of Stones, may be easily deceiv'd in them. And the same Author, speaking of another sort of Diamonds, says, That they sweat a sort of Unctuous Substance, which being wip'd off, as often renew it's Appear­ance. And to these I shall add an Account of a Ruby, which is one of the hardest Diamonds, one of which a Lady, nearly related to me, wore up­on her Finger; which would often change it's Lustre, the Cause of which could not be assign'd; tho' these kind of Phaenomena seem to be the Ef­fects of some Internal Motion in their Parts, the Parts of Diamonds being capable of having their Parts put into Motion, without much difficulty.

But tho' it be hence Evident, That there is such an Intestin Motion of the Parts of Diamonds; yet it may be thought strange, to find the like in so firm and compact a Body as Glass. But that the Parts of Glass are not always at Rest, I am induc'd to believe, by the following Observa­tions. First, That several Plates of Venice-Glass, have crack'd and broke in pieces, when no ex­ternal Agent could have any Sensible Opera­tion on them; which I conceive to proceed [Page 207]from a Redundancy of Saline Parts, which stri­ving to fly away, break the Glass by their vio­lent Motion; which Conjecture I am confirm'd in, since it is commonly observ'd, The Parts of Glass in Motion. That there is a Saline Substance, adhering to the Surface of these Glasses in Cold Moist Weather. And I have observ'd in a Glass, into which too much Salt was put, to make it Diaphanous, several Cracks and Flaws, which it got in the Cold Wea­ther: So that it rather appears to be a white, than a Glass-Cup at a Distance. And I, as well as those that deal much amongst Glasses, have ob­serv'd, several to fly in pieces, when there was no outward Agent, to be the Cause of such an Effect; and I am inform'd by an Ingenious Man, who is Master of a Glass-House, That near a Third Part of a parcel of Glasses, flew in pieces of their own accord, after they had been kept for about five Years pack'd up. To which I might add several other Instances, to prove and illustrate the Doctrin above-deliver'd.

For these Phaenomena may be, and are, very Naturally accounted for, by the Corpuscular Philosophy; for supposing, the Particles of Glass to be in a continual Elastick Endeavour to ex­pand themselves, and fly away; and that several of those Particles are got together, it is no won­der that they break and dis-joint those Parts of the United Glass, which are least able to resist, and keep them from Expansion. And to Coun­tenance this Explanation, I shall add, That seve­ral Alkalizate, or other small Parts of Matter, being inclos'd in the Body of a Glass, it is always apter to break, especially at that place, from [Page 208]whence several Cracks spread themselves as from a Centre.

But whether the Elasticity of these Parts, be promoted by any Subtile Bodies, which penetrate the Glass, I shall not now stay to examine; but shall rather proceed to acquaint You, That in a considerable Space of Time, the Texture of Glass may be so alter'd, as to be more unapt to give a free Passage to Aether it self, or any other Subtle Body, which could penetrate it before; and consequently those Bodies Endeavouring to make their way, tho' oppos'd by it's Texture, cause a Proportionable Crack, or Dissolution of the Substance of the Glass.

Observati­ons con­cerning the Intestine Motion of the Parts of Glass.And to what we have deliver'd concerning Glass, these Observations are not altogether dis­agreeable; viz. First, That it is a Substance, which by being rubb'd easily, becomes Electrical; which is an Argument, that the Parts of it may without any great difficulty, be put into Motion. Secondly, The Parts of Glass may fly asunder, if the Neighbouring Parts be put into Motions dis­agreeable to each other; which is evident, if a hot Glass be immediately put into cold Water: for the Motion of it's Corpuscles, being ex­ternally checked, those which within remain in a violent Agitation, cause a sudden Dis­ruption.

To which may be added, That tho' one would think the Particles of Glass were so fix'd, as to become unfit to alter their Figure and Shape; yet their Parts continuing in some De­gree of Agitation, they may, by invisible and insensible Agents, be so work'd upon, as to be [Page 209]forc'd to alter their Shape and Size: In confirma­tion of which, it may be observ'd, That White and pure Transparent Glass, will in a little time, become very unfit to be put again into the Moulds they were first cast in.

But tho' I have mention'd both these Me­thods, by which the Cracking of Glasses, may be accounted for, to shew, that which soever of them we allow, they will be Proof of an In­testine Motion in the Parts of Glass; yet I will neither examine or determine which of them is rather to be rely'd on; but shall only observe, That the Motion of their Parts must needs be very slow; since it is so long before it shews its Effects.

And now to conclude, tho' from what hath been deliver'd, it may be expected that I should draw Consequences, to determine whether there be absolute Rest in Bodies, or no, I shall omit that, and only intimate, That it is not absurd to doubt, nor improbable to think, that there is not; since it hath been discover'd in Bodies, which are usually esteem'd, most Quiescent.

CHAP. XV. Of the great Effects of even Languid and unheeded Local Motion.

THO' several Mathematicians, as well as Philosophers, Several Phaenome­na arising from un­heeded Cau­ses, Com­prized un­der the fol­lowing Pro­positions. have exercis'd their Indu­stry in limiting the Laws of Motion; yet since several Qualities usually esteem'd occult, may arise from a faint and unheeded Motion of the Parts of those Bodies, to which they are attri­buted, I shall consider the Extent of local Mo­tion a little further: But before I proceed to consider the particular Effects of languid and unheeded Motion, I shall first premise, in ge­neral, what I have elsewhere upon another Occasion intimated, viz. That we are not to consider Bodies, barely as so many Portions of Matter endow'd with particular Powers; but as Bodies whose Particles are variously figur'd and modify'd after a peculiar Manner; so as to act or to be acted on by those Bodies which are about them; yet not wholly to derive their Effects to the Influence of external Agents, but in a great Measure from the mutual Action of one Part of Matter upon another.

But there are several other Circumstances of local Motion, besides what we have taken no­tice, which are not to be discern'd; and there­fore I would not be thought wholly to attribute the Phaenomena of a Body to Motion only but to [Page 211]a Concurrence of several other Causes; but to avoid tedious Preambles, I shall take notice that the Reasons why some Men slight or overlook the strange Effects of languid Motion may be compriz'd under the following Heads.

CHAP. XVI. Of the Propagable Nature of Motion.

CHAP. XVII. A Supplement to the former Chapter of the Great Effects of Languid, and Unheeded Local Motion.

TO illustrate what hath been deliver'd in the former Chapter, I shall add the fol­lowing Observations: And First, That the Motion of the Air may act on Bodies duly pre­dispos'd, at a great Distance, appears from what the Learned Borellus De vi Percussionis, Prop. CXI. relates, viz. That being at Tauromenium in Sicily, about thirty Miles from Mount Aetna, when it first broke out, it was observable, that the Houses in that Town apparently shook, espe­cially those which were most directly situated towards the Gap; which, as that Author ob­serves, must needs proceed from the Impression of the Air upon the Houses: for had it been the Effect of a Tremulous Motion in the Ground, all the Houses would have shook alike, which was otherwise.

To prove that Motion may be propagated through different Mediums, besides what hath been before deliver'd, I shall add, That the Elo­quent Famianus Strada, De Bello Belg. Dec. 2. lib. 6. vel 7. says, That a very Stupendious Work being rais'd by the Prince of Parma, to prevent the City of Antwerp from being reliev'd by the River Scheld, an Engineer contriv'd to blow it up, tho' with Success not a little Tragical, by a Boat fraught with Gun-powder, &c. for it rais'd such a Commotion, that the Earth shook to the Distance of 36 English Miles; and the deep Ri­ver [Page 237]was so agitated, as first to discover it's Bot­tom, and afterwards to overswell the Banks; the Castle, together with Men, Cannons, &c. be­ing violently toss'd into the Air, together with a vast number of other Accidents horrid and dreadful.

And to illustrate further what hath been de­liver'd in the foregoing Chapter, concerning the Effects of Musick on Bodies duly dispos'd to be work'd on by it; I shall add, that an Expe­rienc'd Traveller told me, That in the East Indies he saw Tame Serpents, which would raise them­selves erect in the Air, except 3 or 4 Inches of their Tails, which they rested upon: And he added, That upon the Playing of some Parts of the Tune, they would be put into very brisk and surprising Motions, whereas when another Part of it was a-playing, they seem'd to be half a sleep, and dissolv'd in Pleasure.

Another Instance, which shews how much the Peculiar Textures of Bodies contribute to their Effects, is publish'd by the Learned Marhofius, who relates, That Nicolaus Petterus had found out a Note, which, being loud and lasting, would, without visibly touching the Vessel, cause a Glass-Romer to tremble and burst; but if the Note were rais'd either too high, or depress'd too low, it would have no such Effect.

A further Instance of the Efficacy of Languid Motion is, That I once obtain'd several pieces of Glass, the Textures of which were so peculiar, that if the internal Superficies were gently scratch'd obliquely with a Pin, they would fly in pieces, tho' 6 or 7 times thicker than common Drinking-glasses.

To shew how much Motion, even in Solid Bo­dies, may be promoted by the Strokes of very weak Agents, I shall here relate, that several Urinals whose Parts were of a peculiar Tex­ture, being rubb'd with Sand and Water, had their Parts put into such a Degree of Motion, as, in a little time after, to break without any Cause to be observ'd, except that precedent At­trition of Sand.

To make it evident, that the Parts of Solid Bo­dies, which seem to be at Rest, may have very powerful Effects, I shall add the following. Ob­servations.

First, That I have been inform'd, by a Famous Jeweller, That when he ground Rubies or Sa­phires, or other Precious Stones upon a Mill, their Parts would acquire such a degree of Heat, as to afford Light like Fire; the Light flowing from each being of the same Colour with the Gem it came from: And I am likewise inform'd by another, that when they have acquir'd a certain degree of Heat, the Edges would gape; and if the Motion of the Mill was continu'd, the Gems would fly in pieces; but if it was stopp'd, the cold Gem would be whole and entire. To this Observation it will not be amiss to add, That, I once plac'd a Bottle, to which was adapted a Glass-stopple, in my Win­dow, and about a twelve Month after, as I was sit­ting in the Room, the Top of the Stopple flew off, of its own accord, leaving the other Part fast in the Glass; but the Parts of Solid Glass will not only fly in pieces of their own accord, but I have been inform'd, that sometimes, in the East-Indies; Dia­monds themselves, are observ'd to burst asunder, without the Impression of any Visible Agent.

CHAP. I. Of the Systematical, or Cosmical Qualities of Things.

Qualities proceeding partly from the Influence of outward Agents; as well as the Primary Affections of MatterCONSIDERING that the Particu­lar Qualities of Bodies, depend on a certain Relation, which they have one towards another, by which they are adapted to Act or to be Acted on; I the ra­ther chuse to call the Qualities consider'd in this Chapter, Systematical or Cosmical Qualities; they not being the Effects of those primary Af­fections of Bodies consider'd barely as such, viz. [Page 140]Motion, Size and Shape; but of Bodies so di­versify'd by those primary Affections, Acting mutually on one another: As Quicksilver is en­dew'd with a Power to dissolve both Silver and Gold, and an Aptitude to be dissolv'd in Aqua fortis. So that I would not be understood to mean, by Cosmical Qualities, such as may be at­tributed to the mutual Actions and Passions of Bodies, plac'd in some imaginary Spaces beyond the World, but plac'd in the Universe, as now Constituted, with a vast Variety of Bodies about them.

This I have already hinted in the foregoing Chapters of Forms and Qualities; and there­fore my design in this Chapter, is, to consider what Qualities a Body may Aquire, by the Im­pressions or Influence of Agents whose Effects are unknown, or not taken notice of.

And though all these Phaenomena, which are usually attributed to the Laws of Nature, might properly be considered, in a Chapter that bears this Title; yet since those Agents most concern­ed in the Effecting of these Phaenomena are either the Stars, the subterraneal Parts, or the Aether and Atmosphaere we live in; I shall wave those, and only here consider, what is requisite to prove, that there are such real Qualities, depending on unheeded Agents, and the Ordinary Course of Nature; Our Notion of Cosmical Qualities grounded on the three following Propositions but before I proceed, I shall briefly in­timate, that our Notion of Cosmical Qualities is grounded upon these three Propositions.

• 1. That some Bodies are altogether inactive, till they are acted on; and that others, are put into Action, chiefly by the Influence of these Ca­tholick and unheeded Agents.
• [Page 241]2. That there are several Bodies, which when put into Action, are subtle enough to insinuate themselves into the Pores of other Bodies, which they are by the Established Laws of Nature for­ced to act on.
• 3. That an Alteration of the Mechanical Tex­ture of the Body, is enough to dispose it, or ren­der it unapt to be worked on, by those unheeded Agents. And these three Propositions I shall en­deavour to make out by the following Phaenomena and Experiments.

To begin then with the first Proposition, viz. That some Bodies are altogether inactive, till they are acted on; and that others are put into Action, Proposition the first. chiefly by the Influence of these Catholick and Ʋnheed­ed Agents.

The first Part of this Proposition, I presume undeniable, if we consider, That till a Hammer, or some other Body be struck upon a Wedge, it wants the Power or Faculty of cleaving Wood, but when forced by the Impulse of that Body, which strikes upon it, the Wedge presently in­sinuates it self betwixt the Parts of that Solid, and divides them; As also, that a Knife is alto­gether unable to attract a Needle, till it hath re­ceived that Power from a Loadstone.

But to proceed to the second Part of the Pro­position; I shall, to what I have elsewhere ob­served ( viz. That the Property of a Burning-Glass, in respect of it's Effects, does not proceed from the Convex Figure, considered as such, but the Rays of the Sun cast into a Point) add the fol­lowing [Page 140] [...] [Page 241] [...] [Page 242]Instances. The first is, That a Bar of I­ron, by standing a considerable time in a Win­dow, in a perpendicular Line, will acquire a considerable degree of Magnetism, by the In­fluence of Invisible Agents; and several Mag­netical Qualities which it had not before. Second­ly, That tho' a flat Piece of Marble, considered barely as such, hath not a Power to raise any Body by a bare Contact; yet if it be applyed to another, whose Superficies is adapted to it; by virtue of the Constitution and Fabrick of the World, and the concurrent Causes of Bodies a­bout it, it may acquire such a Faculty, the lower Stone being boyed up by the Weight and Pressure of the ambient Air; yet, if these two Stones were contained in a Vacuum, they would not have such a Power to lift up one another. But to pro­ceed to

The second Proposition.The second Proposition; which is, That there are several Bodies, which, when put into Action, are subtle enough, to insinuate themselves into the Pores of other Bodies, which they are, by the Established Laws of Nature, forced to Act on. And here, though some of the Experiments to be related, might be also alledged in favour of that Aether or Mate­ria coelestis, which some Philosophers have sup­posed to be dispersed throughout the World; yet the Invisible Agents, which are here to be mentioned, are only such as the Magnetical Ef­fluvia of the Earth, and also the Air, in reference to it's Spring and Weight.

And first, Tho a Bar of Silver, and another of Steel, be exposed to cool, when red hot, with their ends directly North and South; yet the Textures of these two Metals being different one [Page 243]from another, the Pores of the Steel, being ope­ned, and the Metal made plyable, it is by the In­sinuation of Terrestrial Effluvia, endued with se­veral Magnetical Qualities; and particularly, when poised, to point North and South; where­as Silver acquires no such Properties. And that it may be less strange, that the Earth should af­ford Magnetical Effluvia, which are imagined by some to be very spirituous Ones, I shall add, that having heated an Oblong Loadstone, and expo­sed it to the Air to cool, with it's Ends pointing North and South, and so deprived it of it's Mag­netical Qualities; I could make either End to tend to the Southern or Northern Pole, as, upon Ignition, I suffered it to cool with one end dire­cted either North or Southwards.

To this it may be added, That if the Air be exhausted in some measure out of a Vial with an oblong Neck, and, upon it's Immersion in Water, ones Finger, which prevented the retroadmission of the Air, be presently taken away; the Wa­ter will contrary to the Tendency of it's own Gravity, presently fly up in the Bottle, being squeezed in by the External Pressure of the Air, lying upon the Surface of the Water, the Spring of the Internal Air, being so weakned, as not to be able to oppose the force of it; whereas in a Vacuo the Water would not be so raised, having no external Agent to boye it up.

The Expan­sive force of Beans soa­ked with Water.Again, being desirous to know the Causes of Germination, and from what Causes, that pow­erful Intumescence of Seeds, when sown, proceed­ed, I filled several Vessels of Glass, as well as Earth, with common Beans, filling up the Inter­vals with Water, and tying the Corks fast with [Page 244]Strings; which being done, when the Beans had imbibed Water enough, their Intumescence was so powerful, as not only to break several of the Vessels, but a great many of the Strings which hindred the raising of the Corks. But that I might be more exact in estimating the Power of that Expansive Force, I put a sufficient Quantity of Beans and Water into a Brass Cylinder, whose Diameter was two Inches, and it's Length six; which being done, and the Orifice of the Cylin­der being likewise fitted exactly with a Plug, a Trencher was placed upon it, which was broad enough to bear a half hundred weight of Lead: In which Experiment it was to be observed, that in two or three days, the Expansive Force of the Beans had raised the Plug a considerable Height. And it may further be noted in such Tryals, that as the Diameter of the Cylinder is larger, so the Expansive Force of the Beans are able to raise a more considerable Weight.

How far these Experiments may confirm the Corpuscularian Philosophy, or whether that Force may be Mechanically explained by it, I shall leave the Reader to consider, and shall here only observe, That the Air, together with the Aether, may in a great Measure concur to the producing of some of the Phaenomena of Nature, which we imagin it very little concerned in; for besides the Effects which may be ascribed to the Pressure of the Air, it contributes to the producing of some upon another Account; it being easy to be observed, that Flesh may be preserved lon­ger from Putrefaction, by being secluded from the Contact and Influence of the Air; and also, that the Light which flows from rotten Woods, [Page 245]and some putrefyed Fishes, will appear and dis­appear upon the Contact or Separation of ambi­ent Air.

Several Phaenome­na produc'd by Virtue of Motion in the Parts of the Air.But for a further Proof, that the Air may ef­fect several things, besides what it produces by virtue of it's weight by the Insensible Motions of it's Parts; I might add, that whereas a Piece of Paper being wet with Oyl, hath it's Pores so al­tered, as to be capable of transmitting more ea­sily the Rays of Light; and the Air being impelled, by the Laws of Nature, presently acts upon it, and represents a great many Objects, by being reflected from those Bodies beyond it, which could not appear through it before.

And if a large Box be so contrived, as to have one end of it open, and a Hole in the other end, covered with a Lenticular Glass; if the open end be made up with a fine sheet of Paper, and a small Hole be likewise made upon the Top of the Box; by placing ones Eye to the Lenticular Glass, one may discern upon the Paper the Lively Repre­sentations of External Objects, and their vari­ous Motions as well as Shape and Colours; which Phaenomena could by no means be exhibi­ted, were not either some Insensible Corpuscles, transmitted in the Form of Effluvia from those Objects, or some other subtle Particles of Matter, directed by Local Motion from the Object to the Paper, and from thence to the Eyes.

The Esta­blish'd Laws of the Universe Contribute to the pro­ducing of several Phaenome­na.From whence it appears, that the Established Laws of the Universe, in a great measure, con­tribute to the producing of several Phaenomena, which arise from the Operations of insensible and unheeded Causes: For a further Confirmation of which I shall add, That if a Bar of Iron be held [Page 246]in a perpendicular Line; so that the lower end of it touch the Northren Point of a Magnetical Needle, it will presently drive it away; where­as, if the Position of that Iron Bar be so altered, as to touch that Point with the other end, it will, by a contrary Faculty, attract it, except the Iron Bar hath stood a considerable time in a Perpendi­cular Posture, exposed to the Air and the Magne­tical Effluvia of the Earth, or hath lain a consi­derable time, pointing North and South, and so hath acquired a more durable Verticity. And if it should be asked; How a Bar of Iron ac­quires Mag­netical Qua­lities. why, by such Postures, the Magnetical Qualities of Iron should be so much increased? it might probably be answered, that it proceeded from hence, viz. Because the Pores of the Iron, by lying nearer the Magnetical Efflu­via of the Earth, have their Pores rendred more apt to receive and transmit the Effluvia of the Needle; so that consequently, that Part of the Iron which is most affected by those Steams, must become the stronger, and consequently the North Point of the Needle; for which reason, it must drive away the North Point of the Needle, and attract the South. But if on the contrary, the o­ther end of the Bar be applyed to the Needle, by a contrary reason, it being less Magnetical, it must attract it. But not to insist upon this Explanation of the Magnetical Qualities of a Bar of Iron, I shall only observe, that it is necessary in order to acquire a durable Magnetical Virtue, that the Iron should stand long in that Perpendicular Po­sture, which is sufficient to prove what I contend for, viz. That the established Laws of Nature are requisite for the Production of several Phaeno­mena, which would not be effected, were not those Laws observ'd.

The Third Proposition.But to proceed to the third and last Propo­sition, viz. That an Alteration of the Mechanical Texture of a Body is enough to dispose it or render it unapt to be work'd on by those unheeded Agents. This is evident from what is practis'd at Sea, it being the usual Custom for the Sea-men, to throw Water upon their Sails to quicken the Motion of their Vessels, when pursu'd by Pi­rates; for the Threeds of the Sails being swel­led with Water, and the Pores by that Means made less, the Wind, not finding so free a Pas­sage through them, must consequently have the greater Force upon the Sail-Clothes, and so drive the Ship forwards more swiftly. Another In­stance of considerable Effects succeeding a very slight Alteration in Texture may be observed, when, on a windy day, a Chamber-Window is left open; for the Wind, which before only shook the Glass, will presently blow the Curtains about and other things in the Chamber, which are in a Disposition to be easily moved, as Dust, Papers, &c.

But to proceed to Examples altogether not so gross, we may take notice, That though com­mon Tartar will neither dissolve in the Air, nor easily in Water, yet when Part of it is dri­ven away by Calcination, it readily dissolves and runs per Deliquium in a moist Air. To which may be added, that tho' a Loadstone by being heated in the Fire and cool'd again, underwent no visible Change as to Shape or Size, nor for as much as could be perceiv'd by the Eye, lost none of it's Parts; yet, by an invisible Change of Tex­ture, effected by the Magnetical Effluvia of the Earth, it may alter its Verticity according to [Page 248]the different Postures it is permitted to cool in: And the like Change I have observed in Iron, whose Verticity was altered by a Change of Tex­ture, wrought by so weak an Agent as the Earth.

To these we may add several Instances in li­quid Bodies; and first, That, tho' Honey and Water mix'd together in an undue Proportion, reserve each their distinct Natures; yet if four or five Parts of Water be added to one Part of Honey, by some subtle Agents or other, they are presently fermented, and unite into one common Mass; and I am assur'd, by a Mer­chant who liv'd several Years in the Canary Islands, That if a Hogshead of Wine close stop'd be violently roll'd along; the Texture of the Liquor would be so chang'd, that, if it were but about a Month old, one of the Ends would be burst out, and the Liquor lost. Ano­ther Instance in which the Texture of the Body disposes it to be so powerfully work'd upon, we have in Glass, which upon a sudden Removal from the Fire into cold Water, is subject to fly in Pieces.

But an Instance which is more remarkable is, That a hot Plate of Copper being permitted to cool upon some which were more moderately hot in the Fire, and thence remov'd upon a Plate; several Pieces like Scales would fly off it, when expos'd to the Atmosphere; and

To conclude this Chapter, I shall add, That the Bolonian Stone acquires such an admirable Quality by Calcination, that, by being plac'd in the Sun-beams for some time, it gets such a Degree of Luminousness, as to retain it a [Page 249]considerable time, when remov'd into the dark.

CHAP. II. Of Cosmical Suspicions.

THE World about us being stock'd with such a Variety of Objects, and other things, too small or subtle to be discern'd; it may not be unuseful, upon some Accounts, to propose Conjectures, where the Subject con­sider'd admits of no clearer Discoveries.

Suspicion the First.And First, it is not without Reason I suspect, that, besides those uniform Parts of Matter, of which the Aether, by some Philosophers, is thought to consist, there are also several other Parts of Matter, which are differently dispos'd to work upon Bodies, according to the various Textures of those Bodies they chance to work upon; or according to the different Agents they chance to work concurrently with: And this Suspicion is not improbable, since the inquisitive Gilbert hath not only discover'd the Magnetical Qualities of the Earth to be diffus'd on every side, but also it is commonly known that upon the Hunting of a Deer, several subtle Effluvia are left behind in the Air; which we should pass by unobserv'd, were there not such Creatures as Blood-hounds, endow'd with Organs fitted to receive those subtle Steams.

A Second.And it is not a little strange, that several Persons should have such peculiar Temperaments, [Page 250]as to be able to discover Pestilential Steams in the Air, for a considerable time before they are dispos'd to affect other Men; and that those Constitutions should be so dispos'd to be work'd upon by Effluvia, by others not in the least discern'd. And that there are such Bodies, as well as unheeded Effluvia, may be evinc'd by several Instances; as one which was remarkable in the Year 1665, in which, a certain Man, three Months before the beginning of the Plague, was taken with a Swelling in his Groin; which he had likewise as a Forerunner to seve­ral other Plagues. And Fabritius Hildanus re­lates a Story no less remarkable of himself; who, when, in his Youth, he had had the Plague, could never pass any House infected with it without a sensible Pain in that Part. To which may be added, a third Instance from that Curi­ous Physician, who observ'd the various Phaeno­mena of Distempers at the Siege of Breda, and says, Annotandum hic meritò Naturae Facultatem ad Pestis Praeservationem Momenti esse maximi: Observavi in meipso contaminatos invisente statim inguina olere vel axillas; afficiebatur aliquando Caput, noctu inde Sudor, & secessus tres quatuorve; hoc & aliis accidit, qui fideliter mihi retulerunt. And these Testimonies I am rather inclin'd to depend on, because deliver'd by Men of Judg­ment and Credit.

Another Suspicion which I am about to re­late, A Third. is, That the Laws of Nature, which con­tribute to the producing of several Phaenomena, are not only of larger Extent than what we are us'd to imagin; but likewise concur to the Pro­duction of a greater Variety of Effects: For not [Page 251]to spend much time in observing, That several Industrious Astrologers and Geographers, have, instead of Physical, given us Mathematical Hy­potheses; having taken pains to describe the Situations and Motions of the fixed Stars and Planets; and likewise, that they have been Industrious in discovering the four little Pla­nets, which move about Jupiter; as also the little Moon, which runs about Saturn, as well as several Phaenomena relating to Comets, with­out considering the Frame and Constitution of those Bodies, which compose our Globe; I con­ceive it not impossible to make it out, That there is a Commerce betwixt them and our Globe; as well as several Laws or Customs of Nature even in our own Globe not taken notice of by Scholastical and Mathematical Writers.

The Fourth.And I am, not without Reason, induc'd to suspect, That this Globe of ours hath undergone several considerable Changes, not only in seve­ral Countries, but the internal Parts of it; That which is call'd the Mariners Compass, having been, in several Places, observ'd to vary consi­derably, in its Declension from the true North Pole; as for Instance, about London in the Year 1580 it declin'd eleven Degrees; in 1612 about six; and in the Year 1633 about four Degrees. And I have my self, at one time, observ'd little or no Declension, whereas at another I observ'd it to decline near half a Degree. And I am in­form'd by one who often observ'd the Variation of the Compass at the Cape of good Hope, that, when he was a young Man, he observ'd it to decline two Degrees Westward; whereas of late, he found the Variation to be six Degrees [Page 252]and about forty eight Minutes; so that, by his Observation, it had vary'd little less than five Degrees, in the times he hath sayl'd past that Place. From whence we may have Reason to think, That there are certain Agents very pow­erful, tho' not to be taken notice of, which may work several, and very considerable Changes, even in the Terrestrial Globe it self; which whether regulated by any certain Laws of Na­ture, we know not.

And besides these, there are several other unheeded Phaenomena, which we have troubled our selves very little to consider about; as the different Weight of our Atmosphere, and the Causes of that Difference; we having only no­ted that they proceed from some subterraneal Effluviums mix'd with the Air; but what other Effects those Effluviums may have upon other Bodies hath been scarce discover'd.

Considera­ble Variati­ons in the Temper of Climates.And it is not a little strange, what Monsieur de Rochfort relates, concerning those Hurricanes observ'd in the American Islands; for, whereas, for a long time, they were observ'd to come but once in seven Years; yet in a short time they grew so frequent, as to return two or three times in the same Year. And I have been in­form'd by an Ingenious Gentleman, that, having liv'd in New England, he observ'd a considera­ble Alteration in the Temper of that Climate; it being much less cold and more temperate than formerly. And Mr. W. Wood, in his Pros­pect of New England, takes notice of no incon­siderable Alteration; who says, That since the English Inhabitants settl'd there, the Showers [Page 253]of Rain are much more moderate, though more frequent.

An Obser­vation con­cerning Manna.And the Learned Magnenus observes, in his Tract de Manna, That about three hundred Years ago there was no Manna to be found in Cenotria; and it is not above two Ages since Manna hath been found in Calabria, a Country so famous for it. And the Ingenious French Writer in his History des Isles Antilles Lib. 4. Cap. 6. says, That if the Juice of a Fruit call'd Acajou, falls upon a Cloth, it presently stains it red, which continues till the Tree bears Flow­ers again; which Phaenomenon will be the more to our Purpose, if it may be doubted, whether it proceeded from the Temper of the Air or Length of Time.

Another SuspicionBut besides these Phaenomena, when I observe the exact time, that the ebbing and flowing of the Sea keeps; and how exactly coincident with the New and Full Moon Spring-Tides happen; as also what vast Spring-Tides are constantly observ'd every Equinox; together with those various Phaenomena, which may be observ'd in Sea-Water, which, in some Places and upon the blowing of some Winds, appears to be luminous, whereas other Parts are, at the same time, neither luminous, nor in the least affe­cted, so as to become luminous by those Winds at any other time; I am very apt to believe, That these Phaenomena proceeded from some Cosmical Law of Nature; or that the Plane­tary Vortex was not a little concern'd in pro­ducing these Effects.

Another Suspicion.And I am not unapt to believe, but that all those Distempers, which are either Endemic or Epidemic, proceed from a certain Influence, which those Globes which move about us, may have, together with some Terrestrial Effluvia, which are different in several Countries.

But not to engage in so fertile a Discourse as the Phaenomena, which every particular Region affords; I shall only add two Suspicions more, which may be further Instances of the Established Laws and Customs of Nature.

A very con­siderable Phaenome­non rela­ting to the Sun.And first, it is a Question, whether those Pla­nets, which move about our Globe, keep such constant Bounds in their Motion, and move in such Lines as Astrologers teach they do. And if we consider the vast variety of Bodies, contai­ned in and about our Globe, it can scarce be ima­gined, that Nature should always keep to one constant and regular way of Acting, but that in several Particulars, she must deviate and ope­rate variously; for not to mention, that Astro­nomers have observed, even Natural Days to va­ry in Length; and have disputed much concern­ing the Anomalic assigned to the Motion of the Sun's Apogeum; The Sun it self hath been sometimes observed, to be even obscured by o­pacous Matter, as in Caesar's time, and at the be­ginning of Augustus his Government; when the Sun was for near a whole Year obscured. To which we may subjoyn the Number, Duration, and Vastness as well as Motion of some Co­mets.

And I am informed, that in the Northern He­misphere, in that part of the Galaxy, which is not to be discerned by us, there are certain [Page 255]black, and near the Northern Pole, white Clouds, which move along with the Galaxy in twenty four hours; and these may be discerned by those that sail 18 Degrees South Latitude; but I shall not insist upon these as Arguments, since I suspect those black Clouds to be nothing but the Azure Sky appearing through the Galaxy, and those white ones, to be only Constellations, like those of the Galaxy or the Belt of Orion.

Nature may not always be exact in her Laws.But having hinted, that Nature may not al­ways be exactly regular in the Motion of Planets, &c. I shall here intimate, that sometimes we may think, those Motions which are Periodical and return at set times, irregular; because we live not long enough to observe the frequent Returns of such Changes, as we usually esteem Prodigies in Nature; for it would as much be thought strange, to see Trees blossom, and Fruit in the Summer, to a Man that lived but one Year, as several other Phaenomena are strange to us, who have not lived long enough to have observed such Phaenomena in their Periodical Turns before: So before the different Appearances of Saturn had often been observed, they were thought Pro­digies.

But it is most remarkable, that several Stars have Periodically appeared and disappeared se­veral times in the same Place, as hath been ob­served in the Girdle of Andromeda, and about the Swans Breast, and another amongst the fixed Stars in the Whales Neck. These I say are most remarkable, because they not only confirm what I have been saying of the Periodical Appearan­ces of some Phaenomena; but invalidate the Phi­losophical Systems of some, who allow of no [Page 256] Vortices beyond the concave Surfaces of the Fir­mament: Vortices be­yond the Concave Surfaces of the Firma­ment. But if rather than to allow of Vortices beyond the Surface of the Firmament, we would imagin the Stars, which appear and disappear, to have dark and light Hemispheres, which Perio­dically turn towards our Globe; it will still be an Argument to question the Uniformity of the Motions of some of the Globes of the Universe; since at so vast a Distance, such considerable Al­terations are observable.

But to conclude this Chapter; It may be a que­stion, whether such prodigious Changes as are sometimus observed, may not by being frequent­ly repeated, become a Custom, and have a Right to be reckoned amongst the Laws of Nature.

CHAP. III. Of the Temperature of Subterraneal Regi­ons as to Heat and Cold.

FOr some Reasons, having been unable to ex­amin into the Temper of the Air in subter­raneal Regions my self, I shall rather give such an Account of it, as I have received from se­veral Persons.

The Temper of the Air in Groves.And first, I shall relate a Story of the Tem­per of the Air observed by a Chymist, who pur­posely travelled into Hungary, which was the following: That going down into a Grove, at the first Entrance of it, he perceived the Air sensi­bly warm; but presently after for a quarter of an [Page 257]hour in his descent, he felt it considerably cold; which cold Region being passed, he began to perceive it sensibly warmer, and the lower he descended the hotter it grew; so that, in the low­er Veins, it was hotter than the Air above ground is usually in Summer: And this Relation was confirmed by a like Observation made by a Physitian, who told me, that in a Mine, whose de­scent did not much exceed an hundred Fathom, the cold Region was extended near to the bot­tom of it. And this Relation is agreeable with what Morinus affirms, viz. That the Cold Regi­on, in an Hungarian Mine, which he visited, was extended 80 Fathom, after which the Heat sensi­bly increased, the lower he descended; and the same Author affirms, that besides the different Tempers of those Regions, there is likewise ob­served, a different Degree of Heat, in the hot Region, correspondent to the different Seasons of the Year, viz. Winter and Summer.

The Tempe­rature of Subterrane­al Regions consider'd under cer­tain Propo­sitions. Prop. I.These things premised in General, I shall now proceed to consider the Particular Regions of the Earth in the four following Propositions.

CHAP. IV. Of the Temperature of the Submarine Re­gions, as to Heat and Cold.

THE following Chapter relating to the Temper of Submarine Regions, I would be suppos'd to mean, by that Term, not such as are beneath the whole Ocean, but only such as are beneath its Superficies; concerning which, I shall not relate what follows, as upon my own Observation, but only as receiv'd by Informa­tion from others, who have dived into them.

Submarine Regions two.And First, I shall only assign to this Element two Regions; the One bounded by the utmost Penetrations of the Rays of the Sun, and other Calorifick Causes; the other extending it self to the utmost Depth of the Water.

The Tempe­rature of the Upper­most.According to which Division it will follow, that the Upper Region must vary in it's Extent; according to the Difference of the Climate, and the Heat of the Sun, (supposing the Warmth of it [Page 267]not to proceed from Subterraneal Effluvia;) and not only in the Extent, but the Temperature of that Region; which may not only be vary'd by the Influence of the Sun, but also, by the dif­ferent Nature of the Soil about the Shores, being either Nitrous, or Marchasitical; as also by the Shallowness of the Water, which may contribute to the Warmness of it, the Rays of the Sun be­ing refracted by the Subjacent Sands. To which Causes may be added the Influence of Subter­raneal Fire: An Observation favouring which, hath been made by Monsieur de Ponts, in his Voyage to New France; in the way to which he observ'd, That in one Place the Water was very warm, as well as the Wine, which lay in the Boat, tho' there was no sensible Alteration in the Air; and that this continu'd for three Days; whereas, on the 21 ^rst of the same Month, it was for 2 or 3 Days observ'd to be as cold.

The Tempe­rature of the Lower Region.These things in short being premis'd, con­cerning the Upper Region, I shall now pro­ceed to the Lower, which is Cold; the Parts of Water being in a less violent Agitation than our Sensory: And that the Lower Region is sensibly cold, is not only consonant to Reason, but also confirm'd by the Observation of those, who have dived a considerable Depth, not only in the Northern Seas, in Africa and America; but it is also further evinc'd, by what is commonly practised at Sea, viz. to let down Bottles of Wine into the Sea all Night; which, by being immers'd in the Water, will acquire a considera­ble Degree of Coldness. And I am also inform'd by an Observing Traveller, that having let down about 400 Fathom of Line, with about 30 pound of [Page 268]Lead at it, thirty five Degrees North Latitude beyond the Line; the Lead, when drawn up, was as cold as Ice.

From which Instances it appears, that the Air and Water so far agree, that the Parts of them being put into Motion, by External Causes, they acquir'd each a considerable Degree of Warmth; but, being remov'd and separate from those Causes, put on a contrary Quality; so that the Air and Water seem chiefly in this respect to differ, viz. in their inverted Order.

But further: From what hath been deliver'd, it appears, That tho' the Submarine Regions be sensibly colder, the nearer the Bottom; yet their coldest Region does not, by any of the afore­mention'd Phaenomena, appear to be the Summum Frigidum; for tho' I have several times frozen Salt­water, yet it does not appear, that there is the least Ice generated in the Bottom of the Sea; since from the Bottom of the great Ocean 35 Degrees South Latitude, Gray Sand hath been brought up, where the Water was no less than two hun­dred and twenty Fathom deep: But yet there is one Caution to be added, which makes this Observation the less to be rely'd on; which is, That one Reason why no Ice is to be found in the Bottom of the Sea, may be the Unaptitude of Salt-Water, more than of Fresh, to be congeal'd; it requiring a much greater degree of Cold to freeze Salt-Water, than Fresh.

CHAP. V. Relations about the Bottom of the Sea.

The Bottom of the Sea very Rough and Une­qual.THAT the Bottom of the Sea is usually Salt and Cold, is a very common Obser­vation; but being desirous to be more nicely inform'd, about what occurs in that Region; I have been told by several, who have in long Voyages, fathom'd in several places, that the Bottom of the Sea is rough, with considerable Inequalities, and Precipices; so that in a small Space a little Depth of the Sea hath increas'd to a hundred Fathom, and decreas'd as suddenly: There being likewise found several other Ine­qualities and Hills, observ'd in Places about 30 or 20 Fathom deep; where a Line of 16 Fathom, would upon the next Cast require 35 or 40 to reach to the Bottom of the Sea; and the like Observations I have receiv'd from seve­ral Experienc'd Mariners: Amongst which, I transcrib'd the following Account, from some Notes left in England, by one who had made a Voyage to the East-Indies: The Account was this.

‘ February 12. After our Observation, seeing the Ground under us, we heaved the Lead, and had but 19 Fathom Rocky Ground, then hal'd by N.N. E. the Wind at N.W. and found our Wa­ter to shoal from 19 to 10 and 8 Fathom, hard Coral Ground; then suddenly deepned again from 8 to 20 and 22 Fathom Sandy Ground; and then suddenly saw Rocks under us, where [Page 270]we had but 7 Fathom, and the next Cast 14 Fathom again; and so having run N. N. E. from 6 in the Morning, till 12 at Noon, about 19 Mileswe deepned our Water from 16 to 25, and the next Cast no Ground with 35 Fathom of Line.’

The Gravi­tation of the Water.But besides the Inequalities to be taken No­tice of at the Bottom of the Sea, there are several other Things to be observ'd; amongst which the Gravitation of the Water, is remarkable; and tho' it be disputed amongst Philosophers, whether there be such Gravitation or not; yet that there is, appears from several Experiments.

And First, If a Glass-Cylinder, with one End open, be immerg'd in a Glass-Vessel, it may be observ'd, That as the Cylinder is press'd lower, the Air by the Pressure of the Water, will be squeez'd higher and higher, the water rising gra­dually below it in the Cylinder. And the like hath been observ'd by several Persons, who have dived in a Diving-Bell, not only in the Northern Sea, but upon the Coast of Africa; where as the Bell went deeper and deeper, the Air became more compress'd, and the Water accordingly rose higher and higher in the Bell. And some­times the Pressure hath been observ'd to be so powerful, that I have been inform'd by one who let down a Glass-Vial into the Sea, near the Straight's Mouth, that, having let it sink about 40 Fathom, it was burst in pieces, by the out­ward Pressure of the Water; to which he added, That, having let down an Aeolipile of Metal, and sunk it about 60 Fathom, he observ'd when it was drawn up, that the sides were in several places bruis'd and compress'd by the violent Pres­sure of the Water.

The Bottom of the Sea not disturb­ed in StormsAnother thing observable in the Bottom of the Sea, is, That tho' the Violence of Storms may disturb it, where it is shallow; yet where it is considerably deep, the nearer the Bottom, the more calm and undisturb'd it is. And this hath been confirm'd by the Observations of Divers, who have taken Notice, That tho' the Waves were six or seven foot high, yet, at fifteen Fa­thom deep, the Water was very little disturb'd, only the Mud was rais'd, which made the Water dark; and what is very remarkable, is, that the Person that dived inform'd me, that having stay'd a considerable depth for some time, he found, when he came up again, a Tempestuous Storm, which had risen when he was in the Water, without being taken Notice of by him below. And the like hath been observ'd, near the shoar of Manar, in the East-Indies, where they dive for Coral, in a Sea, that lies be­twixt the Island of Ceylon, and the Cape of Co­mori, which is usually very much disturb'd; in­asmuch as it lies near the Indian Ocean, and the Gulf of Bengala, formerly call'd Sinus Gangeti­cus. And it hath elsewhere been observ'd, That, in considerable Storms, the Seas have not been disturb'd over the Depth of 4 Fathom.

The Water at the Bot­tom of the Sea almost stagnates.And to these Observations I might add, had I sufficient Evidence to build upon, That, having enquir'd, whether upon Ebbing and Flowing of Tides, the Motion of the Water was continu'd to the Bottom; I have been told by some, that it does almost stagnate, and by others, that the Current of the Water above, is different from the Tendency of that below. But not to rely upon these Relations, I have been inform'd, [Page 272]by a Person who made his Observations beyond the Cape of Good Hope, in the Southern Sea, that, having let down his Plummet, about an hun­dred Fathom, he found, that the Plummet be­ing suspended in the standing Water, made the Boat turn to the Tide, as if it lay at Anchor. And that there is such a Stagnation of Water at the Bottom of the Sea, hath been likewise confirm'd to me, by Observations made near the Coral Fi­shery, in the East-Indies.

CHAP. VI. Further Relations about the Bottom of the Sea.

THAT the Air, is not only necessary to the Preservation of Animals, but also promotes Vegetation, and the Growth of Plants, I have elsewhere observ'd; but since several Trees and Plants are observ'd to grow under Water, I shall further observe what Informa­tions I have receiv'd concerning them.

Observati­ons relating to Coral.And First, To what hath elsewhere been de­liver'd concerning the Growth of Coral under Water, I shall add, That I am inform'd by one, that saw it near Algiers, that Coral, when first taken up, is not only soft and flexible, but very pale; yet when the Bark is taken off, and it is expos'd to the Air, it's Natural Redness presently appears: To which he added, That [Page 273]having broke several Pieces, he found it much paler within than on the outside; and that there were several black Knobs on the extream Parts of the Twigs; the place from whence this Coral was taken, being about nine or ten Fathom deep. And I have been further inform'd by one that sail'd to the East-Indies, that upon a certain sort of Coral he hath observ'd, certain round Berries of a very pleasant Colour.

Trees un­der Water.To these Relations I shall add, That Divers have not only observ'd Trees to grow under Water, near Manar, which bore Leaves like those of a Laurel, but that not far from the Coast of Mosambique, in Africa, several Trees are ob­serv'd to grow under Water, whose Fruit and Leaves are like those of the Tree in America, which bears a Fruit call'd Acayu.

But an Observation more Valuable, is con­cerning the Maldavian Nut, call'd Coco, which by experienc'd Divers, are found to be the Fruit of a Tree, which grows at the Bottom of the Sea, which are either gather'd by the Divers, or torn off by the violent Agitation of the Wa­ter: In which Fruit it was observ'd, that, whilst it was under Water, it was very soft; but when it had been expos'd a considerable time to the Air, it became very hard.

CHAP. VII. Observations and Experiments about the Salt­ness of the SEA.

The Inva­lidity of the Cause as­sign'd by the Peripa­teticks.THE Saltness of the Sea, by several Peripa­teticks, hath been judged to proceed from the Influence of the Beams of the Sun upon the Water; but with what little reason may easily appear from those standing Lakes and Ponds, whose Water, notwithstanding the Influence of the Sun, continues fresh: And that it neither pro­ceeds from the Influence of the Sun, nor any o­ther external Heat may be argued, since though some fresh Water be drawn off by Distillation, and consequently undergoes as great a Degree of Heat, as it can be supposed to do from the Sun Beams, it yields not so much Salt as is to be found in some Water, never exposed to such Heat; which Salt differs very little from Sea Salt, only that it is whiter, being more clear of it's faeces, and free from a Mixture of earthy Parts.

And though some alledg in favour of Aristo­tle's Doctrin, That Scaliger affirms the Sea Wa­ter to be saltest in it's upper Region; yet it will appear, by comparing the Saltness of the super­ficial Parts of the Sea with the bottom, that the Observation was ill made, and does not general­ly hold; neither will it favour his Doctrin, should it be alledged, that Sea Salt dissolved in Water, otherwise than common Salt christalizes at the Top of the evaporated Solution; for conside­ring how much Salt Water must be impregnated [Page 275]with; and that the Quantity of Salt in Sea Wa­ter hath been observed by a Dutch Geographer to be only as One to Forty; The propor­tion of Salt to Water. it's Disposition to cry­stalize can be no Argument of the swimming of Sea-Salt more on the top of the Water than the other Region.

But though I differ in this Point from the Pe­ripatetick Philosophers; yet I do not believe, on the contrary, with some, that the Gravity of Salt makes them sink the more to the bottom; since the intestin Agitation of the Parts of the Water continually shifting Places must consequently car­ry it along with them; which Consideration joyned with another, which is, that I have not u­sually observed, Metalline Tinctures stronger at the top than bottom, might perhaps give a sus­picion to some, that the present Argument is less cogent, notwithstanding the specific Gravity, be­twixt Metals and their Menstruums does much exceed that betwixt Salt and Water.

But further in behalf of the Peripatetick Do­ctrin, it is urged out of Linscotten, that, at Goa in Portugal, it is usual for their Slaves to dive, and fetch fresh Water from the bottom of the Sea; but tho' this Matter of Fact were true, yet no ge­neral Rules could be drawn thence; because Ex­perience tells us, that in other Places it is contra­ry. Besides it might be probably guessed, that, Springs in the Bottom of the Sea. were it true, that fresh Water might rise by cer­tain Springs covered over with Sea Water, as well as that several Springs in other Places should be under Water upon the flowing of the Sea: And that there may be such Springs is so far probable, that the curious Hungarian Gover­nor de admirandis Hungariae Aquis, says, That in [Page 276]the River Vagus, near the Fortress Galgotium, Veins of hot Water rise up in the very bottom of the Water; his Words are these, Ne (que) in Ripa tan­tum eruuntur calidae, sed etiam intra amnem, si fun­dum ejus pedibus suffodias; calent autem immodicè, &c. And the like hath been observed upon the Neapolitan Coast.

But not to urge these Relations, I shall inti­mate briefly, That an ingenious Acquaintance of mine, who lives in that City, hath informed me, that that fresh Water is not fetch'd so deep as to be suspected to rise from such Springs; but that it is rather the fresh Water which runs into the Sea from a River not far off, before it is mixed with the Salt Water; which Conjecture I the ra­ther believe, because near Mouths of Rivers it hath elsewhere been observed, that fresh Water hath for some time floated together, without being perfectly mixed with the other Stream.

And as for Scaliger's Opinion, it might be ur­ged against it, that by a Vessel so artificially contrived, that it might be opened at the bot­tom of the Sea to take in Water, the Water drawn up hath been found to be Salt. But since it may be urged against this, that the Salt Wa­ter being heavier than the fresh, as it was draw­ing up might be mixed with it, by pressing into the Vessel; I shall add Instances not lyable to such Objections; for it hath been observed, not only at the Cape of Comori, but elsewhere, by Divers, that the Water is as Salt at the bottom as at the top; and I am informed, that Divers have not only under the Torrid Zone observed the Wa­ter exceeding Salt, but have brought several Lumps of Salt from the bottom with the Sea: [Page 277]And the like Saltness of the bottom of the Sea hath been discovered near the Straights of Gi­bralter's Mouth: And further, that I might not only be sure, that the Sea was thus Salt at the bottom, I procured two Quarts of Sea Water, the one taken up at the bottom of the Sea and another at the top; in which, though there was some Difference in Colour; yet being Hydrosta­tically tryed, there was no sensible difference in the specifick Gravity of them.

But to make out what I have before intimated, viz. That the Freshness of the Water in the bot­tom of the Sea near Goa might be produced by the Rise of some Springs under Water; though it may be objected, that the specifick Gravity of the Salt Water, would in some measure obstruct the Rising of fresh Water: Yet this Objecti­on will easily be answered, if we consider, that according to what we have delivered in our Hy­drostatical Paradoxes, and also what Stevinus hath observed, let the Quantity of Water be never so great, no more can resist the Rising of such Springs, but that Pillar of Water which lyes o­ver them in a perpendicular Line; and if the Spring takes it's Rise from some high Place, so that the Weight of that Water which lyes in the Vein, be heavier than the perpendicular Pil­lar of Sea Water, the Rising of it can by no means be hindered by the Pressure of that incumbent Water.

But to explain and confirm this Paradox, I shall add, that having procured a long Glass Syphon, part of it being inverted so as to form a short Leg, I filled it with Claret, stopping the Orifice of the longer Leg with my Thumb, which Sy­phon, [Page 276] [...] [Page 277] [...] [Page 278]being immersed in Salt Water contained in a Glass Vessel, and the Orifice of the longer Leg being opened, the Claret, notwithstanding the Pressure of the Salt Water, presently rose up in it in the Form of Clouds, which lasted till the Liquor in the Pipe was brought to a just Aequi­librium with the incumbent Pillar of Salt Wa­ter.

The Reason of the Salt­ness of the Sea.But to pass on to the Cause of the Saltness of Sea VVater, I deny not what Gassendus and other Moderns teach; but grant, that the Saltness pro­ceeds from a Solution of Salt in the VVater; yet I am apt to suspect, that that Saltness is not only supplyed by those Salt Rocks, which may be con­tiguous to, or near the Water; but that the Sea is in a great Measure supply'd, by Salt wash'd away and carry'd into it, by Springs and Rain-water, which float into the Ocean. And I am the more confirm'd in this Suspicion, because several Chymists have not only found Salt in some Waters; but have obtain'd a good Quan­tity of common Salt upon refining of Salt-Pe­tre, which according to Sir Francis Bacon, is in most Soils, which are not spent in Vegetation, or wash'd and consum'd by the Sun and Rain.

But not to insist too long on these things, it is not only probable, That the Salts in the Earth, may, by this Means, contribute to the Saltness of the Sea; but that, from what hath been be­fore deliver'd, such Salts may be communicated to it by latent Springs, not to be taken notice of or discern'd by us. And further, That such Salt as abounds in the Earth, may supply the Sea with most of the Salt which is perceiv'd to be in it; we are to render it further probable, [Page 279]to consider, That the Sea-Salt, and that, are agreeable in the main, with each other; since they have almost the same Shape and Taste, &c. the former of which will appear by Evapora­tion and Crystalizing them; and as for some small Difference to be perceiv'd betwixt them, that may easily arise from those Bituminous and other, as well as Nitrous Bodies, which flow into the Sea, and which may be mixed with them, both by the internal Agitation of the Parts of the Water, as well as the outward Action of the Sun and Air.

And that there is such Salt dissolv'd in Sea-Water, might be probable, if it were possible so to raise the fresh Water it was dissolv'd in, by Distillation, as to leave the Saline Parts be­hind; but not now to mention, that not only I, but the Judicious Sir John Haukins, in his Voy­age to the East-Indies, have, by distilling of Salt-Water, obtain'd from it a wholesome fresh Water; I shall, without making a long Digression, proceed to answer an Objection, which is urg'd against what I have deliver'd, viz. That if the Springs acquir'd such a Salt­ness by running through the Earth, it would be discernible before they emptied themselves into the Ocean. To this I shall answer, That besides those fresh Springs which are visible to us, there may be several others which lye too deep for us to take Notice of: But here it may be requisite to take Notice, That I do not say, That the Saltness of the Sea wholly depends on such Sup­plies; but that they contribute to the Saltness of it.

The Bitter­ness of Sea Water, whence.Having said so much of the Saltness of the Sea and its Causes; it may be now seasonable to observe, from whence proceeds that Bitter­ness remarkable in some, if not most Sea-Wa­ter; which, we conceive, may proceed, part­ly from the external Power of some Catholick Agent, and partly, from those Bituminous Bo­dies which are carried along with Spring-Wa­ter into the Sea, which hath been visibly appa­rent in the Island Barbadoes, where that which they call Barbadoes Tarr, hath been seen to flow from the Rock into the Sea; and to these Causes may concur some Subterraneal Exhala­tions and Effluvia, which I have elsewhere taken notice of to flow from and pervade the Earth. And as for those different Tastes which are per­ceiv'd in the Sea at several Places, it is no less probable, that they proceed from other adven­titious Bodies mix'd and incorporated with the Sea-Water; for that the Sea-Salt which is dis­solv'd in it, is not a simple Salt, but a com­pound, I have been induc'd to believe by a Salt which I obtain'd from it.

And that some Catholick Agents may work Changes in the Saltness of the Sea, which it would not otherwise have, by a bare Solution of those adventitious Bodies that are mix'd in it, I have Reason to believe, since I have found, That by keeping the Parts of Sea-Water in A­gitation, by a continued digestive Heat, it hath considerably differ'd in Taste, from a bare Solu­tion of Sea-Salt in Water. And for a further Confirmation, That the Saltness of the Sea is vary'd in several Places, I shall barely intimate those several Colours, different Qualities, and [Page 281]stupendious Multitudes of adventitious Corpus­cles which are mix'd with it.

Agitation requisite to preserve Sea Water from stinking.But to proceed, amongst the various Obser­vations to be made about Sea-Water, it is worth our Notice, That if it be kept from A­gitation, it will in a short time stink; which I have not only observ'd, by keeping some of it in a Runlet for some time; but also, I am in­form'd by one, who, in a Voyage, was for some days becalmed, that the Sea, for want of Agitation, stunk so much in twelve or fourteen days, that the Smell was almost intolerable; which continued till the Winds put the Water into Agitation. Which agrees with what Sir John Hawkins hath observ'd, who relates the following Story: Were it not for the Moving of the Sea, by the Force of Winds, Tides and Currents, it would corrupt all the World. The Experience of which I saw Anno 1590, lying with a Fleet about the Islands of Azores, almost Six Months, the greatest Part of the time we were becalmed, with which all the Sea became so replenished with several sorts of Gellies, and Forms of Serpents, Adders and Snakes, as seem'd Wonderful; some green, some black, some yellow, some white, some of divers Colours, and many of them had Life, and some there were a Yard and a half, and some two Yards long; which had I not seen, I could hardly have be­liev'd; and hereof are Witnesses all the Company of the Ships, which were then present, so that hardly a Man could draw a Bucket of Water clear of some Corruption. In which Voyage toward the End there­of, many of every Ship fell sick of this Disease, and dy'd apace, but that the speedy Passage into our own [Page 282]Country was a Remedy to the Crazed, and a Pre­servative for those that were not touched.

The Saltness of the Sea differs.As for the different Degrees of the Saltness of the Sea, I shall deliver what I have been in­form'd of, as briefly as I can. And First, It hath been observ'd, by one to whom I gave a Glass conveniently shaped to try the specifick Gravity of the Water, that it grew heavier and heavier as he came nearer the Line, till within about thirty Degrees Latitude; from whence to Ja­maica he observ'd no Alteration in the specifick Gravity in the least. And in Confirmation of this I am likewise inform'd, by one, who for his own Satisfaction weigh'd the Water, both under the Aequinoctial and at Cape of good Hope, and found that the Weight of both was the same. To which may be added that it is com­monly observ'd at Mosambique, one of the hot­test Places in the World, that the Sea is so salt there, that it bears up the Ships a considerable Height out of the Water, more than in other Places; and that the Water may be much salter in one Place than another, by having more Salt dissolved in it, does not only appear from what hath been said, but also from what is frequently observ'd in the different Strength of Brine-Pits.

But to pass from what I have learnt by In­formation, to what I have observ'd my self con­cerning the Proportion of Salt to the Water it was dissolv'd in, which I have observ'd in Sea-Water, betwixt England and France.

The Propor­tion of Salt in Sea-Wa­ter.The first Experiment I made to discover the Quantity of Salt was this, that having, in a Viol, weigh'd an equal Proportion of Sea-Water taken up at the Surface of the Sea, with com­mon [Page 283]Water, the Weight of the former exceed­ed the latter of forty fifth Part; but these Li­quors being more Hydrostatically try'd, by weighing Sulphur in them, that which in the Sea-Water weigh'd ℥ss + 10 ½ gr. in Sea-Wa­ter, fetch'd from the bottom, ballanced the same Weight; but being weigh'd in common Water, it weigh'd ℥ss + 15 ½ gr. so that the Sea-Water was a Fifty third Part heavier than the fresh; the Difference in which way of try­ing it, from what was observ'd in the former Tryal, I could attribute to nothing, but some grosser Saline Parts mix'd with the common Water, or some evaporated Parts of the Sea-Water.

Another way we made use of to try the dif­ferent specifick Gravity of these Liquors, was, by Distillation ad Siccitatem in a digestive Fur­nace, in which a Pound Averdupoise Weight yeilded ℥ss 10 gr. of Salt; so that the Propor­tion of the Salt to the Water was as 30 and 12/100 to one, being near the Thirtieth Part.

But suspecting that the Quantity of this Salt was much increas'd by imbibing Moisture from the Air, I caus'd it to be dry'd in a Crucible, and found it weigh'd ʒiij + ss, which is about a Thirty sixth Part.

How so much a greater Quantity of Salt should be obtain'd by Distillation, is difficult to con­jecture; yet I am apt to think, that it might proceed from some Parts of the Water detain'd from flying away, by being enclos'd amongst the cubical Salts; and this I am apter to believe, First, Because I have elsewhere prepar'd a Salt, which would coagulate and embody it self with [Page 282] [...] [Page 283] [...] [Page 284]Water; and Secondly, Because I am told, That a Sort of Salt is brought from the Coast of Spain, which being here purify'd and dissolv'd, will yield a double Quantity.

The Sea-Water salt­er some­times than at others.Whether the Sea-Water may at some times be more impregnated with Saline Parts than at others, I conceive probable, if we consider the Supplies that it receives both from the Earth, which are carry'd to it along with Springs, and also, the sudden Additions it may receive from Subterraneal Exhalations; but these Observa­tions being very nice, it most commonly re­quires other Measures than what Hydrostaticks afford; for it may be observ'd, That several volatile Salts which are of no considerable Weight above common Water, may be mix'd with it without being perceiv'd; so that one may easily be deceiv'd in judging of the Salt­ness of the Sea altogether by Hydrostaticks; because, that which violently affects the Taste, may have but a small Influence in the Balance: To confirm which I shall add, That a Bubble of Glass, having Metal in it, weigh'd ʒiij ✚ 51 ¼ gr. in Spirit of Sal Armoniack, and but ʒiij ✚ 45 ¾ in common Water. But further, I weigh'd in the same Liquor an equal Proportion of Sea-Salt brought from the torrid Zone and Sal Ar­moniack, and found, that the Bulk of the former was, to an equal Proportion of that Liquor, as two and a quarter to one, whereas the Sal Armoniack was not above a hundredth Part, a­bove one, and 7/10 to one, which is the more strange, because Part of the Composition of Sal Armo­niack is Sea-Salt.

But that I might be satisfi'd what was the great­est Degree of Saltness, that Water would be impregnated with; I shook a Lump of Salt in Water, till it would dissolve no more; and found that a Brine might be made so strong, that the Salt would be dissolv'd in five times its weight of Water.

To conclude this Discourse, I shall add one thing which hath not been taken notice of by Hydrostaticians; which is, the weight of the Sea-Salt to its Bulk of Water, which I have found to be almost as two to one; and I likewise found, that a piece of Sal Gemm, which is more pure and weighty than Sea-Salt was to its Bulk of Water about as 2 2/8 to 1.

CHAP. VIII. Memoirs for the Natural History of Mineral Waters.

THE Use of Mineral Waters are so Uni­versal, and the Methods which some Phy­sicians take to try them so slight; that, tho' I am satisfied it is difficult, without Experience to Ascribe Virtues to them à priori, by Reason of the Great Variety of Minerals, which may im­pregnate them with Particles of various and very different Natures; I cannot but think, but that if we were furnish'd with a sufficient Num­ber of Quaeres, and several Methods in order to a Discovery of them, more nice Tryals might [Page 286]much Contribute to the clearing up of a Na­tural History of Mineral Waters; since by a competent number of Experiments it might be hoped, that the Nature of those Metalline Salts, with which Mineral Waters are Impregnated, might be discovered.

Wherefore I have lay'd down such sorts of Experiments, that might be most easily try'd, viz. chiefly Chimical Ones, which may be made at home, without the Inconveniencies of atten­ding those Mineral Fountains from whence they spring.

And because my Design is rather to improve Physick by the following Observations, than to entertain Speculative Naturalists; I have chief­ly made it my Business in the following Papers, to consider those Waters call'd Acidulae, rather than the other term'd Thermae, because the for­mer are of more general Use.

The danger of an ill use of Mineral Waters.But perhaps some may think that the Quares hereafter propounded may be too troublesome, and more than requisite; since the Use of Mine­neral Waters are thought so innocent, as to be of no ill Consequence if Unsuccesful. To which it may be answer'd, that tho' when skil­fully given, they do a great deal of good; yet they are as prejudicial if unskilfully prescrib'd; and therefore, since there cannot be too much Caution, we cannot be too inquisitive to inform our selves of their Virtues; for there may be a great many hidden Qualities in them, and they may be impregnated with several Metalline Pro­perties, which may not be discover'd to the Eye or by common Tryals.

Besides, were such Experiments industriously prosecuted, they might help to discover several other Qualities in Mineral Waters, which are as yet unknown; for from the following Expe­riments it is evident, that the Earth, which a­bounds with Minerals of a Martial Nature, may be more apt to impregnate subterraneal Waters than we can otherwise imagine; for upon pouring of a Tincture of Galls filtrated through Cap-paper upon filings of Steel, The Effects of filings of Steel, in a Tincture of Galls. the Liquor in half an hour became Opacous, and almost as black as Ink: The like Phaenomena to which were exhibited by Steel in an Infusion of Brasil or Log-wood made in common Water. To which we may add, that several Waters have been discover'd under ground of very different Tastes; some of which have been found to be corrosive, and others as harmless, being endow'd with se­veral Medicinal and Useful Qualities; and I am inform'd more particularly of one, which is a Mine of Coral in Devonshire about 360 foot deep, in which was found a Water very thick and red, yet cool and Diuretick, and not in the least nauseous to the Taste.

CHAP. IX. Titles propos'd for the Natural History of Mineral VVaters, consider'd whilst in their proper Channel.

Quaeries in order to a discovery of the Virtues of Mineral Waters.IN order to a natural History of Mineral Wa­ters, they ought to be consider's in three dif­ferent Capacities: First, as they are found in their natural Receptacles; Secondly, when drawn up for use; and thirdly, with Respect to their Effects on Human Bodies. To the first of which Heads the following Quaeres may be re­fer'd.

• 1. Within the Precinct of what Climate or Parallel, and in what degree of Latitude the Mineral Waters are to be found?
• 2. To what point these Waters lie open most in their Receptacles?
• 3. Whether the Ground in which they are found be a Plain, or how much it differs from a Plain?
• 4. If the Ground be upon an Ascent, how far they are from the botttom of that Ascent?
• 5. Whether a Recrementitious Substance ad­heres to Stones long contiguous to these Wa­ters?
• 6. Whether subterraneal Fires be near such Waters, and what Phaenomena such exhibit?
• 7. Whether Brimstone or Sal-Armoniack, &c. be found about the Vents of such subterraneal Fires?
• [Page 289]8. Whether instead of subterraneal Fires, there are other adjacent Aestuaries? and whether such be constant or intermitting? and if so, whether periodical or irregular?
• 9. Whether Mineral Fumes of particular co­lours or smells arise from such Aestuaries?
• 10. Of what Temper the neighbouring as well as the Soil they pass through is of?
• 11. Whether and of what Nature those Mi­nerals are of which they pass through?
• 12. Whether the Mineral Waters be origi­nally fresh, and derive their Virtues from the Soil they afterwards pass through?
• 13. Whether if it acquir'd its Virtues so, there were upon the Impregnation any Efferves­cence? or whether any such Effect succeeded its Mixture with another Liquor?
• 14. Whether there be a Spring of a contrary Nature near it, viz. as to Heat and Cold, as it is observ'd in France.
• 15. Whether an oyly or bituminous inflam­mable Substance float in it?
• 16. Whether the Seasons of the Year, or Tem­perature of the Weather alters them? and what Qualities they lose or acquire by such? For after Rain I have observ'd such Waters incapable of turning a Tincture of Galls black: But as to its Medicinal Virtues, I have found that Rain after long Droughts, hath rather increas'd than dimi­nish'd their Strength, by dissolving and diluting those Salts, which were fix'd in the Earth for want of a Vehicle; but if the Waters be weak, and the Rain much, those Salts being the more diluted, render the Waters less Effe­ctual.
• [Page 290]17. Whether the Qualities of the Waters may be Chymically and Mechanically discover'd? as also of what Colour and Weight, and with what Menstruums their Salts may be mix'd? and likewise what Substances they will yield when expos'd to different Degrees of Fire, and what other Chimical Tryals those as well as the Caput Mortuum may undergo?

CHAP. X. Containing Titles for the Natural History of Mineral Waters when drawn out of their Receptacles.

A Continu­ation of Qeaeries.1. WHether the Mineral Water propos'd be actually Hot or Cold? From whence we may judge from what Depth those Waters rose? and whether they were impreg­nated with a Salt-Peter or Sal-Armoniack in their Ascent? And the several Degrees of Heat or Cold may be either try'd by immerging a Ther­moscope, or by trying whether they will Coagu­late Oyl of Aniseeds or melt Butter?

2. Of the specifick Gravity; which, being 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 [Page 291]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.

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 [Page 292]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 [Page 293]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 [Page 295]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 black; but also One satura­ted with Copper; a Succedaneum, to which may be made, by adding to Sulphur as it melts over the Fire, and equal Proportion of Salt of Tar­tar finely powder'd, stirring them till they in­corporate, and become red: Which Mixture, being put into a Glass Retort, with half it's weight of Sal-Armoniack, dissolv'd in Water; let it be distill'd in Sand, shifting the Receivers as the Liquor drawn off, is ting'd more or [Page 296]less; so that the strongest may be preserv'd by it self.

And such Tryals as these will be of more use, than those usually made with a bare Tincture of Galls; since there are several Mineral Sub­stances and other Bodies, which Mineral Waters may be impregnated with, which discover not themselves in an Infusion of Galls: As Sul­phur or Copper, may be so lock'd up in these Wa­ters, as not to be perceiv'd, till the Body of the Liquor is open'd by some proper Additament. And even Arsenick it self, may be so disguised, as not to be perceiv'd, when mix'd with the Wa­ters; yet if Spirit of Urine, or Oyl of Tartar; per Deliquium, be dropp'd into a Solution of it, it presently precipitates in the Form of a white Powder; and so likewise, if a Solution of Subli­mate be added to it. Whether Mineral Waters have Arse­nick dissol­ved in them But to discover, whether Mineral Waters be impregnated with Arsenick or not, I put Dantzick, or English Vitriol into a Solution of it, either of which caus'd a dark precipitate gradually to subside.

14. Whether Spirituous Acids, volatile Al­kalys, or Lixivial Salts will precipitate such Wa­ters?

15. The Manner of Extracting Salts from such Waters, and what Quantities may be ex­tracted? Guesses may be made concerning the Saltness of these Waters, by trying whether they will Lather with Soap? and if not, what Quantity of Curdled Matter they will yield? I have ob­serv'd that even the lightest Waters will yield a small Quantity of common Salt.

16. How to discover what Acidity is to be found without Evaporation. Having taken a [Page 297]peculiar Method to try the Acidity of Mineral Waters, by mixing them with an Infusion of Lignum Nephriticum in simple Water, I found, that tho' German Spaw, yielded a small Quan­tity, yet in that of Action, there was none di­scernible.

17. What may be observ'd by Distillation in Balnco?

18. What, and whether the same Quantity of Caput Mortuum, be afforded by Evaporation, and Distillation?

19. Whether Mineral Waters will acquire the same Qualities and Texture, by a Reunion of their Caput Mortuum, when distill'd to such a Consistence, in Glass-Vessels exactly luted, which they had before?

20. What Changes, if any, Mineral Waters undergo by being boil'd in Water, in a Glass Hermetically seal'd? From whence might be learn'd whether a Change of Qualities would succeed an Alteration of Texture, without a manifest loss of Parts? And whether an Agita­tion of Parts, without the Influence of the Air, would precipitate any thing, or deprive it of it's Power to turn a Tincture of Galls Purple?

21. How much the Mineral Waters exceed their Caput Mortuum in Proportien?

22. What Parts are contain'd in the Caput Mortuum, and whether dissoluble in Water?

23. How much the Saline and Terrestrial Parts differ in Proportion?

24. Whether in strong Fires, the Salts be Volatile or Fix'd, and to what Degree?

25. Whether the Salts will Crystallize per se, [Page 298]or with other Salts, and what's the Figure of the Genuine, or Compounded Crystals?

26. Whether Acid or Alkaline Qualities are most predominant? The Acidity will either appear to the Taste or Smell; or may be disco­ver'd by turning Syrup of Violets red; as also, by making use of an Infusion of Lignum Nephriticum, which upon a Mixture of Acids loses it's Blue Colour: Their Acidity may likewise be disco­ver'd by trying, whether they will be precipi­tated by Alkalys, or ferment with them. And if Alkaly be predominant, it, on the contrary discovers it self by a Lixivial Taste and Smell; and may be discover'd, by turning Syrup of Vio­lets Green, or precipitating a Solution of Subli­mate, or Fermenting with Aqua fortis; or lastly, by increasing the Colour of a Tincture of Brasil or Log-wood in Common-water? And tho' we have no such Springs here in England, as afford Alkaline Salts; yet without question, in Egypt such may be found, since their Latron, or the Egy­ptian Nitre, abounds with a Salt of an Alkaline Nature: and I have obtain'd such an Alkaly, from that Famous Water of Bourbon in France, which would turn Syrup of Violets green, and fer­ment with Volatile Acids. If such Waters abound with Vitriol, they'll turn an Infusion of Galls black, and Vomit those that drink them; and, if an Alkaly be added, will yield a yellow Pre­cipitate, upon dropping of Spirit of Ʋrine, or Salt of Tartar into them.

I have not found any of the Waters about Lon­don, to be impregnated with Vitriol; and I am told, that in France the Mineral Waters are so far from being impregnated with Vitriol, that there is [...] [Page 299]a Vitriolate Spring in that Kingdom. As for the Nature of the Salt, which most Mineral Wa­ters are impregnated with, I think that it is not to be referr'd to any Glass, but is either sui gene­ris, and a peculiar one, or a Compound Salt, made up of such as the Water is impregnated with, in it's Passage through the Earth; and that Purgative Salts may, by a Change of Texture, be made of Salts not at all Purgative, I the rather be­lieve, because I have been told by an Ingenious Emperick, That a Salt which I made of Salt of Tar­tar, and Common Sulphur mix'd together, had a gentle Purging Virtue.

27. In what Menstruums the Caput Mor­tuum may be dissolv'd? and in what it may not? Whether Volatile or Fixt, and what Qualities it hath in Respect of Colour or Smell?

What Pro­portion of Salt Mine­ral Waters afford.It is to be admir'd, what a great deal of Caput Mortuum some Mineral Waters yield in Compa­rison of others; since those Waters: which are purely Diuretick have very little, if compared with the Caput Mortuum of Purging Waters: For tho' a pound of Barnet Waters, yielded a Drachm, yet the same weight of Tunbridge afforded but a Grain. And,

It is not a little strange, that so small a Quan­tity of a Mineral should impregnate so much Water, as I have, by Tryal, found a Grain of Iron Stone did, enabling it to Tincture an Infusion of Galls, deeper than Tunbridge or German Spaw Wa­ter would. And I have try'd, that half a Grain of Marchasite, dissolv'd in Spirit of Nitre, com­municated a Tincture to 61440 Parts of Water; tho' Part of that Marchasite was Sulphur, and Part of it Caput Mortuum.

And here it may be seasonable to take notice, That if so small a Portion of a Metalline Sub­stance would, when grosly dissolv'd, impregnate so large a Quantity of Water; how much more may it, when rais'd in the Form of a Subtile Mi­neral Fume? and as in such a Form, it may im­pregnate a larger Quantity of Water, so will it be more apt to fly away, when expos'd to the Air. And that Vitriol may probably rise in the Form of a Vapour, without losing it's Qualities, is evident in Sublimate, which consists of Mer­cury, chang'd by an Addition of Salt and Vitriol; for some Vitriolick Parts being carry'd up in the Preparation, turn Opacous upon an Affusion of Spirit of Sulphur.

But further, to make it evident, that the Par­ticles of Iron may be considerably expanded, I dropp'd four Drops of a Vitriolick Liquor, made use of in Copperas-works, into twelve Ounces and a half of Water, and found, that it so much im­pregnated 1500 times it's Proportion of Com­mon Waters, as to make it strong enough to turn a Tincture of Galls Purple, tho' by Evaporation we found that 3 Parts of 4 of that Liquor were Water.

28. What Alterations the Earthy Parts of Mineral Waters undergo by Ignition; and whe­ther they may be Vitrify'd per se? as also what Colours they impart to Venice Glass, if mix'd with the Powder before Fluxion?

29. Of what use they are in Baking, Brewing, Tanning, or Dying of Colours, &c.

30. How many ways they may be made Artificially, and with what Proportion of In­gredients?

CHAP. XI. Titles for the Natural History of Mineral-Waters, consider'd as a Medicine.

IT may be worth Observing, in order to a more Compleat Natural History of Mineral-Waters, what Constitutions they agree with, and in what Distempers they are Proper or Dan­gerous: What Sensible Operations they have; and whether their Effects be alter'd by Drink­ing them Hot or Cold; at the Well, or at a Di­stance from it: Whether Exercise, or the Warmth of a Bed, promotes their Operation: Whether they have any Occult Qualities.

It may likewise be requisite to observe; What good Effects may succeed a due Preparation of the Body that drinks them, and what Advantage it may be to drop some Strengthening Sto­machick into the First Dose: What Quantity is enough for the First Dose, and how it must be vary'd: How long they may be Drunk, and whether constantly, or with Intervals; whether Purging sometimes may contribute to their good Effects: What Regimen in the Six Non-Naturals is to be observ'd, whilst they are a-taking: Which are the Signs that denote the kindly Ope­rations of them; or their future ill Effects. What ill Accidents attend the taking of them, and how they may be Remedy'd, or Prevented. Whether it be proper to Purge after the Taking of them.

What Effects they will have by Mixing other Liquors with them; or, by Boiling Meat in them; Whether a Salt extracted will be of Equal Effect, when Diluted in Fresh Water. What External Effects they will have, and of what use their Se­diment is when Externally apply'd: What Ef­fects they will have on Dogs, if injected into their Veins, or if they be kept with such for constant Drink.

CHAP. XII. Of the Natural and Preternatural States of Bodies; especially the Air.

IT is the General Consent of most Men, that the Determinate States of Bodies are not on­ly first fram'd by what they call Nature; but that they are likewise preserv'd in those States, by the Superintendency of that Power; and that whenever they lose that State, they are said to be put into a Preternatural One. But if we consider, that such Changes proceed from Natu­ral Causes, and that those New States depend on the like Catholick Agents, The Com­mon Distin­ction be­twixt Na­tural and Preternatu­ral States ill grounded and the Establish'd Laws of Nature; it will appear, That the Di­stinction Men usually make betwixt the Natural and Preternatural. ▪ States of Bodies, is but ill-grounded; and that Preternatural, is only a Re­lative Term, intimating that that Body hath un­dergone a Change, either by the Operation of some unheeded or more noted Agent. For [Page 303] Matter being altogether void of Sense and Per­ception, and not affecting one State more than another, the Changes it undergoes, depend on the Alteration of it's Textures, and New Po­sition of it's Parts, alter'd afresh, by that Agent, which such a Body was last expos'd to. As a piece of Wax, is put into a New Form, by the last Impression, made by another Body upon it, without affecting one Form more than another it self.

Ice a Na­tural State in some Places.And that the States of some Bodies, which are said to be Preternatural, as truly depend on Natural Causes, and the Establish'd Laws of Nature as others, is evident in Ice and Wa­ter: In which Bodies, the Forms of each de­pend upon the Effects of External Agents; for, tho' in these Hotter Climates Water is Esteem'd a Natural, and Ice a Preternatural State of that Substance; yet I am inform'd, that in Siberia, a Province belonging to a Russian Emperour, Water is froze most part of the Year; and at a small▪ Depth, from the Surface of the Earth, the Soil is froze throughout; where Ice is look'd upon to be the Natural, and the Alterations made by a Thaw, and the Influence of the Ex­ternal Temperature of the Air, and the Sun Beams, are esteem'd Preternatural States of Bo­dies. And further, tho' Butter in our Clime be sold in a consistent Form, and when it is melted, is look'd upon to be in a Preterna­tural State; yet I am inform'd, that amongst the Europeans it is fluid, and is sold by Mea­sure, and not by Weight, as here in England. And it is further observ'd, That several Sub­stances, as Rosin of Jalap, Gum Lacca, and even [Page 304] Aloes it self, are considerablely softened in their Consistence, by the Temperature of the Air, and the Force of External Heat, whilst they pass under the Torrid Zone; so that I am told, that the former of the aforemention'd Drugs was melted into a sort of Balsam, whilst it con­tinued in Africa, but when it was brought to Spain, it put on a Consistent Form again: And tho' Aloes was soft whilst carry'd through America, and those hotter Climates, yet when it approach'd our Climate, it presently became hard.

But to bring further Instances concerning the Natural and Preternatural States of Bodies, I shall observe, That according the Receiv'd Notion of Natural and Preternatural States, it is very difficult to determine the Natu­ral State of the Air; for, not to insist on the different Temperature of the Air, as to Heat and Cold, in different Climes; It may be de­manded, Since Heat and Cold, rarifie and ex­pand the Air, what is to be esteem'd the Na­tural State of it, in Reference to Rarity and Density? And it is no less Questionable, what Place is most fit to determine it's Natural State, since the State of it is not only different in several Countries; but in those Places at diffe­rent Times: And that the Changes, as to the Density or Rarity of the Air, are very fre­quent, appears by the several Degrees of the Atmosphere's Gravity, evident in the Torrecel­lian Experiments, hereafter to be deliver'd.

A forced State, the Natural State of the Air.But further: Except the States of the Air be said to be Preternatural, only in a Relative Sense, with respect to the State it was in, before it [Page 305]underwent the last Change, it is not impos­sible to make it out, That the Air is always in a Preternatural, because always in a Forced State; the Lower Parts of the Air being con­stantly press'd upon, and by the Weight of Incumbent Air, kept from expanding it self; but if the further it recedes from a forc'd State, the nearer it approaches to a Natural One, then the Force of the Fire must by Rarifying it, contribute to the Destroying of it's Preterna­tural State; and by the same Reason the Air contained in our Pneumatical Receiver, when Part of it is drawn out, must approach to a Natural State, the Remaining Part having fur­ther Liberty to expand it self.

To conclude this Chapter: From what hath been said, it appears, That that is truly the Na­tural State of a Body, in which it is preserv'd by a Natural Concourse of External Agents: And likewise from what hath been said, we may infer, That it is a common Error, That nothing Violent is Durable; since it is evident, that the Atmosphere we live in, is always in a Forc'd or Compress'd State.