SeeNumb. 1. of theseTransactions; by the date whereof it will appeare, that thatSpotwas observed inEngland, a good while before any such thing was so much as heard of.
Eustachio de Divinis(saith theInformer,) has written a large Letter, wherein he pretends, that the Permanent Spot inJupiterhath been first of all discovered withhisGlasses; and that the P.Gotigniesis the first that hath thence deduced the Motion ofJupiterabout hisAxis; and that SigniorCassiniopposed it at first; to whom the saidGotignieswrote a letter of complaint thereupon.
The sameEustachiopretends likewise, that his great Glasses excell those ofCampani; and that in all the tryals, made with them, they have performed better; and thatCampaniwas not willing to do, what was necessary for well comparing the one with the other.viz.To put equallEye-glassesin them, or to exchange the same Glasses.
The saidDiviniaffirms also, that he hath found a way toknow, whether an Object glass be good or not, onely by looking upon it, without trying. This would be of good use, especially if it should extend so far as to discerne the goodness of such a glass, whilst it is yet on the Cement.
ThisBookundertakes to deliver a more certain and more genuine Method of curing Feavers and Agues, than has obtained hitherto: And it being premised,First, that a Fever is Natures Engine, she brings into the field, to remove her enemy; or her handmaid, either for evacuating the impurities of the blood, or for reducing it into a New State:Secondly, that the true and genuine cure of this sickness consists in such a tempering of the Commotion of the Blood, that it may neither exceed, nor be too languide: This, I say, being premised by the Author, he informs the Reader;
In theFirst Section, of the different Method, to be employed in the cure of Feavers, not only in respect of the differing constitutions and ages of the patients, but also in regard of the differing seasons of one and the same year, and of the difference of one year from another. As to theFormer, he shews, in what sorts ofPatients, and at what time of the Feaver, Phlebotomy, or Vomiting, or both, are to be used; and when and where not: In what space of time theDepurationif nature be not disturbed or hindred in her work, will be perform'd: WhenPurgativesare to be administred: How thatDiarrhea'shappen, if thePatienthad in thebeginning of the Feaver an inclination to vomit, but no vomit was given; and that those symptoms, which commonly are imputed to a malignity, do, for the most part, proceed from the Relaxation of the tone of the Bloud, caused by Medicines too refrigerating, or by the unseasonable use of Glisters in the declination of the disease. As to theLatter, he observes, that one of the chief causes, rendring the Cure of Feavers so uncertain and unsuccessfull, is, thatPractitionersdo accommodate their observations, they take from the successful cure of some Feavers in one season or the year, or in some one year, to that of all Feavers in any season, or in any year whatsoever. And here he observes,first, how vigorous the blood is in theSpring, and how dispirited inAutumn; and thence regulates the letting of bloud, and Vomiting, and the giving of Glisters.Next, how difficult it is, to assign the cause of the difference between the Feavers ofSeveral years; and to prognosticate of the salubrity or insalubrity of the following part of the year: where yet he insinuates, that, whenInsectsdo swarm extraordinarily, and when Feavers and Agues (especiallyQuartans) appear very early, as aboutMidsummer, thenAutumncommonly proves very sickly.Lastly, what method and Cautions are to be used in the Cure ofEpidemicalFeavers.
In theSecond Section, he treats of theSymptoms, accompanyingContinuedFeavers; asPhrensies,Pleurisies,Coughs,Hicoughs,Fluxes,&c.Shewing, both whence they are caused, and how they are to be cured: Where having inserted a considerableParagraph, touching a certainSymptomaticalFeaver in theSpring, to be cured like Plurisies; he mentions among many Observables, this, as a chief one, thatLaudanum, or any otherNarcotickgiven against thePhrensy, in the beginning, progress, or height of a Feaver, does rather hurt, than good, but in the declination thereof, is used with good success. To all which he subjoins a particularaccompt of theIliac Passion(esteem'd by him to be sometimes aSymptomealso of Feavers;) not only discoursing of its cause (a preposterous inversion of the Intestins, proceeding either from Obstruction, or Irritation,) but adding also a very plain way of Curing the same; and that not by the use ofQuick-silverorBullets(by him judged to be frequently noxious) but only byMint-water; and the application of a Whelp to the Patients stomach; to strengthen the same, and to reduce it again to its natural motion.
In theThird Section, he treats ofIntermittentFeavers, or ofAgues: Where he discourses of the times of theColdandHotfits, and ofthatof theSeparationof the subdued aguish matter: Finds difficulty in giving a satisfactory accompt of thereturn of Fits: distinguishes Agues intoVernalandAutumnal: Takes notice, that as there are fewContinuedFeavers, so generally there are onlyQuotidiansandTertians, in theSpring; and onlyTertiansandQuartansinAutumn; Of which having offered Reasons, that seem considerable, he proceeds to his Method of curing them; and, laying much weight upon the said difference, he prescribes and urges different ways to be used in that cure: Interserting among other things these notes;First, that the Period of Fermentation in Feavers, bothContinuedandIntermittent, is (if left to Natures own conduct, and well regulated, if need be, by Art) perform'd in about 336. hours or 14 dayes, subducting inIntermittentones, the hours of intermission, and counting 5½ hours for every Paroxism; and imputing the excursion beyond that time to the disturbance given to nature by the error of Practitioners.Secondly, that whoever hath had aQuartanformerly, though many years be pass'd, shall, if he chance to have another, besoonfreed from it; and that a Physician knowingthat, may confidently predictthis.
In theFourth Section, the Author, in conformity to the Custom of those that write of Feavers, discourses of theSmall-pox; andFirst, examining the cause of this sickness and its universality, delivers his peculiar opinion of the bloud's endeavouring a Renovation or a New Texture (once at least in a Mans life) and is inclin'd to preferr the same to the received doctrine of its malignity.Then, having laid down, for a foundation of the Cure, the two times, ofSeparationandExpulsion, he argues as well against too high an Ebullition or too hasty a separation (by a hot diet or high Cordials) as against too languid a one (by Blooding, Purges, and Cooling medicines.) The like he does to the Time ofExpulsion, forbiddingbothimmoderate Heat (whereby Nature's expelling operation is disturbed by a precipitated and too thick a crowd of the protruded pustuls,)andtoo much Cooling, whereby due Expulsion is hindred. In short, he advises, to permit Nature to do her own work, requiring nothing of the Physician, but to regulate her, when she is exorbitant, and to fortifie her, when she is too weak. He concludes all, with delivering a Model of the Method, he would use for his own only Son, if he should fall into this Sickness.
Whereas 'tis taken notice of, that several persons perswade themselves, that thesePhilosophical Transactionsare publish't by theRoyal Society,notwithstanding many circumstances, to be met with in the already publish't ones,that import the contrary; The Writer thereof hath thought fit, expresly here to declare, that that perswasion, if there be any such indeed, is a meer mistake; and that he, upon hisPrivateaccount (as a Well-wisher to the advancement of usefull knowledge, and a Furtherer thereof by such Communications, as he is capable to furnish by that Philosophical Correspondency, which he entertains, and hopes to enlarge) hath begun and continues both the composure and publication thereof: Though he denies not, but that, having the honour and advantage of being aFellowof the saidSociety,he inserts at times some of the Particulars that are presented to them; to wit, such as he knows he may mention without offending them, or transgressing their Orders; tending only to administer occasion to others also, to consider and carry them further, or to Observe or Experiment the like, according as the nature of such things may require.
Printed with Licence forJohn Martyn, andJames Allestry, Printers to the Royal Society. 1666.
Numb.13.
Munday,June4. 1666.
CertainProblemstouching some Points of Navigation: Of a new Contrivance ofWheel-Barometer, much easier to be prepar'd, than others. An account ofFour Sunswhich lately appear'd inFrance; and of two, unusually posited,Rainbows, seen in the same Kingdom. A Relation of an Accident, by Thunder and Lightning, inOxford. An Experiment, to examine, whatFigureor Celerity of Motion begetteth or increasethLightandFlame. Some Considerations touching a Letter in theJournal des ScavansofMay24. 1666.
CertainProblemstouching some Points of Navigation: Of a new Contrivance ofWheel-Barometer, much easier to be prepar'd, than others. An account ofFour Sunswhich lately appear'd inFrance; and of two, unusually posited,Rainbows, seen in the same Kingdom. A Relation of an Accident, by Thunder and Lightning, inOxford. An Experiment, to examine, whatFigureor Celerity of Motion begetteth or increasethLightandFlame. Some Considerations touching a Letter in theJournal des ScavansofMay24. 1666.
TheseProblemsare presented by the Learned and IndustriousNicolaus Mercator, for the advancing of that Excellent and Beneficial Science,Navigation, as follows:
The line ofArtificial Tangents, or theLogarithmical Tangent-line, beginning at 45 deg. and taking every halfdegreefor a whole one, is found to agree pretty near with theMeridian-lineof theSea-Charte; they both growing, as it were, after the same Proportion. But the Table ofMeridionaldegrees being calculated only to everySexagesimalminute of a degree, shews some small difference from the saidLogarithmical Tangent-line. Hence it may be doubted, whether that difference do not arise from that little errour, which is committed by calculating the Table ofMeridionaldegreesonlyto every minute.
Mr.Oughtredin the VI.Chap.of hisNavigation, annexed to the Book, entituled,The Circles of Proportion, and the Horizontal Instrument&c. mentions an Artifice, by himself discover'd, by which it may be effected, that the small Parts of theMeridianbe notoneminute (which on the face of theEarthanswers to above anEnglishMile) but the hundred-thousanth, or, if need be, the millioneth part of a minute, scarce exceeding one fifteenth part of an Inch: Which thing,he saith, he is able to perform inTablesunto theRadius10000000; yet nothing at all differing either in their form or manner of working from those that are now commonly in use.
But which way this is to be done, thisAuthorhath not made known to the Publick. And, though suchTablesunto theRadius10000000, had been brought to light, yet would they not be sufficient to prove the identity or sameness of the said two Lines, as to continue the comparison between them as far, as the one of them,videl.theLogarithmicall Tangent-line, is already calculated, that is; to Ten places, besides theCharactoristick.
Now therefore, if a certain Rule could be produced, by which the Agreement or Disagreement of the said two Lines might be shew'd, not only to that Extent of places, to which thatTangent Lineis already calculated, but also to as many more, as the same may be yet further extended unto, ininfinitum usque; surely that rule would not only save us the labour of makingTablesunto theRadius10000000; but also theHelixor Spiral Line of the Ships Course would be reduced to a more precise exactness, than ever was pretended by Him: and this most Noble and Useful Science (as He justly calls it) which is the Bond of most disjunct Countries, and the Consociation of Nations farthest remote, would attain its full lustre and perfection.
Besides, that the same Rule would also discover a far easier way of makingLogarithmes, than ever was practised or known; and therefore might serve, when ever there should be occasion, to extend theLogarithmesbeyond that number of places, that is already extant.
Moreover such a rule would enable men to draw theMeridianlinegeometrically, that is, withoutTablesorScales: which indeedmight also be done, by setting of theSecantsof every whole or half degree, if there were not this Inconveniency in it (which is not in my Rule:) That a Line composed of so many small parts, would be subject to many errours, especially in a small compass.
The same Rule also will serve, to find the Course and Distance between two Places assigned, as far, as practice shall require it; and that, without any Table ofMeridionalparts, and yet with as much ease and exactness.
And seeing all these things do depend on the solution of this Question,Whether the Artificial Tangent-line be the true Meridian-line?It is therefore, that I undertake, by God's assistance, to resolve the said Question. And to let the world know the readiness and confidence, I have to make good this undertaking, I am willing to lay aWageragainst any one or more persons that have a mind to engage, for so much asanother Inventionof mine (which is of less subtlety, but of far greater benefit to the publick) may be worth to the Inventor.
For, the great advantage, that all Merchants, Mariners, and consequently the Common-wealth, may receive from thisother Invention, is, in my judgment, highly valuable; seeing it will oftentimes make a ship sail, though, according to the common way of sailing, the wind be quite contrary, and yet as near to the place intended, as if the wind had been favourable: Or, if you will, it will enable one to gain something in the intended way, whether the wind be good or no (except only when you go directly South or North) but the advantage will be most, where there is most need of it, that is, when the Wind is contrary: So that one may very often gain a fifth, fourth, third part, or more of the intended voyage; according as it is longer or shorter,viz.always more in a longer Voyage, where the gain is more considerable, and more welcome; not only by saving Time, but also Victuals, Water, Fuel, Mens health, and so much Room in the ship.
All this, which is here pretended, the Proposer is to make good by the Verdict of some able Men, who also may give a guess, what this latter Invention may be worth to the owner: And for so much, and no more, he will stand engaged againstany one or more Persons, that he will and shall resolve theQuestionabove-mention'd,viz. Whether the Artificial Tangent-line be the true Meridian-line, yea or no?And if he do not, that then he will loose, and transport to the other Party the whole benefit of the last mentioned invention. But if, on the contrary, he do prove or disprove the Identity of the said two lines, to the Judgment of some ableMathematicians, That then so much money be paid him by the other Party, as the said Invention was valued.
And, whereas there are often Wagers laid about things that concern the Engagers little or nothing; 'tis thought, that it would concern all Merchants, Mariners, and all Lovers of the common good, rather to lay wagers against one another about Things of this nature, where the Gainer doth gain as well, as if he had laid his wager about something else, and the Looser hath so far the benefit as well as the Gaine, That he seeth thereby promoted the thing, that concerns them both alike.
Now therefore, to the end, that the Looser may have his benefit by it, as well as the Gainer, it would not be amiss, that the condition were made thus, that the latter should grant the moity of his gain to the Proposer; that thereby he might be enabled to bring to light both those, and some other useful inventions, for the Service of Mankind. And to manifest, that it is not for his own interest only, that theProposermentions this; he is willing to impart from that moity, so received, the full moity again to any other person within his Majesty's Dominions, who shall first of all give notice of his Undertaking to prove or disprove the said Identity, and perform it accordingly within the space of two Months, to be computed from the present Date. Those that have a mind to engage, may repair to the Printers of theseTracts, where they may know further.
Fig. I.
This is only an easy way of applying anIndexto anyCommon Barascope, whether the Glass be only a Single Cane, or have a round Bolthead at the top. And by the means thereof, theVariation of the Altitude of theMercurialCylinder, which at most is hardly three Inches, may be made as distinguishable, as if it were three Foot, or three Yards, or as much more, as is desired.
The manner hereof is visible enough byFigureI: where A B C represents the Tube, which may be either Blunt, or with a Head, as A B C (by which latter shape, more room is allow'd for any remainder of Air, to expand the better.) This is to be filled with Quick-silver, and inverted as commonly; but into a Vessel of Stagnant Mercury, made after the fashion of I K, that is, having its sides about 3 or 4 inches high, and the Cavity of it equally big both above and below; and if it can be (besides that part, which is fill'd by the end of theMercurialTube, that stands in it) of equal capacity with the hollow of the Cane about B: For then the Quicksilver rising as much in the hollow of I, as it descends at B, the difference of the height in the Receiver I, will be just half the usual difference, And if the receiving Vessel I K have a bigger Cavity, the difference will be less, but if less, the difference will be greater: But, whether the difference be hereby made bigger or less, 'tis no great matter, since by the contrivance of theWheelandIndex(which is more fully described in thePrefaceto theMicrography) the least variation may be made as sensible as is desired, by diminishing the bigness of the Cylinder E, and lengthening theIndexF G, according to the Proportion requisite.
ThesePhænomenaare thought worthy to be inserted here, for the Speculation of the Curious in those Kingdoms; as they were publisht in the FrenchJournal des Scavans, of May 10, 1666.viz.
The 9th ofAprilof this present year, about half an hour past nine, there appear'd three Circles in the Sky.Oneof them was very great, a little interrupted, and white every where, withoutthe mixture of any other colour. It passed through the midst of the Sun'sDisk, and was parallel to theHorizon. ItsDiameterwas above a hundred degrees, and itsCenternot far from theZenith.
TheSecondwas much less and defective in some places, having the Colours of a Rainbow, especially in that part, which was within the great Circle. It had the true Sun for its Center.
TheThirdwas less, than the first, but greater than the second; it was not entire, but only an Arch or Portion of a Circle, whose Center was far distant from that of the Sun, and whose circumference did, by its middle, join to that of the least Circle, intersecting the greatest Circle by its two extreams. In this Circle were discerned also the Colours of a Rainbow, but they were not so strong, as those of theSecond.
At the place, where the circumference of thisThirdCircle did close with that of theSecond, there was a great brightness of Rainbow-Colours, mixt together: And at the two extremities, where thisSecondCircle intersected theFirst, appear'd twoParhelia'sor Mock-suns; which shone very bright, but not so bright, nor were so well defined, as the true Sun. The False Sun, that was towards theSouth, was bigger, and far more luminous, than that towards theEast. Besides those twoParhelia's, which were on the two sides of the true Sun, in the intersection of theFirstandThirdCircle, there was also upon theFirstgreat Circle, athirdMock-sun, situated to theNorth, which was less and less bright, than the two others. So that at the same time there were seenFourSuns in the Heavens.
Fig. III.
Fig. II.
FigureII. will illustrate the Position of thisPhænomenon.
A.The Zenith or the Point Vertical to the place of Observation.
B.The true Sun.
S C H N.The great Circle, altogether White, almost parallel to the Horizon, which pass'd through the true Sun's Diske, and upon which were the false Suns.
D E B O.A Rain-bow about the Sun, forming an entire Circle, but interrupted in some places.
H D N.A portion of a Circle, that was Excentrick to the Sun, and greater than the CircleD E B O,which touch'dD E B O,and was confounded with it in the pointD.H N.The two Mock-Suns, in the intersection of the SemicircleH D N,and the CircleS C H N:The midst of which two False-Suns was white and very luminous; and their Extremities towardsD Iwere tinged with the Colours of a Rainbow. The False Sun, mark'dN,was fainter than that, which is mark'dH.
C.The Mock-Sun, all white, and far less shining, than the two others.
I.A space very dark betwixtR.andD.
*ThoseFiveSuns, that appear'd the 29March, A. 1629. atRome, between 2 or 3 of the Clock, in the afternoon, were thus posited; that the two of them, which were in the intersection of two Circles, appear'd in that of a Circle, which passed through the Sun's Diske, with another, that wasConcentrickto the Sun: as may be seen inFigure III. borrow'd (for the easier comparing them together) out ofDes-CarteshisMeteors, cap. X.
This Appearance is look't upon as one of the notablest, that can be seen, by reason of theExcentricityof the Circle H D N, and because that theParhelia* were not in the Intersection of the Circle D E B O with the great Circle S C H N, but in that of the Semi-circle H D N.
As for the two oddRainbows; they appear'd atChartresthe 10. ofAugust, 1665. about half an hour past six in the Evening; and did cross one another almost at right Angles, as may be seen byFig.IV.
Fig. IV.
The Rainbow, which was opposite to the Sun, in the usual manner, was more deeply colour'd, than that, which cross'd it; though even the Colours of the firstIriswere not so strong, as they are now and then seen at other times.
The greatest height of the stronger Rainbow, was about 45. degrees; the feebler Rainbow lost one of its Legs, by growing fainter, about 20 degrees above the stronger; and the Leg below appear'd continued to theHorizon.
These Rainbows did notJustdecussate one another at right Angles; there was some 6 or 7 degrees difference. The fainter, seem'd to be a Portion of a great Circle; and the stronger was but a Portion of a small Circle, as usually.
The Sun, at their appearance, was about 6 degrees high above theHorizon, and towards the 17Azimuthof the West, Northward.
The Observer, M.Estienne, notes, that, when he made this Observation, the River ofChartres, which runs very near fromSouthtoNorth, was betwixt him and the Rainbow; and that he stood Level with this River, whence he was distant not above 150 paces: which he adds, that the Curious may the better judge of this Observation.
This was imparted by Dr.Wallisin a Letter, written atOxford, May 12, 1666. to thePublisher, as follows:
I should scarce have given you so soon the trouble of another Letter, were it not for an Accident which hapn'd hereMay10. I had that afternoon, about 4 of the clock heard it thunder at some distance. About 5 of the clock the Thunder coming nearer to us; it began to rain, and soon after (the rain withal increasing) the Thunder grew very loud, and frequent, and with long ratling Claps (though not altogether so great, as I have some other times heard:) and the Lightning with flashes very bright (notwithstanding the clear day-light) and very frequent, (when at the fastest, scarce a full minute between one flash and another; many times not so much, but a second flash before the Thunder of the former was heard:) The Thunder for the most part began to be heard about 8 or 10 second minutes after the flash; as I observ'd for a great part of the time by my Minute-Watch: but once or twice I observ'd it to follow (in a manner) immediately upon it, as it were in the same moment; and the lightning extream red and fiery. I do not use to be much apprehensive of Thunder and Lightning, but I was at this time (I know not well, why?) very apprehensive, more than ordinary, of mischief to be done by it, for it seem'd to me to be very low and near us (which made me so particular, as to observe the distance of the flash by the noise) and very frequent, and bright, so that, had it been by night as it was by day, it would have been very terrible. And, though I kept within doors, yet I sensibly discover'd a stinking sulphureous smell in the Air. About 7 of the clock it ended, before which time I had news brought me of a Sad Accident upon thewater atMedleyabout a Mile or somewhat more distant from hence. Two Schollars ofWadham-Colledge, being alone in a Boat (without a Water-man) having newly thrust off from shore, atMedley, to come homewards, standing near the Head of the Boat, were presently with a stroke of Thunder or Lightning, both struck off out of the Boat into the Water, the one of them stark dead, in whom, though presently taken out of the Water (having been by relation, scarce a minute in it) there was not discerned any appearance of life, sense, or motion: the other was stuck fast in the Mud (with his Feet downwards, and his upper parts above water) like a post not able to help himself out; but, besides a present stonying or numness, had no other hurt; but was for the present so disturb'd in his senses, as that he knew not, how he came there out of the Boat, nor could remember either Thunder or Lightning, that did effect it: and was very feeble and faint upon it; which (though presently put into a warm Bed) he had not thoroughly recover'd by the next Night; and whether since he have or no, I know not.
Others in another Boat, about 10 or 20 yards from these (as by their description I estimate) felt a disturbance and shaking in their Boat, and one of them had his Chair struck from under him, and thrown upon him; but had no hurt. Those immediately made up to the others, and (some leaping into the Water to them) presently drew them either into the Boat or on Shore; yet none of them saw these two fall into the Water (not looking that way) but heard one of them cry out for help presently upon the stroke, and smelt a strange stinking smell in the Air; which, when I asked him, that told it me, what kind of stink? he said, like such a smell, as is perceived upon the stricking of Flints together.
He that was dead (when by putting into a warm Bed, and rubbing, and putting strong waters into his Mouth, &c. no life could be brought into him) was the next morning brought to town; where, among the multitudes of others, who came to see, Dr.Willis, Dr.Mellington, Dr.Lower, and my self, with some others, went to view the Corps: where we found no wound at all in the skin, the face and neck swart and black, but not more, than might be ordinary, by the settling of the blood: On the right side of the neck was a little blackish spot about an inch long, andabout a quarter of an inch broad at the broadest, and was, as if it had been sear'd with a hot iron; and, as I remember, one somewhat bigger on the left side of the neck, below the Ear. Streight down the breast, but towards the left side of it, was a large place about three quarters of a Foot in length, and about two inches in breadth, in some places more, in some less, which was burnt and hard, like Leather burnt with the fire, of a deep blackish red Colour, not much unlike the scorch'd skin of a rosted Pig. And on the fore-part of the left Shoulder such another spot about as big as a Shilling; but that in the neck was blacker and seem'd more sear'd. From the top of the right shoulder, sloping downwards towards that place in his Breast, was a narrow Line of the like scorched skin; as if somewhat had come in there at the neck, and had run down to the breast, and there spread broader.
The buttons of hisDoubletwere most of them off; which, some thought might have been torn off with the blast, getting in at the neck, and then bursting its way out: for which the greatest presumption was (to me) that, besides 4 or 5 buttons wanting towards the bottom of the Breast, there were about half a dozen together clear off from the bottom of the collar downwards, and I do not remember, that the rest of the buttons seem to be near worn out, but almost new. The collar of his doublet just over the fore-part of the left shoulder was quit broken asunder, cloth and stiffening, streight downwards, as if cut or chop'd asunder, but with aBlunttool; only the inward linnen or fustian lineing of it was whole, by which, and by the view of the ragged Edges, it seem'd manifest to me, that it was by the stroak inward (from without) not outwards from within.
HisHatwas strangely torn, not just on the Crown, but on the side of the hat, and on the brim. On the side of it was a great hole, more than to put in ones fist through it: some part of it being quite struck away, and from thence divers gashes every way, as if torn, or cut with aDulltool, and some of them of a good length, almost quite to the edges of the brim. And, beside these, one or two gashes more, which did not communicate with the hole in the side. This also I judged by a stroke inwards; not so much from the view of the edges of those gashes (from which there was scarce any judgement to be made either way) butbecause the lining was not torn, only ript off from the edge of the hat (where it was sow'd on) on that side, where the hole was made. But his hat not being found upon his head, but at some distance from him, it did not appear, against what part of the head that hole was made.
Upon the rest of his Cloaths, I do not know of any further effect, nor did we smell any sulphurous scent about them: which might be,Partlybecause it was now a good while after the time, andPartlyby reason of their being presently drenched in the water into which he fell.
The night following, the threeDoctorsabove mentioned, and my self, with some Chirurgions (besides a multitude of others) were present at the opening of the head, to see if any thing could be there discover'd; but there appear'd no sign of contusion; the brain full and in good order; the nerves whole and sound, the vessels of the brain pretty full of Blood. But nothing was by any of them discern'd to be at all amiss. But it was by candle-light, and they had not time to make very nice Observations of it (the Body being to be buried by and by) and the croud of People was a further hindrance. But if any thing had been considerably out of order to the view, it would surely have been by some of them discover'd. Some of them thought, they discern'd a small fissure or crack in the skull; and some who held it, while it was sawing off, said, they felt it Jarring in their hands, and there seem'd to the eye something like it, but it was so small, as that by candle-light we could not agree it certainly so to be.
Some of theHairon the right Temple was manifestly singed, or burnt; and the lower part of that Ear blacker, than the parts about it, but soft; and it might be only the settling of the Blood. The upper part of the left shoulder, and that side of the neck, were also somewhat blacker than the rest of the Body, but whether it were by the blow, which broke the collar, and scorch'd the round red spot thereupon, or only by settling of the Blood, I cannot say; yet I think, it might very well be, that both on the head, and on this side of the neck, there might be a very great blow, and a contusion upon it (and seems to have been so, by the tearing of the hat, and breaking the collar, if not also cracking of the skull) and yet no sign of such contusion, because dying so immediately, there was not time for the Blood to gatherto the part and stagnate there (which in bruises is the cause of blackness) and it was but as if such a blow had been given on a Body newly dead; which does not use to cause such a symptom of a bruise, after the Blood ceases to circulate.
Having done with, the Head, they open'd theBreast, and found that burning to reach quite through the skin, which was in those scorch'd places hard and horney, and shrunk up, so as it was not so thick as the soft skin about it: but no appearance of any thing deeper than the skin; the Muscles not at all disorder'd or discolour'd (perhaps, upon the reason, that was but now said of the Head, Neck and Shoulder). Having then taken off theSternum, the Lungs and Heart appear'd all well, and well-colour'd without any disorder.
This is the sum of what was observ'd; only that the whole Body was, by night, very much swell'd, more than in the morning; and smelt very strong and offensively: Which might be by the hotness of the weather, and by the heat of the place occasion'd by the multitude of People.
This was communicated by Dr.Beale, as follows;
May5. 1665. fresh Mackrels were boyl'd in Water, with salt and sweet herbs; and, when the Water was perfectly cold, the next morning, the Mackrels were left in the Water for pickle.
May6. more fresh Mackrels were boyl'd in like Water; andMay7. both Water and Mackrels were put into the former Water, together with the former Mackrels. (Which circumstances I do particularize, because, whether, the mixture of the pickle of several ages, and a certain space of time, or whatever else was necessary, and wanting, the trial did not succeed with like effect at other times).
But now on the nextMunday(May8). evening, the Cook stirring the Water, to take out some of the Mackrels, found the Water at the first motion become very luminous, and the Fish shining through the Water, as adding much to the Light, which the water yielded. The water by the mixture of Salt and Herbs,in the boyling, was of it self thick and rather blackish, than of any other clear colour: yet being stirr'd, it shin'd, and all the fish appear'd, more brightly luminous in their own shapes.
Wherever the drops of this water (after it was stirr'd) fell on the Ground, or Benches, they shin'd: And the Children took drops in their hands, as broad as a penny, running with them about the house, and each drop, both near and at distance, seem'd by their shining as broad as a six pence, or a shilling, or broader.
The Cook turn'd up the side of the Fish, which was lowest, and thence came no shining: and after the water was for some good time settled, and fully at rest, it did not shine at all.
OnTuesdaynight (May9). we repeated the same Trial, and found the same effects. The water, till it was stirr'd, gave no light, but was thick and dark, as we saw by day-light, and by candle-light. As soon as the Cook's hand was thrust into the water, it began to have a glimmering; but being gently stirr'd by the hand moving round (as the Dairy-maid do to gather the Curds for Cheese) it did so shine, that they, who look'd on it at some distance, from the farther end of another room, thought verily, it was the shining of the Moon through a Window upon a Vessel of Milk; and by brisker Circulation it seem'd to flame.
The Fish did then shine as well from the Inside, as the Outside, and chiefly from the Throat, and such places, as seem'd a little broken in the boyling.
I took a piece that shin'd most, and fitted it as well as I could devise in the night, both to my greatMicroscope, and afterwards to my little one; but I could discern no light by any of these Glasses; nor from any drops of the shining water, when put into the Glasses. AndMay10. in the brightest rayes of the Sun, I examin'd, in my greatMicroscope, a small broken piece of the Fish, which shin'd most the night before. We could find nothing on the surface of the Fish very remarkable. It seem'd whitish, and in a manner dried, with deep inequalities. And others, as well as my self, thought, we saw a stream, rather darkish, than luminous, arising like a very small dust from the Fish: And rarely here and there, a very small; and almost imperceptible sparkle in the Fish. Yet of thesesparkleswe arecertain; we numbered them, and agreed in the number, order and place. Of thesteamI am not confident, but do suspect our Eyes in thebright Sun, or that it might be some dust in the Aire.
The greatMicroscopebeing fitted in the day-light for this piece of Fish, we examin'd it that night, and it yielded no light at all, either by the view of the Glass, or otherwise.
Finding it dry, I thought that the moisture of Spittle, and touching of it, might cause it to shine: and so it did, though but a very little, in a few small sparks, which soon extinguish'd. This we saw with the bare eye; not in the Glass.
The Fish were not yet fetide, nor insipid to the best discerning palats: And I caused two Fish to be kept for further Tryal, two or three days longer, till they were fetide in very hot weather; and then I expected more brightness, but could find none, either in the water, by stirring it, or in the Fish, taken out of the water.
And some Trials I made afterwards with other boyl'd Mackrels (as is above said) with like pickle, but failed of the like success.
This season serves for many Trials in this kind, and bybetterMicroscopes, or better ordered. And in these Vulgarities we may perhaps as well trace out the cause and nature of Light, as in Jewels of greatest value, &c.
InNum.9. of theseTransactionswere publish'd theSchemesandDescriptionsof certain Ways ofSounding the Depth of the Sea without a Line; and ofFetching up Water from the bottom of it; together with some Experiments already made with the former of these two Contrivances. The Author of the FrenchJournal des Scavansfound good, to insert them both in hisJournalofMay3. but in another ofMay24. intimates, that the saidSchemesand theirDescriptionsare not very clear and intelligible (he means, that they were not well understood byFrenchReaders) proposing also some Difficulties, relating to that Subject, and esteemed by him necessary to be satisfied, before any use could be made of the said Instruments.
Upon this occasion, the Author of theseTractsthinks fit, here to represent,
First, ThatEnglishmenand such others, as are well versed in theEnglishtongue, find no difficulty in understanding the descriptions of theseEngines, nor in apprehending their structure, exhibited by theFigures, especially if notice be taken of the Emendation, expressed at the end ofNum.10. about the misgraving theBended endof theSpringing Wire(which it seems has not been noted inFrance, tho' the saidNum.10 is known to have been seen there a pretty while before theirJournalofMay24. was publish'd). And as for the particular of theBucket, fetching water from the bottom of the Sea, both theFigureand the annexedDescriptionthereof are so plain and clear, that 'tis some wonder here, that any difficulty of understanding them is pretended by any, that hath but ordinary skill inCuttsand theEnglishlanguage. Mean while, that way, which theFrenchAuthor recommends for this purpose as more simple,Videl. a Brass-Pump with double Valves, is not at all unknown inEngland, nor has bin left untried there; but was found inconvenient, in respect that the Valves in descending did not fully open, and give the water a free passage through the Cavity of the Vessel, nor in ascending shut so close, as to hinder the water from coming in at the top: Whereas by the way proposed inNum.9. both is perform'd with great ease and security.
Secondly, Whereas theFrenchAuthor is of opinion, that 'tis unknown, how much time a Heavy Body requires to sink in water, according to a certain depth; he may please to take notice, that that hath been made out inEnglandby frequent Experiments; by which, several Depths, found by this Method of soundingwithouta Line, were examin'd by trying them over again inthe sameplacewitha Line, after the common way. And as to thatQuæreof his, Whether a heavy Body descends in the sameProportionof swiftness inWater, that it would do inAir? The Answer is, that it does not; but that, after it is sunk one or two fathoms into the Water, it has there arrived to its greatest swiftness, and keeps, after that, an equal degree of velocity; theResistanceof the water being then found equal to theEndeavourof the heavy Body downwards.
Thirdly, When the sameAuthoralledges that it must be known, when a Light Body reascends from the bottom of the water tothe top, in what proportion of time and swiftness it rises. He seems not to have considered, that in this Experiment, the times of the descent and assent are both taken and computed together; so that for this purpose, there needs not that nicety, he discourses of.
Fourthly, Whereas it is further excepted, That this way of Sounding Depths is no new Invention; The answer is ready, that neither is it pretended to be so, in the often quotedTract; it being only intimated there, that the manner of performing it, as it is in that place represented and described, is new.
Lastly, To rectifie the said Author's mistake, as if the instrument of fetching up Water from the bottom of the Sea, were chiefly contriv'd, to find out, Whether in some places of the Sea anySweetWater is to be met with at the bottom: There will need no more, than to direct him to the Book it selfNum.9. where p.149. towards the end, theFirstuse of thisBucketis express'd to be, to know thedegrees of Saltnessof the Water according to its nearness to the top or bottom; or rather to know the constitution of the Sea-water in several depths of severalClimates, which is a matter, much better to be found out byTrial, thanDiscourse. Neither is it any where argued in that Book (as theFrench Journalinsinuates) that, because sweet water is found at the Bottom of the Sea ofBaharem, therefore itmust, but only that itmay, be found so elsewhere. And since the sameJournaladmits, that those Sweet water-springs, which yield the sweet water, that is found at the said place, have been formerly on theContinent, far enough from the Sea, which hath afterwards covered them. It will be, it is presumed, lawful to ask, Why in many other places there may not be found the like? And besides, how we do know, but that there may be in other parts, Eruptious of large Springs at the bottom of the Sea, as well as there?
Printed with Licence forJohn Martyn, andJames Allestry, Printers to the Royal-Society. 1666.
Num.14.