Munday,April.2. 1666.
A Confirmation of the former Account, touching the lateEarth-quakenearOxford, and the Concomitants thereof, by Mr.Boyle. Some Observations and Directions about theBarometer, communicated by the same Hand. General Heads for aNatural Historyof a Country, small or great, proposed by the same. An Extract of a Letter, written fromHolland, aboutPreserving Ships from being Worm-eaten. An Account of Mr.Boyle'slately publish't Tract, entituled,The Origine of Forms and Qualities, illustrated by Considerations and Experiments.
A Confirmation of the former Account, touching the lateEarth-quakenearOxford, and the Concomitants thereof, by Mr.Boyle. Some Observations and Directions about theBarometer, communicated by the same Hand. General Heads for aNatural Historyof a Country, small or great, proposed by the same. An Extract of a Letter, written fromHolland, aboutPreserving Ships from being Worm-eaten. An Account of Mr.Boyle'slately publish't Tract, entituled,The Origine of Forms and Qualities, illustrated by Considerations and Experiments.
This Confirmation came from the Noble Mr.Boylein a Letter, to thePublisher, as followeth:
As to theEarth-quake, your curiosity about it makes me sorry, that, though I think, I was the first, that gave notice of it to several of theVirtuosiatOxford; yet the Account, that I can send you about it, is not so much of theThingit self,as of theChanges of the Air, that accompanied it. To inform you of which, I must relate to you, that riding one Evening somewhat late betwixtOxford& a Lodging, I have at a place, 4 miles distant from it, the weather having been for a pretty while Frosty, I found the Wind so very cold, that it reduced me to put on some defensives against it, which I never since, nor, if I forget not, all the foregoing part of the Winter was obliged to make use off. My unwillingness to stay long in so troublesome a Cold, which continued very piercing, till I had got half way home-ward, did put me upon galloping at no very lasy rate; and yet, before I could get to my Lodgings, I found the Wind turned, and felt the Rain falling; which, considering the shortness of the time, and that this Accident was preceded by a setled Frost, was surprising to me, and induced me to mention it at my return, as one of the greatest and suddainest Alterations of Air, I have ever observ'd: And what changes I*SeeNum. 10. Phil. Transactions p.166-171;at the time of the printing whereof, this Relation of Mr.Boylewas not yet come to hand.found, have been taken notice of in theGravityof theAtmosphereat the same time by that Accurate Observer * Dr.Wallis, who then suspected nothing of what follow'd; as I suppose, he has ere this told you himself. Soon after, by my guess about an hour, there was a manifestTremblingin the House where I was (which stands high in comparison ofOxford.) But it was not there so great, but that I, who chanced to have my thoughts busied enough on other matters, than the weather, should not have taken notice of it as anEarth-quake, but have imputed it to some other cause, if one, that you know, whose hand is employed in this Paper, and begins to be a diligent observer of Natural things, had not advertis'd me of it; as being taken notice of by him and the rest of the people of the House. And soon after there hapned a brisk Storm: whereupon I sent to make inquiry at a place call'dBrill, which standing upon a much higher ground, I supposed might be more obnoxious to the effects of theEarth-quake(of which, had I had any suspition of it, my having formerly been in one neer theLacus Lemanus, would have made me the more observant:) But the person I sent to, beingdisabled by sickness to come over to me (which he promis'd to do, as soon as he could) writ me only aTicket, whose substance was, That theEarth-quakewas there much more considerable, than where I lodged, and that at a Gentlemans house, whom he names (the most noted Person, it seems, of the neighbourhood) the House trembled very much, so as to make the Stones manifestly to move to and fro in the Parlour, to the great amazement and fright of all the Family. The Hill, whereon thisBrillstands, I have observ'd to be very well stor'd with Mineral substances of several kinds; and from thence I have been inform'd by others, that this Earth-quake reach'd a good many miles; but I have neither leasure, nor inclination to entertain you with uncertain reports of the Extent and other Circumstances, especially since a little further time an inquiry may enable me to give you a better warranted account.
These shall be set down, as they came to hand in another Letter;videl.
*SeeNum. 9. of thePhil. Transact. p.159the lastparagraph.
As to theBarometricalObservations (as for brevities sake I use to call them) though you * guessed aright, that, when I saw those of the Learned and Inquisitive Dr.Beale, I had not Mine by me, (for I left them, some years since, in the hands of aVirtuoso, nor have I now the leasure to look after those Papers;) yet since by the Communication, you have made publick, 'tis probable, that divers Ingenious men will be invited to attempt the like Observations, I shall (notwithstanding my present haste) mention to you some particulars, which perhaps will not appear unseasonable, that came into my mind upon the reading of what you have presented the Curious.
*Some whereof have been since invited by thePublisher, to give their concurrence herein.
When I did, as you may remember, some years agoe, publickly express and desire that some Inquisitive men wouldmakeBaroscopicalObservations in several parts ofEngland(if not in forrain Countries * also;) and to assist them, to do so, presented some of my Friends with the necessary Instruments: The declared reason of my desiring this Correspondence was (among other things) that by comparing Notes,the Extent of the Atmospherical Changes, in point of Weight, might be the better estimated. But not having hitherto received some account, that I hoped for, I shall now, without staying for them, intimate thus much to you: That it will be very convenient, that the Observers take notice not only of theday, but as near as they can, of theHourewherein the height of theMercurial Cylinderis observ'd: For I have often found, that within less than the compass of one day, or perhaps half a day, the Altitude of it has so considerably vary'd, as to make it in many cases difficult, to conclude any thing certainly from Observations, that agree but in the day.
It will be requisite also, that the Observers give notice of theScituation of the place, where theirBarometersstand, not only, because it will assist men to Judge, whether the Instruments were duely perfected, but principally, because, that though theBaroscopebe good (nay, because it is so) the Observations will much disagree, even when theAtmosphereis in the same state, as to Weight, if one of the Instruments stand in a considerably higher part of the Countrey, than the other.
To confirmboththe foregoing admonitions, I must now inform you, that, having in these parts two Lodgings, the one atOxford, which you know stands in a bottom by theThamesside, and the other at a place four miles thence, seated upon a moderateHill, I found, by comparing twoBaroscopes, that I made, the one atOxford, the other atStanton St. Johns, that, though the former be very good, and have been noted for such, during some years, and the latter was very carefully fill'd; yet by reason, that in theHigherplace, the incumbent part of theAtmospheremust be lighter, than in theLower, there is almostalways between 2 and 3 Eights of an Inch difference betwixt them: And having sometimes order'd my servants to take notice of the Disparity, and divers times carefully observ'd it my self, when I pass'd to and fro betweenOxfordandStanton, I generally found, that theOxford Barometerand theother, did, as it were by common consent, rise and fall together so, as that in the former theMercurywas usually ⅜ higher, than in the latter.
Which Observations may teach us, that the Subterraneous steams, which ascend into the Air, or the other Causes of the varying Weight of theAtmosphere, do, many times, and at least in some places, uniformly enough affect the Air to a greater height, than, till I had made this tryall, I durst conclude.
But, as most of theBarometricallobservations are subject to exception, so I found the formerly mentioned to be. For (to omit lesser variations) riding one evening fromOxfordtoStanton, and having, before I took horse, look't on theBaroscopein the former of these 2. places, I was somewhat surprised, to find at my comming to the latter, that in places no farther distant, and notwithstanding the shortness of the time (which was but an hour and a half, if so much) theBarometeratStantonwas short of its usual distance from theother, near a quarter of anInch, though, the weather being fair and calm, there appear'd nothing of manifest change in the Air, to which I could adscribe so great a Variation; and though also, since that time, theMercuryin the two Instruments hath, for the most part, proceeded to rise and fall as before.
And these being the only Observations, I have yet met with, whereinBaroscopes, at someDistance of Place, andDifference of Height, have been compar'd (though I cannot now send you the Reflexions, I have else where made upon them;) as the opportunity I had to make them my self, rendred them not unpleasant to me, so perhaps the Novelty will keep them from being unwelcome to you. And I confess, I have had some flying suspicions, that the oddPhænomenaof theBaroscope, which have hitherto more pos'd, than instructed us, may in time, if acompetent number of Correspondents do diligently prosecute the Inquiries (especially withBaroscopes, accommodated with Mr.Hooksingenious additions) make men someLuciferousdiscoveries, that possibly we do not yet dream off.
*This hath been inquired into, and is found, that several Accurate and Curious persons (as the Most NoblePresident of the Royal Society, the Lord ViscountBrounker,Doctor Beale,Mr. Hook&c.) have observed the same.
I know not, whether it will be worth while to add, that since I was oblig'd to leaveLondon, I have been put upon so many lesser removes, that I have not been able to makeBaroscopicalObservations with such a constancy, as I have wished, but, as far as I remember, theQuick-silverhas been for the most part, so high, as to invite me to take notice of it; and to desire you to do me the favour to inquire among your correspondents whether they have observ'd the same thing. * For, if they have, this lasting (though not uninterrupted) Altitude of theQuick-silver, happening, when the Seasons of the year have been extraordinary dry (so much as to become a grievance, and to dry up, as one of the lateGazettesinforms us, some springs nearWaymouth, that used to run constantly) it may be worth inquiry, whether these obstinate Droughts, may not be cleaving of the ground too deep, and making it also in some places more porous and as it were, spungy, give a more copious Vent, than is usual, to subterraneal steams, which adscending into the Air, increase the gravity of it. The inducements I have to propose this inquiry, I must not now stay to mention. But perhaps, if the Observation holds, it may prove not useless in reference to some Diseases.
*See Number 9.Phil. Transact.p.157. 5. 8 & 9. where the Word,Generally, signifies no more, thanfor the most part.
Perhaps it will be needless to put you in mind of directing thoseVirtuosi, that may desire your Instructions aboutBaroscopes, to set down in their Diarys not only the day of the month, and the hour of the day, when theMercuriesheight is taken, but (in a distinctColumne) the weather, especially the Winds, both as to the Quarters, whence they blow (though that be not always so easy nor necessary,) and as to the Violence or Remisness, wherewith they blow. For, though it be more difficult,than one would think, to settle any general rule about the rising and falling of theQuick-silver; yet in these parts one of those, that seem to hold oftnest, is, * that when high winds blow, theMercuryis the lower; and yet that it self does sometimes fail: For, this very day (March3.) though on that hill, where I am, the somewhat Westerly Winds have been blustering enough, yet ever since morning theQuick-silverhas been rising, and is now risen near ⅜ of anInch.
I had thoughts to add something about another kind ofBaroscope(but inferiour to that in use) whereof I have given some intimation in one of thePræliminariesto theHistory of Cold. But you have already too much of a letter, and my occasions,&c.
*Dr.Bealeconcurs with this Observation, when he saith, in a lateLetterofMarch 19. to his Correspondent inLondon;By change of Weather and Wind, theMercuryis sunk more than an Inch, since I wrote to you onMundaylast.March12. This last night, by Rain and South wind, 'tis sunkhalf an Inch.
So far that Letter.Since which time, another from the same Noble Observer intimates, That, as for that cause of the height of theQuick-silverin Droughts, which by him is suspected to be the elevation of steams from theCrustor Superficial parts of the Earth, which by little and little may add to the Weight of theAtmosphere, being not, as in other seasons, carried down from time to time by the falling Rain, it agrees not ill with what he has had since occasion to observe. For, whereas aboutMarch12th, atOxford, TheQuick-silverwas higher, than, for ought he knew, had been yet observ'd inEngland, viz. above5/16above 30.Inches, upon the first considerable showers, that have interrupted our long Drought, as he affirms, he foretold divers hours before that theQuick-silverwould be very low, (a blustering Wind concurring with the Rain) so he found it atStantonto fall ⅜ beneath 29.Inches.*
It having been already intimated (Num. 8 of Phil. Transact.p.140.141.) that diversPhilosophersaime, among other things, at the Composing of a good Natural History, to superstruct, in time, aSolidandUsefulPhilosophy upon; and it being of no slight importance, to be furnisht with pertinent Heads, for the direction of Inquirers; that lately namedBenefactour to Experimental Philosophy, has been pleased to communicate, for the ends abovesaid, the followingArticles, which (as himself did signifie) belong to one of hisEssaysof the unpublisht part of theUsefulness of Nat. and Experimen. Philosophy.
But first he premises, that what follows, is design'd only to point at the moreGeneralheads of Inquiry, which the proposer ignores not to be Divers of them very comprehensive, in so much, that about some of theSubordinatesubjects, perhaps too, not the most fertile, he has drawn upArticlesof inquisition about particulars, that take up near as much room, as what is here to be deliver'd of this matter.
TheHeadsthemselves follow;
The things, to be observ'd in such a History, may be variously (and almost at pleasure) divided: As, intoSupraterraneous, Terrestrial, andSubterraneous; and otherwise: but we will at present distinguish them into those things, that respect theHeavens, or concern theAir, theWater, or theEarth.
1. To theFirstsort of Particulars, belong the Longitude and Latitude of the Place (that being of moment in reference to the observations about the Air&c.) and consequently the length of the longest and shortest days and nights, the Climate, parallels&c.what fixt starrs are and what not seen there: What Constellations 'tis said to be subject to? Whereunto may be added other Astrological matters, if they be thought worth mentioning.
2. About theAirmay be observ'd, its Temperature, as to the first four Qualities (commonly so call'd) and the Measures of them: its Weight, Clearness, Refractive power: its Sublety or Grossness: its abounding with, or wanting anEsurineSalt: its variations according to the seasons of the year, and the times of the day; What duration the several kinds of Weather usually have: WhatMeteorsit is most or least wont to breed; and in what order they are generated; and how long they usually last: Especially, what Winds it is subject to; whether any of them be stated and ordinary,&c.What diseases are Epidemical, that are supposed to flow from the Air: What other diseases, whereinthathath a share, the Countrey is subject to; the Plague and Contagious sicknesses: What is the usual salubrity or insalubrity of the Air; and with what Constitutions it agrees better or worse, than others.
3. About theWater, may be observ'd, the Sea, its Depth, degree of Saltness, Tydes, Currents,&c.Next, Rivers, their Bigness, Length, Course, Inundations, Goodness, Levity (or their Contraries) of Waters,&c.Then, Lakes, Ponds, Springs, and especially Mineral waters, their Kinds, Qualities, Vertues, and how examined. To theWatersbelong alsoFishes, what kinds of them (whether Salt or Fresh-water fish) are to be found in the Country; their Store, Bigness, Goodness, Seasons, Haunts, Peculiarities of any kind, and the wayes of taking them, especially those that are not purelyMechanical.
4. In theEarth, may be observed,
1.It self.2. ItsInhabitants, and itsProductions, and theseExternal, andInternal.
1.It self.
2. ItsInhabitants, and itsProductions, and theseExternal, andInternal.
First, in the Earthit self, may be observ'd, its dimensions, scituation, East, West, North, and South: its Figure, its Plains, and Valleys, and their Extent; its Hills and Mountains, and the height of the tallest, both in reference to the neighbouring Valleys or Plains, and in reference to the Level of the Sea: Asalso, whether the Mountains lye scattered, or in ridges, and whether those run North and South, or East and West,&c.What Promontories, fiery or smoaking Hills,&c.the Country has, or hath not: Whether the Country be coherent, or much broken into Ilands. What the Magnetical Declination is in several places, and the Variations of that Declination in the same place (and, if either of those be very considerable, then, what circumstances may assist one to guess at the Reason as Subterraneal fires, the Vicinity of Iron-mines,&c.) what the Nature of the Soyle is, whether Clays, Sandy,&c.or good Mould; and what Grains, Fruits, and other Vegetables, do the most naturally agree with it: As also, by what particular Arts and Industries the Inhabitants improve the Advantages, and remedy the Inconveniences of their Soyl: What hidden qualities the Soyl may have (as that ofIreland, against Venemous Beasts,&c.)
Secondly, above the ignoblerProductionsof the Earth, there must be a careful account given of theInhabitantsthemselves, bothNativesandStrangers, that have been long settled there: And in particular, their Stature, Shape, Colour, Features, Strength, Agility, Beauty (or the want of it) Complexions, Hair, Dyet, Inclinations, and Customs that seem not due to Education. As to their Women (besides the other things) may be observed their Fruitfulness or Barrenness; their hard or easy Labour,&c.And both in Women and Men must be taken notice of what diseases they are subject to, and in these whether there be any symptome, or any other Circumstance, that is unusual and remarkable.
As to theExternalProductions of the Earth, the Inquiries may be such as these: What Grasses, Grains, Herbs, (Garden and Wild) Flowers, Fruit-trees, Timber-trees (especially any Trees, whose wood is considerable) Coppices, Groves, Woods, Forrests,&c.the Country has or wants: What peculiarities are observable in any of them: What Soyles they most like or dislike; and with what Culture they thrive best. WhatAnimalsthe Country has or wants, both as to wild Beasts, Hawks, and other Birds of Prey; and as to Poultrey, andCattle of all sorts, and particularly, whether it have anyAnimals, that are not common, or any thing, that is peculiar in those, that are so.
TheInternalProductions or Concealments of the Earth are here understood to be, the riches that ly hid under the Ground, and are not already referr'd to other Inquiries.
Among theseSubterranealobservations may be taken notice of, what sorts of Minerals of any kind they want, as well as what they have;Then, what Quarries the Country affords, and the particular conditions both of the Quarries and the Stones: As also, how the Beds of Stone lye, in reference to North and South,&c.What Clays and Earths it affords, as Tobacco-pipe-clay, Marles, Fullers-earths, Earths for Potters wares, Bolus's and other medicated Earths: What other Minerals it yields, as Coals, Salt-Mines, or Salt-springs, Allom, Vitrial, Sulphur,&c.What Mettals the Country yields; and a description of the Mines, their number, scituation, depth, signs, waters, damps, quantities of ore, goodness of ore, extraneous things and ways of reducing their ores into Mettals,&c.
To these General Articles of inquiries (saith theirProposer) should be added; 1InquiriesaboutTraditionsconcerning all particular things, relating to that Country, as either peculiar to it, or at least, uncommon elsewhere, 2Inquiries, that requireLearningorSkillin the Answerer: to which should be subjoynedProposalsof ways, to enable men to give Answers to these more difficult inquiries.
Thus farour Author, who, as he has been pleased to impart theseGeneral(but yet veryComprehensiveand greatlyDirective) Articles; so, 'tis hoped from his own late intimation, that he will shortly enlarge them withParticularandSubordinateones. These, in the mean time, were thought fit to be publisht, that the Inquisitive and Curious, might, by such an Assistance, be invited not to delay their searches of matters, that are so highly conducive to the improvement ofTrue Philosophy, and the wellfare ofMankind.
ThisExtractis borrowed from theFrench journal des ScavansofFebr.15. 1666. and is here inserted, to excite Inventive headshere, to overtake the Proposer inHolland. The letter runs thus:
Although you have visited our Port (Amsterdam) I know not whether you have noted the ill condition, our ships are in, that return from theIndies. There is in those Seas a kind of small worms, that fasten themselves to the Timber of the ships, and so pierce them, that they take water every where; or if they do not altogether pierce them thorow, they so weaken the wood, that it is almost impossible to repair them. We have at present a Man here, that pretends to have found an admirable secret to remedy this evil. That, which would render this secret the more important, is, that hitherto very many ways have been used to effect it, but without success. Some have imployed Deal, Hair and Lime,&c.and therewith lined their ships; but, besides that this does not altogether affright the worms, it retards much the ship's Course. ThePortugalsscorch their ships, insomuch that in the quick works there is made a coaly crust of about anInchthick. But as this is dangerous, it happening not seldom, that the whole vessel is burnt; so the reason why worms eat not thorowPortugalships, is conceived to be the exceeding hardness of the Timber, employed by them.
We expect with impatience the nature and effect of this Proposition. Many have already ventur'd to give their thoughts concerning it. Some say, there needs no more, but to build Ships of a harder kind of Wood, than the usual. Others having observed, that these Worms fasten not to a kind of wildIndianPear-tree, which is highly bitter, do thereuponsuggest, that the best Expedient would be, to find out a Wood having that quality. But certainly there being now no Timber, fit for Ships, that is not known, 'tis not likely that any will be found either more hard, or more bitter, than that, which has been hitherto employed. Some do imagine, that the Proposer will, by certainLixiviums, give to the ordinary Wood such a quality and bitterness, as is found in the already mention'dIndianPear-tree. But this also will hardly succeed, since it will be requisite not only to makeLixiviums, in great quantities at an easie rate, and strong enough to penetrate the thick sides of a Ship, but also to make them durable enough, not to be wash't out by the Sea. Yet notwithstanding, in these matters one ought to suspend on's judgement, untill experience do shew, what is to be believed of them.
So far the Extract.To which it may perhaps not be unseasonable to add, that a very worthy person inLondon, suggests the Pitch, drawn out of Sea coles, for a good Remedy to scare away these noysome insects.
This Curious and Excellent Piece, is a kind ofIntroductionto thePrinciplesof theMechanical Philosophy, explicating, by very Considerable Observations and Experiments, what may be, according to such Principles, conceived of theNature and Origine of Qualities and Forms; the knowledge whereof, either makes or supposes the Fundamental and Useful part ofNatural Philosophy. In doing of which, the Author, to have his way the clearer, writes rather for theCorpuscularianPhilosophers (as he is pleased to call them) inGeneral, than anyPartyof them, keeping himself thereby disengaged from adopting anHypothesis, in which perhaps he is not so throughly satisfied, and of which he does not conceive himself to be necessitated to make use here; and accordingly forbearing to employ Arguments, that are either grounded on,orsupposeAtoms,oranyInnate Motionbelonging to them;orthat the Essence of Bodies consists in Extension;orthat aVacuumis impossible;orthat there are suchGlobuli Cælestes, orsuch aMateria Subtilis, as theCartesiansimploy to explicate most of thePhænomenaof Nature.
TheTreatiseconsisting of aSpeculative, and anHistoricalpart, the Author, with great modesty leaves theReaderto judge;Whetherin theFirstpart he hath treated of theNatureandOrigine of Forms and Qualitiesin a more Comprehensive way, than others;Whetherhe has by fit Examples, and other means, rendred it more intelligible, than they have done:Whetherhe has added any considerable number of Notions and Arguments towards the compleating and confirming of the proposedHypothesis:Whetherhe has with reason dismissed Arguments unfit to be relied on; andWhetherhe has proposed some Notions and Arguments so warily, as to keep them from being liable to Exceptions and Evasions, whereto they were obnoxious, as others have proposed them. And, as to theSecondandHistoricalpart, he is enclin'd to believe that theReaderwill grant, he hath done that part ofPhysicks, he is treating of, some service, by strengthning the doctrines of theNew Philosophy(as 'tis call'd) by such particular Experiments, whose Nature and Novelty will render them as well Acceptable as Instructive.
Thesummeof theHypothesis, fully and clearly explicated in theFirstPart, is this;
That all Bodies are made ofone Catholick matter, common to them all, and differ but inShape, Size, MotionorRest, andTextureof the small parts, they consist off; from whichAffections of Matter, theQualites, that difference particular Bodies, result: whence it may be rationally concluded, that one kind of Bodies may be transmuted into another;thatbeing in effect no more, than that one Parcel of the Universal Matter, wherein all Bodies agree, may have aTextureproduced in it, like theTextureof some other Parcel of Matter, common to them both.
To thisHypothesis, is subjoin'd an Examination of theScholastickopinion ofSubstantial Forms; where the Author,first, States the Controversie;next, gives the Principal reasons, that move him to oppose that Opinion;then, answers the Main arguments employed to evince it;further, assigns both theFirstCause of Forms (God;) and the GrandSecondCause thereof (Local Motion:) andlastly, proves theMechanicalProduction ofForms; grounding his proof,partlyupon the Manner, by which such aConvention of Accidents, as deserve to pass for aForm, may beproduced; as that the Curious Shapes ofSalts(believed to be the admirablest Effects and strongest Proofs ofSubstantial Forms) may be the Results ofTexture;Artbeing able to produce Vitriol, as well asNature:partly, upon the possibility ofReproducingBodies by skill, that have been deprived of their reputedSubstantial Forms: Where he alledges theRedintegration of Saltpetre, successfully performed by himself; though his Attempts, made upon the dissipation and re-union ofAmber,Allum,Sea-Salt, andVitriol, proved (by reason ofaccidentalhindrances rather, than of any impossibility in the Nature of the Thing) less successful.
In theSecondandHistoricalPart, the Author, appealing to the Testimony of Nature, to verifie his Doctrine, sets down,bothsomeObservations, of what Nature does without being over-ruled by the power and skill of man; and someExperiments, wherein Nature is guided, and as it were, mastered by Art.
TheObservationsare four.
1. TheFirstis taken from what happens in theHatching ofan Egge; out of theWhitewhereof, which is a substance Similar, insipid, soft, diaphanous, colourless, and readily dissoluble in cold water, there is by theNewandVariouscontrivement of its small parts, caused by the Incubation of the Hen, an Animal produced, some of whose parts are opacous, some red, some yellow, some white, some fluid, some consistent, some solid and frangible, others tough and flexible, some well, some ill-tasted, some with springs, some without springs,&c.
2. TheSecondis fetcht fromWater, which being fluid, tastless, inodorous, diaphanous, colourless, volatile,&c.may by aDiffering Textureof its parts, be brought to constitute Bodies, having qualities very distant from these, asVegetables, that have firmeness, opacity, odors, tasts, colours, Medicinal vertues; yielding also a trueOyle, that refuses to mingle withWater,&c.
3. TheThird, fromInoculation; wherein, a smallBudis able to transmute all the sap, that arrives at it, as to make it constitute a Fruit quite otherwise qualified, then that, which is thegenuineproduction of the Tree, so that the same sap, that in one part of the Branch constitutes (for Instance) aCluster of Haws, in another part of the same Branch, may make aPear. Where the Author mentions divers other very considerable Effects of Inoculations, and inserts several Histories, all countenancing his doctrine.
4. TheFourth, fromPutrified Cheese; wherein, therottenpart, by the alteration of its Texture, will differ from theSound, in colour, odor, taste, consistence, vermination,&c.
The Experiments are ten.
1.A Solution of Vitriol and Camphire; in which by a change of Texture, appear'd the Production of a deep colour from awhite Body, and a clear Liquor without any external heat: The destruction of this Colour, by adding only some fair water: The change of an Odorous Body,as Camphire, into an Inodorous, by mixing it with a Body, that has scarce any sensible odour of its own: The sudden restauration of theCamphireto its native scent and other qualities, by common water,&c.
2.Sublimate, distill'd from Copper and Silver, which both did wholly loose their Metalline forms, and were melted into brittle lumps, with colours quite differing from their own; both apt to imbibe the moisture of the Air,&c.
3.A solution of silver into Luna Cornea: Whereby the opacous, malleable and hardly fusible Body ofSilver, was, by the addition of a little spirit of salt, reduced into Chrystals, differing from those of other Mettals; diaphanous also, and brittle, and far more easily fusible, than Silver; wholly unlike either a Salt or a Mettal, but very like to a piece ofHorn, and withall insipid, though the Solution of Silver, be very bitter, and the spirit of salt, highly sowre,&c.
4.An Anomalous Salt; (which the Author had not, it seems the liberty to teach the Preparation off) whose Ingredients were purely Saline, and yet the Compound, made up only of salt, sowre, and strongly tasted Bodies, was ratherreallysweet, than of any other taste , and when a little urged with heat, its odour became stronger, and more insupportable than that ofAqua fortis,distilled Urineand evenspirit of salt Ammoniack; but yet when these Fumes settled again into salt, their odour would again prove inoffensive, if not pleasant&c.
5.A Sea-salt, whence Aqua fortis had been distilled: Where the Liquor, that came over, proved anAqua Regis: the substance in the bottom, had not onely a mild taste, andaffected the Pallat much more like salt-peter, than Common salt; but was also very fusible, and inflammable, though produced of two un-inflammable bodies: and the same substance, consisting ofAcidsalts, by a certain way of the Author, produced aFixtsalt.
6.Oyle of Vitriol poured upon a Solution of Bay-salt:whence was abstracted a liquor, that by the smell and Taste appeared to be a spirit of salt. In which operation, the mixture, by working a great change of Texture, did so alter the nature of the compounding Bodies, that the sea-salt, though a considerably fixt Body, was distill'd over in a moderate Fire of sand, whilst the Oyl of Vitriol, though no such gross salt, was by the same operation so fixt, as to stay behind: Besides that the same, by a competent heat yeilded a substance, though not insipid, yet not at all of the taste of Sea-salt, or of any other pungent one, much less having the highly corrosive acidity of oyl of Vitriol,&c.
7.A dissolvent, made by pouring a strong spirit of Nitre on the rectified Oyl of the Butter of Antimony, and then distilling off all the liquor, that would come over, &c.ThisMenstruum(called by the AuthorPeracutum) being put to highly refined Gold, destroyed its Texture, and produced, after the method prescribed in the book, atrue Silver, as its whiteness in colour, dissolublenes inAqua fortis, and odious Bitterness, did manifest: which change of a Mettal, commonly esteemed to be absolutely indestructible by Art, though it be far from beingLucriferous, is yet exceedinglyInstructive; as is also the way, the Author here adds, ofVolatilizingGold, by the power of the sameDissolvent.
8.Aqua fortis, concoagulated with differing Bodies, produced very differing Concretes: And the same Numeral Saline Corpuscles, that being associated with those of one Mettal, had already produced a Body eminent in one Taste, didafterwards, being freed from that Body, compose a Liquor of a very differing taste; and afterthattoo, being combin'd with the parties of another Mettal, did with them constitute a Body of a very eminent Taste, as opposite as any one can be to both the other Tasts; and yet these Saline Corpuscles, being instead of this second Mettal, associated with such a one as that, they are driven from, did therewith exhibite again the first of the three mention'd Tasts.
9.Water transmuted into Earth, though the Author saith of this Transmutation, that it was not so perfect, as he wish'd, and as he hopes to make it.
10.A mixture of Oyle of Vitriol and Spirit of Wine.These two Liquors, being of odd Textures in reference to each other, their conjunction and distillation made them exhibite thesePhænomena:vid.That, whereas Spirit of Wine has no great, nor good scent, and moderately dephlegm'd Oyl of Vitriol is wont to be inodorous; the Spirit, that first came over from their mixture, had a scent not only very differing from Spirit of Wine, but from all things else, that the Author ever smelt; the Odor being very fragrant & pleasant, and so subtle, that in spight of the care taken in luting the Glasses exactly together, it would perfume the neighbouring parts of theLaboratory, and afterwards smell strongly at some distance from the Viol, wherein it was put, though stopt with a close Cork covered with two or three several Bladders. But, after this volatile and odoriferous Spirit was come over, and had been follow'd by an Acid Spirit, it was at last succeeded by a strongly stinking Liquor,&c.
ButManum de Tabula: the Book it self will certainly give a satisfaction far beyond what here can be said of it.
There was very lately produced a Paper, containing some observations, made by Mr.Hook, about the PlanetMars; in theFacewhereof he affirmed to have discovered, in the late months ofFebruaryandMarch, that there are severalMaculæorSpotted parts, changing their place, and not returning to the same Position, till the next ensuing night near about the same time. Whence it may be collected, thatMars(as well asJupiter, and theEarth,&c.) does move about his ownAxis, of which a fuller account will be given hereafter, God permitting. This short and hasty intimation of it, is intended onely to invite others, that have opportunity, timely to make Observations, (either to confirm, or rectify) beforeMarsgets out of sight.
Printed with Licence forJohn Martyn, andJames Allestry, Printers to the Royal Society. 1666.
Num.12.
Munday,May7. 1666.
A way of Preserving Birds taken out of the Egge, and other smallFetus's; communicated byMr. Boyle. An Extract of a Letter, lately sent toSr. Robert Morayout ofVirginia, concerning an unusuall way of Propagating Mulberry-trees there, for the better improvement of theSilk-Work; together with some other particulars, tending to the good of thatRoyallPlantation. A Method, by which a Glass of a small Plano-Convex Sphere may be made to refract the Rayes of Light to aFocusof a far greater distance, than is usuall. Observations aboutShining Wormsin Oysters. Observations of the Effects ofTouchandFriction. Some particulars, communicated from forrain Parts, concerning the PermanentSpottinJupiter; and a contest between two Artists aboutOptick-Glasses, &c. An Account of a Book written byDr. Thomas Sydenham, entituled,Methodus Curandi Febres, propriis Observationibus superstructa.
A way of Preserving Birds taken out of the Egge, and other smallFetus's; communicated byMr. Boyle. An Extract of a Letter, lately sent toSr. Robert Morayout ofVirginia, concerning an unusuall way of Propagating Mulberry-trees there, for the better improvement of theSilk-Work; together with some other particulars, tending to the good of thatRoyallPlantation. A Method, by which a Glass of a small Plano-Convex Sphere may be made to refract the Rayes of Light to aFocusof a far greater distance, than is usuall. Observations aboutShining Wormsin Oysters. Observations of the Effects ofTouchandFriction. Some particulars, communicated from forrain Parts, concerning the PermanentSpottinJupiter; and a contest between two Artists aboutOptick-Glasses, &c. An Account of a Book written byDr. Thomas Sydenham, entituled,Methodus Curandi Febres, propriis Observationibus superstructa.
This was imparted in a Letter, as follows;
The time of the year invites me to intimate to you, that among the other Uses of the Experiment, I long since presented theSociety, of preserving Whelps taken out of the Dams womb, and otherFætus's, or parts of them, inSpirit of Wine; Iremember, I did, when I was sollicitous to observe the Processe of Nature in the Formation of a Chick, open Hens Eggs, some at such a day, and some at other daies after the beginning of the Incubation, and carefully taking out theEmbryo's, embalmed each of them in a distinct Glass (which is to be carefully stopt) inSpirit of Wine: Which I did, that so I might have them in readinesse, to make on them, at any time, the Observations, I thought them capable of affording; and to let my Friends at other seasons of the year, see,boththe differing appearances of the Chick at the third, fourth, seventh, fourteenth, or other daies, after the Eggs had been sate on,and(especially) some particulars not obvious in Chickens, that go about; as the hanging of the Gutts out of theAbdomen,&c.How long the tenderEmbryoof the Chick soon after thePunctum saliensis discoverable,andwhilst the Body seems but a little Organized Gelly,andsome while afterThat, will be this way preserv'd, without being too much shrivel'd up, I was hindred by some mischances to satisfie my self: but when theFætus's, I took out, were so perfectly formed as they were wont to be about the seventh day, and after, they so well retain'd their shape and bulk, as to make me not repent of my curiosity: And some of those, which I did very early this Spring, I can yet shew you. I know I have mention'd to you an easie application of what I, some year since, made publick enough; but not finding it to have been yet made by any other, and being perswaded by Experience, that it may be extended to otherFætus's, which this season (theSpring) is time to make provision off, I think theAdvertisementwill not seem unseasonable to some of our Friends; though being now in haste, and having in my thoughts divers particulars, relating to this way of Preserving Birds taken out of the Egge, and other smallFætus's, I must content my self to have mention'd that, which isEssential, leaving divers other things, which a little practise may teach the Curious, unmention'd. Notwithstanding which, I must not omit these two Circumstances; theone, that when the Chick was grown big, before I took it out of the Egge, I have (but not constantly)*In the Usefulness of Experimental Philosophy.mingled with theSpirit of Wine, a little Spirit ofSal Armoniack, made (as I have elsewhere delivered) * by the help ofQuick-lime: which Spirit I choose, because, though it abounds in a Salt not Sowre, but Urinous, yet I never observed it (how strong soever I made it) to coagulate Spirit of Wine. Theothercircumstance is, that I usually found it convenient, to let the littleAnimals, I meant to imbalme, lie for a little while in ordinary Spirit of Wine, to wash off the looser filth, that is wont to adhere to the Chick, when taken out of the Egge; and then, having put either the same kind of Spirit, or better upon the same Bird, I suffer'd it to soak some hours (perhaps some daies,pro re nata) therein, that the Liquor, having drawn as it were what Tincture it could, theFætusbeing remov'd into more pure and well dephlegm'd Spirit of Wine, might not discolour it, but leave it almost as limpid, as before it was put in.
I am disappointed at this time of some Rarities of Minerals, Mettals, and Stones; but you may have them any other time, as conveniently,&c.I have planted here already ten thousandMulberry trees; and hope, within two or three years, to reap good silk of them. I have planted them in a way unusual here, which advances them two or three years growth, in respect of their being sown in seed: And they are now, at writing hereof all holding good, although this has been a very long and bitter winter with us, much longer and colder, than ever I did find it inScotlandorEngland. I intend likewise to plantthem all, as if they wereCurrantsorGoos-berries, so thick as hedges; whereby one man may gather as many of them, as otherwise, when they are planted in trees at distance, four persons my do. Expedient is the benefit of this Trade. Having discoursed of this new way to all here; they are generally inclinable to it; considering that the Planting their Trees, as before, at distance, and letting them grow high, has been the main obstruction of that work hitherto, and the loss of their time and gain: but being in hedges, they will be always young tender plants; and consequently will be easily cut in great quantities with a pair of Garden Sizzers. But there may be suggested yet another, and perhaps a better way; which is, to sowe some Acres withMulberry seed, and to cut it with a sith, and ever to keep it under. I have also bethought my self of a new way, for a few hands to serve many Worms, and that more cleanly than before: which also will be a means, without more trouble or pains, to separate unhealthy worms from healthful; and by which a great many more may be kept in a room, than otherwise upon shelves, as is usual here. Besides this, I have sown a littleFrench BarleyandRice seed, and am thinking on a way of un-husking them with expedition, and so preparing them for the Merchant, as they use to be: But if you can inform me, how they are prepared, you may save me some labour. If I had anyCoffeein husks, or any other vegetable commodity, from the Streights to try, I would here make tryal with them. Its like, that some of those Merchants that are of yourSociety, and keep a Correspondency there, may assist in procuring them. By the latter ships I intend to send you a New sort of sweet sentedTobacco, which I have not yet had time to improve.
This is proposed by Mr.Hook, in consequence of what wasmention'd from him inNumb.4pag.67, of theseTransactions.
Prepare (saith he) two Glasses, the one exactly flat on both sides, the other flat on the one side, and convex on the other, of what Sphere you please. Let the flat Glass be a little broader than the other. Then let there be made a Cell or Ring of Brass, very exactly turn'd, into which these two Glasses may be so fastened with Cement, that the plain surfaces of them may lye exactly paralell, and that the Convex-side of the Plano-convex-Glass may lye inward; but so, as not to touch the flat of the other Glass. These being cemented into the Ring very closely about the edges, by a small hole in the side of the Brass-ring or Cell, fill the interposed space between these two withWater,Oyl of Turpentine,Spirit of Wine,Saline Liquors,&c;then stop the hole with a screw: and according to the differing refraction of the interposed Liquors, so shall theFocusof the compound Glass be longer or shorter.
But this (adds theProposer) I would only have look't upon, as one instance of many (for there may be others) of thePossibilityof making a Glass, ground in a smaller Sphere, to constitute a Telescope of a much greater length: Though (not to raise too great exspectation) I must add, That ofSphericalobject glasses, those are the best, which are made of the greatest Sphere, and whose substance hath the greatest refraction.
These Observations occur in theFrench journalofApril12. 1666. in two letters, written by M.Auzoutto M.Dela Voye; whereof the substance may be reduced to the following particulars.
1. That M.Dela Voyehaving observed, as he thought,some shining Worms in Oysters; M.Auzout, being made acquainted with it, did first conceive, they were not Worms (unless they were crushed ones) that shin'd, as having not been able then to discern any parts of a Worm; but only some shining clammy moysture; which appeared indeed like a little Star of a blewish colour, and stuck to the Oyster-shell; being drawn out, shone in the Air its whole length (which was about four or five lines,) and when put upon theObservershand, continued to shine there for some time.
2. That M.Auzoutafterwards, causing more than 20. douzen of Oysters to be open'd at Candle-light, really saw, in the dark, such shining worms in them; and those of three sorts.Onesort was whitish, having 24. or 25. feet on each side, forked; a black speck on one side of the head (taken by him for aChrystallin) & the back like an Eele, stript off her skin. Thesecond, red, and resembling the commonGlow-worms, found at Land, with folds upon their backs, and feet like the former; and with a nose like that of a dog, and one eye in the head. Thethirdsort was speckled, having a head like that of a Sole, with many tufts of whitish hair on the sides of it,
3. That, besides these, theObserversaw some much bigger, that were grayish, with a big head, and two horns on it, like those of a Snayl, and with 7. or 8. whitish feet, but these, though kept by him in the night, shin'd not.
4. That the two first sorts are made of a matter easily resoluble, the least shaking or touch turning them in into a viscous and aqueous matter; which falling from the shell, stuck to theObserversfingers, and shone there for the space of 20. seconds: and if any little part of this matter, by strongly shaking the shell, did fall to the ground, it appear'd like a little piece of a flaming Brimstone; and when shaken off nimbly, it became like a small shining Line, which was dissipated before it came to the ground.
5. That this shining matter was of different colour; some, whitish, some, reddish; but yet that they afforded both, a light which appear'd a violet to his eye.
6. That it is very hard to examine these worms entire (especially the white ones) because that at the least touch they doe burst, and resolve into a glutinous moysture; whence also if it were not for their feet, that are discover'd in their matter, none would judge them to be Worms.
7. That among those, which he observed, he saw two more firm, than the rest, which shone all over; and when they fell from the Oyster, twinkled like a great star, shining strongly, and emitting rays of a violet-light by turns, for the space, (as touch't above) of 20. seconds. Which Scintillation theObserverimputes to this, that those worms being alive, and sometimes raising their head, sometimes their tayle, like a Carpe, the light increased and lessened accordingly; seeing that, when they shone not, he did, viewing them by a Candle, find them dead.
8. That forcibly shaking the Oyster-shells in the dark, he sometimes saw the whole shell full of lights, now and then as big as a fingers end; and abundance of this clammy matter, both red and white, (which he judges to have been Worms) burst in their holes.
9. That in the shaking he saw all the Communications of these little Verminulous holes, like to the hole of Worms in Wood.
10. That in more than 20 douzen of Oysters he shook no shell (10. or 12. excepted) but it emitted light: And found some of this light in sixteen of the Oysters themselves.
11. That this light occurs more frequently in big, than small Oysters; in those that are pierced by the Worm, oftner, thanin those that are not, and rather upon the Convex-side, than the other; and more in fresh ones; than in the stale.
12. That having somewhat scaled the Convex-side of the shell, and discover'd the Communication of the holes, wherein the often-mention'd viscous moysture, that has any form of insects, is found; he smelt a scent, that was like the water of a squeesed Oyster.
13. That the Worms give no light, when irritated, but if they do, the light lasts but a very little time, whereas that which appears in those, that were not angred before, continues a great while; theObserveraffirming to have kept of it above 2 hours.
So far theJournal des Scavans; which intimates withal, that if theObservershad had betterMicroscopes, they could have better examin'd this matter.
But since the curious here inEnglandare so well furnish with good ones, 'tis hoped, that they will employ some of them for further and more minute Observations of these Worms; it being a matter, which, joyned with other Observations, already made by some excellent persons here, (especially Mr.Boyle) upon this subject of Light, may prove very luciferous to the doctrine of it, so much yet in the dark.
The Operations and Effects ofTouchandFrictionhaving been lately much taken notice off, and being lookt upon by some, as a greatMedicalBranch, for the curing of many diseases and infirmities; it will perhaps not be unseasonable to mention (here also) some Observations relating thereunto; which may give an occasion to others, to consider this subject more, than has been done heretofore, and to makefurther Observations and Tryals concerning the power of the same.
AndFirst, the Illustrious Lord ofVerulam, in hisHistory of Life and Death, Histor. 6. §. 3. observes, ThatMotionandWarmth(of which two,Frictionconsists) draws forth, into the parts, New Juyce and Vigour. AndCanon.XIII. he affirms, ThatFrictionsconduce much toLongevity. See the same,Connex.ix. §. 26.&c.
Secondly, The HonourableRobert Boyle, in hisUsefulness of Experimental Philosophy,sect2.ch.15. considering the Body of a Living man or any Animal, as an Engine, so composed, that there is a conspiring communication betwixt its parts, by vertue whereof a very slight impression of adventitious matter upon some one part, may be able to work, on some other distant part, or perhaps on the whole Engine, a change far exceeding, what the same adventitious matter could do upon a Body not so contrived: Representing, I say, an Animal in this manner, and thence inferring, how it may be alter'd for the better or worse by motions or impulses, confessedlyMechanicall, observes, How some are recover'd from swouning fits by pricking; others grow faint and do vomit by the bare motion of a Coach; others fall into a troublesome sickness by the agitation of a Ship, and by the Sea-air (whence they recover by rest, and by going a shore.) Again, how in our Stables a Horse well-curried is half-fed: How some can tell by the Milk of their Asses, whether that day they have been well curried or not: Arguing hence, that if inMilkthe alteration is so considerable, it should be so likewise in theBlood, or other Juyces, of which the Blood is elaborated, and consequently in divers of the principal parts of the Body. Where also (upon the authority ofPiso) he refers the Reader to theBrasilianEmpiricks, whosewildFrictions, as unskilfully as they order them, do strange things, both inpreserving health, andcuring diseases; curing Cold andChronicalones byFriction, as they doAcuteones, byUnction.
Thirdly, The learned Dr.John Beale, did not long since communicate by some Letters;First, that he could make good proof of the curing or killing a very great and dangerousWen(that had been very troublesome for two or three years,) by the application of a dead mans hand, whence the Patient felt such a cold stream pass to the Heart, that it did almost cause in him a fit of swouning.Secondly, that, upon his brothers knowledge, a certain Cook in a Noble Family ofEngland(wherein that brother of his then lived) having been reproached for the ugliness of hisWartyhands, and return'd for answer, that he had tried many remedies, but found none, was bid by his Lord, to rub his hand with that of a dead man; and that this Lord dying soon after, the Cook made use both of his Lords advise and hand, and speedily found good effect. (Which is also confirm'd by what Mr.Boylerelates in his lately mentionedBook, of Dr.Harvey'sfrequently succesfull triall, of curing some Tumors or Excrescencies, by holding on them such a Hand.) Here isFrictionorTouch, to mortifie Wens, to drive away swellings and Excrescencies: And why not to repell or dissipate Spirits, that may have a dangerous influence upon the Brain, or other parts; as well as to call forth the retired ones into the habit of the Body, for Invigoration?Thirdly, that a Gentleman, who came lately out ofIreland, lay at his House, and inform'd him of an aged Knight there, who having great pain in his feet, insomuch that he was unable to use them, suffered, as he was going to bed, a lovingSpaniellto lick his feet; which was for the present very pleasing to him, so that he used it mornings and evenings, till he found the pain appeased, and the use of his feet restored. This, saiththeRelater, was a gentle touch, and transpiration; for he found the Spirits transpire with a pleasing Kind of Titillation.Fourthly, that he can assure of an honest Blacksmith, who by his healing hand converted his Barrs of Iron into Plates of Silver; and had this particular faculty, that he caused Vomitings by stroaking the Stomack; gave the Stool by stroaking the Belly; appeased the Gout, and other paines, by stroaking the parts affected.