advertisements about the experiments and notes relating to chymical qualities boyle, robert, 1627-1691. 1675 approx. 6 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 4 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a28937 wing b3924 estc r43066 26734233 ocm 26734233 109769 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a28937) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 109769) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1712:8) advertisements about the experiments and notes relating to chymical qualities boyle, robert, 1627-1691. 7 p. s.n., [london? : 1675?] caption title. attributed to boyle by wing. place and date of publication suggested by wing. reproduction of original in christ church library, oxford university. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng chemistry -early works to 1800. 2006-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-05 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-06 derek lee sampled and proofread 2006-06 derek lee text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion advertisements about the experiments and notes relating to chymical qualities . when , after i had gone through the common operations of chymistry , i began to make some serious reflections on them , i thought 't was pity , that instruments that might prove so serviceable to the advancement of natural philosophy , should not be more studiously and skilfully made use of to so good a purpose . i saw indeed , that divers of the chymists had by a diligent and laudable employment of their pains and industry , obtain'd divers productions , and lighted on several phaenomena considerable in thier kind , and indeed more numerous , than , the narrowness and sterility of their principles consider'd , could well be expected . but i observed too , that the generality of those that busie themselves about chymical operations ; some because they practise physick ; and others because they either much wanted , or greedily coveted money , aimed in their trials but at the preparation of good medicines for the humane body , or to discover the ways of curing the diseases or imperfections of metals , without referring their trials to the advancement of natural philosophy in general ; of which most of the alchymists seem to have been so incurious , that not onely they did not institute experiments for that purpose , but overlookt and despis'd those undesign'd ones that occurr'd to them whilst they were prosecuting a preparation of a medicine , or a transmutation of metals . the sense i had of this too general omission of the chymists , tempted me sometimes to try , whether i could do any thing towards the repairing of it by handling chymistry , not as a physician or an alchymist , but as a meer naturalist , and so by applying chymical operations to philosophical purposes . and in pursuance of these thoughts , i remember i drew up a scheme of what i ventur'd to call a chymia philosophica , not out of any affectation of a splendid title , but to intimate , that the chymical operations , there treated of , were not directed to the usual scopes of physicians , or transmuters of metals , but partly to illustrate or confirm some philosophical theories by such operations ; and partly to explicate those operations by the help of such theories . but before i had made any great progress in the pursuit of this design , the fatal pestilence that raged in london , and in many other parts of england , in the years 1664 and 65 , obliging me among the rest to make several removes ; which put me upon taking new measures , and engaging me in other employments of my time , made me so long neglect the papers i had drawn up , that at last i knew not where to finde them , ( though i hope they are not yet mislaid beyond recovery , ) which i was the less troubled at , because the great difficulties , to be met with in such an undertaking , did not a little discourage me , such a task requiring as well as deserving a person better furnished , than i had reason to think my self , with abilities , leisure , chymical experiments , and conveniences , to try as many more as should appear needful . but yet to break the ice for any that may hereafter think fit to set upon such a work , or to shorten my own labour , if i should see cause to resume it my self , i was content to throw in among my notes about other particular qualities , some experiments and observations about some of those , that i have elsewhere call'd chymical qualities , because 't is chiefly by the operations of chymists , that men have been induced to take special notice of them . of these notes i have assigned to some qualities more , and to some fewer , as either the nature or importance of the subject seemed to require , or my leisure and other circumstances would permit . and though i have not here handled the subjects they belonged to , as if i intended such a chymia philosophica as i lately mentioned , because my design did not make it necessary , but did perhaps make it impertinent for me to do so , yet in some of the larger notes about volatility and fixtness , and especially about precipitation , i have given some little specimens of the theorical part of a philosophical account of those qualities or operations , that i hope will not be wholly useless . i know , it may be objected , that i should have employed for instances some more considerable experiments , if not arcana ; but though possibly i am not altogether unfurnished with such , yet aiming rather to promote philosophy , than appear a possessor of elaborate processes , i declined several experiments that required either more skill , or more time , or more expence than could be well expected from most readers , and chose rather to employ such experiments as may be more easily or cheaply tried , and , which is mainly to be consider'd , being more simple , are more clearly intelligible , and more fit to have notions and theories built upon them ; especially considering , that the doctrine of qualities being it self conversant about some of the rudimental parts , if i may so call them , of natural philosophy , it seemed unfit to employ intricate experiments , and whose causes were liable to many disputes , to settle a theory of them . in short , my design being to hold a taper not so much to chymists as to the naturalists , 't was fit i should be less solicitous to gratifie the former than to inform the later . finis . a vindication of chymistry, and chymical medicines courteous and candid reader, chymistry, is an art that doth both teach and inable us (for our exceeding good and benefit) to seperate purity from impurity; ... fletcher, r. (richard), fl. 1676-1677. 1676 approx. 26 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 9 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2005-12 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a39816 wing f1359a estc r215438 99827320 99827320 31738 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a39816) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 31738) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1907:24) a vindication of chymistry, and chymical medicines courteous and candid reader, chymistry, is an art that doth both teach and inable us (for our exceeding good and benefit) to seperate purity from impurity; ... fletcher, r. (richard), fl. 1676-1677. 15, [1] p. s.n., [london : 1676] title from caption title and first lines of text. by richard fletcher. imprint from wing. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng chemistry -early works to 1800. medicine, popular -early works to 1800. 2005-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2005-05 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2005-06 andrew kuster sampled and proofread 2005-06 andrew kuster text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a vindication of chymistry , and chymical medicines . courteous and candid reader , chymistry , is an art that doth both teach and inable us ( for our exceeding good and benefit ) to seperate purity from impurity ; exalt and advance what god and nature hath given us , to a farther and higher perfection than we receive it indewed with . for all bodyes , more or less , partake of the grossness and terrestriety of their matrixes : but after their essential purities are seperated from that terrestriety adhering , which they drew from their matrixes , they make it plain enough by their powerful effects , that it is to this state they ought to be reduced , before they work with efficacy ; and yet they still retain their character and internal idea . now if we shall well and truly consider it ; what have we in this curious nice age , either for back or belly , pleasure or necessity , that hath not in some kind or other been oblidged to chymistry , and its beneficial operations , for that perfection we receive it in ? what calling may be said to have attained to the perfection and hight it now glories in , without its help in some one or other of its ( more sublime or trivial operation . consider our bread our beer , wine , meat , &c. or whatever can render our lives happy or satisfactory : and you will find it in one degree or other to pass under the hand of chymistry , and its various operations , or preparations . and can we then be thus insensibly led to admit its dayly help and assistance in things of smallest value ; and can we be so stupid , dull , ignorant and blind , as to neglect its assistance in things of greater moment and concern ? and not only neglect its friendly advice , but deny its profitable hand in those things , which above all others we most need its help in ? nay , we do not only deny it makes us happy ; but we seek by all means possible to disgrace , slander , and make it ( and its professors ) contemptible and odious to the whole world . doubtless these are great follies , and we declare our selves either very ignorant , or else very malitious and self-ended . can we with ease and content , admit and allow its favours , ( and greedily seek after them ) to improve and maintain our purses and pleasure , and cannot we admit and embrace its help for the preservation of our health ; without which the other will be of little benefit , and less pleasure ? consider , if nature be weakned and oppressed , that she cannot accept of her usual and accostomed food ; so as she would , and ought to dispose of it for the supply of her spirits , and maintaining of her habitation ; and if she cannot in her ordinary course , so play the chymist , as usual : doubtless , she is less able to do it , in that which the very name , as well as the nature of it , makes her utterly to abhor , and reject ; and if she be not strong enough to seperate the essenses of her dayly and accustomed food , how shall she extract any thing from her physick ( if given gross ) that may give her that rerelief , which her present condition requires and calls for ? she [ viz. nature ] hath a double work to perform : first , to extract the essential part ( and to make use of it ) and secondly to cast off the gross as an enemy . it would doubtless , therefore ( in this ease ) be far better to save her the labour of seperation in this her weakned condition : for although nature her self when in health , can digest her food ( when dressed ) and seperate the alimental parts to her self , ( and make use of it for sustentation ) and cast off the gross as useless : yet her medicines must be pure , digested and seperated , and fited for her use : for if she cannot digest her food , then not gross medicines ; her food when in health may be gross , because she can dispose of it to advantage ; but when diseased , her physick must be pure , seperated and fit for her use , viz. to joyn with the spirit , or natural life in man. and in this the physician is rightly stiled , natures handmaid ; but not for loading her with more impurities , but in assistng and helping her to cast off impurities , by that which is pure . for of necessity , either the physician or nature must officiate , or act as chymist , before she can have , or receive what she calls for , and requires for her help and assistance . who therefore not drowned in ignorance and envy , would so strongly oppose so great a good as chymistry is author of ? for this is the only art ( which by supplying us out of the light of nature , with convenient means and particular natures to seperate the pure from the impure ) will teach us : first , to heal all diseases of the macrocosmical substances , and afterwards by examples and experiments deduced from those exteriour cures , will shew us the right and infallible cure of diseases in our own bodies . he that knows not how to purge and heal metals , how can he restore the decay'd , or weakned radical balsom in man , and repair it by comfortable and concordant medicines , to perform perfectly all its appointed functions ; which must necessarily be put into action , before any disease can be expelled : he that knew not what that is in ♁ , which purges gold , how can be come by an effectual and wholsome medicine that will purge and cast out those extrarious peccant causes that afflict and destroy the body of man ? he that knows not how to fix arsenick , or to take away the corrosive nature of a sublimate , or to coagulate sulphureons spirits ; and by a convenient specifical medium to break and dissolve stones in the greater world , will never in the body of man allay and tame the arsenical spirits of the microcosmic salt , nor take away the venimous indispositions of sulphur , nor dissolve the stone in the bladder , and drive it out being dissolved . now as the antient phylosophers ; who knew nature indeed , obtained their noble medicines by the strict and exact observation of nature in her own path ; how that kind was multiplied by kind , and without putrifaction there could be no generation : and as they found excellent medicines , by doing all things in the metallick kingdom according to the possibility of nature : so if you would have a medicine indeed , although inferiour to theirs , whether of the mineral , animal , or vegetable kingdom , you must proceed in the same method ; for as kind is multiplyed by kind , and not without putrefaction ; so if you will exalt any concrete to make it a friendly medicine , it must be in natures path ; kind with kind , and that by putrifaction . for the absolute things requisite to one that would conscionably undertake the sick ; are first to know how to unlock those medicinal bodies which the almighty hath created , and how to prepare them , and when , and to whom to apply them ; and also how to order and dispose the patient , so as that he may reap that good from them , which by carefull administration of them is expected . and thus will a little quantity of such a well prepared medicine , manifest it self in the powerful operating and friendly assisting of nature , to cast off her enemies ( viz. diseases ) with speed and safety . but on the contrary , how loathsome is the very name of ( gross and ill prepared physick unto debilitated nature ! and what 's the reason ? doubtless , the hard task she hath had put upon her by it , and even when she is least able to perform it , and hath more need of succour , than of a farther trouble . alas , how shall she receive so great a portion of loathsom medicines , being weak when even in the greatest of her strength she would ( not only ) be troubled to take ( but also at the sight of ) it ! and this from a secret sense and antipathy , her natural life or spirit hath against its nausceating , and dull quality , as well as the greatness of its quantity . then certainly nature hath no greater help , nor better remedy , then that true and friendly spagerick art or seperater of the impure , from the pure and medicinal part , that so renders it apt , and fit , for her more easie and friendly reception . why then should any so obstinately oppose so clear a truth , and so great a good as this excellent art of chymistry , in the preparation of medicines ( if compared with the other gross , sluggish and ineffectual foundation of physick ) or why do the galenists cry out against others in things they understand not ? or why do they envy us , and speak against our art , ( by which we prepare pure and harmless medicines ) and yet make use of those unnatural chymical medicines , prepared by the power of violent corrosive fires , destructive to nature . our way of preparing vegetable specificks , is by friendly dissolvents as are in themselves agreeable to the nature of the thing acted upon , so that in seperation the whole essence of the concrete is preserved both volatile and fixed , in odour , taste and collour , and the drossy gross part cast away . i say why do they make use of oyl of vitrial salt brimstone , and that dangerous vomit ♀ vitae prepared of that high exalted poyson , viz. oyle , or butter of ♁ also why do they use , crocus metallorum , prepared steel , crocus martis , flos sulph . lapis infernalis , ☿ dulcis ( falsly so called ) sacharum ♄ , tarbith minerals ( that hellish fluxing preparation of mercury ) with many other of those churlish unnatural ℞ in the london dispensatory : also why do they use chymical oyls , and salts of herbs , seeds , berries , spices , barke , woods , wax , rozins , minerals and stones ▪ with their compound and simple distilled waters , all unnaturally seperated from their other parts , or principles , as their late learned unlearned w. calls them . doth nature use these fires in producting these natural subjects they thus work upon ? ( no ) neither must her children in their art of melioration . she uses fire 't is true , but 't is her own , and it is she that furnishes the true son of art with his fire , which is gentle. does she seperate the salt sulphur and mercury , ( in her acts of generation ) and afterwards joyn them again . no , she ferments , putrifies , digests , vivifies and performs all her work and acts of generation , with one only fire which varies the species according to the matrix , &c. what can you gentlemen say for your selves , that have followed the subtile doctrine of the athenians , rather then the plain path of nature , but do you glory in the art of your masters . we will rejoyce in the works of our tutress nature , whose excellency will appear as well by reason , as dayly experience . consider , what is it that gives eminency and perfection , to any one thing we esteem as excellent ; we shall find that it is the purity of it , and that either in the animal , vegetable , or mineral nature : if we consider then what we are speaking of , viz. medicines prepared chymically ; we must also conclude its efficacy and excellency to proceed from its purity , or purified nature . let us ( i say ) consider what it is for , it is to help and restore decayed nature and her languishing spirit . now this spirit is the most subtile part of man ( i mean not the rational soul ) therefore no way to be assisted , but by that which is of purity and likeness with it ( viz. medicines of a subtile penetrating nature . ) the consideration of nature will tell you , what her medicines ought to be , and a true consideration of such medicines , will teach and tell you , what nature is , so that the quality of the one will inform you what the nature and essence of the other ought to be ; for the physician must ( if he will cure a disease ) administer his medicines to the spirit , because the spirit is the sole dispencer of guifts to all the parts and faculties of the body ; now as to the quality of the midicines you ought to use for natures relief , and assistance , is , that they ought to be of most subtile and thin parts . therein lyes the excellency of chymical medicines , above others , this art being able to exalt the most dull and inactive medicines , to the greatest of subtility , and far beyond what nature presents them to us in . nor doth it thus exalt their purity and efficacy , as to cure all diseases both inward and outward only , but renders the medicine it self incorruptible also : whilst the best of galenical ( mixtures ) will hardly keep a year . how then should these poor dirty , drossy medlies , answer those great ends they administer them for ? and how shall they root out inveterate , fixed and chronick diseases ? how shall they purifie the impure , or help the infirm , who are not cured of their own crude , corrupt and infirm condition ? if any shall here object , that the galenick medicines are safe and the chymical quickly cure , or quickly kill : let such objecters know , that they grant , and add more to the praise of chymistry and chymical medicines then they are aware of ; for nothing can quickly cure but what is efficacious , and fitted for so great a good , which nothing can be , that is not in some measure pure and like unto the nature it shall so assist . herein do they unawares affirm the excellency of such medicines : and then to those that suggest , they as suddainly kill , i must thus answer them , that they cannot kill , if administred by skilful operators ( as those must be that know their true preparation ) for as fire will warm at a fit distance ; yet if any man shall ( to warm another ) apply a red hot iron to his flesh , it will burn him ▪ so water will wash a man clean , ( if dirtied ) and he therefore unadvisedly leap into a deep well , he may be drowned . wine will cheer the heart , if moderately taken , yet many by excess have killed themselves ; but this cannot be attributed to the dangerous , or killing quality of the wine , as wine . so these medicines we know , use and extoll , if administred , or taken by pints , may destroy life : but if taken by drops , drams , or spoonfulls , in their vehicles , they enliven and help nature to conquer her enemies , viz. diseases . when other gross , sluggish and ill prepared nauseating mixtures , serve only to stuff up the body ( already too much obstructed ) with such quantities , which rather hinder then further her own operation , and also to rob nature of that praise due to her ( and the author ofher ) when she hath overcome , both the evil of the disease , and such medicines . now having briefly ( and i hope to the satisfaction of every unbyased and candid reader ) vindicated chymistry , and true chymical medicines ; i shall also with the like brevity , give the reader an account of some excellent useful chymical medicines prepared by me ; which may be of great benefit to all honest physicians , chyrurgions , apothecaries , midwives , and others who design good , and desire to be serviceable to their generation . a catalogue of chymical medicines prepared by richard fletcher , living at the sun in gutter-lane near cheap-side london . essence of southernwood , resists poyson , kills worms , provokes urine , strengthens the stomack , and cures surfets . essence of wormwood doth the same . essence of agrimony , helps infirmities of the liver , pissing of blood , and inward wounds . essence of m. mallows , easeth pains of the store . essence of marjoram , cures diseases of the brain . essence of angelica , resists poyson , cheers the heart . essence of dill and fenel , breeds milk , stays vomiting . essence of magwort , appropriated to women ; as also , is essence of arrach , germander , and peneroyal . essence of betony , dissolves the stone . essence of briony , cures dropsies , and falling-sickness : so doth dwarf elder . essence of centaury , cures the yellow jaundice ; the same doth succory and endive . essence of comfry , and clery , strengthens weak backs . essence of couslip-flowers , cures palsies . essence of arsmart , is wonderful in the stone . essence of of hysop , cures coughs and soar-throats . essence of st. johns wort , cures all cureable wounds , both inward and outward to admiration . essence of lavender , cures falling-sickness , and easeth all pains in the head , cures deafness . essence of laurel and bay-berries , cures diseases of the womb and bladder , expels wind , cures plurisies . essence of featherfew , is a singular womb remedy . essence of melilot , a wonderful friendly dissolver of the stone , and cleanser of the reins and bladder . essence of bame , mints , and rosemary , are wonderful renovating medicines . essence of tobacco , is excellent to cure old soars . essence of rue and savin , kills worms , cures pleurisies , expels birth , and after-birth . essence of sage , is an excellent medicine for women to help them to go out their full time . also essence of tansie is the same . essence of colts-foot , cures coughs , shortness of breath . essence of scurvy-grass , horse-redish , water-cresses , and broom , cures the scurvy and dropsie . essence of chamomel , cures pleurisies and stone . essence of saffron , powerfully corrects and expels poyson , cures feavers , consumptions , and drives out all offensive matter by sweat and urine ; and is excellent in the small-pox , measles , and all pestilential diseases , and is a very great cordial . the same is essence of clove-gilliflowers . essence of elder-flowers , cures dropsies , the stone , and opens obstructions of the liver , spleen and womb. essence of walnuts , kills worms , resists the pestilence , cures convulsions . essence of nutmegs , cloves , mace , and cinamon , strengthens the brain . essence of barberries , quench thirst. essence of corriander , gramwell , cardamom-seeds , kills worms , expels wind , provokes urine . essence of benjamin , and stirax , helps coughs , hoarseness and want of voice , and clears the skin . essence of pearl , coral , amber , and amber-grees , are wonderful restoratives ; and cures all diseases incident in women . antiscorbutick powder and essence . antivenerial powder and essence . stone dissolving powder and essence . a powder which causes speedy delivery in vvomen , a vvomb essence . these excellent specificks , are all prepared by proper dissolvents , by which the volatile and fixed parts are presverved with their odour , tincture and colour , so that what nature is best pleased with , is here fitted for her reception , that she may dispose of them , for those great uses and ends they were designed , &c. reader , i have not given you a full relation of the uses and vertues of those before mentioned essences . therefore i add this ; whatever is , or may be attributed to any vegetable , the same and more may be attributed to the essence of that vegetable , for by how much it is exalted in purity ; by so much it ecceeds in vertue and excellency . and as these noble remedies are purer , ( then the other common gross mixtures , which are usually given in great quantities ) so must their dose , viz. 5. 10. 15. or 20 drops in vvine , beer , ale , sider . tee , coffee , or broth , 3 or 4 times a day , that the active penetrating subtile parts of the medicine , may expel the evil , obnoxious diseasy matter , and so restore decayed strength , and bring nature again into her true path , by which she may preserve the whole man in health . thus having hinted unto you the excellencies of true prepared vegetable essences , and their safety above others : i shall also speak a little to mineral preparation , and so conclude the first part . mineral medicines have a more universal tendency then vegetables , they being higher graduated in nature , and more fixed , and more locked up , and harder to come at , for prudent nature hath put bolts and bars upon her best jewels , and hath made strong fences about them lest strangers should espay them , and steal them away , and make an ill use of them , and cry they are ours , and nature shall obey us , she is our servant , and we will do what we please with her . therefore she keeps the keys of her treasuries her self , but she will vouchsafe to lend them to such of her children as are willing to be instructed by her , and will promise alwayes to walk in her path , and perform whatever she commands ; i say , such a one , and no other , will she fet into her chambers of beauty and riches , but he that hath her keys , which are friendly adjuncts , may open mineral bodyes , and extract that solar tincture , which she hath planted in them ; for it is this solar tincture , which is so amicable to nature ; and cures the most radicated diseases , by enlightning and enlivening the natural spirit , by which nature comes both to see her errours , and amend her wayes ; being thus enabled , not only to cast off all offending matter formed in the body , but also changing those venoms , the cause of such matter● , and wiping off the character of the same . and such a medicine as this , is my well known and often tryed powder , called the eagle of metals : as also my little powder viz. the solar dove , with which medicines i have cured many diseases , accounted by the proud persecuting colledge incurable , as hundreds can witness ( for me ) in this city that i have cured for nothing ; when they had spent all they had to satisfie the unreasonable demands of those physitians they then had made use of ( by whom they were rendered more miserable then before ) a further account of which i shall give you in my bock of cures , which god willing will speedily be printed . now having attained to the knowledge and preparation of such medicines ; is it not good reason i should have the liberty to use them ( without molestation ) for the good of the poor , and the glory of god , the giver of every good and perfect guift , to whom be glory , amen . vvhatever i administer to another , i dare be oblidged to take the same dose every day for a year , to prove the safety of my medicines , and let every physician do the like , if he dare trust to the safety of his , &c. postscript to the reader . courteous reader , such is the envy , ignorance and clandestine art , and subtile practice of many of the professors of physick , apothecaries , chyrurgions and others of their friends and fond lovers of the blind galenical tribe , to instill into the minds of men a more then ordinary prejudice against chymistry , and the professors thereof : exclaiming against the art ( because they understand it not ) and branding the artists with such marks of infamy , ( as if right took place ) they themselves ought to bear ; and only because they are painfull , studious and industrious men , who labour in the field of medicine with admirable success : hence it is , that they persecute us , and consulting with demetrius , find cause thus to reason . if this sect prevail , our craft by which we get our vvealth , will come to nothing ; here lyes the stress of the matter : vvealth is that which they seek ; and the health of the sick is sought by chymical physicians . thus friendly reader have i in brief stated the difference between a mercenary doctor , and a true son of art ; that people may no longer mistake shadows for substances , and through that errour may no longer be rendered willing to be deceived . i was willing to sustain this labour and charge ; not in the least doubting , but that these lines ( if read without prejudice ) may be of good effect to clear the understandings of most men : so , as henceforth they will be able better to judge of the common practice of galenical physicians , and consequently for the future be less prejudiced against chymical practicioners , then heretofore they have been , &c. i intend ( god willing ) hereafter to publish more small peices of the same subject . from my house at the sun in gutter-lane near cheap-side london , octob. 29. 1676. finis . a discourse made before the royal society, decemb. 10, 1674 concerning the nature, causes, and power of mixture / by nehemiah grew. grew, nehemiah, 1641-1712. 1674 approx. 68 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 69 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2005-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a42102 wing g1948 estc r29458 11146939 ocm 11146939 46403 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a42102) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 46403) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1424:10) a discourse made before the royal society, decemb. 10, 1674 concerning the nature, causes, and power of mixture / by nehemiah grew. grew, nehemiah, 1641-1712. [17], 120 p. printed for john martyn, london : 1675. reproduction of original in the harvard university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng chemistry -early works to 1800. chemistry, inorganic -early works to 1800. chemistry, organic -early works to 1800. 2004-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-10 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-11 jonathan blaney sampled and proofread 2004-11 jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-01 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion at a meeting of the council of the r. society . january 21. 1674 / 5. order'd , that a discourse made before the r. society , decemb. 10. 1674. by dr. nehemiah grew , concerning the nature , causes , and power of mixture , &c. be printed by the printer of the r. society . brouncker . p.r.s. a discourse made before the royal society , decemb. 10. 1674. concerning the nature , causes , and power of mixture . by nehemiah grew , m. d. and fellow of the r. society . london , printed for john martyn printer to the royal society , and are to be sold at the bell in st. pauls church-yard , 1675. to the right honourable william lord viscount brovncker , president of the royal society . my lord , one reason why i dedicate the following discourse to your lordship , is because by your great and undeserved respects , you have obliged me to do no less . how much more i cannot say , unless i were able to compute the value of your obligation . another reason , my lord , is because i could not but publickly return your lordship thanks , for minding the royal society of so good a way , as they are lately resolved upon , for the management of a great part of their business . wherein , my lord , i do more then presume , that i also speak the sense of the whole society ; i think , not any one excepted . i may with the same confidence intimate , my lord , how happy they account themselves , in having a person so fit to preside their affairs , as your lordship . the largeness of your knowledge , the exactness of your judgment , the evenness of your comport ; being some of those necessary qualifications , which his majesty had in his eye , ( as right well understanding what he did ) when he fixed his choice upon your lordship . i know , my lord , that there are some men , who have just so much understanding , as only to teach them how to be ambitious : the flattering of whom , is somewhat like the tickling of children , till they fall a dancing . but i also know , that your lordship unconcerneth your self as much , in what i even now spake ; as caesar did himself , when his souldiers began to style him king. for as he said , non rex , sed caesar : so let your lordship be but once nam'd , and all that follows , is but a tautology to what you are already known to be . your being president of the royal society , your being the first that was chosen , and chosen by so wise a king ; amounteth to so high and real a panegyrick to your lordship , as maketh verbal ones to be superfluous , and leaves them without any sound . whence , my lord , i have a third reason most naturally emergent ; which is , that i dare to submit my self , as to what i have hereafter said , to your lordships censure . you being so able , and just an arbiter , betwixt the same and all those persons therein concern'd ; that you can neither be deceived , nor corrupted , to make a judgment in any point , to the injury of either . and truly , my lord , were it only from a principle of self-interest , yet i could not desire it should be otherwise . for the world , if it lives , will certainly grow as much wiser then it is ; as it is now wiser then it was heretofore . so that we have as little reason , to despise antiquity ; as we can have willingness , that we our selves should be despised by posterity . yet some difference there is to be made ; viz. betwixt those of all ages , who have been modestly ignorant ; and those who have thought , or pretended , that they were omniscient . or if knowing and acknowledging that they were ignorant ; have yet not been contented to be so ; unless , with as good manners , as sense , they did conjure all mankind , not to offer at the knowing any more then themselves . vpon the whole , my lord , i desire not you should be a patron , any further then you are a judge . for if this small essay hath deserved the least acceptance , i am sure , that in being one , you will be both . whereby , my lord , you will not a little nourish and inspire my future endeavours of the like nature : being very sollicitous to approve my self , my lord , your lordships most faithful and obedient servant , nehemiah grew . a discourse made before the royal society . having the honour to perform the task of this day ; i shall endeavour to conform to the philosophy , which this society doth profess ; which is , ratiocination , grounded upon experiment , and the common notions of sense . the former being , without the latter , too subtle and intangible ; the latter , without the former , too gross and unmanageable : but both together , bearing a true analogy to our selves ; who are neither angels , nor meer animals , but men. the subject i have chosen to speak of , is mixture . whereof , that our discourse may be the more consistent , and the better intelligible ; all i have to say , shall be ranged into this method ; viz. 1. first , i shall give a brief account of the received doctrine of mixture . 2 : next , lay down some propositions of the principles whereof all mixed bodies consist . 3. then , open the true nature of mixture ; or say , what it is . 4. and then enumerate the causes of mixture ; or say , how it is made . 5. lastly , i shall shew the power of mixture ; or , what it can do . sect . i. first , as to the received doctrine of mixture ; not to trouble you with tedious quotations of what aristotle , galen , fernelius , scaliger , sennertus , riverius , and others say hereof ; we may suppose the whole summed up in that definition which aristotle himself hath given of it , and which the greater number of his followers , have almost religiously adhered to ; viz. that 't is , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lib. 1. de gener. & corrupt . cap. ult . that 't is , miscibilium alteratorum unio . which definition , as it is usually explicated , is both vnintelligible , and vnuseful . two things are unintelligible ; what they mean by alteration ; and what by vnion . in this alteration , they say , that the very forms of the elements are alter'd . and therefore lay it down for an axiom , quòd in mixto , formae elementares tantum sint in potentia . but let us see the consequence . for if in a mixed body , the forms of the elements are but in potentia ; then the elements themselves are but in potentia : for we all say , forma dat esse . and if the compounding elements , are only in potentia ; then the compound ; body it self can be only in potentia : yet to say it is no more , is most absurd . as for the vnion of elements in a mixed body ; they make it such , as brings them at last to assert , the penetration of bodies , and that the vnion of mixed bodies is nothing else . for they say , it is made in such sort , that every particle of the mixed body , partaketh of the nature of the whole . which nature , ariseth from the contemperated qualities of the four elements . whence they conclude , that every particle of the mixed body , containeth in it self all the four elements . which is plainly to assert a penetration of bodies . for every element is , at least , one particle ; if therefore every particle of the mixed body , containeth four elements ; then four particles , are but one . i conclude then , that the received doctrine of mixture , is vnintelligible . whence it follows , that it is also barren and vnuseful . for who can make any use of that which he understandeth not ? and the experience of so many years , wherein it hath been ventilated by the disputes of men , proveth as much : scarce any of them , except the learned sennertus , daring to venture upon experiment , for fear they should come to understand themselves . it is confessed , that many gallant things have been found out by artificial mixture . but no thanks to this definition of it . for as an ignorant person may make bad work , and a good rule be never the worse ; so an ingenious person may make good work , and a bad rule be never the better . the question is not , what have men done ? but what have they done upon this foundation , quòd mixtio sit miscibilium alteratorum unio . had this ever taught them to do any thing , even so much as to make the ink wherewith they have wrote all their disputes ; i confess , they would have had something to shew for it . but the truth is , their notions of mixture , have been so far from doing us any good , that they have done us much harm : being , through their seeming subtlety , but real absurdity , as so many phantastick spectrums , serving only to affright men from coming near them , or the subject whereof they treat . i shall therefore endeavour to open the true nature of mixture . and i shall build my doctrine upon the common notions of sense : which none can deny ; and every one may conceive of . in order to which , i shall take leave to lay down some propositions , of the principles of all mixed bodies . sect . ii. 1. and first , by principles , i mean atomes , or certain sorts of atomes , or of the simplest of bodies . for otherwise they would not be principles ; for a compounded principle , in strict speaking , is a contradiction . even as fives , threes , or twos , are not the principles of number , but vnites . 2. whence , secondly , it follows , that they are also indivisible . not mathematically ; for the atomes of every principle have their dimensions . but physically ; and so , what is but one , cannot be made two . if it be asked , whether a stick cut with a knife , be not of one , made two ? i say , that a stick , is not one body , but many millions of bodies ; that is , of atomes ; not any one whereof is divided within it self , but only they are separated each from other , where the knife forceth its way . as in the drawing of a mans finger through an heap of corn ; there is no division made in any one grain , but only a separation of them one from another , all remaining still in themselves entire . i say therefore , that what is physically one , is also most firm , and indivisible ; that is , impenetrable : for penetration is but the separation , not the division of atomes . 3. hence , thirdly , they are also immutable . for that which cannot be divided , cannot be chang'd . so that of the whole world of atomes , not any one hath ever suffer'd , or can suffer the least mutation . hereupon is grounded the constancy of causes and effects . so that , in all generations , it is not less certain , that the self same principle is still propagated from the same ; than , that man is from man. wherefore , compounded bodies are generated ; but principles are not , but only propagated ; that is , in every generation , they pass , in themselves unaltered , from one body , into another . 4. if principles , or atomes are all immutable ; it again follows , that they are of divers kinds . for one and the same principle , or kind of atomes , will still make the same thing , and have the same effect : so that all generations would then be the same . wherefore , since they are immutable , they must be divers . 5. this diversity , for the same reason , is not small , but very numerous . for as the world , taken together , is natures shop ; so the principles of things , are her tools , and her materials . wherefore , as it speaks the goodness of a shop ; so the perfection of the vniverse , that it is furnished with many tools wherewith , and many materials whereupon to work . and consequently , that philosophy beareth best it s own name ; which doth not strain all to two or three principles , like two or three bells in a steeple , making a pittiful chime : but tryeth to rise up to natures own number , and so to ring all the changes in the world . 6. yet doth not this vast diversity , take away the regiment and subordination , of principles . there being a certain lesser number of them , which either by their greater quantity , or other ways , have rule and dominion , in their several orders , over all the rest . for where-ever the subject is multitude , order is part of its perfection . for order is proportion . and how can nature be imagin'd to hold proportion in all things else , and not here ? wherefore , as certainly , as order and government are in all the parts of the rational ; so certainly , of the material world. whence it is , that although the species of principles be very numerous ; yet the principles called galenical , chymical , or any others , which do any way fall under the notice of sense , are notwithstanding reduceable to a smaller number : viz. according to the number of predominant principles in nature ; or , at least , in this part of the vniverse which is near and round about us . to the power and empire whereof , all other principles do submit . which submission , is not the quitting of their own nature ; but only their appearance under the external face or habit of the said predominant principles . 7. as there can be no order of principles , without diversity ; so no diversity , but what is originally made by these two ways ; sc. by size and figure . by these they may be exceeding different : and all other properties besides , whereby they differ , must be dependent upon these two . 8. nor therefore , can they be of any other figures , than what are regular . for regularity , is a similitude continu'd . since therefore all kinds of atomes are divers only by their size and figure ; if the self same size and figure were not common to a certain number of atomes , they could not be said to be of any one kind : and consequently , if there were no similitude of atomes , there could be no distinction of principles . 9. hence also , these two modes of atomes , viz. their size and figure , are the true , and only original qualities of atomes . that is , an atome is such or such , because it is of such a certain size and figure . 10. lastly , as these two modes , taken severally , are the qualities of an atome : so consider'd together , they are its form. a substantial form of a body , being an unintelligible thing . i say of a body ; for although the rational soul be a substantial form , yet is it the form of a man , and not of a body . for the form of a body , we can conceive of no otherwise , then as of the modification of a body , or a complexion of all the modes of a body . which also agrees with that definition of a form , which amongst the peripatetick philosophers is well enough accepted , viz. quod sit , ratio ejus essentiae , quae cuique rei competit . which ratio , if it be referred to a body , what is it but the modification of that body ? having thus proposed a summary of my thoughts about principles ; i shall next proceed to shew what their mixture is . sect . iii. and first of all , from the premisses , we arrive at this conclusion ; sc. that the formation and transformation of all bodies , can be nothing else , but the mixture of bodies . for all principles are immutable ; as we have above proved : and therefore not generable , formable , or transformable . and the forms of principles , being but their modes , are also immutable . so that the whole business of the material world , is nothing else , but mixture . again , as nature worketh every where only by mixture ; so is this mixture every where but one thing , and can be but one . for whether it be the mixture of great bodies , or of small ; of compounds , or of atomes ; it is every where mixture , and the mixture of bodies . wherefore , mixture is either an intelligible affection of all bodies , or of none ; which latter , no man will say . as many wayes , therefore , as we can see , or conceive the mixture of any gross bodies , which we hold in our hand ; so many ways , we may , of the subtilest mixtures which nature maketh , or of atomes themselves ; and no other wayes . now all the wayes we can distinguish mixture by , are in general these two ; either in respect of the bodies mixed , or else of the modes of the mixture it self . in respect of the bodies mixed , mixture is distinguished also two ways ; viz. by conjugation , and by proportion . by conjugation , i mean , a certain mixture of some such principles , and not of others . which is threefold . first , as to number : as when one body may be compounded of two principles , another of three , a third of four , a fourth of five , and so on . secondly , as to kind : where , though there be a conjunction of the same number , yet not of the same kind . thirdly , when they differ from one another both in number and kind . so many ways the principles of bodies may be conceived to be conjugated ; and therefore are : for here , that which may be , is . the consequence is clear . for first , nature hath various materials wherewith to make these mixtures ; as we have shew'd . secondly , by these mixtures she may , and without the concurrence of any imaginary forms , must produce all the varieties in the material world ; as likewise hath been said . wherefore , since all imaginable mixtures may be made , and that to some purpose ; if they should not be so , nature would be imperfect : because we our selves can think , how she might put her materials to further use , then so she would do . to think , therefore , that all kinds of principles , or all elements go to make up every compounded body ; is a conceit , no more to be credited , then one that should tell us , all kind of wheels and other parts of a watch , were put into a clock ; or that there were no other materials wherewith to build an house , then for a tent or a ship. for why should nature , the great artificer by which all perfect works are made , be feigned to cram and ram all things into one , which we our selves look upon as absurd ? secondly , the mixture of principles is diversifi'd , as by conjugation , so also by proportion . that is , by the divers quantities , of the several principles or parts mixed together . as if the quantity of one , were as five to ten ; of a second , as five to fifteen ; of a third , as five to twenty , &c. or if that of one , be as five to six ; of a second , as six to seven ; of a third , as seven to eight . by which , and by other proportions , mixture may be varied innumerable ways . again , as mixture is varied with respect to the bodies mixed ; so likewise in respect of the mixture it self , which i call the location of principles , or the modes of their conjunction . which may be various , as well as their conjugation and proportion . yet are they all reduceable unto two general modes : all bodies , and therefore all principles , being mixed , either by mediation , or by contact . now all contact , whether of compounds , or of atomes , can be no other way , then such as is answerable to their figures . whereof , therefore , we can conceive but three general ways , viz. first , by contact in a point , or some smaller part : as when two atomes meet , which are globular or otherwise gibbose . secondly , by contact in a plain : as in the conjunction of the sides of triangular or quadrangular atomes , or otherwise flat . thirdly , by contact in a concave : as when one atome is admitted into the concave or hole of another ; as a spigot is into a fosset . the first may be called , apposition ; the second , application ; the third , reception or intrusion . in the two last wayes , atomes may be joyned by mediation ; but best of all the last . as when the two extreams of one atome are received into the concaves or the holes of two others . and these are all the general ways , whereby we can conceive bodies to be mixed together ; sc. by their various conjugation , proportion , and location . so that the composition of atomes , in bodies ; is like that of letters , in words . what a thunder-clap would such a word be , as wherein all the four and twenty letters were pack'd up ? one therefore is compounded of more , another of fewer ; this of some , and that of others : and both the conjugation , proportion , and location of letters is varied in every word : whereby , we have many thousands of differing words , without any alteration at all , in the letters themselves ; and might have ten times as many more . in like manner , therefore , or in the self same analogous way , as the letters of the alphabet , are the principles of words ; so principles , are the alphabet of things . what we have said of principles ; and of mixture as consequent thereupon ; may be a foundation for an intelligible account , of the nature and cause of most of the intrinsick properties , and qualities of bodies : as of gravity , levity , fixity , fluidity , angularity , roundness , heat , cold , blackness , whiteness , sowerness , sweetness , fragrancy , fetidness , and very many more . i say an intelligible account ; sc. such as is grounded upon the notions of sense , and made out mechanically . but the exemplification hereof , being too large a field for this , or any one lecture , i shall , before i come to the causes of mixture , only deduce from the premisses , these following corollaries . 1. first , that there is no alteration of principles or of elements , in the most perfect mixture of bodies . it cannot be ; for principles are immutable , as we have said . and if it could be , yet it needeth not to be : for they are also many , and compoundable infinite ways ; as hath been shewed . so that we have no need to perplex our selves with any of those difficulties , that arise from the doctrine of the alteration of elements . the ground of which conceit , is that , of there being but four elements , and that all the elements must needs be in every body . and so men being puzled , how from thence to make out the infinite variety of bodies , they feigned them to be alterable , and alter'd , upon every perfect mixture . not considering , that if their four elements be alterable ; as few as they are , no fewer then three of them may be spared : for one element , if alterable , may be made any . 2. hence , secondly , may be solved that great dispute , whether such as we call lixivial salts , are made by the fire ? for first , no principle is made by the fire : all principles being unalterable ; and therefore unmakeable . secondly , we must therefore distinguish betwixt the principle , and the modification of a principle ; or its various mixture with other principles , whence it may receive a various denomination . wherefore , a lixivial salt , qua lixivial , is certainly made by the fire . but quatenus salt , it is not : that principle being extractable out of most bodies ; and by divers other ways , then by the fire . for whether you calcine a body , or ferment it , ( after the manner shew'd by the diligent and curious improver of chymical knowledg , dr. daniel coxe ) or else putrifie it under ground , or drown it in the sea ; it still yieldeth some kind of salt. all which salts are made , not by making the saline principle ; but only by its being variously mixed , upon those various ways of the solution of bodies , with other principles : from which its various mixture , it receives the various denominations , of marine , nitrous , volatile , or lixivial . 3. hence , thirdly , the most perfect mixture of bodies , can go no higher then contact . for all principles are unalterable ; and all matter is impenetrable ; as hath been said . in the most visible and laxe mixture , there is contact ; and in the most subtile and perfect , as in generation it self , there is nothing more . 4. hence , fourthly , we easily understand , how divers of the same principles , belonging both to vegetables and many other bodies , are also actually existent in the body of man. because even in generation , or transmutation , the principles which are translated from one body to another , as from a vegetable to an animal , are not in the least alter'd in themselves ; but only their mixture , that is , their conjugation , proportion , and location , is varied . 5. hence also the difference of mixture , arising from the difference of contact , is intelligible ; sc. as to those three degrees , congregation , vnion , and concentration . congregation , and inconsistent mixture , is when the several atomes touch but in a point , or smaller part . in which manner , i have divers arguments , inducing me to believe the atomes of all fluid bodies , qua fluid , do touch ; and in no other . vnion , is when they touch in a plain . as in the crystals and shootings of all salts , and other like bodies . for if we pursue their divided , and subdivided parts , with our eye , as far as we can ; they still terminate , on every side , in plains . wherefore , 't is intelligible . that their very atomes do also terminate , and therefore touch , in plain . concentration , is when two , or more atomes touch by reception and intrusion of one into another : which is the closest , and firmest mixture of all ; as in any fixed , unodorable , or untastable body : the atomes of such bodies , being not able to make any smell or tast , unless they were first dissolved ; that is to say , unpin'd one from another . 6. hence , sixthly , we understand , how in some cases , there seemeth to be a penetration of bodies ; and in what sense it may be admitted : viz. if we will mean no more by penetration , but intrusion . for the intrusion of one atome into the concave or hole of another , is a kind of penetration ; whereby they take up less room in the mixed body , then they would do by any other way of contact . as a naked knife and its sheath , take up almost double room , to what they do , when the knife is sheathed . whence we may assign the reason , why many liquors being mixed ; take up less room or space , then they did apart ; as the very ingenious m. hook maketh it to appear by experiment that they do . i say the plain reason hereof , or at least one reason , is the intrusion of many of their atomes one into another . which yet is not a penetration of bodies strictly so called . 7. if all that nature maketh , be but mixture ; and all this mixture be but contact : 't is then evident , that natural and artificial mixture , are the same . and all those seeming subtilties whereby philosophers have gone about to distinguish them ; have been but so many scar-crows , to affright men from the imitation of nature . 8. lastly , hence it follows , that art it self may go far in doing what nature doth . and who can say , how far ? for we have nothing to make ; but only to mix those materials , which are already made to our hands . even nature her self , as hath been said , maketh nothing new ; but only mixeth all things . so far , therefore , as we can govern mixture , we may do what nature doth . which , that we may still the better understand ; let us before , and in the next place , see the causes of mixture . for since natural and artificial mixture are the same ; the immediate causes of both , are and must be the same . sect . iv. now all the causes of mixture we can conceive of , must , i think , be reduced to these six in general ; viz. congruity , weight , compression , solution , digestion , and agitation . 1. congruity , or aptitude and respondence betwixt the sizes and figures of parts to be mixed : whereby bodies may be truly called the instrumental causes of their own mixture , as when a plain answers to a plain , a square to a square , a convex to a concave , or a less to a greater or an equal , &c. according to which respondencies in the parts of bodies , they are more or less easily mingleable . 2. weight ; by means whereof , all fluid bodies , upon supposition of the congruity of their parts , must unavoidably mingle 3. compression ; which either by the air , or any other body , added to weight , must , in some degree , further mixture . because , that weight it self is but pression . for further proof of all the said causes , i made this experiment ▪ let oyl of anise-seeds , and oyl of vitriol be put apart into the receiver of an air-pump . and , having exhausted it of the air , let the two said oyls be then affused one upon the other . whereupon first , it is visible , that they here mix and coagulate together ; that is , their parts are wedged and intruded one into another , without the usual compression of the air ; for that is exhausted : and therefore only , by the congruity of their receiving and intruding parts ; and by their weight ; by which alone they are so compressed , as to make that intrusion . secondly , it is also evident , that although they do coagulate ; yet not altogether so much , as when powred together in the same manner , and quantity , in the open air. wherefore , compression , whether made by the air , or any thing else , doth somewhat further the mixture of bodies , and the greater the compression , the more . 4. solution ; for all bodies mix best , in forma fluida . and that for two reasons . first , because the parts of a body are not then in a state of vnion , but of separation ; and therefore , in a more capable state , for their mixture and vnion with the parts of another body . secondly , because then they are also in a state of motion , more or less ; and therefore , in a continual tendency towards mixture ; all mixture being made by motion . wherefore , all generations , and most perfect mixtures in nature , are made by fluids ; whether animal , vegetable , or mineral . which is also agreeable to the doctrine of the honourable mr. boyle , in his excellent treatise of the nature and vertues of gems . and 't is well known , that bodies are ordinarily petrified , or stones made , out of water . that is , out of petrifying parts dissolved per minima in water , as both their menstruum and their vehicle . wherefore , if we will talk of making gold ; it must not be by the philosophers stone , but by the philosophers liquor . 5. digestion . for which there is the same reason , as for mixture , by solution . for first , all heat doth attenuate , that is , still further separate the parts of a body ; and so render them more mingleable with the parts of another . and therefore secondly , doth also add more motion to them , in order to their mixture . 6. agitation . which i am induced to believe a great and effectual means of mixture , upon divers considerations . as first , that the making of blood in the bodies of animals , and the mixing of the chyle therewith , is very much promoted by the same means ; sc. by the agitation of the parts of the blood and chyle , in their continual circulation . again , from the making of butter out of milk , by the same means : whereby alone is made a separation of the oleous parts from the whey , and a mixture of them together . moreover , from the great effects of digestion ; well known to all that are conversant in chymical preparations . which digestion it self , is but a kind of insensible agitation of the parts of digested bodies . 't is also a known experiment , that the readiest way to dissolve sugar in wine or other liquor ; is to give the vessel a hasty turn , together with a smart knock , against any hard and steady body : whereby all the parts of the sugar and liquor , are put into a vehement agitation , and so immediately mixed together . and i remember , that having ( with intent to make mr. mathews's pill ) put some oyl of turpentine and salt of tartar together in a bottle , and sent it up hither out of the country ; i found , that the continual agitation upon the road , for three or four days , had done more towards their mixture ; then a far greater time of digestion alone had done before . and it is certain , that a vehement agitation , especially if continu'd , or joyned with digestion ; will accelerate the mixture of some bodies , ten times more , then any bare digestion alone ; as may be proved by many experiments . i will instance in this one . let some oyl of turpentine and good spirit of nitre be stop'd up together in a bottle , and the bottle held to the fire , till the liquors be a little heated , and begin to bubble . then having removed it , and the bubbles by degrees increasing more and more ; the two liquors will of themselves , at last fall into so impetuous an ebullition , as to make a kind of explosion ; sending forth a smoak for the space of almost two yards high . whereupon , the parts of both the liquors , being violently agitated , they are , in a great portion , incorporated into a thick balsam in a moment : and that without any intense heat , as may be felt by the bottle . and thus much for the causes of mixture . sect . v. having enumerated the general causes , we shall , lastly , enquire into the power and vse of mixture ; or , into what it can do and teach . and i shall instance in six particulars . first , to render all bodies sociable , whatsoever they be . secondly , to make artificial bodies in imitation of those of natures own production . thirdly , to make or imitate the sensible qualities of bod●es ; as smells , and tasts . fourthly , to make or imitate their faculties . fifthly , it is a key , to discover the nature of bodies . sixthly , to discover their vse , and the manner of their medicinal operation . instance i. first , to render all bodies sociable or m●ngleable : as water with oyl , salt with spirit , and the like . for natural and artificial mixture , are the same ; as we have before proved . if therefore nature can do it , as we see in the generation of bodies she doth ; 't is likewise in the power of art to do it . and for the doing of it , two general rules result from the premisses , sc. the application of causes , and the choice of materials . as for the causes , they are such as i have now instanc'd in . and for the application of them , i shall give these two rules . first , that we tread in natures steps as near as we can ; not only in the application of such a cause , as may be most proper for such a mixture ; but also in allowing it sufficient time for its effect . for so we see nature her self , for her more perfect mixtures , usually doth . she maketh not a flower , or an apple , a horse , or a man , as it were in a moment ; but all things by degrees ; and for her more perfect and elaborate mixtures , for the most part , she requireth more time . because all such mixtures are made and carri'd on per minima ; and therefore require a greater time for the compleating of them . a second rule is , not only to make a due application of the causes ; but sometimes to accumulate them . by which means , we may not only imitate nature , but in some cases go beyond her . for as by adding a graft or bud to the stock , we may produce fruit sooner , and sometimes better , then nature by the stock alone would do : so here , by accumulating the causes of mixture ; that is , by joyning three , or four , or more together ; or by applying more in some cases , where nature applyeth fewer ; we may be able to make , if not a more perfect , yet a far more speedy mixture , than nature doth . as by joyning compression , heat , and violent agitation , and so continuing them all together , by some means contrived for the purpose , for the space of a week , or moneth , or longer , without cessation . which may probably produce , not only strange , but useful effects , in the solution of some , and the mixture of other bodies . and may serve to mix such bodies , as through the small number of their congruous parts , are hardly mingleable any other way . agitation being , as carrying the key to and fro , till it hit the lock ; or within the lock , till it hit the wards . secondly , for the choice of materials , if they are not immediately , that is , of themselves , mingleable ; we are then to turn one species of mixture into a rule ; which is , to mix them by mediation of some third , whether more simple or compounded body , which may be congruous in part to them both : as sulphurious salts are to water and oyl ; and are for that reason mingleable with either of them . or , by any two congruous bodies , which are also , in part , congruous to two others : and other like ways . whereby the parts of bodies , though never so heterogeneous , may yet be all bound and lock'd up together . even as twenty keys may be united , only by uniting the two rings whereon they hang. the consideration of these things , have put me upon making several experiments , for the mingling of heterogeneous bodies . i shall give two examples of tryal ; the one upon fluid , the other upon consistent , bodies . for the first , i took oyl of anise-seeds , and powring it upon another body ; i so order'd it , that it was thereby turned into a perfect milk-white balsam , or butter . by which means the said oyl became mingleable with any other liquor , oyl , wine , or water ; easily , and instantaneously dissolving therein , in the form of a milk. and note , that this is done , without the least alteration of the smell , tast , nature or operation of the said oyl . by somewhat the like means , not only oyl of anise-seeds , but any other stillatitious oyl , may be transformed into a perfect milk white butter ; and in like manner be mingled with water or any other liquor . which is of various use in medicine ; and what i find oftentimes very convenient and advantageous to be done . again , not only fluid but consistent bodies , which of themselvs will mix only with oyl ; by due mixture with other bodies , maybe render'd easily dissoluble in water ; as may rosin , and all resinous and friable gums . as also wax : and this without changing much of their colour , tast or smell . whereof likewise , whatsoever others may do , the physician may make a manifold vse . instance ii. by mixture also , we may be taught to imitate the productions of nature . as to which , from what we have before said of mixture , we may conclude ; that there is no generation of bodies unorganical , but what is in the power of mixture to imitate . as of animals , to imitate blood , fat , chyle , spittle , flegm , bile , &c. of vegetables , to imitate a milk , mucilage , rosin , gum , or salt. of minerals , to imitate vitriol , allom , and other salts ; as also metals , and the like . i do not say , i can do all this : but if upon good premisses we may conclude this may be done ; it is one step to the doing of it . but i will also give an instance of somewhat that may be done in every kind . and 1. first , for the imitation of an animal body , i will instance in fat. which may be made thus ; take oyl olive , and powr it upon high spirit of nitre . then digest them for some days . by degrees , the oyl becomes of the colour of marrow ; and at last , is congealed , or hardned into a white fat or butter , which dissolveth only by the fire , as that of animals . in converting oyl thus into fat , it is to be noted , that it hardens most upon the exhalation of some of the more sulphureous parts of the spirit of nitre . which i effected , well enough for my purpose , by unstopping the glass after some time of digestion ; and so suffering the oyl to dissolve and thicken divers times by successive heat and cold . hence , the true congealing principle , is a spirit of nitre separated from its sulphur . for the better doing whereof , the air is a most commodious menstruum to the said spirit of nitre . whence also , if we could procure such a spirit of nitre , we might congele water in the midst of summer . we might also refrigerate rooms herewith artificially . and might imitate all frosty meteors . for the making of fat , is but the durable congelation of oyl ▪ which may be done without frost , as i have shew'd how . hence also it appears , that animal fat it self , is but the curdling of the oily parts of the blood ; either by some of its own saline parts ; or by the nitrous parts of the air mingled therewith . hence likewise it is , that some animals , as conies , and fieldfares , grow fatter in frosty weather : the oily parts of the blood , being then more than ordinarily coagulated with a greater abundance of nitrous parts received from the air into their bodies . for the same reason it is , that the fat of land-animals is hard ; whereas that of fish is very soft , and in a great part runs to oyl , sc. because the water , wherein they live , and which they have instead of breath , hath but very few nitrous parts in it , in comparison of what the air hath . 2. for the imitation of a vegetable body , i will give three instances ; in rosin , gum , and a lixivial salt. the first may be made thus ; take good oyl of vitriol , and drop it upon oyl of anise-seeds ; and they will forthwith incorporate together ; and by degrees , will harden into a perfect rosin ; with the general and defining properties of a truly natural resinous gum. being not in the least dissoluble in water ; or at least , not any more , then any natural rosin or gum : yet very easily by fire : as also highly inflammable : and exceeding friable . although this artificial rosin , be the result of two liquors , both which very strongly affect the sense : yet being well washed from the unincorporated parts , ( which is to be done with some care ) it hath scarce any tast or smell . the concentration of these two liquors , is likewise so universal ; that the rosin is not made by precipitation , but almost a total combination of the said liquors ; and that with scarce so much , as any visible fumes . again , having taken a certain powder and a saline liquor , and mixed them together in a bottle , and so digested them for some time ; the powder was at last transmuted to a perfect oily gum ; which will also dissolve either in oyl , or in water ; in the self same manner , as galbanum , ammoniac , and the like will do . and lastly , a lixivial salt may be imitated thus ; take nitre , oyl of vitriol and high spirit of wine , of each a like quantity . of these three bodies , not any two being put together ; that is to say , neither the nitre with the oyl , nor the oyl with the spirit , nor the nitre with the spirit ; will make the least ebullition : yet all three mingled together , make a very conspicuous one . the spirit of wine being as the sulphur ; and so that , and the nitre together , standing , as it were , in the stead of an alkalizate , that is , a sulphurious salt , against the oyl of vitriol . divers other experiments i can shew of the like nature . 3. in the last place , for the imitation of a mineral body , i will instance in two , sc. nitre and marine salt ; if i may have leave to reckon them amongst mineral bodies . as for nitre , by mixing of four liquors together , and then setting them to shoot ; i have obtained crystals of true and perfect salt ; which have had much of a nitrous tast ; and would be melted with a gentle heat , as nitre is ; and even as easily as butter it self : i mean , not by the addition of any sort of liquor , or any other body , to dissolve it ; but only by the fire . and as for a sea-salt , that i might imitate nature for the making hereof , i consider'd , that the salt so called , was nothing else but animal and vegetable salt , freed from its true spirit and sulphur , and some saline particles , specifically animal or vegetable , together with them . for both animal and vegetable bodies being continually carried by all rivers into the sea ; and many likewise by shipwrack , and divers other ways , immersed therein : they are at last corrupted , that is , their compounding parts are opened and resolved . yet the resolution being in the water , is not made precipitately , as it is in the air ; but by degrees , and very gently . whence the sulphurious , and other more volatile parts , in their avolation , make not so much hast , as to carry the more fixed saline parts along with them ; but leaveth them behind in the water , which imbibeth them , as their proper menstruum . and the imitation of nature herein , may be performed thus ; put as much of a lixivial salt as you please , into a wide mouth'd bottle , and with fair water make a strong solution of it ; so as some part thereof may remain unresolved at the bottom of the bottle . let the bottle stand thus for the space of about half or three quarters of a year , all the time unstopped . in which time , many of the sulphurious and other more volatile parts gradually flying away ; the top of the unresolved salt will be incrustate , or as it were frosted over , with many small and hard concretions , which for their nature , are become a true sea-salt . whereof there is a double proof ; first , in that most of the said concretions are of a cubical , or very like figure . especially on their upper parts ; because having a fixed body for their basis , their under parts , therefore , contiguous thereto , are less regular . whereas the parts of salt in the sea , being environed on all sides with a fluid ; their figure is therefore on all sides regular . secondly , in that a strong acid spirit or oyl being powred upon a full body'd solution hereof ; yet it maketh herewith no ebullition ; which is also the property of sea-salt . and thus much for the more general imitation of bodies . instance iii. from the aforesaid premisses , and by the aforesaid means , there is no doubt to be made , but that also the other sensible qualities of bodies may be imitated , as their odours and tasts . and that not only the general ones , as fragrant , or astringent : but also those which are specifical and proper to such a species of bodies . thus , for example , by mixing several bodies together , in a due proportion , i have imitated the smells of divers vegetables ; as of tansy , of lignum rhodium , and others . and i conclude it feasable , to imitate the tast or smell of musk , or amber-greece , or any other body in the world . instance iv. hence also we may be taught , how to imitate the faculties , as well as other qualities of bodies . the reason is , because even these have no dependance upon any substantial form ; as in the first part of my last book of the anatomy of vegetables , i think , i have , in a few lines , clearly made out : but are the meer result of mixture ; effected by the same causes , whether in nature or art ; as also in the premisses of this discourse hath been shew'd . instance v. from whence , again , it is likewise a key to discover the nature of bodies . for how far soever we can attain to mingle , or to make them , we may also know what they are . for bodies are mingleable , either of themselves , or by some third . as to those which mingle of themselves , we may certainly conclude , that there is a congruity betwixt them , in some respect or other . so upon various tryals i find , that essential oyls do more easily imbibe an acid , then an alkaly . whence it is evident , that there is some congruity and similitude betwixt essential oyls , and an acid , which there is not betwixt the said oyls and an alkaly . as to those that mingle only by some third ; we may also certainly conclude , that though the two extreams are unlike ; yet that they have both of them a similitude to or congruity with that third , by which they are united . moreover , we may make a judgment from the manner or degree of mixture . thus the acid spirit of nitre , as is said , will coagulate oyl-olive , and render it consistent . whence it might be thought , that any other strong acid will do the like ; and that therefore , there is no great difference in the nature of the said acid liquors . but the contrary hereunto , is proved by experiment . for having digested the same oyl , in the same manner , and for a much longer time , with strong oyl of sulphur ; although it thence acquired some change of colour , yet not any consistence . again , because the said spirit of nitre coagulates oyl-olive ; it might be expected , it should have the same effect , upon oyl of anise-seeds ; or , at least , that if other acids will coagulate oyl of anise-seeds , that this should do it best . but experiment proveth the contrary . for of all i have tryed , oyl of vitriol is the only acid that doth it instantaneously . oyl of sulphur , if very strong , will do it ; but not so soon , nor so much . aqua fortis , and spirit of salt , for the present , do not at all touch it . and spirit of nitre it self will not coagulate it , under eight or ten hours at least . instance vi. lastly , and consequently , it is a key , to discover the medicinal vse and operation of bodies . thus , for example , by the imitation of rosins and resinous gums , we certainly know what all of them are , and when , and wherefore to be used . for what are mastick , frankincense , olibanum , benzoin , and other like rosins , or resinous gums , for their principal and predominant parts , that is , qua rosins ; but bodies resulting from natural , in like manner , as i have shewed , they may be made to result , from artificial mixture ? that is to say , the oleous , and acid parts of vegetables , being both affused and mingled together , per minima , in some one vessel of a plant , they thus incorporate into one consistent and friable body , which we call rosin . now from hence it is , that the said rosins , and resinous gums ; as also amber and sulphur for the same reasons ; are of so great and effectual vse against most thin and salt rheums ; sc. as they are acido-oleous bodies . for by their acid parts , which in all these bodies are exceeding copious , they mortifie and refract those salt ones which feed the rheum . and by their oleous parts , the same salt ones are also imbibed . whence , they are all , in some degree , incorporated together ; that is , the rheum is thickned : which is the desired effect . whereas , on the contrary , if the cough proceed not from a thin and especially a salt rheum , but from a viscous flegm ; the use of many other bodies , which are also more oleous , and abound not so much with an acid as these do , especially some of them , is more proper : such as these , in this case , proving sometimes not only ineffectual , but prejudicial . since the very cause of the said viscousness of phlegm , is chiefly some great acidity in the blood , or in some other part ; as may be proved by divers arguments . many more instances might be hereunto subjoyned : and may hereafter be offered to the acceptance of such , who are inquisitive into matters of this nature . if i shall not herein anticipate , or reiterate the thoughts and observations , of those two accurate and learned persons dr. willis , and dr. walter needham , as to what the one hath already published , and both have put us in expectation of . but the instances already given , are sufficient to evidence what i have said . and , i hope , this present discourse to prove , in some measure , thus much ; that experiment , and the common notions of sense are prolifick ; and that nothing is barren , but phancy and imagination . finis . magnalia naturæ, or, the philosophers-stone lately exposed to public sight and scale being a true and exact account of the manner how wenceslaus seilerus, the late famous projection-maker at the emperours court at vienna, came by and made away with a very great quantity of pouder of projection by projecting with it before the emperour and a great many witnesses, selling it &c. for some years past / by john joachim becher : published at the request, and for the satisfaction of several curious, especially of mr. boyl &c. becher, johann joachim, 1635-1682. 1680 approx. 74 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 19 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a27223 wing b1643 estc r28897 10775994 ocm 10775994 45810 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a27223) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 45810) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1396:8) magnalia naturæ, or, the philosophers-stone lately exposed to public sight and scale being a true and exact account of the manner how wenceslaus seilerus, the late famous projection-maker at the emperours court at vienna, came by and made away with a very great quantity of pouder of projection by projecting with it before the emperour and a great many witnesses, selling it &c. for some years past / by john joachim becher : published at the request, and for the satisfaction of several curious, especially of mr. boyl &c. becher, johann joachim, 1635-1682. [6], 31 p. printed by tho. dawks, sold also by la. curtis, london : 1680. reproduction of original in the harvard university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng seilerus, wenceslaus. alchemy. chemistry -early works to 1800. 2006-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-05 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-08 judith siefring sampled and proofread 2006-08 judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion magnalia naturae : or , the philosophers-stone lately expos'd to publick sight and sale. being a true and exact account of the manner how wenceslaus seilerus the late famous projection-maker , at the emperours court , at vienna , came by , and made away with a very great quantity of pouder of projection , by projecting with it before the emperor , and a great many vvitnesses , selling it , &c. for some years past . published at the request , and for the satisfaction of several curious , especially of mr. boyl , &c. by john joachim becher , one of the council of the emperor , and a commissioner for the examen of this affair . minut. felix . quid igitur ingrati sumus ? cur invidemus : si veritas divinitatis ( quae per ea quae fiunt sat intelligi potest , rom. 1. 20. ) nostri temporis aetate maturuit . london , printed by tho. dawks , his majesties british printer , living in black-fryers . sold also by la. curtiss , in goat court on ludgate hill . 1680. advertisement . books and single sheets printed and sold by tho. dawks , in black fryers , and by la. curtiss in goat court on ludgate-hill , where may alwayes be had , 1. godfreys murder made visible , and the papists cruelty therein . 2. a chronology of popery , shewing when , and who brought in their idle , foolish foperys . 3. the only historical plot cards , with a book , illustrating the plot , by greatly satisfying the protestant reader . 4. the beggars petition to h. s. shewing reasons enough why he threw popery off , and we not now befoold into it . 5. the 3 prime discoverers , their pictures , with verses shewing their reasons why they discovered this hellish popish plot. 6. romes hunting-match for 3 kingdoms . 7. england 's calamity foreshewn , from the growth of popery , in gemanys misery . 8. a seasonable caution to apostatizing protestants ; or gods eminent judgment upon protestants that turn'd papists to save their lives , but perished . 8. the resurrection proved in a relation of what hapned to mris ann atherton , who lay 7 dayes in a trance , declared in an astonishing speech when she came to life . 9. a great truth , the jesuit a down-right compleat atheist , proved such , and condemn'd for such , by the famous faculty of sorbonne , well known to be the best divines of all the catholick party , and by the french bishops , & pope alexander 7. shewing how they make a mock at sin , deny god , and overthrow all religion . their design being to debauch mankind , wherein they , as a judgment from god upon us , have succeeded pretty well , but speedy judgment attends its promoters . 10 famous master rich's absence supply'd by a key to his short-hand table , entituled the pens dexterity , allowed and approved by both vniversities . fully discovering the whole art to the meanest capacity , in that method he taught his scholars , with the reserved rules in their proper places , by t. dawks , a quandam scholar of his ; the like never publickly discovered before ; all books and sheets relating to this hand has been abuses to the publick , & the buyers of them much deceiv'd , for the table alone was ne'er design'd by mr. rich to teach the whole a r t , but to bring scholars to him : and for the truth of what i say , as well in relation to this key , as to other spurious books , i refer my self to mr. rich's scholars , as fittest judges , knowing not where else to appeal . also , i have added since it came to my hand , beside the key to distinguish this from all false tables , directions concerning the place of vowels , which he gave me in writing among the private rules ; wherefore , all old tables without the key are false ones , beware of them . these true ones are sold by . t. basset , at the george by s. dunstans church in fleetstreet : by fr. smith at the elephant by the exchange in cornhil , 11. also dr. salmons new london dispensatory , end his soul of astrology , are always to be had at the places abovesaid . as for his synopsis or praxis medicinae , the vast labour it hath taken up , is the cause of its not coming forth ; expect it spedily , the compleatness of the work make it exceed in thickness his dispensatory , besides the 21 plates . there is in the press a packet of popish delusions , false miracles and lying wonders : together with many grand divisions among papists , notwithstanding their seeming vnity . the translator to the reader . there is no ingenious man that is not unacquainted with the curiosities to be met with in the world , who hath not either seen som transmutation of metals , or at least heard so many witness that they have seen it ; as to be perswaded that there is such thing as the philosophers-stone , or powder of projection . only there he some great men ( as his highness prince rupert , who hath seen the projection at frankfort , in germany ) who seem to question whether such pouder or tincture is prepared with profit . but this doubt is hereby now fully cleared and resolv'd , from the great quantity of this tincture left buried by the abbot founder of the church it was found in : ( as this relation informs you ) for it is not credible that the abbot was master , before he had done the work , of such an immense treasure , as he must needs have had to draw so much tincture from : which could not be extracted ( if the preparation thereof is without profit , ) from a lesser quantity of gold than it gives or yield again in the projection : so that the same quantity of gold as it yields again must have bin spoiled to make it ; which it is not credible an abbot of germany was master of , as is said . and , for the truth of this relation , besides that , it is attested by many men of great quality , good parts , probity , and modesty , by the emperor himself ; by count wallestein who was resident here a year ago ; and by dr. becher at present in this city . it is so publickly known through all parts of germany , chiefly about vienna where this was transacted , that to doubt , or deny it , were as absurd , as if one denyed that the west-indies have bin found out of late years , or that there be ships at sea , because he hath seen neither . but among the many remarkable passages in this relation , one thing is most worthy of observation , viz. the honesty of f. fra. preyhausen , who deserves to be chronicled for his faithfulness & truth to f. wenceslaus the finder of this pouder : for he wanted neither frequent opportunities nor specious pretences to effect what som princes could not forbear to attempt ( i. to rob wenceslaus of his powder ) tho without a certainty of success , & tho he was himself sure of success , for he was thrice , for a good while each time , entrusted with the box , & might find excuses enough for it ; yet he not only did not succomb to the temptation of getting all , as they did ; but did not so much as deny , purloin , or withhold the least part of the pouder from f. wenceslaus , even when ( seeing how he squandred it away ) he had a good pretence to keep back some for his use : and might justly have claimed and reserv'd some for his own use also , not only for his services , but for the great dangers he had exposed himself to for his sake ; thus keeping true to the end , even against his own right & so great a temptation . a faithful man who can find ? pro. 20. 6. but here such one is found , and that among the fryers ! whence i am glad to observe , that all the fryers are not quite so black as some make them ; and to see that among them , as well as among other sects some good men are to be found who make conscience of an oath , and keep it tho to their loss . thanks be to f. francis 's honesty for so much as we know of this whole concern . i am sure that if he had what his honesty deserv's , what the emperor hath done for wenceslaus had bin bestowed upon him ; and that wenceslaus himself , whilst in the dungeon , would have said with all his heart , that if he would do for him what he hath done , he would deserve what he hath not had , i mean the whole pouder : but honesty meets seldom with what it deserves . errata . pag. 1. l. 16. for after , r. as for p. 29. l. 22. r. imprudent . magnalia naturae : or , the truth of the philosophers-stone asserted : being exposed to publick sight and sale in our daies . the place where wenceslaus seilerus ( who is the main subject of this following discourse ) was born , i am not certain whether it was at vienna , yea or no ; but sure i am he was of the austrian country : and his brother did wait upon the count of weissenwolf , the younger . after , seilerus himself , when he was about the 20th year of his age , he was cast into a monastery of the augustine fryers at bruna in moravia : where , after his year of probation , he took the habit upon him , and was admitted into the number of fryers , though it were against his will , as he afterwards confessed , and as the event did make appear : for having once made profession of the order , he did continually strive and study how he might free himself from the monastery , and seeing that could not be done without money , and money , in his circumstances , could not lawfully be obtained : he began to study an indirect way for the obtaining thereof , for his fellow fryers having often muttered to him of some great treasure hid in their monastery , he had a great desire to find it out . and in order thereunto , he did not scruple to learn the magick art , if any one had been ready to inform him therein : wherein fortune seemed to favour his desires , for there was an old woman , a cow-keepers wife , living before the gate of the town , and fortress , who was skilful therein , and he came to be acquainted with her upon this occasion . the yonger monks and students , as they were called , are allowed some set daies , every week , to walk out of the gates of the city , to enjoy the open air and to refresh their minds , supposed to be wearied with study ; in these relaxations one company dispersed it self here , another there , as they think fit for their divertisment . but fryer wenceslaus ( for so i shall hereafter call him ) made use of this occasion , alwayes to visit the said old woman , and upon the pretence of drinking new milk , to interogate her concerning her art. and in a short time he got so much into her favour as to obtain from her a small wax-ball marked with certain figures or characters , which was of that virtue , that , if it was laid upon the ground , it would presently run to the place where any treasure was hid : ( this ball i afterwards saw often in his custody , and handled it with my hands . ) it happened afterwards , that , as the custom is for the old fathers when they grow weak , to have some young fryers to assist them ; so , fryer wenceslaus was assigned to attend an ancient father , who was a cabalist , and a lover of magick , in which studies , at any vacancies , he spent his time . he often told fryer wenceslaus , that there was a vast treasure hid in the church of their monastery ; to whom wenceslaus replyed . that he had got a ball which , he was assured , had the virtue to discover hidden treasures : and , thereupon he shewed him the ball , and the characters impressed thereon , which the old father did seriously consider , and much valued them . a while after , as they two were walking alone in the church , afore day , after mattens , they tryed the ball , by laying it down in several places , but found no effect ; at last , placing it near a certain pillar old and ruinous , it began to shew its efficacy and virtue by its often running thereto : this they interpreted for a certain indication , that the treasure was there hid ; but how to come at it was the question . they had neither leave , means nor opportunity to break down this stony structure , neither did they certainly know at what height or deph thereof the treasure was laid in it . so that upon these discouragements they were forced to let it alone . but it happened afterwards , that , a great tempest arising , the whole church , and especially this decayed pillar , was so shaken and spoiled , that to prevent its falling down the abbot was necessitated to order it to be demolished . and in regard the old father , whom fryer wenceslaus attended , had skill in architecture , and by reason of his infirmities could not be otherwise serviceable to the monastery , he was therefore appointeed to oversee the masons ; which office he and his assistant fryer wenceslaus did willingly undertake , and were very sedulous in theit attendance , and discharge thereof . when the pillar was almost all pulled own , they found therein a copper-box , of a reasonable bigness , which the old father presently snatch'd up and carryed it into his cloyster , and immediately opened it : where , at the top , he found a piece of parchment , on which there was some inscription and writing : i once had a copy of it , but i lost it amongst my other letters ; but this i remember , it contained the number of the years wherein the church was built , and the name of the abbot the founder thereof , who had been an envoye at ratisbone ; i do also remember , that amongst other writings , there was this motto , amice , tibi soli , which i english thus , friend , to thy self alone . under this parchment there were other letters laid , marked with characters , which contained directions how to multiply the powder , as the inscription shewed : and under them there were four boxes full of a red powder . when the boxes were opened , fryer wenceslaus was quite out of heart , having lost his preconceived hope of some great treasure therein : for he verily believed that , if there were not old ●ieces of gold yet some diamonds , or other precious stones must have been lodged there . and finding no such thing , but four boxes of darkish colored powder , he was so impatient at the disappointment , that , if he had been the sole manager of the business , he had thrown away boxes , powder and all : for at that time he was so little acquainted with chymistry , that so much as the name was not known to him , and he had scarce heard of the word tincture . but the old father was not so transported , but told him , that perhaps some medicinal virtue was contained in the powder , and that the characters in the annexed papers might possibly discover its use , and therefore he was resolved to study some books , to find out what those characters meant : in the mean time he would carefully keep the box. not long after , the old father sent fryer wenceslaus into the kitchin of the monastery , to see if he could find an old peuter dish or plate , which was no longer fit for use , and if he could , to bring it to him ; which he accordingly did , who thereupon caused a coal-fire to be made , and put a crucible into fryer wenceslaus hand , to place therein ; this was the first chymical operation that ever fryer wenceslaus performed in all his life , and for which he was so unfit , that he plac'd the crucible upside down , so that the old father himself was forced to set it in its right posture . they put the pewter plate broken and folded together into the crucible , which being presently melted , the father took out some of the pouder ( so much as would lay upon the point of a knife ) which was in one of the four boxes , and wrapping it in a little wax , he cast it into the crucible upon the pewter , and commanded his assistant fryer wenceslaus to blow up the fire , adding these words , now i shall see whether i have well decyph●red the characters , and whether i have found out the use of this pouder . as soon as ever the powder was cast in , the pewter stood still , came to a suddain congelation . then the fire was suffered to go out , and the crucible to wax cold , which being broken , there was found a ponderous mass of metals , very yellow and variegated with red lines : upon which the father made fryer wenceslaus to go out into the town , upon pretence of getting a book to be bound , and wished him to go to some gold-smith , and shew him this mass of metal , alleadging to him , that he had some ancient roman coins of gold , which he had melted down , but for want of a sufficient fire and other defects , he had not done it exactly ; and therefore he desired the gold-smith to melt it over again , and cast it in an ingot ; the gold-smith gratified him therein , and fryer wenceslaus , at the command of the father took off a small piece , which he preserved , and then asked the gold-smith , what the rest was worth ? who , after he had weighed and tryed on the touchstone , did value it at twenty ducats ( which are worth two crowns a piece ) at which rate fryer wenceslaus sold it to him , and receiving the money , returned joyfully home . the old father did only desire the remaining portion of the gold , which he had reserved , but suffered fryer wenceslaus to injoy the ducats , yet with this advice , that he should discover it to none in the monastery . but fryer werceslaus , though he had not been master of so much money a long time , was not satisfied therewith , but entertained various thoughts in his mind , whether he should by flight free himself from that bondage and slavery he was in , whilest he had the advantage of so much cash ? or else , whether he should stay so long there , till either by flattery or craft , he had got the copper boxes from the old father . to the first of these cogitations he was edg'd on , by the eagerness of that desire he had to leave the monastery : but then , the great heap of gold which he might make with the powder , as he well conjectured , if he could get it into his hands , did somewhat abate his fervor , and perswade him to stay . for , though he was yet altogether ignorant of chymistry , yet the precedent tryals had given him so much light , that he was fully perswaded , the box contained and was worth a vast treasure ; and , though at that time , the rareness of the powder , and the multiplication of it had very small influence upon his thoughts : yet , because he had a share in finding of it out , by means of his ball , he therefore thought that half of it at least did belong to him . but there was another thing which more perplexed his mind , and that was the fear , that the old father , either out of a principle of devotion , or of vain-glory , should discover the whole story of the business to the abbot , and by that means should make away all the pouder : and he was rather inclined to these cogitations , because he had observed , that the father , who before had been more remiss in hiding the box , now of late was so solicitous to preserve it , that he kept it continually in his desk , and scarce ever stirred from it , except when he was to go to church with fryer wenceslaus . being moved with these considerations , he was induced to demand boldly some quantity of this powder of the old man ? the answer he received , was , that he was yet too young to know how to dispose of , and to keep well this powder : besides , he wanted no money whilst he was in the monastery ; and , if he should procure a summ by means of this powder , in his present condition , it would be very prejudicial both to his soul and body , and he might become thereby of all men most miserable : moreover ( proceeds the father ) this powder may have many other virtues and operations which are yet unknown both to you and me , and therefore i will farther study the writings annexed to it , and hereafter i will be mindful of you , but at present i will not part with any of the powder , only you shall have every week two crowns allowed for your divertisements : thus the father ; but this fair story sounded not well in the fryers ears , who had a private design ( unknown to the oldfather ) to leave the monastery in the interim it happen'd , that as they two were returning from mattens , early in the morning , the old father complain'd of a cold he had got , & a great rheum in his head , and desired fryer wenceslaus to go to the cellar and fetch him a cup of sack , he did so , and upon his return he found the father taken with a fit of an apoplexy , and speechless : whereupon , the first thing he did was to find out the key of his desk , and taking from thence the copper box , he carryed it to his own cell , and hid it there . this being done , he rang the bell in the fathers cell to call up the monks , who came flying with all diligence to bring him some remedies , but they were all too late the father being quite dead : hereupon his desk was presently sealed up , and solemn ceremonyes according to the occasion were performed over his dead body . but who more inwardly joyful than fryer wenceslans , from whom death had removed his rival , and made him to be master of all the whole treasure . hereupon he began to deliberate with himself how he might make his escape out of the monastery with most safety and least suspicion . but herein many difficuties did accrew : he was grown a little deboist and prodigal by the opportunity of the 20 ducats abovementioned , which he had to spend ; and by that means he had incurred the emulation of his fellow fryers , who did urge the pryor and superiour , that , the old father being now dead , and so fryer wenceslaus discharged from his attendance on him , he should for the future be bound to a stricter discipline , both in reference to his studies , as also to his frequenting the church . moreover his ducats were all spent , and no opportunity offerd to make another tryal , or if he had , he could not have sold the product of it . in this anxiety he resolved to open his mind to another monk , a comrade of his , one fryer francis preyhausen , that so they might mutually consult together what was best to be done : for you must know this fryer was intimate with fryer wenceslaus , as having entred into the colledge at the same time ; and , being also a young man , was weary of a monastical life , as well as he . whilest these things were in consult , there happened a solemn disputation in the school of the monastery ; where among other theses , fryer francis , under a moderator , was obliged to maintain , that mettals can not be transmuted : and it chanced to be the turn of fryer wenceslaus to be the then opponent : but , as he had made no great proficiency in his studies , so fryer francis easily bafled him , and exposed him to the laughter of the auditory ; so that in a great passion he broke out into these words , vvhy do you laugh ? i can practically demonstrate the thing to be true ? to whom the moderator with great indignation , answer'd ; hold thy peace , thou ass , wilt thou also be an alchymist ? i shall sooner be able to turn thee into an ox , than thou to transmute the metals . herewith fryer wenceslaus's mouth was stop'd . when the disputation was over , fryer wenceslaus took occasion to confer with fryer francis ; when they two were alone together in the garden belonging to the monastery , fr. francis thus accosted him , you have this day publickly affirmed in the disputation , that you were able to transmute metals ; 't was unadvisedly spoken of you , whether it be true or false ; if it be true , and it come to the abbot's ear , you will not enjoy your liberty very long : besides , there is a great muttering in the monastery , that the old father and your self , found a treasure in the church , and , that the masons saw a copper box , and that a monk of the augustine order sold some gold to a goldsmith , and that you did take from the kitchin a pewter plate ; moreover , the suddain death of the old father is not without some suspicion ; and altho you may alledg , that the money was sent you by your friends , and it were true , that they did send you some , yet it being probable that some came another way , for which and other reflections , you would never scape scot-free out of the monastery , 't was well the moderator took you for a buffle-head . but , if what you have affirmed be false , you do ill again that way , by asserting that which you are not able to demonstrate . i do therefore earnestly desire you to declare unto me , as to your intimate friend , the whole truth of this matter . whereupon fr. wenceslaus fell down at his feet , humbly beseeching him to swear not to discover what he should reveal to him , but to afford him his help and assistance , and then he would disclose that to him , which , upon their stealing away from the monastery , would procure great wealth to them both , and advance them to high dignities ; and that they would equally share the happiness between them , and run alike hazard in all things . in a word , the bargain was soon made , and they without loss of time , went into f. francis's cell , where they took their mutual oaths one to another . and then f. wenceslaus declared the whole intregue and the procedure thereof to f. frarcis , withal desiring him upon the first occasion to go into the city to buy there a pound of lead , which being brought to him , he chang'd it into gold , observing the method the old father had observed before : the transmuted gold was carryed back by f. francis into the city , and there sold to a jew , for an 100 ducats , though it were worth more , his pretence was as the former , that it was melted down out of ancient coin and meddals . having receiv'd this money , and thus made a strict league and friendship with f. francis , and the art being now found true for the second time , they were more intent upon their design of escaping out of the monastery . but that which retarded their resolution , was the season of the year , it being then winter ; and a very hard one too , for they well understood , that they could not then safely take so long a journey as they were to undergo , if they would by their flight elude the search , ( which would be made without doubt with all diligence possible after them ) and avoid the punishment usually inflicted upon such an occasion . hereupon they thought it more convenient to deferr their intended flight till the spring following , and they were the rather induced thereunto because they had found means to pass that time merrily , by getting now and then a cup of wine , and a couple of roased pullets , which f. francis ( who was well verst in that trade ) knew well how to get , and to convey into their chamber . but because f. wencelaus had as great a mind to taste of womens flesh as of that of poultry : and had lighted on a certain austrian drab fit for his purpose , he caused therefore some mans apparel , with a periwig , and sutable accoutrements to be made ready for her . having thus disguised her sex , they gave her the name of seignior anastasio , & she came often to the monastery , on pretence , that she came from vienna , to visit her cosin f. wenceslaus , pretending he was her kinsman ; this lasted a while , but the visits of this seignior anastasio was so frequent , that at last , he was observed to come into the monastery sometimes , and not to go out again , by reason of his staying all night in the cell of f. wenceslaus , who did thus live for some weeks in dishonest love with him : and , when he went either to the school or to the church , he alwayes carefully carryed his key with him . but a matter of that nature could be kept close no longer ; some rumour of it came to the ear of the abbot or prior , so that one morning as f. wenceslaus was at mattens before day , the abbot demanded of him the key of his cell , which he was forc'd to deliver , ( but how willingly , any one may guess . ) the abbot immediately , with the pryor , and some other monks went to his cell and there found seignior anastasio naked in the bed. at this sight there was a general consternation on all sides , none knew what course to take , f. wenceslaus his mind was more in his chamber than in the chappel canring out his mattens ; as for seignior anastasio , she was doubtless as much at a loss ; for , to run without her cloaths out of the bed before such venerable company , was no wayes thought convenient , and , as for the good prelates , they were also uncertain how to steer ; some advised to declare the matter to the magistrate , that so anastasio might be thrust out of the house by the secular power ; others feared , that if they took that course , they should derogate from their rights and priviledges ; and , if seignior anastasio should chance to be whipt , and to be put into the stocks for dissembling her sex , the noise of such a thing would affix an indelable character of infamy upon their monastery . after some deliberation , they concluded , that presently anastasio should put on her clothes , and , after a severe reprehension , should be ejected out of the house , in the morning before day . and , as for fryer wenceslaus he was called from mattens , and shut up in his cell , the doors being well bolted and barr'd on the outside , until four walls were prepared to enclose him , which were already built , only something was defective in the door , which was supplyed the next day . whilst this was a doing , fr. wenceslaus found opportunity to secure his copper box , and to gather together the pouder , and by means of a rope to let them both down at a window to fr. francis , who staid there on purpose to receive them ; and withal he conveyed down a letter to him , the contents whereof was , to desire the said fryer francis not to forsake him in his distress , but to use his utmost endeavour to contrive a way for his deliverance , withal minding him not to violate his oath about the powder , but to keep it safe , for as yet , to his great comfort , it was intire . the next day , fr. wenceslaus was kept fasting , and in the evening his back was scourg'd with many cruel lashes , and afterwards he was shut up close within four walls , and for a month fed with nothing but bread and water ; during which time , the severity of the stripes he underwent , the disaster of seignior anastasio , and the hazard of the loss of his powder did so afflict him , that he was even ready to despair ; but this did somewhat relieve him , that he carried a string with him into the dungeon , and casting it out at the hole , received sometimes both letters and victuals from his comrade f. francis : and indeed the desperate condition of fr. wencenslaus did so affect his heart , that he bent all his endeavour to excogitate ways how to free him ; at last an happy opportunity offered it self upon this occasion . prince charles of lichtenstein was a great favourer of chymistry , and he had a steward of his house at bruna , to whose friendship f. francis had insinuated himself , and by him sent a letter and some of the foresaid pouder to the prince , in which he related the lamentable condition of fr. wenceslaus , and implored his aid for his deliverance . the steward having sent the letter , and going to felisbourg the princes seat , was scarce arrived but that the prince bestovved upon him a more profitable office than that which he had before , and this message concerning fr. vvenceslaus was so favorably receiv'd , that he strictly injoyned him to return speedily to bruna , and to assist fr. francis to the utmost in order to the deliverance of fryer wenceslaus . and to that purpose he committed his own seal to his custody , to be made use of for that end , if there were occasion . thus the steward returning home , did presently consult with f. francis to deliver f. wenceslaus ; and being delivered from his prison and cloyster , to hide and shelter him a while in the house of his master the said prince of lichtenstein : untill some convenient opportunity could be found for his passage out of the town , and for his conveyance to the prince of felisburge . in order whereto fr. francis took care to provide a false key , fit to open the dungeon , which he more easily did , because the padlock was on the outside of the door : and on a certain day , when mattens were ended , he brought his project to its desired effect , for he opened the door , and took out fr. vvenceslaus , locking the door again ; and disguising him with a cloak , coat , and periwig which he had prepared for that purpose , he conveyed him through a bygate in the garden of the monastery , to lichtestein's house , where he shut him up in a chamber , locked the door , and sealed it up in two places with the princes own seal and a labell appendant . the next day when the monasterys porter , according to his custom , was carrying his bread and water , about noon , to f. vvenceslaus , lo , he was not to be found ! whereupon a great tumult was raised in the monastery , and from thence the news flew to the count de collebrat , governour of that precinct , who presently commanded the gates to be shut , and search to be made in all houses , not excepting litchtenstein's house it self . when they had diligently searched every corner of this latter house , at last they came to the chamber that was sealed up : here the steward of the house interposed , and told them , that that room was the closet of the prince , which he had sealed up himself with his own seal , and therefore , it could not be opened without great danger and hazard of incurring his high displeasure . whereupon they desisted ; and f. vvenceslaus remained hid there for some weeks , untill at length he found means , in a disguise to escape out of the town in the morning early , at the very first opening of the gates , and so was conveyed , with other officers , in the princes own coach , to felisburgh . being arrived there , he was courteously received and well treated by the prince , before whom he made a notable demonstration of his art. but the prince soon found , that a man in his circumstances and of his abilities , could not be long concealed in his court , because the abbot of bruna having sent spies after him , would certainly find him out , and would also obtain a mandate from the supream consistory at vienna concerning him . whereupon ( though , as some think , the princes intent was to gain the whole tincture from him ) he advised him to go to rome , and there obtain a full discharge from his monastical life , and to secure himself from the abbot , which favour he profered to obtain for him by means of his agent there : and to accommodate him for his journey , he gave him a bill of exchange for 1000 ducats , and withal provided an italian , his chamberlain , to bear him company on his way . but you must know fr. vvenceslaus had sent away his comrade fr. francis ( who privately had made an escape ) to vienna with the tincture enjoyning him to get him a private loding there , to abscond himself for a while , till he could commodiously contrive his journey to rome . soon after the italian chamberlain and he began their journey , and when they were about half a daies journey from vienna , the chamberlain on a suddain pick'd a quarrel with him , and holding a pistol to his breast , threatned to kill him , unless he would deliver him the tincture . f. vvenceslaus being thus unexpectedly assaulted , was much abashed , and calling god to witness , protested , that the tincture was not , for the present , in his hands , but that he had sent it before by his companion f. francis to vienna whom the said chamberlain had himself seen to undertake that journey a few daies before . the chamberlain was the rather induced to believe his asseveration , because upon search both of him and his portmantle , he found nothing at all of the tincture therein . hereupon , they came to terms between them , f. vvenceslaus was to give the chamberlain 100 ducats , and an amnesty to be for their suddain falling out , and so they agreed and bid one another , farewell . the chamberlain , being a covetous italian , was glad of the money , and f. vvenceslaus was glad to be rid of him , having escaped such an hazard , and being now likely to attain vienna , where he arrived in the evening of the same day , and told his companion f. francis what had hapned to him in every circumstance , upon the way . he being a subtle man , did easily perceive by his relation , what vvas the mystery of his designed journey to rome , and that his bill of exchange was but a meer collusion , whereupon they both resolved to take another course for their safety , in order whereto , by means of a saxon whose name was gorits , a crafty fellow , and a clerk in the chancery of bohemia , they came acquainted with one count schlick , a person of great sagacity , then living at vienna , a great favourer of chymistry , but had lately received some affronts from the court , he was very glad of their acquantance , and presently took f. vvenceslaus into his protection , and brought him to his house , where he made some tryalls , and withal gave him some of the tincture , that he himself might make one . but as for f. francis , he always lodged abroad . after some weeks , count schlick told f. vvenceslaus , that he could no longer secure him after that rate at vienna , for both the clergy and also the prince of lichtenstein , had an ill eye upon him , for his sake ; and being already disfavoured at court , he should run a further hazard , by concealing of him nevertheless he would shew him what courtesy he could , and if he pleased , he would send him to one of his own country-houses and castles in bohemia , where he might remain in greater security , and accordingly he prepared all things for the journey . f. vvenceslaus did easily perceive the intention of the count , for before he had observed , that the counts footmen did observe him as narrowly as the monks had done in the monastery , and therefore perceiving what was to be done with him , he made his escape through an arch in the wine cellar , built after the italian fashion , the day before he was to go to bohemia ( a place designed for his perpetual imprisonment ) and retired to the lodging of his friend f. francis , to whom having related what had hapn'd to him again , upon deliberation they both agreed to extricate themselves out of all these hazards , and to acquaint the emperour with the whole matter . and to introduce them into his presence , they knew none more fit than a spanish count called de paar ( whose brother named peter , was hereditary post master , in the emperours hereditary country ) he was a great alchymist , a factious and seditious man , and one much troubled with the gout , yet he had found means to creep into the emperours favour : therefore this gain unlookt for was no less acceptable to him , than to the others before , for he had heard a great while before of f. vvenceslaus , and had an extream passion to be acquainted with him , and fancied that he should see strange things in him , as king herod did of christ , whose first , he acted the part cunningly enough , as you shall presently hear . they agreed together , that f. vvenceslaus should abide incognito at his house , where he was as much observed as at the house of count schtick . here he made another small tryal , whereupon count paar went to the emperour , and discovered to him the whole business . but his imperial majesty who ( by reason of the great & weighty concerns of the empire , doth not only not much regard or value learning , as his father did , except what contributes to his recreation , as plays , musick and the like , but also had a particular aversness from alchymy , holding that for a meer imposter , which did cost his royal father and his uncle the arch-duke leopold , so much expence , both of mony and time ) gave no great heed to the proposition made by count paar , especially it having been related to him , that this f. vvenceslaus was a fugitive monk , and had led a dissolute life ; and moreover by report was accused of magick . the spanish count paar having heard this repartee of the emperour , being a subtil man , and easily foreseeing those objections would be made , had armed himself against them : upon which he thus replyed to his imperial majesty ; that he did confess , that there was a great weight in all the objections made by his majesty , yet without presuming , being so means a person , to impose upon his imperial majesty , it seemed to him , that though the case were extraordinary , yet nevertheless the dictates of common reason were to be obeyed , which doth advise sometimes to consider of things , abstracted from the persons they concern , it being evident , that some men though ill in themselves yet have been the authors of useful inventions , of which truth , instances might be given near at hand , in regard his imperial majesty had many notable inventions in his archieves , which owed their originals to bad men , yea , some of them accused of the same miscarriages as f. wenceslaus , and since it is true , that some good things are done by some bad men ; it being no less true , that all men are sinners , must we therefore reject all their laudable inventions and all the good works they do . a notable example whereof ( proceeded he ) lyes as yet fresh before your majesty , joseph burrhi was accused of heresy , and being taken at vienna , was sent to rome , but after pennance , he was pardoned upon the score of his knowledge , rather than of his person , and the germans his accusers were by this means deceived ; of which i my self ( says he ) at that time being burrhus his commissary at vienna , did forewarn them , but in vain . your majesty ( said he farther ) is a person , with whom god seems to deal after a peculiar manner , having wonderfully delivered you from many imminent dangers , and now in these necessitous and indigent times , cruel warrs being also in prospect , your hereditary countries being also exhausted , the divine bounty seems to offer you a mean and way how you may most pitty and spare your subjects : it is the devils policy to cast suspition upon all extraordinary assistances , that so he may make them useless ; but ( says he ) it is as great a sin not to accept of things when offered , as to abuse them when they are accepted . as for my self ( saith he ) i have no great reason to be a friend to chymistry , having suffered so much less by it , as your imperial majesty well knows , neither did i ever find any truth in the art , save only in this pouder of f. wenceslaus , and the transmutation made thereby . but as in referrence to that tryal , he dared pawn his credit it would succeed ; and if his majesty would not believe his word , yet he might depute some persons to see a trial made ; for his part , he thought he was bound in conscience to discover the whole business to his majesty , referring it wholy to him , whether he would graciously accept the proposal and protect the person that made it , or else discard them both ; still hoping nevertheless , that his majesty would not take his good intention in ill part , nor exclude him from his favour ; wishing for a conclusion , that he would cause one trial to be made under the inspection of some persons ; unprejudiced , that so his impertal majesty might be satisfied , at least in this one thing , that he had not made the proposition to him without sufficient reason : thus he concluded his harangue . the emperor , as he is gratious to all suitors , so he gave favourable attention to the counts discourse , and commended him for it ; only ( saies he to the count ) alchymy is a subtil imposture , and though you your self may mean honestly , yet perhaps you also may be deceived thereby , otherwise i do not ( adds he ) at all despise the wonderful works of god , but do highly value them , and accept of his gift with all hearty thankfulness , and i do well know how long my father took very great pains in that art ; and how highly he prized that little which was shewed him by the baron chaos , and rewarded him for it ; besides , i know full well how to make a distinction between the art , and the life of its professors . only least he should expose himself , and shew himself too easy , he gave the count order to make another tryal , and to procure the presence of other skilful persons both of the clergy and laity : that so he might make him a more exact relation of the matter with all the circumstan e , and receive further order of his majesty concerning it . count paar being return'd home from his audience : the very same day he sent to father spies and dr. becher to invite them to dine with him the next day , adding these words in his message , that he had a business to communicate to them from the emperour . the next day , they all accordingly met . f. vvenceslaus being present , where after dinner count paar made known his commission , and forthwith caused an ounce of schlachenwald tin , and a new crucible to be bought , which materials being prepared and tried , and for fear of inchantment , ex abundanti cantesa : sprinkled with holy water : the trial began and was finished within a quarter of an hour , one part tinged , ten thousand parts into gold , which was so graduated by the tincture , that it was almost friable , and was striated and distinguished with red veines interspersed , of which , as likewise of the tin before it was tinged , both the count de paar , and also father spies , and dr. becher , each of them took a little piece for a perpetual memorial of the thing . the rest was sealed up with their three seals , and the same quantity of the powder as this projection was made with was enclosed with it , and the thing was by all three suscribed to . the next day , count paar went to his imperial majesty , and delivered it to him , making also a full relation of all the particular circumstances in the trial. hereupon the emperour enjoyned him to treat fr. wenceslaus kindly , and to assure him of his favour , moreover advising him to refrain his ill and scandalous life , and to satisfy the clergy , that he would reassume the monastical habit , and for the rest he would take care ; and till he had enquired further into the the thing , he would for his security send him into some private place the count returned home very joyful with this commission and the very same evening he caused f. vvenceslaus to be re-vested with his monks habit by two english fathers of the augustine order , father dun●ll and father vostaller : a letter was also writ to his abbot at bruna , informing him , that he might set his mind at rest concerning him , because he had laid aside his monks habit , and cloathed himself with other apparel , for no other reason , but because he would free himself from the hardship of a prison , and make a journey to vienna , to discover a great secret , which he had , to his imperial majesty , which being now done , he had again resumed his monks habit . all this was done to perswade him , that they meant him nothing but good , to make him call again for all the tincture from his comrade , and to keep him from conversing any longer with those which before were his most intimate aquaintance , as counting himself sufficiently secured against all violence , by the emperors protection , and his monks habit : so that count paar was as a father to him , and he , on the other side , as his adopted son. these two new friends , undertook a voyage together , to a country-house of the count's ( adjoyning to a certain lake ) which he had in hungary , distant about a dayes journey from vienna . being come thither , the very same night they two being alone in a chamber , the count pluck'd out a decree of the emperor's ( as he pretended ) which was sealed up , adding these words , my son , into what gulf of misery art thou cast ? here i have a command in writing from the emperor , to demand the tincture of thee , and if thou refusest to deliver it , then to my great grief , i must execute upon thee the sentence contained in this sealed decree . fryer wenceslaus desired to read the decree ; but , the count replyed , if it be opened , it must be immediately executed ! and , withal plucking a pistol out of his pocket , he directed it to his breast , sighing , and breaking forth in these words , into what miserys are we both cast ! yet notwitstanding if thou wilt harken to my counsel , ( from whence thou maist gather my love and fatherly care , and free both of us from this great misfortune , and make our condition very happy ) i will give it to thee . nothing was more grateful to fr. vvenceslaus than to hear this condition , and having given him his hand that he would follow it : the count began thus , 't is certain ( said he ) that you and i do both stand in need of the emperours protection , and 't is as certain , that we shall be forc'd to deliver the tincture to him . my advice then is , ( which i refer to you for your approbation and consent . ) i will pretend , that being injoyn'd to make a stricter examination of this tinging powder , that i have employed it all , in order to its multiplication , to try whether it might be augmented for the greater benefit and advantage of his majesty . however , we may both be sheltred under the continuance of the emperors protection , and yet we may keep the tincture ; and after the time designed for its augmentation is elapsed , we will easily devise some colorable excuse , to evade it ; as , that the glass was broken , or some error committed in the operation . for , the truth is , ( said he ) the emperours court is not worthy so great a treasure ; it will be prostituted there and made common . but to ingage they self to me in a greater degree of faithfulness , thou must not refuse to give me half the tincture , and we will take a mutual oath to be faithful one to the other , as long as we live , and for what now hath passed between us , it shall be buried in perpetual oblivion . the emperor shall never know any thing of it , neither shall he ever have any of the tincture . fr. wenceslaus was fain to make an agreement on those terms which vvere dravvn up in writing , subscribed with both their hands , and confirmed by their mutual oaths ; and so the tincture vvas divided betvvixt them . the count made a tryal by himself alone the next day , vvith some of his proportion thereof , to try vvhether he had not been deceived therein : but he found it right and good . having staid a vvhile at this country house , he vvas about to return to vienna ; but he vvas taken so grievously sick of a fit of the gout , that out of the intollerable torment vvhich he felt , he drank some aurum potabile , vvhich burrhy had given him heretofore ; but vvith this caution , that it vvas not yet perfect . having tasted a fevv drops thereof , he presently felt a most grievous and vehement pain in his joynts , so that he could hardly perform his journey vvith fr. wenceslaus to vienna . but the first night after his coming , he vvas so afflicted vvith heat , that all his entralls seemed to be on a flame ; as he complained himself . the day follovving his physician , the son of dr. sorbat , vvhose name vvas kreisset , vvho vvas also physician to the emperors army vvas sent for , vvho considering his present condition , applyed the properest remedies he could , which availed him nothing , but bad symptoms did so grow upon him , that the third day his case was judged desperate . the count himself also being sensible of his death approaching , caused his brother the master of the post-office to the emperor , count peter de paar , his only heir , ( for the sick brother was a batchelour ) to be sent for about night : to whom he spoke in these words ; it was foretold to me heretofore in italy , that i should obtain the tincture , and , that soon after i should dye ! the first part of the prophecy is fulfilled , and the latter is near at hand to be accomplished ; i know , that you have bestowed as much time and expence in this art as my self ; i have nothing more valuable to leave you , and which , nothing can be more acceptable to you , than a notable portion of tincture , which i have sealed up in this desk , and shall entrust it in the hand of my confessor , who upon my decease , shall deliver it to you . after which words , he delivered the desk to his confessor , who was present and heard him speak them . count peter not imagining his brother was so near his end , took his leave of him for that night , and rode home , because it was very late . and his brother soon after departing this life , his confessor also took coach , and went home to the monastery of st. francis , not far distant from the emperial post office at vienna . the death of the deceased count being signified to his brother , by his footmen who had accompanied the confessor home . the count immediately rose out of his bed , being but newly entred thereinto , and clothing himself , gallopped at two of the clock in the morning , to the monastery of the franciscans , and , after he had knock'd fiercely at the gate for admittance , the drowsy porter arose and let him in ; the count desired to be admitted to the speech of the confessor of his newly deceased brother , but it was reply'd , it was an unseasonable time for such a visit , in regard the old man was weak , and weary , and being newly returned home , was laid down to rest . the count was not satisfi'd with this answer , but was very earnest with the porter to accompany him and some of his attendants to the old fathers cell : he making excuses , the count rushed in presently himself , and awak'd him , demanding the desk which his brother had deposited in his hands , as now rightfully belonging unto him . the father was much surprized at his fuddain irruption and demand : which he did the more suspect , because it was made at such an unseasonable time of the night : whereupon he desir'd the count to hold himself contented till the morning , and then he should have the desk delivered unto him without fail , only he desired to deliver it in before the father guardian , and that he would then give him his acquittance for the recept thereof . the count , not content with this answer , by the help of his attendants and servants , endeavored to get it from him by force : whereupon a tumult arose ; the watch was sent for , the monks were also gathered together , and a spanish bp. of the same order , the confessor of the empress margaret , then lodging in the monastery , was also roused out of his sleep , who hearing such a tumultuous noise in the monastery , a priviledged place , was so much concernd thereat , that he enquired into the occasion , whilst the count was yet present , and understanding that it arose upon the score of a sealed desk : he demanded it of the father who had it in keeping : which having received from him , the next morning he carried it with him to the emperor , and complained grievously against the count , as being the occasion of that nights uproar : in the mean time , as soon as it was day , the noise hereof was spread all over the city : and among the rest it reached the ears of f. wenceslaus , who presently hastned to court , and by means of the empress's confessor obtaining audience , he related to the emperor the whole story how the count had used him in hungary , how he had extorted from him half the tincture , how he was necessitated , by a forced agreement , not to discover any thing hereof whilst he was living , but was now free from the obligation of his oath by the counts death , that he was very glad that the tincture was at length come into the hands of the right owner his imperial majesty , for whom he had long before designed it ; he did therefore now implore nothing more of his imperial majesty , but that he would afford him his protection , against the violence of count peter paar , his postmaster , and his adherents . the emperor perceiving the wonderful series of this affair , presently entertained f. wenceslaus at his court , and committed him to the care and inspection of count wallestein , the imperial governor of hatschirr . about this time , the post-master above-mentioned dyed also . f. wenceslaus being thus received into the emperours protection , had his lodgings assigned him by the imperial bowling-green , where he made some tryals before the emperour and count austin of wallestein his guardian , and in the pallace of the johannites in the carinthian-street , he made one of 15 marks , as they say , out of which transmutations the count wallestein made him a gold chain , to keep in perpetual memory of the thing . moreover he did deposite some of his tincture in the court , for augmentation , and , as farr as i can judge , by the process dlivered to me , he had a great desire to get the mercury of silver , how far he proceeded in it , i do not certainly know , but some affirm , that he made some progress therein . in the mean time he both desired to be acquainted with some noted chymists and eminent artists , and several imposters and sophisters intruded themselves into his acquaintance , so that from thence resulted very frequent junketings , drinkings and merry meetings , and many foolish trifling processes wrought by him ; from whence f. wenceslaus learned rather several cunning and subtil impostures , than any real augmentation of his pouder : but the noise & multitude of so many importunate visitants , being cumbersom at court , where f. wenceslaus had his diet , under the severe inspection of count wallestein , he thereupon pretended , that he had occasion to make some sorts of aqua forts and other menstruums , which would be dangerous to the whole court , and cause such noysom fumes and odious smells , that they could not safely be prepared in that place ; therefore a laboratory was built for him , in the carinthian fort , where the emperors chief engineer did dwell , his name was fischer , a great lover of alchymy , and who shewed himself very officious to him , assisting him to build strange and most nonsensical furnaces which can ever be seen ; and besides being not a little pleased with his good fortune of the neighbourhood and acquaintance of the owner of so rich a tincture ; but this intimacy lasted not long , as the event soon made appear : for when f. wenceslaus had scarcely well fixed his habitation , and setled his things in order , the engineer was forced to leave the splendid dwelling there assigned him by the emperour , and to go to javarin in hungary , to dwell there , his wife also , as some give out , being vitiated into the bargain ; f. wenceslaus also fell very sick , and he that waited upon him in his chamber dyed suddenly , not without some suspicion of poyson , and he himself also lay without any hopes of recovery , in this case j. a. c. p. c. l. de s. who before had bought some of the tincture of him , and had paid him for it a thousand ducats , designing to take this opportunity of his illness , and decease so apparent , and so to get and enjoy his tincture without money , sent to him one biliot , a french physician , to steal from him , under pretence of a visit , both the said thousand ducats , and the rest of the tincture : fortune did favour him as to the first part of his design , but in the latter she did fail and dissappoint him , for f. vvenceslaus had hid his tincture more carefully than his thousand ducats : at last , the sick man , contrary to all mens exspectation began to recover , and f. francis who was sent to rome to obtain a dispensation for him , to absolve him from his vow , having obtained the same returned home ; whereupon presently f. vvenceslaus laying aside his monks habit , took a wife and was married publickly to one named angerlee , who had ministred to him in his sickness , and had otherwise been very assistant to him when he wanted her ; she was a very subtil and crafty woman , yet accounted at vienna but little better than a common harlot , and she was the worse thought on , because her sister had been naught with b. d. l. and by his advice and assistance had caused her husband to be made away , for which fact , he the said b. d. l. was sentenced to death : but , though afterwards pardoned by the emperour , yet was deprived of all his dignities , degraded of his nobility , and cast into perpetual prison in the citadel of gratz , where he dyed miserably ; and his whore , f. vvenceslaus's wives sister , was the same day to be beheaded in open court , before the judgement hall , the scaffold and all the rest being already prepared , but by the intercession of the wife of castell rodrigo , the spanish embassador she was set free , yet afterward , upon the account of her leud life , and dishonest practises , she was kil'd with a pistol-shot . fr. vvenceslaus being linked by marriage into such a family , did then fancy for a time , that all the elements did conspire together to make him happy : for why ? he was visited by persons of the highest rank , and withal was mightily respected by the most eminent ladies , countesses and princesses : as for me , as spectator of this scene , i considered him in this fools paradise : whilst it put me in mind of cornelius agrippa , who , in his book of the vanity of sciences , under the title of alchymy , sayes , that if ever he should be master of the tincture , he would spend it all in nothing but in vvhoring ; for women being naturally covetous , he could thereby easily make them to prostitute themselves , and to yield unto his lust . and it seems that not only f. vvenceslaus was so mighty a proficient and so stout a souldier in the school of venus , that he was brought very low by the french disease , but also that his wife angerlee dyed of it . after whose decease fr. vvenceslaus exceeded all bounds of honest modesty , and dayly let loose the reins to all sinful and voluptuous excesses : for from that time he had obtained the tincture , he spent in two or three years time more than ten myriads of crowns , in all manner of luxury : and he foresaw well enough , that it could not last and subsist long at that rate : for the tincture would not maintain him . and to turn it into gold , or sell it for a small price would turn to no account , as he had alwaies hoped it would by augmentation , and thereby to gain an inexhaustible treasure . but on the one hand , his want and necessity was such , and on the other hand , the solicitings of those who would buy of his powder , were so importunate that he could not resist so great temptations : and therefore between both , he resolved upon a dishonest shift , which was to sell for great rates , poudred cinnabar , red lead , and the caput mortuum of aqua fortis boyled , and such other ingredients in stead of the true pouder , mixing also therewith some few filings of copper , that foolish ignorant people might mistake the same for a gold-making pouder : to some he sold it without any such cozening addition as coppar : and if they were not able to tinge with it , he would lay the blame on their impatience and unskilfulness in making the projection . to others , he pawned some of his counterfeit tincture for a great summ of money , which he pretended , he had a present use for : but he was loath to spend his tincture in projecting , because he hoped to augment it with a thousand-fold advantage : and that they might see the tincture was genuine and true , he took some of it and wrapt it up in a little wax , with which he mingled a little of his right tincture , which he called his crocus , or pouder of reduction , and so tinged therewith . by this means he got very many 1000's of crowns , and over and above he got p. c. de l. and c. l. to be his assistants and partners in these mysteries . but the impudent sort , among which a. c. p. and his cosen c. b. are to be reckoned , he gave them whole ingots which he had cast , consisting of equal parts of gold and silver ; then filing some of them , and dissolving it into common aqua forts , which he brought with him , he affirmed that now his tincture was exalted into a menstruum , which would presently change silver into gold : and that as soon as ever the price or value which was to be paid for its purchase should be put thereto , it would be converted into gold : it hath been also further related to me , that he grew to that degree of impudence , as to tinge some sort of coins after this manner into gold , before the empress dowager and the emperour himself . yea , this fellow was so arrogant , as to cause his own effigies to be drawn on some of those false coins which he did attempt deceitfully to put off . yet this matter could not be kept so secret , but the more prudent began to smell the cheat , and to mutter something about it ; which was very ill taken in the emperours court. for he was in such credit there , that it was not safe to impeach him , as being received into the emperors protection , both against the clergy and the secular power , and even against the skilful in the same art. for great men are loth to acknowledge their error ; but think themselves , tho under a mistake , to be as infallible as the pope himself . those who were not much concern'd in the matter , suffered it so to pass , as taking little notice of it ; but some true philosophers were very much aggriev'd , that so in famous an impostor , after so many vows and protestations made by him to the contrary , and after such evident proofs of his former debauch'd life , after so many villanous crimes committed , and his base prostitution openly of so noble an art of chymistry , should yet notwithstanding that he ranted it up and down in his coach in masquarades , before the emperours court , be maintain'd and protected by him . but others , who had been cozened by him of great summs of money , even to many thousand ducats , with his adulterate tincture , could not so rest satisfied , but brought in their action against him at common law : where , after some time and much expence , they obtained judgment against him , but it never was put in execution , though all other means were try'd . now the emperour , unless he would have left his favorite vvenceslaus to the jurisdiction and power of his judges , and rigor of the law , must needs interpose : for the complaints made against him for his insolent and abusive practises were so many , and the fame of them was spread so far abroad in the world , that his imp●●ial majesty thought it more convenient to have the noise of it altogether supprest . to be short , the emperour paid all his debts , and that he might prevent his farther opportunity of cosenage , he got from him the rest of his tincture , and then advanc'd him to the most ancient order of barrony in bohemia , by the title of baron seyler of seylerburgh , and afterwards made him hereditary master of the mint of bohemia : and having thus preferred him , he sent him away from his court to prague , where he now lives very gallantly ; and hath made fryer francis the steward of his house : having married a second wise , called vvaldes kircheriana , a handsome woman , and of a noble family . in the mean time , a rumor was spread all over germany , that the devil had carried him away soul and body . which report , though it might have some good grounds , yet , for this time it was not true : but he hath very great reason to-fear that it may prove true , at last , if he doth not amend his life : and the event thereof we must expect . i have described the series of this story both to vindicate the truth , and also to satisfy so many curious , who have despicable thoughts of chymistry . if i have mistaken in any passage , fr. vvenceslaus is yet alive , and i earnestly desire him to amend and rectify my mistakes , and to vindicate himself , by giving the world a more exact account thereof , that he may no longer lye under any unjust reflection . for a conclusion , i heartily wish , that if god should bless any lover of this noble art , with some such like treasure , he would use it better than vvenceslaus hath done : for the glory of god , the benefit and advantage of his neighbour and the furtherance of his own everlasting salvation . finis . the aerial noctiluca, or, some new phœnomena, and a process of a factitious self-shining substance imparted in a letter to a friend living in the country / by the honourable robert boyle ... boyle, robert, 1627-1691. 1680 approx. 115 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 58 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a28938 wing b3925 estc r22714 12233960 ocm 12233960 56680 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a28938) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 56680) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 909:10) the aerial noctiluca, or, some new phœnomena, and a process of a factitious self-shining substance imparted in a letter to a friend living in the country / by the honourable robert boyle ... boyle, robert, 1627-1691. [6], 109 p. printed by tho. snowden, and are to be sold by nath. ranew ..., london : 1680. attributed to robert boyle. cf. bm. advertisement: p. [3]-[5] reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng phosphorus -early works to 1800. chemistry -early works to 1800. 2006-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-10 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-11 jason colman sampled and proofread 2006-11 jason colman text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the aerial noctiluca : or some new phoenomena , and a proces of a factitious self-shining substance . imparted in a letter to a friend , living in the country . by the honourable robert boyle , fellow of the royal society . london . printed by tho. snowden , and are to be sold by nath. ranew . bookseller in st. paul's church-yard . 1680. an advertisement of the publisher to the reader . the honourable author of the following papers , thinking it probable that the processes deliver'd in them , having hitherto been publish'd by no man , will , as well for that reason , as for the nobleness of the subject , prove not unwelcome to the curious , in divers countries , where english is not understood : he was very willing , for their sakes , that this tract should be turn'd into latin. and now , to prevent the needless pains of any , that may have a mind to make such a version , without having the opportunity to consult the author , upon any doubt os his meaning , i think fit to give notice , that the translation is , by the author's consent , made already , and , god permitting , will quickly appear in publick . perhaps 't will not be improper to add , that the reason , why the following english tract is printed in octavo , ( as they speak ) is , that it may be conveniently bound up , either with the notes , already publish'd in the same form about divers particular qualities , or with those other notes that yet remain to be publish'd about other qualities ; to whose number light and inflammability may be referr'd . the ensuing discourse having been written to a virtuoso , living in the countrey , who has been for many years absent from london , it was thought fit in the beginning of these papers to give him some informations about phosphorus's , and their several kinds in general , but it was not thought fit to publish at the beginning of the letter any thing of complement ; since in that , neither the main subject , nor the reader , was concern'd . to my very learned friend dr. j. b. sir , to gratifie your curiosity about phosphorus's , as much as i can without indiscretion at present do , i must , in the first place , take notice to you , that though phosphorus's may well be distinguish'd into two sorts ; those that may be stil'd natural , as glow-worms , some sorts of rotten wood and fishes , and a few others , and those that are properly artificial : yet waving , at present , further mention of the former sort of bodies , that without manifest heat shine in the dark , ( which absence of sensible heat distinguishes phosphorus's from common fire and flame ; ) i shall now confine my discourse to the latter sort , and tell you , that as far as i have hitherto observ'd , those factitious shining bodies that do or may pass under the name of phosphorus's , may be reduc'd to two principal kinds , one of which may be subdivided into two or three , so that in all they will amount to three or four . the first of these consists of such bodies as shine only by the help of external illustration , or ( if you please ) such bodies , as being expos'd to the beams of the sun , or those of a vigorous flame , will retain a lucidness , and continue to shine some time in the dark . of this kind is the bolonian stone , skilfully prepar'd ; and of this sort also is the phosphorus hermeticus of balduinus , of whose phoenomena , but not the way of making it , the author has given the learned world an account . this phosphorus was therefore very welcome to divers of the curious , because the bolonian stone was for some years before grown very rare , even in its own countrey , italy , which scarceness , an ingenious traveller , then lately come out of those parts , told me he imputed to the death of the person that us'd to prepare the stone at bologna , without having left a sufficient account of his way of making it lucid . and the phosphorus of balduinus , which , or the like , may be made ( as i have tryed ) both of chaulk , and another substance , seem'd to me , when the preparation succeeded best , to catch the external light ( if i may so speak ) far more readily than the bolonian stone : for i remember i have had one , that being freshly made , would within about half a minute of an hour be manifestly excited , and as it were kindled ; so that being presently remov'd into a dark place , it would retain a very sensible light , for so many times as long as it had been expos'd to the beams of the external light ; and this ( if i much misremember not ) was even when that external light was but the flame of a candle . but , on the other side , whereas i have more than once or twice observ'd , with trouble , that these phosphorus's could very hardly be preserv'd for any long time , ( which i was apt to impute to the action of the insinuating air ) so that some of them in not many months , and others even in a few weeks ( or perhaps days ) would appear crack'd , and lose their vertue of being excited by the beams of light ; the bolonian stone , skilfully prepar'd , would retain its vertue of being excited for a much longer time : for i remember ( whatever learned men have deliver'd to the contrary ▪ ) i had a small piece of it , which , though i kept it negligently enough in an ordinary little wooden box , retain'd its vertue for several years after i had it , which was not till a great while after it was first prepar'd . what i have further observ'd concerning the phosphorus hermeticus , i have not now the leisure to acquaint you with . but besides this first kind of phosphorus's , that , to be able to shine , must have their faculty excited by the beams of the sun , or those of some other actually shining body : there is another sort , which needs not be previously illustrated by any external lucid , and yet continues to shine far longer than the bolonian stone , or the phosphorus of balduinus . this , by some learned men has been call'd , to discriminate it from the former , a noctiluca , which , though in strictness i cannot think it as proper a name as could be wish'd , since the other phosphorus will shine in the night as well as the day , if it be excited with the flame of a culinary fire , or of a large candle ; yet since the name has been received by several , and since 't is not easie in our language , to express the thing clearly in one word , i shall ( though for brevity , as much as distinction-sake ) admit the use of this name ▪ yet without forbearing sometimes to substitute for it that of a self-shining substance , which is more expressive of its nature : of this substance , mr. daniel krafft , a german chymist ▪ shew'd his majesty two sorts or degrees . to the first of which , i took the liberty to give the name of consistent ( or gummous ) noctiluca , not in that sense , wherein the word is oppos'd to soft , for this substance was at least as yielding as bees-wax in summer ; but as the word consistent is employ'd as equivalent to firm , and oppos'd to liquid and fluid . by reason also of its somewhat viscous texture , not very unlike that of gum of cherries , and some others newly taken from the tree , it may be call'd , the gummous noctiluca : and , i am inform'd , that on the score of its uninterrupted action , 't is call'd by some in germany , the constant noctiluca ; which title it does not ill deserve , since this phosphorus is much the noblest we have yet seen . for though there were not much of it , and though it were kept by it self in a little vial , well stop'd , it would , without being externally excited , incessantly shine , as he affirmed , both day and night . yet the light it afforded seem'd but little , if at all , more vivid , than i have sometimes observed in the liquor of glow-worms , and some other phosphorus's of nature's producing : nor had the possessor enough of this substance to invite his consent to any trial to improve it , the quantity he had at london , scarce exceeding in bulk the kernel of an almond . besides this gummous noctiluca , mr. krafft had a liquid one , that , perhaps , was made only by dissolution of the former in water , or some convenient liquor ; but the lucidness of this , was not permanent like that of the other , as i have noted in another paper : but within no very long time , especially when 't was divided into smaller portions , and left expos'd to the air , would expire or vanish . but besides the gummous and the liquid noctiluca hitherto mentioned ▪ i know not whether we may not add a third kind , that we our selves lately prepared , which seems to be of a somewhat differing nature , both from the consistent , and the liquid noctiluca newly describ'd , at least as far as i observ'd their phoenomena . for this of ours would not shine of it self , like the constant noctiluca , nor yet in that manner that the liquid noctiluca did ; but the bare contact of the air , without any external illustration or heat , would immediately produce a light , ( which might easily be made to last a good while in a well stop'd vessel : ) and , which is considerable , the substance that shin'd , was not the body of the liquor included in the vial , but an exhalation or effluvium mingled with the admitted air : for both which reasons , i gave it the name of aerial noctiluca . these are the several phosphorus's , that i have yet had opportunity to see , but , for ought i know , their variety may extend somewhat further , because i have heard of a paper printed in germany by an ingenious man , whose name ( if i mistake not ) is elsholez , wherein particular mention is made , in an historical way , of the german noctiluca : but this paper i cannot yet procure , and therefore you would do well to consult it , if you can get it ; and i am not averse from thinking , that future industry may discover some new kinds or variations of self-shining substances , that will deserve new names , and among them , perhaps , that of solid noctiluca's . having said thus much of the several sorts of artificial phosphorus's , i shall be very brief in speaking of their inventers , whereof i have but an imperfect information . for though i find it generally agreed , that the phosphorus hermeticus was first found and published to the world , by the learned and ingenious balduinus , a german lawyer ; yet as to the gummous and liquid noctiluca's , i find the first invention is by some ascrib'd to the abovemention'd mr. krafft , ( though i remember not , that when he was here , he plainly asserted it to himself ; ) by others , attributed to an ancient chymist , dwelling at hamburgh , whose name ( if i mistake not ) is mr. branc , and by others again , with great confidence , asserted to a famous german chymist in the court of saxony , call'd kunckelius . but to which of these so noble an invention , as that of the two german noctiluca's , is justly due , i neither am qualified nor desirous to judge ; and therefore , without prejudicing any man's right , i will proceed to that , which , i presume , is the chief thing you would know of me , namely , an account of the occasion and steps of my own attempt to make a noctiluca . concerning this i shall give you the following narrative , wherein , though my urgent avocations will not ( i fear ) permit me to be other than immethodical , yet i shall not decline to mention some circumstances that i know may be omitted , because they will not , perhaps , be found so barely historical , but that they may prove of some use to a less sagacity then yours , in an enquiry into a subject , wherein i cannot yet plainly tell you all you could wish to know , and which is both new and abstruse , as well as noble . after the experienced chymist mr. daniel krafft had , in a visit that he purposely made me , shewn me and some of my friends , both his liquid and consistent phosphorus , being by the phoenomena i then observ'd , ( and whereof the curious have since had publick notice * ) made certain , that there is really such a factitious body to be made , as would shine in the dark , without having been before illustrated by any lucid substance , and without being hot as to sense : after this , i say , i took into consideration by what ways it might be most probable , to produce , by art , such a shining substance . to seek for which i was both inclin'd , and hopeful to be somewhat assisted , because i had lying by me , among my yet unpublish'd notes of the mechanical origine of divers qualities , a collection of some observations & thoughts concerning light . light. and i was ( also ) the more encourag'd to attempt somewhat this way , because having , at mr. kraffts's desire , imparted to him somewhat that i discover'd about uncommon mercuries , ( which i had then communicated but to one person in the world ) he , in requital , confest to me at parting , that at least the principal matter of his phosphorus's , was somewhat that belong'd to the body of man. this intimation , though but very general , was therefore very welcome to me , because , though i have often thought it probable , that a shining substance may , by spagyrical art , be obtain'd from more kinds of bodies than one : yet designing , in the first place , to try if i could hit upon such a phosphorus as i saw was preparable , the advertisement sav'd me ( for some time ) the labor of ranging among various bodies , and directed me to exercise my industry in a narrower compass . but there being divers parts of the humane body , that have been taken to task by chymists ; and , perhaps , by me as carefully , as by some others , my choice might have been distracted between the blood , the solid excrements , the bones , the urine , and the hair , of the humane body ; if various former tryals and speculations upon more than one of those subjects , had not directed me to pitch upon that , which was fittest to be chosen , and of which , as i had formerly set down divers experiments and observations , so i had made provision of a quantity of it , and so far prepar'd it , that it wanted but little of being fit for my present purpose . but before i had made any great progress in my design , i was by divers removes , indispositions of body , law-suits , and other avocations , so distracted , or at least diverted , that i laid aside the prosecution of the phosphorus for a long time . and when afterwards i resum'd it , though i wrought upon the right matter , yet i was diverted from the right way , by a process that i received from beyond sea , as a great arcanum , that would certainly produce the noctiluca aspired to , for partly upon this account , but more , because i saw that the chief ingredient in this process , was that which i , with reason , took to be the best matter , i was induc'd to pursue the prescrib'd method for some months , but without success ; the true matter being , as i concluded , too much either alter'd or clog'd by the additional ingredients that were design'd to improve it ; besides , that the degree of fire , though a circumstance of the greatest moment , was overlook'd , or not rightly prescrib'd . however , adhering to the first choice i had made of a fit matter , i did not desist to work upon it by the ways i judg'd the most hopeful ▪ when a learned and ingenious stranger , ( a. g. m. d. countreyman , if i mistake not , to mr. krafft ) who had newly made an excursion into england , to see the countrey , having , in a visit he was pleas'd to make me , occasionally discoursed , among other things , about the german noctiluca , whereof he soon perceiv'd i knew the true matter , and had wrought much upon it . he said something about the degree of fire , that made me afterwards think , when i reflected on it , that that was the only thing i wanted to succeed in my endeavors . and there was the more reason to think so , because for want of a due management of the fire , we had divers times fail'd , of making the phosphorus of balduinus , not only after we had more than once wrought upon the right matter , but after we had actually made the phosphorus . wherefore when he left london , having yet some quantity of the matter in such readiness , that it needed but the fire to let me see what i ought to think of the hint the ingenious traveller had given me , i caus'd the tryal to be renew'd , which , proving unsuccessful , diminish'd much of my stock of prepar'd matter , but it did not so discourage me , as to hinder me from reiterating the attempt ( without much varying it ) with a good part of what remain'd . and though at this time also , all the care and diligence that could be employ'd , did not hinder an unlucky miscarriage , that kept the tryal from being fully satisfactory ; yet being confident upon the nature of the thing , i would not believe the skilful laborant , when he told me with trouble , that what i expected , was not at all produc'd : but going my self to the laboratory , i quickly found , that by the help of the air , or some agitation of what had pass'd into the receiver , i could , in a dark place ( though it was then day ) perceive some glimmerings of light , which , you will easily believe , i was not ill pleas'd to see . and now you have the history of my pursuit of the liquid phosphorus , that has made some noise among the curious : but i freely confess , that the success , though welcome , was not so full as i aim'd at , for i obtain'd no such consistent phosphorus as that whereof mr. krafft shew'd me , as i formerly told you , a small parcel . but as i was willing to think that this defect may be imputed to the cracking of the retort , before the operatien was quite finish'd , so i hope another distillation in a more luckily chosen vessel , may make me amends for the newly mentioned miscarriage , and thereby enable me to discover other , and perhaps nobler phoenomena of our shining substance , than hitherto i have been able to observe . especially considering , that the same misfortune , that i hope was the principal cause of my missing the noblest thing i aim'd at , the constant noctiluca , 〈◊〉 me so little even of liquid matter , ●●r my purpose , that i have not dared ▪ for fear of wasting it , to try several things with it , that i presume may be of good use in an enquiry into the nature of this light , and perhaps also of light in general . and because i fear by what i have observ'd , that , though the vessel had not crackt , yet the matter distill'd would have afforded but a small proportion of lucid substance , i am the more unwilling to fall upon this troublesom work again , till , besides other requisites , i be provided of a competent quantity of a matter which i fear contains but very little of the desired substance . however , i have endeavoured to make that use of our experiment , such as it was , that though the noctiluca it produc'd , be not perhaps so lucid as that of mr. kraffts , yet it may prove as luciferous as his hath hitherto been , since ( as you will see hereafter ) i have found a substance that needs the air , and nothing but the air to kindle it , and that in a moment . in this narrative i have been the more particular , that it may shew you , ( what i hope may make you amends for the length of it ) that an inquisitive man should not always be deter'd by the difficulties , or even disappointments he may meet with , in prosecuting a noble experiment , as long as he judges himself to proceed upon good and rational grounds . the vses that may be made of noctiluca's , especially of the consistent , are not , in probability , all of them to be easily foreseen and declar'd ; especially by me , who have not yet had time and ability to make those improvements of self-shining substances , that , by the assistance of the father of lights , i hope will , in process of time , be attained . if the lucid vertue of the constant noctiluca could be ( as i see not , why it may not be ) considerably invigorated , it may prevent a great deal of danger , to which men of war , and other ships are expos'd , by the necessity men often have to come into the gun-room with common flames or fire , to take out powder , which has occasion'd the blowing up of many a brave ship. our light may , perhaps , be of use to those that dive in deep waters ; and also may very safely and conveniently be let down into the sea , to what depth one pleases , and kept there a long time , to draw together the fishes that are wont to resort to the light of a fire or candle ; as in divers parts of scotland and ireland is well known to the fishermen , who get much profit by this resort . the same self-shining substance which in our aerial noctiluca affords a light , that , as faint as it yet is , was able , when i wak'd in the night , to shew me distinctly enough the bigness and shape of some joints of my fingers , and to discover itself in the shape of a capital letter ( of the alphabet ) that was cut out of a piece of black'd paper pasted upon the vial ; this light , i say , may probably , ( at least when somewhat invigorated ) suffice to shew the hour of the night when one wakes , ( with eyes unaccustomed to light ) if it be plac'd , instead of a lamp or candle , behind an index , where the figures employ'd to mark the hours are cut out . it may also serve to make a guide knowable at a good distance off , in spite of tempestuous winds and great showers , and this in the darkest night . divers ludicrous experiments , very pleasant and surprizing , may be made with the noctiluca , by him that has enough of it . but these trifles , though very pretty in their kind , i purposely pass over : as also an use that may be of great , but i fear of mischievous , consequence ; reserving what i have further to say of the usefulness of these self-shining substances , till time shall give me more information , and leisure . in the mean while i shall only intimate , that probably the utilities that so subtle and noble a substance may be brought to afford in medicine , may be more considerable than any of its other particular uses ; and that though our noctiluca had none of these , yet it may be highly valuable , if it shall ( as in all likelihood it will ) be found conducive to discover the nature of so noble a subject , as light , whose encomiums would require more time than i can allow this writing . and perhaps they will seem needless , when i shall have observ'd , that light was the first corporeal thing the great creator of the universe was pleased to make ; and that ( as our excellent bacon has well noted , to another purpose ) he was pleas'd to alot the whole first day to the creation of light alone , without associating with it in that honour , any other corporeal thing . these things being premis'd , i shall proceed to what i chiefly intended in this paper , viz. the mention of the observations themselves ; as soon as , to facilitate the understanding of them , i shall have advertised you , that though i fear 't will always be difficult to get out without loss , the self-shining substance rais'd by distillation , yet in our experiment , because the vessels would not hold out intire to the last , we had more difficulty , than even we expected , to get out the luciferous matter , and were fain to save , as much as we could of it , by small parcels , in distinct vials . whereof that which was first employ'd , though it was judg'd to have receiv'd the vigorousest portion of the shining liquor ; yet for a reason i elsewhere intimated , ( and because it was not at hand , when i had first the opportunity to use it ) i thought fit to make my tryals with the noctiluca , i had sav'd in the second vial ; setting aside some more faint and aqueous liquor , that was afterwards sav'd in a third vial ; and a thicker stuff that remain'd upon the paper , when some of the liquor had been put into it to be filtrated . which paper was kept in a fourth glass , which , though ( that it might admit the paper and adhering luciferous stuff ) it was wide-mouth'd , yet was it kept carefully stopt . of the phoenomena i observ'd in the second of these four glasses , i shall , god permitting , at this time , give you a short account ; designing , if my haste will give me leave , to add some particulars , that i may afterwards observe in those portions of our noctiluca , that were received in the three other glasses . observations made by mr. boyle , about the aerial noctiluca contained in his second vial. [ note , that this vial was capable of holding , by our guess , about two ounces of water , but there was not in it above one small spoonful of our liquor . observation i. the liquor that afforded the aerial noctiluca , ( for which reason , and for brevity , i often call it the shining liquor ) by day-light was not near diaphanous , and appear'd muddy , and of a greyish colour ; somewhat like common water , rendered opacous , by having a quantity of wood-ashes well mingled with it . observ . ii. when no light appear'd in the glass , we observ'd all the cavity of the vial , that reach'd from the liquor to the neck , to be transparent , as if there were nothing in the glass , save a spoonful of dirty water at the bottom . observ . iii. but when the liquor was made to shine vividly , then all the cavity of the glass , untaken up by the liquor , appear'd in an external light to be full of fumes . and this seeming smoke , being , in the vial that contain'd it , remov'd into a dark place , appear'd lucid , and sometimes look'd like a flame that seem'd to be reverberated , and to be made , as it were to circulate by the close stop'd neck and the sides of the vial. and the appearance of whitish fumes , when the glass was look'd upon in an external light , was so usual a concomitant of its fitness to shine in the dark , that by looking upon the vial by day-light , i could readily tell , by the presence or absence of the whitish mist abovementioned , whether the matter would , in a dark place , appear luminous or not . observ . iv. when this liquor had been kept for a competent time ( as an hour or two , and sometimes much less ) in some dark and quiet place , or even in my pocket ; if in a darkned room my eyes were cast toward the place where the vial was held , i could not perceive it to afford any light at all . and though i shak'd the liquor strongly enough , to give it at least a moderate agitation , yet i could not discern , that this motion alone , was able to bring the included liquor , or the vapors it may be suppos'd to have sent up , to be manifestly lucid . observ . v. but as soon as i unstopt the vial in the dark , there began to appear , as i expected , a light or flame in the cavity of it . i call it light or flame , because i dare not yet speak dogmatically of it ; though it agrees with flame in divers particulars , and though ( also ) i am not sure that all flames must agree in all points with common flames , experience having taught me the contrary ; and particularly , that some flames will burn , and be propagated in close-stopt vessels . i shall therefore on this account , and for brevity's sake , allow the aggregate of our shining fumes the name of flame , ( which aristotle himself somewhere stiles fumus accensus ) but without positively asserting that it deserves it , unless further phoenomena shall be found to intitle it thereunto . but whatever be the nature and subject of this light , the light itself appear'd to have , in great part , a dependance on the fresh air , as i judg'd probable by the following phoenomena . observ . vi. first , i never observ'd the light to disclose itself first , either in the liquor , or upon the surface of it ; but still the shining began at the upper part , which was first touch'd by the outward air , and made a progress , quick indeed , but not so instantaneous , as that the eye could not follow it , from the top to the bottom of the vial. observ . vii . secondly , the contact of the air seem'd necessary to the propagation as well as production of this flame or light : for if , having shaken the vial , that the liquor might either wet the stopple , or communicate something to it , i warily bended the cork this way and that way , so that only a few particles of the outward air could insinuate themselves between the stopple and the neck of the glass ; there would appear on the sides , and ( perhaps ) beneath the cork , little flames as it were ; which yet , though very vivid , were not able to propagate themselves downwards : whereas when the cork was quite remov'd , and access was thereby allow'd to a greater quantity of air , the flame or light ( as was lately noted ) presently diffus'd itself through the whole cavity of the vial , and reach'd as low as the surface of the liquor . observ . viii . thirdly , though oftentimes the light seem'd more vivid near the surface of the liquor , then elsewhere ; ( whether because the lucid matter was there more dense , i now examine not ) yet when by stopping the vial again , presently after i had opened it , i endeavoured to destroy the flame or light ; i generally observ'd , that when it was ready to vanish , ( which in that case it usually did in no long time ) it began to disappear first in the bottom of the vial , and seem'd to shrink as it were more and more upwards , till it expired at the neck of the vial , ( where it was nearest to the air. ) observ . ix . fourthly , but on the other side , when i kept it unstopt for some time , as for two or three minutes of an hour , though i afterwards stopt the vial very close , the air , that had more leisure than ordinary to insinuate itself , would so cherish the flame , that the light would continue sometimes an hour or two , and lasted once or twice no less than three hours . observ . x. fifthly and lastly , it seem'd that some elastical particles of the included air , or some substance that concur'd to the maintenance of the flame , was wasted , or depraved and weakned , by being pen't up in the vial with the emanations of the liquor ; since , when the vial had been kept stopt a competent time , and its cavity appear'd transparent in the outward light ; if i cautiously took out the stopple , the external air seem'd manifestly to rush in , as if the springyness of the internal had been notably debilitated by the operation of the flame , upon the matter with which it was kept imprisoned . some of these phoenomena easily brought into my mind some of those of an odd experiment , that i formerly imparted to the curious . in which experiment i observ'd ( among other things ) that the spirit of vrine , impregnated with copper , after the manner there prescrib'd , would continue limpid and colourless , as long as the vial , that contained it , was kept close stopt . but when once the air came to touch the surface of it , it would ( sometimes in less than a minute of an hour ) be so affected thereby , that in a very short time ( for 't was often within some minutes ) the liquor would become of a transparent sky-colour ; and afterwards , the vial being well stopt , and kept in a quiet place , would by degrees grow diaphanous , and the air included with it was wont to have its spring weakned . and as the change of colour was first produced at the surface , where the liquor and air touched one another , and was afterwards thence propagated downwards ; so when this coeruleous colour began to disappear , the liquor manifestly became limpid first at and near the bottom , that is , the part which is remotest from the superior air. but to return to our noctiluca , the five phoenomena last recited , and some others , seem to favor the conjecture or suspicion i lately propos'd , about the interest of the air in our unburning flame . and to examine that suspicion , i thought it less proper to make the foregoing tryals with a more vigorous noctiluca , then in a substance , wherein , as in that we have hitherto employ'd , the disposition to be kindled , or excited to shine , was but faint ; so that being , as long as it remain'd , unexcited , opacous and dark , the absolute , or almost absolute , necessity of the concurrence of air to the actual shining ( that constantly ensu'd upon its contact ) of the dispos'd matter , seem'd manifest enough . an occasional digression . but to what , this concurrence or efficacy of the air ought to be ascrib'd , is a problem that seem'd to me so difficult , that my thoughts were put upon several conjectures for so much as a tolerable solution of it ; for a taste of which , i shall venture to offer to you one or two of those that least displease me . i thought it not improbable that the admitted air , either by some subtle salt that it contain'd , or upon some such account , excited in the fumes , it mingled with , a kind of fermentation , or ( if you please ) a commotion , by which means the matter acquired so brisk an agitation , as to propagate the motion to the eye , and there make an impression , the sense whereof we call light : though it seem'd also not unlikely , that some of the particles of the superveneing air may so associate themselves with those congruous ones , they met with in the cavity of the vial , that , by that coalition , corpuscles were produc'd , fitted to be , by the subtle aetherial matter , that abounds in the pores of the air , so pervaded and briskly agitated , as to produce light . and it was not new to me , that the air should associate itself with invisible exhalations , and concur with them to make new concretions : since i have several times prepar'd a volatile sulphureous liquor , red as a ruby , which , when the vial has been kept close for some time , suffers the empty cavity of the vessel to be transparent ; but upon the unstopping it , and giving access to the outward air , it appears presently full of white fumes , more opacous than a mist ▪ and something like this , though in an inferior degree , may be observ'd when we unstop glasses that are but partly full of spirit of salt , or aqua fortis , provided those liquors be rectified as much , and no more , then is fit . for the contact of the air will presently make the former manifestly afford white fumes , and the latter sometimes red ones , and sometimes otherways coloured . but if i durst mention , what my love to mankind has oblig'd me to conceal , even from my nearest friends , i could give an instance of a strange power of the air to excite a vehement motion in fitly dispos'd matter , though it be of a consistence far more unlikely to be thus agitated , than the fluid substances of our phosphorus : since i experimentally know a body , dry , and solid enough to be pulverable , that barely by the contact of the common air , will , even when it is actually cold , in very few minutes have its parts brought to such a degree of agitation , that its heat is little less intense than that of some actually ignited bodies , and may , if i please , by the further action of the air , be brought to afford some light also . but against this conjecture about the cause of the air 's concurrence to the shining of our noctiluca , there came into my mind , among other things , a strong objection , that may be drawn from the constant noctiluca formerly mention'd to have been shewn by mr. krafft , in which the lucidness was constant , though the vial that contain'd it , was kept stopt . in answer to this , i thought it might be said , that the particles of the lucid substance , being in great numbers crowded together into a little room , these concentrated particles may be supposd to have been brought to such a state , that they needed not the renewed assistance of the outward air , to continue shining ; either because their intestine motions were brisk enough to discuss the minute parts of the matter , wherewith they were associated , and so from time to time to generate or extricate , & supply themselves with as many small aerial particles , as were necessary to keep the mass they belong'd to , luminous . which conjecture may be illustrated by observing , that though our common culinary flames are presently extinguish'd , unless they be cherish'd with fresh air , yet i elsewhere recite an experiment , of a composition , which is so fitted to generate as much air , as it needs , that i have several times found , that it may be kindled , and made to flame away , even in vacuo boyleano , ( as they call that made by our air-pump . ) other things may be alledg'd both for and against the propos'd conjecture , about the account on which the air concurs to the light of our liquid noctiluca ; but , i hope , it will not be impertinent to add , that perhaps the concurrence of the air may be considerable to both the phosphorus's , the fluid and the consistent , but the external air be necessary only to the former : because in the latter , the luciferous particles may have acquired such a texture , as that of rotten wood , or rather of whitings , or the liquor of glow-worms , taken out after they are dead . for in that state ( whatever others have written ) i have kept that juice luminous for very many hours , ( not to say some dayes ; ) and 't is conceivable enough , that in the consistent noctiluca , by reason of the great numerousness and extreme minuteness of the parts , and the unctuousness or viscosity , or in a word , tenacity of them , the mass they make up , is much less dissipable than that , wherein the shining vertue of rotten wood , or the juice of dead glow-worms resides . this conjecture may be confirm'd , by observing as a thing very analogous to our phoenomena , that i have found some lights in putrid bodies to be so faint , that they would , like that of our fluid noctiluca , ( but far more quickly ) disappear , when they were totally depriv'd of air , as i several times found in parcels of rotten wood . and on the contrary , others had so vigorous or tenacious a light or flame , that , like the splendor of the constant noctiluca , it would continue ( though perhaps not in its full lustre ) when the outward air was in our pneumatick engine , diligently drawn off from it . and on this occasion i call to mind another experiment , which seems yet more analogous , than any hitherto alledg'd , to our present production of flame or light . for having purposely kept certain fish in a glass , freed from air , till i concluded it had lay'n longer than was necessary to bring it to that degree of putrefaction , which was wont to make such fish , at that time of the year , to shine , i could not perceive in the cavity of the glass the least glimpse of light : and presently after i had let in the outward air , it did ( according to my expectation ) as it were , kindle a flame , in the proximately dispos'd matter , or at least produce in it a manifest light . and it may much conduce to shew , that the lately mentioned difference of shining bodies may be but gradual , if i here observe , that i found by tryal , that in bodies of the self same kind , as for instance glow worms , or the same species of rotten-fishes ; if the light were but faint , the withdrawing of the air would after a while make it quite disappear ; and the readmission of the air would presently make it reappear , as it happens in our aerial noctiluca . but in those individuals , wherein the luciferous matter was more copious and vigorous , and probably more tenacious , the absence of the external air did somewhat lessen or impair , but not quite destroy the light , and so possibly it might happen in mr. krafft's consistent noctiluca : for though it shone without the renew'd accession of external air , yet , that it would have been more brisk and active , if it had been assisted by such air , i was induc'd to think , because ( if i much misremember not ) when once , to gratifie my curiosity , he took it out of the vial , he usually kept it in , it did manifestly smoke and waste by the action of the air , and produc'd considerable effects of actual heat ; for this being done in the day-time , in a room we could not darken , it could not indeed be expected , that we should discern any augmentation of light , but yet that there was one , may probably be argued from the newly mentioned things , that us'd to be its concomitants . such observations and reflections incline me to think , that , to speak in a general way , the light of our noctiluca's depends upon a peculiar and very brisk agitation of some minute particles of the shining matter , in point of bulk , shape , and contexture , peculiarly fitted to impel the contiguous aether to the bottom of our eyes , and made me think it not improbable , that the contact of fresh external air , might contribute to this peculiar kind of agitation in the gummous noctiluca , as an helpful thing , and in the aerial noctiluca as an almost necessary concurrent . but whether the air concur to this effect , as it does itself excite a brisk commotion in the fumid matter , it invades , or whether it makes a peculiar kind of dissipation of it , or whether the air , or some fine substance contain'd in it , operates on this occasion as a kind of vital spirit , such as is found necessary , not only to common flame , but to that which is suppos'd to keep animals alive ; or whether the corpuscles of the admitted air so combine with those , that exhale from the grosser liquor , as to become fit to be vehemently agitated by some aetherial pervading substance ? whether or no , i say , the agency of the air in our phoenomena , be to be refer'd to one or more of the newly mentioned things , or to some other cause of a peculiar and very brisk agitation , which , to speak in general , seems to have the main stroak in the production of light , is left to further inquiry . but i forget , that my intention was to set down observations , not hypothesis's . and indeed the historical part , of what i had to say of phosphorus's , is far more useful and certain , than the conjectures i can yet make upon it . because , though i am content to let them pass , in regard they may afford you some hints of further speculations ; yet the true solution of the problem , that has occasioned this excursion , may depend so much upon further experiments and observations , that though , it is not impossible , that future phoenomena may favor the propos'd conjectures , yet , it is not very unlikely , that i shall hereafter see cause to change them for some hypothesis's , exceedingly different from them . to return therefore now to our historical observations . observ . xi . although , in the moderately shaken vial , when the light was quite vanisht , i could not make the liquor begin to shine , yet when by unstopping it a little , the flame was kindled in the cavity of the glass , then , by shaking it again , though it were done more faintly than before , the light seem'd to be manifestly increas'd by this agitation . observ . xii . if i took a little of our liquor , when 't was in its dark state , and laid it upon my hand , or on the stopple of the vial , it would oftentimes lie there without disclosing any glimpse of light ; but if i rub'd it with my finger , or some other fit body , it would then not only shine , but shine more vividly , than at best it us'd to do in the vial , when the neck of it was stopt ; and this vivid light , whil'st i continued to rub the matter , it resided in , seem'd from time to time to flame and flash , and did not only invade the nostrils with a strong and offensive smell , but visibly sent up store of smoke , as if it had been some common culinary flame ; and when , upon my ceasing to rub the extravasated liquor , it ceas'd to shine for a pretty while , yet when i return'd to rub it again , it would again appear luminous : but by little & little the lucid vertue decay'd , till 't was to no purpose to rub any more . observ . xiii . the light of our liquor , when excited , seem'd for degree much like that , that i observ'd in some species of rotten wood , that were not of the most vivid sort , and when surrounded with bodies of black colour , the reflection of its light from them was little or none . but very white bodies , that were held contiguous to it , were manifestly illustrated by it , especially , if the eye , having been long kept in the dark ( whereby the pupil uses to be much opened , and consequently capable of admitting more numerous beams ) was made more susceptible of the fainter impressions of light . ) insomuch , that , when having plac'd the vial by me , when i went to bed , and was awake some time before break of day , i enclos'd both the glass and my head between the sheets , the light seem'd to me to be very considerable , and to enlighten the compass of a foot or more in diameter , and probably would have diffus'd itself further , if it had not been bounded by the sheets , whose whiteness made the reflection of the light from them appear very prettily . and by the help of this light , i could easily perceive my fingers , and a ring i wore upon one of them , though i could not distinguish the colours of a reddish diamond , and a couple of emeralds , that were set in it . observ . xiv . in reference to the light within , the included flame in our vial was opacous ; for both at some other times , and even when i made the last recited observation , i could not at all perceive my finger , when the shining substance was interpos'd betwixt it and my eye . but in reference to the external light , the flame or shining matter was diaphanous , for even in a very faint light , by which , i think , i could scarce have read an ordinary print , if i held our luminous vial between the window and my eye , i could very plainly see my finger on the further side of the glass , though , if my eye were plac'd between that and the light , the transparency would appear somewhat lessened , because the cavity seem'd , as was formerly noted , fill'd with a kind of whitish mist . and the like transparency and whitish fumes , observable in the same luminous steams or flame , when the vial was look'd on , against , and from , the light , i found , if instead of the day-light , i employ'd the light of the candle . observ . xv. having the opportunity of a convenient place , and a fair day , i set the vial about noon in a window , opened towards the south , and left it there expos'd to the sun-beams for a considerable time , to try , whether they would , upon the account of their agitation , or some imaginable affinity of nature , kindle or excite the luciferous liquor , or its effluvia . but i could not perceive that the sun-beams had such an operation , which i chiefly concluded from my not being able to perceive any whitish or mist-like fumes in the cavity of the glass , for i durst not rely upon my not perceiving any light , in the darkest corner of the room , because i suspected , that might proceed from my eyes having been accustomed to the great light of the then fair day , which made it less susceptible of impressions from a faint light . observ . xvi . acid and alcalisate spirits being reckoned by chymists amongst the most subtle and operative substances , obtainable from mixt bodies by distillation , i thought it very well worth while to try , by taste , whether our shining liquor did notably abound with particles of either of those kinds ? i did not find , that the liquor i put upon my tongue was in the least acid ; nor that it was sensibly alcalisate , as divers modern chymists call such volatile salts and spirits , as are afforded by harts-horn , blood , and such like subjects of the animal kingdom : but it seem'd to me to have an odd empyreumatical taste , almost like that of the spirit of crude tartar ; its smell being also like that , of some empyreumatical oil , compounded with a stink , somewhat like that of stale urine . i likewise , for further tryal , let fall upon a piece of white paper some drops of blue syrup of violets , to which i put a little of our liquor , stirring them together with the tip of my finger ; but the mixture was not thereby turn'd green , which it would have been by a quarter so much of spirit of harts-horn , of blood , or of some other spirit , abounding with salt of an urinous nature , or ( as some love to speak ) with a volatile alcaly . some other tryals i made , though but with very small quantities of our liquor , ( because i had but very little of it to spare ) and these tryals did , no more than the former , evince the liquor to belong manifestly , to the tribe of acids , or that of alcalies ; though perhaps , this may not be the case of all the portions of liquor , whether more dense , or more aqueous and dilute , that may be obtain'd by several degrees of fire , and some other varying circumstances , from the matter , that affords noctiluca's . observ . xvii . sometimes , when for curiosity's sake , i shook the vial , so that the whole body , even to the bottom , of the liquor , was spread all over the inside of the glass , i could observe , with pleasure , that in many places divers little grains or corpuscles , belonging to the opacous matter , that concur'd to compose the liquor , stuck here and there to the inside of the vial , and that these , being of a consistent , not fluid nature , and therefore probably more dense than the thinner parts of the phosphorus , did shine very prettily and distinctly , and look'd almost like extreamly little stars , or rather radiant sparks of fire , whose light was brisk enough to be distinctly notable , notwithstanding that of the flame , that was contiguoas to them , and fill'd the cavity of the vial. and these shining corpuscles usually continued their peculiar vividness , as long as i thought fit to look on them . which great vigor of theirs , together with their duration , gave me hopes , that the further prosecution of what had been brought thus far , may afford us some , not altogether despicable , quantity of the consistent noctituca , which , by reason of its density , tenacity , or other peculiar disposition of parts , may shine like the constant noctiluca of mr. krafft formerly mentioned . observ . xviii . being desirous to try , not so much what the air and agitation would do , towards the kindling or exciting ( not the imprisoned exhalation , but ) the liquor itself of our noctiluca , ( that having been partly done already ) as what water would do to quench it ; i thought fit to make the experiment , when time and many trials had much impair'd its vigor . and accordingly having , in a dark place , unstopt the vial , and wetted the tip of my finger with the included liquor , i could not perceive that then ( as when it was freshly made ) it gave any sensible light . wherefore , having rub'd the moistned finger against my other hand somewhat briskly , for a few moments , both the rub'd part of my hand and my finger appear'd adorn'd , each of them , with a flame , and though upon my dipping my finger in water ( that stood by , ready for the purpose ) the flame was , as it were , extinguisht , since the light presently vanish'd ; yet , having taken out my wet finger again , and rub'd , without having previously dry'd it upon the other hand , as i had done before , the light , as i expected it would , did quickly re-appear . besides the foregoing phoenomena of our luciferous matter , that occur'd more regularly , there was one that hapned unexpected , and may perchance , ( for till i have further observ'd , i dare not speak it confidently ) prove referrable to the paper , elsewhere publish'd , about some latent qualities of the air. observ . xix . the phoenomenon was this : having one night opened the vial so often mentioned , to shew the production of light to a virtuoso , i quickly stopt it again , and put it in my pocket , till i went to sleep , and then laying it by me in the bed ( as i often did ) when the candles were carried out of the room , i perceived the light , whose lasting , i did not expect , should exceed one hour , to continue still vivid enough ; and then shaking it a little , before i compos'd my self to sleep , i laid it by , till i wak'd in the morning , and then looking upon it again , it appear'd to my eyes ( that then for several hours had been unaccustomed to the light ) to shine more vigorously , than it had done at first . and from the time i open'd it over night , till the last time i had occasion to look upon it the next morning , it had continued shining for twelve hours ; to which , whether the extraordinary warmth , that was observ'd that particular night had contributed any thing , i dare not determine , but shall rather add , that though this phoenomenon happen'd very rarely , yet this was not the onely time that i observ'd it : for once more it occur'd to me , and that time the light continued about 15 hours , that i took notice of , and how much longer it might have lasted , i was hindered from observing . but this circumstance seem'd considerable , that the long duration of our unburning flame , hapned , after the rest of the tryals and observations had been made ; when by them , the vigor of the luciferous matter might reasonably be expected to have been very much impair'd . observ . xx. when i had set down the last mentioned phoenomenon , i thought i had concluded the observations , peculiarly belonging to the aerial noctiluca , contain'd in our second vial , and hitherto treated of . but now i find my self , by philosophical sincerity , obliged to add another phoenomenon , which did somewhat trouble , as well as surprize me , and it was this . after the foregoing observations had been made with our second vial , one night that i came to open it , to shew one of my best friends the production of light , i found ( little to my contept ) that none at all appear'd , though i shook the contained liquor , and kept the vial a pretty while unstopt ; so that , if he had not known me well , he might have entertain'd sinister thoughts of me , till , having taken out some drops of the liquor , and rub'd it upon my hand , it afforded so vivid a light or flame , as satisfied him of the possibility of a true noctiluca . and since that time , i have not found the vial to afford any light , barely upon its being unstopt , so that either ( in spight of my care ) some bodies unskilful curiosity has , unknown to me , spoil'd the liquor ; or , ( which is more likely ) so little a quantity , as i had at first , by the many and various tryals i made with it , is dispirited and become , as it were , effoet ; which , 't was lucky it did not do , till the forecited observations had been made with it . but , as in one of those , it has been conjectured , that one of the chief accounts , on which the air itself may concur to the shining of our noctiluca , is , as it excited a certain kind of brisk motion in the parts of it , i thought fit to try , whether , though i had found the bare shaking of the vial to be ineffectual , yet an actual heat , whereby the parts must be more vehemently and variously agitated , might not inable the air to do , what otherways it could not perform ; i therefore held our vial near the fire , till it grew considerably warm , and then by shaking it a little , and unstopping it in a dark place , i perceived the exhalations , that possess'd the cavity of the vial , to shine , as formerly ; but their light was so momentany , that it scarce sooner appear'd , than vanish'd ; and though afterwards it sometimes appear'd , it was not vivid , nor lasted a minute of an hour , nor perhaps half so long ; though it seem'd , that when fresh air was then allow'd access to it , its duration was thereby somewhat lengthned . but how long our matter will retain a disposition to be excited , even by these means , to shine , experience alone can determine . additional observations about the aerial noctiluca . you may remember ( sir ) that , to clear the way to the twenty foregoing observations , i formerly told you , that we received the luciferous matter , obtain'd by our distillation , in several small glasses , as we were able to save it . the parcel , that was received in the second vial , afforded us the phoenomena hitherto recited ; and now it will be fit to add to those , such as more lately occur'd , upon our considering the portions of luciferous matter , preserv'd in the other glasses , and some also of the like lucid substance , prepared another way . and though these observations be not so numerous , as the former , and be , a few of them , near of kin to some of the others ; yet i shall not scruple here to subjoin them , both because most of them are new , and those that are not , will serve to confirm and elucidate some of the foregoing observations . besides that , 't is not easie to know , what phoenomena may ▪ and what cannot , be useful , to frame or verifie an hypothesis of a subject new and singular , about which we have not as yet ( that i know of ) any good hypothesis setled . a small portion of liquor , ( not much exceeding a spoonful ) that was the first , and was judg'd the best , i sav'd , being put into a long , and somewhat slender cylindrical vial , made of white or chrystalline glass , afforded us the ensuing phoenomena . observ . i. soon after the muddy liquor ( for such it appear'd to the eye ) was poured into the vial , it was so vigorously luminous , ( probably , in great part , from the contact and insinuation of so much air , as it met with in its transfusion , ) that not only it shone vividly , but continued to shine ten hours , that i took notice of , before my occasions made me desist from observing it . this experiment minds me of an objection , which i should have proposed and answered at the beginning of the foregoing paper ▪ if i had then remembred to do it . for , whereas it may by some be thought improper for me , to call our luciferous matter a self-shining substance , in regard that it is not lucid , without the concurrence or help of the air : i answer , that i do , ( and justly may ) employ the word self-shining , to signifie , that the light our matter affords , is not a light borrowed from any external lucid , as is done by the bolonian stone , and the phosphorus balduini , but proceeds , as it were , from an inward principle of light . and men scruple not , upon such an account , to reckon the flame of a candle , and a glowing coal , to be self-shining bodies , though neither of these will be kindled , or continue to shine , without the assistance of renewed air , no not for a few minutes : whereas , the newly recited phoenomenon of our noctiluca , shews , that , our prepar'd matter , being for a very short time , ( perhaps but few minutes ) impregnated by the air , 't will continue to shine many hours in a well stop'd glass , that hinders it from being reliev'd by any supply of fresh air. observ . ii. when i set down the fifth , and some other of the foregoing observations , i was not at leisure to discourse the reasons that induced me to try for an aerial noctiluca ; and now also to save time , i shall forbear launching into speculations upon that subject , and only tell you historically , that , presuming the matter , that would shine in our cylindrical glass , would not be so much the liquor itself , as an aggregate of such effluviums of it , as , affected and excited by the air , would become lucid ; i thought fit to take particular notice , how the air would work upon the exhalations of this more vigorous liquor . and accordingly , having heedfully open'd the vial , though i very soon after stop'd it again , i observ'd a great commotion to be made in the cavity of the glass , unpossess'd by the liquor : for the now lucid exhalations seem'd to have a nimble and almost circular motion , along the sides of the glass , and to make , as it were , a little whirlwind , that impetuously carried it round ; and this renew'd rotation was not only manifest , but lasted much longer than one would have expected : so great a commotion did the air seem to have produced in the effluviums of the liquor , and perhaps in the neighbouring parts of the liquor itself . upon the ceasing of this unusual motion , the light did not cease , but persevered , though i had not occasion to observe ▪ how long 't would have lasted . observ . iii. i will not determine , whether the vertiginous motion , mentioned in the newly recited observation , was in part produced by what happen'd in the ensuing phoenomenon , which was , that having heedfully taken out the stopple of our vial in a dark place , after it had for a long time ceased from shining , i observ'd the external air to rush into the cavity of the glass with noise , and so swiftly , as did , i confess , surprize me : as if the preceding flame , though not sensibly hot , had , after the manner of culinary flames , considerably weakned the spring of the included air , and so disabled it to resist the whole pressure of the external air , when , by the removal of the stopple , it was expos'd thereunto . but i will not , as i was saying , determine , whether this irruption of the air , may not have contributed to the circular motion of the lucid steams mention'd in the foregoing observation ? because , though the affirmative seem a probable cause , yet i was kept from concluding it a necessary or onely cause of the turbinous motion , by my having some times , when no such irruption of the air had in a long time preceded , observed rotations of lucid matter in the cavity of the vial : which motion therefore seem'd to proceed from some other cause , though ( to add that by the by ) this cause , whatever it was , produc'd but such a rotation , as was less general , less nimble , and less lasting . observ . iv. i forgot to tell you in its due place , ( which was before the precedent observations ) that , whil'st our liquor was yet fresh and vigorous , i dipt my finger in it , and moistned with it several places of my hands , and those of some ladies , that were desirous to be present at the spectacle . which done , we observ'd , that the places that were touched , especially if they were a little rub'd , shone very vividly , as if actual flames , but not of a blue colour , like that of common sulphur , or of spirit of wine , were burning on them . and these flames were not at all uniform in their manner of burning , for they often seem'd to tremble much , and sometimes , as it were , to blaze out with sudden flashes , that were not lasting ( which put me in mind of some of the faculae solares . ) and though it might seem strange , that so small a quantity of matter , that stuck to this or that part of the hand , should afford so durable a flame ; yet if that part itself were rub'd against the same persons other hand , or the skin or linnen of a by-stander , the part new touched would shine , as the other continued to do : and though these flames were remarkable for their vividness , yet they continued for a good while to afford the company a very pleasing spectacle ; and , ( which was remarkable ) notwithstanding the darkness of the room , it was manifest , that they emitted great store of whitish smoke , which , or some other effluviums from the same matter , imbued the neighbouring air with a ranck and offensive smell . the colour of these seeming flames , was not like the phosphorus of balduinus , when 't is very well prepar'd , and has been expos'd to a vigorous light , red , almost like a well-kindled charcoal ; but yellow , like that of the middle part of the flame of a candle . and notwithstanding the blazes and smoke , that accompanied these flames , we could not perceive in them any sensible heat , ( that is , any confused agitation of parts , exceeding that of the parts of our organs of touch ) nor did they at all singe the fine linnen of the ladies , whereon some of them seem'd to burn ; so that if we admit , with many learned moderns , a flamma vitalis in the heart , this unburning and innoxious flame may supply us with a far better specimen or illustration thereof , than the flame of spirit of wine that is still commonly employ'd , for an example ; though i have many years ago endeavor'd to rectifie the error , by proving experimentally , that the flame of spirit of wine is very hot and devouring , insomuch that i have melted glass and gold itself with it . observ . v. when , with my finger dipt in the forementioned liquor , i drew short lines upon linnen , there was left a shining track upon that part , over which my finger had newly passed , so that 't is not to be denied , that one may write lucid characters upon white paper ; and yet , when , having found our liquor too thick , or too faintly lucid , to be employ'd , like ink in an ordinary pen ; i thought fit to try , whether i could draw lucid letters with a ( middle-siz'd ) pencil , instead of a pen , and had , for that purpose , dipt it in our liquor ; i was somewhat surpriz'd to find , that the characters i had newly drawn , did not at all shine in the dark : but suspecting , that the pencil might have retained , among the hairs it consisted of , the more tenacious and vigorous parts of the matter it had imbib'd , and had left only the more aqueous and strengthless parts upon the paper ; i took the pencil in one hand , and with the other , comprest and wreath'd a little the brushy part of it , to excite the matter , that probably was lodged there . by which means , that part of the pencil was brought to look as if it were all of a light fire , and seem'd to burn like a small wax taper ; but with a more blazing and pleasant flame , which some times shooting downwards , and playing about the hairs , that compos'd that part of the pencil , brought into my mind those verses of virgil. ecce levis summo de vertice visus juli fundere lumen apex , tactuque innoxia molli lambere flamma comas , &c. aeneid . but this delightful flame lasted not very long in its first vigor , but decay'd by degrees , till no more light at all was seen ; after which , nevertheless , the flame would of itself break out , as if it came from the internal parts of the pencil , and would shine a pretty while , and then seem quite to expire ; after which , our light would on a sudden disclose itself again , and , when it had continued awhile in a tremulous motion , dye again in all appearance . and 't is to be noted , that though this artificial ignis lambens , if i may so call it , did not , that i perceived , burn , or singe the slender hairs , among which it seem'd to flame , yet , as often as it appear'd , it did manifestly emit , perhaps as much , if not more smoke , than another burning taper of that bigness would have done . and this vicissitude of extinction and reappearance of light , lasted , till i was weary of observing it , and then , having again with my fingers compress'd , and somewhat strongly twisted the hairs of the pencil , i made them , as formerly , afford a considerable light , which i thought was , whil'st i was in the very act of wreathing the hairs , accompanied with a very sensible , but momentany heat . observ . vi. but notwithstanding the newly recited heat , 't was in vain that i tryed , by compressing the pencil first , and then rubbing it upon gunpowder , well dryed , and somewhat heated , to fire the powder . this i fail'd to do likewise , when i made the tryal with circumstances somewhat more likely to make it succeed . which i the less wondered at , because i remember mr. krafft , when he kindled gunpowder in my lodging , was fain to make use of his consistent and constant noctiluca ; and besides , to have the gunpowder prepar'd , by being made so hot , that 't was almost ready to take fire of itself . which circumstance , i confess , i was glad of , as i also was of my own disappointments , and some also of his , because it gave me occasion to think , that this , otherwise innocent , fire would not easily be perverted to the prejudice of mankind , which , i have supprest more dangerous inventions than this , to avoid contributing to . but upon this occasion i must not pretermit what happen'd to my laborant , when the distillation of our luciferous matter had been freshly made ; namely , that , having taken up some of the thicker substance with a knife to put it into a vial , and having found that some of it afterwards stuck to the blade , he , being in some haste to wipe off the adhering matter , did with his apron take strong hold of the blade on both sides , and then with his right hand drawing out the blade nimbly , so that 't was strongly compressed in its passage between the thumb and fingers of his left hand , he was much surprized to feel a smart heat , and presently looking upon that part of the apron , where it had been produced , perceiv'd that it had in it two holes of some bigness , which he concluded must have been produced there by burning , both because of the intense heat he had felt before , and because 't was a ●ew apron ; which , when i had called for , and heedfully inspected , i did , with him , impute those holes to the action of the fire . whence i judged it very probable , that the thicker and almost unguentous part ( if i may so call it ) of our luciferous matter had a great disposition or propensity to admit a very brisk agitation , since by an almost momentany , and not very vehement , motion , it was put into an agitation , that made it capable of burning new callico ( for of that the apron was made . ) observ . vii . since i usually set down the nocturnal observations about our noctiluca from time to time , as i make them , whil'st they are fresh in my memory , and also have sent away to a friend many of the precedent , before i wrote , ( or mad● ) the subsequent , you will not , i hope , think it strange , either , that , not having most of my materials at once together before me , i have not methodiz'd them , or , that having been able to make but gradual discoveries of the subject , i inquire into , the things , i write of it , should now and then chance to be coincident , and my expressions about it should sometimes not be altogether uniform , but the latter parts should agree more or less with the former , as new or varying phoenomena happen'd to require . upon this account , i shall not scruple to subjoin , what has since occur'd to me , about the phoenomenon , formerly mentioned in the sixteenth observation ; where i told you , that i could not then clearly find , either an acid or an alcalisate salt , to be predominant in the luciferous matter , i then made use of . but , having since employed some of the water , that was taken out of a receiver , after it had there been somewhat impregnated with that matter , i thought fit to try , whether this water , wherein probably the saline particles of our subject might be more copiously dissolved , or more active , would not discover itself to contain somewhat of volatile alcaly . and to satisfie my self of this , i dropt a little of the liquor upon some syrup of violets , that i had put upon a piece of clean paper , and found , i was not mistaken , in thinking it would change the colour of the syrup from blue to green ; which yet it did more faintly , than the volatile alcalies , ( as they call them ) even when they are phlegmatick , are wont to do . this liquor likewise , as i remember , made some conflict with spirit of salt , when i first put them together , as i inferred from the commotion of the mixture , and the bubbles thereby produced . nor were these the only ways , by which i was induced to think , that a volatile alcaly , not an acid salt or spirit , was the predominant , if not the only salt , contained in the faintly impregnated liquor . observ . viii . before i had set down many of the observations contained in the first paper , i was desirous to try , what would happen to our luciferous matter in such a vacuum , or , if you please , in such highly rarified air , as is wont to be produced by our air-pump . but , in regard a glass was to be opened in the exhausted receiver , which is a difficult work to do , i was fain , for want of conveniences , to desist from my endeavors , and prosecute some other experiments , ( most of them already recited ) till at length being furnished , though not with accurate , yet with tolerable means of making a tryal , and thinking an imperfect one , better than none at all , i took a vial , that had some luciferous matter in it , though but such , as was not apt to shine long at a time ; and , this vial being well stopt , i kept till the flame or light within it expir'd ; then , having plac'd the vial in a receiver on our pneumatick engine , we pumpt out the air , and then ( not without some difficulty ) pull'd out the cork in a dark place , whereupon there presently appeared some light in the cavity of the vial , which i the less wondered at , because we found by certain signs , that by reason of some disadvantageous circumstances , we could not so well pump out the air , and hinder the ingress of new , as not to leave , ( though but very little , yet ) enough to excite a flame , that by former experience we found to need but an inconsiderable quantity of fresh air : but we observ'd , that by the commotion of the air , occasioned by the pumping , the flame would be as it were ventilated , and blown up , or made to shine more vividly . observ . ix . but , not being satisfied by the foregoing experiment , i thought fit to vary it , after the following manner . there was taken a pretty large piece of paper , which , being well moistned , and partly besmear'd with our luciferous matter , was thrust into a somewhat wide-mouth'd glass , which , being put unstopt into a receiver fastned to our pneumatick pump , and with it kept in a dark place , did there shine , as i expected it would , by reason of the contact of the air , yet contain'd in the receiver . presently after this , the pump was set a work , and we observ'd , as formerly , that the commotion made of the air about the vial , did manifestly enough increase the light for a while ; and that the light seem'd to be lessened , during the pauses intercepted between these commotions , both by reason of the rest , as of the absence of the air. and i likewise took notice , that the flame that seemed to pass from one part of the wrinkled paper to the other , did sometimes appear to have , as it were , a palpitation , and to afford a very unequal light ; and though , when the external air was let in through the pump into the exhausted receiver , the flame seem'd to be quenched , yet i judge that to be only a temporary effect of the waterish vapors , that the air had taken along with it in its way through the pump ; and therefore i caus'd the receiver to be taken off the engine , and then , the spectators were quickly of my opinion , observing , that upon the free contact of the fresh outward air , which was not like that last mentioned , depraved by moist vapors , the matter adhering to the paper was quickly seen to shine again , and that more vividly , than it had done in the receiver . but because i suspected , that this vessel could not at that time , for want of some conveniences , be so well exhausted , as on other occasions it has often been , though , by the phoenomena , hitherto recited , it seemed to the spectators that the flame was manifestly befriended , and the light increas'd by the air , yet , i think , the experiment deserves to be repeated , when i shall be able to do it with more exactness . observ . x. besides the liquors , that afforded us the foregoing experiments , we saved a little , ( though but very little ) of a substance , that was not liquid , but yet almost as soft , as mud . this we obtained , by pouring some of our liquor , taken out of the vessels , when the distillation was ended , into a glass funnel , lin'd with cap paper , to try , whether 't would filter . but finding , that , that , which pass'd thorow , was too thin and aqueous , the filter was hastily , and ( for that reason ) not very orderly wrapt up , and put into a glass , not capacious , but yet of a moderate wideness at the mouth ; that , both the filter might be easily thrust in , and the glass might be exactly enough stopt with a strong cork . after other experiments ( formerly recited ) had been made , i took this glass , and carried it into a dark place ; and though i could not perceive the least glimpse of light , yet presuming , that it contain'd some of the true matter of the aerial phosphorus , or noctiluca , and consequently exhalations , that , having been hindered by the stopple to flie away , might be kindled or excited by the appulse of the air , i opened the glass , and saw , ( as i expected ) an immediate apparition of light . which light did disclose itself , sometimes upon a lesser , and sometimes upon a much greater part of the very uneven surface of the included paper , and seem'd to pass for a great while ( as long as i thought fit to stay to observe it ) from one part of the filter , and one side of the glass , to another : i say , seem'd , because perhaps the phoenomenon was produc'd by a train of eruptions of flames newly excited in several places , rather than a bare propagation of the same . but whatever it was , the motion , ( which was pleasant enough to behold ) was so odd and irregular , that it did not ill resemble the motion of fire kindled by sparks , strook into a good quantity of tinder . and this vertue of shining upon the ingress of the air , lasted many days in the abovementioned paper . observ . xi . but there was another filter , that afforded us a pleasing variation of this phoenomenon ; the matter wrapt up in the inside of this paper , being somewhat more copious , or better conditioned , than that which adhered to the other lately spoken of . we took then this paper , and having unfolded it , and kept it display'd in a dark place , we had the pleasure to see a considerable number of flames of differing sizes and figures , disclose themselves at the same time ; and though most of them were vivid , yet few of them continued ▪ long in the self-same place , but they seemed frequently to change their scituations among themselves , as well as their figures , and extent ; or else new flames , did incessantly break forth in new places , according as the exhalations , that did copiously and irregularly mingle with the contiguous air , did in several places happen to be in part , as it were kindled by it ; i say , in part , because , from the flames themselves , as well as the unshining parts of the filter , there did manifestly ascend good store of smoke , visible by the light afforded by the shining matter : and these flames did not keep a constant tenour in their way of blazing , but had their tremblings , and emications , and these being usually accompanied with changes of figure , and eruptions of light in several places at the same time , 't was a very pleasant sight to see the whole area or surface of the display'd filter , look as the sky sometimes does , especially in hot countries , when the eye may perceive flashes of lightning break forth in several places at once : but our coruscations , being as well more numerous , as innocent , made the filter appear almost as variegated as marble paper : but with this advantage , that , besides that the appearance was almost perpetually changing , the yellow parts were not only coloured , but lucid , and afforded those , that look'd on them with me , a delightful spectacle , that lasted as long , as we thought fit to gaze at it . observ . xii . having strongly suspected , that the agitation , duely modified , of a disposed matter , was at least one of the chief agents in the production of light ; i was not discouraged , by finding that shaking of the vial , or making the contain'd liquor more than lukewarm , would not produce any apparition of light : i was not , i say , thereby discouraged from trying , whether a more intense heat , which would communicate a brisk and various motion to a multitude of the corpuscles of the luciferous matter , dispersed through the liquor , would not do , what a fainter agitation was not able to perform . i thought also , it deserved to be tried , whether a considerable variation of phoenomena , would not be consequent to our changing the figure and capacity of the glass ? especially , if all immediate commerce between the cavity of the vessel , and the outward air , were carefully prevented . in order to both these tryals , i took some spoonfuls of aqueous liquor , impregnated with some , of the more soluble portion of the luciferous matter ; which liquor , when it was setled , was transparent , as having but an inconsiderable quantity ( which could not easily be separated from it , ) of that muddy substance , formerly more than once mentioned . and this clear liquor , which , ( perhaps because of the absence of that thicker substance ) was , as it ought to be , for my purpose , so faintly impregnated , that it would not , with shaking , or a mild heat , afford any light , was put into a round bolt-glass , whose globous part was capable of holding three or four times as much , and whose stem ( or pipe ) was proportionable in wideness to it , and above a foot in length . having carefully stopt this vessel with a cork and sealing wax , 't was in the night-time set in such a posture , that , by the intervention of sand , it might be heated without breaking , ( as otherwise it would have been in danger of doing , ) and when the ball was made so hot , that i could not well endure it in my naked hand , i speedily removed the vessel into a dark place , and having shaken the liquor , i perceived a light to break forth in the ball , which presently diffused itself thorow the whole cavity of it , but as quickly disappeored and some time after , especially upon shaking the glass , the light would break forth again , and soon after vanish ; and these fulguratious or flashings of light , continued for a while to appear now and then ; but were unequal , both as to their extent , vividness , and duration , and when the liquor grew cold , they ceased quite . observ . xiii . but whil'st it was yet considerably hot , i thought fit to try , whether by breaking the liquor by a strong concussion , some lucid substance would not be made to pass out of the globous into the cylindrical part , & so vary the phoenomena . and to this purpose , having violently shaken the liquor at several times , with pauses interposed , i perceived some considerable portions of the lucid matter to ascend into the pipe ; and particularly once i had the pleasure to see a portion of shining substance , about the bigness of a filbert , or a small almond , mount directly upwards like a flame , but not very swiftly , from the globous part of the glass , all along the pipe , till it reached the upper part of it . and at other times , such flames ascended into the pipe , but not so high ; whence many would have confidently infer'd a positive levity in flame ; which yet i forbear to conclude , because i once ( at least ) observ'd , one of these portions of shining matter , to descend from the higher to the lower part of the stem , still retaining its lucidness all the way . i cannot now stay to debate , whether , the phoenomena , appearing in this glass , may illustrate , or facilitate the explication of what happens in the production and motions of some of those meteors , that are called fiery ; such as the ignis lambens , falling stars , frequent lightnings without thunder , in hot summer nights , and that wandering flame , called ignis fatuus ? and whether or no , it may be said , that when such bodies are generated , there happens to be a convention of particles so associated , that they mutually agitate each other , or are fitted to be agitated by a pervading aethereal substance , and put into a motion , like that , which in the lately mentioned portions of our shining matter , was able to produce light ? observ . xiv . but , instead of pursuing this enquiry , i shall relate to you a phoenomenon , that to me , as well as those i shew'd it to , was not a little delightful . for having , by a concussion , fit for that purpose , as it were spread the liquor at once all over the inside of the globe , and of part of the stem , 't was pleasant to behold , how the luciferous matter , dividing itself variously in its passage downwards , adorned the whole cavity of the glass with a company of small lucid bodies , that both shin'd and twinkled , like so many little stars , adorning the celestial globe ; and the pleasantness of the spectacle was increased , by their having manifest motions , as well as true light . the slowness of their descent , in lines , many of them very oblique , made this pleasant sight last the longer ; and having more than once reiterated the experiment , ( though not still with equal success , ) it afforded me some varied phoenomena ; which i shall now forbear to mention , both because i want time to write , and am weary of writing , as i fear you may be of reading . and therefore i shall here conclude your trouble and my own , as soon as i shall have added the two following particulars ▪ observ . xv. the first whereof is this , that having in such a bolt-glass , as has been lately described , given purposely and heedfully a certain kind of strong shake to the included liquor , when 't was at a due degree of heat , ( which was not intense ) i observed , that on one side of the globous part of the glass , and above the body of the liquor , there was generated , as it were , a great spark of lucid matter , about the bigness of a pins head ; and yet hence , ( as i expected ) there quickly was a flame or light diffused through the capacity of the globe , where it soon after vanished . from which phoenomenon , and some others of affinity to it , whether , it may be argued , that this was a true flame , which from a very small beginning , was increased by propagation , and kindled the disposed exhalations , that it found dispersed throughout the cavity of the glass ; or , that the motion of all light is not necessarily instantaneous , since the progress of it , even in so small a space as , our glass comprized , was discernable , i have not now the leisure to debate , but must hasten to the last of the two promised particulars , which is , observ . xvi . that , ( not here to mention how i have preserv'd a distill'd luciferous matter both with and without additaments in a consistent form ) to try , how long i could preserve our liquor , in a capacity to exhibit such pleasing phoenomena , without giving it new air from time to time , but only by keeping in the spirituous parts : i caus'd the stem to be hermetically seal'd ; presuming , that , notwithstanding this , i could , by a certain cautious way of holding the vessel , safely bring the included liquor to an heat , sufficiently intense , to afford us the phoenomena of light . in which supposition i was not mistaken , since the last recited phoenomenon , besides some others , were made in this hermetically seal'd vessel , in which the contain'd liquor does , as i this night try'd , continue fit for that purpose . of the way of preparing the aerial noctiluca . the several phoenomena of our aerial phosphorus or noctiluca , wherewith , you have hitherto been entertain'd , have , i doubt not , raised in you a pressing curiosity to know , of what matter this self-shining substance was made , and how that matter was prepar'd , to be capable of affording it . though two or three years are now past , since i caus'd to be made , more than once , in my furnaces , a phosphorus , not unlike that of the learned balduinus , ( i speak thus cautiously , because i am not sure , what particular matter he employs , and i have brought more than one sort of mineral bodies , to shine ; ) yet i forbore to divulge , what i knew , because ( as i declar'd to some curious men , that press'd me to do it , ) i was willing to leave him the liberty of publishing his invention . but finding he has not yet thought fit to impart it to the world , there appear'd the less cause to expect that the secret of the noctiluca , which is a much more valuable thing , would be suddenly made publick : and therefore , without long waiting any man's leisure , i resolv'd to impart to the curious , ( and particularly , sir , to your self , ) the knowledge of the matter , i wrought upon , and some directions how to manage it . and in pursuit of that resolution , i am willing to gratifie the virtuosi with that very process ( for substance ) which i set down , for my own remembrance , after i had the first time actually made the aerial noctiluca ; and which i afterwards deposited , seal'd up , in the hands of the very ingenious secretary of the royal society , in the presence of divers members of that illustrious company . and though since that time , some other tryals have enabled me to observe some circumstances , pertinent to that purpose ; yet i thought fit to leave it it as it was , that others finding themselves , in some sort , oblig'd to employ their own industry , their trials may , as mine have done , produce an instructive diversification of effects , in an attempt , where experience invites me to think , that various degrees of fire and other circumstances , ( and perhaps casualties too ) may diversifie the phoenomena , and thereby both inrich the yet wanted , and designed history of light , and assist the speculative , to accommodate a good hypothesis to them . reserving then for another time my latter remarks upon the observations and process , delivered in this paper , i shall now only give you a few short advertisements about it . first , i will not positively affirm , that the matter , i employ'd , is the very same , that was made use of ▪ by the ingenious german chymists in their noctiluca ; for some inquisitive men have very lately told me , that the germans mingle two or more distillable materials ; whereas i employ'd but one matter , capable of distillation . secondly , though all the twenty foregoing observations , and most of the ten additional ones adnexed to them , were made with that substance , which i guess to be at least the chief , that is employ'd by the germans , ( which was done for a particular reason , not needful to be here express'd , ) yet i first thought , and upon my very first tryal , found , that 't is possible to make a noctiluca of a dry and pulverable substance , that ▪ for ought i can guess , was never employ'd by mr. krafft , or those he had his secret from . and besides this second sort of phosphorus's , we made a third , that was obtain'd from a body , that never had been either a part , or an excrement , of a humane body , nor was mingled with any thing , that had been so . but though i found these self-shining substances somewhat differing from those made of the liquor , hereafter to be nam'd ; yet , i cannot stay at present to say any thing more of them , being content to have intimated , that self-shining phosphorus's have been actually obtain'd from more single subjects , than one . thirdly , to name the matter , though never so explicitely , would not , in my opinion , have sufficed to inform those that would work upon it . for chymists themselves would , in all probability , work , ( as hitherto , on other occasions , they have wrought ) upon the volatile and saline , which they presume to be the only spirituous and noble parts of the concrete , throwing away the rest , as useless and abominable . and on this occasion , let me add , that i was the rather induc'd to set down this process , that we may both observe , and thankfully acknowledge the wisdom and bounty of the great author of nature , who , for our encouragement to study even his meanest works , has been pleased , in a body , that is commonly thought one of the despicablest of the universe , to lodge so glorious and excellent a thing , as a self-shining substance . fourthly , and i scarce doubt , but this , though it will be admired now , will be much more priz'd hereafter , when it shall be brought to greater perfection ; and when men shall have discover'd more of its uses , which probably will be great in physick , and , perhaps i might add , to some purposes , that few chymists themselves do yet dream of . fifthly , one thing remains , that , to save ingenious men some labour and charge , i think fit to give early notice of ; namely , that having , for tryal sake , employ'd the liquor , hereafter to be named , without previous fermentation or putrefaction ; though , 't was proceeded with after the same manner , with that whereby we obtain'd our noctiluca ; and though , it afforded a substance for colour and consistence , not unlike our luciferous matter ; yet i could not find , that , that substance would at all shine . and indeed , there are so many circumstances , whose mistake may make the experiment miscarry , ( as i have found to my trouble , even since the phosphorus , whose phoenomena are first set down , was made ) that , though , i were not now in haste , i should be content to take time to learn better from experience , how to instruct others , before i venture to do it circumstantially ; and he that shall , at the first attempt , succeed in preparing this liquor , shall be thought by me , either a very skilful , or a lucky operator . sixthly and lastly , that it may appear , as well by the very different preparations , as by the differing phoenomena of the phosphorus hermeticus , and of the aerial noctiluca , that there is a great disparity between those lucid bodies , i shall here briefly add the way we employ'd to make either the phosphorus balduini , or some other like it , ( for i am not certain , what is the very way of that learned man ) as it was practised in my furnaces ; which , in short , is this . a dissolution being made of fine white chaulk in good spirit of nitre , or clean aqua fortis , it is to be filtrated thorow cap-paper , and the clear solution is to be evaporated , till there remain a dry substance : with this white calx , you are to overlay the inside of some vessel , made of good earth , that will endure the fire , and that of a round figure , which is more convenient , than that of ordinary crucibles ; and to the matter , contain'd in this vessel , you are to give , for about half an hour or an hour , ( according to the largeness of it , and other circumstances ) a due degree of fire , which ▪ 't is not easie to hit , and which ordinarily requires a conveniently shap'd vessel , whereby the flame or heat may be reverberated , till you perceive the matter to have acquired a disposition , to retain the light ; and then the earthen vessel , which usually ought to be somewhat shallow , and not to exceed many inches in diameter , is to have a cover of fine glass or chrystal carefully cemented on to it , to preserve it from , its great enemy , the air. what we have observ'd , in prosecuting this preparation , is not so proper to be delivered at this time , when my haste , as well as some other things , make it more fit , that we should forthwith return to our aerial noctiluca , of which , after the foregoing things have been premis'd , 't is time that now there should follow the process . the process . there was taken a considerable quantity of humane vrine , [ because the liquor yields but a small proportion of luciferous matter , ] that had been , ( a good part of it at least ) for a competent while , digested or putrified , before it was us'd . this liquor was distill'd , with a moderate heat , till the spirituous parts were drawn off ; after which , the superfluous moisture also was abstracted , ( or evaporated away ) till the remaining substance was brought to the consistence of a somewhat thick syrup , or a thin extract . this was well incorporated with about thrice its weight of fine white sand , and the mixture was put into a strong retort ; to which was join'd a large receiver , in good part fill'd with water . then , the two vessels being carefully luted together , a naked fire was gradually administred , for five or six hours , that all , that was either phlegmatick , or otherwise volatile , might come over first . when this was done , the fire was increas'd , and at length , for five or six hours made ( nb ) which it should be in this operation ) as strong and intense , as the furnace ( which was not bad ) was capable of giving . by this means , there came over good store of white fumes , almost like those , that appear in the distillation of oil of vitriol ; and when those fumes were past , and the receiver grew clear , they were after a while succeeded by another sort , that seem'd in the receiver to give a faint blewish light , almost like that of little burning matches , dipt in sulphur . and last of all , the fire being very vehement , there pass'd over another substance , that was judg'd more ponderous than the former , because ( nb ) much of it fell through the water to the bottom of the receiver : whence being taken out , ( and partly even whil'st it staid there ) it appear'd by several effects , and other phoenomena , to be ( as we expected ) of a luciferous nature . the ways i employ'd to make a self-shining substance , out of other matters then that express'd in this process , i must , for certain reasons , forbear to acquaint you with , at this time . i might from the foregoing process , take occasion to inquire , whether the matter , wherein the shining faculty chiefly resides , do not consist , not ( as one would expect ) of the volatile and spirituous parts of our animal liquor , but of its ( not absolutely , but ) more fixt salt , and ponderous foetid oil , associated in a peculiar manner and proportion . and from thence i might take a rise , to propose my conjectures of the cause of the lucidness of our luciferous matter ; and also , both to add somewhat to what , ( two or three years ago ) i wrote about the despised sapa of urine , in reference to some uncommon menstruums , and to make inquiry into other things relating to the nature of light and flame , especially as found in our noctiluca : these things , i say , i might hence take occasion to propose my thoughts of ; but want of time , together with hopes of further discoveries , make me willing to defer the doing it , till i shall have more leisure to frame conjectures , and perhaps more phoenomena to ground them upon . in the mean while , that , i may no further lengthen a letter too prolix already , by apologies for my self , or complements to you ; i shall at present only beg the favor of your candid animadversions upon what i have written , and of those singular observations i hear you have made , about the light of stinking fishes ; both which , you need not doubt , will be as welcom , as i doubt not , they will prove instructive to , sir , your most affectionate , and most humble servant , r. b. pag. 12. line 2. dele light. finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a28938-e460 * this clause refers to one of the philosophical collections publish'd by the ingenious ▪ mr. hook , who hath therein inserted verbatim the paper he received ! from mr. boyle . notes for div a28938-e2610 see above , observ . 12. a letter to a gentleman concerning alkali and acid being an answer to a late piece, intituled, a letter to a physician concerning acid and alkali : to which is added a specimen of a new hypothesis for the sake of the lovers of medicine / by thomas emes ... emes, thomas, d. 1707. 1700 approx. 128 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 33 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a70016) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 61509) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 938:10) a letter to a gentleman concerning alkali and acid being an answer to a late piece, intituled, a letter to a physician concerning acid and alkali : to which is added a specimen of a new hypothesis for the sake of the lovers of medicine / by thomas emes ... emes, thomas, d. 1707. 64 p. printed for tho. speed ... london : [1700] reproduction of original in cambridge university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng chemistry -early works to 1800. 2006-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-10 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-10 elspeth healey sampled and proofread 2007-10 elspeth healey text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a letter to a gentleman concerning alkali and acid. being an answer to a late piece , intituled , a letter to a physician concerning acid and alkali . to which is added a specimen of a new hypothesis , for the sake of the lovers of medicine . by thomas emes , author of the dialogue between alkali and acid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . bonis nocet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 malis . london ▪ printed for tho. speed , over ●●●…inst jonath●●'s coffee-house in exchange-ally in cornhill , price 6 d. at which place the dialogue is told , 8vo . price 1 s. a letter to a gentleman concerning alkali and acid . sir , we have a small champion lately come forth for the acid cause ; he conceals his name , but he saith he is a gentleman , hoping , i suppose , to find the better quarter : but he professeth his aversion to such an undertaking , but that he is at length , and at last overcome by zeal for the service of his acid physician . and he saith that at his first reading my dialogue , he discover'd so much unbecoming language , that had not requests , as forcible as commands , chang'd his resolution , he had never been condemn'd to a second reading , much less to the task of writing remarks upon it . well , the gentleman is to be excus'd , because he did it unwillingly ; and i readily confess , there is indeed much unbecoming language even within in the first eighteen pages ; and truly had it not been too nauseous , the reader might have had a great deal more on 't ; but what he has , was but just enough to shew a specimen of the immodest self-applause , shameful contempt , and abuse of all physicians , wherewith the pretender to a new acid hypothesis abounds , and what sort of answer such language deserveth . at which the gentleman was so uneasie , that he leap'd over two pages more where there is none ; but the ground of mr. acid's hypothesis examin'd . he tells us , pag. 4. that undecent personal reflections are no marks of probity and virtue , but are below the cognizance of a generous mind ; and tells us in greek too , that it is blasphemy . i answer , if it be blasphemy to reflect upon the follies and confidence of a raw empirick , boasting himself the only doctor in the world ; i think it is but just to be such a blasphemer . and since there is nothing so foolishly said by such men , but catches patients now-a-days , when so few understand nature or good sense , and they are so often caught to the damage of their lives and healths ; i think it is not only the part of a good and generous mind , and a virtue , but a duty to expose them , and that sometimes in the way solomon advises , pro. 26. 5. but i think no body hath expos'd mr. colebatch so much as he has expos'd himself , to the thinking part of those that read him . the gent. is amaz'd , he says , to see the ingenious author of the hypothesis of acids treated with the utmost contempt and scorn . but i am as much amaz'd to see any gentleman admire the wit in his writings , or physician take him for the author of any thing but the abuse of acids ; and that his friend should say , that not one author has examin'd his hypothesis by reason and experience , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 th read my dialogue more than once , and confesses it becomes men of letters , gentlemen and philosophers , ( as physicians are ) to weigh and consider the force of every man 's reasoning . i think it will be confess'd by those that are judges , i have weigh'd mr. colebatch's reasoning , and found it very light ; and i am now resolv'd to put that of the gentleman , his champion , also into the scale , and see how much it comes to . i am glad the gent. acknowledges physicians to be gentlemen and philosophers ; but i begin to doubt whether he be a philosopher and a physician ; because he altogether blames jesting , when it is well known to such men , that some diseases are cured thereby , and that satyr is often prescrib'd against some maladies endangering the life and health of men , that have their root in the mind ; such as pride , ignorance , confidence , covetousness , &c. in a practioner , which the dialogue was compos'd as a medicine to cure mr. acid of , if not incurable . the gent. says farther , that poetry is a very pretty thing ; but agrees with his doctor , that the character of a satyrist and a physician are vastly different . i am of the same mind ; but i find the gent. does not love a satyr , the panegyrick to the unknown doctor colebatch would relish well enough with him ; but he is not a thorough proselyte to acids yet ; for a sarcastical couplet is too sharp for his stomach , and he thinks it should not be press'd against its will to affront a professor of physick . and i think it was not , in the case he means , but came only against a professor and abuser of acids . but sarcasms i 'le maintain are acids , or they are not sarcasms ; and acid with acid methinks should well agree : but perhaps these are acids out of his practice . but i 'll say one thing more for them , they need not be press'd , but are apt enough to come volunteers , and muster freely upon any proper occasion . but the gentlemen that value themselves upon their wit , he esteems the more genteel mountebanks . 't is well they are the more genteel sort ; and i should chuse , i confess , if we must all be mountebanks , to be of that number . he allows they shew more wit and fine language , in their sarcastical bills distributed by the booksellers , than what breaks forth from beneath merry andrew ' s charcoal whiskers , or wraps up john saffold's pills and powder ; but the nature , design , and effect of the farce is the same . he 's a conjurer ! he can tell they all aim at money with common success , and so does mr. colebatch . but he that is bubbled on 't , i think , had as good be bubbled by a witty conceit as a foolish one ; and if he has nothing else , have some wit for his money . but the gent , says , he will never trust his life in the hands of a physician , who takes so much pains to convince the world he is a rare poet. i confess a man may be a rare poet and not a physician , and a physician and not a poet : but i think a man that has wit enough to be a poet , may have enough to be a physician , if he apply himself to that study : but he that has not enough , i think is never the rather to be trusted with ones life , till by a demonstration he proves , that tho' a correct canto will not cure a disease , as the gent. says , yet a dull assertion that he can do more , than all the doctors that have gone before , will do the business . but for my part , i 'll never trust my life in a man's hands that hath nothing sharp but medicines . but what has poetry to do with the pretended new hypothesis of acids , or the dialogue between alkali and acid ? what unlucky wag has thrown a distich at mr. colebatch , and hit a gentleman also ? and why must i answer for it ? but the gent. comes to talk of experiments , pag. 5. he follows mr. acid's method , first he plays a little , and then he comes to work . and he says , i have not given one experiment , or laid down the process of any one medicine i would recommend to the world for the good of mankind , or that might overthrow the hypothesis of acids . i answer , as for experiments to overthrow the hypothesis of acids , i leave it to the judgment of the intelligent reader , whether there are not enough to do it in my dialogue ; tho' some of them i find the hypothetick knows not how to make , which is a shame , whilst he professes himself a philosopher and a chymist : but he may have more before we have done . but as for commending my medicines or self to the world , in the manner some do , i count it but quacking , and like it not , nor have any necessity so to do . the people are fond of recipe's , and the doctor knows 't is not against his interest to let them have some , his books will sell the better ; and if he does not tell them they are to be had at reasonable rates of the author , and prescribe the making them a more chargeable way than he himself makes them , the indiscreet administration some dablers make of them , does but breed business for the doctor ; but the rich and cautious will have advice , and who so sit to advise with , as that honest gentleman who is so kind as to let them know with what instruments he does their business . i do not esteem it impolitick in physicians to publish some medicines to the world , or to permit horse-doctors , or licence other ignorant fellows , since they so frequently make work for one another . and i believe mr colebatch did not offer his unreasonable method of pr●●● 〈◊〉 point of honour , that the learned might 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 observe it , with any hopes they would do so , but that he might get money ( of the ignorant , ) which he has profess'd is the only thing he cares for . neither do i think the learned will spend their time in his trivial books ; nor should i , had not philanthropy , and my duty to mankind ( not commanding requests ) engag'd me to oppose what i saw was likely to be dangerous to those who should have so little judgment as to admire it . the gent. says , pag. 5. he hath confirm'd his arguments for mr. colebatch ' s doctrine with variety of experiments , but he reserves a far greater number for his service , if i , or any for me , think fit to answer . 't is well he has a reserve , for his variety is small , and not much to his purpose , as we shall see by and by . but let us have them that are ready , and i 'll promise him i 'll never request any gentleman to answer for me , being old enough to speak for my self . well , but the gent. comes first , pag. 6. to consider my arguments , whereby , he says , i endeavour to defend alkali as not being the cause of diseases , for th●… other causes that are not alkalies may be assign'd . but i must tell the gent. there is no such argument in my dialogue ; and had there been such , i should have been asham'd of it , as he ought to be of saying so . it would be but a poor argument , that alkali cannot be the cause of diseases , because other causes may be assign'd : but that alkali cannot be the cause of all diseases , when other causes must be assign'd , is that which i think i have demonstrated . the gent. says , my definition of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , tho' granted , no way militates against the hypothesis of acids . for when we speak of the cause of a disease , which physicians are said to discover and remove , we always suppose the proximate cause , which the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 can never be . but the gent. almost perswades me here that he is more like to be a gentleman than a physician , because he says , we always suppose the proximate cause ; that is , we gentlemen , when as physicians know well that the proximate cause is not the only cause to be discover'd and remov'd : of which i need not give many instances . the various aporrhea of the body , of themselves innoxious by undue retention , are often alter'd and become hostile , which ill qualities are the proximate causes of divers diseases ; the alterations of which ill qualities are far from being the only things to be done , nor is it enough for a physician to endeavour even the ejection of the peccant matter , but the faults of the instruments of secretion are to be amended , as the prime causes of the diseases ; so that if alkali it self unduly retain'd or abounding , were suppos'd the proximate cause of some disease , yet there would be the cause of that retention or abounding , as the chief cause to be known and taken away by the physician . but i fancy the gent. if not a physician , is so much a friend to the practice , he would willingly have the proximate causes only meddled with ; have the pump plyed , rather than the leak stop'd , lest the crew should want employment . the gent. lets the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rest here , so that if we will see what he has farther to say that it can't be the proximate cause of a disease , and so dispatch the subject all together , we must go to the 10th . page , where he falls on him again for contending to have a share with alkali in the cause of diseases . he says , i should have told them what these exorbitant desires of the will of man were , whether desire of money , women , revenge , or popular applause : if i mean these , tyburn gives proofs that by them the blood comes to be retarded , as well as the subtile liquors disorder'd . and i am of the opinion , that if the desire of these would produce or retain such malign particles , as he believes alkalies to be , mr. acid had been mortally sick of them e're now ▪ and if simple man-slaying were death by the law , some acid practitioners might e're now have been unable to secrete their own mortal alkali , by reason of the astringency of their collars , notwithstanding the sourness of the crab-tree . but the gent. says , pag. 11. he will not affirm the production of alkali by the operation of the mind ; but a disappointment of the mind he knows will of a sudden cause a relaxation of the whole systema nervosum , whereby perspiration and all secretions are obstructed , &c. which often happens to women : and by such relaxation of the nerves , and constipation of the pores , there are frequently induced convulsions , &c. and the disappointment is but an antecedent cause , which medicine meddles not with ; but the materia ex qua is alkali's malign particles , whose secretion is thereby prevented , which retain'd is sufficient to produce the most dismal symptoms . here the gent. is profound ! but i would know of him , whether a relaxation of the whole systema nervosum , which he says is caus'd by a sudden passion , be not a disease . but that a relaxation of the nerves should cause such universal obstructions , yea constipations and convulsions , must be found out by some new light in philosophy , that can demonstrate , that loosing is binding and plucking together : but if he had consider'd that some sudden passions of the mind have not only let go into the breeches that which should have been deposited in some more convenient receptacle , but produced universal sweats , he would hardly have been of that opinion . but the gent. defies me to prove that nature ever secretes any thing in a state of health , that will come under the denomination of an acid. a morbid body , says he , when the nerves are relax'd , will sometimes eject the most benign juices , &c. as in scrophulous , cancerous , venereal , and cachectical bodies . here the gent. has caught himself , as i will prove by argumentum ad hominem . nature secretes common salt in the urine plentifully , and saliva in a state of health , both which he has asserted to be acids ever since he has been a proselyte to the doctrine ; therefore nature in a state of health , according to his own opinion , secretes things that will come under the denomination of acids . what 's become of his defiance ? but if he recants , and says these things are not acids , then he loses as much another way , and i 'll ask him what he thinks of the succus pancreaticus , which is secreted into the same place the wicked bile is unloaden . but he stumbles as bad in what follows . the relaxation of the nerves before caus'd obstructions , and retain'd the malign alkali ; but now it ejects the most benign juices , and that in scrophulous , cancerous , venereal , and cachectical bodies , whose recrements , according to the gentleman , are the most benign juices : but i believe these patients , and such as have been too familiar with some of them , sometimes have not found them so friendly . but the gent. takes no notice that the too rapid motion of the blood was assign'd as another morbous effect of sudden passion of the mind . now we must go back to the 7th . page , where the gent. gives his opinion , that the undue conformation of the solid parts is no disease ; but to make his opinion good , he will suppose that they retain their due texture , and duly perform their offices ; he 's a cunning man ! he instances the organs of hearing , seeing , smelling , and tasting , being disproportionate as to size and shape , are not call'd diseases . but if he had consider'd a little , or askt some physician , methinks he might have understood , or been inform'd , that an eye , for instance , being unduely form'd , too flat or too protuberant , the humours too much or too little , too thick or too thin , are the causes of divers defects of sight , a great tongue a hindrance to the speech , &c. he enquires whether a cartilaginous aorta , which , he says , is what physitians call the bone of a stag's heart , did ever cause a distemper ? he might as well have askt physicians , whether ever they heard the stag complain of it . but he is ill inform'd by those that tell him that a gristly artery is a bone in the heart . and now i am speaking of the great artery , it brings into my mind an observation i have read , of divers persons that died with very odd symptoms , whose disease could not be found out or remedied , 'till by dissecting one , there was sound a large worm in the great artery near the heart ; which i think was very unlikely to be produc'd by alkali or acid either . this case was very uncommon , but worms in some parts of the body are very frequent , producing bad effects , and very unlikely to be caus'd by acid or alkali , both of which given are very effectual to destroy them . he says , i cannot assert that ever any man was diseased , or died , because of narrow veins or small lungs . i answer , narrow veins must needs contain less blood , and if disproportionate to the body , ( otherwise i don't call them narrow ) little blood must needs give little heat and vigour , and small lungs must needs receive but little air , and drive on the circulation of the blood more slowly , which enclines to divers diseases . the gent. says farther , he hath often observed in dissecting bodies who have had one kidney obstructed by stones , gravels , &c. that the sound kidney hath been enlarg'd considerably , and hath perform'd the office peculiar to both ; and to prove the distemper'd kidney caus'd by an alkali in such cases , he would have the stones , gravel , &c. examin'd , which will give the phoenomena of the most fixt alkali . here the gent. asserts himself an anatomist , and to have often made dissections , where one of the kidneys hath been useless ; whereby he would seem something besides a gentleman . 't is no very common thing to find one kidney useless : not one dissection perhaps in a hundred gives such a case , yet he has often observ'd it : i confess i never dissected such a body but once , and the other kidney was no larger than ordinary , but that affected was nothing but a bag of stones , and matter , of which stones would have been generated , which was white and soft like a pap or thin mortar , full of stones and grit , not alkali salt. but how one kidney should perform the office peculiar to both , i don't understand ; or how an alkali should be the cause of a kidney : i rather guess it peculiar to the gentleman to talk so . i am sure the examination of the stones will no more prove an alkali the efficient either of the kidney , or stones in it , than the pyrotechnical analysis of bones will demonstrate that any one of the products made them . the calculus will not give the phoenomena of the most sixt alkalies , as he says , but yielding a volatile salt and oyl , leaves a caput mort. insipid , having no signs of a fix'd saline body in it . nor have we such a thing as a sixt alkali in animal or vegetable substances , but it is produced by burning those things that contain the materials of it , nor are alkalies coagulable into stones , without meeting with larger quantities of other matter , which with more reason may be said to be the cause of the unhappy concrete . our gent. tells us , pag. 8. that a large liver is no more a disease than a large nose , but of excellent use to secrete the bile , that most pernicious excrement of the body ; and the larger the liver , the more bile it will secrete , and so much the more we are benefitted . but a large morbid liver he would have granted to be caus'd by a superabundance of gall. the gent. is resolved the gall shall be an excrement , and the most pernicious one , forgetting alkali it self , while the gall is but a compound . but methinks , whoever considers the place into which it is discharged , must be of another opinion , or believe the animal oeconomy very ill contriv'd . if this liquor had no use , but were to be rejected as a mere and pernicious excrement , one would have thought it in vain separated out of the blood , to be poured into the nutritious juice before it enters the lacteal veins ; and the more on 't the better would be very strange . one would have thought a gentleman's nose might have been large enough to smell out some use for the bile , better than to make a large liver ; and for a large liver , better than to make a great deal of bile . but pag. 9. he shews admirable sense , for he tells us , it is from particles of matter admitted into the blood , that is both the cause of the disease , and of the thickness or thinness of the blood ; and the reason he gives is , if there were not a retention of some particles which ought to be carried off , or admission of others that should be prevented , the blood would be neither too thick nor too thin , but always the same . the thickness and thinness of the blood then are both from particles admitted into it , because it would be neither too thick nor too thin , were there not a retention of some that should be carried off , or an admission of some that should be prevented . but what 's this to prove alkali the cause of all diseases , any more than to good sense ? but what comes after is profound , that in physick it may pass for a demonstration , that if you find the blood of one that has the rheumatism , scurvey , or gout , to abound with alkali , and be viscous , and when he is cur'd by the use of acids , you find it yield less alkali , and be florid , and of a good consistence , it is to him a demonstration , the diseases came not from acids but from alkalies . that is , if the blood have indeed too much alkali , and thence be viscous , and the person be cured by acids driving out and diminishing the alkali , and reducing the blood to its due consistence , the disease was caus'd by alkali , and cur'd by acids . that is , if the disease was caus'd by alkalies and cur'd by acids , it was caus'd by alkalies and cur'd by acids ; a wit ! but there 's an if in the case , which makes the argument worth nothing : for if this cannot be found ( as i am sure it has not yet by any certain experiments the acidists have given us ) we are never the better for the supposition . but he says , it will appear that this is matter of fact to any that will make the experiments . and he dares affirm , that i can't produce one instance of a person cured of those distempers by alkalies . but i say he should not be so confident that it will appear so to any man , unless it had appear'd to some one that hath try'd it . and as for his daring affirmation , i dare affirm the contrary . the gent. says again , pag. 12. that i suppose there should be 10 or 20 parts of alkali to one of acid , and from either of these exceeding their proportion , the acid or the alkali may be said to abound , but while they keep to that standard , neither can be suppos'd the cause of a disease . i say still , that whatever the proportions are , either may exceed and cause a disease , the one as well as the other , if there be any such thing as their exceeding ; but when in due proportion , neither can be thought so to do while duely mix'd , but if separated and lodged apart in some place , tho' there is no more than there was in the whole body , yet the part where the separated acid or alkali is lodged , may soon suffer their bad effects . but if there may be suppos'd 20 parts of alkali to one of acid in a man in a state of health , ( tho' i believe there is a greater difference ) yet it may well be thought that the proportion differs in divers persons , though all in health , yea in the same person at divers times , though he be well ; wherefore his inferences that these proportions are constantly to be found is not natural , nor does he imagine how hard it will prove to find them , if he should attempt it . but he says , he has been in health for some years , and so his blood must , on this supposition , have abounded with such like proportions of acid and alkali . that is , suppose in a state of health a man's blood should have 20 parts of alkali to one of acid , the gentleman being in a state of health must have his blood abound with acid and alkali ; he abounds in acid discourse ! and supposes they are in due proportion , yet he says it follows they abound , yea and both at the same time . he ought , he says , therefore to have a care that what he eats and drinks should have but one part of acid , to 10 or 20 of alkali , but he has taken other measures , for he has drank within this year one quart of crab verjuice in 24 hours , which was sufficient to impregnate his blood with six times the quantity . he 's a crabbed gentleman , i believe ; but i suppose he would not be thought to drink a quart every day for this twelve months , but in some one day within the time ; however we don't know , but that he may have a very large liver , from whence he may abound with the pernicious alkalous excrement gall , and that must meet with his verjuice before it get into the blood , unless it has discover'd a way through the undiscover'd passages at the bottom of the stomach ; or his blood may abound with alkali , and so he may bear more sharp doses than some folks can . besides , if he will believe what dr. john his master hath taught him , viz. that the blood can't ever abound with acids , either in a morbid or healthy state ; for the stomach will reject whatever is too much , but is often defective in conveying in enough , and that there is never any acid in the blood but in a state of perfect health . i say , if he believes this as he ought to do , all the store at the verjuice coffee-house will neither hurt him , nor help him . but on the contrary to what he asserts , i my self , and many others are as healthy as he , as vegete and sprightly , and yet eat mostly things abounding with alkalies , as fresh meat , fowls , fish , milk , &c. and neither love nor want sour sauces to help the appetite , and find nothing so hurtful as acids . but the gentleman i am perswaded commends acids rather for the wealth they bring the doctor , than the health they bring the patient ; for the doctor seldom takes physick . but he says , he could give a multitude of instances , where gentlemen have complain'd of their diseases being exasperated by taking medicines , phisicians call alkalies , but soon wonderfully reliev'd by acids , the truth of which a multitude of apothecaries in this city will inform you . the gentleman i find is a fellow citizen with his physician , and needs not much epistolary conversation with him . and we cannot but think he would now be thought some man of great practice , though he was shy at first , and call'd himself a gentleman , when a multitude of gentlemen make their complaints to him . but he would , i suppose , have gentlemen-patients , to whom there is little odds whether he speak sense or no ; if he be but confident , and so professes himself a gentleman . but those medicines , he says , they complain of , tho' physicians call them alkalies , possibly gentlemen may call acids , and sometimes do cures with them , and relieve the patients : for i believe , i shall find the gentleman but an ill judge before i have done . but we are to be inform'd of the truth of the gentleman's assertion , by a multitude of apothecaries . i confess , i never thought it worth while to enquire , but i never heard any one such story related by an apothecary , or his boy , tho' i have been in town ever since the wonders of acids have been talk'd of ; but i have been told of divers mortal cures soon done by the acid method , even in diseases that seldom use to kill , and in such patients as have often been recover'd by alkalies . the gent. says , pag. 13. that i assert there may be acid enough in the blood to cause a disease , tho' it will not turn the syrup of violets green , but have not proved it . no truly , i have not proved it , nor ever was such a fool as to assert that acid would turn the syrup of violets green . but if he will try , i 'll warrant him he may inject acid enough into the blood to cause a disease , and kill , and yet he shall not find the serum of the diseased blood turn syrup of violets red . the gent. saith , pag. 14. that from the 24 page of my dialogue to the 29 , there 's nothing but scurrility , and quotations out of etmuller , hossman , helmont and hypocrates , so that the strength of my arguments depend altogether upon an ipse dixit . as for what he calls scurrility , i shall not excuse it , the recitation of john's panegyrical abuse of the college , and dull praise of his own admired self , must needs bring some ill language into the pages ; nor did i , without the advise of the wisest man , answer a fool according to his folly , lest he be wise in his own eyes . but the gent. seeing something he did not like , or care any more to stir in , makes too much hast over the 5 pages , or else he might have seen some notable quotations out of colbatch de assheadis , viz. that the blood has never any acid in it , but in a state of perfect health . that all persons have some degree of sickness . that overmuch fatness , if it may be call'd a disease , is caus'd by acids . yet that acids ( tho' never in the blood , but in perfect health ) mortifie and expel the luxuriant alkalous particles , make the thick blood thin , and the thin blood thick : but that he that can shew how this is done , must be as wise as the wisest man that ever was , or shall be ; but yet he tells us how acids do these things , by being differently specified with other things . therefore the gentleman has not done genteely by me , in saying , there was nothing in the 5 pages but scurrility , and quotations out of helmont , hoffman , hypocrates , and etmuller , whose ipse dixit's i hope are yet as good arguments with the physical world , as colbatch's , or any small author 's of greater confidence , and little time , and practice . he says also that i have falaciously taught a wrong way of experimenting , whether acids will thicken and coagulate the blood ; for he understands that i made my experiments on blood that had stood , when the grumous part was coagulated , which is a very irrational way . i answer , his understanding is too short , i did not make a few experiments on blood , or a few ways ; i have not only tryed blood when cold , or in a porringer , but let it run out of the vein unto acid , and other liquors , and that diluted , and with warm water . if the acid be much it will make a great alteration ; if little , proportionally ; but tho' it be so little as to make no alteration sensible to the eye , yet the acid particles may pin together some of the globules of the blood , so as to make a figure , and size , that will not pass some small vessel or other , and that stop more , and that stagnated blood may corrupt , and get a peregrine ferment , and either produce some topical maladie , or excite some disorderly fermentation in the blood that presses upon it . but as to the gentleman's question , whether acids diluted and taken inwardly will coagulate the blood when its warm , fluid , and perpetually circulating through it's channels , and a due commixture made of all its parts with whatever is ingested ? i answer , this question amounts to this , whether the blood will be coagulated by acids while it retains its due motion and consistence ; that is , in short , whether the blood will be coagulated while it is uncoagulated ? a wise question ! but he tells us , to convince us , that acids will not coagulate the blood when judiciously used , ( judiciously , that is i suppose by the prescription of an acid , dr. or else they may . ) we may take 4 or 5 drops of oyl of vitriol , or sp. of niter in 3 or 4 spoonfuls of water ; &c. such a proportion of acid is as much , or more than can be admitted into the blood at any time , when taken inwardly . but how does the gentleman know that no more can be admitted ? why he says so , and he 'd have us believe him . well we will for once ; but then say i , i doubt acids will do no wonders in casting out the devil alkali : for suppose a man should have 12 ounces of alkali in him ( which is a small quantity to what may well be supposed , ) but by some error in diet , or by some other means he has 13 or 14 ounces ; 4 or 5 drops of oyl of vitriol , or sp. of niter will do very little towards expelling , or mortifying an ounce or 2 of alkali , as any one may see by mixing such quantities ; nor can the gentleman ensure that small cargo of acid to arrive safe into the designed port , but ten to one some part of it may be lost by the way , splitting on some alkalous rock in the stomach , or be pyrated by the gall , and so carried another way out of the body . but tho' there is great doubt what may become of it if given inwardly , yet it is certain it may be mixt in what quantity one pleases in a porringer ; but then whether the porringer would not borrow a little of it , or lend it some matter to make sacch . saturni of , i suppose the gent. never enquired , or whether the goose quill he stirs it with , and the water does not do more to hinder its coagulation , than the acids did to hinder or promote it . but we come to the gentleman's experiments . he tells us , the way to make experiments on blood is , having open'd a vein , begin to drop your acid mixture into the porringer , and agitate it with a goose quill till the blood is cold . and by this method , be says , he has with oyl of vitriol , and sp. of niter , &c. preserved blood fluid , and also free from putrefaction , the last of which , is what neither volatil , nor sixt alkalies will do , as may be seen by the following experiments . experiment 1. he mix'd with 5 or 6 ounces of blood , 6 drops of 🝆 of 🜖 diluted in 2 ounces of water , and it preserved the blood fluid , gave it a better colour and consistency than some of the same he mix'd nothing with , he kept it in a viol 18 days , and it was equally free from any smell , or signs of putrefaction , as when it stream'd from the vein . in answer to which i say , he is not sure that the 2 ounces of water would not do more towards keeping the blood fluid , thin , and of a bright colour , than the 6 drops of 🝆 of 🜖 could do one way or other . but to do the gent. all right , and to answer fairly to his experiments , i try'd them more nicely than he did : for i took the same proportion of 🝆 of 🜖 and water that he did , and having made it just blood-warm in the viol , i let the blood of a healthy young man run from the vein into it , till i had that just quantity by weight in proportion to the 🝆 of 🜖 and water , and shaking them well together , and stoping the viol with a cork , i set it by : it soon look'd of a muddy black colour , and being open'd at 14 days it began to stink . experiment 2. the like proportion of blood , he says , he mix'd with 30 drops of oyl of tartar , in 2 ounces of water , it seem'd to remain fluid in the porringer ; but having let it stand close stop'd in a viol 3 or 4 days , the grumous part was precipitated , and it stunk most intollerably , and the smell was like that proceeding from a dead body , whose lungs or other vicera have been vlcerated . the gentleman has 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this experiment , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 blood was like that of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have been exulce●●●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doubtless , that can dis●●●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 parts from that of all 〈◊〉 flesh corrup●●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wonder if he don't conclude the exulceration of the lungs proceeds from oyl of tartar ! but i try'd this experiment also , after the same manner i did the former ; i open'd it at 4 days , and it had no more ill smell than when it came from the vein ; at 8 days i open'd it again , it was likewise free from any ill smell ; so again at 12 days , at 14 , and at 18 , and at 23 , and at 28 days , it look'd well , and had no ill smell , when some blood that had nothing but the proportion of water stunk in half the time . experiment 3. he mix'd , he says , with the like quantity of blood , 20 drops of sp. of 🜖 , dulc . in 2 ounces of water , and it preserv'd the blood fluid , gave it a better colour , hindering its parts from subsiding , nor did it stink in the least while he kept it , which was 20 or 30 days . in this experiment the 20 drops of sp. of 🜖 dulc . must have at least 10 of sp. of wine , which we know will preserve blood. but i tryed this also as i did the foregoing , and having kept it 14 days it stunk much , and look'd no better than that in which was nothing but water . but in his 4 experiment he says he mixed 30 drops of sp of 🜖 , with 4 ounces of blood , and it preserv'd it fluid ; but after 7 or 8 days he open'd the viol , and it sent forth a very offensive stink . i also try'd this experiment , as i did the others , and open'd the viol at 8 days , at 12 days , at 16 days , and at 20 days , and it had no ill smell at all , lastly at 28 days was thin , and of better colour and consistence than the blood in any of the other experiments , and had no ill smell ; but that with the 🝆 of 🜖 look'd worst of all . the gent. adds , if these four experiments are not enough to convince the dr. of the falsehood of my assertion , he has variety of others at his service . i answer , he whose commanding requests oblig'd the gentleman to write , needs no more to convince him . but i think if they will serve him no better than these have done , he will do better to keep his service to himself . the gent. says , pag. 17. that whereas i argue a juvantibus & ledentibus , and say that acids are seen often to hurt in hypochondriack , hysterick and scor●utical cases , and in vlcers , issues , &c. which on the contrary are relieved by alkalies , but he has 〈◊〉 my bare word for it . i say my word is as good as anothers ; but i could give observations not only of my own , but of divers famous physicians : but no authorities , but those of acid doctors , are any thing to the acid gentleman ; who farther says , should he undertake effectually to prove that acids are the only medicines which cure those diseases i have named , it must be by enumerating observations of cures perform'd by them , which would make his epistle too long . here the gentleman speaks well ; for if he should prove that acids , are the only medicines that cure these diseases , he must not only enumerate all the acid doctors cures , ( who i am well inform'd often cure sine recidiva ) but he must enumerate all the cures that have been done in the world of these diseases , and ascertain us that all of them were done by acids , which would indeed be too long for a letter to a man of business . but i believe he would in his own practice hardly be able to give us many instances of ulcers cur'd with nothing but acids , or be willing to be dress'd with nothing else himself . but to save the vast labour , he gives us a catalogue of some of the most celebrated medicines used in curing those distempers , as steel in its best preparations , all the acid spirits and elixirs , crem . tart. tart. vitriolat . sal. succini , &c. and refers to dr. colbatch his authority . but i must tell the gentleman , dr. colbatch his authority , and his reasoning , are no better one than the other . steel , acid spirits , &c. he says are the most celebrated medicines in use , in the cure of the foremention'd diseases . ergo , those diseases are cur'd by nothing else : and would that be good logick , yet the medicines enumerated are not all acids , or cure as such , as we may have occasion to shew before we have done . but our gent. says , pag. 18. he won't believe me that an acid can be got from blood or vrine , of either healthy , or diseased persons , because i have not told him the process . answer , i thought i had told it plain enough to any one that understands a little chymistry : and i can make him believe it very easily , but that i don't write to teach gentlemen chymistry , but to shew them the ignorance , and groundless confidence and danger of acid quacks . but he complains farther , that i will not teach him the legerdemain of mixing alk. and acid , so that no acid , but an alka●ous liquor shall be distill'd from it . an alk. and acid ; so that neither alk. nor acid , shall be obtain'd , but a salsum . again an alk. and acid , so that neither alk. acid , nor salsum shall be obtain'd , but an oleum . i must confess , these tricks are legerdemain , and till he understands a little chymical legerdemain , he will never comprehend them , and i beg his excuse for not teaching them , there is something more than ordinary in them , and they must not be profaned . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . but i will demonstrate the truth of any of these operations , when ever i shall have a sufficient reason for so doing . the gentleman also says , the natural or artificial conjunction of an acid and an alkali , which i say will make a salsum , he calls an acid , because the acid is most predominant , and does operate as such ; for tartar vitriolat . which i call a salsum , dissolved in water , will work upon steel as manifestly as sp. of 🜖 , which is allow'd to be an acid. i answer , he may call it an ass-head , if he will ; but i say , where the ass-head is predominant , there is not the true salt savour ; and tartar vitriolat . if it be a salsum as it should , be has neither the ac. nor al. predominate ; nor does its working on steel prove it to be an acid , or to operate as such ; as the gentleman himself , being better inform'd , and forgetting what he had said , asserts , pag. 43. iron , says he , will be dissolv'd by acid , alkali , or sal nutrum , and instances in sp. of vrin , sp of 🜖 , crem . tartar , tartar vitriolat . and com. salt. the gent. asserts farther , pag. 19. that common salt , by often dissolving and crystalizing , will be so deprived of its bittern , as to act as an acid by dissolving steel , &c. but if you would do it at once , you must put an ounce of sp of 🜖 into 2 quarts of solution of salt , and then evaporate , &c. and you will have the salt much more wholesome , and useful in all cases ; and pag. 20. having thus proved sea salt to be an acid , he cannot imagine how it should be the cause of the scurvy , when there 's scarce a better medicine known for its cure than sp. of 🜖 . i answer , the gentleman having quitted his opinion , ( as before said ) pag. 43. that the solution of steel is an argument of the dissolvents being an acid , i hope he will alter his opinion in other things where he is mistaken , or at least see he hath contradicted himself , as his master acid used to do . but if he adds sp. of 🜖 to his com. 🜖 , i confess that may work as an acid in it , and do what the salt would not do , but it will not be more wholesome or better in all cases ; for bittern it self is good for something , tho' the gentleman's master colbatch hath damn'd it . so if sp. of salt were a medicine , good for the scurvy , it does not follow that common salt too much eaten may not cause it . and as to the gentleman's assertion , that there 's scarce a better medicine known for the scurvy than sp. of salt , i say he talks as old wives use to do ; whatever they have heard commended , they will say is the best thing in the world. but let it be good ; yet , if i thought he would not be angry , because i don't tell what , i would affirm , i know 2 or 3 better medicines for the scurvy . but he adds , the scurvy being the symptom of a putrefaction of the juices of our bodies , it will still look more like a paradox , that salt which is the known preservative of dead flesh , should be the cause of putrefaction in that which is alive . i answer , a putrefaction in the juices of living bodies , except in sores and ulcers , has not i think been shewn : but it is certain , that which will preserve dead bodies , would kill living ones ; as drying ▪ for instance : and i believe even an acid doctor , if he were sous'd , or hang'd up in a chimney a little while with bacon , ( tho' he were very well salted first ) would soon be of this opinion . so sp. of wine , tho' it preserves flesh , being drunk in too large a quantity will make corrupt work , in the vital oeconomy ; yea , i don't question but 🝆 of 🜖 crab verjuice , or lemons , and oranges themselves , may be taken in quantities large enough to kill a man , as i believe some persons have experimented . nor is the gentleman 's reasoning more sharp , in saying , nor will the want of the spiritual parts of flesh , and fish , appear to be the cause of any disease , when physicians prescribe to venerial patients , flesh roasted or boyled to driness , and such other food as yields the least of spirituous , and volatile alkalous parts ; as water-gruel , bisket , &c. physicians ( whether they do wisely or no 't is no matter ) prescribe things that yield the least volatile alkalous , and spiritual parts in the pox , ergo the want of spirituous and volatile parts in our meat , can't be the cause of any disease . but i believe the gentleman's physician never prescrib'd him flesh boyl'd to dryness . but he rejoyns as sharply , that if he did not design brevity , he could bring instances to prove that acids are not the cause of the scurvy , but the only salubrious medicines in use against that distemper . i answer , it is good to be brief ; but i don't know that i ever said acids are the cause of the scurvy , and therefore he says nothing against me . but to prove they are the only salubrious medicines in use for this disease , he must know all the medicines that are in use , and their success . but instead of this , he gives us only a story that another worthy gentleman told him , that having been long troubl'd with the scurvy , by reading doctor colbatch ' s tracts , he was prevail'd upon to eat lemons stoutly , by which method he recover'd , after the ineffectual use of the prescripts of the physicians of the best repute . this is what the gent. has to say , to perswade us that acids are not the cause , but the only medicines in the cure of the scurvy . one gentleman told another ; but were gentlemen infallible in connecting causes , and effects ( as physicians are not ) yet the single matter of fact comes to us but upon the word of an unknown gentleman , who 't is said was so lucky as to meet with mr. colbatch his tracts , whereby ( not to omit the best of the story ) he became such a prodigious lemon eater , as that he soon arriv'd to the perfection of eating 30 in a day , this was a perfection the quaker never attain'd , 't is pity he conceals his name , i believe he might make himself as famous as will. joy , or the great cock-eater . the gent. shews , pag. 21. that he has misapprehended me , for i never said as he would make me ; that we lose more in weight , sitting still in a frosty morning , than if we were in the bagnio , or that the coldness and moisture of the air opens the pores to promote perspiration . but i say still , there is certainly more matter carried off by insensible perspiration , than by sweating , taking one time with another ; and that a fresh air promotes perspiration , is not only proved by seamens eating more , and voiding less other excrements than those at land , but is reasonably concluded from the consideration of the dissolving power of the air , whereby any tenacious matter in the surface of the body stopping the pores is removed ; and perhaps this is a chief reason that a clear air is so beneficial to divers sick persons ; and tho' the air at sea may be suppos'd more moist than the air at land , yet the sea certainly sends up fewer clammy effluvia than the land , that abounds with so many sulphurous matters . again he says , pag. 22. that i confess i can't see how an acid can be separated from sea salt when in the blood , and yet i affirm in the next page , that acids are found separated in farther recesses than the stomach and guts . i answer , i did not then only confess , but do profess still , i don't see how an acid can be distill'd from sea salt in the blood , &c. yet i affirm that acids have been found in farther recesses than the stomach and guts ; as the gent. also does , pag. 33. instancing the pancreatick juice . but i did not say from sea salt ; for there are divers other things eaten and drank , that are indeed acid , or capable of being made so , without the help of a strong fire . and i affirm ( as all physicians that consider will acknowledge ) contrary to the inconsiderate assertion of the gentleman , that there are other separations to be made of our food , ( tho' not of sea salt , which is ejected as it went in ) requisite besides a dissolution of their texture , or else the various juices of our bodies could not be maintained and repaired . the gentleman , pag. 23. talks of the relation i gave of mr. smith's death , by tasting an acid liquor in a cistus of a cancerous breast , more like a gentleman than a physician . for he saith , a man that is poisoned is commonly delirious on his death-bed , and 't is not unusual to hear such accuse the most proper medicine as the cause of their death . if he had been a little inform'd of the nature of poison , he would have learnt that poison is a general name common to many different and opposite things , that kill in small quantity with various and opposite symptoms , and does not always make men delirious , neither can he suppose this cancerous liquor was given mr. smith as a medicine . but supposing mr. smith was poison'd , ( adds he ) it will follow according to my assertion , it was not done by an acid , because i could not see how an acid spirit can be separated from any thing while in the blood. i answer , i don't know where i said an acid could not be separated from any thing in the blood , but that sp. of salt could not be distill'd there ; but had i said so , it will not follow that mr. smith was not poison'd by that liquor , or that it was not an acid ; for that liquor doubtless was produced in the part by a preternatural fermentation , after whatever was the matter of it was separated from the blood. but he adds , granting it a strong acid , how will you account for its not making way throw the breast before amputation ? i answer , very easily ; no dissolvent tho' ever so strong acts in an instant , but must have time ; that had not time enough to do it . i will hold aq. fortis , or a stronger liquor in my hand without dissolving it . but he says farther , if it had been an acid it could not fail of raising an escar on mr. smith ' s tongue , and that would have fill'd his mouth with a stink , far surpassing that of any acid liquor . here the gent. forgets himself , and contradicts what he endeavour'd before to prove , viz. that acids preserve from corruption and stink ; but he shews himself but a small surgeon , and little acquainted with chymical liquors . for an escar does not stink so soon , tho' made with acids , nor do the strongest acids make them so hastily : i will taste aq. fortis , or any common acid at any time without hurting my tongue , but i can shew him an acid liquor that stinks , worse than any mortified flesh he ever saw . but he presumes that the physician who told me this story had the care of mr. smith , and fail'd not in giving the most celebrated alkalies , which , it appears did him no service , wherefore he believes the liquor be tasted did not kill him , without other help . but to shew that all this is indeed presumption , i will bring the gentleman to the physician , if he pleases , before whom i am perswaded he will not so presume . but the gent. says , pag. 24. that my supposition , that if the blood in the small pox , scurvy , and gout , yields more alkali , it is hence that the acid is precipitated and fix'd in the extremities by meeting alkalies , is overthrown by analyzing the chalkey substance in the gout , which exhibits the phenomena of alkalies . i rejoyn , i hope the gent. will not any more urge that the chalkey substance in the gout , yielding the phenomena of alkalies , overthrows what i said in the small pox , and scurvy ; nor does it , say i , necessarily disprove my assertion even in the gout ; for i have told him that an acid and an alkali joyn'd , will sometimes yield no acid in distillation , but an alkali , as i can demonstrate at any time , tho' i have not yet thought sit to teach proud empyricks , or all sorts of gentlemen the art of chymical legerdemain , whereby i can demonstrate that all the experiments the gentleman builds upon are fallacious . he says also that he knows 't is difficult to give judgment to a grain in the distillation of blood , yet the difference is so manifest between morbid and sound blood , that 60 or more grains may be allow'd for perspiration , deficiency of fire , or waste in large glasses , &c. but i tell him , neither he nor his doctor have made experiments enough , or nice enough , to find a certain difference . but if we should suppose that the blood does in some diseases yield by distillation more alkali than in health , it will not follow that the disease was caus'd by alkali , but the alkali may rather be suppos'd the effect of the disease ; for it is well known , that even bodies that will yield large quantities of acid in distillation and no alkali , will by a fermentative heat be so alter'd , as to yield a great deal of alkali and no acid ; and in like manner the preternatural ferment in some diseases may so alter the liquors of our bodies , as that they may yield more alkali , and less or no acid. but the gentleman says , pap . 25. my experiment of the saliva's turning the syrup of violets green , does not prove that it is not impregnated with a manifest acid , which is what dr. colebatch asserts ; for there are a multitude of other bodies which will turn the syrup green , yet have in them a manifest acid , as oyls and vinous spirits , which tho' they have a manifest acid , yet it s so sheath'd in the other parts of the fluid , that it cannot be unlock'd or set at liberty , to exert it self by so dammy a body as syr. of violets , yet they operate on other bodies by vertue of their acid , as oyl of turpentine will dissolve copper , the acid in sulphur , turpentine , spittle makes quicksilver easily embody with them ; and because i say , it s from the turpentine's consisting of ramous and flexible parts , he thinks it is the same with saying , they consist of nothing at all ; for 'till i shew him those ramous and flexible parts , he must belive it is from the acid that they embody with mercury . what the gentleman says now is much to the purpose , i hope he will help to bring the acidists to sense . for if the saliva's turning the syrup green , does not prove that it is not impregnated with , and does not act as a manifest acid , then the serum of blood 's turning syrup of violets green , does not prove that to abound with an alkali , and not to be an acid ; and so what mr. colebatch asserts is a mistake , and his criterion fallible , and so the ground of his hypothesis is gone , and the gentleman must take his doctrine merely upon his word . and if there are a multitude of other bodies which turn syr. of violets green , that are to be denominated acids from their quality , of which if they were divested , they would fail of their intension which they perform with it , as he says , pag. 26. then gentlemen can be no more judges of his master colebatch's hypothesis . but how the gentleman should assert that vinous spirits and oyl of turpentine , &c. have manifest acids , i can't tell , unless the constant use of crab verjuce makes all things relish so with him , for i am sure he never made it manifest to any that was not an acidist ; and that oyl of turpentine's acid can't be unlockt by the clammy body of syr. of violets , and yet that it works upon the much more tough body of copper , is very strange if true ; but it 's stranger that things consisting of ramous parts should be consisting of nothing , or that whatever is not done by particles a gentleman can see must be done by acid ; but the gentleman must believe it , and who can help it ? but he professes he will not believe me , that insipid calxes will kill quicsiklver , till i tell him more of it , for he knows none that will hold it so long as saline or acid bodies . well , because he is now a gentleman , i will tell him more of it than i did before . i did not say that calxes indifferently will hold quicksilver so long as any saline or acid bodies , what the calxes of gold and silver may do , i will leave to them that have made all the enquiry into the nature of metals human industry is capable of . i know it will amalgam with metals that destroy acids , but if you take almost any calx , or earth not too dry , you may rub mercury in it so as to lose sight of it , and so as you shall not be able to separate it but by fire : yea mercury is so ready to be concern'd with things that are no acids , that it will become invisibly embodied with common water , and the parts and humours of a man's body , notwithstanding all his alkalies in sickness and in health . the gentleman says , the trials i made on saliva being of that taken from sound persons often eating and drinking acids , he understands acids did not impair their health . i answer , he does understand no such thing , for acid did often so much towards impairing , that had they not used alkalous things to over balance them , they would not have been sound long . and tho' in the distillation , as he minds me , i found a salsum in the cap. mort. from which an acid might be got , yet that salsum i take to be nothing but sea salt , which would not be turned into an acid otherwise than by a strong fire . our gentleman remarks also , that i say , saliva when evaporated yielded a grateful smell : but his dr. knows that nutmegs , cinnamon , &c. and all odoriferous vegetables abound with acid and sulphur , from whence proceed their grateful smells ; it is not then reasonable to conclude , that that pleasant smell in the saliva came from acid and sulphur ? i reply , the dr. knows no such thing , he never saw sulphur in , or got from aromatick or odoriferous plants , nor does their smell proceed from sulphur and acid , but from pure oyls ; the smell of sulphur every body knows is not pleasant , but mixed with oyls both become abominable stinkers . but he gives a reason , such as it is , for all animal substances when tending to corruption , emitting a noxious smell , and from them in that state he cannot find a salsum as i did from saliva . but i say , that from animal substances in a state of corruption i can find a salsum , as from blood , urine , &c. tho' he can't . the gentleman in answer to what i said of the stomach , that there 's no need of an acid there , and that my stomach is best when there 's not so much as to curdle milk ; replies , that there may be an acid in the stomach , tho' not so much as to curdle milk ; for a small quantity of wine , nay vinegar diluted in water , pour'd slowly into milk will not curdle it , and wines have in them a manifest acid ; and vegetables , in whom acid abounds , decocted in milk will not coagulate it . i answer , a small quantity of acid , tho' not enough to coagulate milk pour'd into it slowly , will yet do it if digested in a heat like that of the stomach ; but wines are not manifestly acid , unless they taste four ; and the vegetables he talks of are nameless . he says farther , pag. 27. to convince me that the saliva acts as an acid , he will enquire what juices are brought into the stomach to cause hunger , and he can find none but the saliva ; therefore he concludes hunger is caus'd by the juice strain'd from the salival glands , and in fevers , when that moisture is deficient , there is no desire of food ; and also that lemons and oranges cause hunger ; and if hunger is caus'd only by acids , he would have me prove what juice is brought into the stomach from any other part that yields more acid. the gentleman is so profound at reasoning , one must sometimes have a long line to fish for his arguments . come on then , let us try to catch this . the saliva acts as an acid ; and why ? because he can find no other juice brought into the stomach to cause hunger ; and if hunger is caus'd only by acids , i must prove some other juice brought in from some other part that yields more . well , but if hunger is not caus●d by acids , or by juices , and he has prov'd neither , then the argument is gone . yes , but lemons and oranges cause hunger ; then , i say , the saliva may be excus'd from that office , since acid doctors are so ready to convey them in . i wish they don't breed a famine . but in fevers , when the saliva is wanting , there 's no appetite . but 't is no matter , since lemons and oranges are more sharp than the saliva it self , for the very thoughts of them , will put a man's mouth in disorder . but if one may speak freely to a gentle man , i must tell him , a clown would have given a better reason of hunger , that it is caus'd most commonly by want of victuals , and not by swallowing ones spittle , or eating lemons and oranges ; for if one do neither , yet fasting will bring that sense ; and if one can get neither lemons nor oranges , the want of a breakfast or two , will make one have a stomach to ones dinner . but the gentleman comes to prove mr. colebatch's opinion , that there are some vessels passing from the bottom of the stomach to the kidneys ; and he confesses he could never find them in all the bodies he hath dissected . i believe so . gentlemen don't use to dissect bodies very oft ; but yet to prove these undiscover'd canula's , he gives us the authority of several stories ; one of a man that voided by urine great quantities of herbs , and two pills . of another that voided a leaden bullet the same way . and of a third , that pissed the stones of raisins . of others that piss'd needles , alkekengi , and melon-seeds , &c. besides he has observed the urine has been perfum'd in 10 or 12 minutes , by eating asparagus , or taking oyl of turpentine . now , say i , if we admit these stories to be true as to matter of fact , it does not prove these undiscover'd passages , unless the gentleman could prove that these things could pass no other way ; but as for those things that may be suppos'd to pass through very small passages , there are such discover'd , thro' which they are more like to pass , than thro' these that are so very small , if any , that no body could ever see them . but perhaps there is some law in nature , that those passengers that are permitted to go the short way to the kidneys , must shut the door after them . the gent. is not pleas'd , pag 30 , and 31. that i assign a considerable use to the gall ; but he has either not considerately read , or mis-represented what i said of it . he says , that the dung affording a fixt salt ( as i told him ) like that obtain'd from the bile , and the chyle not appearing ting'd with greenness , nor milk yielding any such fixt salt , are indications that the gall is carried down with the rest of the excrements , but not mix'd with the chyle ; neither , thinks he , will the narrowness of the venae lacteae admit so thick a liquor as the gall. i answer , i did not say that the gall was carried into the venae lecteae , and mix'd with the chyle there , tho' it must be thought to receive its supply that way ; as all the rest of juices of the body do . but any one will confess ( except he that thinks himself bound to say any thing to defend a senseless error ) that the gall cannot issue forth into the duodenum , without being mixed with the chyle , where it may very profitably seize the inimical acid , and carry it out at the back-door of the body . but the gent. goes on to defame this notable part in the vital machine , and if what he says of it were true , one might think the body might have been contriv'd better , than that such an enemy should be placed in so inward a recess , at liberty to disgorge its venom into the nutritious juice . and he possitively affirms , that the gall●s presence in the guts can be of no use , but to be in a way of being ejected by stool . if it can be of no use we can●t help it . but the gent. hath not proved it usless . but he says , if it be detain'd in the guts , the consequences are dismal , yet if any quantities pass downwards , a ▪ diarrhea ensues , &c. 't is dismal indeed , that whether it stay or go its morbous effects are inevitable . i thought he said 't was all to be ejected by stool , yet if it go that way we must have a flux . when the bile is brought into the stomach , i agree with the gentleman , it causes disorders ; but viscera , as he calls it , i think is a new name for the stomach . but he says , it may be known that the colick , iliaca passio , diarrhea , are symptoms produced from that juice by the excrements being ting'd therewith . but i say that is not a sufficient argument , but these symptoms may be caus'd by too much acid , wherewith it is loaded , and he should have used another sense beside seeing , to know whether the gall were too much in the mixture ; i believe he would hardly taste it bitter . but the gentleman goes on to accuse the wickedness of the gall , pag. 32. in two instances , one of a gentleman he help'd to dissect , having many defects in him , but particularly that the gall-bladder was empty . another of a child , who had the same defects . but there is nothing in the relations , if true , that will prove that those defects found in the bodies were caus'd by too much gall , rather than that they were occasion'd by too little ; so i shall pass it , only taking notice of two things remarkable . 1. that gentlemen may dissect one another . 2. that if it be true as he says , that those bodies stink soonest , in whom the gall bladder is found empty , then the gall must needs be allow'd to be at least a preservative against corruption . but he comes to arguments , to convince us that acids are admitted into the blood ; and that he does , by putting us in mind of the pancreatick juice , which , he says , is manifestly acid to the tast . and the chyle taken from the venae lactae of a dog he tasted manifestly acid , when it has been kept some time ; and from milk's turning sour . but he had no need to prove that against me , for i never said the gall kept out all the acid , but only hindred that so much , as otherwise would , goes not in . but as for discerning the acidity of the pancreatick juice , or of the dog 's chyle , that , as he says , had stood , ( and turned sour ) by his taste ; it is no good evidence , because he takes so many acid draughts in a day , that his mouth , i doubt , can hardly ever be free from a sour relish ; and if we had not better reason than his evidence , we should doubt of the pancreatick juices acidity . the gent. has a farther attempt , pag. 35. to take off what i said , as to acids coagulating and corrupting blood , flesh , skin , tendons , &c. and he tells us again , my experiments were tryed a fallacious way , for the oyl of vitriol alone will coagulate blood when it 's cold , and a separation made of its grumous parts from the serum , yet if it be diluted in a proper quantity of an aqueous vehicle , which is the method of giving such acids , it will preserve the blood fluid , and free from putrefaction . i answer , the oyl of vitriol will coagulate the blood , and alter its due texture , before there is a separation made of the serum , yea , while in the veins , if injected ; and in all reason that which will coagulate much in such or such a quantity , will do it a little in a small quantity . but water will certainly dilute and make thin the blood ; and perhaps two ounces of water will do more to thin the blood , than two or three drops of oyl of vitriol to thicken it , if they always accompany one another ; and i do not think it possible to give so much oyl of vitriol in at the mouth as is enough to coagulate the mass of blood in the veins , without killing by something it will do before it comes there ; but oyl of vitriol , and such like things , being not subject to the ferments of our bodies , and not so easily carried off by our heat as water , if they come into the blood , must have their being some where or other , and if they six and adhere to any particular part , may cause a small coagulation there , or by thickning the blood retard its motion , or by retarding its motion thicken it , and so give occasion to some stoppage in some small veins ; and wherever the blood stagnates it will be coagulated and corrupted , tho' the thing that caus'd the stagnation were not the immediate cause of the coagulation and corruption . but if oyl of vitriol and such acids be so excellent to thin the blood , and consequently accellerate its motions , i would know what gentlemen give it for in feavers , and such like distempers , rather than sp. of sal. armon . which will do so ; if it cools , i should think it is by retarding the rapid motion of the blood , and if the blood run slow it is more apt to coagulate . but perhaps gentlemen acidists give it not , because it retards , or accelerates the blood , thickens it , or thins it , cools it or heats it , but merely because it is an acid , and will do every thing , and that because mr. colebatch says , acids are the only medicines that cure all diseases , he is sure of it , ( tho' he does no more cures , except deadly ones , than others ) and his little satelites must say so , tho' neither he nor they can tell how it operates , or why they give it . but the gent. urges farther , that 2 ounces of sp. of niter in a convenient quantity of water , ( what that is he wont tell us ) preserved an embrio . and 't is the acid of salt preserves flesh and fish from putrefaction : for if you divest the salt of its acid , what remains will never do the business . vinegar and salt preserve cucumbers , capers , &c. i answer , 2 ounces of sp. of sal. armon or of a ●ixivium , yea or bittern , that wicked thing , in a convenient quantity of water , will do as much , or more ; but why ? not because they are call'd acid or alkali , but because they are saline bodies , which in such quantities hinder fermentation . so sea salt , not because it is call'd an acid , or an alkali , or a s●●sum , but because it hinders that inward motion of the particles of flesh , &c. that would bring it to corruption . but whether what remains , will do the like , when sea salt is divested of its acid , mr. acid , nor his gentleman ever tryed : for i must tell them what i find they are ignorant of , that sea salt will be distill'd all into spirit , and be reduced all into sea salt again , it is so homogeneous a body . but perhaps he means the earth , with which it is distill'd , will not do . it is from the same reason that salt and vinegar preserve cucumbers , &c. but yet i believe , if the gentleman or his physician either , were kept a little while in such pickle , he would find it not very friendly to the vital frame , tho' it might keep them from stinking . our gentleman , pag. 36. tells us , that i said , that animals that yield half their weight of acid liquor , will putrefie sooner than others , that abound with more alkali . but he can't conceive what animals these should be . no wonder a gentlemen is unacquainted with the materia medica , that can't recite what i said : for i did not say sooner than others , but as soon , or sooner than some others ; not that abound with more alkali , but that abound with alkali ; for those animals don't abound with alkali , but with acid. but tho' he grants what i said , it won't follow says he , that their putrefaction is caus'd by the great quantity of acids ; true , i never argued so , for acid is their proper nature ; but notwithstanding they are such sour fellows , they will corrupt , contrary to mr. colebatch his assertion , that it were impossible that bodies full of acid shuld putrifie . but he thinks the animals putrified , because of the deprivation of their acid , it going off in effluvia . but he is mistaken , for they were crose stopp'd in a glass , and perspire much more when alive . the gentleman goes on to make the same mistakes , asserting that i said vegetabl●s that yield most acid , and oyl , will rot sooner than others ; when i said as soon , or sooner than some others ; and that crabs , oranges and lemons will rot sooner than apples , that are not so sour ; when i said sooner than some apples that are not sour ▪ but he says , experience informs us how false this assertion is ; for lemons are preserved longer than apples , and will not putrifie but when bruised ; and lemon-pill will be preserved many years by drying . i answer , lemons are preserved longer than some apples , but not than others ; and thanks to their peel , which according to the acid doctors should rot first , being less acid. he adds , that he hath kept a vegetable 2 years in water , acidulated with sp. of salt , sound and entire . i believe it may be true , if try'd on some sort of vegetables . but he concludes , with a defiance to shew him an alkali , volatile or fixt , that will preserve animals , or vegetables from putrefaction , tho' i gave him 2 or 3 in the same leaf , and i would give him another , if i thought he would still believe bittern , that wicked thing , to be an alkali . but he comes , pag. 37. at length to alum , and he is not contented , that i said alum is not an acid , nor has the effects of an acid , because it turns syr. of violets green , and that alum is us'd in making leather , on the account of its astringency . but the gentleman is of another opinion , for he finds 't is the chalky substance in alum turns the syr. green : but his reason is no better than this , that the acid sp. will turn the syr. red ; very good ; but i spake of the whole compound , that it was not an acid , because it turns the syr. green , and the gentleman says it is , because one part of the product turns it red . but i have master colebatch on my side , who says , those things that turn the syr. green are manifest alkalies , or abound with alkalies . but as for the leather-dressing , he says , ' t is the acid part in alum , makes the skins compact , because if the acid be separated , the remaining part will be of no such use . i answer , if these parts be separated , neither will be of use , the caput mort. will do nothing , and the acid will spoil the skins . i 'll appeal to our country-man , mr. yardly , the philosophical glover whether ever he dress'd leather with spirit of alum . he says , he can easily answer for the rotting of coffins , when the bones that abound with alkali remain firm ; the rottenness is produced by the alkalous flesh , and juices of the cadaver , entring the pores of the wood , but the hardness of the cortex of the bones , having smaller pores than wood , will not so readily admit the alkalous essluvia . but i answer , if bones had any thing call'd a cortex , and that were so compact , and there were not very large and numerous pores in the bones , yet one would think the alkali already in their most intmate recesses , and wherein they are digested from without , should rot them sooner than the coffins that have it on one side only , and are guarded within and without , with the mighty preserver acid. the gentleman replies to what i asserted , that acids are not the only things that will quench thirst in diseases , for niter will sooner do it . that he knows by experience if you take from niter what is acid , the remaining substance will not quench thirst . i answer , 't is true , the earth with which niter is distill●d will not quench thirst . if you take from niter , what will by distillation be made an acid , you take all away ; for it will all come over in spirit , but niter given in a proper vehicle will quench thirst much better than the spirit . pag. 39. the gentleman has done ungenteelly by me , as well as in several other places , for he says , that i say , oyl of vitriol is a noble medicine in feavers , and he agrees with me ; when as i said to mr. colebatch , that i would grant that oyl of vitriol might be , the best medicine in continual feavers he knew ; but i knew a better , and that an alkali . he makes me agree with him , and then says he agrees with me , oyl of vitriol is far from a noble medicine , so is com. oyl of vitriol , from what may be made of vitriol . but he will believe that the medicine , i say i have that is better , is an acid ; unless i will produce it . but truly i can't help it if he will believe so ; for i suppose good medicine , and acid are synonymous with him : and whatever is proved to be good , is to him sufficiently proved to be an acid. but my medicine is already produced , and if he or any other civil gentleman will come to me , he shall taste it . the gentleman says , in the same page , that the use of acids in the small pox is now so generally believed and practis'd , that he need-not trouble us with arguments from that topick . i answer , that it is a very poor topick to prove the goodness of a thing , that it is generally used , ( but i suppose he means by the acid doctors ) and he might have told us whores are now generally used for the great pox , and have added , that it is seldom cured without them . his story which he subjoyns of the success of acids in the small pox , i shall believe to be as he calls it , a storys not questioning the veracity of his author , or his skill , who never imagin'd that acids would cure a disease . in answer to my assertion , that alkalies , when in solution , are not coagulated alone , but by meeting with acids ; and so that the chalky matter in the gout will not prove the disease caus'd by alkali , rather than acid ; he replys , pag. 81. that alkalous salts , when insolution are coagulated with what i call alkalies ; for volatile alkalies will embody with copper , and make what is call'd salt of vitriol , if suffered to stand in the cold for a month. i answer , this instance is not a thing whereof he informs us , only i was used to think copper dissolved was not salt of vitriol , but if he has found copper enough in gouty persons to coagulate the alkali in their blood ; we will acknowledge he hath discover'd a mine ; but i am apt to think he can find nothing in the body of man that is an alkali , that will coagulate the spirit of his blood. but he says farther , that sp. of sal. armon . being an alkali in solution , will in distillation so unite it self with lime a fixt alkali , that he shall never be able to separate any volatile alkali salt from it again . indeed it may have the smell of a volatile alkali , but no salt is to be got from it , as may be seen ; for if it be 3 or 4 times distill'd from lime , it shall be so far from what we call an alkali , that it shall make no ebullition with a manifest acid. i answer the gentleman , that the volatile alkali does not unite it self with lime ; if it did , it would either become a fixt , or the lime a volatile ; neither of which is done , but the vol. alkali is so alter'd by the lime , that it is better united with its phlegm that holds it , so that both rise together . but i will teach the gentleman how to separate a dry salt from them again , when ever he is willing to practise chymistry , and thinks it will do him a kindness . but he gives an odd reason of this his opinion , that if 3 or 4. times distill'd from lime , it shall be so far from what we call an alkali , as not to make an ebullition with acids . but i say , tho' it be so far from what acid gentlemen , who don't believe their senses call alkali , yet others will call it alkali , who know that ebullition with acids is not the only thing that shews an alkali , for that very sp. will destroy his acids , and be destroy'd so far as to make a nuter , but will not be irrecoverably lost . he says , pag. 42. that i grosly mistake what offa alba is , because i said it is a precipitation of the urinous salt , not a coagulation of the urinous spirit , whereas it is as much in a coagulum at the top , as at the bottom . i answer , the gentleman , i believe , takes the notion of precipitation only from the sound of the word . but a thing is said to be insolution when the particles are invisible in the dissolvent , but precipitated when they coalesce so as to be seen , tho' being light they may not presently fall to the bottom . but a coagulum of a vinous sp. and urinous salt into one body he never saw , or any such union but what is separable . but however , this offa alba can't be made in the veins , to coagulate into chalk in gouty persons , as his master teaches him . he asks what i 'll think of some he has seen drink high rectified sp. of wine ? i 'll tell him , they are no strange fellows , nor more gouty than others ; i have often done it , and never had the gout . the blood is not an alkalous spirit to coagulate it , nor can it be carried in through the stomach , without being weakned too much to do the feat , if there were such a spirit within . but he tells us a great secret in chymistry , viz. that if the alkalous sp. be distill'd from testaceous pouders , it will be destroy'd . but i tell him he is mistaken , he never saw the alkalous salt destroy'd in his life . but then he tells us , it will fix it self ; but i tell him , if it be fixt it is not destroy'd ; if destroy'd , it is not fix'd ; but i tell him he is mistaken in both , and never saw a volatil alkali fixt , any more than a fixt one volatilized . but the gentleman comes , pag. 42. to something more weighty , a very grand point , and that is to do what his master colebatch could never do , and yet it must be done , or the acidists must knock under board , viz. to prove iron an acid. iron they professedly use , and nothing can be a good medicine but an acid they say , therefore they are cast by their own verdict , unless iron can be made an acid ; help neighbours ! a gentleman had need of commanding requests to put him on this difficulty . well let 's see what efforts he makes . iron , says he , making an effervescence with an acid , is no more an argument that it is an alkali , than that butter of antimony ( which is allow'd to be a strong acid ) is an alkali , because it makes an effervescence with sp. of nitre or vitriol , which are acids . i fancy the gentleman has learnt logick of mr. colebatch , ( altho' he would be thought to converse with him only in an epistolary way ) he argues so like him . let us feel the strength of this argument . butter of antimony an allow'd acid , making an effervescence with sp. of niter an acid , don't prove it an alkali , therefore iron making an effervescence with an acid , don't prove it an alkali . but i say it don't follow , but the gentleman is to prove iron an acid , and it s not being an alkali , if it were not , don't prove it an acid , unless there were nothing but alkali and acid ; and if its effervescence don't prove it an alkali , much less does it prove it an acid ; but i tell him butter of antimony does not effervesce with an acid , because of its acidity , but because of the antimony in it not wholly dissolved ; the butter is nothing but sp. of salt , and the body of the more metalline part of antimony , mixed by an imperfect dissolution ; but when the sp. of nitre comes and dissolves it wholy , it makes an effervescence in dissolving it , but with sp. of salt alone it will not do so . 2. iron , says he , is not properly an absorber of acids , but of salts in general , for it will be dissolved by acid , alkali , or sal nutrum . but i answer , this don't prove it an acid , if it be so . but he says , if you put upon filings of iron a volatil alkali , there will a gentle ebullition ensue . i say , it must be very gentle certainly , for i could never see it , tho' i try'd it on purpose ; but perhaps 't was an ebullition caus'd by the fire , upon which acid , alkali , vinous , oleous , or watery liquors , yea or metalline , will boyl . but to go a little farther , in the matter , says he , and do something towards proving that steel abounds with acid and sulphureous particles , which , he says , i deny , and not with alkalous , and so consequently ought to be call'd an acid. the gentleman here confesses he hath done nothing to it yet , but now he is resolved to prove iron abounds with acid , and sulphureous particles ; but , i say , the consequence will not be that it is an acid if it do , unless those acid particles are more than the rest . well , but first he will shew that iron is very much impregnated with sulphur ; and then prove , contrary to my assertion , that there is a burning brimstome to be obtain'd from it . well this is a secret in chymistry , i long to be at it ; how is it done ? why filings of steel flung through the flame of a candle will take fire sooner than gunpowder , and as soon as common sulphur , and the violent motion of a flint and steel will do the same . i answer , the gentleman has shewn his ignorance sufficiently here ; these phaenomena are not the firing of any thing combustible in the steel , but only the heating small particles of the mettal red hot ; the first by the flame of the candle , the second by the rapid stroke of the flint , striking off a particle of the metal red hot , and sometimes melted , as it may be seen , if caught on a piece of white paper , and viewed in a microscope ; but the metal will be found unaltered ; which , if it were burnt , would be otherwise . but if the steel be softned it will not do , the blow not meeting with so much resistance , the flint will strike off too much to take the heat . but again he is pleas'd to say , that when the filings of iron are in dissolution in sp. of salt , the fumes that arise will take fire ; and if done in a convenient glass , and a lighted paper held to the fumes , it will fulminate as loud as a musquet ; and he hopes i am satisfied by this time , that there is such a thing as common brimstone in iron . truly sir , i am not yet satisfied ; i could never see the fumes of sp. of salt take fire , and if they did , it could be nothing of the iron , which won't rise in fumes , as any one may see by distilling the matter . an explosion , i know , may be , if the mouth of the glass be too small , or stopt ; and so there may be of any rarifiable liquor . but if this won't do , he is so kind as to give us a process to make brimstone out of ron . now he comes to something like a tansie , and i must write it down ▪ recip . sal martis , dissolve it in common water , add oyl of tartar more than will precipitate the iron , evaporate all to dryness , flux it with carcoal , and you will have a sulphureous salt , dissolve in water , and filter , and with distill'd vinegar , or sp. of salt , you may precipitate a sulphur that will burn and stink like common sulphur . i thank the gentleman , but i must tell him , this sulphur comes not at all from the iron . for first , if his sal martis be that made with spirit of wine and oyl of vitriol , they will yield sulphur enough without the iron ; the oyl of vitriol will coagulate the inflamable part of the sp. of wine into brimstone . if it comes not hence , the oyl of tartar has a sulphur in it , as all fixt alkalies have more or less . if this won't do , the charchoal has enough ; and if he uses vinegar to precipitate it , that can spare a little . but let him take iron , and work on it how he will without any thing that can supply a combustible body , i defy him , or a horse with a bigger head , to get me a grain of sulphur . so in his process of tartar vitriolat . and filings of iron , if true , the sulphur comes from the other things , not the iron . but he says , he has not mentioned the proportions of his ingredients , because he is talking to a chymist . it seems he takes the physician he writes to for a chymist , but he talks not like one ; for proportions of things necessary in order to divers resulting products in chymistry , that a man has not tried and observed , are not hit easily by any rules in chymistry , and in many operations much depends on proportion . but if these experiments won't prove a sulphur in iron , he says , he may chance to produce 20 more , but these , he supposes , will satisfie the reasonable . i answer , i suppose these were not his worst , and if he produces no better , 40 won't do to satisfie the skilful , whatever the reasonable may think . but he says , he must conclude steel to be rather an acid than an alkali . that 's his misery , that he must conclude it an acid , tho' none ever got an acid from it . but if he can get a sulphur from it , he hopes none will doubt but he may also get an acid in quantity . i answer , to conclude this mighty point , if the sulphur he supposes he gets from it , were indeed from it , t is so little , that it would not denominate steel a sulphur , and that acid in the sulphur is much less , and would much less give iron the title of an acid. but let an honest country man ( mr. yardly if you please ) taste filings of steel , not knowing what it is , or any thing indeed produced from it , and if he says it tastes sour , i 'll be an assheadist . i thought i had done with steel for this bout , because something else comes next , but i find there 's another touch upon steel afterwards , so i 'll go to that , that we may dispatch all the martial man's business together . the gentleman tells us , pag. 46. i say the doctor 's preparation of steel with sal armon ▪ is not made with an acid , and he thinks it is ; and to prove it , says he , if you make it in a retort and a strong fire , nothing but an alkali will rise , and the acid will remain with the steel ; for if you take the cap. mort. and distill , you shall have nothing come over but a pure acid , of great use in physick . i am at a little loss to know who he means by the doctor , it must be some body sure that is a doctor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as aristotle was known formerly by the name of the philosopher ; but the gentleman being one that loves verjuice well , i guess he means mr. colebatch ; but i 'd faign know what made him a doctor , whether ignorance , confidence , or a licence to kill , or all together . but now i think on 't , doctor is a teacher , and he teaches the abuse of crabs , oranges , and lemons , therefore he is a doctor . but the doctor 's preparation of steel must be with an acid. if it be , i say , 't is because the doctor is an acid ; for sal armon is not , being a compound of com . salt and vol salt of urin , neither of which is an acid ; and tho com . salt may be distill'd into an acid , yet 't is not an acid before distillat on , any more than lead , for instance , is glass , because it may be turn'd into glass . but when salt is turn'd into an acid liquor , it then ceases to be a salsum , tho' it may be brought back again very easily into its old and natural form ; as the glass of lead may likewise soon be reduced into lead again . and the doctor 's preparation is made with it before distill'd . but the gentleman adds , if we dissolve filings of steel in sp. of salt , and distill as before , we shall find the cap. mort. the same as that made with sal armon . and farther , says he , ' t is not the com . salt , but the acid spirit of it , that is one part of the compound of sal armon . and vol. alkali the other ; for a mixture of sp. of salt and vol. alkali will produce good sal armon . right , but these alkalous bodies change the acidity of the sp. of salt into a body not acid , but a salsum , its natural old form ; and in that form it works , not in that it has not when so changed . but not to let go what the gentleman says , pag. 46. without a remark ; he there tells us , he is sure a disease caus'd by acids may be cured by acids . but here he unwittingly gives away the cause , by confessing a disease may be caus'd by acids , which is the very thing i would prove ; and there are divers kinds of acids having different effects , therefore acids may cause divers diseases . but still he holds fast to one part of the doctrine , that all diseases , even those caus'd by acids , may be cured ( he should have said must ) by acids . and how proves he this ? why acids operate upon , or alter the texture of one another ; and if the texture be alter'd its qualities must be alter'd ; and it must act differently from what it did . i answer , whatever change acids make on one another , they do not change one another from being acids ; and the disease being caus'd by the acid , as acid , the change of the acid will but change the disease , not cure it ; that must be done , by taking away its acidity , or expelling the acid ; and if acid could be supposed to expel acid , 't would be but one devil entring to cast out the other , this being as troublesome a guest as that disposs'd ; and the experiment the gentleman brings to confirm his opinion , is nothing pertaining to medicine or man's body : for sp. of nitre , or aq. fort . says he , dissolves silver , but sp. of salt mixed with them , makes it it shall never dissolve silver as it did . but our bowels are not silver , to be dissolved in sp. of nitre , that sp. of salt should be a medicine to render ineffectual . the gentleman ▪ says , pag 47. that i am very angry with doctor colebath for saying cinnabar is an acid , but have not proved , or said it is an alkali . to which i tell him , i was never angry with doctor colebatch in my life , nor with his gentleman , but i think i said enough to prove that cinnabar is not an acid , much less running mercury 13 sixteenths of it . but the gentleman refers to all the world , whether running mercury will act as cinnabar does ; if not , then cinnabar does all by vertue of the sulphur embodied with it . but i 'll refer it even to the acidists , by the same argument , whether common sulphur will act as cinnabar does ; if not , then cinnabar does all by vertue of the mercury embodied with it ; and if the argument be good , it is 13 to 3 on my side . but i tell the gentleman , to leave these logical depths for experience , cinnabar acts as cinnabar , and not as mercury , or as sulphur , otherwise we need not be at the trouble to compound them . and the gentleman goes on with his argument , sulphur is an acid ; why ? because i allow it to be compounded of an acid and an oyl , but not of an acid and an alkali . the argument runs thus in the whole latitude of it . sulpur is an acid , because it is compounded of a little acid and an oyl ; and cinnabar is an acid , because it has a little of that that has a little acid in it . by the same logick i may prove the gentleman is a calf , because he dined upon veal , and has a little of a calf in him . but the gentleman talks on , shewing more ignorance , saying , he believes mercury an absorber of all kind of salts , alkalies or acids , rather than of acids . but i must tell him , it is not an absorber of alkalies , for they revive it , and disengage it from acids which it hath absorb'd . but he says , it will dissolve mettals , which is an argument i often use to prove the acidity of a body . i answer , it will not truly dissolve metals , it only pulverises them . but he continues to abuse me , so as a gentleman can't be thought to do ; for i never , that i know of , much less often , made it an argument to prove the acidity of a body , that it will dissolve a mettal ; tho' he would be contented it should be took for one . i suppose , that if he should be convinc'd that sp. of sal armon . is a good medicine , he would prove it an acid by its dissolving copper . but he says , mercury will ferment with gold if well managed , and make a heat not to be endured by the hand . but this is no argument that mercury is an acid ; and tho this story he has heard be true , he knows not what the well managing of the mercury is , or the cause of the heat . he says , he has often met with two acids that will ferment with one another ; but he has given no instance , but what he is mistaken in . but the gentleman , pag 48. wishes i had told them how to make the quintessence of wine an alkali , ( which i said i would oppose to all the acids in the world ) that it might be us'd , and judged whether it be so noble an alkali or not . i answer , this alkali has been us'd , and is us'd , and judg'd , and found to be a noble alkali ; and i have cured considerable diseases with one small dose of it ; and have had a patient sick in bed , and fear of death one day , and up , and pretty well on the morrow , by the use of this alkali . but i did not say , i would oppose it to all the acids in the world , but to mr. colebatch's acids ; for there are better acids than he is aware of , useful in some , tho not in all cases . but if the gentleman has a mind to see the effects of this medicine , i say still , let there be a number of patients , sick of such diseases wherein i think it useful , divided between mr. colebath and i , or any other acidist , and i will use the quintescence , and he shall use what acid he pleases , and if i don't recover more than he , i 'll be an acidist . but the gentleman can guess what this quintescence of wine is ; and he supposes it is the finest rectified sp. of wine , talk●d of by some , that is so subtile a drop will not fall to the ground . such an essence of wine he has seen , and can make at any time ; but he affirms it will come under the denomination of an acid. i answer , i confess such an essence of wine will come under the denomination of an acid , if mr. colebatch says 't is an acid , ( as he must do if he should use it ) or if it be found in the ingenious mr. stringer's catalogue of acids ; but there is no better argement for its acidity . but to satisfie the gentleman , i tell him this alkali is as much an alkali , as any thing he ever saw ; and 't is not his supposed essence of wine , or any other essence , but a quintessence , if he knows what that means . but yet to satisfie him sufficiently , ( if he be a philosopher as well as a gentleman , as , he says , physicians are ) i 'll tell him why this is call'd a quintescence , and what it is . the quintessence is the fifth state or being of wine . the first is in the must or juice of grapes . the second , in the wine when fermented and brought to its perfection , as an inflamable spirit ; ( and in this state the gentleman's essence is found . ) the third , when this second inflamable spirit is turn'd into an incombustible salt the fourth , when this salt is mortified and seemingly destroy'd . the fifth is its change and resurrection into a noble alkalous and green spirit . the gent says , pag. 49. sp. of salt diluted in a convenient quantity of an aqueous vehicle , is better to preserve flesh than com salt ; and com salt , by an addition of a proper quantity of sp. of salt , will be more useful in all respects . i answer , if he had told us his convenient and proper quantities , the tryal of the matter might soon have been made . but if you take a piece of meat season'd as the gentleman prescribes , and another after the ordinary way , i 'll engage , on tryal , the last shall eat best ; and mr. colebatch himself would say so , if he knew nothing of their seasoning . the gentleman adds , that in opposition to mr. colebatch , i affirm that bittern is not an alkali but an acid , because sp. of salt is to be obtain'd from it in distillation ; but i have not told in what quantity , for i knew the proportion is inconsiderale to what remains after distillation , there being at least four parts of alkali in bittern to one of acid , which turns syr. viol. green , and answers the intentions of a strong alkali ; and he has known soap made of it , which is not done without a great quantity of alkali : and tho' sp. of salt may be obtain'd from bittern , yet this will not prove it an acid , or that the sp. is any part of the bittern , for it is but some remains of the acid part of the salt ; for the bittern , after distillation , will cause thirst more than it did before , and the spirit will allay thirst if judiciously used . i answer , the gentleman has so often , unbecoming a gentleman , made me say what i never said , that i now can hardly believe he is indeed a gentleman , but rather some little medicaster , or very small surgeon . i never said bittern was an acid , because spirit of salt may be distill'd from it , but i said bittern in its natural form is but a salsum ; and by skill in chymistry mr. colbatch his damn'd ●ixt alkali ( as he call'd it ) becomes a blessed volatil acid. but the gentleman cannot conceive the chymical metamorphosis of bodies , his pyrotechny is only separatory . i told the gentleman's physician also , that bittern would rise in the fire , and come over ( i did not say yeild ) good spirit of salt. and the gent. is much mistaken in supposing the spirit is inconsiderable to what remains , or that bittern has 4 parts of alkali to one of acid. for , as i said , it leaves nothing behind but an insipid white earth , and that is inconsiderable to what comes over , if it be skilfully distill'd ; nor will that earth cause thirst so much , as sa it in which there is no bittern . i do not believe he ever saw soap made of bittern , as he says , but i know soap may be made with a very little alkali . but the gent. concludes , he is of the opinion that i cannot produce a catalogue of medicines equaly efficacious in the cure of diseases with mercur. dule . turpeth . min. red precip . cinnabar . sal succini . sal martis en. veneris . oyl of vitriol , sp. of nitre , oyl of sulphur , and dr. colebatch ' s elixir vitrioli ; all which operate by vertue of their acids : for if they be divested of their acid particles they will never produce those effects . and if the use of alkalies cannot be thus demonstrated , he shall remain a proselyte to the doctrine of acids . and thus , says he , he has given his thoughts in answer to those objections that seem most material in the dialogue , but has omitted to take notice of what has not a relation to acids and alkalies , being the cause or cure of diseases , and in so doing , hopes he has answer'd the doctor 's request . i answer , i can produce the same catalogue , and a better . but the medicines named are not the invention of any acid doctor , but were common to all physicians , before any such sharp fancy had turn'd the brains of any pretenders to physick ; nor are they all acids , nor do any of them , except the spirits , operate by vertue of their acids . but i might say , if i could allow my self to reason as the gentleman does , by vertue of their alkalies ; for if you take away ☿ , ♀ , and ♂ , the acids now joined with them , will never produce the effects alone . but i know better , they operate by vertue of their texture resulting from their conjuction ; even as gun-powder does not operate by vertue of sulphur , or either of its ingredients , but by nitre , sulphur , and charcoal all together . and if the use of acids ( or alkalies either ) cannot be better demonstrated than the gentleman , or his master colebatch , have demonstrated their pretended hypothesis of acids , i shall not be a proselyte to either , the gentleman has at last answer'd his doctors request , and pick'd out here , and there an expression in my dialogue , which he thought he could say some thing to , but how well he has answered what was indeed material , and how much he has omitted , i must yet leave to the judicious reader of my dialogue , wherein i think stands unanswer'd enough to shew the groundlessness and danger of the pretended new hypothesis of acid and alkali ; as well as the immodest self applause , shameful contempt , and abuse of all physicians , gross mistakes , and great ignorance of the pretender : which want of learning and vertue the gentleman in his letter , has not so much as excus'd ; wherefore i hope his master is also conscious thereof , and will amend . and the gentleman perhaps in a little time may see , that he is a proselyte to so very sensless , and mean a sect , he may be asham'd on 't , or he may be blown with some less biting or dangerous maggot , or become fond of some newer fancy ; since gentlemen are inclinable it seems , to be as well pleas'd with their physicians for imposing new fashion'd sufferings upon them , as with their taylors for putting them into new fashion'd cloaths : and for such gentlemens sakes i have a good mind , before i conclude , to start a yet newer hypothesis that may serve them , when that of acids is out of fashion , which when it shall be strongly asserted by some man of confidence , i don't question but it will take , please as well , be more effectual , and le●s dangerous than the practice of acids . i have been inform'd by a person of credit , that a certain doctor in france , who was fam●d for his cures , gave nothing to his patients but brick-dust . and i have heard of another of considerable repute in another place , who , as a panacea , gave all that came to him convenient quantities of common water . these doctors wanting a more generous principle , both disguised their medicines ; they seem to have acted contrary , but which appear'd to have the better success , i was not well inform'd ; but some of the patients of both no doubt recover'd , and some of them died , those that lived would swear the doctor heald them , but those that pack'd off were left out of the catalogue of his cures . but let it be how it will , the hint gives me ground enough to build a new hypothesis upon , now that of acids grows old . brick-dust and water then shall be two principals , into which bodies may be resolved . distillation and transmutation reduces all into them . whatever is liquid comes over either in the form of water , the one principle required , or in the form of oyl , or of a saline spirit . the oyl 's unctuosity and inflamableness may soon be changed , and the sapor of the salts be destroyed ; the vita media of both may be soon took away , and the liquor reduced into common insipid water . but whatever is solid may be by the fire reduced either to a liquid , to be wrought on as before said , or by burning will be reduced to a caput mort. which expos'd to the action of the air , will be rotted and turn'd into common earth , which then by art may be made into brick , and then easily pulverised ( if you will follow the french man ) fine enough for the stoma●h of a lady . how these two principles are concern'd in the life and death of all things in the macrocosm , i could readily teach , if an exact physiology were thought necessary to a doctor . now let these two principles be taken , instead of acid and alkali , for the life and death of things , and for the cause and cure of diseases , ( it shall be all one to me , which is the killer , and which is the curer ) and i will make out the aitiologie of all deseases , and their cures from them . but forasmuch as gentlemen now-a-days are generally great lovers of the bottle , and will rather cause a dose from the glass , than from the trowel , and a physicians business is to humour them , brick-dust shall be the cause , and water the cure of all diseases . but because we will recommend our selves by talking learnedly as physicians ought , that is so as our grand-mothers may not readily understand us , we will call them arid , and humid , and say arid is the cause , and humid the cure of all diseases . let us begin at the mouth , as physicians commonly do , at which death is so often let in , in this our luxurious and pharmacutick age. it is apparent that no food , if it abound with arid , can agree well with us ; therefore nature has placed certain cataracts under the tongue pouring out their humid saliva , which tempers the arid and carries it along ; without which even deglutition cannot be performed , without soon terminating our life by choaking . this humid accompanying our food down into the stomach , there digests our food , and that not by its acid , or alkali , bitterness or sweetness , or any other affected relish , but by vertue of its self , as humid . the truth of which any man may be satisfied with , if he but considers how water is necessary for the macerating of all things fermentable , in order to a separation of their parts , the humid from the arid , the profitable from the unprofitable . now when a due quantity of humid is administer'd by the salivia , which carries our food down , mixes and ferments it , and drink being added in a convenient quantity , ( the more watry the better ) farther to dilute it , and to supply matter for more saliva , the mixture passes the pylorus , and in the small guts is farther altered ; whence the humid chyle , with a little fine arid to increase or supply the defects of the solid parts , is separaby the lacteals ; but most of the arid inviscated by the gall and pancreatick juice , ( which make a tough slimy matter , ) is carried down as noxious through the guts , and turn'd out at the back door . now if for want of a sufficient quantity of humid in the stomach , there is not a due natural fermentation , so as that the particles in the compound have not liberty to move without breaking their figures against one another , or that they ad-here and combine , and remain not enough separated , they are not only unfit to supply the defect of the vital juices , but lying heavy in the ventricle they don't work up , and pass out of the pylorus as they ought ; whence proceed lothings , pains in the stomach , and spontaneous vomitings , &c. to remedy which , some large draughts of humid being given , the indigested matter is easily ejected , the stomach washed clean , and render'd fit for its office again , till it be again over-charg'd with arid , or defrauded of its due quantity of humid . but if the abounding arid , be not so much as totally to hinder the fermentation in the stomach , but yet the humid be not such as is sufficient for the due performance thereof , then a gross chyle , wherein arid does abound , is retain'd , inseparable from it in the duodenum : the grosser part of which being not able to enter the lacteals , is carried downwards ; which being too tough and clammy adheres to the sides of the colon , and lies too long in its cells , causing the cholick , dry gripes , and divers mischiefs of that nature , till by the irritation and excoriation of the latera of the guts , nature pours forth the lymphatick juice , and so there are produced fluxes , more or less , according to the greater or less disorder and irritation of the rough arid particles . but that part , which being not so gross , is carried into the lacteal veins , sometimes adheres there , in the small ramifications of those vessels , causing obstructions ; whence the nutricious juice being not plentifully carried into the blood , a tabes or aridura must needs follow . but by the due and timely administration of humid , these arid particles are washed out into the blood , and separated thence by urine , and the chyle again freely distributed to the recovery and health of the body . but if these arid particles are too abundant in the blood , and not duely separated by urine , they do not only render the blood too thick , and so retar'd its due motion , but after sticking in the capillary arteries and veins , hinder its motion in divers particular places , whence the blood stagnating there , a preternatual ferment is excited , and the blood put into an intestine motion , and thence come feavers of all sorts , differing according to the different circumstances of places obstructed , and of more or less arid matter . but by a proper adhibition of the friendly humid , these rough arid particles are made flow , and carried off by urine or sweat , and the heat alay'd , and so the patient recovers . but sometimes when those abounding arid particles , are not carried off by a sufficient quantity of the humid , either by urine or insensible perspiration , then they fix in the limbs and outward parts from whence there follow gouts , rhumatisms , &c. which by a large administration of humid , ( if the disease be not too stubbornly fixt ) are carried off , or their rough acrimony attemper'd , and so the patient enjoys ease and health . and i challenge all the acid doctors in england , even alkins himself , could we have him again from the lower world , with all the lemons and oranges in spain , or oyl of vitriol , in europe , to cure half the patients i will cure of the gout , by a regular course of pure humid . but if i should go from the blood to the succus nervosus , i could abundantly shew what dismal effects the abounding pernicious arid does , in thickning and in stoping the animal spirits , and so causing apoplexies , palseys , megrims , deliriums , &c. yea i could shew you how these rough arid particles fixing in the membranes , and other parts that are tense , cause pains ; but that this specimen would swell into a large book : and i could give so rational an account of the matter that most gentleman that love new discoveries might readily believe it the very truth , and be fond on 't , unless some one or other that should chance to have a dropsie , should object against my new doctrine , and say , what , will this fellow pretend his aridum is the cause of that , where it is water which apparently abounds ? i answer , let the gent. have a little patience , if i make out this point , i hope he will believe i am able to account for all the rest that may be explain'd on the same hypothesis , and i need not proceed any farther in this specimen . the dropsie it self , say i , is caus'd by the pernicious abounding arid , and cured by the due administration of the friendly humid . for the demonstration of which let it be consider'd , that even the humid's unequal and undue distribution and stagnation is a disease ; even as in the body politick the setling or stagnation of the vital-blood-mony in any of the members , and chiefly in the head , is not without very many bad effects . so when the humid stagnates in the legs , head , cods , abdomen , or habit of the body , it gives names to divers sorts of dropsies ; for i will not say of the blessedest humid , as mr. colebatch does of his acid , there can never be to much of it . but nevertheless arid , with his rough and harsh particles , i affirm is the cause of the humids abounding , wherever it is unduely distributed ; for if a man perspire well , and piss well , he will never have a dropsie . but when the arid particles abound , and obstruct the natural course of the humid , which is ordain'd to dilute , separate , and waft them off , the humid it self by its pressure breaks some vessels , or passes through outlets corroded by the arid , and so falls into the cavity of the abdomen , or is extravasated into some other part of the body , which effect we call a dropsy . but now for the cure of it , by humid you 'll say it is impossible , this is not adding oyl to the fire , but as bad , water to a deluge . have a little patience gent. and i 'll warrant you i 'll demonstrate it , better than mr. colebatch did the cure of four stomachs by oyl of vitriol . let it therefore be consider'd . that the extravasated humid cannot be discharg'd the way it came , not only because the passages it should have went are stop't for want of its due course in the vessels , but because it has lost its motion , and so lying long soaking the more fleshy parts , dissolves somewhat of them , and so becomes clammy : now the obstructing arid must be carried off , which cannot be done but by a humid , thinning the blood which is in motion , and tho the stagnated humid may be somewhat increas'd by the addition of more humid , yet it will be render'd more thin , and apt to flow when the obstructing and corroding , arid is washed away , and there will be nothing to hinder nature : but by the motion of the parts , the humid is press'd out into the vessels , and carried off again and now i think i have sufficiently shewn how the hardest part of this new doctrine may be accounted for ; but yet i must needs , as a friend to the faculty , insinuate something of the necessity , or at least , conveniency of the direction of a physician to order proper times , quantities , diet , wine , exercise , &c. in this easie course of physick ; for tho' i don't question , but by a little discretion a man may cure or prevent most diseases by this new method , chiefly by washing the pot , viz the stomach clean when ever it is foul ; yet i must warn my readers ( which let be a caution to drunkards , who may think they can't hurt themselves at all with humid ) that some humids , as sophisticated wines , and unripe mault drinks , have a gross and noxious arid swimming in them , which is very apt to precipitate , and cause divers ill effects in the body : and that any man may do himself a mischief , even by the most wholsome and innocent things indiscreetly used , as well as the physician by slighting his advice , which he is always ready to give on advantagious conditions . i could also confirm this hypothesis by a large account of cases in practice , but i shall forbear at present , only offering one consideration , viz. that all the real benefit received by drinking the waters , comes merely by the large quantities of water taken , washing the bowels and diluting the blood and other humours of the body , and not by the nasty minerals they are impregnated with , which nature abhorring rejects with disturbance ; and i would advise persons hereafter to repair to some pure spring , and there drink as at the usually frequented places , and if they don't receive more than usual benefit , i will recant and turn an aridist , and be as ready to assist john , or any other hypothetick in the doctine of arid , as i am now farther to demonstrate that of humid , as that which i think will be the most safe , and likely to do my friends a kindness , now the dangerous doctrine of acids begins to go out of fashion . finis . curiosities in chymistry being new experiments and observations concerning the principles of natural bodies / written by a person of honour ; and published by his operator, h.g. person of honour. 1691 approx. 156 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 61 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a42035 wing g1877 estc r9237 12253362 ocm 12253362 57199 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a42035) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 57199) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 146:6) curiosities in chymistry being new experiments and observations concerning the principles of natural bodies / written by a person of honour ; and published by his operator, h.g. person of honour. boyle, robert, 1627-1691. [3], 103 [i.e. 113], [2] p. printed by h.c. for stafford anson ..., london : 1691. ascribed by bm to robert boyle; not in fulton. an attempt to prove that water is "the only first material principle of natural bodies". advertisements ([2] p.) at end. reproduction of original in harvard university libraries. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng chemistry -early works to 1800. 2006-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-12 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-02 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2007-02 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion imprimatur , tractatus cui titulus curiosities in chymistry . sept. 30. 1690. ex aedibus collegij . guall . charleton . proefes coll. med. lond. censore . tho. burwell , j. gordon , will. dawes , tho. gill. curiosities in chymistry : being new experiments and observations concerning the principles of natural bodies . written by a person of honour , and published by his operator , h. g. london : printed b● h.c. for stafford anson , at the three pigeons in st. paul's church-yard , 1691. new experiments and observations concerning the principles of natural bodies . the introduction . the ingenious author of this treatise has herein laid a great many experiments and observations together , in order to prove that water is the only first material principle of natural bodies ; and that all the other pretended hypostatical principles are ultimate and reducible into mere elementary water . wherefore to give a brief and perspicuous account of his reasonings upon this subject , he has thought it expedient to reduce them to the following propositions . sect. i. the ardent spirits of vegetables are nothing else but the oleous particles of these vegetables subtilized by fermentation , and thereby dissolved in , and united to some part of their own phlegm . for lavender , rue , marjoram , &c. distilled without addition , and without a previous fermentation , afford an oyl , but never yield any burning spirit . whereas after fermentation they yield an ardent spirit , but no oyl ; which is a manifest proof , that the inflamable oyl is converted into an inflamable spirit : especially , since by the lasting action of the air upon this spirit , the oleous part will at last be brought to separate it self from the phlegm and swim above it . moreover if you pour oyls in small quantity upon fermenting vegetables , they will come over in distillation in the form of spirits . as for the spirits of aniseeds , wormwood , and such other oleous and aromatick vegetables , that are prepared with spirit of wine without any previous fermentation ; they are nothing else but the oyls of these vegetables that the spirit of wine has imbibed and carried up along with it in distillation . for this spirit , being it self no other thing than the oyl of wine dissolv'd in phlegm , will presently imbibe any aromatick oyl dropt into it . hence it is , that , in the preparation of spirit of aniseeds , the oleous part of the spirit of wine imbibes as much of their oyl as it can receive , and the rest ( for they abound with oyl ) being joyn'd with the phlegmatick part of the spirit of wine , compose a milk-coloured liquor , ( as all oyls do when they are mixed with water , which we see daily in the preparation of emulsions ) whose oily parts may be imbibed by fresh spirit of wine , and by that means yield spirit of aniseeds anew . finally , 't is upon the account of their oleous nature , that ardent spirits are so inflamable ; and that they so much weaken the corroding acidity of aqua fortis , as to render it innocent enough to be taken inwardly , though they themselves be endowed with a certain volatile acid. sect. ii. the spirits of vegetables , made by incineration , are nothing else but the volatile salts of the tartar of these plants , dissolved in their own phlegm . for they consist of the effluvia that ascend from the plants , while their tartar is a calcining into a fixt salt , kept from flying away into the air , by reason of the peculiar structure of the furnaces , &c. imployed in this kind of incineration : and are therefore altogether of the same nature with spirit of soot , or even with the genuine bitterish alcaline spirit of tartar of wine . n.b. since in the juice of grapes , the alcali and acid , mutually coagulated , obtain the name of tartar , why should not the same salts , con-coagulated in the juices of other vegetables , though endowed with very different seeds , obtain the same appellation , rather than that of essential salts ? for there is really , in the juices of all vegetables , a tartar not unlike to that of wine . so that the spirits , prepared by the incineration of plants , do , like that of vinous tartar , proceed from the tartars of these plants ; which seeing they consist of the same salts , namely alcaly and acid , those spirits are indeed nothing else but these salts in a fluid state . hence if genuine spirit of tartar be drawn off from an alcalisate salt , the volatile acid being left in the fixt alcaly , it will strike your nose with the pungent scent of a volatile urinous salt. sect. iii. the alcaline vrinous spirits of animals are nothing else , but the volatile salts of these animals , dissolved in a little of their own phlegm . [ for , 1. if you put spirit of urine , or any other urinous spirit , well rectified , into a glass conveniently shaped , a gentle heat will sublime good store of dry volatile salt into the slender neck of the glass , leaving a weak phlegmatick liquor in the bottom ; which would be mere insipid phlegm , if it could be perfectly freed from the volatile salt that 't is yet impregnated with , and from the subtle particles of oyl that generally , if not constantly , ascend together with these spirits , and continue invisibly mixed with them ( though never so well rectified , even to a perfect transparency ) for a long time , 'till at length by the action of the air , or evaporation of the volatile salt ( if the glass be not very well stop'd ) or the intestine motion of the parts of the liquor , though it be , the particles of oyl begin to seperate themselves from the rest of the liquor , and gather together into numerous little drops , which , though they be singly invisible , yet render the whole liquor muddy and of a reddish colour . 2. in the distillation , for instance , of fermented urine , or of sal armoniack mingled with a fixt salt , usually the volatile salt sublimes at first in a dry form ; but if you continue the distillation , so much of the phlegm will ascend as shall dissolve all your volatile salt , and wash it it down into the receiver , where you have it in the form of a spirit . 3. if you dissolve , in common water distilled , as much volatile salt of human blood ( for instance ) as it will take up , and distil this mixture , you will by that means obtain a liquor , that by its smell , tast , and divers operations , appears to be a good brisk spirit of human blood ; as that incomparable promoter of experimental philosophy , mr. boyle , has observed in his late useful treatise about human blood. the same is to be said of the alcaline spirits , that are distilled from peas , beans , and some other vegetables : for they appear by divers effects to be much of the same nature with urinous spirits . ] sect. iv. the acid spirits of minerals ( as sea-salt , vitriol , sulphur , &c. ) are nothing else but the acid salts of these minerals freed from the more terrestrial parts , united with a little phlegm , and so reduced into a fluid state by the force of the fire . for you may reduce them to a dry salt by pouring them upon an alcaly . for instance , spirit of vitriol , after it has been imployed to corrode iron , and the superfluous moisture evaporated , recorporifies into vitriol . and spirit of nitre , satiated with salt of tartar or any other fixt salt , turns into nitre again after evaporation . moreover these acid spirits are often found upon the corks ( that stop the glasses wherein they are kept ) in a dry saline form . the same is to be said of the acid spirits of vegetables , as that of vinegar , tartar , guaiac , &c. which are nothing else but essential salts dissolved in phlegm . sect. v. the oyls or sulphurs of vegetables are nothing else but volatile salts concentrated , in union with an unctuous inflamable acid ; which by its unctuosity hinders them to mix readily with water , as all salts use to do . therefore helmont often affirms , that vegetable oyls may be turned into volatile salts . but however that be , being joyned with fixt salts , they turn into a soap ; and if they be frequently drawn off , they are thereby at last resolved into mere elementary water : which is also true of all fermented ardent spirits , since they are but oyls dissolved in phlegm . thus spirit of wine , drawn off from salt of tartar , leaves its seminal acid behind it , and comes over weak and phlegmatick : and if this abstraction be often reiterated , it is thereby at length resolved into pure elementary water , as will be more fully declared hereafter . there is a certain vegetable sulphur , found in charcoals before they be burnt to ashes , by vertue whereof they glow . it is separated by means of alcali's and precipitation . this sulphur is of a golden colour , and of no contemptible use : but if the charcoal be distilled in a retort with an open fire , it turns , like all other sulphurs , into an acid spirit , which being poured upon the fixt salt of the caput mortuum , makes an effervescence with it , and so is coagulated into a salt. sect. vi. the sulphurs of animals , namely oyl and fat , are also nothing else but volatile alcaline salts concentrated , and somewhat suppressed by an occult acid ( that is not manifest to sense ) so that they cannot make any effervescence with manifest acids . these volatile salts may be discovered after the very same manner with those of vegetable oyls . yea , sometimes dogs-grease , for instance , exposed in a glass to the sun , sublimes into a volatile salt without any other art : and 't is , upon the sole account of this volatile salt , that it has been found beneficial to the exulcerated lungs of consumptive persons . the oyl of harts-horn also may be sublimed into a volatile salt. sect. vii . the acid oyls of minerals ( as vitriol , sulphur , allom , sea-salt , &c. ) are not true oyls , but acid salts concentrated ; and differ not from the fore-mentioned acid spirits of the same minerals , but in that they are less diluted with phlegm . sect. viii . all mineral sulphurs , if they be kindled , turn into a very acid saline spirit . the fixt incombustible sulphurs of metals , that helmont speaks of , are ( if there be any such sulphurs ) reducible into a salt , since the same author informs us , that the metals themselves may be totally reduced to an aequiponderant salt , and this into insipid water . as for the earthy part of natural bodies , being useless and of no activity , it scarcely uses to be reckoned amongst the principles . and however helmont informs us , that the liquor alcahest turns this earth into water , by depriving it of its essence , i. e. of its seminal vertue . from what has been said it appears that all those substances , that the vulgar chymists obtain from bodies by the fire , and style principles , are reducible to salts and and phlegm ( or water . ) now our ingenious author goes on to prove , at great length , that even , sect. ix . all sorts of salts , whether acid or alcalisate , fixt or volatile , are finally reducible to elementary water . here first of all 't is to be acknowledged , that salts do naturally exist in bodies before they have suffered the fire : although in many bodies , as woods , flints , &c. the salts are so bound up , by reason of the close contexture of the parts of these bodies , that they cannot easily be put into motion and dissolved , and therefore do not affect the organs of tast , 'till the concretion of the parts be dissolved , and the scattered saline particles be brought together and colliquated by the fire . nor is it true , that the terrestrial particles are turned into salts by the operation of the fire : for , why is it then that ashes , once elixiviated , will not yield one grain more of salt , though you calcine them again ? why do not any terrestrial particles acquire a saline tast by the operation of the fire ? but yet , sect. x. the fixt salts of vegetables , prepared by calcination , were not naturally pre-existent in that form , but are produced of the volatile salts , colliquated amongst themselves and with the earthy particles , by the force of the fire . 't is true , there naturally exists , in the juice of grapes and of all other vegetables , a tartar so fixt as to be inodorous , and to endure the air ( though not the fire ) without flying away . which fixtness proceeds from the acid , that saturates the volatile alcali of this tartar ; as we see in the volatile salt of urine , soot , &c. which being satiated with spirit of salt , are thereby fixed into sal-armoniack , that has no smell . the fermentation of the juices , pressed out of apples , pears , &c. is a manifest proof of this tartarous salt ; for there can be no fermentation without acid and alcaly , which are the constituent principles of tartar. but there is no salt , pre-existent to calcination in any vegetable , so fixt as to endure the fire as well as the air. for , first , the ordinary way of preparing fixt salts , is , by burning the dried vegetables to ashes in an open fire , lixiviating these ashes by decoction in common water , and exposing this lee to some heat , 'till the greatest part of the water being evaporated , the saline particles , formerly dispersed in the pores of the liquor , unite together for want of room into crystals , of different figures , according to the diversity of the seminal acid. others distill a certain acid seminal spirit from the plant , reduced to ashes by a moderate fire , and lixiviate the salt that remains in the retort with this spirit . again others , instead of this acid , cast a little sulphur upon the salt , when 't is highly calcined , whose seminal acid gives a certain form to the salt , in place of that which the extreme calcination had destroyed ; lest , if the salt were wholly destitute of a seminal acid , it should resolve into elementary water , as shall be made out hereafter . but tachenius's method is the best ; namely , to reduce the plants , whilst they are fresh and green , into black ashes with a very gentle fire , so as they may not break out into a manifest flame ; to calcine these ashes to whiteness in an earthen pot over the fire , stirring them ever now and then ; after this to lixiviate them with common water ; to evaporate the lee to the consistence of honey ; then to urge it with a moderate fire to browness : and last of all to dissolve and chrystallise it . one pound of ashes , prepared after this manner , will yield near four ounces of very pure fixt salt : whereas four pound calcined by the former methods , will scarce yield one ounce . the reason of so great a difference , depends partly upon the greenness of the plants , and partly upon the moderateness of the fire imployed to calcine them . for dried plants ( for instance wormwood ) do always afford less fixt salt than green ones ; whence it manifestly follows , that by exs●iccation some saline particles are carried away with the aqueous ones , which would have composed a part of the fixt salt , if the plant had been calcined while it was green : now these salts could not fly away unless they were volatile . again , as the volatile salts of a plant are spent by the action of the air in exsiccation , so are they likewise by the action of the fire in calcination ; and this so much the more , by how much the fire is more violent ; for the particles of a manifest flame , being in exceeding quick motion , excite the volatile salts to a swifter motion , and consequently a more copious avolation , than those of a gentle smothering fire . secondly , if you take the soot that ascends in the calcination of tartar , ( otherwise called the spirit of tartar , ) and put it back again to the caput mortuum , you will thereby much increase the quantity of the fixt salt : and if all the volatile saline particles of tartar could be kept from flying away in calcination , they would all turn into a fixt salt. but if all of them were driven away , 't were not possible to obtain one grain of fixt salt : which yet never happens , because they cannot all fly away at once , but one after another ; so that those , which were to fly away last , are by reason of their longer stay in the fire , colliquated , and so fixed ; and that partly by the acid particles that feed the flame ( and condense the smoak into soot ) and partly by the earthy particles , commixed with the volatile salts that are coagulated in the fire . thirdly , 't is impossible to extract one grain of fixt salt from any vegetable , not yet calcined to ashes , that is , so long as there remains any smoke , or the least motion , of the vegetable particles ( such as we see in glowing charcoal ; ) but when this motion ceases , 't is a sign that all the remaining particles are coagulated and fixed . fourthly , soot is nothing else but a heap of volatile particles coagulated together , and yet by calcination it affords a considerable quantity of fixt salt ; which must proceed from the colliquation of the volatile salts , since there can be none but such in soot : for fixt salts are so constant in the fire that they cannot ascend in the form of flame or smoak , and consequently cannot enter the composition of soot . and that the salts of soot are volatile , is also manifest from hence , that , by means of spirit of salt , they may be turned to sal-armoniack , and consequently ( when the acid spirit is separated by the addition of a fixed alcali ) into a volatile and highly urinous salt. so that the matter , of which the fixt salt of soot consists , are these volatile salts of soot , one acid and another urinous , colliquated together and with the terrestrial particles , by the force of the fire . nor can it be said , that the fixt salt of soot was carried up by the volatile ; for ( besides that there was no fixt salt pre-existent in the mixt body ) by this means it would be no more a fixt but a volatile salt : and if we consider the proportion of the fixt salt of soot to the weight of the soot it self , it will easily appear , that soot contains not enough of volatile salt to elevate such a quantity of fixt , since that ought to exceed this almost in a triple proportion . thus though if you mingle fixt salt of tartar , with a sufficient proportion of its own , or any other , volatile salt , and commit this mixture to sublimation , our author denies not but that some parts of the fixt salt will be elevated by the other salt ; yet he affirms , that these are not integral parts , but have lost the nature of a fixt salt , and are really turned into a volatile one , because this sublimation separates them from the terrestial particles , their union with which was the only thing that kept them in a fixt state . in the like manner spirit of wine , being digested with fixt salt of tartar , and drawn off by distillation , carries along with it some of the saline particles ( whence it is said to be tartaris'd , ) but no terrestrial ones , and consequently no fixt salt but a volatile . again , as 't is impossible to obtain one grain of fixt salt from soot , before a violent calcination , so the quantity of the fixt salt is increased by all the same methods that restrain the volatile from flying away in this calcination : namely if it be calcined in a close vessel , with an intense fire at the beginning , ( that the volatile salts may be the sooner colliquated , before they can have time to fly away ) then beaten , and kept stirring over the fire 'till it be of a cineritious colour . the soot also , that ascends in the calcination of soot , being put back again to the caput mortuum , increases the quantity of the fixt salt. fifthly , whatsoever separates the terrestrial parts from any fixt salt , does at the same time destroy its fixity , and volatilise the saline parts . which our author makes out by several experiments . 1. if you pour spirit of salt , by degrees , upon a lee of salt of tartar , ( or of any other alcalisate salt , ) 'till it be almost satiated , ( which is known by the abating of the effervescence , ) you shall observe a kind of earth precipitate out of the fixt salt , ( namely because , upon the mutual conflict , between an acid and an alcali , whatsoever heterogeneous substance is contained in either of them uses to precipitate . ) the earthy part of the salt of tartar being thus separated , the saline part is thereby render'd volatile , and would actually fly away , were it not for the acid that fixes it anew : and if you separate this acid , by the addition of new salt of tartar , it will by this means be set at liberty , and strike your nostrils with an urinous odour . thus , if you separate the liquor from the precipitated earth by filtration , then reduce it to crystals by evaporation , and last of all , mingle an equal quantity of salt of tartar , with these crystals in a mortar ; the acid rit spirit will joyn it self to this new salt of tartar , and so the volatile alcali , being freed from the acid , flies away . nor can it be said , that the forementioned earth did but externally adhere to the salt of tartar , and was not intimately united with it by colliquation ; since the experiment succeeds with oyl of tartar per deliquium , though it be clear and limpid like rock-water : but observe , that the earth does not fall out of the pores of the oyl of tartar , 'till the salts have attain'd the point of saturation , and then the liquor , that was lympid before , begins to look troubled ; and when the glass has stood a while , a whitish colour'd substance settles to the bottom . but the volatile salt , that is separated from the oyl of tartar , is weaker than that which is separated from the dry salt ; because salts approach so much the nearer to the nature of elementary water , by how much the easier they run per deliquium . 2. in the very same manner , and for the same reason , a volatile urinous salt may be obtain'd from the caput mortuum of sal-armoniac , by the addition of new fixt salt. for in sal-armoniack there is a somewhat fixt acid spirit , combined with the volatile salt of urine and soot ; which acid , being imbib'd by the salt of tartar , ( that is mingled with the sal-armoniack immediately before distillation , ) the volatile salt is set at liberty , and presently flies away . and in the mean time , the forementioned acid dissolves the union , between the earthy and saline particles of the salt of tartar , and thereby renders the saline ones volatile ; which therefore , so soon as they are freed from this acid , by the addition of new salt of tartar to the caput mortuum , do presently ascend , even without fire , with a most piercing urinous odour . and even from this second caput mortuum you may obtain a volatile salt , by the addition of a third portion of salt of tartar. 3. the volatilisation of salt of tartar , by the help of vinegar , depends upon the same principle . for they pour vinegar upon the salt of tartar , and draw it off very phlegmatick ; for the acid salt is left in the salt of tartar. then they pour on fresh vinegar , and abstract it as before ; and reiterate this operation so often , 'till the vinegar came over as acid as when it was poured on : which is a sign that the salt of tartar is now satiated with the acid of the vinegar , and consequently volatilis'd by the separation of the earth that fix'd it . for if you pour vinegar upon the lee of tartar , to the point of saturation , the earth of the tartar will presently precipitate . 4. the preparation of balsam of samech is of no small affinity to this ; namely , the volatilisation of salt of tartar , by a frequent abstraction of spirit of wine from it . for the spirit that is first poured on , though it were highly rectifi'd , comes off phlegmatick , with very great loss of its igneous vertue ; because 't is in great part turned into a water , by being rob'd of its seminal acid. but , so soon as the salt of tartar is fully satiated with this acid , ( which cannot be without reiterating the abstraction of fresh spirit a great many times , since salt of tartar requires a great quantity of the strongest vinegar to satiate it , though the acidity of vinegar be manifest and more fixt , whereas that of spirit of wine is occult and volatile , ) and the spirit comes off without loss of strength , the alcali of the tartar is found to have been volatilis'd , by being separated from the earth that fix'd it . hence you may observe a sweetness in the spirit of wine tartarised , which argues , that the acid particles of the spirit are converted into sweet ones , by being coagulated in the alcalisate ones of the salt of tartar that ascend with them ; in like manner as when vinegar is coagulated in saturn or mars . n. b. 't is not necessary , in this operation , to separate the acid from the volatilis'd alcaly , before this alcaly can be made to ascend , as it was in the experiments made with spirit of salt and vinegar ; because the acid of the spirit of wine is much more volatile than that of spirit of salt or vinegar , and therefore , tho' it be coagulated in the volatilis'd alcaly , yet it hinders not it's volatility . 5. the same observation holds of oyl of cinnamon ( and the like distil'd oyls ) which being long digested and circulated with it's own fixt salt , volatilizes it , and is together with it totally converted into a volatile salt , if helmont rightly informs us , and 't is easy to understand the reason of this , if we consider that there is an acid in all distill'd oyls , as well as in spirit of wine and all other inflamable substances ; which we shall manifestly prove hereafter . 6. in the fermentation of salt of tartar with its own proper ferment , namely crude tartar ; the acid of the latter precipitates the earth of the former ; ( from eight ounces of each the author has seen two drams of earth separated ) but the volatilis'd alcaly , being kept under the power of this acid , does not yet manifest it self : so that the volatile urinous salt which is obtain'd from hence , does not so much proceed from the salt of tartar , as from the crude tartar , on which the salt of tartar operates in this case , much after the same manner as it uses to do as sal-armoniac . which is the more probable , because a very piercing urinous salt may be obtain'd from crude tartar alone , without any salt of tartar , only by the addition of an equal weight of crude alum , as dan. ludovicus informs us . 7. oyl of tartar per deliquium , digested with flowers of sulphur in a gentle heat , emits particles extremely urinous ; which effect the author attributes to the acid of the sulphur : and adds , that , having had occasion to reduce faetid oyl of harts-horn into a soap with a certain alcalisate salt , the glass grew warm without any external heat , and a strong urinous odour pierc'd his nose . [ i am apt to think that this odour came not from the alcalisate salt , as the author seems to believe , but from the oyl of harts-horn , which without doubt contains an urinous salt in it . and if it contain an acid also , as the author thinks it does , the incalescence might proceed from some conflict betwixt this & the alcalisate salt , which being united together , the urinous salt was perhas thereby set at liberty from the acid that formerly detain'd it . ] the like odour is observable in the salt produc'd by frequent abstraction of spirit of wine from salt of tartar : where the author observes that some , after they have several times pour'd spirit of wine upon warm salt of tartar and abstracted it again , do last of all pour on oyl of vitriol , and then obtain the volatile salt by the addition of fresh salt of tartar. which experiment , tho' the author has not try'd , yet he judges it may succeed ; since the terestrial parts of the salt of tartar may be separated by the oyl of vitriol , and the alcaline parts , being united with this acid , may be set at liberty by the addition of new salt of tartar. here the author takes occasion to discourse of the vertues of salt of tartar volatilis'd , and affirms that it has no peculiar effects , ( neither in the curing of diseases , nor in the dissolution of bodies , ) but what other urinous salts do likewise produce . but yet he acknowledges a specifick difference between them , upon the account of the seed in the acid of tartar , which differs from the seeds of other acids : and in this respect other urinous salts do also differ from one another ; since the renowned boyl has observ'd , that the volatil salt of harts-horn resembles a parallelopiped , but that of human blood , digested with spirit of wine , is like a rhombus . this diversity of figure is owing to the different seeds or idea's , as residing in the acids , that are the causes of the solidity and coagulation of these salt : wherefore the fixt salt of tartar cristallis'd does also resemble a rhombus , because the seminal acid of this salt , is of the same kind with that of the spirit of wine , which being stronger than the seminal acid of the foremention'd volatile salt of blood , this salt is coagulated according to the idea of the vinous acid : even as , when spirit of nitre is pour'd upon salt of tartar , the acid of the former being the more powerfull , forms the crystals of an oblong figure like nitre , but not like salt of tartar , which resembles a rhombus . the author concludes , that this seminal difference of volatile alcalies is of little moment in medicine , since all alcalies , even the purest , are endow'd with so much of a seminal acid , as does indeed preserve them from a spontaneous resolution , into elementary water , but yet hinders them not from being in a capacity to imbibe this or that hostile morbisic acid indifferently . the same thing is to be said of the fixt alcalisate salts of vegetables , for the seminal vertues are lost in the calcination , and there remains only so much of a seminal acid , as keeps them from relapsing into elementary water , and does indeed cause them to differ specifically from one another , but not to produce different effects in medicine . from all the foremention'd particulars , concerning the volatilising of fixt salts , our author concludes , that there can never be any method found out to effect it , but by separating the terrestrial particles . as for zwelfers volatile salt of tartar , prepar'd by often reiterated solutions ( per deliquium ) and abstractions , he affirms that 't is nothing else but useless elementary water ; as will manifestly appear to him that considers , that alcalisate salts are fundamentally nothing else but aqueous particles , converted by a little seminal acid into rigid salts , which , as soon as the acid is destroy'd , turn again into water : wherefore the more violent the calcination is , and by consequence the greater your loss is of this seminal acid , they are the more easily resolv'd per deliquium in moist air , which by it's vertue , as a menstruum , does in great part consume the little acid that remains and thereby resolve a great part of the alcalisate salt into elementary water , wherein the other particles , not yet depriv'd of their seed , do swim , ( for when salts approach to the nature of water , they are readily dissolv'd in it ; ) but if the water be abstracted from them , and they expos'd to the air again , their remaining acid is destroy'd , and they resolv'd into water in great part : and if they run per deliquium and be abstracted often enough , all the seminal acid will be at length destroy'd , and nothing remain but bare elementary water , which will all of it easily ascend . and by this means any fixt alcalisate salt may be totally reduc'd into elementary water . sect. xi . the volatile salts of vegetables , since they are the matter of which ( colliquated with the acid and terrestrial particles ) the alcalisate salts consist ; and the volatile salts of animals , since ( as the author has prov'd ) they differ not essentially from those of vegetables ; are both of them ultimately reducible into elementary water . sect. xii . acid salts , made fluid by the force of fire , and drawn off from fixt alcalies , may be thereby so rob'd of their acid , that nothing will ascend but elementary water . and the alcalisate salt , that has imbib'd the acid , being frequently resolv'd per deliquium and the phlegmatic part as frequently abstracted , may by this means be at length totally converted into pure elementary water . thus the author having particularly examin'd the pretended chymical principles , and found them all ultimately reducible into elementary water ; concludes that sect. xiii . all mixt bodies are made up of water , as the only first material principle and seeds ( which differ according to the differing species of bodies ) as the formal principle , united together by means of acid ferments : that is to say , water is coagulated into a plant , by the ferment of a vegetable seed ; into a metal , stone , &c. by that of a mineral seed ; and into flesh , bones , &c. by the ferment of an animal seed . for in all mixt bodies there are certain acid particles , wherein the seeds or ideas of natural things do reside , and which , in coagulating the approximated aliment , do follow the draught of these ideas , and so are thereby determin'd to give it the form of this or the other vegetable mineral , or animal . thus in a mans stomach , for example , there lurks a certain acid , that discovers it self by the sour belches of healthy men , and by the vomiting of coagulated milk , tho' it were taken fluid . this acid easily receives the alcalical particles of the meat extracted by ( the alcalical menstruum ) the spittle , and imprints the idea of its own seed upon them , by which they are determin'd to nourish man only , and no other animal ; as afterwards , when they come to every particular part of the body , by the circulation of the blood , they are determin'd by the seminal acid residing in that part , to nourish it rather than any of the rest . and that aliment , which has once receiv'd the seal or impression of the seminal idea of any animal in the stomach , or of any part of the animal in that same part ; will never receive the idea of another animal , nor of another part of the same animal , unless it be suppress'd by a more powerfull ferment ; as when sheeps bones , tho' furnish'd with their own proper ferment and idea yet , being unable to resist the stronger one of a dogs stomach , are therein turn'd into fit nourishment for the dog , and afterwards for his musculous flesh it self and other parts , as well as for his bones . in like manner grass has its own ferment and idea suppress'd by that of a cows stomach , which seals it with such an impression , as renders it fit nourishment for a cow , but not for any other animal . but if the same grass had been taken into the stomach of a horse , it would have been turn'd into nourishment fit for a horse , but unfit for a cow or any other animal . again common mercury , which is the nourishment of metals , is converted into this or the other metal , according to the diversity of the acid seminal sulphur that coagulates it . finally all vegetables also are endow'd with a seminal acid , and therefore their express'd juices do , after long fermentation , tast acid. and in the fermentation of cream of tartar with salt of tartar , the seed , idea or archeus , that reside in the acid of the tartar , forms certain bubbles very much resembling natural grapes . all this will be better understood hereafter , from the authors particular expication of the nature of the foremention'd seeds , ideas and ferments : but now , to put it past all doubt , that water is the only material principle of all mixt bodies , the author has not only prov'd that all substance 's that mixt bodies can be resolv'd into by the chymical art , are totally reducible into elementary water ; but likewise he proves particularly , that prop. xiv . water is the only and catholic nourishment of all vegetables , animals , and minerals . and 't is manifest that every body consists of the same matter that nourishes . 1. as for vegetables , helmonts experiment proves this beyond contradiction ; namely , he put 200 pound of earth ( dry'd in an oven ) into an earthen vessel , moisten'd it with rain-water , planted it in the trunk of a willow tree weighing 5 pound , and let it alone there for 5 years time , only watering it , as need requir'd , with rain-water or distill'd water . [ and to keep the neighbouring earth from getting in , he imploy'd a plate of iron tin'd over and perforated with many holes . ] at the 5 years end he found the tree had grown so well , that it weighed 169 pound and three ounces : and yet the earth , being dry'd again , weigh'd but two ounces less than it had done at first : so that above 160 pound of wood , bark , root , &c. had grown up out of mere water , coagulated by the seminal ferment of the vegetable into the severall substances newly mention'd . hence rain does wonderfully refresh , envigorate and advance the growth of , all sorts of plants , and without that they decay , wither and dye . for water is indifferent to them all , till it be turn'd by the ferment of the vegetable seed into leffas , as helmont calls the juice that is the immediate aliment of the plant. thus wolf-bane aconitum and lavender , for instance , growing in the same soyl , are both nourish'd by the same rain-water , which by the ferment of the one is coagulated into a poysonous herb , and by that of the other into a wholsome one . secondly , that animals are nourish'd with water alone , appears in fishes ; for they live only in the water , and yet have no food supply'd them from any where else , nor is there any rudiment of it to be found in their stomachs , as helmont observes . [ and tho' some fishes feed upon others , yet these others feed only upon water , and therefore are materially nothing else but water . ] as for terrestrial animals ; some of them , as horses , cows , sheep , &c. feed wholly upon water and grass , which the author has already prov'd to be materially nothing else but water , and therefore that which grows in well water'd places , prospers best , others , as a lyon , wolf , &c. tho' they be not nourish'd by grass and water only , but feed upon other animals , yet still their food is materially nothing else but water , being that these animals live only upon grass and water , except when they are too young to digest grass , that they are nourish'd by their mothers milk , which also is materially nothing else but water , since it is generated of the mothers nutriment . [ the same things are easily applicable to birds ; ] and to men , which feed only upon vegetables , fishes , and the flesh of beasts that are nourish'd only by vegetables . thirdly , as for minerals ; mercury is the immediate aliment of metals , and some other minerals , and the nearest matter of which they are produc'd . now mercury is nothing but elementary water , coagulated by a certain metalline and arsenical sulphur into such a water as does not wet the hands : and by other various sulphurs 't is further coagulated into antimony and divers metals . hence mines are never found but where there is a great conflux of water . gold is gather'd out of the sands of some rivers . sand abounds no where so much as near the sea and great rivers . stones are nothing else but sand compacted together . [ and the illustrious mr. boyle has fully prov'd in a most ingenious as well as judicious discourse about the origine and virtues of gems , that many gems and medical stones were once fluid bodies . but 't were too long , here to give an account of the many cogent arguments he there imploys to prove this assertion , which very much countenances our authors hypothesis . ] the experienc'd helmont informs us , that it often happens in mines when the workmen are breaking the rocks , that the wall cleaves , and a little water of a whitish green colour flows out of the cleft , & presently thickens like liquid soap ; afterwards it growes yellow or white or of a deeper green . this juice he calls bur , and affirms it to be the nearest matter of all minerals , and to be nothing else but water coagulated by a mineral ferment , as leffas is by a vegetable . to make it yet more evident , that water is the only first material principle of natural bodies ; the author undertakes to prove that prop. xv. all animals , vegetables , and minerals are ultimately resoluble into elementary water . [ first the substances that animals are resolv'd into by distillation , are phlegm , volatile salt , urinous spirit , oyl , and earth or caput mortuum , but very little if any fixt salt. the phlegm is nothing else but elementary water , except in as far as it partakes of the volatile salt and oyl , of which it always carries up some particles , nor can it ever be perfectly separated from them . ] 2. the volatile salt of animals is of the same nature with that of vegetables , which being colliquated by the force of the fire with acid and earthy particles , is thereby turn'd into a fixt salt. and this fixt salt being frequently deliquated , and the phlegm as often abstracted , is at length totally resolv'd into elementary water . all this was abundantly prov'd before ; as also that 3. the spirit is nothing else but volatile salt dissolv'd in phlegm . 4. the oyly and fat parts of animals may be united with an alcalisate salt into soap , from which being often abstracted , they turn at length into meer elementary water . and this is to be observ'd of all the fat 's of animals , that by frequent circulation with salt of tartar they are converted into water . 5. [ as for the fixt salt of animal substances , 't is the common opinion that none can be abstracted from them ; perhaps because all their saline parts are so volatile , that ( to speak consonantly to our authors hypothesis ) they cannot sustain a colliquation with the earthy parts , especially since there are very few , if any , manifestly acid ones to concur to their fixation . but that indefatigable searcher into nature , mr. boyle , informs us , that by an obstinate calcination of eight ounces and a half of caput mortuum of human blood , he obtain'd above seven drams of salt , which , tho it were not truly lixivial , but rather of the nature of sea-salt , yet it was fixt enough to endure a calcination for two days together , without flying away . however , 't is probable , that this was nothing else but some unalter'd part of the sea-salt that season'd the aliments , that the person or persons whose the blood was fed upon . ] 6. the earth also may be totally resolv'd into elementary water , by being depriv'd of its seminal vertue by means of the alcahest , if we may believe van helmont . hence t is that dead animals , when they putrify , are resolv'd into an aqueous substance . and helmont has deliver'd a notable experiment to this purpose , namely , that if you dig up a frog at full moon , in the coldest time of winter , ( atrocissimo hyemis borea ) wash it , and tye it to a stick in the fields , the next morning 't will be turnd into a white and transparent mucilage , not unlike to liquifi'd gum tragacanth , but retaining the figure of a frog . yea he affirms that the cadaver of a man or beast , exposd all night to the rayes of the moon , will in the morning be almost fluid with rottenness , ( putrilagine diffluet : ) so great power has the moon to reduce dead bodies into an aqueous mucilage . [ secondly , vegetable substances chymically analys'd , yield phlegm , volatile salt , spirit of several sorts , oyl , fixt salt , and earth . to the first , second , fourth and sixth may be apply'd what was said of the phlegm , volatile salt , oyl , and earth of animal substances . the fixt salt may be totally resolv'd into elementary water , by reiterated solutions in the air , and abstractions , as above . there are 4. sorts of spirits afforded by vegetable substances . 1. vinous inflamable spirits , which were formerly prov'd to be nothing but oyls dissolv'd in phlegm by fermentation : as also that 2. volatile saline spirits , as spirit of soot , spirit of beans ( that have been kept in a dry place for some months ) &c. are nothing but volatile salts dissolv'd into phlegm . and that 3. acid spirits , as spirit of vinegar , spirit of beans newly gather'd , &c. are nothing but acid salts in a fluid state and united with phlegm : and being pour'd upon fixt salts , they are together with them ultimately resoluble into elementary water . 4. adiaphorous spirits of box , guaiacum &c. which the judicious mr. boyle , who was the first observer of them , suspects to be generated of the finer parts of the oyl of the wood , reduc'd to an extraordinary smallness , and by that means exquisitely mix'd with the plegm the juice of grapes affords : all these 4 sorts of spirits , as mr. boyle has observ'd in his excellent discourse concerning the producibleness of the chymical principles . thirdly , as for minerals ; we must rely upon the testimony of van helmont , whom mr. boyle concludes to be a veracious author , ( except in that extravagant treatise of the magnetical cure of wounds , ) from the success he has had in trying some of his experiments , that might seem not the most likely to succeed : [ and i think we may justly lay great weight upon the judgement of so experiencd and judicious a person as mr. boyle , concerning the sincerity of any chymical author . ] helmont then in several places informs us , that all stones , gems , marcasites , metals &c. may be transmuted into an aequiponderant salt , and this into insipid water . and as for metals , it seems indeed that common mercury is their nearest matter , into which they may be resolv'd by the separation of their coagulating salts : and the famous langelot has made an experiment of this in the regulus of antimony . now if the other metals also may be resolv'd into mercury by depriving them of their sulphurs , and the mercury it self be reducible into water , ( by robbing it of the sulphurs yet remaining in it , ) as mr. boyle somewhere affirms , it may in great part , and as several other authors of good credit attest ; then it can no more be doubted , that all minerals are reducible into water . [ it will not be unseasonable in this place to mention a few experiments , deliver'd in mr. boyles septical chymist , that do very much countenance the three last propositions . that excellent author then informs us , that about the middle of may he caus'd his gardiner , to dig out some good earth , dry it well in an oven , weigh it , put it in a very shallow earthen pot , and set in it a seed of squash ( a sort of indian pompion that grows apace ) which he water'd only with rain or spring water . and tho the hastning winter hinder'd it from attaining any thing near its wonted magnitude , yet being taken up about the middle of october , the pompion together with the stalk and leaves weighed three pound wanting a quarter . and yet the earth , being very well dry'd in an oven , was found to have lost little or nothing of its first weight . he try'd the like experiment with two cucumbers , which being taken out of the earth wherein they had grown , weighed ( together with the roots and branches ) fourteen pound and six ounces ; and yet the earth had lost but a pound and a half of its first weight , which the gardiner judg'd to have been in great part wasted in the ordering . but granting that some of the earth , or rather of the dissoluble salt harbour'd in it , was wasted in the nourishment of the plant ; yet 't is plain , that the main body of it consisted of trasmuted water . this experiment may be try'd with the seeds of any plant that is bulky and grows hastily . likewise a top of spearmint of an inch long , being put into a vial full of spring-water with its lower part immers'd , did in a few days shoot forth numerous roots into the water , ( as if it had been earth , ) and display it self upwards into many leaves , with a pretty thick stalk . the same experiment has also succeeded with marjoram ( tho' more slowly ) balm , and peniroyal , to name no more . one of these vegetables cherish'd only by spring-water , and that never renew'd , afforded by distillation ( besides phlegm ) an empyreumatical spirit , an adust oyl , and a caput mortuum , that appearing to be a coal , consisted no doubt of salt and earth . and if helmont had distill'd the foremention'd tree , no doubt it would have afforded him the like distinct substances as another of the same kind . but a more considerable instance ( to prove that all sorts of bodies are nothing else but water subdu'd by seeds ) than any yet mention'd , is afforded us by mr. de rochas , who tells us , that he took simple water , that he well knew to be mix'd with no other thing but the spirit of life , and having with a heat artificial , continual , and proportionate , prepar'd it by the graduations of coagulation , congelation , and fixation , which he had spoken of before , untill it was turn'd into earth ; this earth produc'd animals that mov'd of themselves , vegetables and minerals . the animals he found , by a chymical anatomy he made of them , to be compos'd of much sulphur , little mercury , and less salt ; and the minerals ( which were solid and heavy , and began to grow , by converting into their own nature one part of the earth thereunto dispos'd ) of much salt , little sulphur , and less mercury . and tho the judicious mr. boyle has some suspitions of this strange relation , yet as to the generation of animals and plants , he thinks it not incredible , since common water ( which is indeed often impregnated with variety of seminal principles and rudiments ) long kept will putrify and stink , and then perhaps too produce moss and little worms , or other insects , according to the nature of the seeds that were lurking in it . and tho' the distillation of eels yielded him some oyl , spirit , volatile salt , and caput mortuum , yet were all these so disproportionate to the phlegm ( in which at first they boyl'd as in a pot of water ) that they seem'd to have been nothing but coagulated phlegm ; which does likewise strangely abound in vipers , as hot in their operation and as vivacious as they are . and seven ounces and a half of human blood yielded near six ounces of phlegm , before any of the spirits began to arise , and require the receiver to be chang'd . corrosive acid spirits , tho they seem to be nothing but fluid salts , yet you 'l find them to abound with water , if either you entangle , and so six their saline part by making them corrode some idoneous body , or mortify it with a contrary salt. thus in making of balsamus samech with distill'd vinegar instead of spirit of wine , the salt of tartar from which it is distilld , will , by mortifying and retaining the acid salt , turn near twenty times its weight of the vinegar into worthless phlegm , before it be satiated . and in making the true balsamus samech ( which is nothing but salt of tartar dulcifi'd , by distilling from it spirit of wine till it be glutted with the vinous sulphur , ) as soon as the spirit of wine is depriv'd of its sulphur by the salt of tartar , the rest ( which is incomparably the greater part ) remigrates into phlegm : so that if helmonts process be true ( which was confirmed to mr. boyle by a sober and skilfull spagyrist , who did indeed prepare the spirit and salt by a way that is neither short nor easie , but added nothing to them ) spirit of wine seems to be materially nothing but water under a sulphureous disguise , tho' being so igneous that it will totally flame away , 't is of all liquors the most likely to be free from water . but helmont's grand argument for his hypothesis , is taken from the operation of the alcahest ; which , he says , does adequately resolve plants , animals , and minerals into one liquor or more , according to their several internal disparaties of parts , ( without caput mortuum or the destruction of their seminal vertues ; ) and that the alcahest being abstracted from these liquors in the same weight and vertue wherewith it dissolv'd them , they may by frequent cohobations from chalk or some other fit substance , be totally depriv'd of their seminal endowments , and by that means reduc'd to insipid water . here mr. boyle judiciously observes , that it may be doubted whether this water , because insipid , must be elementary ; since the candid p. laurembergius affirms that he saw an insipid menstruum , that was a powerfull dissolvent : and the water which may be drawn from quicksilver without addition , tho' almost tastless , will manifest a very differing nature from simple water , if you digest in it appropriated minerals . however the forementiond experiments concerning the growth of vegetables , do sufficiently prove that salt , spirit , earth , and oyl ( which are four of the pretended chymical principles ) may be produc'd out of simple water . but to return to our author . ] having prov'd , that water is the only material principle of bodies usually calld mixt , by three arguments . 1. because none of the other pretended chymical principles have a right to that title ; some of them not being naturally pre-existent in the bodies from which they are obtain'd ; and all of them being reducible to elementary water . 2. because water is the only nourishment of all animals , plants , and minerals ; and by consequence the only matter of which they consist . because all animals , plants , and minerals are by a true analysis ultimately reducible to simple insipid water . having evinc'd this , i say , by these three newly mention'd arguments ; and fire being the only sublunary body ( besides air , of which heareafter ) that these arguments , as hitherto prosecuted , can with any colour of reason be pretended not to reach ; and being likewise by many enumerated amongst the principles of natural bodies ; the next proposition shall be , that prop. xvi . fire is nothing but an acid volatile sulphur very swiftly mov'd . for there is a certain sulphur in every inflamable body , which takes fire as soon as 't is put into a rapid motion , whatsoever the cause be that excites it to that motion . this appears in the striking of fire by the collision of two flints ; in the firing of the axel-tree of a mill or coach , that sometimes happens upon a long continued and vehement attrition ; and in many other such obvious instances . oyl of vitriol contains a great many acid sulphureous particles , proceeding as well from the embryonated acid , that corroded the iron or copper oar in the bowels of the earth , as from the iron or copper it self : these particles , being excited to motion by the affusion of oyl of tartar ( or even genuine spirit of tartar ) produce a notable heat and effervescency . the sulphur of quick-lime ( whether it be innate , or adventitious from the fire ) conceives a vehement heat , as soon as 't is excited to motion , by the alcaline lixivial particles set at liberty by the affusion of water . finally ( to add no more ) butter of antimony consists chiefly of the sulphureous particles of the antimony , and the salino-acid ones of the mercury sublimate : the latter being wash'd off with water , the former do more manifestly appear , ( namely in mercurius vitae , which causes vomiting without any danger of corroding the bowels : ) and both of them being vehemently mov'd by the affusion of spirit of nitre , there is an intense heat produc'd . so that the formal nature of fire or heat consists in motion . now that the sulphureous particles of which fire is materially constituted , are of an acid nature , will abundantly appear from the ensuing considerations . i. the particles of the flame of common sulphur , being receiv'd and condens'd in a glass bell , do compose a very piercing acid liquor . ii. there are not any bodies more akin to fire , than the totally inflamable spirits of fermented vegetables . and yet all the principal effects of these fermented spirits , depend upon a volatile acid. for 't is upon the account of its acid salt , that spirit of wine is coagulated in spirit of urine or salarmoniac , or in any other volatile alcali , as also , that it loses its strength by distillation from salt of tartar , which imbibes and retains the acid , and receives an increase of weight thereby . and generous wine , that is turgent with this spirit , being drunk moderately , sends a volatile acid to the brain , that makes a subtile effervescence with the ( alcaline ) animal spirits , and thereby produces cheerfulness and a vigorous promptitude to action ; ( as on the contrary , the sadness of melancholy persons proceeds from the fixation of the animal spirits by a more fixt acid. ) but upon excessive drinking , that volatile acid ascends too copiously to the brain , conquers and fixes the animal spirits , and so stupefies the organs of sense and motion : yea sometimes it may suppress the vital acid ( or innate heat ) of the blood , and at length totally coagulate it ; especially if the wine be endow'd with a strong acid , as the french , and chiefly the hungarian wines are wont to be . and indeed , that the inebriating vertue of wine ( and all other strong drinks ) is entirely owing to a volatile acid , may be prov'd by many arguments . 1. hence 't is , that volatile alcaline salts do prevent drunkenness , especially spirit of salt-armoniack , if some drops of it be now and then mingled with the drink . 2. bitter almonds and other oleous things , do likewise prevent drunkenness , by weakning and suppressing the vaporous acid of the wine , so that it cannot reach the brain . 3. the same acid inflames drunkards faces , and adorns them with purulent pimples , like so many gems . for the whitish colour'd matter , contain'd in these pimples , proceeds only from the volatile acid of the wine that infects the ferment of the muscles of the face , coagulates and precipitates the blood that comes thither for nutrition , and so changes its purple colour into a whitish one . for proof of this assertion , 't is to be noted , that the purple colour of the blood proceeds from the resolution of the sulphurous acid parts by the ferment of the heart , which sets them at liberty , so as that they may mix per minima , and make a subtile effervescence with the alcaline spirits : as when spirit of salt-armoniack or of harts-horn , or any other that is alcalical , is digested with spirit of wine , they produce together a very red tincture , because the acid sulphur of the wine , being by digestion intimately mix'd , and making a subtile effervesence with the subtil alcaly , is at length so resolv'd as to manifest it self by tinging the whole liquor : after the same manner , in the tincture of the salt of tartar , the spirit of wine is ting'd by the volatilis'd alcaly of tartar : and common sulphur boyl'd in the lixivium of any fixt salt , is thereby exalted to a red colour ; but because the alcaline salt is so ty'd to the terrestrial particles , that it cannot penetrate the sulphur per minima , therefore the colour is obscure and dark . now , if you pour another acid liquor upon these sanguine tinctures , immediately they become of a milk-white colour . just so it happens , when the blood is extravasated , and putrefi'd in any part of the body , the acidity , that arises from this putrefaction , precipitates the sulphur that ting'd the blood , and thereby turns it into white stinking pus ; even as common sulphur , when it is precipitated out of any lixivium by the affusion of vinegar , strikes the nose with an ungratefull odour , tho it was utterly inodorous before : so that pus is nothing but blood , whose vital alcaline balsamical spirits are suppres'd by an hostile acid , and the tinging sulphureous particles precipitated in wounds & abscesses , while the pus is a making , the motion of the acid particles do often produce a symptomical feaver , an inflammation in the part affected , convulsive motions in the brain , and pains in the nervous parts : but these symptoms abate as soon as the pus is made , and the motion of the particles ceas'd . 4. amongst the external medicins , that are wont to be apply'd to the foremention'd pimples in the face , the preparations of saturn are the chief ; because they imbibe the acid of the wine , or other inebriating liquor , that inflames the face . for saturn readily receives all sorts of acids or sulphurs , even those of metals , as is well known to the refiners . thus the unripe sulphurs of metals , coagulated in saturn , do compose litharge . vinegar , coagulated in saturn , produces sugar of lead . and all acids in general , coagulated in saturn , mars , or any other body whatsoever , are wont to be dulcifi'd thereby . for all sugars are nothing but acid salts coagulated in other particles : whence 't is , that they are resolv'd by distillation into a very ardent and powerfully inebriating spirit ; and are extream sit to promote or even begin fermentations : and therefore 't is , that the syrups of the shops have a manifestly acid tast ; and sugar is very hurtful to scorbutical persons , because upon the account of its acidity it excites divers vitious effervescencies , produces tumors of the bowels &c. and vitiates the vital ferment of the stomach . iii. that the particles of fire are of an acid nature , may evidently appear from all other inflameable substances , especially those that are oyly and fat , as well as from common sulphur and spirit of wine . for in the first place , 't is certain , that oleous and fat bodies are really endow'd with an acid ; as appears from the following reasons . 1. chirurgions observe , that oyls , and fat substances , are very noxious to the bones , ( especially the skull , which is a porous bone ) and particularly , that they are apt to make them carious ; which must happen upon the account of their corroding acid. and for the same reason , they render vlcers sordid , by increasing the corroding acid. 2. what else is that greenness , that adheres to lamps , but the acid of the oyl-olive coagulated in the particles of the metal , that it has corroded ? whence comes the blew colour of oyl of camomil distill'd in copper vessels , but from some particles of the veins corroded by the acidity of the oyle ? 3. the heart-burn ( ardor ventriculi ) is often occasion'd by fat things , ( especially if you drink after them , because the acid salts are thereby dissolv'd and put into a swifter motion ) as well as by austere and sourish wines : and the remedy , in both cases , is , to use things fitted to precipitate the acid. 4. oleous and fat things are hurtful in erysipelatous distempers , ( which proceed from the coagulation of the blood by an acid , ) because they increase the peccant acidity , whence the putrefaction is increas'd , the bones are corroded , and the natural heat of the part is at last totally suppress'd , and mortify'd . ( yet the author denyes not , but these effects do also partly depend upon the obstruction of the pores of the part , by the foresaid fat substances , so that the effluvia , wont to transpire through the pores , being detain'd in the body , and inordinately mov'd , do increase the feaver . ) 5. 't is likewise upon the account of their acidity , that oyls are hurtful to all inflammations , without such a preparation as consumes or corrects their acid. thus lin-seed oyle mingl'd with an equal weight of spirit of wine , and boyl'd ( with continual stirring ) till the spirit be consum'd , is us'd safely and successfully , both inwardly and outwardly , in pleurisies , peripneumonies , inflammations of the liver &c. because the coagulating acid is readily imbib'd by this oyl , that has been depriv'd of its own acid by the spirit of wine , which , being a much more volatile oleous body than the oyle of lin-seed , evaporates before it , and carryes its acid along with it ; even as the same spirit , being mingl'd with aqua fortis and distill'd in a cucurbit , ascends before it , and carrys a great part of its acidity along with it , insomuch that the remaining aqua fortis becomes a very safe internal medicine , tho' before , the smell of it only would cause an atrophia in the whole body . the same oyl of lin-seed is also corrected , by frequently extinguishing red hot steel in it , till it appear by the ceasing of the hissing & smoke , that the acid particles are either evaporated in smoke and spent by deflagration , or coagulated in the mars . and if after this it be distill'd from quick-lime , that if any acidity yet remains , it may be therein coagulated , the oyl of lin-seed becomes an excellent remedy for inflammations , burns and the like : as oyl-olive also does , by distillation from quick-lime . and this last nam'd oyl , being imbib'd in old tyles or bricks ( which are depriv'd of all moisture by their having been long expos'd to the heat of the sun ) heated red hot , and quench'd in it , and then distill'd in a retort , is thereby robb'd of all its acidity , and acquires a singular vertue in the palsey , gout , cramp &c. and all oyls are wholsomer boyl'd than crude , because a great part of the acid is exhal'd in the boyling . 6. helmont teaches that distill'd chymical oyls , which are otherwise very hot , may by an artificial circulation for three months time with an alcali salt be turn'd into a very temperate volatile salt : namely because the hot acid of the oyl is saturated by the alcali , and by that means reduc'd temperate . nor can there be any other reason given , why the alcaly should have this effect upon the oyl , but that the acid of the oyl corrodes the alcaly and is coagulated in it . now in the next place , that the heat and inflammability of oyly substances depend upon the acid , that the experiments , newly deliver'd , prove to be contain'd in them , may be evinc'd from those same experiments ; most of which do not only prove , that oleous and fat bodies are endow'd with an acid , but likewise , that the effects usually ascrib'd to the hot quality of these bodies , do indeed depend upon this acid ; and that whatsoever mitigates or destroys this acid , does at the same time weaken or destroy their heating power . and 2. that this may also be truly apply'd to their inflammability , and that the acid particles contain'd in oyly and fat substances are really the matter of which the flame of these substances ( when they are burning ) consists , does plainly appear by the abstraction of oyls from spirit of wine , quick-lime , or bricks ; for , being by this means depriv'd of their acid , they become less inflammable than the crude oyles were . and candles made of sheeps tallow , burn sooner away than those made of any other tallow , because there is greater store of acid particles in it ; as appears by the griping of the guts , which cannot happen without a corroding acid , ( for all the medicines , effectual against this distemper testify that to be the cause of it ) and which is very often occasion'd by eating fat mutton , especially if the acid salts be dissolv'd by drinking after it , in like manner as when salt butter is sweetned by melting it , and pouring it into water , and thereby dissolving the salt. likewise recent fat , or oyl burns sooner away , than that which has been long kept , and thereby lost much of its volatile acid. n.b. since tallow , as well as every other body , is materially nothing else but water coagulated by a seminal acid , and since 't is only the acid particles that feed the flame ; it follows , that when they are consum'd , he remainder , being robb'd of , the coagulating , acid must return into elementary water , and therefore 't is insensibly dissipated like a vapour : even as the water of spirit of wine kindled vanishes into a vapour . iv. the particles of fire being fix'd or coagulated in any body whatsoever , do plainly manifest themselves to be acid , as appears from the following instances . 1. fire coagulated in mars , turns it into a crocus , that differs nothing from rust , ( which proceeds always from an acid ) and is every way like to that crocus which is prepar'd with acids , and endow'd with the same medicinal vertues . v. tachen . hipp. chym. cap. 28. 2. fire coagulated in saturn is separated by means of a fixt alcaly , or even of venetian borax ; for minium ( which receiv'd its red colour from the sulphur of the coals , even as the sulphur of antimony coagulated in mercury , turns it [ into cinnabar ] of an exceeding high red , is by the help of these salts reduc'd to crude lead . n. b. according to tachenius's computation , 100 pound of lead retains in calcination ten pound of fire . 3. all the remedies for burns are such as are capable to imbibe , saturate , or suppress the igneous acid ; for instance , sugar of saturn , ceruss , litharge , oyls depriv'd of their acidity , lixiviums , &c. and unwashen threed mitigates erysipelatous inflammations , because of the alcaly of the spittle . v. and lastly , the acidity of the particles of fire appears from its efficacy in chirurgery , and particularly in exstirpating ill condition'd ulcers . for the cause of vlcers being a corrosive acid , they may be cur'd by three sorts of external medicines . 1. those that saturate this acid , as spirit of salt-armoniac , quick-lime water , oyl of tartar per deliquium , and the like . 2. those that imbibe and assume this acid , as all the preparations of saturn . the author has known ulcers in the legs cur'd , meerly by applying thin plates of lead to them ; because the acid , corroding the musculous flesh , was coagulated in the lead . 3. those that by a more potent acidity suppress this weak one ; as verdegreese , which consists of the acid salts of vinegar coagulated in particles of venus ; now these salts are much more powerfull than in common vinegar , because they are concentrated and separated from strong phlegm , and thereby enabl'd to suppress the weaker putredinous acid of the ulcers ; which aqua fortis , spirit of salt , and other acid spirits also do . but nothing performs this so effectually , as actual cauteries , because there is no acid so powerful as that of fire . n. b. i. the acid effluvia , that are continually passing away from inflammable bodies while they are burning , do compose flame , so long as they continue numerous enough within a certain sphere , and in a very swift motion , but having pass'd the limits of this sphere , they begin to move more slowly , and are by degrees dispers'd . so that the same acid effluvia , which being in a rapid motion , produce tormenting pains and convulsive motions by corroding the nervous parts ; when they are in a moderate motion , do produce in our body a temperate and gratefull heat , by inciting the nervous capillaments to gentle spasms . n. b. 2. tho' actual fire be so far from being one of the material principles of mixt bodies , that it cannot exist in them without destroying them ; yet there are certain acid particles in all mixt bodies , differing but in rest , or in degrees of motion from actual fire , in which the seeds or ideas reside , that are the formal principles of those bodies . but these acid particles do themselves return into elementary water , when they are devested of those seeds . which seeds or ideas , so often heretofore mention'd , t' will now be seasonable to explain . having abundantly prov'd , that simple water is the only matter of which all mixt bodies consist , 't is plain that they all agree in one and the same material principle ; so that their difference one from another proceeds not from any diversity in the matter of which they consist , or in the proportion of the elements that may be suppos'd to concur to their composition but , prop. xvii . the diversity , that is among natural bodies , is wholly owing to the different seminal ideas , that regulate the operation of the plastick spirit , which coagulates water into various substances , differing in figure , solidity , bigness , order and connection of parts , and other modifications , according as its motions are guided by these ideas . for when god at first created out of nothing the terraqueous globe , and furnish'd it with numerous bodies of several species or kinds ; he was pleas'd , because the individuals were corruptible , to endow them by vertue of his omnipotent word ( be fruitful and multiply , ) with a power of producing out of pre-existent matter , new individuals like themselves , and of their own species ; that so , when the first individuals were dissolv'd , the species might nevertheless be preserv'd in these new individuals generated by the first ; & so on , as long as the world endures . this generative power is seated in the seeds ; [ which are very obvious in animals and vegetables , but more doubtful in minerals , at least in severall sorts of them . ] as for animals , and particularly man ; the feminine seed is a limpid liquor , contain'd in the little eggs , that are found in the testicles . this seminal liquor contains in it self an exact idea of an entire human body ( of the femal sexe , ) consisting of as many particular distinct ideas , as there are different parts in a human body , which all together concur to make up one entire idea of an entire woman : so if it were possible for us to contemplate this idea with our bodily eyes , as well as we can do with our intellectual , we might discern in it sensible signatures of all the parts of the body , alltogether making up a lively representation , and as 't were exact model , of an entire woman . the idea of every particular part in this seed , is a particle of the idea that resides in that same part of the womans body that generates this seed . for every part of a womans ( mans , or any other animals ) body , whether similar or organical , has its own idea residing in it , in which idea is imprinted upon , or ( which is all one ) communicates a particle of it self unto the blood , that circulates through the part ; and the blood carryes all these ideas to the testicles , where they are gather'd together , dispos'd into the same order that the parts , they come from , have in the womans body , and so united into one entire idea , which is inclos'd within the tunicles of the egg , that being defended from injuries thereby , the particular parts of it may be able to retain their due situation , and may not be lyable to be confounded one with another or misplac'd . this idea is endow'd in the testicles with a particle of that moving vital spirit , which is the principle of all vital actions , and the only mover of all seeds , which , without this , are barren and unfruitful , because they cannot unfold themselves . but yet this plastick spirit in the feminine seed is too weak for to accomplish the evolution of the ideas , without it be strengthen'd , actuated , and fecundated by that more powerfull spirit which the masculine seed is impregnated with . all that has been said of the feminine seed , is applicable also to this , saving , that it contains ideas of all the parts of a human body of the male sex only , not of the female ; and that these ideas are confounded one with another , because the seed not being inclos'd in tunicles in the form of eggs , but contain'd in the testicles in a liquid form , they fluctuate and cannot retain any certain order . hence it is , that as the feminine seed alone can never be fruitful , till its weaker spirit be corroborated by conjunction with the masculine ; so neither can the masculine seed alone ever produce a foetus , till its confus'd ideas be reduc'd into due order by conjunction with the feminine , each idea taking its own proper place , by applying it self to the correspondent ideas of the feminine seed . in short , the masculine seed cannot reduce the confus'd ideas into order , but being set in order by the feminine , it can explicate or unfold them , which the feminine cannot . wherefore the masculine seed must be injected into the womb , whence it emits a seminal and vital spirituous exhalation through the tubi fallopiani into the testes or ovarium , where one ( or more ) of the eggs , being impregnated with this exhalation , and foecundated thereby , is thrust out of its place , and falls into the extremity of the tubus fallopianus , which conveys it to the womb. for tho' the two seminal spirits be now united into one , yet even this is not sufficient for the evolution of the ideas ; till it be excited to motion by the heat of the womb ; and then it begins the evolution of the ideas , by coagulating the approximated aliment into a substance agreeable to the particular ideas , and applying it to them : by which means the ideas , that were utterly insensible before , do quickly acquire a visible bulk : insomuch that kerkringius tells us of a foetus , but four days old , wherein the distinction of the parts was plainly discernible . this apposition of aliments to , and gradual evolution of the ideas , begins at the first conception , and continues after the child has left the womb , till the body have attain'd its full stature ; ( that is , to a perfect evolution of the ideas , for when the ideas are not capable of any further evolution , the growth of the body must cease . ) so that ganeration is really nothing else , but the first nutrition ; or the apposition of aliment to and evolution of the ideas while they are yet insensible : and on the other side , nutrition is nothing but a continued generation . for 't is the same plastick spirit , guided by the same ideas , that coagulates and applyes the aliment to every part , both in and out of the womb. and the immediate aliment of all the parts in both states is the same , namely blood , but with this difference , that the embryo is nourish'd with the mothers blood , communicated to it by the vmbilical vein from the placenta vterina : whereas , after the child is born , it takes in various aliments by the mouth , and makes blood of them it self for its own nourishment . this blood is already determin'd to nourish the human ( and no other animals ) body , by the impression that the idea of the stomachal ferment has seal'd the aliments , it is made of , with ; but is indifferent to all the parts of the human body , till it come to be determin'd to the nourishment of particular parts by being stamp'd ( as it were ) with the seal of the particular ideas residing in them . for every organ hides in its ventricle an idea of its own body , that regulates the apposition of the aliment to that part , ( and is the same that regulated the first formation of it . ) and the native heat , or vital spirit of every different part , coagulates the blood into a differing substance , and applyes it in a differing manner , according to the diversity of that idea , which guides the motions of this coagulating spirit . these ideas were concreated with the parts of the first individuals . and after what has been said , 't will not be difficult to conceive , how they were folded up ( as it were ) and united into one entire idea in the seed of these first individuals : how the second were generated by the gradual unfolding again of the same ideas , & apposition of aliment to them : in a word , how by the convolutions and evolutions , ( so to speak ) of those ideas , the propagation of mankind has been continu'd to this day . ( and the same is to be said of all other animals , as well as of all vegetables . ) this is as brief and clear an account , as i could give of the authors notion of the generation of animals : which tho' it may seem already more prolix than is agreeable to the design of this treatise , yet , because the theory of generation is so difficult , and because i have not elsewhere met with so intelligible an account of the seeds and ideas that helmont so often speaks of ; i thought it would not be foreign to my design , if i insist a little longer upon a theory , that will so much conduce to facilitate the reading of an author , that many are deterr'd from , by the obscurity of his notions , and that has deliver'd so many and so considerable chymical experiments ; for the obscure hints he gives of some of the principal , will be much better understood by one that is acquainted with his notions , than by one that is not , caeteris paribus . wherefore i shall proceed , without any farther apology , to deduce , from the hypothesis , already deliver'd , an explication of some of the chief phaenomena of generation ; continuing to insist upon one single instance , taken from the chief species of animals , man : for the same things , that are here deliver'd concerning man , may , with a little alteration , be easily apply'd to other animals . ] the sexe of the foetus is determin'd by the prevalency of the ideas of the fathers , or of those of the mothers seed . if there be a parity of both , the foetus will partake of both sexes . a mole happens , when an egg falls out of the ovarium into the womb , merely by the irritation of lust , without congress with a man : for the tunicles of this egg swell and are extended in the womb ; but the moving spirit of the masculine seed is wanting , to unfold the ideas of the egg and apply aliment to them : for the ideas , tho' they give the due figure to every part , yet they cannot unfold themselves ; and the feminine spirit in the egg is not vigorous enough to do it ; tho' it have really some activity , whereby it concurs with the masculine in the formation of a true foetus , and makes itself alone some unperfect evolution of the ideas in a mole , which has been observ'd sometimes by kerkringius and others , to contain the parts of a human body sensibly , tho' imperfectly , delineated . 't is because of this strength and vigour of the spirit of mens seed , that they are said to be of a hotter temperament than women ; and that eunuchs turn effeminate in their voice , manners , and disposition . abortion happens upon the lest manifest acidity of the aliment of the foetus , for this coagulates and suffocates the spirit , that by its occult and milder acidity should coagulate the aliment , and apply it to the nourishment of the foetus . hence a four scorbutick disposition of the blood makes women subject to miscarry ; and the use of red coral , mother of pearl , and the like is good to prevent it . the plurality of foetus's happens when more eggs than one are foecundated by the mans seed , and fall out of the ovarium into the womb. for the ideas of the mans seed , being to be reduc'd into order by application to those of the womans , every particular idea may be divided , and apply it self to the correspondent idea of several eggs. this is manifest in the seed of a cock , which if the hen have but once receiv'd , it suffices oftentimes to make her eggs fruitful for a whole year thereafter . so that every particular idea of his seed , must have been divided into as many particles , as there were eggs foecundated by it . marcus marci , de ideis operatricibus , ascribes the plurality of foetus's to the plurality of hearts in the seed , howsoever this be occasion'd ; for the heart being the center of evolution , as many hearts as there are , so many centers of evolution , and by consequence so many foetus's . the monstrous plurality of parts in one foetus happens , when the ideas of the masculine seed are not exactly apply'd to the correspondent ideas of the feminine seed ; but decline to the right or left hand ; so that , being separately unfolded , they make up distinct parts . the want of a particular part ( as arms , legs &c. ) happens , when the idea of that part is not unfolded for want of aliment ; or is extinguish'd by some impure acid particles of the aliment , or by the force of the mothers imagination of some person presented to her , that has ( by an accident perhaps , ) lost that part. a pygme or dwarf-stature happens , when the evolution of the ideas is hinder'd , either by the impurity or manifest acidity of the aliment apply'd to them , some time after the foetus has left the womb ; or by the force of an idea imprinted in the mothers imagination , that so mingles it self and becomes one with the idea , that forms the foetus , as to determine it , not only in respect of figure but of stature ; so that the formative idea , being straitly ty'd with the imaginative , is compell'd thereby to stop before a perfect evolution . if this idea take root in one subject , it may be propagated to posterity , till it be extinguish'd by a supervening idea of greater force . on the contrary , a gigantine stature proceeds from the evolution of the formative idea beyond its due bounds ; which marcus marci ascribes to two causes , namely , either the refraction of the ideal rayes by falling into a dissimilar medium , or the mothers strong imagination of some huge statue . and indeed there are many obvious instances , to prove , that a strong imaginative idea of the mothers , impress'd upon the seed , ( or even upon the embryo , after the evolution is begun ) may have powerful effects in the formation of the foetus . for hence it is , that we can often distinguish men of several nations by their aspect : because the women of every nation form in their imagination so strong an idea , from the constant sight of their owne country-men , as , by uniting it self to the formative idea , determines it to fashion the foetus like them , in some propertyes of the countenance , that most , if not all , of them , agree in : jacobs rods also are a signal instance to this purpose . and there are many relations of white women , that by reason of a strong imaginative idea , occasion'd by the frequent , or unexpected and affrighting sight of blackamores , have brought forth black children . this imaginative idea continues , till it be extinguish'd by the accession of another more powerfull idea . the author tells us of a woman with child , affrighted at the sudden coming of a blackamore ; who being presently washd all over , by the prudent advice of a by-stander , did so strongly imagine the washing off of the blackness hereby , that the idea of blackness , formerly conceiv'd , and already imprinted upon the foetus , was by this means extinguish'd ; for she brought forth a white child , but spotted between the fingers and toes , and in a few other parts that the washers hand had miss'd . finally , to add no more , 't is a very usual observation , that if a woman with child conceive a strong idea of any thing , whether by a longing desire after it , or being affrighted at the sight of it &c. the child seldom fails to have a mark in some part of its body , representing that thing both in colour and figure ; whether it be a cherry , mouse , or any other such like thing : and if the thing , that surprises the mother , fall upon or hit against a particular part , the idea of it will be impress'd upon that same part of the foetus . [ an eye-witness related to me , that a pregnant woman , that had been affrighted with a cat suddenly thrown upon her lap , brought forth a child with two marks , one above each knee ; which marks , when the knees were brought together ( into the same posture that the mothers were in , when the cat affrighted her ) did exactly represent an entire cat , with the head above the one knee , and the tail above the other , in the very same posture that the cat fell in . but , tho' it plainly appears from these and many more such instances , that the mothers imagination has a powerfull influence upon the foetus ; yet to give a clear and intelligible explication of the manner how it produces such effects , is a matter of no small difficulty ; and our author gives but little account of it . however i shall offer some considerations , that may somewhat lessen this difficulty , tho' i shall not pretend to give a clear and satisfactory solution of it . first of all then , i consider , that , since the formation of the foetus is wholly regulated by the seminal ideas , 't is easy enough to conceive , that an imaginative idea , impress'd upon the seed , may have a considerable influence in the formation of the foetus . for instance , the idea of a blackamore ( simply as such , regarding only the colour of his skin , and not the figure , proportion , and other qualities of the parts of his body ; or at least , not being so strong in regard of them , but that other different , and more prevalent ideas of these qualities , may render this ineffectual , as to them : this idea ( i say , ) impress'd upon the seed , may determine the formative spirit to form the foetus with a black skin ; since it has been formerly prov'd , that all the modifications ( and consequently the colour ) of every part , depend intirely upon the ideas residing in the seed . in the next place i consider , that , since 't is highly probable , that the animal spirits , which come from the brain through certain little nerves to the testes , do there mingle themselves with the spirituous part of the blood , brought thither by the arteries , and concur with it to make up the matter whereof the seed consists : and since the idea of a blackamore ( to keep to the former instance ) is convey'd to the brain and imprinted there by the animal spirits , which receive it from the image or idea painted in the bottom of the eye , upon the tunica retina or ( as others think ) the choroeides , by the rayes of light reflected from the blackamores body : it may be easily enough conceiv'd , that the animal spirits may also convey the same idea from the brain to the testes , and there impress it upon the seed . for if the animal spirits of the optick nerves transmit this idea from the eyes to the brain , and there imprint it ; why may not the animal spirits of the par vagum transmit the same idea from the brain ( through certain little branches that reach , ) to the testes , and there communicate it to the seed . and since the rayes of light , that come from the object , may be reflected from a specular body to the eye , without losing thereby that figuration , motion , or whatever other modification it be , that qualifyes them to paint an exact idea of the object , they receiv'd it from , upon the retina or choroeides : why may not the animal spirits , that receive the very same modification from the tunicle of the eye , be reflected from the brain to the testes , and there impress the same idea upon the seed . nor can it be said , that the seed is not a subject capable of such ideas , since ( as was noted before ) the animal spirits are part of the matter whereof it consists , so that by taking them into its own substance , it must receive the ideas they bring along with them . and 't is most certain , that many impressions , made in particular parts of the body , and transmitted to the brain , do not stop there , but are reflected back to the same , or to other parts , where they often produce very notable effects ; & that barely by the strength of the impression , without any concurrence of the wills determination , yea many times in direct opposition to it . and tho' the substance of the brain seems very remote from being specular ; yet since that quality depends upon such a modification of the surface of any opacous body , as qualifies it to reflect the rayes of light in the same order they fell in , without at all confounding them , or altering the modifications they receiv'd from the object ; 't is plain that the brain , if it be at all capable of reflecting the impressions that come from visible objects , ( as certainly it is ) must , as well as specular bodies , tho' perhaps upon very different accounts , be qualify'd to reflect them without confounding or altering them ; for if the brain should confound or alter them , there could be no true distinct ideas of the objects , they come from , form'd in it . all these considerations may be also apply'd , to lessen our wonder at the powerful influence of the mothers imagination upon the foetus in the womb already form'd . for so long as the foetus is in the womb , it may very justly be consider'd as a part of the mothers body ; since her blood circulates through and nourishes it , as well as the other parts of her body . and being 't is very probable , that the animal spirits , convey'd by the nerves to every part of the mothers body , do there mingle with the blood brought thither by the arteries , and concur with it to the nutrition of the part : i may very reasonably suppose , that the animal spirits , that come to the womb , may there mingle with the arterial blood , and be trasmitted together with it by the umbilical vein into the body of the foetus for its nourishment . and if there be a strong impression of any idea in the brain , the animal spirits may ( as was formerly explain'd with relation to the testes ) ▪ convey it to the womb , and there impres● it upon the body of the foetus ; which , being so soft and tender , may upon that account be more susceptible of any such impression , than the other parts of the mothers body ; especially since her frequent and solicitous thoughts of the womb , and the foetus therein contain'd , may determine the animal spirits to flow more copiously thither than to other parts , and keep those pores of the brain that lead thither more open : so that the reflection of any impression , made upon the brain , may have a freer course that , than any other way . and tho' the impression made upon the foetus be but weak at first , yet it may be afterwards sufficiently confirmd by often reiterated imaginations . finally , tho' it be very little at first , yet it may increase daily as the foetus grows : which may be both illustrated and confirm'd by figures lightly cut in the rind of a gourd , which grow bigger and bigger as the gourd increases . and now i see not any considerable difficulty remaining in this subject , after i shall have added this one consideration ; namely , that , because the formative idea , residing in every part of the foetus , is a particle of the idea that resides in the same part of the mothers body ; an imaginative idea , produc'd in her brain , by a sudden impression made upon any part of her body , may , when it is communicated to the foetus , be more apt to unite it self with the formative idea , belonging to that same part of the foetus , than with any other ; and upon this account , that part may more easily , than any other , receive the impression . for the idea of the object comes to the mothers brain , accompany'd with the idea of the part , that the impression is made upon , and the imagination connects them together as it were into one compound idea , and transmits them to the foetus ; where the latter easily unites it self with the formative idea homogeneous to it , and the former impresses itself upon the part , that this idea resides in . if it be objected , that after all that has been said , we are still in the dark about the main point , for want of a clear and distinct notion of the ideas so often mention'd . i answer , that many things have been already , and some more yet remain to be , deliver'd , tending to clear the nature of those ideas , all which laid together , and attentively consider'd , may go a great way in assisting judicious readers , to form as clear notions about them , as can well be expected in so abstruse a subject , as the generation of animals . and 't is no less cefficult , if not much more , to give an intelligible and satisfactory explication , of the nature of imaginative ideas , representing sesible objects in the brain ( which no man questions the reality of , ) than of those formative ideas , that the notions , here propos'd about generation , are built upon . and he that denyes the later , because he cannot be distinct enough in his conceptions of them , may upon the same ground deny the former , yea and even disbelieve his own eyes , when he sees the ideas of many various objects transmitted through a small hole ( fill'd with a convex glass ) into a dark room , and there delineated to the life , without the least confusion , upon a piece of white paper , plac'd opposite to the hole , at a convenient distance . and such a person i cannot better answer , than by recommending to his serious perusal , a discourse of things above reason , lately published ; where the acute and judicious author very convincingly proves , that , 't is highly reasonable to believe many things , that our reason cannot comprehend ; many that we cannot form any clear and distinct notions of ; and many that we cannot reconcile to other unquestionable truths . for the ideas , we have been speaking of , may very justly claim a place in the second of the three , newly mention'd , ranks of priviledg'd things , which that author styles inexplicable . 't is true , that profound and subtil philosopher , des cartes , has attempted , in his book de homme , to give a mechanical account of the ideas , that are imprinted in the brain by insensible objects . but he founds his notions upon an hypothesis , concerning the structure of the brain , and the motion of the spirits in it , which tho' it be most ingeniously devis'd , yet 't is so far from being countenanc'd by anatomical observations , that it seems utterly inconsistent with the best and most accurate , that have been made upon that part. but 't is more than time to conclude this digression , and proceed to the rest of our authors observations about the seminal ideas of animals , and particularly of man. the propagation of hereditary distempers ( such as the epilepsie , gout , stone , consumption ) from parents to their children , depends upon this : that the seminal idea which forms the lungs ( for instance ) of the foetus , is a particle of that idea which resided in the parents lungs : which is to be understood also of the reins , joynts , brain , and all the other parts of the body . hence many children are born with moles , or spots , in the very same parts of their body where their parents had them , and of the same shape ; insomuch , that whole families have taken their names from the things that the moles , common to these families , were observ'd to resemble , as the cicerones , pisones , lemuli , &c. for there are certain subtil corpuseles , that go out of every ( even the smallest ) part of the parents body , and mingle themselves with the spirituous part of the blood that circulates through it . which effluvia , being modifi'd , and as it were figur'd , after a peculiar manner by the part they come from , impress this modification upon the fore-mention'd spirit ; which spirit , being afterwards united in the seed with the ideas of all the other parts , ( that is , the spirits come from every part with a peculiar modification impress'd upon them by it ) and excited to motion , and extricated from the grosser parts of the seed by the heat of the womb , begins to form , of its own substance , a body like unto that part , from which it receiv'd the modifications impress'd upon it . and thus the prima stamina of the foetus are form'd ; which are nourish'd at first by the grosser part of the seed , and afterwards , partly by the mothers blood , and partly also , perhaps , by the liquor contain'd in the amnos or inner membrane of the foetus . from this process of generation , 't is easie to understand , how that disposition of some particular part of the parents body , which renders him or her obnoxious to any particular distemper , may be communicated to the same part of the foetus , and render it obnoxious to the same distemper . only the nature of the impression which is made upon the spirit that forms the parts of the foetus , and which qualifies it to form them like the parts of the parents body which it came from ; i say , the particular nature of this modification remains in the dark still . nor do i know how to illustrate it better , than by comparing it to that which is little less obscure than it self ; namely , the modification , which the rayes of light receive by being reflected from various objects , and by which they are qualifi'd , to produce , in a darkned room , lively and distinct representations of each of those objects , both as to their figure and the colour of their surface ; and 't is from the surface only , that the rayes receiv'd this modification , whereas the fore-mention'd effluvia come from all the innermost recesses of every part , and therefore from the correspondent part of the foetus like unto it , not only in figure and colour , but in the whole nature and inward textur of it . that the ideas of all the parts do really exist in the blood , appears from the following arguments . 1. they have sometimes visibly appear'd in the blood , receiv'd into a cucurbit immediately as it slows out of the vein , ( whilst it is warm and turgid with spirits ) for some medicinal preparation : see borell . observ . 2. some , that have drunk the blood of any animal , or of another man , have been observ'd to partake of the nature and disposition of that man or animal . commodus his disposition was owing to his mother , who , presently after his conception , drank the blood of a cruel gladiator that she was desperately in love with . a certain maid , having drank some cats-blood , as a remedy for the epilepsie , did imitate cats in her voice , motion and actions , when the fit was coming upon her ; watching silently at little mouse-holes . see becker . microcosm . therefore ( to note that by the way ) the transfusion of blood seems not a safe way of curing diseases . 3. the spittle of a mad dog makes other dogs , men , horses , or any other animal , wounded by his teeth , turn mad also , and imitate his actions and gesticulations , such as barking , grinning , fearfulness of water , &c. now spittle is an immediate production of the blood that circulates through the salivary glandules , & therefore must have receiv'd from thence the ideas , that it infects the spirits of the bitten animal with . also other venemous enraged animals , as the tarantula , &c. communicate such ideas by the little wounds that their teeth make in the part they bite , as transform the spirits of the party bitten to a ridiculous imitation of their gesticulations . though every particular part of the foetus be form'd , as has been said , by the evolution of its own idea , convey'd , by the circulation of the blood , from the correspondent part of the parents body , unto the testes , where the seed is made ; yet maimed parents may have perfect children ; namely , if both father and mother be not mutilated ( at least not of the same parts ; ) or if they have had perfect seed in store , before they were dismembred ; or if the defect of the architect tonic spirit , that should have come to the seed from the part that is deficient , be suppli'd by the strength of the parents imagination ; who by seeing daily other infants , boys , girls , men , women , all perfect , without the defect of any part , may conceive so firm an idea of a perfect foetus , as will ( by the sympathy , between the imagination and the seed , formerly explain'd ) produce the very same modification in the seed , that an idea , convey'd by the blood from the deficient part , ( if it had not been wanting ) would have done . for the mothers imagination may not only add to the foetus a spot representing the thing imagin'd in figure and colour , but even the very thing it self in its whole nature . how many instances are there of pregnant women , that have conceiv'd so strong an idea of the horns of some beast that has terrifi'd them , that the impression , thereby made upon the foetus , has produc'd ( not a spot only representing it , but ) a real substantial horn , though , perhaps , this cause of the phaenomenon be not always observed . and hence it is , that if the parents be maimed from their birth , their children are often mutilated of the same part , because they cannot easily conceive a firm idea of the entireness of that part , which they never felt entire in themselves : but if they were dismembred long after , they can easily form a strong idea of the part that they have felt entire , and known the use of , in themselves , and so supply the defect of that idea in the seed . 't is also probable , that the mothers imagination is the principal cause , why the childs face sometimes resembles the fathers , sometimes the mothers , and sometimes some other person , according to the idea that is prevalent in the mothers brain , while she is with child . that the mother ( as well as the father ) is furnish'd with true seed , endow'd with the ideas of the parts of her own body ( as well as the fathers is with the ideas of his ) and consequently , that she does contribute part of the plastick vertue that forms the foetus , as well as afford the matter of which it is form'd and nourish'd in the womb , appears from several parts of the foregoing discourse , as well as from the three following considerations . 1. the ideas of the masculine seed can only be taken from the parts of the mans body , and therefore can never form the organs peculiar to a woman . 2. the vitious conformation of any part of the mothers body , as well as of the fathers , is often propagated to the foetus . 3. when a male and female of differing species copulate , the foetus is of a mixt kind , resembling the one in some of its parts , and the other in others . we have ( besides the instance of mules ) too many instances of this in the monstrous foetus's produc'd by the detestable venery of some men , that copulate with female brutes . the flowing of the menstruous blood to a young womans womb , is a sign of maturity , because it signifies , that , besides the seminal idea of her own sex ( which she was really furnish'd with before ) there is now also aliment provided for the evolution of that idea , whensoever it comes to be foecundated by the masculine seed . death happens , when the vital spirit ( or calidum innatum ) that is the chief mover in the evolution of the ideas , and in all the animal functions , is supp●●ss'd or extinguish'd by any cause whatsoever . ( this may be better understood from what was formerly deliver'd of abortion , which is nothing else but the death of the foetus . ) but the ideas do still remain in the cadaver , though they are become barren for want of the moving spirit ; which shall be restor'd again at the resurrection , and no new evolution thereby made , but the entire idea , as it was already unfolded at the time of death , resuscitated or animated anew . and some of the spectres , that are seen in church-yards , may be nothing else but the ideas , remaining in the human cadavers , elevated by means of a certain central heat , which would be seen in the day time also , if the light of the sun did not keep them from appearing . serpents , cut to pieces and putrefi'd , breed new serpents by the influence of the sun , which restores to the quiescent ideas that moving spirit , which they had lost by death . frogs also bruis'd , in the winter , and resolv'd into mud , do , upon the same account , revive in the summer . ducks , putrefi'd , are reported to breed serpents , and it has been confirm●d to the author , by a credible eye-witness : whence it evidently appears , that the seminal ideas of the serpents flesh ( which they use to feed often upon ) have not been totally destroy'd , even by so many digestions , but have continu'd entire under the dominion of the ducks seminal ideas . swallows , when the cold winter comes , bury themselves under the water , where they continue without any sign of the least motion or life , 'till the returning sun inspire them with new vital spirit , and thereby raise them to life again . all these instances do strongly argue the possibility of the h●●●●●… resurrection : which ( as also the authors conjectures about sp●●●…es ) is likewise much confirm'd by the resuscitation of vegetables , hereafter mention'd . naturalists observe , that , in some persons , the passion is so great in time of coition , that , for the present , it quite bereaveth them of the use of reason . and therefore it is , ( which should have been noted before ) that the parents imagination , at that time , produces more powerful effects in the seed , than the same imagination , at any other time , could have done . for when the animal spirits flow in such abundance into the organs of generation , any idea , that is very strong in the imagination , must of necessity be carry'd down together with them and infect the seed . but i have already insisted too long upon this subject : and therefore i shall add no more , but pass on to the generation of vegetables . every species of vegetables has its own particular seed . the visible seed is but the receptable , that contains , and secures from external injuries , the true seed or idea of the plant , which ( says our author ) all sound philosophers affirm to be but the 2800 parts of its own body ; intimating this determinate proportion , that in all generations the true seed is very remote from any sensible bulk . the seminal idea of every plant ( as was formerly said of animals ) consists of as many particular distinct ideas , as there are different parts in the vegetable , all together representing an exact model of the entire plant. the evolution of this idea is perform'd in this manner . when the body of the seed , or external capsula of the seminal ideas , begins to be soften'd by the moisture of the earth , so that the ideas may take up a larger space , the heat of the sun excites the innate fire of the seed , which is congeneal to it ; ( for all fruitful seeds are endow'd with a particle of that universal spirit of life , which is the principle of all vital actions , foecundates all seeds , and is the only mover in all generations : ) and which being , put in motion , begins , by the coagulative vertue 't is endow'd with upon the account of its acidity , to coagulate the water that is at hand , into a substance agreeable to the nature of the ideas , and fill up the little spaces of the ideas with it : which are by this means gradually explicated , 'till they have attain'd the utmost evolution that they are capable of . this evolution , of the ideas of a vegetable seed , may be clearly represented to the eye by artificial vegetation , which is perform'd in the following manner , according to tachenius . take the ripe seed of any plant , gather'd in fair weather , bruise it in a glass mortar , and keep it in a glass hermetically seal'd , of a shape and bigness answerable to that of the plant , 'till you observe a convenient evening , when dew is like to fall ; then take out your seed , and expose it all night upon a plate of glass , that it may be wet with dew ; but be sure to seal it up again before sun-rise , with a solution of the salt of dew , in its own distill'd liquour pour'd upon it to the heighth of three fingers breadth . expose this seal'd glass to the rayes of the sun and moon in fair weather , and keep it in a warm fire-room in rainy weather . after some days the seed will appear like a mucilage , and the supernatant d●w will be of a green colour saturate according to the nature of the seed , and coverd over with a skin or divers colours . when these signs are compleat , if you heat the glass , you shall see a perfect lively idea of the plant rise up within it , which will disappear again when the glass is remov'd from the heat . this odd phaenomenon depends upon a particle of the vniversal spirit contain'd in the dew , which excites the innate spirit of the seed to an occult fermentation , whereby the idea is freed from its external earthy receptacle , so that it may be elevated by the application of external heat , leaving the heavy terrestrial particles behind . but the author does not give credit to the experiment , that some pretend to , of elevating this idea from the ashes of a plant ; because the calcination drives away that spirit , which is the immediate receptacle of the idea of the plant. the foremention'd salt of dew is made by filtring and distilling the dew 'till it leave no more faeces , then calcining the faeces , and extracting the salt from them , which is to be dissolv'd in the distill'd dew , and so pour'd on upon the seed , as above . in the last place , minerals also are endow'd with seminal particles . for though they be not made up of so many dissimular parts , and of distinct organs , as vegetables , and especially animals are ; and consequently , though we cannot suppose any ideas in them consisting of integral organical parts : yet they have a certain seminal ferment , which , in metals particularly , is evident enough ; for 't is this ferment that converts mercury into a metalline substance . therefore , iron mines , that have been almost quite exhausted , are after some years found as rich in the oar as they were at first . and the same thing is observ'd in tin , ( and likewise in nitre . ) and such a seminal power there is in common gold , though this metal be unfit to impregnate other metals therewith , and consequently improper for the grand philosophical work of transmutation ; because its sulphur , being once coagulated , loses all power of motion for the future , and therefore is unfruitful and dead . but 't was this same seminal sulphur , that , when the gold was produc'd , did coagulate it self with mercury , and thereby convert it into gold. and there appears not any solid reason against the possibility of the transmutation so much sought after ; since , though seeds cannot be converted into other seeds , yet those , that are endow'd with a weaker mover , may be overcome by , and brought under the dominion , of such seeds as are furnished with a stronger . and now having establish'd the material and formal principles of natural bodies , the efficient only remains to be consider'd . prop. xviii . the chief mover ( under god ) of all natural bodies , that actuates and foecundates all animal , vegetable and mineral seeds ; that coagulates elementary water into all sorts of bodies , according to the various ideas of those seeds ; that applies the same water to those ideas , and in a word , the chief efficient in all the phaenomena of nature , is a certain subtil spirit of an igneous nature , diffus'd through the whole visible world , but chiefly treasur'd up at the center thereof in the sun. n.b. [ 1. by spirit here , is not meant an immaterial substance , but a body consisting of very minute and very active particles , peculiarly fitted for motion , and endow'd with a great measure of it . 2. by the visible world , i understand here , that part of the corporeal universe which contains the earth with the other six planets , and makes up one great vortex , whereof the sun is the center . as for the rest of the universe , it is altogether unknown to us , only , as that most ingenious conjecture of the incomparable des cartes concerning it , is very likely to be true ; namely , that every one of the fixt stars , we see , is the center and sun , as 't were , of a distinct vortex : so 't is no less likely , that each of them has the same relation to its own vortex , and the same influence upon the planets , or whatever bodies they are which it contains , that the sun has to our vortex , and upon the bodies comprehended there in particularly the terraqueous globe . and though this part of our authors hypothesis concerning the anima mundi or vniversal spirit , may be applicable in the sense newly explain'd , to the whole universe of bodies , yet his other principles of water and seeds are not so comprehensive ; and whatever he says of them , must be limited to the bodies contain'd in this little point of the universe , that the almighty creator has given to mankind for an habitation . and the truth is , we have but little certain knowledg of the other parts of the world , and that little we have is very superficial . ] 3. this vniversal spirit is actually igneous in its fountain , the sun ; and after it is incorporated in terrestrial bodies , even the coldest of them , it differs but in the slower motion of its particles from actual fire , and therefore , when-ever they are put into a rapid motion , it turns into actual fire again . and those particles of combustible bodies , that , being in a vehement agitation , do chiefly constitute our culinary fire , were once particles of this vniversal spirit , and came originally from the sun. 4. this is the spirit that mov'd upon the water at the beginning of the creation . for when god created the matter of which he intended to form this terraqueous globe , namely , a great mass of simple elementary water , he endow'd it with all sorts of seeds , and made use of this spirit to coagulate a great part of the foresaid mass , according to the signatures of those seeds , into mineral , vegetable and animal bodies of all kinds . [ and the word in the original , which our translators render mov'd , seems to agree very well with this hypothesis : for it properly belongs to birds sitting upon and fluttering over their eggs and young ones , to excite , quicken and foecundate the seed contain'd in the eggs , and so bring forth the young ones ; and to cherish them when they are brought forth : so that , in this place , the word may be very reasonably suppos'd to imply , that the vital spirit , which god had created , did , as 't were , sit upon , and move it self in the waters , to actuate the seeds they contain'd , and by this means hatch'd , as 't were , and brought forth the after-mention'd bodies . ] 5. tho' this spirit , by coagulating the elementary water into several bodies , was it self coagulated and incorporated together with it , and tho' it has been propagated to all sorts of bodies that have been produc'd , by generation , ever since the terraqueous globe was first created ; so that every fruitful seed has a particle of this quickning spirit connate with it : yet this particle is not sufficient to accomplish the evolution of the seminal ideas , and actuate the body in all the functions that belong to it , unless it be maintain'd , corroborated , and multipli'd by constant fresh supplies , from that inexhaustible treasure of this vital fire , which is plac'd in the sun ; and thence diffus'd , with the rayes of that glorious body , to all parts of the visible world , and particularly to the terraqueous globe , where it maintains and actuates the fore-mention'd native spirit of all animals , vegetables and minerals . 6. the vital substance , that flows continually from the sun , is equally capable of all forms , and unites it self indifferently with all seeds . but when 't is once united , it loses its indifferency , and is specifi'd according to the determinate nature of every particular seed that it incorporates with . hence the sulphurs of vegetables are quite different from those of animals , and both from the sulphurs of minerals ; nor can they be transmuted into one another by humane art : so streightly does the vniversal spirit unite it self with particular seeds . the reason of this so close an union , is , because the native pre-existent in every seed , is of the same spirit nature and original with this vniversal spirit . as for the proof of the proposition hitherto explained , the vniversal spirit , asserted in it , is manifest , 1. from the absolute necessity of constant respiration to men , and most other animals ; for hence it is evident , that there is a certain vital substance in the air , that they cannot live a minute without fresh supplies of , now that the air is but the vehicle of this vital substance , flowing continually from the sun , and the medium , through which it is convey'd to sublunary bodies , shall be prov'd hereafter . so that it must be the vniversal spirit , cloath'd with air , that is constantly receiv'd into the lungs by inspiration , and thence transmitted to the heart ; which ( being the chief fountain of the animal life , that constantly diffuses a vital spirit through the arteries , together with the blood , to all parts of the body , and thereby maintains and cherishes the native heat and vital spirit residing in each of them ) must have constant supplies from the vniversal spirit , to corroborate , maintain , and multiply its own particular spirit . for the vniversal spirit , that flows from the sun to all parts of the macrocosm , is of the same nature with this particular spirit , that flows from the heart to all parts of the microcosm , and is therefore very fit to nourish and support it with constant new supplies . 2. the same vniversal spirit is no less evident from what has been deliver'd under the former proposition , concerning the generation of animals . to which i shall only add , that nature has solicitously provided to secure the seed from external air , because , if it were expos'd but a moment to the air , the vniversal spirit , that dwells there , would instantly suck up ( so to speak ) the congeneal spirit that foecundates the seed , as not being yet incorporated . [ wherefore the seed , of oviparous animals , is carefully shut up from the contact of the external air within the egg. and in viviparous animals , presently after the injection of the masculine seed into the womb , and the union thereof with the feminine , ] the orifice of that part is exactly clos'd , and the two united spirits do presently fall to work , and begin the evolution of the seminal ideas , and the apposition of aliment thereunto . but this work could never be accomplish'd , nay , nor even begun , unless the seminal spirit were excited , cherish'd , corroborated , and supported by the heat of the womb , [ and by constant supplies of the mothers vital spirit , convey'd , with the arterial blood , from her heart to the placenta vterina , and thence transmitted , through the vmbilical vein , into the vena cava , and so into the heart of the foetus , which is the centre of evolution , and the chief spring of all the animal actions , both in and out of the womb : but no sooner is the foetus separated from the mother , and thereby depriv'd of the supplies that the vital spirits , residing in the heart , receiv'd from her in the womb , than it begins to draw supplies for maintaining of the same vital substance , from the vniversal spirit lodg'd in the air , as was said before . 3. 't is the vital spirit residing in every particular part of the human , or any other animals body , maintain'd by the influence of the vniversal spirit convey'd with the air , by respiration , into the lungs , and from thence communicated , by means of the circulation of the blood , first to the heart , and , from that , to the whole body ; ] 't is this spirit , i say , that coagulates the fluid blood into the solid substance of that part , and is the true efficient of all the vital functions belonging to it . [ those animals that are destitute of lungs , are nevertheless endow'd with organs of resparation of an equivalent use . for that excellent anatomist , malpigius , has happily discover'd , that those blackish points , which we observe in insects , all along the length of their body , on both sides , are really the orifices of so many tracheas or wind-pipes , which convey the air into the stomach , spinal marrow , and all the other bowels , as well as the heart , so that the air has immediate access to seed the vital spirit that resides in each of them , because there is no circulation of the alimentary juice in these animals ; or if there be , it is too slow to convey sufficient supplyes of the vniversal spirit from any one part to all the rest , as it doth from the heart and lungs in perfect animals . and the constant ingress and egress of the air by these little holes , is so necessary to the life of insects , that if you immerge their whole body into oyl , or but anoint these little spots with it , they presently dye ; whereas if you anoint only the intervals with oyl , without touching these little holes , they receive no harm . and tho' fishes have no lungs nor air pipes , because they live in the water ; yet instead thereof they have gils , which are dilated and contracted by a perpetual reciprocation , to give ingress and egress to the water , as the lungs of other animals are to inspire and exspire the air. nor can fishes live without water , any more than land-animals can do without air. whence 't is highly probable , that the former receive constant supplyes of some vital substance from the water , as well as the later do from the air : especially if we farther consider , that the vital liquor circulates through the gils of the one by the ramifications of their arteria bronchialis , as well as it do's through the lungs of the other by those of the arteria pulmonaris . wherefore , if in land-animals the said vital liquor divide it self into little rivulets in its passage through the lungs , that every part thereof may at each circulation receive fresh supples of vital spirit from the air , that is diffus'd through the whole substance of those respiratory organs , by the numerous ramifications of the wind-pipe ; if this be so , i say , ( as we formerly prov'd it to be ) we may very reasonably suppose , that in fishes the same vital liquor circulates in like manner through the gils , that it may receive constant fresh supplies of a vital substance from the water , that washes the gils perpetually . n. b. the gils of crusted fish , as lobsters , &c. and of shell-fish , as oysters , &c. are spongious , and not only receive the water into all their innermost parts ( where it communicates with the numerous vessels , that diffuse the vital liquor through the whole substance of the gils ) but give it a passage also into all the internal cavities of the body , where it is laid up as in bottles , to supply the foresaid fishes with vital spirit , when the ebbing of the sea leaves them in sicco : whereas the gils of sanguineous fishes that live constantly in the water , are not spongious , and the water washes only their outward surfaces without penetrating any farther . but instead of enlarging any more upon this point , i shall refer the curious reader to dr. willis's book of the soul of brutes , chap. 3. where he will find it very fully and accurately handled . ] 4. the existence of an vniversal spirit is evident from what has been said concerning the growth of vegetables . for 't is a particle of this spirit in the seed , excited , strengthn'd and maintain'd by the suns vital influence , that explicates the seminal idea , and coagulates the water into solid substances , as wood , bark , &c. which could never be produc'd out of simple water without this coagulating spirit . 5. the same argument may with equal , if not greater , force be applied to minerals , and especially to metals , which , tho' they be the solidest substances yet known , are nevertheless made of mercury , which of all liquors is the most fluid . in the next place , to evince that the sun is the chief fountain of this vniversal spirit , i need only put the reader in mind of what was formerly observ'd concerning vegetable seeds ; namely , that they would be perpetually barren , if their native spirit were not actuated by that vital substance which is every where diffus'd with the rayes of the sun. but to confirm this a little farther , 't is evident beyond contradiction , that the growth of vegetables depends upon the influences of the sun , since the different seasons of the solar year have so constant and so powerful effects upon them . for in winter the influence of the sun is very weak , because of the obliquity of his rayes , and the shortness of the dayes : and therefore seeds lye dormant in the earth without any motion : herbs fade and wither , or dye totally : trees are depriv'd of their leaves and lively verdure , shoot forth no twigs , produce no blossoms , bear no fruit , and in a word cease from all vital actions . yea many animals themselves loose much of their vigour , and some of them ( such as flyes , frogs , swallows , &c. ) lye dead , as it were , all the winter long , in chinks of walls , or in cavities of the earth , or under water , without any motion , sense , or the least appearance of life : but when the sun comes to be more vertical , and the dayes grow longer , every thing capable of life is quickn'd or reviv'd ; and the whole face of the earth , that look'd dead and lifeless before , appears fresh , verdant , lively , and quite new , insomuch that 't is astonishing to behold so vast an alteration : the vital spirit remaining in the roots of such herbs , as did not quite dye in the preceeding winter , being reviv'd , excited to motion and corroborated , falls to work afresh , and produces new stalks , leaves , flowers , seed , fruit , &c. the vital spirit that had in a great measure retir'd from the branches of trees into their roots and body , explicates it self anew , restores their fresh and lively verdure , and adorns them with new leaves , twigs , buds , blossoms , fruit , &c. finally the vital spirit of the forementioned animals , that had concentred it self in the middle of their body , actuates the members anew which it had before deserted , and restores to them sense , motion , and the exercise of all their vital functions . lastly , the vniversal spirit appears to be of an igneous nature , 1. because it flows from the sun , which is an actual fire . yea the solar rayes themselves , which diffuse this vital substance through the visible world , being collected by a burning glass into a center , produce all the effects of our actual culinary fire . [ 2. the vital spirit of animals is fed by the universal spirit , as has been evidently prov'd , and by consequence is of the same nature with it . now this vital spirit , in hot sanguineous animals , has all the essential properties of an actual flame : for it constantly diffuses a sensible heat through all the members of the body : it is maintain'd by constant fresh supplies of sulphureous fuel from the aliments , that are taken into the stomach and thence conveyed to the blood , where this subtil flame invisibly burns ; and of an aerial pabulum from the air , that is taken into the lungs by inspiration , and there communicated to the same liquor : it constantly emits fuliginous effluvia , both through the wind-pipe also through all the pores of the skin , which are like so many chimneys appointed to ventilate this vital fire : it is kindled first in the seminal liquor , either by another vital fire , as in viviparous animals ; or by the intestine motion of the sulphureous parts , excited and cherished by a continu'd external warmth , as in oviparous animals : but so long as the foetus is included in the womb or egg , it burns very faintly , and never breaks out into an actual flame till the air have free nccess to it by respiration : finally it dyes as soon as it is depriv'd of sulphureous fuel , of aerial pabulum , or of ventilation . now these properties seem to be peculiar to flame : and particularly there is nothing we know of in the world besides life and fire , whose motion is instantly suppressed by withdrawing the air. see willis de accentione sanguinis . ] prop. 19. the vniversal spirit , that coagulates elementary water into solid substances of the animal vegetable and mineral kingdoms , consists of acid particles . for 1. it is of an igneous nature ; and fire has been prov'd to consist of acid particles put into a rapid motion . 2. all chimists agree that the concretion of bodies depends upon the saline principle . now acaline salts are apt rather to dissolve bodies , than either to coagulate or be coagulated : whereas we have a multitude of instances of coagulation and fixation perform'd by acid salts ; which tho' they corrode ( and so dissolve ) many bodies , yet their property is to concoagulate with the bodies they have corroded . [ thus quicksylver is fixed and coagulated by the acid particles of common or antimonial sulphur , into cinnabar ; by those of salt and vitriol into sublimate corrosive ; by spirit of nitre into red precipitate , as the chymists abusively call it ; by oyl of vitriol , oyl of sulphur , or oyl of alum into turbith mineral , finally by the acid particles of fire into precipitate per se . these instances are the more pertinent to our purpose , because mercury is a more fluid body than simple water it self . and the last of them , tho' at first it appear somewhat paradoxical , yet upon better examination it seems to be very reasonable ; since precipitate per se , as well as the rest of the newly mentioned preparations of quicksilver , may be reviv'd into running mercury , by being distill'd from salt of tartar , quick-lime , or such other alcalisate bodies as are very apt to be wrought upon by acid salts , and thereby to disengage the quicksilver that was coagulated with them : and since the particles of fire ( which have been prov'd to be acid ) may penetrate glass , and many times increase the weight of the inclosed bodies , as mr. boyle has undeniably evinced by a great many experiments : and finally since fire is the only agent in this preparation . ] the sulphur of lead deprives quicksilver of its fluidity . volatil urinous salts are so powerfully fix'd by acid spirits as to endure an open fire for some time ; but they recover their former volatility , as soon as they are disengaged from the acid salts that fixed them , by the addition of any alcalisate body . all sorts of acid salts do coagulate milk : and the coagulation of the creamy parts of milk into butter , depends upon the internal acid of the milk ; for if you throw any alcalisate salt into it , there can be no butter obtain'd from it . the acid salts of nitre do so powerfully fix the vomitive sulphur of antimony , as to render it a good diaphoretic . [ the acid of spirit of wine instantly coagulates spirit of vrine ; for , if both these liquors be highly rectified , as soon as ever you have mingled them , the whole mixture loses its fluidity , insomuch that tho' the glass be inverted , not one drop will fall out : yea our author affirms that ] if spirit of wine highly rectified be kept for some months upon salt of urine in a gently digestive heat , they will unite together into a calculus of a reddish colour : and ( which is yet more strange ) four parts of this stone will convert one part of new spirit of urine into its own substance , and four parts of this one more , and so on without any end : and that the stone in the may be generated after the same manner by the plaistick vertue of an internal acidum , joyned with the salt of urine , and being mixt with gravel by fermentation , concentrates into a concreate substance . we found by a stone being taken out of a humane bladder , and anatomized , by distillation , to consist of oyl , spirit , and volatile salt , with a very large caput mortuum : but of this we shall say no more at present , but leave the reader to judge what may be gathered by the foregoing experiment ; so that it 's believed , the universal spirit that coagulates elementary water , as well as other bodies into solid substances , consists of acid particles . finis . some books printed for and sold by stafford anson , at the three pidgeons in st. paul's church-yard , 1691. 1. dictionarium historicum , geographicum , poeticum : opus admodum utile & apprime necessarium . a carolo stephano inchoatum . ad incudem vero revocatum , innumerisque pene locis auctum & emaculatum per nicolaum lloydium , collegii wadhami in celeberrima academia oxoniensi socium . editio novissima . in qua historico poetica , & geographica seorsim sunt alphabetice digesta ; & liber totus tum emendationibus , tum additamentis ( recentioribus tredicem annorum lloydii elucubrationibus , manuque ultima ) ita adornatur , ut novus ac plane alius videripossit . cui accessit index geographicus , ubi hodierna & vernacula locorum nomina antiquis & latinis proponuntur . 2. the history of the council of trent ; containing eight books . in which , besides the ordinary acts of the council , are declared many notable occurrences which happened in christendom , during the space of forty years and more , and particularly the practices of the court of rome , to hinder the reformation of their errors , and to maintain their greatness . written in italian by pietro soave polano ; and faithfully translated into english by sir nathaniel brent , knight . whereunto is added the life of the learned author , and the history of the inquisition , in folio . 3. dionysii orbis descriptio , annotationibus eustathii , & hen. stephani , nec non guil. hill commentario critico & geographico , ac tabulis illustrata , 8vo . 4. p. virgilii maronis opera , interpretatione & notis illustravit car. ruaeus , ad usum delphini . juxta editionem novissimam parisiensem , 8vo . 5. horatii opera ad vsum delphini , 8vo . 6. phaedri fabulae , ad vsum delphini , 8vo . 7. virgilii operacum annotationibus johannis minellii . 8. — — id. cum notis . t. farnabii , 12ves : 9. p. terentii comoediae cum notis . t. farnabii , 12ves : 10. isocratis orationes duae . 1. ad demonicum . 2. ad nicoclem . nova methodo & apprime utili , quoad verbum & sensum latine redditae : graecismis phrasibus & sententiis in quibus maxima vis rei consistit , experiments and considerations about the porosity of bodies in two essays / by the honourable robert boyle ... boyle, robert, 1627-1691. 1684 approx. 150 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 76 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a28974 wing b3966 estc r17645 12547275 ocm 12547275 63097 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a28974) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 63097) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 955:6) experiments and considerations about the porosity of bodies in two essays / by the honourable robert boyle ... boyle, robert, 1627-1691. [4], 145 p. printed for sam. smith ..., london : 1684. reproduction of original in cambridge university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng chemistry -early works to 1800. porosity -early works to 1800. anatomy -early works to 1800. physiology -early works to 1800. 2006-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-12 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-02 jason colman sampled and proofread 2007-02 jason colman text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion experiments and considerations about the porosity of bodies , in two essays . by the honourable robert boyle , fellow of the royal society . london , printed for sam. smith at the prince's arms in s. pauls church-yard . 1684. to the reader . the reader is to be advertis'd , not to expect in the following essay a regular , or so much as a coherent , discourse . for it was intended only as a collection of loose experiments and observations about the porosity of the parts of bodies belonging as chymists speak ) to the animal kingdom , and laid ( not to say thrown ( together , in order to what i had thoughts of offering , towards an intelligible account of occult qualities . i am not ignorant , that even one of the most ancient and famous of physicians hath said , that a mans body is ( almost ) every where perspirable . but i judg'd that a doctrine of such moment , and which diverse things in the theory and practice of after physicians may make one think they either disbelieved or disregarded , did not deserve to be slightly deliver'd , and in general terms , but to be more narrowly considered , and likewise made out by particular instances , whose applyableness and usefulness to explain divers obscure phaenomena , may hereafter appear much greater , then perchance at the first sight they will be thought . and the foregoing advertisement , with a light change , which 't is presum'd the reader may easily make of ●imself , is to be extended to the essay tacked to this about the pores of solid bodies , and so may excuse the absence of a distinct preface to it . an essay of the porousness of animal bodies . as the most numerous part of the pores of bodies is too minute to be seen , so the contemplation of them has been thought too inconsiderable to be regarded . but when i consider , how much most of the qualities of bodies , and consequently their operations depend upon the structure of their minute , and singly invisible , particles , and that to this latent contexture , thē bigness the figure and the collocation of the intervals and pores do necessarily concur with the size , shape and disposition or contrivance of the substantial parts i cannot but think the doctrine of the small pores of bodies , of no small importance to natural philosophy . and i scarce doubt , but if such little things had not escaped the sight of our illustrious verulam , he would have afforded a good porology ( if i may so call it ) a place , ( and perhaps not the lowest neither , ) among his desiderata . and , though other imployments and avocations hinder me from attempting to treat of this subject as amply and particularly as it deserveth , or even as i had design'd in a scheme drawn diverse years since , and seen by some virtuosi ; yet , not to leave apart of physicks , that seems to me so curious and important , altogether as uncultivated as i found it ; i shall present you as many of the notes i had drawn together about this subject , as i can conveniently ( for i do not pretend to do it methodically ) reduced to three heads : whereof the first , which will challenge to it self this present essay , is the porosity of animal bodies , about which i shall not be solicitous to marshal my observations , since they all conspire to shew but this one thing ; that the parts of animals , especially whilest these are alive , are furnished with numerous pores . those parts of the bodies of animals , wherein their porosity may be best shewn seem to be their membranes or skins , the bones , the flesh , and coagmentations of membranes , flesh and juices . and therefore it would be proper enough to treat of these heads distinctly , and give instances of each of them in particular . but yet i think it will be more convenient , to set down in order the principal fountains , whence the porousness of the substances belonging to the animal kingdom ( as the chymists speak ) may be derived , and to annex to each of these the experiments and observations , upon which i argue from it , and which it will be easy to refer , if that be thought fit , to this or that of the parts above mentioned ( namely the membranes , bones , &c. ) whereto they shall ( respectively ) appear the most properly to belong . chap. i. the first thing from which i will deduce the porosity we have been speaking of , is , the frame or constitution of the stable parts of the bodies of animals . for the body of an animal being not a rude and indigested lump of matter , but a curious engine , admirably framed and contrived for the exercise of several functions as nutrition , generation , sensation , and many differing local motions , it was necessary that it should be furnished with variety of dissimilar and organical parts not only very skilfully , but very differingly , contrived congruous to the several uses for which they were designed , or if you please , to the several functions they were to perform . and , because 't will be easily granted , that the corpuscles , that are skilfully brought together for such purposes , must be so contexed as not to touch one another exactly every where , it will readily follow that they must leave little intervals or pores between them , and that , considering the multitude of particles that must go to the making up the body of the animal , and the great difference and variety in point of bigness and figure of the corpuscles that are requisite to contex such differing parts , as membranes , fibres bones , grizles , ligaments , veins , arterys , nerves , &c. both the number and the variety of the pores cannot but be very great . this argument will be much confirmed , by what there will be occasion to say further to the same purpose , in the essay touching the porosity of even solid bodies . wherefore i shall now proceed to the second thing , whence we may derive that of animal substances . chap. ii. this is afforded us by considering the nutrition of animals . for there being continually a great waste made of their substance , partly by the exclusion of visible excrements , and partly by the avolation of invisibles steam , this great loss must necessarily from time to time be repairpaired by the supplies afforded by nutrition of which the best , if not the only intelligible , way of giving an account , is , to conceive that the alimental juice , prepared chiefly in the stomach is impelled or attracted ( for to our present purpose it matters not which ) to the parts of the body that are to be nourished by it , and the corpuscles of the juice insinuate themselves at those pores they find commensurate to their bigness , and shape ; and those that are must congruous , being assimilated , add to the substance of the part wherein they settle , and so make amends for the consumption of those that were lost by that part before . this may be illustrated by what happens in plants , and especially trees , in which , of the various corpuscles that are to be found in the liquors , that moisten the earth , and are agitated by the heat of the sun and the air , those that happen to be commensurate to the pores of the root , are by their intervention impelled into it , or imbibed by it , and thence conveyed to the other parts of the tree in the form of sap which passing through new strainers , ( whereby its corpuscles are separated , and prepared or fitted to be detained in several parts ) receives the alterations requisite to the being turned into wood , bark , leaves , blossoms , fruit , &c. but to return to animals , our argument from their nutrition will be much confirmed , by considering , that in children and in other young animals , that have not yet attained their due stature and bulk , the nutrition is so copious as to amount to a continu'd augmentation . for , as 't is evident that animals grow in all their parts , and each part according to all its dimensions , in so much that even the cavities of bones increase ; so we cannot well conceive how this can be done , unless the nutritive liquor be distributed through the whole body of the part that is to be nourished and augmented . and to this distribution 't is requisite that the body abound with pores into which the congruous particles of the juice may be intimatly admitted , & penetrating even into the innermost recesses , may place or lodge themselves in the manner that is most convenient for the natural increase of the part . but the more particular declaration of this process i leave to anatomists and physicians . chap. iii. having premis'd once for all , that in this essay , i often use the word skin in the lax and popular sense of it , without nicely distinguishing the epidermis or cuticula , called in english the scarf-skin , from the cutis it invests and sticks closely to ; i shall proceed to another topic , whence the porousness of animals may be argued , namely , the great plenty of matter that is daily carried off by sweat , and insensible transpiration . for , 't is confest that sweat is discharged at the pores of the skin ; and since there is no penetration of dimensions , we may safely conclude , that the matter that is not wasted by sweat , or by any other sensible way of evacuation , must have small pores or out-lets in the skin , at which it may issue in the form of steams ; though nothing hinders but that invisible effluvia also may evaporate at the same pores with the sweat , though for want of plenty or grossness , or a fit disposition in the ambient , those effluvia be not at the orifices of those pores brought into little drops , such as those of sweat . that therefore the skins of a multitude of animals , though they seem close to the eye , may be porous , may ( as we have been saying ) be argued in many of them from their sweating . but because all of them have not been observed to sweat , as is wont to be particularly affirmed of dogs , we shall add some other instances to make it probable . we may sometimes , in the smooth skin of a living man , discern pores with good microscopes , and , with one that is none of the best , we may easily on the inside of gloves , which are made but of skins drest , discern good store of these little out-lets : sometimes orderly enough ranged to make the sight not unpleasant . and though some of them may , i think , be suspected to have been made by the hairs that grew on the skin before 't was drest , yet that greater numbers of them , than can be supposed to come from thence , are perforations that pass quite through the leather , may , not improbably , be shewn by the usual practice of chymists , to purify quick-silver by tying it up strictly in a piece of kids or sheeps leather , and then wringing it hard to force it out ; by which means the lower surface of the leather will be covered with a mercurial dew or sweat which will fall down and fly out , as the pores happen to open this or that way , in a thick shower of globules , leaving the dross behind in the leather . and tho when a mans skin is tanned it is of a greater thickness then one would expect , and that which i employed seem'd almost as thick as a buck-skin glove yet having had the curiosity to try the same experiment with the skin of a mans arm , i found the quick-silver would be squeez'd out at the pores of that also . 't is not necessary that i should here inquire , whether the little holes , unperceiv'd by the naked eye , at which the sweat is discharged , and perhaps the matter that the body looses by insensible transpiration gets out , be not , at least most of them , the orifices of small excretory vessels , belonging to those very numerous glandules which the excellent anatomists steno and malpighi are said to have discovered beneath the cuticula , and which for their smalness and shape have been called glandulae miliares . i need not , i say , engage in this inquiry , since according to this ingenious opinion also , the skin must be allow'd a multitude of small perforations or pores , and that is sufficient for my purpose , from whencesoever this porosity proceeds in a mans skin . for the next observation will shew that some membranes of animals may give passage to transpir'd matter without being perforated by the excretou● vessels of glandules . the membranes or skins under the shells of hens eggs , though they be very thin , are of a contexture very fine and close as may be confirmed by their resisting the sharp corpuscles of vinegar ; and yet , that not only these skins , but the shells that cover them , are porous , may be inferred from the experiments i made , of keeping them suspended for a good while , and carefully counterpoised in good scales ; for by these it appeared , that the eggs did from time to time manifestly lose in weight ; which could not reasonably be imputed but to an invisible transpiration , the rather , because usually in eggs that have been kept long , there will be at one end a cavity which is wont to increase with their age , and is made by the shrinking of the membrane from the shell , to accommodate it self to the diminished quantity of matter , that remains to be involved by it . when i consider the plenty of matter , that is wont to be discharged daily by insensible perspiration , especially in healthful men that exercise themselves moderately , i cannot but think it probable , that the minute pores , that suffice for the carrying off so much matter , are very numerous , and are much more so than even by the multitude of drops of sweat , that serve to wet the skin , men are wont to imagine . for sanctorius in his excellent little tract de medicina statica affirms , that what is barely carryed off by insensible transpiration does ordinarily amount to more , that is , diminishes more the weight of a mans body , than all the visible excrements ( whether gross or liquid ) put together . aph. vi . he adds , if the meat and drink , taken in one day , amount to the weight of eight pound , the insensible transpiration ordinarily amounts to five pounds or thereabouts . and elsewhere says , that sometimes in the space of 24 hours , in the winter time , a healthy body may exhale fifty ounces or more . and some tryals , that i have carefully made upon my self , added to some others of a very curious as well as great prince , that made use of a like instrument , & did me the honour to acquaint me with the events , gave me no cause to reject sanctorius observations , considering the difference in point of heat , between the climate of italy , where he writ , and that of england , where ours were made ; only i fear , there has been committed an oversight by those many that ascribe all the decrement of weight , that is not referrable to the grosser excrements , to what transpires at the pores of the visible parts of the skin , without taking notice of that great plenty of steams that is in expirations discharged through the wind-pipe by the lungs , and appear manifest to the eye it self in frosty weather ; though they may be presumed to be then less copious than those invisible ones that are emitted in summer , when the ambient air is much warmer . but though i look upon the wind-pipe as the great chimney of the body in comparison of those little chimneys ( if i may so call them ) in the skin , at which the matter that is wasted by perspiration is emitted , yet the number of these little vents is so very great , that the fuliginous exhalations that steal out at them , cannot but be very considerable . besides that , those that are discharged at the aspera arteria , do probably , at least for the most part , issue out at the latent pores of the membranes that invest the lungs ; which membranes may be lookt upon as external parts of the body , in reference to the air , tho not in reference to our sight . but , to return to our eggs , we may safely allow a very great evacuation to be made at the pores of the skin in man , who is a sanguineous and hot animal , since we see that even eggs , that are still actually cold , transpire . and i elsewhere mention the copious transpiration even of frogs , that are always cold to the touch ; and the decrement in weight of some animals , soon after they are strangled or suffocated , when , their vital heat being extinct , no more fumes are emitted by expirations at the wind-pipe : to which signs may be added the trivial experiment of holding in warm weather the palp of ones finger , as near as one can without contact , to some cold & solid smooth body , as to a piece of polished steel or silver ; for you will often times see this body presently sullyed or overcast , with the invisible steams that issue out of the pores of the finger , and are by the cold and smooth surface of the body condensed into visible steams , that do as 't were cloud that surface , but upon the removal of the finger , quickly fly off , and leave it bright again . the perviousness of the skin outwards may not improbably be argued from the quickness wherewith some medicines take away some black and blew discolorations of the skin , that happen upon some lighter stroke , or other contusions . for , since these preternatural and unsightly colours are wont by physicians to be imputed to some small portions of blood , that upon the contusion is forced out of the capillary vessels that lye beneath the surface of it , & being extravasated are obliged to stagnate there ; it seems very likely , that if a powerful medicine do quickly remove the discoloration , that work is performed by attenuating , and dissolving , and agitating the matter , and disposing it to transpire through the cutaneous pores , though perhaps , when 't is thus changed , some part of it may be imbibed again by the capillary vessels , and so by the circulation carryed into the mass of blood. now , that there are medicines that will speedily work upon such black and blew marks , the books and practice of physicians and chirurgeons will oblige us to admit . helmont talks much of the great vertue of white briony root in such cases . and a notable experiment made a while ago by a learned acquaintance of mine in an odd case , did not give helmont the lye. and i know an eminent person , who having some while since received a stroke , by a kick of an horse , on his leg , a very threatning contusion , which made the part look black and frightful , he was in a few hours cured of the pain of the hurt , and freed from the black part of the discoloration by the bare application of the chopt leaves of hissop mixt with fresh butter into the form of a pultess . nor is it only the skin that covers the visible parts of the body that we judg to be thus porous , but in the membranes that invest the internal parts , we may reasonably suppose both numerous and very various pores , according to the exigency of their peculiar and different functions or offices . for , the two first causes of porosity mention'd in this essay , are as well applicable to the membranes that cover the internal parts , as the liver , the spleen , &c. as to the external skin , or membrane that covers the limbs ; and in some respects the transpiration through such pores seems more advantaged , than that through the pores of the surface of the body ; since the parts that environ the spleen , liver , kidneys , &c. in man , are hot in comparison of the ambient air , and being also wet , which the air is not , the laxity of the pores of the internal parts is doubly befriended . and perhaps it may be allowable to conceive , both the skin that covers the limbs , and the membranes that invest the internal parts of the body , to be like worsted stockings , wast-coats , &c. which in their ordinary state have a kind of continuity , but upon occasion can have their pores every way enlarged and stretched , in this or that manner , as the agents that work on them determine them to be . this may be confirmed , by what we manifestly see in the finer sort of leather , as that of kid or lamb , and by the latent pores that may be opened in sheeps-leather , and mans leather , by the pressure of included quick-silver . this porosity of a living mans skin and other membranes , though internal ones , will the more easily be assented to if it appear that such thick and gross membranes , as the urinary bladders of dead animals , are porous and penetrable even by water . this we tryed , by putting some salt of tartar in a clean well dryed bladder ( which ought to be afterwards tyed up close in the neck , lest the effect should be ascribed to the moist air ) and leaving the lower part of the bladder , as far as the salt , reached immersed in common water , whose particles by degrees insinuated themselves into the pores of the bladder , in plenty enough to resolve the salt of tartar into a liquor . and , that it may not be said that the acrimony of the salt , by fretting the bladder , made way for the corpuscles of the water , i shall add that the experiment succeeded , but much more slowly , when we tryed it with sugar instead of salt of tartar. and there are some , who pretend that certain syrups made this slovenly way , which they would have pass for a secret , are very much preferable to those made of common water . that the films that line the shells of eggs are of a very close contexture seems probable , as by other things , so by their resisting some liquors , sharp enough to corrode the shell , and yet that such membranes are pervious to liquors that are none of the most subtile of all , we found by the ensuing experiment . this was made by taking an ordinary hens egg , and keeping it for two or three days in distill'd vinegar , or in strong crude vinegar . for then taking it out of the liquor and wiping it well , it was visibly , and not inconsiderably , swell'd , which i concluded to be from the ingress of some particles of the liquors , at the pores of the skins that invest the white of the egg. for we found nothing broken , though we made the tryal more than once . and to be satisfied that the manifest expansion proceeded from some other cause , than the meer dilatation of the white , or yolk , or both , we compared the weight of the egg , after it was taken out and well wiped , with that which had been taken before 't was put into the menstruum , and found the egg , notwithstanding the loss of the shell , to be considerably heavier than 't was before its immersion . i shall add on this occasion that by a more unlikely way than that newly recited , both the egg , shell and lining of an egg , may be penetrated . for , notwithstanding the fine and close contexture of the membranes that invest the eggs , the chineses have a way of salting them in the shell , as i have been assured both by english and dutch merchants trading to the east indies . and in one of the dutch journals sent by the council of batavia to their principals in holland , and intercepted by an english man of war , i met with divers accounts of great numbers of salted eggs , that were such or such a day of such a month brought in by sea to batavia or other ports . long after which time , meeting with an ingenious physician , that liv'd in batavia , i learned by enquiry from him , that 't is very true that such eggs are frequently met with in those parts ; he having divers times eaten of them there : some that he judged to have been either boyled or roasted , before they were salted ; and others that were raw , when they came to be dressed for him , but yet retained a briny tast . and , though the merchants i enquired of could not tell me what way the chineses employed to salt their eggs , without making them unfit for common use , yet by a tryal made with clay and brine , in which i kept the eggs for a competent time , i was perswaded that 't was possible the chineses should have the art ascribed to them . for upon the breaking of an egg coated with clay , after it had lain for a competent time in brine , i found its tast considerably salt , but was , by i know not what accident , hindered from prosecuting the experiment , and endeavouring to make it more practicable and useful . i knew a physitian of more learning than vertue , who , being tormented with a violent and obstinate colic of a peculiar kind , was wont to relieve himself by clisters of sack ; thô he usually found that not long after he had taken any of them , they would make him giddy , and fuddle him , as he himself confessed to me . but upon this instance i lay not much weight , and less upon what was answered me by a great chirurgeon , who having practised his art in the west-indies , and being asked by me whether he had not dressed wounds and ulcers with the recent juice of tobacco ( a plant i use to keep growing in my garden for its excellent vertues in cuts , burns , and tumors ; ) and whether , if he employed it , he did not find it emetick , he told me among other things , that having divers times dressed with this juice a small ulcer in a womans leg , the patient soon after the application would grow sick , and have her stomack turned , or actually vomit . but , as i was saying , on this instance i lay no stress , because the corpuscles of the tobacco might probably enough get in at the small orifices of some corroded vessels , and so be conveyed inwards , rather by the help of the circulation of the blood , than on the account of the porousness of the parts . and therefore i shall rather mention what has been related to me , by an eminent physician of the famous colledge of london , namely , that he had divers times given himself a vomit , by a certain application of decocted tobacco to his wrists , and some other external parts ; which brings into my mind , what is affirmed to have been observed in some children that have scabb'd heads , who have been made drunk , by the application of clothes or spunges wetted in infusion of tobacco , or of strong liquors , and applied to the part affected . though in this case the inebriating particles may be suspected to have got in , not at the meer pores , but rather at the orifices of the capillary vessels , that were made accessible by such little solutions of continuity , as are seldom wanting in scabbed heads . that children may be purged by outward applications is asserted by some physicians ; and an experienced person of that number has affirmed to me , that he can almost constantly do it by a plaister . but 't is more considerable what was related to me by an eminent virtuoso , who being indisposed to believe such things a while before he told me the story , was desired by a curious person to shew him his hand which the relator having done the other took it in his hand , which was moistened ( as was afterwards confessed ) with a kind of subtile chymical oil , but so slightly , that the relator scarce minded it , till some time after when he found himself prest with a motion , like that which a purge would have given him ; for the other thereupon smiling , my acquaintance began to suspect what the matter might be , and was in a short time purged four times , without griping , or other pain or discomposure . but to return to the porousness of membranes , it may serve to make way for your admitting it , to observe , that though lute-strings be but ropes of fibres ( which are at least the chief parts that membranes consist of ) dead , cold and stiff , yet when the lute is in tune they will sometimes in wet weather swell so forcibly as with noise and violence to break , which proceeds from the copious ingress of moist vapors into their pores , whereby they are not only shortened , but as i have tryed in nice scales , made manifestly heavier . the porosity of the internal parts of animals by both the foremention'd ways ( viz. of emission and reception of corpuscles , ) may be confirmed by the things that happen in some of the metastases or translations ( as the physitians call them ) of the morbifick matter in diseased bodies . 't is known to them that are any thing conversant with hospitals , or the observations of physicians , that there do not seldom occur in diseases sudden removes of the matter that caused them , from one part to another according to the nature and functions of which , there may emerge a new disease , more or less dangerous than the former , as the invaded part is more or less noble . thus oftentimes the matter , which in the sanguiferous vessels produced a feaver , being discharged upon some internal parts of the head , produces a delirium or phrenitis ; in the latter of which i have somewhat wondered , to see the patients water so like that of a person without a feaver ; the same febrile matter either by a deviation of nature , or medicines improper or unskillfully given , is discharged sometimes upon the pleura , or membrane that lines the sides of the chest ; sometimes upon the throat ; sometimes upon the guts ; and causes in the first case a pleurisie , in the 2d a squinancy , and in the third a flux , for the most part dysenterical . but , because i suppose , that many , if not most , of these translations of peccant humors , are made by the help of the circulation of the blood , i forbore at the beginning of this section to speak in general terms , when i mentioned them in reference to the porousness of the internal parts of the body , and contented my self to intimate , that some of them may serve to confirm that porosity . this will not perhaps seem improbable , if we consider that 't is in effect already proved , by the same arguments by which we have shewn , that both the skin and the internal membranes are furnished with pores , permeable by particles whose shape and size are correspondent to them . for we may thence probably deduce , that when a morbifick matter , whether in the form of liquor , or of exhalations , chances to have corpuscles suited to the pores of this or that part of the body , it may , by a concourse of circumstances , be determined to invade it , and so dislodge from its former receptacle , and excite disorders in the part it removes to . chap. iv. another thing whence the porosity of animals may be argued ▪ is , their taking in of effluvia from without . for these cannot get into the internal parts of the body , to perform their operations there , without penetrating the skin , and consequently entring the pores of it . now , that things , outwardly applyed to the body , may without wounding the skin , be convey'd to the internal parts , there are many things that argue . and first , it has been observed in some persons , ( for all are not equally disposed to admit the action of particular poysons ) that cantharides , being externally apply'd by chyrurgions or physicians , may soon , and before they break the skin , produce great disorders in the urinary passages , and sometimes cause bloody water . and i remember , that having once had a blistering plaister , applyed by a skilful chyrurgion between my shoulders , though i knew not that there were any cantharides at all mixt with the other ingredients , yet it gave me about the neck of my bladder one of the sensiblest pains i had ever felt , and forced me to send for help at a very unseasonable time of night . the porousness of the skin may be also argued from divers of the effects even of milder plaisters . for , though some plaisters may operate as they closely stick to the skin , and hinder perspiration from within , and fence the part from the external cold ; yet , t will scarce be denied , that many of them have notable effects upon other accounts , whereof none is so likely and considerable as the copious ingress of the corpuscles of the plaister , that enter at the pores of the skin , and being once got in , act according to their respective natures & vertues . the like may be said of ointments , whose operations , especially on children ( whose skin is ordinarily more soft and lax ) are sometimes very notable . and i have known considerable things performed by them , in an internal disease of grown men , where i should scarce have expected a vegetable ointment should perform so much : i say , a vegetable ointment , for 't is vulgarly known that by mercurial ointments salivation may be excited ; and sometimes , against the physitians will , the corpuscles of the quick silver get so far into the body , that he is not able to get them out again . what we lately said of plaisters , may be applyed to those that physitians call pericarpia , or wrist-bands : the better sort of which , though sometimes ineffectual , are oftentimes successful in stopping fits of agues , as i have frequently found in a mixture , elsewhere mention'd , of currans , hops , baysalt well beaten together , by which , by gods blessing , many , and i among others , have been freed from simple tertians , and either double tertians or quotidians . the argument of the porosity of animals , drawn from those things that get in through their skins , without breaking or wounding them , may be much strengthned , if it can be made appear , that those physitians do not deceive us , who ascribe sensible operations and vertues , to things externally applyed , in so loose a way , that they do not so much as stick to the skin , or perhaps immediately touch it ; such as some call periapta and appensa ; divers of which are best known among us , by the name of amulets ; such as are the quills containing quick-silver or arsenick , that some hang about their necks , and wear under their shirts , against the plague and other contagious diseases ; and the bloodstones that others wear against haemorrhages ; and the stone which the women use in the east-indies , for a quite contrary effect , in obstructione mensium . that many of these external medicines , answer not the promises of those that extol them , having some of them no sensible operation at all , and others no considerable one , experience has assured judicious observers ; but that some of them , especially on some patients , may have considerable , not to say admirable , operations , i confess my self by other motives , as well as authority , to be perswaded . having been one summer frequently subject to bleed at the nose , and reduced to imploy several remedies to check that distemper ; that which i found the most effectual to stanch the blood , was some moss of a dead mans scull ( sent for a present out of ireland where 't is far less rare than in most other countrys ) though it did but touch my skin till the herb was a little warm'd by it . and though i remember not that i have known any great matter done to stop haemorrhagies by the bare outward application of other blood-stones ; yet of one that look'd almost like an agate , i admired the effects , especially upon a young and extraordinarily sanguin person . to which i shall add a memorable thing , communicated to the experienced zwelfer by the chief physitian of the states of moravia . for this learned man whom he extols for a great physician and philosopher ; assures him , that having prepared some trochischs of toads according to helmonts way , ( which i remember i also was solicitous to prepare , but had not occasion to make tryal of their vertue , ) he not only found , that being worn as amulets they preserved him and all his domesticks , and friends , from the plague ( though he daily visited the infected ) but that having caused these trochischs to be put upon the plague sores of several persons , none of them died , but the venom of the pestilential carbuncles was thereby so weakened that the ulcers were afterward easily cured by vulgar remedies . and now , as to the difficulty , which i acknowledge not to be small , to conceive how bodies actually cold can emit effluvia , capable of penetrating ( without moistening it ) a membrane of so close a contexture as a mans skin ; i suppose it will be much lessened in the objectors opinion , by what he will meet with hereafter about the pores of bodies , and the figures of corpuscles . for supposing these to be congruous , it will not seem incredible , that the effluvia of amulets should in tract of time get passage through the pores of the skin of a living body . and to make this the more probable , i will give an instance in the skin of a dead animal . and , because this requires a liquor i much employ in these trials about porology , though i have many years since in another tract taught how to make it for another purpose ; yet i shall here repeat , that 't is made by exactly mingling flower of brimstone , powdered sal armoniac and good quicklime in equal quantities , save that , if the quicklime be not very dry and good , a fourth or fifth part must be superadded , for these being nimbly mixed , and distilled by degrees of fire in a retort , till the sand be at length brought to be almost red hot , there will come over a smoaking spirit , which must be kept very carefully stopt , and which for distinctions sake , i also use to call , the permeating menstruum or liquor , and its expirations the penetrant , or permeating fumes . and now you will easily understand the experiment i was about to mention , which was this ; we took a very clean piece of polish'd copper , in want of which one of silver will serve the turn , and having lapt it up in a piece of either lambs or sheeps leather , so that it was every way inclosed , we then held it over the orifice of the vial that contained the spirit , at a pretty distance from the liquor , whose fumes nevertheless did quickly , ( perhaps in a minute of an hour or less ) pervade the pores of the leather , and operate upon the included metal as appeared by the deep and lasting tincture it had given to the lower surface of it , though the interposed leather it self was not deprived of its whiteness , nor at all sensibly discoloured ; however it smelt of the sulplureous steams that had invaded it . and , if i misremember not , the same experiment succeeded , though somewhat more slowly , when a double leather was interposed between the fumes and a new piece of copper coin . this will be thought the less strange , when i shall come to some other instances of the penetrancy of these spirits . in the mean while i leave it to be considered , whether this may not suggest some conjecture at that strange phoenomenon , which is recorded by authors of good repute , that sometimes in great thunders the lightening , among other operations , has been found to have manifestly discoloured mens money , without burning the purses or pockets wherein it lay . for in our experiment , the steams that in a trice pervaded the leather , the most usual matter whereof purses are made , were sulphureous , as the smell argues , that those which accompany the fulmen are wont to be ; and whereas these , when they invade bodies , are usually very hot , ours operated when the liquor that emitted them was actually cold . and if it be said , that sometimes their money has been found discolored in their pockets , who were not struck , by the fulmen , but had it only pass near them , it may be objected , that tho the intire body , whether fluid or solid , if there be any of this latter kind that is in latine called fulmen ( for our english word , thunderbolt seems not so applicable to a fluid ) did not touch them , yet it might scatter steams enough round about it , to cause the phoenomenon . for confirmation of which i shall take notice , that a considerable person of my acquaintance , having had the curiosity to ascend a burning mountain in america , till the sulphureous steams grew too offensive to him , he told me that , among other operations he observed them to have upon him , one was , that he found the money he had about him turned of a black and dirty colour , such as i have observed our sulphureous steams often give both to copper , and to silver coins . but whether or no our spirits will justify the conjecture , they invited me to mention , at least their so easily pervading the skin of a dead animal may make it probable , that the skin of a living man may be easily penetrated by external steams whose approach the eye does not perceive , and whose operations , though not inconsiderable , may therefore be unsuspected . i leave to physitians to consider , what use may be made of this observation , in reference to the propagation of contagious diseases , by the contact of infected air , distinct from the respiration of it , and by the penetration of the steams , that issuing from divers bodies invade the skin , and may perhaps be capable of operations , either hurtful or friendly , that are not usually suspected to proceed from such causes , and are therefore misascribed to others . and on this occasion it will not be impertinent to add , that by hanging up sheeps leather or lambs leather in the free air , the vapors of it would so insinuate themselves into the pores in wet weather , that a moderate degree of moisture in the air would add to it a not inconsiderable weight , of which dry weather , whether hot or cold , would deprive it . chap. v. i must not in this place omit some instances , very proper to manifest the penetrableness of membranes to fumes themselves , if they be subtile enough for their pores , or correspondent enough to them . among the observations published by physicians i have met with some by which it appears that cantharides may have great effects upon the internal parts of the body , though they do not so much as touch the skin , but are placed at some distance from it , so that their effluvia must be transmitted through other bodies before they can penetrate that . the learned michael paschalius mentions a chyrurgion , who was twice brought to void much blood with his urine , by some spanish flies that he carryed about in a purse or bag. and another doctor of note relates of another person that came to complain to him , that he pissed blood , having carryed about with him cantharides , though in his pocket , and adds , that a like case was recounted to him by helidaeus , whom he calls an eminent bolognian physician . we see , that in linnen cloth , the finer and more slender the threads are the closer and less porous , coeteris paribus , the linnen is : by analogy to which one may esteem the thin film that lines the shell of an egg , to be of an exceeding close contexture ; and yet that even this film is not impervious to some fumes , i have found by the following tryal . to make this , we slowly and warily pick'd off a sufficient part of the shell of a hens egg , from the skin that lay just beneath it , and is wont to stick so close to it , that their separation , without injuring the membrane , is not easy . in this skin , being wip'd , we wrapt up a flat piece of copper , whose surface was made bright , that the change of colour might be the better seen ; and having kept this covered bit of plate , over the fumes of our smoaking liquor lately mentioned for a minute or two by our ghess we unfolded the skin , and found , as we expected , that the lower surface of the copper which was it that had been held over the fumes , was turned of a very dark colour , which manifested that even so fine and closely contexed a membrane was not only , as we have formerly shewn , penetrable by liquors , but readily pervious to our sulphureous exhalations , tho these were probably but faintly emitted , since the liquor they came from was then actually cold . but in making the tryal it is fit to hold ( as we did in that newly recited ) the membrane against the light , to see if it be intire , and have escaped all those little lacerations that are hardly avoidable in severing it from the shell it sticks so close to . if this caution be neglected , 't is easy to be imposed on , by overlooking some little holes , that are not easily discerned when one looks down upon the skin , and yet may be sufficient to make the experiment deceitful . but , thô when 't is well made , it is a notable confirmation of the doctrine endeavoured to be established in this paper , yet i shall now subjoyn a more considerable instance to the same purpose . the porousness of the internal membranes of the body , will be more easily granted , if it be considered that either the liquors , or the moist exhalations , whose action is promoted by the natural heat of the parts , keeps them constantly wet or moist , and thereby renders them more lax , and more penetrable by subtle spirits or other corpuscles . in favour of this reflection i made the following experiment . we took a piece of a dryed urinary bladder , which was judged to have been a calfs ; and having lapt it about a new piece of silver coin , so that the bladder was single where it covered the lower side of the piece , we kept it for divers minutes , by guess , over the spirituous fumes of our often mentioned permeating liquor , but could not perceive that the coin was thereby at all affected or ternished . whence we concluded that the pores of the dry bladder were too close and narrow ▪ to give passage to the expirations of the menstruum . but presuming that moisture would some what relax them with another piece of the same bladder , made limber by being a little wetted in common water , we lapt up another like peace of new coin , as we had done the former , and kept it at the same distance as before , from the liquor , but not for so long a time . for after about two minutes , by guess , we remov'd and took out the piece , and , as we expected , found much of its lower surface ( that regarded the liquor ) deeply discoloured . which experiment will not only justify what i lately said , of the greater laxity of moist than of dry membranes , but will be thought no mean confirmation of what is in this essay delivered about the porosity of membranes , since the urinary bladder does , as anatomists well know , consist of more than one membrane , though they stick so close together , as to appear but one to the eye . and this bladder was speedily penetrated by the fumes that our liquor emitted in exceeding cold and frosty weather , though the bladder it self was not in the warm body of the live animal , but had been so long kept dryed and cold , that probably the moisture it introduced in scarce one minute of an hour , could not restore it to the laxity it had , whilst it was a part of the living calf . one of the notablest instances i ever met with , of the porosity of the internal membranes of the humane body , was afforded me by that british nobleman , of whom our famous harvey tells a memorable , not to say matchless , story . this gentleman , having in his youth , by an accident which that doctor relates , had a great and lasting perforation made in his thorax , at which the motion of his heart could be directly perceiv'd did not only out live the accident , but grew a strong , and somewhat corpulent man ; and so robust , as well as gallant , that he afterwards was a souldier , and had the honour to command a body of an army for the king. this earl of mount-alexander ( for that was his last title having marryed one of my nearest kinswomen , and having been told that i was very desirous to see , what i had heard such strange things of , very obligingly came , at a fit time , to give me that satisfaction . in order to which he removed that which covered the wide orifice of his hurt , and gave me the opportunity of looking into his thorax , and of discerning there the motions of the cone , as they call it , or mucro of the heart . but these things i mention but upon the by , and because of the strangeness of the fact ; the thing i principally intended relates to my present argument . having then made several inquiries fit for my purpose , his lordship told me , that when he did , as he was wont to do from time to time , ( though not every day ) inject with a syringe some actually warm medicated liquor into his thorax , to cleanse and cherish the parts , he should quickly and plainly find in his mouth the tast and smell of the drugs , wherewith the liquor had been impregnated . and i further learned , that , whereas he constantly wore upon the unclosed part of his chest , a silken quilt , stuffed with aromatick and odoriferous powders , to defend the neighbouring parts and keep them warm ; when he came , as he used to do after some weeks , to imploy a new quilt , the fragrant effluvia of it would mingle with his breath in exspiration , and very sensibly perfume it , not , as i declared i suspected , upon the score of the pleasing exhalations that might get up between his clothes and his body , but that got into the organs of respiration , and came out with his breath at his mouth , as was confirmed to me by a grave & judicious statesman , that happened to be then present , and knew this general very well . other circumstances i might add , but that i dare not trust my memory for them , and unhappily lost the paper , wherein the oddness of the things invited me to set them down , for fear of forgetting them . that part of this narrative which relates to injections may be much confirm'd by what is delivered by galen himself , who says that mulsum or honeyed water , being injected at the orifice of wounds penetrating into the cavity of the thorax , has been observed to be in part received into the lungs , and discharged out of the aspera arteria by coughing . and this he mentions as a known thing , imploying it as a medium whereby to prove another . the mention that has been made of the porosity of membranes , brings into my mind what i once observed at the dissection , made by some physicians , and anatomists , of a lusty souldier , that was hanged for i know not what crime . this man , though otherwise young and sound , was observed to have been long molested with what they call a short , dry cough , which made us expect to find something much amiss in his lungs . but meeting with nothing there , we were at a loss for the cause of this cough , till coming to consider the internal part of the chest , we perceived something on one of the sides , by tracing of which we discovered , that between the pleura and the substance of the intercostal muscles , there was lodged a certain matter , of the breadth of a silver crown piece , or thereabouts , of a roundish figure , and of the consistence and almost colour of new , soft cheese , which odd stuff was concluded to have been the remains of some ill cured pleurisy , and to have transmitted through the pores of the pleura , though that be a very close membrane , some noxious effluvia , which ever and anon irritated the lungs into an irregular and troublesom motion , and so produced the cough the malefactor had been molested with . chap. vi. i am well aware that 't is far less difficult , to prove the permeableness of single membranes , than that of such a part of the body , as seems to be an aggregate of several parts , which in regard of their close adhesion , are looked upon but as one part , to which , on that account , men commonly give a distinct name . but yet there are some phaenomena that seem to argue , that even such compounded or resulting parts if i may so call them , are not destitute of pores , which whether they be not some of them the orifices of exceeding slender and therefore unobserved capillary vessels , i must not now stay to enquire . when the cavity of the abdomen in those hydropical persons that are troubled with an ascites , is filled with water , or rather with a liquor that i have found to be much more viscous , it justly appears strange , that by an hydragogue , or some appropriated purging medicine , great quantities of this gross liquor should in a short time be carryed off by siege , and perhaps also by urine , though to get into the cavity of the guts , or that of either of the kidneys , it seems necessary that it permeate the tunicles , and other component parts , of the viscera it gets into . i know not whether i may on this occasion take notice of what physicians observe to occur now and then in empyema's that follow ill conditioned pleurisies . for it has several times been observed , that upon the bursting of such imposthumes into the cavity of the chest , the purulent matter hath been voided by siege and urine . i hesitate , as i was saying , whether i should alledge this phaenomenon , as a proof of what i now contend for , till it be determined whether this metastasis be made by transudation properly so called , or by the ingress of the pus into the imperfectly closed orifices of the vessels of the lungs ; where being once admitted and mingled with the blood they may with this circulating liquor arrive at the kidneys , or any other parts fitted to make a secretion of this heterogeneous matter . but whatever be the reason or manner of it , we find that the lungs do sometimes odly convey things to distant parts of the body . and if i may here mention a thing , cui honos praefationis est , i shall add that i have several times observ'd in my self , that when i had been an actor or an assistant in the dissection of a living dog , especially if his blood or body were rankly scented , i should divers hours after plainly find that odour in the excrements i voided by siege . a famous chirurgeon and anatomist relates , that one who was very ill of a dropsy , judged to arise from a scirrhus of the spleen , coming to ask his counsel and assistance , though he judged the patients case desperate , yet to content him , he ordered him to dip a very large sponge in good quick-lime-water , and having squeezed out the superfluous liquor , to bind it upon the region of the spleen , only shifting it from time to time . he adds , that after some months he was much surprized to receive a visit from this patient , with solemn thanks for his recovery ; the outward medicine having , it seems , resolved the scirrhus and concurred with nature to evacuate the hydropical humour . for the resolution of which hard tumour it seems necessary , that the sanative corpuscles of the external remedy should at length penetrate , not only the epidermis , and the true cutis , but the muscles themselves of the abdomen , and some other interposed parts . these instances may be strengthen'd by an eminent observation of galen , who takes notice that bones being sometimes broken , without piercing the skin that covers the part they belong to , when the callus is making , and the broken parts of the bone begin to be conglutinated together , a portion of that blood which had flowed to the part affected is carryed to the skin and permeats that , so as to wet and foul the dressings or bandages that are kept upon the limb affected by the fracture . chap. vii . bones , horns , and parts of the like substance , being those that are granted to be the most solid of the bodies of animals , i come in the last place to shew by particular experiments that these also have their pores . i say , by particular experiments , because in a general way , their porosity has been already proved , by the same arguments , from their original texture , nutrition , augmentation , &c. that have been employed to manifest the porousness of animal substances in general . that the nails of men , as well as their skins , are porous , may be gathered from their being easily and permanently tinged with divers metalline solutions , and particularly with those of silver in aquafortis , and gold in aqua regia ; the former of which solutions though cold , will but too easily tinge the skin and nails it chances to touch , and makes some little stay upon , with a dark and blackish colour ; which i found not that i could wash out with water , or , even with a far more penetrating and abstersive liquor . the like durableness i found in the purple spots , that i sometimes purposely made on my nails , by letting some little drops of the solution of gold in aqua regia dry upon them , which i now and then did , to observe the way of the nails growth . for if the stain were made near the root of the nail , it would be still , though very slowly , thrust on by the new matter , till after some weeks it arrived to the further end of the nail , and was fit to be pared off with it . but this only upon the by . 't is more to our purpose to take notice , that , though the menstruums imployed in the recited experiments be of themselves very acid and corrosive , yet they are so changed by the metals they have dissolved , that they are acid no more , the solution of silver being rather extreamly bitter , and that of gold of a kind of stiptic tast , almost like that which sloes , growing in the hedges , are wont to be of . ivory is a thing too well known to need to be described . and , since 't is generally lookt upon ( for i have had no opportunity to compare it with the bones ) as the solidest part of the vastest of terestrial animals , experiments proving its porosity , will be strong presumptions for that of the hardest parts of other animals . and the porousness of ivory may be argued from the several ways of dying it with permanent colours . for in these colorations the tinctures that make them , must penetrate into , and be lodged in the substance of the ivory , especially when the substance remains smooth and glassy , as i have divers times made it do , when i employed fit menstruums and metalline pigments . the solution i formerly mentioned of silver in aqua fortis , being laid upon ivory , will soon give it a dark and blackish stain , which is not , that i have found , to be washed off . i remember also that i many years since taught some ingenious artificers , to adorn ivory with a fine purple colour , by moistening it with , and suffering leisurely to dry on it , a solution of gold made in aqua regia . and if occasion required , allayed with water , nor needs either of these solutions be applyed hot , any more than the ivory needs to be heated . both which circumstances favour the porousness of the solid body . copper dissolved in aqua fortis stains ivory with a blewish colour , as i have sometimes seen in the hafts of knifes , about whose coloration nevertheless another way is also employed . but i remember that without making use of any acid or corrosive menstruum , i have even in the cold stained ivory , with a fine and permanent blew , like a turquois , by suffering to dry upon it as deep a solution as i could make of crude copper , in an urinous spirit , as that of sal armoniack . but now to return to bones , their growth in all their dimensions , does , as i lately noted , argue their porosity and the marrow that is found in the great hollow bones , whether it nourish them or no , must it self be supplyed by some alimental juice , that soaks or otherways penetrates , into the cavities that contain it . nor does it seem at all improbable , that blood it self may through small vessels be conveyed into the very substance of the bone , so as that the vessels reach at least a little way in it , though perhaps the liquor they carry may afterwards by imbibition be brought to the more internal parts of the bone. for not to urge that we manifestly see , that on each side of the lower jaw , nature has been careful to perforate the bones and make a channel in the substance of it ; which channel receives not only a larger nerve but a vein , & artery to bring in & carry back blood for the nourishment of the teeth , by distinct sprigs sent from the great branch to the particular teeth . not to urge this , i say , ( which i mention but to shew that the opinion lately proposed is agreeable to a known practice of nature ) i have been assured by eminent anatomists , whom i purposely consulted , that they have observed blood-vessels to enter a great way into the substance of the larger bones . and one of them affirmed , that he had traced a vessel even to the great cavity of the bone. which i the less scrupled to admit , because it has been observed , that in younger animals the cavity is in great part furnished with blood ▪ as well as marrow , and in those larger pores , whereof many are found in the more spongy substance of divers bones , blood has been observed to have been lodged , as also in the spongy part of the skull , that lies between the two tables , as i have been assured by skilful eye-witnesses . the blackness also , that bones acquire when put into a competent heat , and a peculiar kind of fatness which they may by heat be made to afford , shew that they harbour , even in their internal parts , store of unctuous particles , separable from the solid substance , ( which still retains its shape and continues solid ) in whose pores they may thereby be argued to have been lodged . the lightness of bones , even when their cavity is accessible to ( air and ) water , is also a great sign of their porosity . and so is their being corroded by tinging liquors , if they be penetrative and well applyed . i know not whether i should add on this occasion , that having taken calcined and pulverized bones , such as we use to make our cupels of , and , after having given them a good heat , kept them for some time in the air , but in a well covered place ; i found the imbibed moisture of the air to have manifestly increased their weight ; and that i also observed in a curious skeleton , where the bones were kept together by wires , instead of other ligaments , that though i kept it in a well covered place , not far from a kitchin fire , yet in very moist weather the bones seemed to swell , since those joynts that were easy to be bent , in dry weather , and that after several manners , would grow stiff and refractory , and indisposed to be put into such motions , when the weather was considerably wet . these particulars ( as i was saying ) i am somewhat doubtful whether i should here insert , because one may suspect the phaenomena may proceed rather from somewhat else , than the imbibed moisture of the air ; and yet i would not omitt to mention these observations , because i do not yet see any cause to which they may more probably ( or indeed so probably ) be assigned . and on this occasion i shall subjoyn some observations made on large and solid ox bones , which in one of my note books i find thus registred . nov. 15. we weighed two [ entire or unbroken ] marrow bones , and found the one to weigh ℥ xxix + ʒss , and the other ℥ xxiv + ʒiv + 30 gr . nov. 24. the former weighed ℥ xxix + ʒvi , and the latter ℥ xxv + ʒi + 30 gr . decemb. 28. the former weighed ℥ xxix + ʒiij . 55 gr . and the latter ℥ xxiv + ʒvii . + 39 gr . june 7th of the following year , the former weigh'd ℥ xxix + ʒii . and the latter ℥ xxiv + ʒvii . by which observations purposely made at differing times of the year , and in very good scales , it seems that bones do plentifully enough imbibe the exhalations of the air , and emit them again , together with some of their own , according as the ambient happens to be disposed . and these alterations argue the bones to abound with pores , since the external steams must have pores to receive them , and the effluvia must upon their recess leave pores behind them . i confess that to think ( as with some anatomists i lately seemed to do ) that bones themselves admit into their substance , vessels capable of conveying a nutritive liquor , we must suppose those vessels extreamly slender . but that 't is not only possible but somewhat credible , there may be such , i am induced to think , by what is known to happen in that disease , which from the country it most infests is called the plica polonica . for , tho one would think that the hairs of men are much too slender , to have cavities in them capable of visible liquors ; and though i have found it very difficult , even with a good microscope , to perceive any cavities in the hair of a man transversly cut ; yet not only some other writers of good note , but the judicious sennertus himself deliver , that in this disease ( of which he particularly treats ) it has been observed , that if the patients cause their intangled hair to be cut , as they sometimes do , by reason of its nastiness or unsightliness , they are not only thereby endangered , but sometimes the single hairs will actually bleed , where the ends have been cut off ; so that so thick a liquor as blood may be conveyed through vessels , that can at most be but in a proper sense capillary and must be far less than hairs , if their perforations be like those by which many plants have their nourishment conveyed to them , or such as are obvious in divers canes , which being cut quite through transversly , discover a multitude of distinct pores , that by some experiments one may be induced to guess , reach all along , and make the cane like a cylindrical bundle of minute pipes ; or rather a multitude of small cavities , that perforate from end to end the parenchyma , or substance analogous to it , that gives them stability . and for the present this sort of vessels seem to me , the more likely to be those that convey the blood to the extream parts of the hair , because even in horse hairs , which yet are nourished and grow , i am not yet sure , that i have discovered with my microscopes any cavity , and therefore suspect there may be divers imperceptible ones , for the hair is nourished and grows , which it is not like it should do if the body were solid ; and if there were but a single cavity in it , as in the lower part of a quill , 't is like the microscope i used would have discovered it , since with one much inferiour i could easily see , that several little short hairs , that grow upon the animal that yields musk , had each of them a cavity in it like that of the lower part of a quill . to the things that have already been said about the porosity of bones , i shall now add an observation of a very learned physician , that is very remarkable to our present purpose , because it argues , that even bodies not saline , nor actually moist , may from without get into the pores and cavities of humane bones . divers physicians have complain'd of the mischiefs done to the bones by mercury , employ'd to salivate in venereal diseases . whereof i remember i have read a very notable instance , in a learned book ( which i have not now by me ) of an eminent roman professor of physick , who had the opportunity of making several curious observations in the famous hospital of the incurabili at rome ; and is therefore the more to be credited ; where he relates , that in the cavity of at least one pocky-mans bones , there was found real quick-silver that had penetrated thither . and this brings into my mind a memorable observation of an ancient and experienced physician , who being famous for the cure of venereal diseases , was asked by me , what instances he had found of the penetration of quick-silver , either outwardly or inwardly administred , into the bones of men ? to this he answered , that he could not say he had himself taken notice of any quick-silver , in the cavities of greater bones , but that some other practitioners had told him , that they had met with such instances , as i enquired after . but for himself , he only remembred that a patient , who had been terribly fluxed with mercurial inunctions , coming afterwards to have one of the grinders of his lower jaw pulled out , because of the raging pain it had long put him to ; my relater had the curiosity to view narrowly this great tooth , and found , to his wonder , a little drop of true mercury in that slender cavity of the root , that admits the small vessels which convey nourishment and sense to the tooth , in more than one of whose three roots he affirmed to me that he found true , though but exceeding little , quick-silver . but a full testimony to my present purpose is afforded me by the experienced physician eustachius rudius , who relates , that he saw himself , and that others also observed , some bodies dissected , of those that had been anointed for the venereal pox , in the cavities of whose bones no small quantity of quick silver was got together , ( which yet ( to add that upon the by ) he says , did not hinder some of them from living many years , surviving those inunctions . ) chap. viii . i am not ignorant that , among the particulars laid together in the foregoing essay , there are some that are not absolutely necessary , to prove the porousness of the bodies of animals . but i thought it not impertinent to mention them , because i hoped that they , in conjunction with the rest , may be of some use to naturalists , in giving an account of several things that pass in a humane body , whether sound or sick , especially if it be of a topical disease , and may remove , or much lessen that great prejudice , that makes many ( and some of them otherwise learned ) physicians despise the use of all amulets , pericarpia , and other external medicines in distempers of the inward parts , upon a confident , but not well grounded supposition , that these remedies immediately touching but the outside of the skin , cannot exercise any considerable operations upon the internal parts of the body . but though i have thus acknowledged some passages of the foregoing essay to be supernumerary , yet i must not dismiss it without intimating that i might from one topick more have fetched a probable , though not a demonstrative argument , in favour of the porousness of animals . for this may be very probably argued from hence , that even inanimate , solid and ponderous bodies , that in all likelyhood must be of a far closer texture than the living bodies of animals ( whose various functions require a greater number and diversity of pores in their differing organs ) are not devoid of pores , and have some of them very numerous ones , as will be sufficiently made out in the following essay , to which i shall therefore hasten . n. b. the following paper is that which is refer'd to in the 35th page of this essay . hujus rei veritatem comprobat doctissimus ac celeberrimus medicus & philosophus d. johannes chrysostomus irmbler , statuum moraviae marchionatûs protomedicus , his verbis ad me scribens : et revera paravi ego , anno m. dclv , quo tempore inter infectos versabar quotidie , trochiscos bufonios , eósque ut caetera helmontii , indefessi veritatis indagandae , & ex puteo opinionum veterum nostram credulitatem excaecantium eruendae , nati philosophi , experimenta suas laudes sustinere comperi : inter , viginti autem bufones vix unum quidem , jucundo sane spectaculo , vidi vermiculos , per nares & oculos egressuros , manu repellere quamdiu poterat , doxec elanguerit bufo : sed trochiscos ex vermiculis unà cum pulvere emo●tui bufonis , & materiâ per anum ( nondum vidi per vomitum ; ) scilicet alis , pedibus , capitibus , ventribus scarabaeorum viridibus , auratisve & nigris , quos bufo cum terra in escam venatur , ejectâ , cerea patinâ exceptis , cum tragacantho rosato formatos , pluribus personis super anthraces opponi feci , atque nullum eorum mortuum esse dicere possum , sed & meorum domesticorum , ut & aliorum , quibus dedi , amicorum nullus , quod scio , infectus est . sic comperi non tantùm hisce trochiscis enervari virus pestilens in carbunculo jam admissum , ut dein vulgaribus chirurgicis remediis ulcus facili negotio fuerit curatum , sed etiam ad sinistram mammam ligatos , mihi meísque accursui & occursui infectorum expositis , animositatem quandam indicibilem conferre , atque ita miasmata & effluvia pestilentialia abarcere . hucusque excel . medicus moraviae . an essay of the porousness of solid bodies . chap. i as 't will with far less difficulty be allowed , that animals and vegetables , and such bodies , as have belonged to either , abound with pores , than that inanimate , solid , and even ponderous bodies are not destitute of them : so 't is far less difficult to make out the former than the latter of these propositions . and therefore , pyrophilus , i hope you will not expect that i should give you as many proofs of the one , as i have of the other ; however i despair not , that those i shall present you , will appear sufficient for my purpose , though they be not numerous enough to make me careful to marshal them in any exact order . of the reasons that induce me to think that even solid bodies are not destitute of pores , there are some that have a greater affinity with those arguments that the schools are wont to call à priori , because they require more unobvious ratiocinations upon physical principles , and others which resemble , and indeed are , such proofs as are usually named à posteriori , being suggested by the phaenomena afforded us by experience , without the help of any difficult ratiocinations . of the first sort of reasons i shall propose to you three ; and begin with that , which may be drawn from the origine and formation of divers hard bodies . for i have elsewhere endeavour●● and i hope not unsu●cessfully , to shew , both that divers stones , and even gems themselves , and that several metalline and other mineral bodies , were once either visible liquors or at least very soft substances . and i have elsewhere proved , that both these kinds of bodies do consist of , ( which is the case of liquors ) or abound in ( which is the case of soft and moist bodies ) minute particles of determinate sizes and shapes ; from whence i think one may very probably conclude , that such gems and other mineral bodies , notwithstanding any hardness they afterwards come to acquire , are not destitute of pores , since 't is no way likely , that corpuscles of various and very irregular figures , such as those of most liquors of the terrestrial globe are wont to be , can be so brought together , especially by chance , cold , or any other such agents , as not to intercept little intervals or pores between them . chap. ii. another thing which makes me think the porosity of the most part even of solid bodies to be great , is the consideration of the great disparity , that may be found in the specifick gravities of such bodies , as the eye does not perceive to be porous . for , though water be a body of that kind , and though its parts be so close packt together , that the attempts of ingenious men , to make a manifest compression of that liquor by outward violence , have not hitherto proved successful , yet we find , that stones , clays , metals , and even some woods and a multitude of other kinds of solids , will readily sink in water , and by consequence are specifically heavyer than it ; which greater gravity seems not any way explicable , without supposing , or at least so well as by supposing , that the corpuscles whereof such sinking bodies consist , do either lye closer together , or are separately more solid , than those of water ; which liquor must consequently be porous , though neither the eye , nor the great force that has been several ways employed to compress it , can discover any pores in it . upon the same ground i further conclude , that solid stones themselves , as marble , flints , &c. are not free from porosity . for whereas , as far as several tryals purposely made can inform me , i have found , that such of these as have nothing metalline in them do seldom or never reach to treble the weight of an equal bulk of water , they will , upon the former grounds , appear to be considerably porous ; since the lightest metals , which are tin and iron , are above twice heavier in specie , that is , the bulks being equal , than marble , flints , chrystal , &c. and by the same reason i also infer the great porosity , even of the solid body of iron , which is as well heavier , as very much harder , than tinn . for though copper be a good deal more ponderous than iron , or steel , yet i have divers times found fine gold , to be more than twice as heavy in specie as copper , since , whereas this metal , whether it be european , or brought from japan ( for of that also i made tryal ) is about nine times as heavy as so much water ; i found refined gold to be about nineteen times as heavy as water equal to it in bulk . by which it seems highly probable , that so solid and heavy a body , as iron or steel it self , may be so porous , that metalline matter equal to it in weight may naturally be contained in much less than half the dimensions that metal possesses . and that gold it self , which is the most compact and solid body we know of , is not destitute of pores , may appear by the dissolution of it in quick-silver , of which i shall speak a little below . and if any should pretend , that hardness may be a greater argument of the compactness of a body , and its immunity from pores , than its specifick weight can be ; i shall add , that though i have found that emery , which is the body employed to cut steel and load-stones and crystal , and the most of gems , being indeed much harder than marble or flints , be far heavier than thrice its bulk of water ; yet that ponderousness proceeds , as i else where intimate , from the mixture of a metalline substance , which i have separatted from it . and diamonds , though much harder bodies than emery , and indeed the hardest we know of in nature , are so far from being , as some of late have written , the most ponderous of bodies , that having examined them hydrostatically , by a way elsewhere mentioned , i found them not much heavier than either crystal , or fine glass , and not half so heavy as the lightest metals . chap. iii. the next thing , from which the porousness of solid bodies , and even those that belong to the mineral kingdom ( as the chymists speak ) may be deduced , is the same with the first of those from which we formerly argued the porosity of substances belonging to the animal kingdom , namely , the very frame & constitution of such bodies . for the solidest bodies themselves , resulting from the convention or coalition of a great number of particles of several bignesses and shapes , we cannot reasonably suppose , ( especially in those concretes wherein they are not ranged by a seminal principle ) that they should be contexed so , as to touch one another exactly every where and therefore they must of necessity leave some little intervals and pores between them . this reason will , i hope , appear clear enough of it self , to him that shall attentively consider it , especially if he know , that it has been geometrically demonstrated , that there are but very few figures that will , ( as they speak ) implere spatium , that is , which being adjusted to one another will so exactly touch , that there is not the least unfilled space within the circumference or circuit , if the figures be plain , or within the ambient superficies , if they be solid ; so that , considering the vast variety of other figures , which made epicurus and other atomists pronounce it incomprehensible , 't is very obvious to conceive , that corpuscles of such differing shapes being put together , will leave multitudes of little pores intercepted , between those parts that do not every where touch one another . and even the mathematical figures lately spoken of , may be said to fill space rather in a geometrical than a physical sense . for , if such portions of matter as are required to constitute , for instance , a cube , were actually put together , they would not exactly fill the space comprehended within the ambient surface of the body they compose , because the component bodies , being physical , consist of corpuscles of their own particular shapes , which we never find mathematically exquisite . as if , for example , the cube were of marble , no art could polish the sides of a component body so , as that they should be perfectly smoothed since ( as , if i mistake not , the learned gassendus well observes ) emery , pumice-stone , and even puttee , or other powders that are employed to polish them , do themselves consist of little hard angular corpuscles , that leave small scratches , like so many little furrows , on their surfaces , which must needs hinder the perfect contact of the whole surfaces of two contiguous bodies , and consequently leave here and there intervals or pores , between those surfaces ; to which i shall add that marble it self as 't is marble , abounds with internal pores , as will ere long appear by experience , and as may be rationally conjectured from the specifick levity of it , in comparison of gold and lead . chap. iv. having dispatched the arguments à priori , that may be imployed to shew the porousness of solid bodies , 't will be now seasonable to propose some experiments and observations , that may ( as 't were ) à posteriori either evince or confirm the same doctrine . of these instances some relate to solid bodies that are of less specifick gravity some to fossiles presumed to be devoid of metalline parts , some to minerals that are thought to participate of a metalline nature , some to metals themselves , and some to glass . to begin with the first sort of these instances ; that wood is porous , there are many things that argue ; some of which are elsewhere mentioned . but few would suspect , that quick-silver which is so unapt to enter the pores of bodies much less compact , should permeate peices of wood of a considerable thickness ; and yet , that we have made it do by the following experiment . we took a wooden trunk , such as is employed to shoot pellets at birds , with strength enough to kill them , and having closely stopt one end of it , we poured in quick silver at the other , till it reached to a good height in the cylindrical cavity of the instrument , and then the lower parts of the metalline liquor , being assisted by the weight of the incumbent ones , ( not to mention that of the air ) to press into the pores of the wood , they issued out at them on all sides , in great numbers of minute drops , much after the manner of quick-silver strained through leather , out of amalgams ; which was a phaenomenon not unpleasant to behold . but till i have opportunity to repeat this experiment with differing circumstances , i shall not think it fit to lay much stress upon it , for want of knowing , what interest the great weight of the quick silver may have had in the event . and this caution may perchance be applicable to the following experiment , namely , that having , by the help of my pneumatical engine , withdrawn the air from one side of a round peice of board , the air on the opposite side , not having its pressure any longer resisted by that which it used to meet with from the withdrawn air , pressed so strongly against the surface of the wood exposed to it , as to make it self way through the pores of it , and get copiously enough into the cavity whence the other air had been pumpt out ; ( the weight of the incumbent atmosphere doing on this occasion , what the weight of the quick-silver did on that last recited : ) which was a surprizing spectacle to the by-standers because the board that was thus permeated , was of strong wood , and of considerable thickness . i should here subjoin several other arguments of the porousness of wood , if i could display them without more words , than i am willing to allow them ; and i presume it may here suffice , if i let you see by some surprizing effects that when wood is reduced to that thinness , that its closeness or porosity may conveniently be examined , it will easily enough give passage , even unto visible , odorable , and tinging corpuscles though they invade it not in the form of a liquor , but of dry exhalations , so they be not incommensurate to its pores . this i suppose , you will not scruple to infer from the following tryals , as they were long since set down in one of my note-books . 1. the fumes of our smoaking liquor [ described in the foregoing essay ] tinged a copper half penny , through a broad thin shaving of dale , that did not , when held against the window , discover any perforation ; tinged it , i say , very deeply in about a quarter of a minute and somewhat less . 2. the same fumes tinged manifestly , but not so notably , the same half penny first cleansed through two such shavings of dale , laid one upon another in somwhat less than one minute . 3. and in about one minute the same fumes tinged the cleansed half penny , through three such shavings of dale very visibly , but not so conspicuously , as through the two forementioned . these tryals were made without the help of heat to promote the operation of the fumes . chap. v. from the consideration of woods let us now proceed to give some instances of the porousness of bodies made of close and compacted , and perhaps well baked clays or other earths . that earthen vessels , thô strong and well bak'd , are many of them porous enough may be argued not only from what has been lately recited , but from hence , that some of them will suffer themselves to be soakt through by oyl . others by solutions of nitre , and some other salts . and there are very few of them , without excepting hassian crucibles themselves , that will long keep salt of tartar , and such like fixt alcalies , in fusion without being penetrated by them . i have heard distillers complain , that when they have distilled corrosive materials , as vitriol and salt-petre , with strong fires , in those earthen vessels that are commonly made use of in london ( especially by refiners ) instead of retorts though their necks be strait and long ( upon which account they are called long-necks ) a considerable quantity of the finest spirits make their escape quite thorow the vessel ; so that in the retort and receiver many ounces are found wanting , of the first weight of the matter to be distilled . and this sometimes , when the vitriol has been previously calcin'd , and a reasonable allowance has been made , for what may have escaped thorow the lute , that joined together the long neck and receiver . and though i have observed of our bottles , made of the same earth with juggs , that they are hard enough to strike fire with a good steel , yet a good experimenter upon such vessels of whom i made enquiry , has assured me that these , as compact as they are , may , even without external heat , have their pores pervaded by the finer parts of spirituous liquors . to this purpose i remember that meeting once with a virtuoso , that was curious about the ways of making sider as brisk and spirituous a liquor as he could ; i enquired of him , whether he was able to keep in the subtil spirit of this skilfully fermented liquor , in those earthen bottles , that , by reason of the solidity they acquire by the vehement coction of the fire , are commonly called stone bottles ; to which he replyed . that he often found to his trouble , that the liquor would permeate the compact substance of the bottles : and when i objected that the spirits might either escape out at the cork , which i have made several spirits of divers kinds that would readily permeate ; he replyed , that what he had said appeared by the outside of the bottles : to which when i further objected , that the sight of dew on the surface of the bottles , would not convince me , without tasting whether it were vinous , because i had divers times observed , that brisk liquors would produce a dew , on the outside of the vessels that contained them , not by any transudation ( for i have made tryal of it in glasses ) but by condensing the aqueous vapors , dispersed through the neighbouring part of the ambient air : he replyed that , besides what his tast had informed him of the quality of this dew , he found that the included liquor , though exactly stopt , wasted in not very many months so considerably , as sometimes to lose a sixth , or even a fifth part ; & this escape or percolation of the liquor through the substance of the vessels , he affirmed himself to have observed , not only in one or two bottles , but in very many and the like observation for the main was confirmed to me , upon his own experience , by an eminent physician , who , being a great lover of brisk sider , used to bottle it up early and carefully . though good hassian crucibles be very closely compacted , as well as throughly baked bodies , and upon that account are able to keep silver and divers other metals long in fusion , without letting them at all run out ; yet having dissolved silver in aqua fortis , i observed that , though the salts were by this operation so chang'd that this horn-like silver did dissolve neither in the aqua fortis , nor in the aqua regia that i put it into ; yet when i kept it a while in fusion , ( which 't is easily brought to be ) among quick coals , it would without cracking or perforating the crucible , soak into it , and permeate the pores of it , in i know not how many places , as i convinced some curious persons , by shewing them on the outside of the vessel , a multitude of minute globules of pure silver , like so many little drops , that were got thither , as it were , by transudation . chap. vi. from baked earths , that are designed in point of hardness to emulate stones , we will proceed to give some instances of the porousness of natural stones themselves . there goes a tradition , that in some part of the west-indies they have a stone , of which they make large vessels , wherein they put water to percolate , as it were , through a strainer . of these vessels i had one sent me for a present , whereof being hereafter to give some account in a more opportune place , i shall now only take notice that i found that water would ( thô slowly ) soak through the vessel , thô it were considerably thick . if , as many of the ancients , and most of the modern corpuscular philosophers have conceived , the transparency and opacity of bodies proceeds from a rectitude or crookedness of pores , which makes them fit or unfit to transmit the light , that tends to pervade them in physically straight lines : if this hypothesis , i say , be allowed , we may draw a very probable argument , that stones may be porous , from the phaenomena of that odd gem , that is best known by the name of oculus mundi . for this small stone ( at least that which i made my observations of ) when 't is dry , and is kept in the air , is opacous , almost like a polished piece of white amber , and so it continues , as long as 't is kept dry . but if you put it into fair water , it will in no long time , become by degrees quite transparent , and that which i made tryal of looked then not unlike a piece of clear yellow amber which by degrees does in the free air lose its transparency and turn to be opacous as before . now according to the above mentioned corpuscular hypothesis , the pellucidness which the stone acquires in water , may be accounted for , by saying , that the liquor getting in at the crooked pores of the stone , does for the time rectify them , and make them pervious to the straight beams of light ; as we see that white paper , being wetted with water , or , which does far better , being made so imbide oyl , has its pores so changed and rectified , that the water much lessens its opacity , and makes it almost semidiaphanous and the oyl , if it be fine and well soaked up , makes it transparent . but upon the recess or evaporation of the imbibed particles of water , the pores of the little stone becoming crooked again reflect the rays of light they should transmit . which explication will be the better allowed of , if my memory do not misinform me , when it tells me , that a learned member of the royal society found the oculus mundi to weigh more in a nice ballance , when it was taken out of the water and well wiped , than before it was put in . this stone , which very few of the writers about gems take notice of , is so rare and difficult to be got , that i had not opportunity to make upon it all the tryals i desired ; and therefore , though the subject be curious , i may , i hope , be excused , if i hasten from it to another . there is so much difference in many qualities betwixt stones and metals , that 't is very probable , that when the corpuscles of both come to be brought together into one mass , they will not touch one another so close , as not to leave store of little intervals or pores between them . and upon this ground i have been apt to think that divers very hard stones , diaphanous and opacous , are not devoid of porosity . for i have elsewhere delivered a way by which i have obtained good store of metalline parts , both from american granats , and from emery ; though this last be so exceeding hard a stone , that 't is usually imployed by artificers to work upon iron and steel , and to cut not only rock crystal , but divers gems that are harder than either that or steel . upon the same ground one may probably infer the porosity of many artificial gems made by fusion ; for to give these the colour of sapphirs , topazes , amethysts , &c. we are wont to add to the vitrifiable matter , either some prepared metal , as calcined copper , calx of gold , &c. or else some mineral as zaffora and manganeze ( as the glass-men call magnesia ) that abounds in metalline parts . nay i remember , i have sometimes given the colour to the vitrified substance , by imploying natural gems , as granats ; though to shew that the coloration which the mass received from these , proceeded from the metalline corpuscles , that lay hid in the tinging matter , the colour produced was not that which was conspicuous in the gem it self , but one very different from it , and such as the metal , which upon other accounts i supposed the gem to partake of , ought , according to the grounds i proceeded upon , to produce in the vitrifiable matter . and this very experiment makes it also highly probable , that even natural transparent gems , ( divers of which are much harder than marble , iron & even steel ) are themselves porous ; since , notwithstanding their transparency and seeming homogeneity . they are made up of ingredients of such differing natures as are stony and metalline corpuscles . from the same ground we may likewise deduce the porosity of marcasites ; many of which i have observed to be , not only hard enough , plentifully to strike fire by collision with steel , but more ponderous than even divers oars , that were rich enough in metal , to be wrought with good profit . and yet these hard and heavy ( mineral ) stones are very far from being homogeneous ; since i have met with few inanimate bodies , produced by nature her self , so compounded as several marcasites that i have seen . for these are wont to contain more or less copper , and iron too : and they abound in combustible sulphur , a corrosive salt , and a certain fixt substance , which i found to differ from true earth , but of whose nature the tryals i have hitherto made on it , have but little satisfied me . i might here deduce the porosity of the load-stone , as hard and solid a body as it is , partly from the effluvia it emits and admits , and partly from the heterogeneity i have by chymical tryals found to be in it . but these things belong more properly to a paper about magnetical bodies , for which i the more willingly reserve them , because other experiments will keep them from being needful to be here insisted on . the porosity of marble , and divers other stones of like contexture , may with probability be deduc'd from this , that they are liable to be dissolved by divers of the corrosive menstruums of the chymists , such as aqua fortis sp . of salt , &c. and some of them even by vegetable liquors , of natures own preparing , as the juice of limons , and that of barberries . but a more noble and satisfactory instance may be afforded , by the invention of staining or colouring white marble , without imploying any fretting liquor , or spoiling the texture of it . this way being casually lighted on by an ingenious stone-cutter in oxford , who gained by it both credit and money , he long since thought fit to acquaint me with it , upon condition of secresy ( which i have to this day inviolably kept ) and of my assisting him to improve his invention by making it practicable with other colours than red. these circumstances i mention , to signify that i write not by guess , of this matter , having both seen the experiment tried , and made it my self . but though i found it far less improvable to other uses , then one would expect , yet , as to our present purpose , it is very apposite . for by this way an excellent red colour , may be made to soak into a piece of white marble , almost as oyl will do into leather , without impairing , that i observed , the solidity of the stone , which , after being dyed , will be capable of a fine gloss as before . some other colours ( yet but few fair ones ) would by this way be brought to soak into marble , on which one may with them so define , and limit the colorations , that i remember the artificer , when i brought him to kiss the kings hand , presented his majesty with an andromeda , whose colours were so vivid , that this skilful judge of curious things , was pleased to honour it with a place among his rarities . and , to satisfy his majesty that the fine red was not , as some suspected , a mere varnish , i purposely broke a plate of marble , in whose fragments he saw , that the pigment had sunk to a considerable depth , into the very substance of the stone . and i doubt not but it might have been made easily enough to sink much deeper , if it had been thought necessary . a fine plate of such white marble , with the penetrating pictures of coloured flowers drawn upon it i yet keep by me to satisfy the curious . and some utensils , as hafts of knives , salt-sellers , &c. i have known to have lasted several years . there is an experiment that seems much stronger for the porousness of solid bodies , than that it self ( which was lately recited ) of staining marble . for in italy some goldsmiths have a way of imbuing fragments of rock-crystal , which is a body much harder than marble , with divers colours ; which do sometimes so imbellish them , that having ground off those parts that would not receive the same tincture , they set some of them in gold rings , and sell them with profit . when i was inform'd of this , i thought of a composition , that i hop'd might perform the same thing , and perhaps better than that which was employ'd by them , who either knew not , or for ought i could perceive , us'd not , some minerals that i thought fit for the purpose . upon this presumption we carefully cemented some clear fragments of native crystal with a composition of some volatile minerals , together with a salt or two , and having suffered the crucibles to cool leisurely , we had divers of the fragments stain'd here and there , some with one colour and some with another , as differing fumes happen'd to invade them . and of these colours some were dark or dull , and some vivid enough . but having consider'd the stain'd pieces , and the progress of the operation , more attentively , i began to doubt , whether these adventitious colours were really produced by the bare penetrating of the mineral fumes into the pores of the crystal it self . for i thought it possible , and not very unprobable , that the great heat of the fire , and the ambient mixture , might cleave or flaw in many places some of the crystalline fragments ; and that the finer parts of the minerals being vehemently agitated , might insinuate themselves into these thin flaws , which upon the slow refrigeration of the stones , shutting themselves close again , might lock up the tinging particles , without appearing discontinued , especially to the eyes of persons that were not made use of with a more than ordinary attention , excited by distrust . this suspicion was not removed by the apparent entireness of each little piece of crystal . for having taken more than once a lump of that stone , and slowly brought it to be red hot in the fire , i found that if i warily quenched it in water , though it would thereby acquire a multitude of little cracks or flaws , which destroyed its former transparency , and made it look whitish , yet it continued still an entire body , notwithstanding the disadvantageous haste , wherewith the operation had been performed . and having after this suspicion , inquired of an ingenious lapidary , that belonged to a great prince whether in polishing of gems upon the wheel , he had taken notice that the heat would flaw them , he answered me , that now and then he had observed that some stones , especially ▪ if i misremember not , rubies , when they were very much heated by the swift motion of the engine he employed to polish them , did cleave as it seemed to him , and gape , so as at first to make him fear the stones were spoiled ; and yet afterwards they closed so perfectly , that no flaw at all could be perceived in them . i have mentioned the foregoing experiment of tinging crystal , to comply with the dictates of philosophical candor , which forbids me to lay much stress upon a proof , whose validity i my self distrust . but perhaps my suspicion may by further tryal , which i have not now conveniency to make , appear not to have been well grounded , and in that case the tinging of crystal , as well inwardly as outwardly , by fumes will be a noble argument for the porosity of solid bodies , rock-crystal being harder , and probably closer , not only than marble , but even than glass . chap. vii . that metals , though the heaviest of bodies , are not destitute of pores , may be with probability proved in a general way by this ; that they are all dissoluble in their appropriate menstruums , as gold in aqua regia , and all the rest in aqua fortis , except tin , which yet it self will be corroded by that menstruum , though not well kept up in a fluid form , as it may be by another menstruum , which i elsewhere teach ; and sometimes the same metal may be dissolved by very differing menstruums , as lead by aqua fortis , and spirit of vinegar ; and copper by aqua fortis , aqua regia , spirit of vinegar , spirit of salt , and some other solvents , that upon trial i have found sufficient for that purpose . but 't will , i presume , be thought more considerable to my present argument , if it be shewn , that bodies that appear gross , and which in their natural state are not fluid , and are confessed to be of a compounded nature , will penetrate metals quite through , even without melting them . this we have divers times effected by a cementation of copper plates , with common 🜍 ( much a kin to a way prescribed by some alchymists to make vitriolum veneris ) which we warily performed much after this manner . we took good copper laminated to the thickness of a shilling or thereabouts , and having cut it into small pieces , that they might the more easily be put into a crucible or cementing pot , we strewed at the bottom of the vessel some beaten 🜍 , and then covered it pretty well with some of these plates , which were laid on flat-wise . upon these we strewed another bed of powdered brimstone , and cover'd that also with plates , upon which we put more sulphur , & so continu'd making one lair of brimstone , & another of metal , till we had employed all our plates , or filled the crucible , being careful that the uppermost bed , as well as the lowest , should be of sulphur . this done , we luted on an earthen cover to the vessel , to keep the 🜍 from taking fire , and afterwards having placed the pot amongst coals kindled at a good distance from it , that it might be heated by degrees , we kept it for some few hours ( perhaps two or three ) in such a degree of fire as was sufficient to keep the sulphur melted ( which is easily enough done ) without bringing the metal to fusion ; the pot being cold , we took off the cover , and found the plates quite altered in colour and texture , some of them having a dark and dirty colour , whilst others looked of a fine violet or blew ; they were generally so brittle , that 't was very easy to break them with ones finger , and reduce them to powder . and ( now to add such circumstances as a chymist would not take notice of ) many of the plates , when they were broken , appeared to have been ( by the contiguous beds of sulphur above and below ) horizontally divided each of them into two plates , divers of which in some places had a manifest distance or cavity between them . and 't was observable , that when i considered one or other of these plates attentively in the parts that had been contiguous before i broke it , i could plainly discern a multitude as 't were of fibres , reaching from one of the flat sides of the plate to the other , & running many of them , as to sense , parallel to one another . these circumstances may sufficiently argue , that the plates were pierced quite through by the brimstone ; but for confirmation of this , and to shew too that the sulphur does as it were soak into the body of the metal , and in a gross manner lodge it self there ; i shall add , that not only to the eye the plates appeared much swelled , or thicker then when they were put in , but having weighed them before the operation was begun , and after it was quite ended , the copper , though it needed not to be freed from externally adhering sulphur , was found to have a considerable increase of weight by the accession of the sulphur , which ( to add that circumstance ) though it appeared not to the eye , yet if a plate were laid upon quick coles , and blown , would oftentimes discover it self by a blew flame . by making the like experiment for the main , we found that refined silver , though a more heavy and compact body , than copper , and not dissoluble by most of the menstruums , that work on this metal , is penetrable by the body of sulphur , which will also calcine tin and lead and ( especially ) iron . nor is sulphur the only consistent body that has this ingress into metals ; for we have found them penetrable by prepared arsenick . but because these operations are not so easy , and the subject is not easily handled without danger , i forbear the mention of them in this place , where , after what has been recited , it is not necessary . another experiment there is , which does more advantageously than that made with brimstone , discover the porosity of copper . for there is a way by which , without the help of salts , sulphur or arsenick , one may make a solid and heavy body soak into the pores of that metal , and give it a durable colour . i shall not mention the way , because of the bad use that may be made of it . but having had the curiosity more than once to try it upon a new copper farthing , the event was , that one part of it , which i purposely forbore to tinge , remained common copper still , but the other part acquired a yellow , that differed very little , if at all , from a golden colour , the former stamp that was impressed upon the coin continuing visible . and to convince the scrupulous , that the pigment did really sink , and as it were soak into the body of the metal , and did not meerly colour the superficies , i made them take notice , that the farthing was not melted , and yet by filing off a wide gap from the edge of the coin , inwards , it plainly appeared , that the yellow or golden colour had penetrated a pretty way beneath the surface of the farthing ; so that it looked there as if two thin plates , the one yellow , and the other reddish , did , without any interval between them , lye upon one another . if bodies be not to be pervaded , or deeply pierced into , by corpuscles , but only to have their more superficial pores , if i may so call them , penetrated thereby , 't is possible that bodies , which are either much harder , or much closer , than marble , alabaster or the like bodies , may have their pores possessed even by odorous corpuscles ; i say , even by such , because they are most of them gross enough to be kept from exhaling , by bodies much less compact then earthen bottles ; and are far from being of the finest particles that nature affords . but that such odorous corpuscles may lodge themselves in the exterior pores of very close bodies , i have been inclined to think , not only , by the obstinately adhering odour , which i found by tryal , that some suttle and spirituous parts , such as the chymists would perhaps call in their aggregates , the essence of musk , amber , amber-greece , &c. notwithstanding the washing of the glasses , that had long contained such liquors ; but by what has been assured me by a physician of great experience , who travelled and lived much in the east . for having told him , that i had been informed , that in some places less famous then damascus , for curiosity in making fine sword blades , there was a way found and practised of making them richly scented , without injury to their gloss ; i desired to know of him , if at damascus , or elsewhere , he had seen any of them ; to which he replied , that he did not remember he had , but yet made no doubt the information might be true . for he himself had in europe , and kept for divers years , a watch , whose metalline case , was richly perfumed ; and when i askt him , whether there were not some thin varnish , or some outward case of perfumed leather , or chagran , or somewhat else , from whence the odour proceeded , he assured me , that his observations had prevented and removed that and divers other scruples , and that the case being clean and glossy , he could not perceive that the odour proceeded from any thing else , than some odoriferous thing , or other that was invisibly lodged in the pores , or porous substance of the metal it self . and indeed , since both arsenick , and even common sulphur , may by art be as it were incorporated with some metalls , and even with silver , i see not why it should be impossible , that some pleasingly scented substances should be admitted into the pores of metalline bodies , and be volatile enough to have their subtiler parts fly off in odorous exhalations , especially if they be a little excited , as the watch case lately mentioned was , by a gentle heat , such as was that of the wearers pocket . and on this occasion i remember to have made a certain metalline composition , which looked like gold , and of which i caused a ring to be cast , and yet this metal retained so many unperceived mercurial corpuscles in it , that an ingenious person to whom i discovered the composition of it , found after tryal , as he assured me , that being worn as a ring , it had in some distempers , particularly of the eyes , manifest operations , that evidently enough seemed to flow , at least in great part , from its participation of the mercury we employed in preparing the factitious metal . since the writing of the former part of this essay , having met with an inquisitive nobleman , who had lived in several parts of africk , and was governour of the best town the europeans have on that continent , i discoursed with him , among other things , about the skill that some ascribe to the african moors , of making excellent weapons , whereof i knew his excellency was very curious . upon which occasion he told me , that some of the off-spring of the granadine moors were indeed the best at making arms that ever he met with ; and that he had seen some weapons of their forging and tempering , that he preferred even to those of damasco . and when i asked him whether any of them had the art of perfuming their weapons , he answered me , that some of them did it admirably well , and instanced in a blade which he kept for some years , & found it still to retain the perfumed scent , which he supposed to be as it were incorporated with the steel whereof the blade was made . when i told him , i suspected that the scabbard might have been well perfumed , and communicate its odour to the contained blade , he allowed the objection to be plausible , but replyed ▪ that it was not concluding , since misliking the scabbard , as not handsom & fashionable enough , he caused a new one to be made , wherein he afterwards kept it . and the same lord further told me , that he had also a fowling piece , whose barrel was perfumed . and when i objected that perhaps the odoriferous scent proceeded from the stock , and not from the metal , he answered that the gun not being , when it came into his possession , skilfully and handsomely mounted , he caused the barrel to be fitted with a new stock , notwithstanding which , it continued to smell fragrantly . and when i further asked , whether he ever caused the gun to be washed or scoured after it was grown foul by having been often shot in , he answered me , that he had , and , as far as i can remember , subjoyned , that after it was made clean it did ( notwithstanding the ill scent that the soot of the powder had given it ) retain a pleasing smell , but fainter than before . chap. viii . since the subject of this essay is the porousness of solid bodies , and since there is no body that is generally reputed so close and compact as glass , it will be pertinent to this discourse , and probably will be expected , that i should here say something about the question , whether glass be , or be not , devoid of pores . but before i acquaint you with my tryals , or my thoughts , about this problem , i think it requisite to clear the sense , in which i mean to handle it , that i may not , as some others have done , for want of distinctly stating the question , speak confusedly and erroneously of it . i shall then here observe , to prevent mistakes , that the porosity of glass may admit of two acceptions . for it may be said to be quite pervious to fluids , as a boot is to water , or only to be capable of having its superficial parts further and further dissolved or corroded thereby , as a silver cup is porous in reference to aqua fortis , which cannot sweat through it , as water does through a boot , but eat its way through it , by dissolving the texture of the vessel . another thing requisite to be premised , to prevent ambiguity , is , that glass it self is not all of one sort , as men unacquainted with chymistry are wont to presume , for glass of antimony , for instance , and that of lead , both of them made per se , do manifestly differ , usually in colour , and constantly in weight , and also in their operations upon humane bodies ; and both these sorts of glass do in several points differ from common glass , under which name , for brevities sake , i comprehend both white or crystalline glass , as 't is called in the shops , and that courser sort , which they usually call green glass ; both which sorts i here consider under one notion , because both are made of fixt alcalies , and other fit ingredients , as sand , earth , ashes , pebbles , or flints , colliquated by a strong & lasting operation of the fire : and 't is of this common glass , in the sense now declared , that i shall consider the porosity in the remaining part of this essay . in which to proceed with some method , i shall digest what i have to say into the ensuing propositions , and the observations annext to them . prop 1. 't is very probable , that glass may be pierced into to some distance , even by visible and tangible bodies . i know that this will seem a paradox to many , and repugnant to common experience , which shews that glass vessels will contain very subtile and even highly corrosive liquors , as the spirit of hartshorn , of urine , and that of nitre ; as also those potent menstruums , as aqua fortis , aqua regis , and oil of vitriol , which not only are not observed to pierce into it , but are unable to make any sensible alteration , so much as on the superficial parts , even in those vials wherein they have been long kept . but , notwithstanding all this , i presume you will not condemn the lately proposed paradox , when you have considered what may be said to justifie it . for , besides that it may be made probable à priori , by the arguments whence we have formerly proved the porousness of solid bodies in general ; there are two sorts of experiments , from whence one may argue , that glass in particular is not devoid of pores in the sense wherein we are now speaking of them . and first , i remember , that , having kept for a good while in a vial , a quantity of a certain spirit of salt , that i had reserved in a cool place ; i found , when i came to use it , that the glass was crackt , and most of the liquor was run out ; but , before this happened , it had so far corroded the inside of the glass , that in some places it was eaten almost as thin as a piece of paper ; and this part which yet continued glass , was lin'd with a much thicker white substance , that stuck to the sides of it , and looked and tasted like a kind of odd salt ; so that it invited me to conjecture , that it proceeded from the substance of the glass , which you know consists of an alcali as well as of sand corroded by the saline spirits of the menstruum , and coagulated with them into this odd kind of concrete ; and 't was remarkable in our vessel , that the upper part of the vial , to which the menstruum did not reach , was not corroded , nor alter'd , tho the operation of the liquor reached as high as the liquor it self . and i remember , that when i related all this to some experienced chymists , one of them that was a more heedful observer , assured me , the like had once or twice , happened to him , as since that time it hath likewise done to me . i had also , if i misremember not , another vial , corroded by a distilled liquor of vitriol , that had in it more of the phlegm than of the oil ; which you will somewhat the less wonder at , if you consider , that some corrosive menstruums will scarce work on some bodys , if they be too well dephlegmed , or at least will not corrode them so readily and powerfully , if they are very strong , as when they are diluted with a convenient quantity of water . and , as to oil of vitriol it self , which is the menstruum i am speaking of , when we employ it to make vitriolum martis , we are wont to weaken it with water , that it may the better dissolve that metal . and perhaps you will suspect , that vitriol has some peculiar faculty of penetrating and fretting glass , when to the experiment newly recited i shall add that which follows , as i find it registred among my notes . [ a pound of dantzick vitriol and a pound of sea salt , after the former had been very lightly calcined , and the latter decrepitated , that they might not boil in , or crack the vessel ; we caused to be distilled in a well coated retort by degrees of fire , giving at length a very strong one , then taking off the vessel , we were not much surprized to find , that the heat had here and there melted it , and that the fluxed caput mortuum had corroded the glass , fetching off as 't were films from it , and those parts which did not appear to the eye thus manifestly wasted , seemed yet by their great brittleness , to have been penetrated , so that their texture was spoiled by the saline and vitriolate corpuscles . ] prop ii. common glass is not ordinarily permeable by chymical liquors , though strong and subtile , nor by the directly visible or odorable expirations of bodies tho absolutely speaking it be pervious to some corporeal substances . this proposition consisting of two parts , we shall allow each of them its distinct proofs . and as for the first part , 't is manifestly agreeable to the common experience of chymists ; who daily find , that in well stopt vials , or at least in hermetically seal'd glasses , they can preserve their subtilest and most piercing menstruums , as spirit of nitre , aqua fortis , spirit of salt , spirit of vinegar , and oil of vitriol . and this they find to be true , not only as to acid and corrosive liquors , like those i have newly named , but also in those spirits that abound with fugitive salts , as the spirit of urine , of blood , and of sal-armoniack ; and in the most subtile & highly rectified spirit of wine ; as also in the ethereal oil , or , as many call it , spirit , of turpentine : as likewise in the liquors of salt of tartar , and other fixt alcalies resolved by deliquium . the result of these observations may be much confirmed by considering , how often it happens in the destillation of more wild and fugitive spirits , as of nitre , tartar , and sugar ; that , though they are much agitated , and perhaps subtilized , by heat , yet , if the lute , that joins the receiver to the retort be very firm & close , the receivers , though large , are often broken in pieces ; which probably would not happen , if the spirits could insinuate & croud themselves , through the pores of glass . but , whereas it may be pretended , that such vessels are strong and thick , i shall add , that i have had the curiosity to cause very fine bubbles to be blown at the flame of a lamp , purposly that they may be made extreamly thin , and of but a small part of the thickness we meet with in the vessels made at the glass house ; and some of these i caus'd to be exactly stopt , and others to be hermetically seal'd ; but could not find , that either dry salt of tartar would relent in one , that was kept a good while under water , or that strong spirit of sal armoniack , which is one of the subtilest spirits that we know , would penetrate one of these thin films of glass , which we kept a great while immersed in it , though to discover whether it would at all penetrate the thinnest glasses , we employed some which were of that fine sort that is called essence vials . these and some other tryals have , i confess , made me very diffident of the experiments , that have been delivered by some men of note , and built upon by others , of the permeableness of ordinary glass vessels to chymical liquors , as , that mercury and aqua fortis being digested together in a bolt-head may , by rubbing the outside of the glass , be made visibly and palpably to transudate . which experiment ( if my memory do not much deceive me , ) i purposely tryed with care , but without success . but after all this i must desire , that it may be remembred , that in wording the proposition of the imperviousness of glass , i intimated that i would have it understood of what ordinarily happens . for in some extraordinary cases , which i take to be exceeding rare , i do not absolutely deny , but that the general rule may admit of exceptions . and , if it be lawful to conjecture , these exceptions are likeliest to take place , when the peculiar texture of this or that glass , is more slight or lax than ordinary ; or when the bodies that are to pervade it , are vehemently agitated by heat ; or when , besides a great subtlety , and perhaps degree of heat too , their particles chance to have a special congruity , to the relaxed pores of that particular glass they are to pass through . i remember i have seen , not without some wonder , a sort of glass of so soft and resoluble a texture , that vessels of it of a competent thickness , would be manifestly prejudiced and wrought upon by liquors , that were not considerably sharp or corrosive , if they were put in very hot . i have also heard of another sort of glasses , made in a certain forrest , complained of by a destiller , as subject to be sometimes injured by corrosive liquors . i once knew a doctor of physick , that by divers credulous alchymists was suspected to have , what they call the philosophers stone , because of a certain book , ingenious enough , that he was supposed to have written on that subject . but when after some acquaintance i happened to debate his principles freely with him , he confessed to me , that he had been mistaken , and to invite me to give him my thoughts upon such like works , he frankly made me an ingenuous relation of his proceedings , wherein the main thing that dazled him , and kept him from seeing his error , was , that he had reduced the matter he wrought on , which was real gold , to that degree of fusibleness and subtlety , that when he gave too strong a fire , as mistake or curiosity made him several times do , the finer part of the metal would sweat through his glasses , and stick sometimes to the outside of them , and sometimes to the neighbouring bodies . and , when i objected , that he might be mistaken in this , and that what he thought had come forth by transudation , rather issued out at some small unheeded crack , he replyed that he had made the observation so often , and with such care , that he was fully satisfied it was a real penetration of the glass , by the attenuated metal , which he was to have convinced me of by tryal . but , before he could come to make it , by an errour of his own he unhappily died . but , whatever be judged of this penetrating gold , i elsewhere relate , that i having upon a time destilled spirit of harts-horn with a very strong fire , into a receiver that was large and thick enough , but of a course kind of glass , it did appear , upon my best examination , that the glass itself was penetrated by some vehemently agitated fumes , or some subtile liquor , that setled in strongly scented drops on the outside of the receiver . but such instances being very rare , and happening but in some cases or conjunctures of circumstances , that are not like to be at all frequent , they cannot hinder the first part of our proposition to be true , in the sense wherein 't is laid down . and , as to the second part of the proposition , which asserts glass to be pervious to some corporeal substances , it may be proved ad hominem against any epicurean that should deny it , and the cartesians must not ) by the free ingress and egress , which our seal'd thermoscopes shew , that the atoms or corpuscles of cold and heat are allowed , through the pores of the glass , that contains the rising or fallng tincture , or other liquor . and without proceeding upon the peculiar principles of the epicureans , we may give more certain proofs of the permeableness of glass by certain bodies . for i have elsewhere manifestly evinced that the effluvia of a loadstone will attract and invigorate steel , though inclosed in hermetically seal'd glasses ; nay , i have also shewn by experiment , that the effluvia of so gross and dull a body as the earth , are readily transmitted through glass , and will operate on iron , in vessels hermetically sealed . if light be , as probably 't is , either a subtile and rapidly moving body , or at least require such an one for its vehicle , it must not be denied , that 't is possible for a body without difficulty to pass through the pores of glass ; since 't is by its help that we can clearly see the dimensions , shapes , and colours of bodies included in glasses . to this i shall add , that far less subtile bodies than those that constitute or convey light , may be made to permeate glass , if their figures being congruous enough to the pores of it , their penetration be assisted by an impetuous motion , or a brisk impulse ; as i have found by the increase of weight in some metals , exposed for divers hours in hermetically seal'd glasses , to the action of a flame . on which occasion i remember that having some years ago tryed the same experiment with some filings of copper , they had indeed their colour much alter'd , being beautified with exceeding vivid dyes , which they yet retain , but did not evidently appear to be increased in weight , as if , because they were not of a texture loose enough to be melted , the igneous particles could not pierce them enough to stick fast in them , at least in numbers great enough , to amount to a sensible weight . but without the help of fire , or any sensible heat , i think it not impossible that glass should be freely penetrated by some kind of corpuscles , ( though i do not yet know of what sort they are ) that sometimes happen to roave about in the air. this you will probably be surprized to read ; but perhaps not more than i was at the phaenomena that induce me to write it . but because these are very unusual , and can scarce be discoursed of without some odd reflections hinted by them , i thought fit to set down a circumstantial account of them in another paper , to which it more directly belongs than to this essay ; and therefore shall now only tell you , what may be sufficient for my present purpose , namely , that having in two or three vials closely stopt , kept a certain limpid and colourless liquor , it would by fits acquire and lose a high colour , though i could not reasonably impute the changes to any manifest ones in the air , nor to any other cause so probable , as the ingress and recess of some very subtle and uncommon particles , which at that time happened to swim to and fro in the air , and now and then to invade , and sometimes to desert , the liquor . there is another sort of experiments relating to the porosity of glass , to shew that it may be pierced into by bodies that are not corrosive in tast , and are not liquors , but only have a forced and temporary fluidity , if they have so much as that . these experiments may be drawn from some of the ways of colouring panes of glass , for the windows of churches and other buildings ; i say , some of the ways , because , to deal candidly with you , i think , and so i presume will you ere long , that in divers of those glasses , the colour doth not pierce at all deep into the glass , but is produced by the close adhesion of a deep red , but thin and transparent , pigment , to the surface of a glassy plate , through both which the beams of light passing to the eye , receive in their passage the colour of the pigment . but , as by some operations the glass is rather painted , or externally enamelled , than tinged , so in some others the pigment or dying stuff appears to pierce a little beneath the very superficies of the glass , and the yellow colour will not only go further or deeper , but sometimes seems ( for i do not yet positively affirm it ) to penetrate the whole glass from side to side . the methods of painting and staining glass , having been hitherto the practices of a particular trade that is gainful enough , and known but to few , the artificers are wont to be shy of communicating their secrets , thô we know in general that glass is stained , by having the plates covered with mineral pigments , laid on beds of beaten lime , or some other convenient powder , and kept for divers hours in a strong fire , but yet not strong enough to make the plates melt down , by which means the pores of the glass being much opened by the heat , and the pigments being likewise agitated , and some of them as it were vitrified with it , they are made either to pierce into the plate , or at least to stick very closely and firmly to it . but because the practices of glass painters require , besides skill and experience , a particular furnace , and divers implements , i shall add , that to try , whether glass may not , without so much ado , be so stained , as to shew it to be porous , we took prepared silver , ( that metal having , of all the minerals i have tryed , the best ingress into glass ) and having laid it upon a piece of glass , not thick , nor yet so thin as to melt very easily , we laid this glass ( with the pigment uppermost ) warily upon a few quick-coals , and having suffered it to neal a while we gave it about such a degree of heat , as might make and keep it red hot , without bringing it to compleat fusion , and then , suffering it to cool by degrees , we found , as we expected , that the glass had acquired a yellow , and almost golden , colour , which was not to be washed off , or to be taken away , without such scraping as would injure or spoil the glass it self . the way of preparing silver for this operation , is not always the same , the glass painters commonly add to the calcined silver some mineral bodies , as antimony , yellow oker , or the like . but i , who take the penetration of the colour to proceed from the silver it self , do sometimes imploy only some thin piece of silver , such as an old groat , upon which a little sulphur being put , and kindled in the open air , the metal is presently calcined , and the powder made use of . and this it self i do not so much out of necessity , as because the calcination reduces the metal into small parts , and gives it a form , that makes it more easy be laid on , as one thinks fit . for otherwise , going upon this my supposition , that the silver was the true pigment of the glass , i have more than once made glass yellow by leaf-silver laid flat on the surface of it , and a little moistened , to keep so light a body from being blown off . and ( to note that upon the by ) 't is pretty , that if the fire be made too strong , which 't is hard to avoid doing , when we will make it strong enough , without the help of a furnace , it has several times happened to me that the dyed glass , though when held against the light it appeared of a golden or yellow colour , yet when held from the light it appeared blew , so that here we have in a mineral , somewhat that is very like that we admire in the tincture of lignum nephriticum , which shews almost the like difference of colour , as 't is held against or from the light , which may serve for a confirmation of what i have elsewhere said to shew that colours may be derived from mechanical principles : but that only upon the by . whether the gold colour produced by silver , do favour the hopes of those alchymists that work on that metal , upon presumption that 't is but unripe gold , 't is improper here to examine . but since yellow is not the colour of silver , it seems the yellowness , acquired by our glass plates , argues , that there has been some ingress of the substance of the particles of the silver into the glass , there appearing no way so ready , to give an account of the change of colours , as by supposing the particles of the silver to be wrought on by the fixt salts , and other fine parts , of the glass ; since we know , that metals may afford differing colours , according to the saline and other bodies that work upon them , as copper with spirit of urine , which abounds in volatile salt , gives a deep blew ; with spirit of salt , a fair green ; and with aqua fortis , a colour that participates of both . and in the making of glass of lead with minium and white-sand , or crystal , the glass , it self if well made , is usually of an amethystine colour . but if you put a due proportion , ( which is a very small one , ) of calcined copper to it , this metal will not communicate to the glass it s own reddishness , but be so changed by it , as to give it a good green , and sometimes so good an one , that pieces of this glass , such as we have caused to be cut and set in rings , might , among those that judge of stones but by the eye , pass for no bad emeraulds . on this occasion , 't is likely 't will be asked , whether there be any way of tinging glasses quite through , with a true and beautiful red , and whether the art of dying plates of glass , which the windows of many old churches shew to have formerly been practised , be now ( as 't is commonly supposed ) altogether lost ? this question , consisting of 2 parts , i shall quickly dispatch ; the former , by answering it without hesitancy in the affirmative . yet adding withal , that the red tincture being communicated to glass , not properly by mere penetration of the pigment , but by the incorporation of it with glass or its materials , by the help of fusion , i think the experiment of no such great use in our present inquiry , as to hinder me from reserving what i have observed about it to a more opportune place . and as to the second part of the inquiry , it being rather a historical than a philosophical question , i shall not here meddle with it ; only i shall wish the question may be cautiously stated . for , upon the burning the famous cathedral of st. pauls church in london , many pieces of the red glass that adorned the windows , were found broken and scattered about , some of which i procur'd from a chymist , that had carefully preserved them , designing to retrieve the lost invention of making the like . but when i came to examine them narrowly , i was confirmed in the suspicion i had , that the redness did not penetrate the whole glass , but proceeded from a diaphanous pigment very artificially laid on , for though in other postures no such thing could be discerned , yet when i so held it , according to my custom in examining painted glasses , that the surfaces of the plate lay in the same level with my eye , between it and the window , so that a broken edge was next my eye , i could plainly see , and made the chymist himself see , the lower part of the plate to be of ordinary uncoloured glass , upon which there lay a very thin plate or bed of a diaphanous red pigment , which , though it were not easily , was not impossible to be here and there scraped off . but , to return to those colorations that seem to pierce into the pores of glass , i remember that i had once occasion to destil in a small retort some gold , amalgamed with such a fine and subtile mercury , that being ( without the addition of any salt ) put to the gold in the cold , they presently grew hot together . and in the destillation of this uncommon mixture , i found the matter had , before it flew a way , permanently died or stained , about an inch in diameter of the bottom of the glass , with a colour that , looked on from the light , was like that of the better sort of turquoises ; but beheld when 't was interposed between the window and the eye , appeared of a somewhat golden colour . and this glass , with some others oddly colored , i have yet by me to satisfy the curious , though i cannot but give advertisement , that the colorations of glass may be much better performed with such plates , and in such furnaces , as the glass painters use , than without them . since the writing of the foregoing paragraph , i was visited by an industrious person , much addicted to some chymical operations , who had formerly advised with me about a process , of which i had had some experience , that he conceived might be useful to him . i then acquainted him with some of my thoughts about it , and he having afterwards united gold with quick-silver , ( which by its effects will be easily concluded not to have been common , ) he kept them in digestion for some months , & afterwards coming to me with a melancholy look , told me that the fire having been once immoderately increased in his absence , the sealed-glass burst with an affrighting noise , and the included amalgam was so strangely dissipated , that scarce the lest fragment of it could be retrieved . but the decoction having continued so long a time , it seems the matter was subtiliated enough to have a notable operation upon the glass . for , though the upper part of the bolt-glass were blown of , and shattered into many pieces , yet the lower part scaped well enough , and when he brought it me , to observe what change had been made in it , i took notice with much delight , that the glass seemed to be tinged throughout , with so fine and glorious a red colour , that i have seen several rubies themselves , in that point , inferiour to it . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a28974-e150 if one would see this passage at large he may find it at the end of the essay . schenkii observationum lib. 7. obs . 37. eustach . rudius ( apud sennertum ) lib. 5. de morbis acutis cap. 15. pharmacopoeiae regiae classis xiii . pa. 614.615 . notes for div a28974-e2570 see the tract of the origine and vertues of gems , and the notes about the mechanical production of hardness . essays of the strange subtilty great efficacy determinate nature of effluviums. to which are annext new experiments to make fire and flame ponderable. : together with a discovery of the perviousness of glass. : also an essay, about the origine and virtue of gems. / by the honourable robert boyle ... ; to which is added the prodromus to a dissertation concerning solids naturally contained within solids giving an account of the earth, and its productions. by nicholas steno. ; englished by h.o. essays of the strange subtilty, determinate nature, great efficacy of effluviums boyle, robert, 1627-1691. 1673 approx. 295 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 153 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a28965 wing b3952 estc r170743 45097569 ocm 45097569 44036 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a28965) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 44036) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1350:13 or 2565:4) essays of the strange subtilty great efficacy determinate nature of effluviums. to which are annext new experiments to make fire and flame ponderable. : together with a discovery of the perviousness of glass. : also an essay, about the origine and virtue of gems. / by the honourable robert boyle ... ; to which is added the prodromus to a dissertation concerning solids naturally contained within solids giving an account of the earth, and its productions. by nicholas steno. ; englished by h.o. essays of the strange subtilty, determinate nature, great efficacy of effluviums boyle, robert, 1627-1691. [8], 69, [3], 47, [1], 74, [10], 54, [4], 57-85, [23], 185 [i.e. 184] + p. printed by w.g. for m. pitt, at the angel near the little north door of st paul's church., london, : 1673. numerous pagination errors (p. 98-111 and p. 181). imperfect: lacks the prodromus to a dissertation concerning solids naturally contained within solids. reproduction of originals in the bodleian library and the harvard university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng chemistry -early works to 1800. 2006-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-05 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-06 derek lee sampled and proofread 2006-06 derek lee text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion essays of the strange subtilty great efficacy determinate nature of effluviums . to which are annext new experiments to make fire and flame ponderable : together with a discovery of the perviousness of glass . by the honorable robert boyle , fellow of the royal society . — consilium est , universum opus instaurationis ( philosophiae ) potius promovere in multis , quàm perficere in paucis . verulamius . london : printed by w. g. for m. pitt , near the little north door of st paul's church . 1673. an advertisement to the reader . ' t is hop'd , the reader will not think it strange , not to meet with in the following papers a more close and uniform contexture of the passages that make them up , if he be seasonably inform'd of the rise and occasion of penning them , which was this . the author having many years ago written an essay about an experiment he made of nitre , by whose phaenomena he endeavour'd to exemplifie some parts of the corpuscular philosophy , especially the production of qualities ; he afterwards threw together divers occurring thoughts and experiments , which he suppos'd might be imployed by way of notes , to prove or illustrate those doctrines , and especially those that concern'd the qualities of bodies ; and among these observing those that are call'd occult , to be subjects uncultivated enough , ( at least in the way that seem'd to him proper , ) he propos'd to handle them more largely than most of the rest ; and in order to that design he judg'd it almost necessary , to premise some considerations and experimental collections about the nature and power of effluviums , about the pores of bodies and figures of corpuscles , and about the efficacy of such local-motions as are wont either to be judged very faint , or to be pass'd by unheeded . for he had often look'd upon these three doctrines , of effluvia , of pores and figures , and of unheeded motions , as the three principal keys to the philosophy of occult qualities . but having hereupon made such collections , as upon review appear'd too large to pass for notes on so short a text , he was induc'd to draw them into the form ( they now appear in ) of essays ; but he would not put himself to the trouble of doing it , with care to keep them from retaiaing much of their first want of exact method and connexion . nor was the author solicitous to finish them up , in regard that his other studies and occasions made him perceive , that in what he had design'd about occult qualities , he had cut himself out more work than probably he should during many years have opportunity to set upon in earnest , and complete . and in this condition these papers lay for divers years , ( as is well known to several that saw them , or even transcrib'd some of them , ) and might have continued to do so , if the author had not been induc'd to let them come abroad , partly by considering , that though the subjects , ( however he handled them ) were as well important as curious , yet he did not find himself prevented by others in what he had to publish about them ; and partly by the references he had made to them in some other papers , that he had promised his friends , wherein several things here deliver'd are vouched , and others suppos'd . and because the notes concerning the porosity of greater bodies and the figurations of minute particles , together with the paper about unregarded motions , having been long laid aside among other neglected papers , were some of them missing , and others so mis-us'd , that they could not easily be made ready to accompany those that now come abroad ; the author , that he might keep this book from having its dimensions too disproportionate , was content to add to the thickness of it , by subjoyning one of those little tracts , that lay by him , concerning flame , because of the affinity betwixt the preceding doctrine about effluviums in general , and experiments that shew in particular the subtilty and the efficacy of those of fire and flame . and though , to that tract it self , there belong another , design'd to examine , whether the matter of what we call the sun-beams , may be brought to be ponderable ; yet supposing this , hitherto cold and wet summer , to be like to be as unfriendly to the tryals to be made with burning-glasses as of late years some other summers have prov'd , he was easily prevail'd with , not to make those experiments that were ready , wait any longer for those , that probably will not in a short time be so ; especially since those that now come abroad have no dependency upon the others . of the strange subtilty of effluviums . by the honorable robert boyle . london : printed by w. g. for m. pitt at the sign of the white hart , over-against the little north door of st paul's church . 1673. of the strange subtilty of efflvvivms . chap. i. whether we suppose with the antient and modern atomists , that all sensible bodies are made up of corpuscles , not only insensible , but indivisible ; or whether we think with the cartesians , and ( as many of that party teach us ) with aristotle , that matter , like quantity , is indefinitely , if not infinitely divisible : it will be consonant enough to either doctrine , that the effluvia of bodies may consist of particles extremely small . for if we embrace the opinion of aristotle or des-cartes , there is no stop to be put to the sub-division of matter , into fragments , still lesser and lesser . and though the epicurean hypothesis admit not of such an interminate division of matter , but will have it stop at certain solid corpuscles , which for their not being further divisible are called atoms ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ) yet the assertors of these do justly think themselves injured , when they are charged with taking the motes or small dust , that fly up and down in the sun-beams , for their atoms ; since , according to these philosophers , one of those little grains of dust , that is visible only when it plays in the sun-beams , may be composed of a multitude of atoms , and exceed many thousands of them in bulk . this the learned gassendus in his notes on diogenes laertius makes probable by the instance of a small mite , which , though scarce distinctly discernable by the naked eye , unless when 't is in motion , does yet in a good microscope appear to be a compleat animal , furnished with all necessary parts ; which i can easily allow , having often in cheese-mites very distinctly seen the hair growing upon their legs . and to the former instance i might add , what i have elsewhere told you of a sort of animals far lesser than cheese-mites themselves , namely those that may be often-times seen in vinegar . but what has been already said may suffice for my present purpose , which is only to shew , that the wonderful minuteness i shall hereafter ascribe to effluvia , is not inconsistent with the most received theories of naturalists . for otherwise in this essay the proofs i mean to employ , must be taken , not à priori , but à posteriori . and the experiments and observations i shall employ on this occasion will be chiefly those , that are referrible to one of the following heads . i. the strange extensibility of some bodies whilst their parts yet remain tangible . ii. the multitude of visible corpuscles , that may be afforded by a small portion of matter . iii. the smallness of the pores at which the effluvia of some bodies will get in . iv. the small decrement of bulk or weight , that a body may suffer by parting with great store of effluvia . v. the great quantity of space that may be fill'd , as to sense , by a small quantity of matter when rarified or dispers'd . but though to these distinct heads i shall design distinct chapters , yet you must not expect to find the instances solicitously marshall'd , but set down in the order they occurr'd to me ; such a liberty being allowable in a paper , where i pretend not to write treatises , but notes chap. ii. among many things that are gross enough to be the objects of our touch , and to be managed with our hands , there are some that may help us to conceive a wonderful minuteness in the small parts they consist of . i do not remember what cardan , and since him another writer have deliver'd about the thinness and slenderness to which gold may be brought . and therefore without positively assenting to , or absolutely rejecting what may have been said about it by others , i shall only borrow on this occasion , what i have mention'd on another upon my own observation ; namely , that silver , whose ductility and tractility are very much inferiour to those of gold , was , by my procuring , drawn out to so slender a wire , that , when we measur'd it , which was somewhat troublesom to do , with a long and accurate measure , we found , that eight yards of it did not yet fully counterpoise one grain : so that we might add a grain more without making the scale , wherein 't was put , manifestly preponderate , notwithstanding the tenderness of the ballance . whence we concluded , that a single grain of this wire amounted to 27 foot , that is , 324 inches . and since experience informs us , that half an english inch can by diagonal lines be divided into 100 parts great enough to be easily distinguish'd , even for mechanical uses , it follows , that a grain of this wire-drawn silver may be divided into 64800 parts , and yet each of these will be a true metalline , though but slender and short , cylinder , which we may very well conceive to consist yet of a multitude of minuter parts . for though i could procure no gilt wire near so slender as our newly mention'd silver-wire ; yet i tryed that some which i had by me was small enough to make one grain of it fourteen foot long : at which rate an ounce did amount to a full mile , consisting of 1000 geometrical paces , ( of 5 foot a-piece , ) and 720 foot over and above . and if now it be permitted to suppose the wire to have been , as in probability it might have been , further drawn out to the same slenderness with the above-mention'd silver-wire , the instance will still be far more considerable ; for in this case , each of those little cylinders , of which 64800 go to the making of one grain , will have a superficial area , which , except at the basis , will be cover'd with a case of gold ; which is not only separable from it by a mental operation , but perhaps also by a chymical one . for i remember , that from very slender gilt wire , though i could get none so slender as this of meer silver , i did more than once , for curiosities sake , so get out the silver , that the golden films , whilst they were in a liquor that plumpt them up , seem'd to be solid wires of gold : but when the liquor was withdrawn , they appear'd , ( as indeed they were ) to be oblong and extremely thin and double membranes of that metal , which , with an instrument that had been delicate enough , might have been ripp'd open , and displayed , and been made capable of further . divisions and subdivisions . to this i shall add , that each of the little silver cylinders i lately spake of , must not only have its little area , but its solidity ; and yet i saw no reason to doubt , but that it might be very possible , if the artificer had been so skilful and willing as i wish'd , to have drawn the same quantity of metal to a much greater length , since even an animal substance is capable of being brought to a slenderness much surpassing that of our wire , supposing the truth of an observation of very credible persons critical enough in making experiments , which , for a confirmation and an improvement of our present argument , i shall now subjoyn . an ingenious gentlewoman of my acquaintance , wife to a learned physician , taking much pleasure to keep silk-worms , had once the curiosity to draw out one of the oval cases , ( which the silk-worm spins , not , as 't is commonly thought , out of its belly , but out of the mouth , whence i have taken pleasure to draw it out with my fingers , ) into all the silken-wire it was made up of , which , to the great wonder as well of her husband , as her self , who both inform'd me of it , appeared to be by measure a great deal above 300 yards , and yet weigh'd but two grains and a half : so that each cylindrically shap'd grain of silk may well be reckon'd to be at least 120 yards long . another way , i remember , i also employed to help men by the extensibility of gold the better to conceive the minuteness of the parts of solid bodies . we took six beaten leaves of gold , which we measured one by one with a ruler purposely made for nice experiments , and found them to have a greater equality in dimensions , and to be nearer true squares , than could be well expected : the side of the square was in each of them exactly enough three inches and 2 / 8 , ( or 1 / 4 , ) which number being reduc'd to a decimal fraction , viz. 3125 / 100 , and multiplied by it self , affords 105625 / 10000 for the area , or superficial content of each square leaf : and this multiplied by 6 , the number of the leaves , amounts to 633750 / 10000 square inches , for the area of the six leaves . these being carefully weigh'd in a pair of tender scales , amounted all of them to one grain and a quarter : and so one grain of this foliated gold was extended to somewhat above fifty inches ; which differ'd but about a fifth part from an experiment of the like nature , that i remember i made many years ago in a pair of exact scales ; and so small a difference may very well be imputed to that of the pains and diligence of the gold-beaters , who do not always work with equal strength and skill , nor upon equally fine and ductile gold. now if we recal to mind what i was lately saying of the actual divisibility of an inch into an hundred sensible parts , and suppose an inch so divided to be applied to each side of a square inch of the leaf-gold newly mention'd , 't is manifest that by subtle parallel lines , drawn between all the opposite points , a grain of gold must be divisible into five hundred thousand little squares , very minute indeed , but yet discernible by a sufficiently sharp-sighted eye . and if we suppose an inch to be divided into two hundred parts , as i lately told you it was in a ruler i employ , then , according to the newly recited way , the number of the squares , into which a single grain is capable of being divided , will amount to no less than two millions . there is yet another way that i took to shew , that the extensibility , and consequently the divisibleness of gold is probably far more wonderful , than by the lately mention'd tryal it appears . for this purpose i went to a great refiner , whom i used to deal with for purify'd gold and silver , and inquir'd of him , how many grains of leaf-gold he was wont to allow to an ounce of silver , when it was to be drawn into gilt wire as slender as an hair ? to this he answer'd me , that eight grains was the proportion he allowed to an ounce when the wire was to be well gilt ; but if it were to be more slightly gilt , six grains would serve the turn . and to the same purpose i was answer'd by a skilful wire-drawer . and i remember , that desiring the refiner to shew me an ingot of silver , as he did at first gild it ; he shew'd me a good fair cylindrical bar , whereon the leaf-gold , that overlaid the surface , did not appear to be by odds so thick as fine venetian paper ; and yet comparing this with gilt wire , which i also desired to see , the wire appeared to be the better gilt of the two ; possibly because the gold in passing through the various holes , was by the sides of them not only extended but polished , which made it look more vividly than the unpolish'd leaves that gilded the ingot . so that , if we suppose an ounce of the gilt wire formerly mention'd to have been gilt with six grains of leaf-gold , it will appear by an easie calculation , that at this rate one ounce of gold , employ'd on gilding wire of that slenderness , would reach between ninety and an hundred miles . but if now we further suppose , as we lately did , that the slender silver-wire , mention'd at the beginning of this chapter , were gilt ; though we should allow it to have ( because of its exceeding slenderness , ) not , ( as the former ) 6 grains , but 8 grains of leaf-gold to an ounce of siver , it must be acknowledged , that an hollow cylinder or sheath of gold weighing but eight grains , may be so stretch'd , that 't will reach to no less than 60 times as much ( in weight ) of silver-wire as it covers : [ i said 60 times , for so often is 8 contain'd in 480 , the number of grains in an ounce ; ] and consequently ( a grain of that wire having been found to be 27 foot long , ) the ounce of gold would reach to seven hundred seventy seven thousand six hundred foot , that is , an hundred fifty five miles and above a half . and if we yet further suppose this superficial or hollow cylinder of gold to be slit all along , and cut into as slender lists or thongs as may be , we must not deny that gold may be made to reach to a stupendious length . but we need not this last supposition to make what preceded it an amazing thing : which yet though it be indeed stupendious and seem incredible , ought not at all to be judg'd impossible , being no more than what upon the suppositions and observations above laid down , does evidently follow . chap. iii. after what has been said of the minuteness of tangible objects , 't will be proper to subjoyn some instances of the smallness of such as yet continue visible . but in regard these corpuscles are singly too little to have any common measure apply'd to any of them , we must make an estimate of their minuteness by the number of those into which a small portion or fragment of matter may be actually divided , the multitude of these being afforded by so inconsiderable a quantity of matter , sufficiently declaring , that each of them , in particular , must be marvelously little . among the instances , where the smallness of bodies may be deduc'd from what is immediately the object of sight , it may not be unfit to take notice of the evaporation of water , which though it be granted to consist of gross particles in comparison of the spirituous and odoriferous ones of divers other liquors , as of pure spirit of wine , essential oyls of spices , &c. yet to shew that a small quantity of it may be dispers'd into a multitude of manifestly visible corpuscles , i thought upon , and more than once try'd , the rarefaction of it into vapors by help of an aeolipile , wherein , when i made the experiment the last time , i took the pains to register the event as follows . we put an ounce of common water into an aeolipile , and having put it upon a chasing-dish of coals , we observ'd the time when the streams of vapors began to be manifest . this stream was for a good while impetuous enough , as appear'd by the noise it made , which would be much increased , if we applied to it at a convenient distance a kindled brand , in which it would blow up the fire very vehemently . the stream continued about a quarter of an hour ( sixteen minutes or better , ) but afterwards the wind had pauses and gusts for two or three minutes before it quite ceased . and by reason of the shape of the aeolipile , ( which being fram'd chiefly for other purposes , was not so convenient for this ) a great portion of the vapors condens'd in the upper part of it , and fell down in drops ; so that supposing that they also had come out in the form of wind , and the blast had not been intermitted toward the latter end , i guess'd it might have continued uninterruptedly 18 or 20 minutes . note , that applying a measure to the smoak , that came out very visible in a form almost conical , where it seem'd to have an inch or more in diameter , 't was distant from the hole of the aeolipile about twenty inches ; and five or six inches beyond that , though it were spread so much , as to have four or five inches in diameter , yet the not uniform but still-cohering clouds ( which was the form wherein the vapors appear'd ) were manifest and conspicuous . after the rarefaction of water when 't is turn'd into vapors , we may consider that of fewel when 't is turn'd into flame ; to which purpose i might here propose several tryals as well of our own as others , about the prodigious expansion of some inflammable bodies upon their being actually turn'd into flame . but in this place to mention all these , would perhaps too much intrench upon another paper ; and therefore i shall here propose to your consideration but one instance , and that very easie to be tryed ; of which i find this account among my adversaria . having oftentimes burnt spirit of wine , and also oyl in glass-lamps , that for certain uses were so made , that the surface of the liquor was still circular , 't was obvious to observe , how little the liquor would subside by the wast that was made of it , in about half a quarter of an hour . and yet if we consider , that the naked eye after some exercise , may , as i have often tryed , discern the motions of a pendulum that swings fast enough to divide a single minute of an hour into 240 parts , and consequently half a quarter of an hour into 1800 parts ; if we also consider into how many parts of the time imployed by a pendulum , the vibrations , slow enough to be discernible by the eye , may be mentally subdivided ; and if we further consider , that without intermission , the oyl is preyed upon by an actual flame , and the particles of it do continually furnish a considerable stream of shining matter , that with a strange celerity is always flying away ; we may very well conceive , that those parts of flame into which the oyl is turned , are stupendiously minute , since , though the wasting of the oyl is in its progress too slow to be perceived by the eye , yet 't is undoubted that there is a continual decrement of the depth of the oyl , the physical surfaces whereof are continually and successively attenuated and turn'd into flame ; and the strange subtilty of the corpuscles of flame would be much the stronglier argued , if we should suppose , that instead of common oyl the flame were nourish'd by a fewel so much more compact and durable , as is that inflammable substance made of a metalline body , of whose lastingness i have elsewhere made particular mention , after having taught the way of preparing it . having in a pair of tender scales carefully weigh'd out half a grain of good gunpowder , we laid it on a piece of tile , and whelm'd over it a vessel of glass ( elsewhere describ'd , and often mention'd ) with a brass-plate to cover the upper orifice of it . then having fir'd the gunpowder , we observ'd that the smoak of it did opacate , and as to sense so fill the whole cavity of the glass , though its basis were eight inches , its perpendicular height above twenty inches , and its figure far more capacious than if it were conical , and this smoak , not containing it self within the vessel , issued out at two or three little intervals , that were purposely left between the orifice of the vessel and the plate that lay upon it . this cover we then remov'd , that we might observe how long the smoak would continue to ascend ; which we found it would do for about half a quarter of an hour , and during near half that time , ( viz. the three first minutes ) the continually ascending smoak seem'd to be , at its going out , of the same diameter with the orifice at which it issu'd ; and it would ascend sometimes a foot , sometimes half a yard , sometimes two foot or more into the air , before it would disperse and vanish into it . now if we consider , that the cavity of this round orifice was two inches in diameter , how many myriads of visible corpuscles may we easily conceive throng'd out at so large an out-let in the time above-mention'd , since they were continually thrusting one another forwards ? and into so many visible particles of smoak must we admit , that the half grain of powder was shatter'd , beside those multitudes , which , having been turn'd into actual flame , may probably be suppos'd to have suffer'd a comminution , that made them become invisible . and though i shall not attempt so hopeless a work , as to compute the number of these small particles , yet to make an estimate whereby it would appear to be exceeding great , i thought fit to consider , how great the proportion was between the spaces , that to the eye appear'd all full of smoak , and the dimensions of the powder that was resolv'd into that smoak . causing then the glass to be fill'd with common water , we found it to contain above two and twenty pints of that liquor , and causing one of those measures to be weigh'd , it was found to weigh so near a pound ( of sixteen ounces , ) that the computation of the whole water amounted to at least 160000 grains , and consequently 320000 half grains . to which if we add , that this gunpowder would readily sink to the bottom of water , as being ( by reason of the saltpeter and brimstone , that make up at least six parts of seven of it ) in specie heavier than it , and in likelyhood twice as heavy , ( for 't is not easie to determine it exactly , ) we may probably guess the space to which the smoak reach'd to exceed 500000 times that , which contain'd the unfir'd powder ; and this , though the smoak , being confin'd in the vessel , was thereby kept from diffusing it self so far as by its streaming out it seem'd likely that it would have done . to these instances from inanimate bodies i shall subjoyn one more taken from animals . whereas then men have with reason wonder'd , that so small a body as a cheese-mite , which by the naked eye is oftentimes not to be taken notice of , unless it move , ( if even then it be so , ) should by the microscope appear to be an animal furnish'd with all necessary parts ; whereas this , i say , has given just occasion to conclude , that the corpuscles that make up the parts of so small an animal , must themselves be extremely small ; i think the argument may be much improved by the following consideration . those that have had the curiosity to open from time to time eggs that are sat upon by a hatching hen cannot but have observed , how small a proportion in reference to the bulk of the whole egg the chick bears ; when that , which the excellent harvey calls punctum saliens , discloses the motion of the heart , and the colour of the blood ; and that even about the seventh or eighth day the whole chick now visibly form'd , bears no great proportion to the whole egg , which is to supply it with aliment , not only for its nourishment , but speedy growth for many days after . to apply this now to the matter in hand , having several times observed and shewn to others , that cheese-mites themselves are generated of eggs , if we conceive , that in these eggs , as in ordinary one , the animal at its first formation bears but a small proportion to the bulk of the whole egg , the remaining part being to suffice for the food and growth of the embryo probably for a pretty while ; since , if an ingenious person , that i desired to watch them , did not mis-inform me , they used to be about ten or twelve days in hatching ; this whole egg it self will be allowed to be but little in reference to the mite it came from , how extremely and unimaginably minute may we suppose those parts to be , that make up the alimental liquors , and even the spirits , that passing through the nerves or analogous parts , serve to move the limbs and sensories of but , as it were , the model of such an animal , as , when it rests , would not ( perhaps ) it self to the naked eye be so much as visible ; and in which we may presume the nobler sort of stabler parts to be of an amazing slenderness , if we consider , that , though in other hairy animals , the optick or some other of the larger nerves do , i know not how many times , in thickness and circuit surpass a hair of the same animal ; yet in a cheese-mite , though none of the largest of those creatures , we have divers times manifestly seen , as is before intimated , single hairs that grow upon the legs . another way there is , that i imployed to give men cause to think , that the invisible effluvia of bodies that wander through the air may be strangely minute ; and this was , by shewing how small a fragment of matter may be resolved into particles minute enough to associate themselves in such numbers with a fluid so much more dense than air , as water is , as to impart a determinate colour to the whole liquor . what i did with cocheneel in prosecution of this design , my experiments about colours may inform you ; but i shall now relate the success of an attempt made another way , for which perhaps some of your friends the chymists will thank me ; though i was not solicitous to carry on the experiment very far with gold , not because i judged that less divisible into a number of colour'd particles , but because i found , as i expected , that the paleness of the native colour of the gold may make it in the end less conspicuous , though , if i had then had by me a menstruum , as i sometimes had , that would dissolve gold blood-red , perhaps the experiment with gold would have surpass'd that , which 't is now time i should begin to relate , as soon as i have hinted to you by the way , that , for varieties sake , i made a tryal with copper calcin'd per se , that i might not be accused of having omitted to employ a metal whose body chymists suppose to be much opened by calcination . and though the event were notable even in comparison of that of the experiment made with cocheneel , yet my conjectures inclin'd me much to preferr the way describ'd in the following account . we carefully weigh'd out in a pair of tender scales one grain of copper not-calcin'd , but barely fil'd ; and because , as we made choice of this metal for its yielding in most menstruums a blew , which is a deep and conspicuous colour ; we also chose to make a solution , not in aqua fortis or aqua regis , but the spirit of sal armoniack ( as that is an urinous spirit , ) having found by former tryals , that this menstruum would give a far deeper solution than either of the others . this lovely liquor , of which we us'd a good proportion , that all the copper might be throughly dissolved , we put into a tall cylindrical glass of about four inches in diameter , and by degrees pour'd to it of distill'd water , which is more proper in this case than common water , which has oftentimes an inconvenient saltishness , 'till we had almost fill'd the glass , and saw the colour grow somewhat pale , without being too dilute to be manifest ; and then we warily pour'd this liquor into a conical glass , that it might be the more easie to fill the vessel several times to the same height . this conical glass we filled to a certain mark four times consecutively , weighing it , and the liquor too , as often in a pair of excellent scales purposely made for statical experiments , and which , though strong enough to weigh some pounds in each scale , would , when not too much loaden , turn with about one grain . these several weights of the glass , together with the contained liquor , we added together , and then carefully weighing the empty glass again , we deducted four times its weight from the above-mentioned summ , and thereby found the weight of the liquor alone , to be that , which reduc'd to grains amounted to 28534 ; so that a grain of copper , which is not full half so heavy in specie as fine gold , communicated a tincture to 28534 times its weight . but now if you please to take notice , that the scope of my experiment was to shew , into what a number of parts one grain of copper might be divided , you will allow me to consider , as i did , that this multitude of parts must be estimated by the proportion , not so much in weight as in bulk , of the tinging metal to the tinged liquor , and consequently , since that divers hydrostatical tryals have inform'd me , that the weight of copper to the weight of water of the same bulk is proximè as 9 to 1 , a grain-weight of copper is in bigness but the ninth part of as much water as weighs a grain ; and so the formerly mention'd number of the grains of water must be multiplied by 9 , to give us the proportion between the tinging and tinged bodies , that is , that a single grain of copper gave a blewness to above 256806 parts of limpid water , each of them as big as it . which , though it may seem stupendious , and scarce credible ; yet i thought fit to prosecute the experiment somewhat farther , by pouring all the liquor out of the tall cylindrical glass into another clean vessel , whence filling the conical glass twice , and emptying it as often into the same cylindrical glass , the third time i fill'd the conical glass with colourless distill'd water , and pouring that also into the cylindrical glass , we found the mixt liquor to have yet a manifest , though but a pale , blewness . and , lastly , throwing away what was in the cylindrical glass , we poured into it , out of the same conical glass , equal parts of distill'd colourless water , and of the tincted liquor we had formerly set apart in the clean vessel , and found , that , though the colour were very faint and dilute , yet an attentive eye could easily discern it to be blewish ; and so it was judg'd by an intelligent stranger that was brought in to look upon it , and was desir'd to discover of what colour he thought it to be . whereby it appears , that one grain of copper was able to impart a colour to above double the quantity of water above mentioned . this experiment i have allow'd my self to be the longer and more particular in relating , both because i know not , that any such has been hitherto either made or attempted , and because it will probably gratifie your chymists , that love to have the tinctures of metals believ'd very diffusive ; and because , if circumstances were not added , it would seem to you as well incredible , as perhaps it does seem stupendious , that a portion of matter should be able to impart a conspicuous colour to above 256806 times its bulk of water , and a manifest tincture to above 385200 , ( for so it did , when the proportion of the ting'd part to the whole mixture , made of it and the unting'd part , was as 2 to 31 , ) and a faint , but yet discernible and distinguishable colour to above five hundred and thirteen thousand six hundred and twenty times its bulk of water . chap. iv. it were easie for me ( pyroph . ) to give you several instances , to shew , that the effluvia of liquors may get in at the pores of bodies that are reputed of a close texture , but i shall at present forbear to mention such examples , not only because they belong to another place * , where i take notice of them , but because many such would not seem so remarkable , nor be so considerable to our present purpose , as a few taken from bodies that are not fluid . and first , it is deliver'd by writers of good credit , that several persons , ( for the experiment does not hold in all ) by barely holding for some time dryed cantharides in their hands , have been put to much pain at the neck of the bladder , and have had some other parts ministring to the secretion of urine sensibly injured . that this is true , i am induced to believe , by what i have elsewhere related to you of the unwelcome experiment i had of the effect of cantharides applied but outwardly to my neck , and that unknown to me , upon the urinary passages ; and that these operations are due to material effluxes , which , to get into the mass of blood , must pass through the pores of the skin , you will not , i presume , put me to prove . scaliger exercit. 186. relates , that in gascony , his countrey , there are spiders of that virulency , that , if a man treads upon them to crush them , their poyson will pass through the very soles of his shooes . which story , notwithstanding the reputation of the author , i should perhaps have left unmention'd , because of a much stranger about spiders , which he relates in the same section , but that i met with one that is analogous in the diligent piso's late history of brasile ; where , having spoken of another venemous fish of that country , and the antidotes he had successfully used to cure the hurts it inflicts , he proceeds to that fish the natives call amoreatim , of one kind whereof , call'd by the portugals peize sola , his words are these ; quae mira sanè efficacia non solum manum vel levissimo attactu , sed & pedem , licet optimè calceatum , piscatoris incautè pisciculum conterentis , paralysi & stupore afficit , instar torpedinis europaeae , sed minus durabili . lib. 5. cap. 14. what i shall ere long have occasion to tell you of the power of the torpedo , and some other animals , to affect the hand and arm of him that strikes them , seems applicable to the matter under consideration : for , though their affecting the striker at a distance , may very well be ascrib'd to the stupefactive or other venemous exhalations that expire ( and perhaps are as it were darted ) from the animal irritated by the stroke , and are breath'd in together with the air they infect ; yet their benumming , or otherwise affecting the arm that struck them , rather than any other part , seems to argue , that the poysonous steams get in at the pores of the skin of the limb , and so stupifie , or otherwise injure , the nervous and musculous parts of it . other examples belonging to this section may be referr'd hither from divers other places in these papers about occult qualities , and therefore i shall only add here that most remarkable proof , that some emanations , even of solid bodies , may be subtil enough to get through the pores , even of the closest bodies ; which is afforded us by the effluvia of the loadstone , which are by magnetical writers said to penetrate without resistance all kind of bodies . and though i have not tryed this in all sorts , yet having tryed it in metals themselves , i am apt to think , the general rule admits of very few exceptions , especially , if that can be fully made out , which is affirm'd about the perviousness of glass to the effluxions of the loadstone . for , not only glass is generally reputed to be as close a body as any is , but ( which weighs more with me ) i have by tryals purposely made , had occasion to admire the closeness of very thin pieces of glass . but the reason why i just now express'd my self with an if , was , because i was not entirely satisfied with the proof wont to be acquiesc'd in , of the perviousness of glass ; namely , that in dials and sea-compasses that are cover'd with plates of glass , the needle may be readily moved to and fro by a loadstone held over it . for these plates being commonly but fasten'd on with wax , or at best with cement , a sceptick may pretend , that the magnetical effluvia pass not through the glass , but through that much more pervious matter , that is imployed to secure the commissures , only from the access of the air. to put then the matter past doubt , i caused some needles to be hermetically seal'd up in glass-pipes , which being laid upon the surface of water ( whereon by reason of the bigness of the cavities they would lightly float , ) the included needles did not only readily feel the virtue of an externally applied loadstone , ( though but a weak one ) but complied with it so well , that i could easily , by the help of the needle , lead , without touching it , the whole pipe , this was shut up in , to what part of the surface of the water i pleased . and i also found , that by applying a better loadstone to the upper part of a sealed pipe , and a needle in it , i could make the needle leap up from the lower part as near to the loadstone as the interposed glass would give it leave . but i thought it would be more considerable , to manifest that the magnetical effluvia , even of such a dull body , as the globe of the earth , would also penetrate glass . and though this seem difficult to be tryed , because no ordinary loadstone , nor any iron touch'd by it , was to be imployed to work on the included iron ; yet i thought fit to attempt it after this manner : i took a cylindrical piece of iron of about the bigness of ones little finger , and between half a foot and foot long , ( for i had formerly observed , that the quantity of unexcited iron furthers its operation upon excited needles , ) and having hermetically seal'd it up in a glass-pipe but very little longer than it ; i supposed , that if i held it in a perpendicular posture ; the magnetical effluvia of the earth , penetrating the glass , would make the lower extreme of the iron answerable to the north pole ; and therefore having applied this to the point of the needle in a dial , or sea-compass , that look'd toward the north , ( for authors mean not all the same thing by the northern pole of a needle or loadstone , ) i presum'd it would , according to the laws magnetical ( elsewhere mention'd ) drive it away , which accordingly it did . and having for farther tryal inverted the included iron , ( so that the end which was formerly the lowermost , was now the uppermost ) and held it in a perpendicular posture just under the same point of the needle , that extreme of the iron-rod , which before had driven away this point , being by this inversion become ( in a manner ) a south-pole , did ( according to the same laws ) attract it : by which sudden change of poles , meerly upon the change of situation , it also appear'd , that the iron ow'd its virtue only to the magnetism of the earth , not that of another loadstone , which would not have been thus easily alterable . and this experiment i the more particularly relate , because this is not the only place , where i have occasion to make use of it . chap. v. another proof of the great subtilty of effluviums , may be taken from the small decrement of weight or bulk that a body may suffer by parting with great store of such emanations . that bodies , which infus'd in liquors impregnate them with new qualities suitable to those of the immers'd bodies , do so by imparting to them somewhat of their own substance , will , i presume , be readily granted by those that conceive not , how one body should communicate to another a solitary and naked quality , unaccompanied by any thing corporeal to support and convey it . but i would not have you think , pyrophilus , that the only matter of fact i have to countenance this notion , is that experiment , which has convinc'd divers chymists and physicians , otherwise not friends to the corpuscular philosophy , that medicines may operate without any consumption of themselves . for , though divers of these , some of them learned men , have confidently written , that glass of antimony and crocus metallorum , being either of them infus'd in a great proportion of wine , will make it vomitive ; and if that liquor be poured off , and new be poured on , every new portion of such liquor will be impregnated with the same virtue , and this though the liquor be chang'd a thousand times , and yet the antimonial glass or crocus will continue the same as well in weight as virtue ; and though thence some of them , especially chymists , argue , that some metals without imparting any thing substantial , but only , as helmont speaks of some of his arcana , by irradiation : yet , i confess , i have some doubts , whether the experiment have been competently tryed , and shall not fully acquiesce in what has been said , till some skilful experimenter deliver it upon his own tryal , and acquaint us too , with what instruments and what circumspection he made it . for , besides that the ingeniousest physicians i have question'd about it , acknowledg'd the tast , and sometimes the colour of the wine to be alter'd by the infus'd mineral , i could not acquiesce in the affirmation of an ordinary chymist or apothecary , or even physician , if he should barely averr , that he had weigh'd an antimonial medicine before 't was put to infuse , and after the infusion ended , and observ'd no decrement of weight . for i have had too much experience ( as i elsewhere mention ) of the difficulty of making exact statical tryals ; not to know , that such scales , as are wont to be imployed by chymists and apothecaries in weighing drugs , are by no means fit to make tryals with the nicety which that i am speaking of requires : it being easie , even with the better sort of such unaccurate scales , especially if they be not suspended from some fixt thing , but held with the hand , to mistake half a grain or a grain ; and perhaps a greater quantity , and at least more than by divers of the experiments of this essay appears necessary to be spent upon the impregnating of a considerable proportion of liquor with corporeal effluxions . besides , that if , when the beaten crocus or glass be taken out of the wine to be weigh'd again , the experimenter be not cautious enough to make allowance for the liquor that will adhere to the medicament , 't is plain that he may take notice of no decrement of weight , though there may be really effluviums of the mineral amounting to several grains , imbib'd by the liquor . and though he be aware of this , and dry the powder , yet 't is not so easie , even for a skilful man , to be sure that none of the more viscous particles of the liquor stick to the mineral , and being sensible upon the ballance , though not to the eye or hand , repair the recess of those emetick corpuscles that diffus'd themselves into the menstruum . and the sense of these difficulties put me upon the attempting to make so noble an experiment with excellent scales , and the care that it deserves : but after a long tryal , an unlucky accident frustrated at last my endeavours . but though , till competent relators give us an account of this matter upon their own tryal , and repeat the infusion very much oftener , than , for ought i find , any man has yet done , i must not acquiesce in all that is said of the impregnation of wine or other liquors by antimonial glass and crocus metallorum ; yet that after divers repeated infusions the mineral substance should not be sensibly diminish'd in bulk or virtue , may well suffice to make this instance , though not the only or chief that may be brought for our purpose , yet a pertinent one to it . for that there is a powerful emetick quality imparted to the liquor , is manifest by experience ; and that the mineral does not impart this virtue as 't were by irradiation , but by substantial effluxion , seems to me very probable ; not only because i conceive not , how this can be done otherwise , but because , as 't is noted above , the wine does oftentimes change colour by being kept a competent time upon the mineral , as if it drew thence a tincture ; and even when it is not discolour'd , i think it unsafe to conclude , that the menstruum has not wrought upon it . for i have kept good spirit of vinegar for a considerable time upon finely powder'd glass of antimony made per se , without finding the spirit to be at all ting'd , though 't is known , that antimonial glass is soluble in spirit of vinegar , as mine afterwards appear'd to be , by a longer digestion in the same liquor . but there may be a great number of minute particles dissolved in the menstruum before they be numerous enough to change the colour of it . and with this agrees very well what is observ'd , that though too great a quantity of the prepar'd antimony be put into the liquor , yet it will not be thereby made too strongly emetick . for the wine , being a menstruum , will , like other menstruums , be impregnated but to a certain measure , without dissolving the overplus of the matter that is put into it . and mars , which is a harder and heavier body than glass of antimony , is it self in part soluble in good rhenish or other white wine , ( and that in no long time , ) and sometimes even in water . i do not therefore reject the emetick infusion , as unfit to have a place in this chapter , but till the experiment have been a little more accurately made , i think it inferiour , as to our purpose , to some of the instances to be met with in the next chapter , and perhaps also to that mention'd by helmont , and tryed by more than one of my acquaintance , concerning the virtue of killing worms , that mercury imparts to the water or wine wherein it has been long enough infus'd , or else for a while decocted . though quicksilver given in substance is commended as an effectual medicine against worms , not only by many profest * spagyrists , but by divers ** methodists of good note . and though , some other things , chymical and philosophical , keep me from being of their opinion , who think that in this case the mercury impregnates the liquor as it were by irradiation , rather than in a corporeal manner , yet the eye does not perceive , that even limpid water takes any thing from clean and well purg'd mercury , which we know that divers corrosive liquors themselves will not work upon . to this instance i must add one that is yet freer from exceptions , which is , that having for curiosity sake suspended in a pair of exact scales , that would turn with a very small part of a grain , a piece of amber-greece bigger than a walnut , and weighing betwixt an hundred and six-score grains , i could not in three days and a half that i had opportunity to make the tryal , discover , even upon that ballance , any decrement of weight in the amber-greece ; though so rich a perfume , lying in the open air , was like in that time to have parted with good store of odoriferous steams . and a while after suspending a lump of assa foetida five days and a half , i found it not to have sustain'd any discernible loss of weight , though , in spite of the unfavourable cold weather , it had about it a neighbouring atmosphere replenish'd with foetid exhalations . and when twelve or fourteen hours after , perhaps upon some change of weather , i came to look upon it , though i found that in that time the aequilibrium was somewhat alter'd , yet the whole lump had not lost half a quarter of a grain ; which induc'd me to think , that there may perhaps be steams discernible even by our nostrils , that are far more subtil than the odorous exhalations of spices themselves . for , having in very good scales suspended in the month of march an ounce of nutmegs , it lost in about six days five grains and a half . and an ounce of cloves in the same time lost seven grains and five eigths . you will perhaps wonder , why i do not preferr to the instances i make mention of in this chapter , that which may be afforded by the loadstone , that is acknowledg'd continually to emit multitudes of magnetical steams without decrement of weight . but though i have not thought fit to pass this wholly under silence ; yet i forbear to lay so much stress on it , not only because my ballances have not yet satisfied me about the effluvia of loadstones , ( for i take them not all to be equally diffusive of their particles ; ) but because i foresee it may be doubted , whether loadstones , like odorous bodies , do furnish afresh of their own , all the corpuscles ▪ that from time to time issue from them ? or , whether they be not continually repaired , partly by the return of the magnetical particles to one pole that sallied out of the other ; and partly by the continued passage of magnetical matter ( supplied by the earth or other mundane bodies ) it make the pores or channels of the loadstone their constant thorow-fares . i doubt not but it will make it more probable , that a small quantity of matter being scatter'd into invisible effluvia may be exceedingly rarified and expanded , if it can be made appear , that this little portion of matter shall , for a considerable time , emit multitudes of visible parts , and that in so close an order among themselves , as to seem in their aggregate but one intire liquor , endow'd with a stream-like motion , and a distinct superficies , wherein no interruption is to be seen , even by an eye plac'd near it . to devise this experiment , i was induc'd , by considering , that hitherto all the ( total ) dissolutions that have been made of pigments , have been in liquors naturally cold , and consisting probably of much less subtile , and certainly of much less agitated parts , than that fluid aggregate of shining matter that we call flame ; whereas i argued , that if one could totally dissolve a body compos'd of parts so minute as those of a metal into actual flame , and husband its flame so , as that it should not immoderatly waste , i should thereby dissolve the metal in a far more subtil menstruum than our common water , or aqua fortis , or aqua regis , or any other known menstruum i have yet imployed . and consequently the attenuation and expansion of the metal in this truly igneous menstruum would much surpass not only what happens in ordinary metalline solutions , but possibly also what i have noted in the third chapter of this essay , about the strange diffusion of copper dissolv'd in spirit of urine and water . in prosecution of this design , i so prepar'd one single grain of that metal , by a way that i elsewhere teach , that it was dissolv'd in about a spoonful of an appropriated menstruum . and then having caus'd a small glass-lamp to be purposely blown to contain this liquor , and fitted it with a socket and wieck , we lighted the lamp , which , without consuming the wieck , burnt with a flame large enough and very hot , and seem'd to be all the while of a greenish blew , as if it were a but finer and shining solution of copper . and yet this one grain of prepar'd metal ting'd the flame that was from moment to moment produc'd , during no less than half an hour and six minutes . and now if we consider , that in this flame there was an uninterrupted succession of multitudes of colour'd particles newly extricated , and flying off in every of those many parts wherein a minute of time may either actually or mentally be divided ; and , if we consider flame as a light and very agitated body , passing with a stream upwards through the air , and if we also consider the quantity of liquor that would ( as i shall by and by tell you ) run through a pipe of a much lesser diameter than that flame , within the compass of the forementioned time : what a quantity of the streaming fluid we call flame , if it could have been preserv'd and collected into one body , may we suppose would appear to have issued out of one grain of copper in the space of thirty-six minutes ; and what a multitude of metalline corpuscles may we suppose to have been supplied for the tinging of that flame during so long a time ? since a cylindrical stream of water falling but through a very short pipe of glass , constantly supplied with liquors , did pass at such a rate , that , though the aqueous cylinder seem'd more slender by half , ( or perhaps by two thirds or better ) than the flame , yet we estimated , by the help of a minute-watch and a good pair of scales , that , if i had had conveniencies to let it run long enough , the water efflux'd in thirty-six minutes ( the time of the flames duration ) would have amounted to above nine gallons , or , ( reckoning a pint of water to contain a pound of sixteen ounces ) seventy-two pounds . chap. vi. the last sort of instances i shall propose to shew the strange subtilty of effluvia , is of such , as discover the great quantity of space that may by a small quantity of matter , when rarified or dispers'd , be either fill'd as to sense , or , at least , made ( as they speak ) the sphear of its activity . to manifest this truth , and thereby as well confirm the foregoing chapter , as make out what is design'd in this , i shall endeavour to shew , and help your imagination to conceive , how great a space may be impregnated with the effluxions of a body , oftentimes without any sensible , and oftener without any considerable decrement in bulk or weight of the body that affords them . and in order to this , though i shall not pretend to determine precisely how little the substances , i am to instance in , would waste upon the ballance , because you will very easily see they are not that way to be examin'd ; yet i presume , you will as easily grant , that the decrement of weight would be but inconsiderable , since of such light substances the loss even of bulk is so ; which last clause i shall now attempt to make good , by setting down some observations , partly borrow'd from the writings of approv'd physicians , and partly that my friends and i have made about the durable evaporation of such small particles of the effluxions of animals , as are actually not to be discern'd by the eye to have any of those things sticking to them , which are so very long in flying successively away . 't is wont to be somewhat surprizing to men of letters , when they first go a hawking with good spaniels , to observe , with how great sagacity those dogs will take notice of , and distinguish by the scent , the places where partridges , quails , &c. have lately been . but i have much more wonder'd at the quick scent of an excellent setting-dog , who by his way of ranging the fields , and his other motions , especially of his head , would not only intimate to us the kinds of game , whose scent he chanc'd to light on , but would discover to us where partridges had been ( though perhaps without staying in that place ) several hours before , and assist us to guess how long they had been gone before we came . i have had strange answers given me in ireland , by those who make a gain if not an intire livelihood by killing of wolves in that countrey , ( where they are paid so much for every head they bring in ) about the sagacity of that peculiar race of dogs they imploy in hunting them ; but not trusting much to those relators , i shall add , that a very sober and discreet gentleman of my acquaintance , who has often occasion to imploy blood-hounds , assures me , that if a man have but pass'd over a field , the scent will lye ( as they speak ) so as to be perceptible enough to a good dog of that sort for several hours after . and an ingenious hunter assures me , that he has observ'd , that the scent of a flying and heated deer will sometimes continue upon the ground from one day to the next following . and now we may consider these three things ; first , that the substance left upon the grass or ground by the transient tread of a partridge , hare , or other animal , that does but pass along his way , does probably communicate to the grass or ground but some of those effluxions , that transpire out of his feet , which being small enough to escape the discernment of the eye , may probably not amount to one grain in weight , or perhaps not to the tenth part of it . next , that the parts of fluid bodies , as such , are perpetually in motion , and so are the invisible particles that swim in them , as may appear by the dissolution of salt or sugar in water , and the wandering of aqueous vapours through the air , even when the eye perceives them not . and thirdly , that though the atmosphere of one of these small parcels of the exhaling matter we are speaking of , may oftentimes be exceeding vast in comparison of the emittent body , as may be guess'd by the distance , at which some setters , or blood-hounds , will find the scent of a partridge , or deer ; yet in places expos'd to the free air or wind , 't is very likely that these steams are assiduously carried away from their fountain , to maintain the fore-mention'd atmosphere for six , eight , or more hours , that is , as long as the scent has been observ'd to lye , there will be requisite a continual recruit of steams succeeding one another and that so very small a portion of matter as that which we were saying the fomes of these steams may be judg'd to be , being sensibly to impregnate an atmosphere incomparably greater than it self , and supply it with almost continual recruits , we cannot but think , that the steams it parts with , must be of an extreme and scarce conceivable minuteness . and we may further consider , that the substances , which emit these steams , being such as newly belong'd to animals , and were , for the most part , transpir'd through the pores of their feet , must be in likelihood a far more evaporable and dissipable kind of bodies than minerals or adust vegetables , such as gunpowder is made of ; so that if the grains of gunpowder emit effluviums capable of being by some animals perceiv'd at a distance by their smell , one may probably suppose , that the small grains of this powder may hold out very many times longer to supply an atmosphere with odorable steams , than the corpuscles left on the ground by transient animals . now though it be generally agree'd on , that very few birds have any thing near so quick a sense of smelling as setting-dogs or blood-hounds , yet that the odour of gunpowder , especially when assisted by the steams of the caput mortuum of powder formerly fir'd in the same gun , may be fowls be smelt at a notable distance , particularly when the wind blew from me towards them , i often perswaded my self i observ'd , especially as to crows , when i went a shooting ; and was confirm'd in that opinion , both by the common tradition , and by sober and ingenious persons much exercis'd in the killing of wild-fowl , and of some fourfooted beasts . i had forgotten to take notice of one observation of the experienc'd julius palmarius : whence we may learn , that beasts may leave upon the vegetables , that have touch'd their bodies for any time , such corpuscles , as , though unheeded by other animals , may , when eaten by them , produce in them such diseases as the infected animals had . for this author writes in his useful tract de morbis contagiosis , that he observ'd horses , beeves , sheep and other animals , to run mad upon the eating of some of the straw on which some mad swine had layn . and now to resume and prosecute our former discourse , you may take notice , that the effluvia , mention'd to have been smelt by animals , are , though invisible , yet big enough to be the objects of sense ; so that 't is not improbable , that , among the steams that no sense can immediately perceive , there should be some far more subtil than these , and consequently capable of furnishing an atmosphere much longer , without quite exhausting the effluviating matter that afforded them . * forestus , an useful author , recites an example of pestilential contagion long preserv'd in a cobweb . alexander benedictus writes also , that at venice a flock-bed did for many years harbour a pestiferous malignity to that degree , that when afterwards it came to be beaten , it presently infected the by-standers with the plague . and the learned * sennertus himself relates , that in the year 1542. there did in the city of uratislavia ( vulgarly breslaw , ) where he afterwards practised physick , dye of the plague , in less than six months , little less than six thousand men , and that from that time the pestilential contagion was kept folded up in a linnen cloth about fourteen years , and at the end of that time being display'd in another city , it began a plague there , which infected also the neighbouring towns and other places . * trincavella makes mention of a yet lastinger contagion , ( which occasion'd the death of ten thousand persons ) that lay lurking in certain ropes , with which at justinopolis those that dy'd of the plague had been let down into their graves . but , though none of these relations should to some criticks appear scarce credible , it may be objected , that all these things , wherein this contagion resided , were kept close shut up , or at least were not expos'd to the air. wherefore having only intimated , that the exception , which i think is not irrational , would , though never so true , but lessen the wonder of these strange relations , without rendering them unfit for our present purpose , i shall add , that though 't is the opinion of divers learned physicians , that the matter harboring contagion cannot last above twenty or a few more days , if the body it adheres to be expos'd to the free air and the wind , and though i am not forward to deny , that their judgement may hold in ordinary cases ; yet i must not deny neither , that a contagion may sometimes happen to be much more tenacious and obstinate : of which i shall give but that one , almost recent instance observ'd by the learned * dimmerbrook in his own apothecary , who having but remov'd with his foot , from one side to the other of a little arbour ( in his garden ) some straw , that had layn under the pallet , on which near eight months before a bed had layn , wherein a servant of the apothecaries , that recover'd , had been sick of the plague ; the infectious steams presently invaded the lower part of his leg , and produc'd a pungent pain and blister , which turn'd to a pestilential carbuncle , that could scarce be cur'd in a fortnight after , though during that time the patient were neither feaverish , nor , as to the rest of his body , ill at ease . this memorable instance , together with some others of the like kind , that our author observed in the same city ( of nimmegen ) obtain'd , not to say , extorted , even from him , this confession ; which i add , because it contains some considerable , and not yet mentioned circumstances of the recited case : hoc exemplo medicorum doctrina de contagio in fomite latente satis confirmatur . mirum tamen est , hoc contagium tanto tempore in praedicto stramine potuisse subsistere , utpote quod tota hyeme ventis & pluviis , ( he adds in another place ) nivibus & frigori , expositum fuisset . and now i will shut up this chapter with an instance , that some will think , perhaps , no less strange than any of the rest , which is , that though they that are skilful in the perfuming of gloves , are wont to imbue them with but an inconsiderable quantity of odoriferous matter , yet i have by me a pair of spanish gloves , which i had by the favour of your fair and virtuous sister ( f. ) that were so skilfully perfum'd , that partly by her , partly by those , that presented them her as a rarity , and partly by me , who have kept them several years , they have been kept about eight or nine and twenty years , if not thirty , and they are so well scented , that they may , for ought i know , continue fragrant divers years longer . which instance , if you please to reflect upon , and consider , that such gloves cannot have been carried from one place to another , or so much as uncover'd ( as they must often have been ) in the free air , without diffusing from themselves a fragrant atmosphere , we cannot but conclude those odorous steams to be unimaginably subtile , that could for so long a time issue out in such swarms , from a little perfum'd matter lodged in the pores of a glove , and yet leave it richly stock'd with particles of the same nature ; though , ( especially by reason of some removes , in which i took not the gloves along with me , ) i forgot ever since i had them , to keep them so much as shut up in a box. of the great efficacy of effluviums : by the honorable robert boyle . of the great efficacy of efflvvivms . chap. i. they that are wont in the estimates they make of natural things , to trust too much to the negative informations of their senses , without sufficiently consulting their reason , have commonly but a very little and slight opinion of the power and efficacy of effluviums ; and imagine that such minute corpuscles ( if they grant that there are such , ) as are not , for the most part of them , capable to work upon the tenderest and quickest of senses , the sight , cannot have any considerable operation upon other bodies . but i take this to be an error , which , as it very little becomes philosophers , so it has done no little prejudice to philosophy it self , and perhaps to physick too . and therefore though the nature of my design at present did not require it , yet the importance of the subject would invite me to shew , that this is as ill-gounded as prejudicial a supposition . and indeed if we consider the subject attentively , we may observe , that though it be true , that , caeteris paribus , the greatness of bodies doth , in most cases , contribute to that of their operation upon others , yet matter or body being in its own precise nature an unactive or moveless subject , one part of the mass acts upon another but upon the account of its local motion , whose operations are facilitated and otherwise diversified by the shape , size , situation and texture both of the agent and of the patient . and therefore if corpuseles , though very minute , be numerous enough , and have a competent degree of motion , even these small particles , especially if fitly shap'd , when they chance to meet with a body , which the congruity of its texture disposes to admit them at its pores , and receive their either friendly or hostile impressions , may perform such things in the patient , as visible and much grosser bodies , but less conveniently shap'd and mov'd , would be utterly unable ( on the same body ) to effect . and that you may with the less difficulty allow me to say , that the effluviums of bodies , as minute as they are , may perform considerable things , give me leave to observe to you , that there are at least six ways , by which the effluviums of a body may notably operate upon another ; namely , 1. by the great number of emitted corpuscles . 2. by their penetrating and pervading nature . 3. by their celerity , and other modifications of their motion . 4. by the congruity and incongruity of their bulk and shape to the pores of the bodies they are to act upon . 5. by the motions of one part upon another , that they excite or occasion in the body they work upon according to its structure . and 6ly , by the fitness and power they have to make themselves be assisted , in their working , by the more catholick agents of the universe . and though it may perhaps be sufficiently proved , that there are several cases wherein a body that emits particles , may act notably upon another body by this or that single way of those i have been naming ; yet usually the great matters are performed by the association of two , three or more of them , concurring to produce the same effect . upon which score when i shall in the following paper referr an instance or a phenomenon to any one of the forementioned heads , i desire to be understood as looking upon that but as the head , to which it chiefly relates , without excluding the rest . chap. ii. taking those things for granted , that have , i hope , been sufficiently proved in the former tract about the subtlety of effluviums , i suppose it will readily be allowed , that the emanations of a body may be extremely minute ; whence it may be rightly inferr'd , that a small portion of matter may emit great multitudes of them . now that the great number of agents may in many cases compensate their littleness , especially where they act or resist per modum unius , ( as they speak , ) men would perhaps the more easily grant , if they took notice to this purpose of some familiar instances . we see that not only lesser land-floods that overflow the neighbouring fields , but those terrible inundations that sometimes drown whole countreys , are made by bodies singly so so small and inconsiderable as drops of rain when they continue to fall in those multitudes we call showers . so the aggregates of such minute bodies as grains of sand being heaped together in sufficient numbers , make banks wherewith greatest ships are sometimes split , nay and serve in most places for bounds to the sea it self . and though a single corn of gunpowder , or two or three together , are not of force to do much mischief , yet two or three barrels of those corns taking fire all together are able to blow up ships and houses , and perform prodigious things . but instead of multiplying such instances , afforded by bodies of small indeed but yet visible bulk , i shall ( as soon as i have intimated , that the above-mentioned drops of rain themselves consist of convening multitudes of vapors most commonly invisible in their ascent , ) endeavour to make out what was proposed , by two or three instances drawn from the operations of invisible particles . and first , we see , that though aqueous vapours be look'd upon as the faintest and least active effluviums that we know of , yet when multitudes of them are in rainy weather dispersed thorow the air , and are thereby qualified to work on the bodies exposed to it , their operations are very considerable , not only in the dissolution of salts , as sea-salt , salt of tartar , &c. and in the putrefactive changes they produce in many bodies , but in the intumescence they cause in oak and other solid woods ; as appears by the difficulty we often find in and before rainy weather , to shut and open doors , boxes , and other wooden pieces of work , that were before fit enough for the cavities they had been adjusted to . i might here urge , that though the strings of viols and other musical instruments are sometimes strong enough to sustain considerable weights , yet if they be left screwed to their full tension , ( as it frequently happens ) they are oftentimes by the supervening of moist weather made to break , not without impetuosity and noise . but it may sute better with my present aim , if i mention on this occasion , ( what i elsewhere more fully take notice of : ) being desirous to try what a multitude even of aqueous steams may do , i caused a rope that was long , but not thick , and was in part sustained by a pully , to have a weight of lead so fastned to the end of it , as not to touch the ground , and after the weight had leisure allowed it to stretch the cord as far as it could , i observed that in the moist weather the waterish particles , that did invisibly abound in the air , did so much work upon and shorten the rope , as to make it lift up the hanging weight , which was , if i mis-remember not , about an hundred pounds . the invisible steams , issuing out of the walls of a newly plaster'd or whited room , are not sensibly prejudicial to those that do but transiently visit it , or make but a very short stay in it , though there be a charcoal-fire in the chimney ; but we have many instances of persons , that by lying for a night in such rooms , have been the next morning or sooner found dead in their beds , being suffocated by the multitude of the noxious vapours emitted during all that time . and here i think it proper to observe , that it may much assist us to take notice of the multitude of effluvia , and make us expect great matters from them , to consider , that they are not emitted from the body that affords them all at once , as hail-shot out of a gun , but issue from it as the vaporous winds do out of an aeolipil well heated , or waters out of a spring-head in continued streams , wherein fresh parts still succeed one another ; so that though as many effluxions of a body as can be sent out at one time were numerous enough to act but upon its superficial parts , yet the emanation of the next minute may get in a little farther , and each smallest portion of time supplying fresh recruits , and perhaps urging on the steams already entred , the particles may at length get into a multitude of the pores of the invaded body , and penetrate it to the very innermost parts . chap. iii. i come now to shew in the second place , that the subtile and penetrating nature of effluviums , may in many cases cooperate with their multitude in producing notable effects ; and that there are effluviums of a very piercing nature , though we shall not now enquire upon what account they are so , we may evince by several examples . for not only the invisible steams of good aqua fortis and spirit of nitre do usually in a short time , and in the cold , so penetrate the corks wherewith the glasses that contained them were stop'd , as to reduce them into a yellow pap ; but also the emanations of mercury have been sometimes found in the form of coagulated , or even of running mercury in the heads or very bones of those gilders , or venereal patients , that have too long or too unadvisedly been exposed to the fumes of it , though they never took quicksilver in its gross substance . chymists too often find in their laboratories , that the steams of sulphur , antimony , arsnick , and divers other minerals , are able to make those stagger , or perhaps strike them down , that without a competent wariness unlute the vessels wherein they had been distilled or sublimed ; of which i have known divers sad examples . and of the penetrancy even of animal steams we may easily be perswaded , if we consider , how soon in many plagues the contagious , though invisible , exhalations are able to reach the heart , or infect other internal parts ; though in divers of these cases the blood helps to convey the infection , yet still the morbifick particles must get into the body before they can infect the mass of blood. and in those stupefactions that are caused at a distance by the terpedo , the parts mainly affected seem to be the nervous ones of the hand and arm , which are of the most retired and best fenced parts of those members . and there is a spirit of sal armoniack , that i make to smell to , whose invisible steams , unexcited by heat , are of so piercing a nature , that not only they will powerfully affect the eyes and nostrils , and throats , and sometimes the stomachs too ( yet without proving vomitive , ) of the patients they invade , but also when a great cold has so clog'd the organs of smelling , that neither sweet nor stinking odours would at all affect them , these piercing steams have not only in a few minutes both made themselves a way , and which is more , so open'd the passages , that soon after the patient has been able to smell other things also . and by the same penetrating spirit , a person of quality was , some time since , restored to a power of smelling , which he had lost for divers years , ( if he ever had it equally with other men . ) i could easily subjoyn examples of this kind , but they belong to other places . and here i shall only add , that the steams of water it self assisted by warmth , are capable of dissolving the texture of even hard and solid bodies , that are not suspected to be saline ; as appears by the philosophical calcination ( as chymists call it ) wherein solid pieces of harts-horn are brought to be easily friable into pouder , by being hung over waters , whil'st their steams rise in distillation and without the help of furnaces . the exhalations , that usually swim every night in the air , and almost every night fall to the ground in the form of dews ( which makes them be judged aqueous , ) are in many places of the torrid zone of so penetrating a nature , that , as eye-witnesses have informed me , they would in a very short time make knives rust in their sheaths , and swords in their scabbards , nay and watches in their cases , if they did not constantly carry them in their pockets . and i have known even in england divers hard bodies , into which the vapours swimming in the air have insinuated themselves , so far as to make them friable throughout . but of the penetration of effluviums , i have given , in several places , so many instances , that 't is not necessary to add any here . and therefore to shew , that , as i intimated at the beginning of this chapter , the penetrancy and the multitude of effluviums may much assist each other , i shall now subjoyn ; that we must not for the most part look upon effluviums as swarms of corpuscles , that only beat against the outsides of the bodies they invade , but as corpuscles , which by reason of their great and frequently recruited numbers , and by the extreme smallness of their parts , insinuate themselves in multitudes into the minute pores of the bodies they invade , and often penetrate to the innermost of them ; so that , though each single corpuscle , and its distinct action , be inconsiderable , in respect of the multitude of parts that compose the body to be wrought on ; yet a vast multitude of these little agents working together upon a correspondent number of the small parts of the body they pervade , they may well be able to have powerful effects upon the body , that those parts constitute ; as , in the case mentioned in the former chapter , the rope would not probably have been enabled to raise so great a weight , though a vehement wind had blown against it , to make it lose its perpendicular straightness , but a vast multitude of watery particles , getting by degrees into the pores of the rope , might , like an innumerable company of little wedges , so widen the pores as to make the thrids or splinters of hemp , the rope was made up of , swell , and that so forcibly , that the depending weight could not hinder the shortning of the rope , and therefore must of necessity be rais'd thereby . and i have more than once known solid and even heavy mineral bodies , burst in pieces by the moisture of the air , though we kept them within-doors carefully shelter'd from the rain . chap. iv. that the celerity of the motion of very minute bodies , especially conjoyned to their multitudes , may perform very notable things , may be argued from the wonderful effects of fired gunpowder , aurum fulminans , of flames that invisibly touch the bodies they work on , and also whirlwinds , and those streams of invisible exhalations and other aerial particles we call winds . but because instances of this sort suit not so well with the main scope of this tract , i shall not insist on them , but subjoyn some others , which , though less notable in themselves , will be more congruous to my present design . that the corpuscles whereof odours consist , swim to and fro in the air , as in a fluid vehicle , will by most , i presume , be granted , and may be easily prov'd . but i have elsewhere shewn , that the motion of the effluviums of some sufficiently odorous bodies , has too little celerity to make a sensible impression on the organs of smelling , unless those steams be assisted to beat more forcibly upon the nostrils by the air , which hurries them along with it , when it enters the nostrils in the form of a stream , in the act of inspiration . and i have by familiar observation of hunters , fowlers , and partly of my own made manifest , that setting-dogs , hounds , crows and some other animals , will be much more affected with sents , or the odorous effluvia of partridges , hares , gunpowder , &c. when the wind blows from the object towards the sensory , than when it sits the contrary way , which way soever the nostrils of the animal be obverted , so the air be imbued with the odorous steams : and consequently the difference seems to proceed from this , that when the nostrils are obverted to the wind , the current of the air drives the steams forcibly upon the sensory , which otherwise it does not . that there is a briskness of motion requisite , and more than ordinarily conducive to electrical attractions , may be argued from the necessity that we usually find by rubbing amber , jett , and other electrical bodies , to make them emit those steams , by which 't is highly probable their action is performed : and though i have elsewhere shewn , that this precedent rubbing is not alwayes necessary to excite all electrical bodies ; yet in those that i made to attract without it , it would operate much more vigorously after attrition ; which i conconceive makes a reciprocal motion amongst the more stable parts , and does thereby as 't were discharge and shoot out the attracting corpuscles ; whose real emission , though it may be probably argued from what has been already said , seems more strongly proveable by an observation that i made many years ago , and which i have been lately inform'd to have been long since made by the very learned fabri . the observation was this ; that if , when we took a vigorously excited electrick , we did at a certain nick of time ( which circumstances may much vary , but was usually almost as soon as the body was well rubbed ) place it at a just distance from a suspended hair or other light body , or perhaps from some light powder ; the hair , &c. would not be attracted to the electrick , but driven away from it , as it seem'd , by the briskly moving steams that issue out of the amber or other light body . this argument i could confirm by another phaenomenon or two of affinity with this , if i should not borrow too much of what i have elsewhere noted about the history of electricity . i know a certain substance , which though made by distillation , does in the cold emit but a very mild and inoffensive smell , but when the vessel that holds it is heated , though no separation of constituent principles appear to be thereby made , ( the body being in all usual tryals homogeneous , ) the effluviums will be so altered , that i remember a virtuoso , that , to satisfie his curiosity ▪ would needs be smelling to it , when 't was heated , complain'd to me , that he thought the steams would have killed him , and that the effluviums of spirit of sal armoniack it self were nothing near so strong and piercing as those . and even among solid bodies , i know some , which , though abounding much in a substance wherein some rank smells principally reside , yet ( if they were not chafed ) were scarce at all sensibly odorous ; but upon the rubbing of them a little one against the other , the attrition making them , as it were , dart out their emissions , would in a minute or two make them stink egregiously . and as the celerity of motion may thus give a vigor to the emanations of bodies , so there may be other modifications of motion , that may contribute to the same thing , and are not to be wholly neglected in this place . for as we see , that greater bodies do operate differingly according to such and such modifications ; as there is a great difference between the effects of a dart or javelin , so thrown as that its point be alwayes forwards , and the same weapon if it be so thrown , that during its progressive motion the extremes turn about the center of gravity or some inward parts , as it happens when boyes throw sticks to beat down fruit from the tops of trees ; so there is little doubt to be made , but that in corpuscles themselves 't is not all one , as to their effects , whether they move with or without rotation , and whether in such or such a line , and whether with or without undulation , trembling or such a kind of consecution ; and in short , whether the motion have or have not this or that particular modification ; which how much it may diversifie the effects of the bodies moved , may appear by the motion , that the aerial particles are put into by musical instruments . for , though the effects of harmony , discord and peculiar sounds be sometimes very great , not only in human bodies , but , as we shall shew in the following tract , in organical ones too ; the whole efficacy of musick and of sounds that are not extraordinarily loud and different , seems , as far as 't is ascribable to sonorous bodies , to depend upon the different manners of motion whereinto that air is put , that makes the immediate impression on our organs of hearing . chap. v. i should now proceed to shew , how the celerity and other modes , that diversifie the motion of effluviums , may be assisted to make them operative by their determinate sizes and figures , and the congruity or incongruity which they may have upon that score with the pores of the grosser bodies they are to work on : but i think it not fit to entrench upon the subject of another * tract , where the relation between the figures of corpuscles and the pores of grosser bodies is amply enough treated of . and therefore i shall only in this place take notice of those effects of lightning , which seem referable , partly to the celerity and manner of appulse , and partly to the distinct sizes and shapes of the corpuscles that compose the destructive matter , and to the peculiar relation between the particles of that matter and the structure of the bodies they invade . i know that many strange things that are delivered about the effects of what the latins call fulmen ( which our english word lightning does not adaequately render ) are but fabulous ; but there are but too many that are not so ; some of which i have been an eye-witness of , within less than a quarter of an hour after that the things happened . and though it be very difficult to explicate particularly many of these true phenomena , yet it seems warrantable enough to argue from them , that there may be agents so qualified , and so swiftly moved , that notwithstanding their being so exceedingly minute , as they must be , to make up a flame , which is a fluid body , they must in an imperceptible time pervade solid bodies , and traversing some of them without violating their texture , burn , break , melt , and produce other very great changes in other bodies that are fitted to be wrought on by them . and of this i must not forget to mention this remarkable instance ; that a person curious enough to collect many rarities , bringing me one day into the study where he kept the choicest of them , i saw there among other things a fine pair of drinking-glasses that were somewhat slender , but extraordinarily tall ; they seem'd to have been designed to resemble one another , and made for some drinking entertainment . but before i saw them , that resemblance was much lessen'd by the lightning , that fell between them in so strange a manner , that , without breaking either of them , that i could perceive , it alter'd a little the figure of one of them , near the lower part of the cavity ; but the other was so bent near the same place as to make it stand quite awry , and give it a posture , that i beheld not without some amazement . and i cannot yet but look upon it as a very strange thing , and no less considerable to our present purpose , that nature should in the free air make of exhalations , and that such as probably when they ascended were invisible , such an aggregate of corpuscles , as should without breaking such frail bodies as glasses , be able in its passage thorow them , that is , in the twinkling of an eye , to melt them ; which to do is wont even in our reverberatory furnaces to cost that active flames a pretty deal of time . and this calls into my memory , that upon a time , hearing not far off from me such a clap of thunder as made me judge and say , that questionless some of the neighbouring places were thunder-strook , i sent presently to make inquiry ; which having justified my conjecture , i forthwith repaired to the house , where the mischief was done , by something , which those , that pretended to have seen it coming thither , affirm'd to be like a flame moved very obliquely . to omit the hurt , that seemed to have been done by a wind that accompanied it , or was perhaps produced by it , to divers persons and cattel ; that which makes me here mention it , was , that observing narrowly what had happen'd in an upper room , where it first fell , i saw , that it had in more than one place melted the lead in its passage , ( though that possibly outlasted not the twinkling of an eye , ) without breaking to pieces the glass-casements , or burning ( that i took notice of ) either the bed or hangings or any other combustible houshold-stuff ; though near the window it had thrown down a good quantity of the solid substance of the wall , through which it seem'd to have made its passage in or out . and that , which made me the less scruple to mention this accident , is , that having curiously pry'd into the effects of the fulmen , not only in that little upper room , but in other parts of the house , beneath whose lowermost parts it seem'd to have ended its extravagant course , i could not but conclude , that if so be it were the same fulmen , it must have more than once gone in and out of the house , and that the line of its motion was neither straight , nor yet reducible to any curve or mixed line , that i had met with among mathematicians ; but that , as i then told some of my friends , it moved to and fro in an extravagant manner , not unlike the irregular and wrigling motion of those fired squibs that boys are wont to make by ramming gunpowder into quills . but about thunder more perhaps elsewhere . i shall here only add , that whereas 't is a known tradition , which my own observations heedfully made seem now and then to confirm , that vehement thunder , if beer be not very strong , will usually ( for i do not say alwayes ) sowre it in a day or two ; if this degeneration be not one of the consequences of the great and peculiar kinds of the concussions of the air that happens in lowd thunder ( in which case the phenomenon will belong to the next discourse , ) the effect may probably be imputed to some subtile exhalations diffused thorow the air , which , penetrating the pores of the wooden vessels , whose contexture is not very close , imbue the liquor with a kind of acetous ferment ; which conjecture i should think much confirmed by a tryal , it suggested to me , if i had made it often enough to rely upon it . for considering that the pores of glass are straight enough to be impervious ( for ought i have yet observed ) to the steams or spirituous parts of sulphur as well as to other odorous exhalations , i thought it worth trying , whether there be any sulphureous steams or other corpuscles diffused thorow the air in time of thunder , that would not be too gross to get in at such minute pores as those of glass . and accordingly having hermetically sealed up both beer and ale apart , i kept them in summer time till there happen'd a great thunder , a day or two , after which the beer which we drank , that was good before , being generally complained of as sowred by the thunder , i suffer'd my liquors to continue at least a day or two longer , that the sowring steams , if any such there were , might have time enough to operate upon them , and then breaking the glasses , i found not that the liquors had been sowred , though we had purposely forborn to fill the glasses , to facilitate the degeneration of the liquors . perhaps it will be pardonable on this occasion to mention a practice , which is usual in some places where i have been , and particularly employ'd by a great lady , that is a great house-keeper , and is very curious and expert in divers physical observations ; for , talking with her about the remedies of the sowring of beer and other drinks by thunder , which is sometimes no small prejudice to her , she affirm'd to me , that she usually found the practice , i was mentioning , succeed : and that before the then last great thunder , of which i had observed the effects upon beer , she preserved hers by putting , at a convenient distance , under the barrels , chaffing-dishes of coals , when she perceiv'd that the thunder was like to begin , which practice , if it constantly succeed , may put one a considering , whether the fire do not by rarifying the air and discussing the sulphureous or other steams , by altering them , or by uniting with them the exhalations of the coals , or by some such kind of way , render ineffectual these sowring corpuscles , which perhaps require a determinate bulk and shape , besides their being crowded very many of them together , to have their full operation on barrell'd liquors . but these things are but meer conjectures , and therefore i proceed . chap. vi. the fifth way whereby effluviums may perform notable things , is the motion of one part upon another , that they may excite or occasion in the body they work on according to its structure . i shall in the following tract have occasion to say something of the motions into which the internal parts of inanimate bodies may put one another ; but the examples now produced are designed to manifest the efficacy , that effluviums may , on the newly mentioned accounts , have on organical and living bodies . to which instances it would yet be proper to premise , that even inanimate and solid bodies may be of such a structure as to be very much alterable by the appropriated effluviums of other bodies , as may be instanc'd in the power , that i have known some vigorous loadstones to have , of taking away in a trice the attractive virtue of an excited needle , or giving a verticity directly contrary to the former without so much as touching it . and we may pertinently take notice of the attractive virtue of the loadstone , as that , which may afford us an eminent example of the great power of a multitude of invisible effluviums , even from bodies that are not great , upon bodies that are inorganical or liveless : for taking it for granted , what both the epicureans , cartesians , and almost all other corpuscularian philosophers agree in , that magnetism is performed by corporeal emissions , we may consider , that these passing unresistedly thorow the pores of all solid bodies , and even glass it self , which neither the subtilest odours nor electrical exhalations are observ'd to do , seem to be almost incredibly minute , and much smaller than any other effluviums , though themselves too small to be visible ; and yet these so incomparably little magnetical effluxions proceeding from vigorous loadstones , will be able to take up considerable quantities of so ponderous a body as iron ; in so much that i have seen a loadstone not very great , that would keep suspended a weight of iron , that i could hardly lift up to it with one arm ; and i have seen a little one , with which i could take up above eighty times its weight . and these effluvia do not only for a moment fasten the iron to the stone , but keep the metal suspended as long as one pleases . this being premised , i come now to observe , that the chief effects of effluvia belonging to the fifth head are wrought upon animals , which by virtue of their curious and elaborate structure , have their parts so connected and otherwise contrived , that the motions or changes that are produced in one , may have by the consent of parts a manifest operation upon others , although perhaps very distant from it , and so fram'd as to declare their being affected by actions that seem to have no affinity at all with the agents that work upon the part first affected . i have shewn at large in another * treatise , that a humane body ought not to be look'd upon meerly as an aggregate of bones , flesh , and other consistent parts , but as a most curious and a living engin , some of whose parts , though so nicely fram'd as to be very easily affected by external agents , are yet capable of having great operations upon the other parts of the body , they help to compose . wherefore without now repeating what is there already deliver'd , i shall proceed to deliver such effects as are wrought on human bodies by these effluviums without any immediate contact of the bodies that emit them . and first , not to mention light , because its being or not being a corporeal thing is much disputed even among the moderns ; 't is plain , that our organs of smelling are sensibly affected by such minute particles of matter as the finest odours consist of . nor do they alwayes affect us precisely as odours , since we see , that many persons , both men and women , are by smells , either sweet or stinking , put into troublesom headaches . if it were not almost ordinary , it would be more than almost incredible , that the smell of a pleasing perfume should presently produce in a human body , that immediately before was well and strong , such faintnesses , swoons , loss of sensible respiration , intumescence of the abdomen , seeming epilepsies , and really convulsive motions of the limbs , and i know not how many other frightfull symptoms , that by the unskilful are often taken for the effects of witchcraft , and would impose upon physicians themselves , if their own or their predecessors experience did not furnish them with examples of the like phaenomena produc'd by natural means . those symptoms manifest , what the consent of parts may do in a humane body ; since even morbifick odours , if i may so call them , by immediately affecting the organs of smelling , affect so many other parts of the genus nervosum , as oftentimes to produce convulsive motions , even in the extreme parts of the hands and feet . nor is the efficacy of effluviums confined to produce hysterical fits , since these invisible particles may be able ( and sometimes as suddenly as perfumes are wont to excite them ) to appease them , as i have very frequently , though not with never-failing success , tryed , by holding a spirit , i usually make of sal armoniack , under the nostrils of hysterical persons . my remedy did not only often recover , in a trice , those whose fits were but ordinary , but did more than once , somewhat to the wonder of the by-standers , relieve , within a minute or two , persons of differing ages and constitutions , that were suddenly fallen down by fits , that the by-standers judg'd epileptical , ( but i , hysterical . ) i attribute the good and evil operations of the fore-mentioned steams , rather in general to the consent of the parts that make up the genus nervosum , than to any hidden sympathy or antipathy betwixt them and the womb , not only for other reasons , not proper to be insisted on here , but because i have known odours have notable effects even upon men. i know a very eminent person , a traveller , and a man of a strong constitution , but considerably sanguine , who is put into violent head-aches by the smell of musk. and i remember , that one day being with him and a great many other men of note about a publick affair , a man that had a parcel of musk about him , having an occasion to make an application to us , this person was so disordered by the smell , which to most of us was delightful , that in spight of his civility he was reduc'd to make us an apology , and send the perfumed man out of the room , notwithstanding whose recess this person complained to me , a good while after , of a violent pain in his head , which i perceived had somewhat unfitted him for the transaction of the affair whereof he was to be the chief manager . i know another person , whose happy muse hath justly made him many admirers , that is subject to the head-ach upon so mild a smell as that of damask-roses , and sometimes even of red-roses , in so much that walking one day with him in a garden , whose alleys were very large , so that he might easily keep himself at a distance from the bushes , which bore many of them red-roses ; he abruptly broke off the discourse we were engag'd in , to complain of the harm the perfume did his head , and desired me to pass into a walk , that had no roses growing near it . if it were not for the sex of this person , i could relate an instance that would be much more considerable of the operation of roses . for i know a discreet lady to whom their smell is not unpleasing , ( for she answer'd me that 't was not so at all , ) but so hurtful , that it presently makes her sick , and would make her swoon if not seasonably prevented : and she told me that being once at a court in which she was a maid of honour , though she her-self did not know whence it came , she found her self extremely ill on a sudden , and ready to sink down for faintness ; but being then in discourse with a person , whose high quality she payd her profound respect to , her civility , that kept her from complaining or withdrawing , might have been dangerous if not fatal to her , had not the princess who was speaking with her , and who knew her antipathy to roses , taken notice that her face grew strangely pale , and was covered with a cold sweat . for thereby presently guessing what might be the cause , which the sick lady her self did not , she asked aloud whether some body had not brought roses ( which were then in season ) into the bed-chamber , which question occasioned a speedy withdrawing of a lady , that stood at a distance off , and had about her roses , which were not seen by the patient , who was by this means preserved from falling into a swoon , though not from being for a while very much discomposed . but this you may tell me was the case of a woman , who complain'd her malady affected her heart , not her head. wherefore returning to what i was speaking of before i mention'd her , i shall proceed to tell you , that as odours may thus give men the head-ach , so i have often found the smell of rectified-spirit of sal armoniack to free men as well as women from the fits of that distemper ; and that sometimes in so few minutes , that the person reliev'd could scarcely imagine , they could so quickly be so . to which i shall not add the tryals that i have successfully made upon my self , because being , thanks be to god , very seldom troubled with that distemper , the occasions i have had of making them have not been many . and though i have not alwayes found so slight a remedy to work the desired cure , yet that it does it often , even in men , is sufficient to shew the efficacy of sanative effluviums . now , to manifest , that steams do not operate only upon hysterical women , or persons subject to the head-ach , i will add some instances of the effects they may produce upon other persons , and parts . 't is but too well known an observation , that women with child have been often made to miscarry by the stink of an ill-extinguisht candle , though perhaps the smoak ascending from the snuff were dissipated into the invisible corpuscles , a good while before it arriv'd at the nostrils of the unhappy woman ; and what violent and straining motions abortions are frequently accompanied with , is sufficiently known already . i think i have elsewhere mentioned , that a gentleman of my acquaintance , a proper and lusty man , will be put into the fits of vomiting by the smell of coffee , boyl'd in water ; i shall therefore rather mention , that i know a physician , who having been , for a long time when he was young , frequently compelled to take electuarium lenitivum , one of the gentlest and least unpleasant laxatives of the shops , conceived such a dislike of it , that still , as himself has complained to me , if he smell to it , as he sometimes happens to do in apothecaries shops , it will work ( now and then for several times ) upwards and downwards with him . i know another very ingenious persons of the same faculty , that has been a traveller by sea and land , who has complain'd to me , that the smell of the grease of the wheels of a hackney-coach , though it do but pass by him , is wont to make him sick and ready to vomit . every body knows , that smoak is apt to make mens eyes water , and excite in the organs of respiration that troublesom and vehement commotion we call coughing . but we need not have recourse at all to visible fumes , for the production of the like effects ; since we have often observed them , and repeated sneezings to boot , to proceed from the invisible steams of spirit of sal armoniack , when vials containing that liquor , though they were perhaps but very small , were approached too hastily , or perhaps too near to the nostrils . and because in most of the foregoing instances , the chief effects seem to be wrought , by the consent of parts , on the genus nervosum and the action of one of them upon the other , and thereby upon several other parts of the body , i will subjoyn a remarkable instance of the operation of a mild and grateful odour upon the humors themselves , and that in a man. a famous apothecary , who is a very tall and big man , several times told me , that though he was once a great lover of roses , yet having had occasion to employ great quantities of them at a time , he was so altered by their steams , that now , if he come among the rose-bushes , the smell does much discompose him . and the odour of roses , ( i mean incarnate-roses , which we commonly call damask-roses , though they be not the true ones , ) makes such a colliquation of humors in his head , that it sets him a coughing , and makes him run at the nose , and gives him a sore throat ; and by an affluence of humors makes his eyes sore , in so much that during the season of roses , when quantities of them are brought into his house , he is oblig'd for the most part to absent himself from home . chap. vii . one may shew on this occasion , that as there might be considerable things performed by effluviums , as they make one part of a living engine work upon another by virtue of its structure , so the action of such invisible agents may in divers cases be much promoted by the fabrick and laws of the universe it self , upon this account , that , by the operation of effluvia upon particular bodies , they may dispose and qualifie those bodies to be wrought upon , which before they were not fit to be , by light , magnetisms , the atmosphere , gravity or some other of the more catholick agents of nature , as the world is now constituted . but not to injure another tract , i shall conclude this , when i shall have taken notice , that in the instances hitherto produced , there has been a visible local distance between the body that emits steams , and that on which they work . but if i thought it necessary , it were not difficult to shew , that one might woll enough referr to the title of this tract divers effects of bodies that are applied immediately to ours ; such as are blood-stones , cornelions , nephritick-stones , lapis malacensis , and some amulets , and other solid substances applied by physicians outwardly to our bodies . for in these applications the gross body touches but the skin , and the great effects , which i elsewhere relate my self to have sometimes ( though not often , much less alwayes ) observed to have followed upon this external contact or near application , may reasonably be derived from the subtle emanations , that pass thorow the pores of the skin to the inward parts of the body : as is evident in those , who by holding cantharides in their hands , or having them apply'd to some remote external part , have grievous pains produc'd in their urinary parts , as it has happen'd to me as well as to many others . and to the insinuation of these minute corpuscles , that get in at the pores of the skin , seems to be due the efficacy of some medicines , that purge , vomit , resolve the humors , or otherwise notably alter the body being but externally applied ; of which i could here give several instances , but that they belong more properly to another place , and are not necessary in this , where it may suffice to name the notorious power , that mercurial oyntments or fumes , either together or apart , have of producing copious salvations , to shew in general , that both the steams and the emanations of outwardly applied medicinal bodies may have some great effects on human ones . of the determinate nature of effluviums . of the determinate nature of efflvvivms . chap. i. the effluviums of bodies , pyrophilus , being for the most part invisible , have been wont to be so little consider'd by vulgar philosophers , that scarce vouchsafing to take notice of their existence , 't is no wonder that men have not been solicitous to discover their distinct natures and differences . only * aristotle , and ( upon his account ) the schools , have been pleased to think , that the two grand parts of our globe do sometimes emit two kinds of exhalations or steams ; the earthy part affording those that are hot and dry , which they name fumes , and very often , simply , exhalations ; and the aqueous part , others that are ( not as many of his disciples mistake him to have taught , cold and moist , but ) hot and moist * , which they usually call vapours , to discriminate them from the fumes ( or exhalations , ) though otherwise , in common acceptation , those appellations are very frequently confounded . but , though the aristotelians have thus perfunctorily handled this subject , it would not become corpuscularian philosophers , who attribute so much as they do to the insensible particles of matter , to acquiesce in so slight and jejune an account of the emanations of bodies . and since we have already shewn , that besides the greater and more simple masses of terrestrial and aqueous matter newly mention'd , there are very many mixt bodies , that emit effluviums , which make , as it were , little atmospheres about divers of them , it will be congruous to our doctrine and design , to add in this place , that besides the slight and obvious differences , taken notice of by aristotle , the steams of bodies may be almost as various as the bodies themselves that emit them ; and that therefore we ought not to look upon them barely under the general and confused notion of smoak or vapours , but may probably conceive them to have their distinct and determinate natures , oftentimes ( though not always ) suitable to that of the bodies from whence they proceed . and indeed the newly mentioned division of the schools gives us so slight an account of the emanations of bodies , that , methinks , it looks like such another , as if one should divide animals into those that are horned , and those that have two feet : for , besides that the distinction is taken from a difference that is not the considerablest , there are divers animals ( as many four-footed beasts and fishes ) that are not comprised in it ; and each member of the division comprehends i know not how many distinct sorts of animals , whose differences from one another are many times more considerable , than those that constitute the two supreme genus's , the one having bulls and goats , and rhinoceros's , and deer , and elks , and certain sea-monsters whose horns i have seen ; and the other genus comprising also a greater variety , namely , a great part of four-footed beasts , and , besides men , all the birds ( for ought we know ) whether of land or water . and as it would give us but a very slender information of the nature of an elk or an unicorn , to know that 't is an horned beast ; or of the nature of a man , an eagle , or a nightingale , to be told , that 't is an horn-less beast ; so it will but very little instruct a man in the nature of the steams of quicksilver or of opium , to be told , that they are vapours hot ( or rather cold ) and moist ; or of the steams of amber or cantharides , or cinnamon , or tobacco , to be told , that they are hot and dry. for , besides that there may be effluviums , which , even by their elementary qualities , are not of either of these two supreme genus's , ( for they may be cold and dry , or cold and moist , ) these qualities are often far from being the noblest , and consequently those that deserve to be most consider'd in the effluviums of this , or that , body ; as we shall by and by have occasion to manifest . chap. ii. and here it may not be improper to mention an experiment , that , i remember , i divers years since employed to illustrate the subject of our present discourse . i consider'd then , that fluid bodies may be of very unequal density and gravity , as is evident in quicksilver , water and pure spirit of wine ; which , notwithstanding their great difference in specifick gravity , may yet agree in the conditions requisite to fluid bodies . therefore presuming , that by what i could make appear visible in one , what happens analogically in the other , may be ocularly illustrated , i took some ounces of roch-allom , and as much of fine salt-peter . i took some ounces of each , because , if the quantity of the ingredients be too small , the concoagulated grains will be so too , and the success will not be so conspicuous . these being dissolved together in fair water , the filtrated solution was set to evaporate in an open-mouthed glass , and being then left to shoot in a cool place , there were fastned to the sides and other parts of the glass several small crystals , some octoedrical , which is the figure proper to roch-allom , and others of the prismatical shape of pure salt-peter ; besides some other saline concretions , whose being distinctly of neither of these two shapes , argued them to be concoagulations of both the salts . and this we did by using such a degree of celerity in evaporating the liquor , as was proper for such an effect . for , by another degree , which is to be employ'd when one would recover the salts more distinctly and manifestly , the matter may ( as i found by tryal ) be so ordered , that the aluminous salt may , for the most part , be first coagulated by it self , and then from the remaining liquor curiously shap'd crystals of nitre may be copiously obtained . tryals like this we also made with other salts , and particularly with sea-salt , and with allom and vitriol ; the phaenomena of which you may meet with in their due places . for the recited experiment may , i hope , alone serve to assist the imagination to conceive , how the particles of bodies may swim to and fro in a fluid , ( which the air is , ) and though they be little enough to be invisible , may many of them retain their distinct and determinate natures , and their aptness to cohere upon occasion ; and others may , by their various occursions and coalitions , unite into lesser corpuscles or greater bodies differing from the more simple particles , that composed them , and yet not of indeterminate though compounded figures . chap. iii. these things being premis'd , we may now proceed to the particular instances of the determinate nature of effluviums ; and these we may not inconveniently reduce to the three following heads , to each of which we shall assign a distinct chapter ; the first of these i shall briefly treat of in this third chapter , and treat somewhat more largely of the others in the two following . in the first place then , that the effluviums of many bodies retain a determinate nature oftentimes in an invisible smallness , and oftener in such a size as makes them little enough to fly or swim in the air ; may appear by this , that these effluvia being by condensation or otherwise reunited , they appear to be of the same nature with the body that emitted them . thus in moist weather , the vapours of water , that wander invisibly through the air , meeting with marble-walls or pavements , or other bodies , by their coldness and other qualifications , fit to condense and retain them , appear again in the form of drops of water ; and the same vapours return to the visible form of water , when they fall out of the air in dews , or rains. quicksilver it self , if it be made to ascend in distillation with a convenient degree of fire , will almost all be found again in the receiver in the form of running mercury . which strange and piercing fluid , is in some cases so disposed to be strip'd of its disguises , and re-appear in its own form , that divers artificers , and especially gilders , have found , to their cost , that the fumes of it need not be , as in distillation , included in close vessels to return to their pristine nature , mercury having been several times found in the heads and other parts of such people , who have in tract of time been killed by it , and sometimes made to discover it self during the lives of those that dealt so much in it ; of which i elsewhere give some instances . wherefore i shall only observe at present , that 't is a common practice , both among gilders , and some chymists , that , when they have occasion to make an amalgam , or force away the mercury from one by the fire , they keep gold in their mouthes , which by the mercurial fumes , that wander through the air , will now and then , by that time 't is taken out of their mouths , be turned white almost , as if it had been silver'd over . a mass of purified brimstone being sublimed , the ascending fumes will condense into what the chymists call flores sulphuris , which is true sulphur of the same nature with that , formerly exposed to sublimation ; and may readily by melting be reduced into such another mass . and to give you another like example of dry bodies ; i tryed , that by subliming good camphire in close vessels , it would all , as to sense , be raised into the upper vessel , or part of the subliming-glass in the form of dry camphire as it was before . nay though a body be not by nature , but art compounded of such differing bodies as a metal and another mineral , and two or three salts ; yet , if upon purification of the mixture from its grosser parts , the remaining and finer parts be minute enough and fitly shap'd , the whole liquor will ascend , and yet in the receiver altogether recover its pristine form of a transparent fluid , composed of differing saline and mineral parts . this is evident in the distillation of what chymists call butter , or oyl of antimony , very well rectified . for , this liquor will pass into the receiver diaphanous and fluid , though , besides the particles of the sublimate , ( which is it self a factitious compounded body ) it abounds with antimonial corpuscles , carried over and kept invisible by the corroding salts ; whatever angelus sala , and those chymists that follow him , have affirm'd to the contrary ; as might be easily here proved , if this were a fit place to do it in . i found by inquiring of an ingenious person , that had an interest in a tin-mine , that i was not deceived in guessing , that tin it self , though a metal whose ore is of a very difficult fusion , and which i have by it self kept long upon the cupel without finding it to fly away , would yet retain its metalline nature in the form of fumes or flowers . for this experienc'd gentleman answer'd me , that divers times they would take great store of a whitish sublimate from the upper part of the furnaces or chimnies , where they brought their ore to fusion , or wrought further upon it ; and that this sublimate , though perhaps elevated to the height of an ordinary man , would , when melted down , afford at once many pounds of very good tin. on which occasion i shall add , that i have my self more than once raised this metal in the form of white corpuscles by the help of an additament , that did scarce weigh half so much as it . chap. iv. the second way , by which we may discover the determinate nature of effluviums , is , by the difference that may sometimes be observ'd in their sensible qualities . for , these effluviums that are endow'd with them , proceed from the same sort of bodies , and yet those afforded by one kind of bodies being in many cases manifestly differing from those that fly off from another , this evident disparity in their exhalations argues their retaining distinct natures , according to those of the respective bodies whence they proceed . i will not now stay to examine , whether in the steams , that are made visibly to ascend from the terrestrial globe by those grand agents and usual raisers of them , the sun , and the agitation of the air , the eye can manifestly distinguish the diversity of colours : but in some productions of art such different colours may be discovered in the exhalations , even without the application of any external heat to raise them . for , when spirit of nitre , for example , has been well rectified , i have often observ'd , that even in the cold the fumes would play in the unfill'd part of the stop'd vials it was kept in , and appear in it of a reddish colour , and , if those vessels were open'd , the same fumes would copiously ascend into the air , in the form of a reddish or orange-tawny smoak . spirit or oyl of salt also , if it be very well dephlegm'd , though it will scarce in the cold visibly ascend in the empty part of a vial , whilst it is kept well stop'd ; yet , if the free air be allow'd access to it , it will , in case it be sufficiently rectified , fly up in the form of a whitish fume . but this is inconsiderable in comparison of what happens in a volatile tincture of sulphur , i have elsewhere taught you to make with quick-lime . for , not only upon a slight occasion the vacant part of the vial will be fill'd with white fumes , though the glass be well stop'd ; but upon the opening the vial these fumes will copiously pass out at the neck , and ascend into the air in the form of a smoak , more white than perhaps you ever saw any . and both this and that of the spirit of salt-peter do by their operation , as well as smell , disclose what they are ; the latter being of a nitrous nature , ( as is confess'd ) and the former , of a sulphureous : in so much that having for curiosities sake in a fitly shap'd glass caught a competent quantity of the ascending white fumes , i found them to have conven'd into bodies transparent and geometrically figur'd , wherein 't was easie to discover by their sensible qualities , that there were store of sulphureous particles mixt with the saline ones . that the liquors of vegetables , distill'd in balneo or in water , are not wont to retain any thing of the colour of the bodies that afforded them , is a thing easie to be observ'd in distillations made without retorts or the violence of the fire . but it may be worth while to make tryal , whether the essential oyl of wormwood ascend colour'd like the plant , whence 't is first drawn over with water in the limbec , or rectified in balneo . for , i forgot to take notice of it , when upon some particularities , i observ'd in that plant , my curiosity led me to find , that not only in the first distillation in a copper limbec , tinn'd on the inside , the oyl came over green , but by a rectification purposely made in a glass-vessel , the purified liquor was not depriv'd of that colour . the mention of these essential oyls , as chymists call those that are drawn in limbecs , leads me to tell you , that , though these liquors be but effluvia of the vegetables they are distill'd from , condens'd again in the receiver into liquors ; yet , as subtile as they are , many of them retain the genuine taste of the bodies , whence the heat elevated them ; as you will easily find , if you will tast a few drops of the essential oyl of cinamon , for example , or of wormwood dissolv'd by the intervention of sugar or spirit of wine in a convenient quantity of water , wine , or beer . for , by this means you have the natural taste of this spice or herb. and wormwood is a plant , whose effluvia do so retain the nature of the body that parts with them , that i must not forbear to alledge here an observation of mine , that may shew you , that 't is possible , though not usual , that even without the help of the fire the expirations of a body may communicate its tast . for , among other things , that i had occasion to observe about some quantity of wormwood laid up together , i remember , i took notice , and made others do the like , that coming into a room , where 't was kept , not only the organs of smelling were powerfully wrought upon by the corpuscles that swarm'd in the air , but also the mouth was sensibly affected with a bitter tast . perhaps you will scarce think it worth while , that after this instance i should add , that i found the expirations of amber , kept a while in pure spirit of wine , tast upon the tongue like amber it self , when i chew'd it between my teeth . but i choose to mention this instance , because it will connect those lately mention'd with another sort , very pertinent to our present purpose . for , the expirations that i have obtain'd from amber , both with pure spirit of wine , and a more piercing menstruum , did manifestly retain in both those liquors a peculiar smell , with which i found it to affect the nostrils , when , for tryals sake , i excited the electrical faculty of amber by rubbing . and as for odours , 't is plain , that the essential oyls of chymists , well drawn , do many of them retain the peculiar and genuine sent of the spices or herbs that afforded them . and that these odours do really consist of , or reside in certain invisible corpuscles that fly off from the visible bodies , that are said to be endow'd with such smells , i have elsewhere prov'd at large ; and it may sufficiently appear from their sticking to divers of the bodies they meet with , and their lasting adhesion to them . other examples may be given of the setled difference of effluviums directly perceivable by humane organs of sense , as dull as they are ; which last expression i add , because i scarce doubt , but that , if our sensories were sufficiently subtile and tender , they might immediately perceive in the size , shape , motion , and perhaps colour too of some now invisible effluviums , as distinguishable differences , as our naked eyes in their present constitution see , between the differing sorts of birds , by their appearances , and their manner of flying in the air , as hawks , and partridges , and sparrows , and swallows . to make this probable i will not urge , that in fine white sand , whose grains by the unassisted eye are not wont to be distinguished by any sensible quality , i have often observ'd in an excellent microscope , a notable disparity as to bulk , figure , and sometimes as to colour : and that in small cheese-mites , which the naked eye can very scarcely discern , so far is it from discovering any difference between them , one may ( as was noted in the last essay ) plainly see , besides an obvious difference in point of bigness , many particular parts , on whose accounts the structure of those moving points may difference them from each other . and i have sometimes seen a very evident disparity even in point of shape between the very eggs of these living atoms , ( as a poet would perhaps stile them . ) but these kinds of proofs ( as i was saying ) i shall forbear to insist on , that i may proceed to countenance my conjecture by the effects of the effluviums , that are properly so call'd , upon animals . and first , though the touch be reckon'd one of the most dull of the five senses , and be reputed to be far less quick in men than in divers other animals ; yet the gross organs of that , may , in men themselves , even by accident , be so dispos'd , as to be susceptible of impressions from effluvia : of this in another paper i give some instances . and i know not whether divers of the presages of weather to be observ'd in some animals , and the aches and other pains , that , in many crazy and wounded men , are wont to fore-run great changes of weather , do not often ( for i do not say alwayes ) proceed ( at least in part ) from invisible and yet incongruous effluxions , which , either from the subterraneal parts , or from some bodies above ground , do copiously impregnate the air. and on this occasion it will not be impertinent to mention here what an experienc'd physician being ( if i much misremember not ) the learned dimmerbrook , relates concerning himself , who having been infected with the plague by a patient that lay very ill of it , though by gods blessing , which he particularly acknowledges , upon a slight but seasonable remedy , he was very quickly cured , and that without the breaking of any tumor ; yet it left such a change in some parts of his body , that he subjoyns this memorable passage ; ab illo periculo ad contagiosos mihi appropinquanti in emunctoriis successit dolor , vix fallax pestis indicium . two or three other observations of the like nature you meet with in another of my papers * . and i shall now add , that i know an ingenious gentlewoman ( wife to a famous physician ) who was of a very curious and delicate complexion , that has several times assur'd me , that she can very readily discover , whether a person , that comes to visit her in winter , came from some place where there is any considerable quantity of snow ; and this she does , ( as she tells me ) not by feeling any unusual cold ( for if the ground be frozen but not cover'd with snow , the effect succeeds not , ) but from some peculiar impression , which she thinks , she receives by the organs of smelling . i might add , that i know also ( as i may have formerly told you ) a very ingenious physician , who falling into an odd kind of feaver , had his sense of hearing thereby made so very nice and tender , that he very plainly heard soft whispers , that were made at a considerable distance off , and which were not in the least perceiv'd by the healthy by-standers , nor would have been by him before his sickness . which ( sickness ) i mention as the thing , that gave his organs of hearing this preternatural quickness , because when the feaver had quite left him , he was able to hear but at the rate of other men . and i might tell you too , that i know a gentleman of eminent parts and note , who , during a distemper he had in his eyes , had his organs of sight brought to be so tender , that both his friends and himself also have assur'd me , that when he wak'd in the night he could for a while plainly see and distinguish colours , as well as other objects , discernable by the eye , as was more than once try'd , by pinning ribbands or the like bodies of several colours , to the inside of his curtains in the dark . for if he were awaken'd in the night , he would be able to tell his bed-fellow , where those bodies were plac'd , and what colour each of them was of . i have mention'd these instances only to shew you , that if our sensories were more delicate and quick , they would be sufficiently affected by objects , that , as they are generally constituted , make no impressions at all upon them . for otherwise i know , that the species ( as they call them ) both of sounds and colours , are not held by many of the moderns , ( from whom in that i dissent not , ) to be so much corporeal effluxions , trajected through the medium , as peculiar kinds of local motion convey'd by it . therefore i shall now confirm the conjecture i would countenance by the discrimination made by the organs of other animals of such effluvia as to us men are not only invisible but insensible . and therefore partly to strengthen what i deliver'd , and partly to confirm what i am now discoursing of , it will not be impertinent to subjoyn two or three relations , that i had from persons of very good credit , whom i thought likely to make me no unsatisfactory returns to my questions about things they were very well vers'd in . a person of quality , to whom i am near allied , related to me , that to make a tryal , whether a young blood-hound was well instructed , ( or as the huntsmen call it , made ) he caus'd one of his servants , who had not kill'd , or so much as touch'd any of his deer , to walk to a countrey-town , four mile off , and then to a market-town three miles distant from thence ; which done , this nobleman did , a competent while after , put the blood-hound upon the scent of the man , and caus'd him to be follow'd by a servant or two , the master himself thinking it also fit to go after them to see the event ; which was , that the dog , without ever seeing the man he was to pursue , follow'd him by the scent to the above-mentioned places , notwithstanding the multitude of market-people that went along in the same way , and of travellers that had occasion to cross it . and when the blood-hound came to the chief market-town , he pass'd through the streets , without taking notice of any of the people there , and left not till he had gone to the house , where the man , he sought , rested himself , and found him in an upper room to the wonder of those that follow'd him . the particulars of this narrative the nobleman's wife , a person of great veracity , that happen'd to be with him when the tryal was made , confirm'd to me . enquiring of a studious person , that was keeper of a red-dear-park and vers'd in making blood-hounds , in how long time , after a man or deer had pass'd by a grassy place , one of those dogs would be able to follow him by the scent ? he told me , that it would be six or seven hours : whereupon an ingenious gentleman , that chanc'd to be present , and liv'd near that park , assur'd us both , that he had old dogs of so good a scent , that if a buck had the day before pass'd in a wood , they will , when they come where the scent lies , though at such a distance of time after , presently find the scent and run directly to that part of the wood where the buck is . he also told me , that though an old blood-hound will not so easily fix on the scent of a single deer , that presently hides himself in a whole herd ; yet if the deer be chas'd a little till he be heated , the dog will go nigh to single him out , though the whole herd also be chas'd . the above-nam'd gentleman also affirm'd , that he could easily distinguish whether his hounds were in chase of a hare or a fox by their way of running , and their holding up their nose higher than ordinary when they pursue a fox , whose scent is more strong . these relations will not be judg'd incredible by him that reflects on some of the instances that have already ( in the foregoing essay ) been given of the strange subtilty of effluvia : to which i shall now add , that i remember , that to try whether i could in some measure make art imitate nature , i prepared a body of a vegetable substance , which , though it were actually cold , and both to the eye and touch dry , did for a while emit such determinate and piercing , though invisible , exhalations , that having for tryals sake applied to it a clear metalline plate ( and that of none of the very softest kind neither ) for about one minute of an hour , i found , that , though there had ▪ been no immediate contact between them , i having pursposely interposed a piece of paper to hinder it ; yet there was imprinted on the surface of the plate a conspicuous stain of that peculiar colour , that the body , with whose steams i had imbued the vegetable substance , was fitted to give a plate of that mix'd metal . and though it be true , that in some circumstances , the lately mention'd instances about blood-hounds have a considerable advantage of this i have now recited ; yet that advantage is much lessen'd , not to say countervail'd , by some circumstances of our experiment . for , not to repeat , that the emittent body was firm and cold , the effect produced by the effluvium that guided the setting-dog , was wrought upon the sensory of a living and warm animal ; and such an one , whose organs of smelling are of an extraordinary tender constitution above those of men and other animals , and probably the impression was but transient ; whereas in our case the invisible steams of the vegetable substance wrought upon a body which was of so strong and inorganical a texture as a ( compounded ) metal , though it were fenc'd by being lapt up in paper , notwithstanding which these steams invaded it in such numbers , and so notably , as to make their operation on it manifest to the eye , and considerably permanent too ; since coming to look upon the plate after the third day , i found the induced colour yet conspicuous , and not like suddenly to vanish . hitherto in this chapter i have argued from the constant and setled difference of the sensible qualities of effluviums , that they do not always lose their distinct natures , when they seem to have lost themselves by vanishing into air. but before i dismiss this subject , i must consider an objection , which i know may be made against the opinion we have been countenancing . for it may be alledg'd , that there may be many cases , wherein the effluviums of bodies are , in their passage through the air , sensibly alter'd , or do affect the organs of sense otherwise than each kind of them apart would do : nor is this difficulty altogether irrational . for it seems consonant enough to experience , that some such cases should be admitted , and therefore in the foregoing discourse i have , where i thought it necessary , forborn to express my self in such general and absolute terms , as otherwise i might have done . but , as for such cases as i have insisted upon , and many more , i shall now represent , that the objected alterations need not hinder , but that effluviums at their first parting from the bodies , whence they take wing ( if i may so speak , ) may retain as much of the nature of those bodies , as we have ascribed to them , since the subsequent change may very probably be deduc'd from the combinations or coalitions of divers steams associating themselves in the air , and acting upon the sensory , either altogether and conjointly , or at least so near it , that the sense cannot perceive their operations as distinct . this i shall elucidate , but not pretend to prove , by what happens in sounds and tasts . for if , by way of instance , in a musical instrument , two strings tun'd to an eight , be touch'd together , they will strike the ear with a sound , that will be judg'd one , as well as pleasing , though each of the trembling strings make a distinct noise , and the one vibrates as fast again as the other . and if , into oyl of tartar per deliquium , you drop a due proportion of spirit of nitre , and exhale the superfluous moisture , the acid and alcalizate corpuscles , that were so small as to swim invisibly in those liquors , will convene into nitrous concretions , whose tast will be compounded of , but very differing from , both the tasts of the acid and tartareous particles ; which particles may yet , for the most part , by a skilful distillation , be divorc'd again . and so , if to a strong solution of pot-ashes or salt of tartar you put as much in weight of sal armoniack , as there is of either of those fixt salts contain'd in the liquor ; you may , besides a subtil urinous spirit that will easily come over in the distillation , obtain a dry caput mortuum , which is almost totally a compounded salt , differing enough from either of the ingredients , especially the alcalizate , as well in tast as in some other qualities : this salt ( free'd from its faeces ) being that diuretick salt , i several years ago gave quantities of , to some chymists and physicians , from the most of whom i received great thanks , accompanied with the ( more acceptable ) accounts of the very happy success they had employed it with , though usually but in a small dose , as from six , eight or ten grains to a scruple . but this being mentioned only upon the by , i shall proceed to tell you , that , since i intimated to you already , that i would mention examples of sounds and tasts only to illustrate what i had been delivering ; i shall now add some instances by way of proof , of the coalition and resulting change of steams in the air. 't is easily observable in some nose-gays , where the differing flowers happen to be conveniently mix'd , that in the smell afforded by it , at a due distance , the odours of the particular flowers are not perceiv'd , but the organ is affected by their joynt-action , which makes on it a confused but delightful impression . and so , when in a ball of pomander , or a perfum'd skin , musk , and amber , and civet , and other sweets are skilfully mix'd , the coalition of the distinct effluvia of the ingredients , that associate themselves in their passage through the air , produce in the sensory one grateful perfume , resulting from all those odours . but if you take spirit of fermented urine and spirit of wine , both of them phelgmatick , and mix them together , they will incorporate like wine and water , or any other such liquors , without affording any dry concretions . but if you expose them in a convenient vessel but to the mild heat of a bath or lamp , the ascending particles will associate themselves , and adhere to the upper part of the glass in the form of a white but tender sublimate , consisting both of urinous and vinous spirits , associated into a mixture , which differs from either of the liquors , not only in consistence , tast and smell , but in some considerable operations performable by this odd mixture ; which , this is not the place , to take further notice of . and if spirit of salt and spirit of nitre be , by distillation , elevated in the form of fumes , so order'd as to convene into one liquor in the receiver , this liquor will readily dissolve crude gold , though neither the spirit of nitre alone , nor that of salt would do so . and that you may have an ocular proof of the possibility of the distinctness and subsequent commixture of steams in the air ; i shall now add an experiment , which i long since devis'd for that purpose , and which i soon after shew'd to many curious persons , most of whom appear'd somewhat surpriz'd at it . the experiment was ; that i took two small vials , the one fill'd with spirit of salt , but not very strong , the other with spirit of fermented urine or of sal armoniack very well rectified : these vials being plac'd at some distance , and not being stop'd , each liquor afforded its own smell , at a pretty distance , by the steams it emitted into the air , but yet these steams were invisible . but when these vials , ( which should be of the same size ) came to be approach'd very near to each other , though not so , as to touch ; as when the two liquors are put together in the form of liquors , they will notably act upon one another ; so their respective effluviums meeting in the air , would , answerably to the littleness of their bulk , do the like , and , by their mutual occursions , become manifestly visible , and appear moving in the air like a little portion of smoak or of a mist , which would quickly cease , if either of the vials were remov'd half a foot or a foot from the other . and i remember , that , to add to the oddness of the phaenomenon , i sometimes made a drop of the spirit of salt hang at the bottom of a little stick of glass or some other convenient body , and held this drop thus suspended in the orifice of a vial that had spirit of sal armoniack in it , and was furnish'd with a somewhat long neck ; for by this means it happen'd , as i expected , that the ascending urinous particles , though invisible before , invading plentifully the acid ones of the drop , produced a notable smoak , which , if the drop were held a little above the neck of the glass , would most commonly fly upwards to the height of a foot or half a yard : but if the drop were held somewhat deep within the cavity of the neck , a good part of the produced smoak would oftentimes fall into the cavity of the vial , which was left in great part empty , sometimes in the form of drops , but usually in the form of a slender and somewhat winding stream of a white colour , that seem'd to flow down just like a liquor from the depending drop , till it had reach'd the spirit of sal armoniack ; upon whose surface it would spread it self like a mist . but this only upon the by . as for the main experiment it self , it may be , as i have found , successfully try'd with other liquors than these ; but 't is not necessary in this place to give an account of such tryals ; though perhaps , if i had leisure , it might be worth while to consider , whether these coalitions of differing sorts of steams in the air , and the changes resulting thence of their particular precedent quantities , may not assist us to investigate the causes of divers sudden clouds and mists , and some other meteorological phaenomena , and also of divers changes that happen in the air in reference to the coming in and ceasing of several either epidemical or contagious diseases , and particularly the plague , that seem to depend upon some occult temperature and alterations of the air , which may be copiously impregnated by the differing subterraneal ( not to add here , sidereal ) effluviums , that not unfrequently ascend into it ( or otherwise invade it , ) with pestiferous or other morbifick corpuscles , and sometimes with others of a contrary nature , and sometimes too perhaps , neither the one sort of steams , which may be suppos'd to have imbued the air , is in it self deleterious ; nor the other salutary , but becomes so upon their casual coalition in the air. you will perhaps think this conjecture of the resultancy of pestilential steams , the less improbable , if i here add that odd observation , which was frequently made in the formerly mentioned plague at nimmegen by a physician so judicious as * dimmerbrook , whose words are these ; illud notatu dignum saepissime observavimus , nempa in illis aedibus in quibus nulla adhuc pestis erat , si linteamina sordida aquâ & sapone nostrate ( ut in belgio moris est ) illio lavarentur , eo ipso die , vel interdum postridie , duos tres-ve simul peste correptos fuisse , ipsique aegri test abantur faetorem aquae saponatae illis primam & maximam alterationem intulisse . hoc ipsum quoque in meo ipsius hospitio infelix experientia docuit , in quo post lota linteamina statim gravem alterationem perceperunt plaerique domestici , & proximè sequenti nocte tres peste correptae , ac brevi post mortuae fuere . i omit the instances he further sets down to confirm this odd phaenomenon , of which , though perhaps some other cause may be devised , yet that i lately assign'd seems at least a probable one , if not the most probable ; since , as 't is manifest by daily experience , that the smell occasion'd by the washing of foul linnen with the soap commonly used in the netherlands , produces not the plague ; so by our learned author's observation it appears , either that there were not yet any pestilential effluxions in the air of those places , which on the occasions of those washings became infected , or at least that by the addition of the fetid effluvia of the soapy water , those morbifick particles , that were dispers'd through the air before , had not the power to introduce a malignant constitution into the air , and to act as truly pestilential , till they were enabled to do so by being associated with the ill-scented effluvia of the soap . whether also salutary , and , if i may so call them , alexipharmacal corpuscles may not be produc'd in the air by coalition , might be very well worth our enquiry : especially if we had a competent historical account of the yearly ceasing of the plague at grand cayro . for , as i have elsewhere noted out of the learned prosper alpinus , who practis'd physick there ; and as i have also been inform'd by some of my acquaintance who visited that vast city , that almost in the midst of summer as soon as the river begins to rise * , the plague has its malignity suddenly check'd , even as to those that are already infected , and soon after ceases ; so if other circumstances contradict not , one might guess , that this strange phaenomenon may be chiefly occasion'd by some nitrous or other corpuscles that accompany the overflowing nile , and by associating themselves with what hippocrates somewhere calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , disable them to produce their wonted pernicious effects . to which hypothesis suits well what is deliver'd by more than one traveller into egypt , and more particularly by our ingenious countreyman mr. george sandys , who not only takes notice , that about the time of the overflowing of nilus , whose abounding with nitre has been observed even by the antients , there is a certain moistening emanation diffus'd thorow the air. to prove , sayes he * , speaking of the overflowing of nilus , that it proceedeth from a natural cause , this one , though strange , yet true experiment will suffice . take of the earth of egypt adjoining to the river , and preserve it carefully , that it neither come to be wet nor wasted , weight it daily , and you shall find it neither more nor less heavy until the seventeenth of june , at which day it beginneth to grow more ponderous , and augmenteth with the augmentation of the river , whereby they have an infallible knowledge of the state of the deluge , proceeding without doubt from the humidity of the air , which having a recourse through all passible places , and mixing therewith increaseth the same , as it increaseth in moisture . that these sanative steams perform their effects meerly because they are moist , i presume naturalists will scarce pretend ; but that they may be of such a nature as by their coalition with the morbifick corpuscles to increase their bulk and alter their figure , or precipitate them out of the air , or clog their agility , or pervert their motions , and in a word destroy all or some tat least of those mechanical ▪ affections which made those corpuscles pestilential : that , i say , these antidotal vapours ( if i may so call them ) may have these effects upon those that formerly were morbifick , and that so there may result from the association of two sorts of particles , whereof one was of a highly noxious nature , a harmless mixture , might here be made probable by several things ; but that i hope what i have lately recited about the coalitions of the effluvia of spirit of salt and of urine ( liquors known to be highly contrary to each other ) is not already forgotten by you . and the experiment with which i am to conclude this essay will perhaps make you think it possible , that the pestiferous steams that have already pass'd out of the air , and invaded , but not too much vitiated , the bodies of men , may have their malignity much debilitated by the supervening of these antidotal particles . for in that experiment you will find , that the steams emitted into the air from the liquor there described , though that were actually cold , were able to reach , and manifestly to operate , ( and that probably by way of praecipitation , ) upon corpuscles that were fenc'd from them by the interposition of other bodies ; not more porous than those of living men. whether the fume of sulphur , which by many is extoll'd to prevent the infection of the air , do by its acid or other particles disarm , if i may so speak , the pestilential ones , i have not now time to inquire : no more than whether in ireland and some few other countries , that breed or brook no poysonous animals , that hostility may proceed , at least in great part , from the peculiar nature of the soyl , which both from its superficial and deeper parts , constantly supplies the air with corpuscles destructive to venemous animals . and some other particulars , that may be pertinently enough consider'd here , you may find treated on in other papers . and therefore at present i shall only intimate in a word , that having purposely made a visible and lasting stain on a solid body barely by cold effluvia , i did by the invisible and cold steams of another body make in two or three minutes a visible change in the colour of that stain . and as for the other part of the conjecture , ( viz. ) that meteors may sometimes be produc'd by the occursions of subterraneal effluvia , some of them of one determinate nature , and some of another , i think i could , to countenance it , give you divers instances of the plentiful impregnation ) of the air at some times , and in some places , with steams of very differing natures , and such as are not so likely to be attracted by the heat of the sun , as to be sent up from the subterraneal regions , and sometimes from minerals themselves . but for instances of this kind , i shall , for brevities sake , refer you to another paper * , where i have purposely treated of this subject , and particularly shewn , that though usually the effluxions that come from under ground are ill-scented , yet they are not alwayes so ; and also that sulphureous exhalations even from cold , and , for the most part , aqueous liquors may retain their determinate nature in the air , and act accordingly upon solid bodies themselves , to whose constitution those effluvia chance to be proportionate . but one memorable story not mention'd 〈…〉 that discourse is too much to our present purpose to be here omitted , especially having met with it in so approved an author as the experienc'd agricola , who having mention'd out of antient historians the raining of white and red liquors , which they took ( erroneously i doubt not ) for milk and blood , subjoyns , * ut autem majorèm fidem habe amus annalium monumentis facit res illa decantata , quae patrum memoriâ ( in another place he specifies the year of our lord ) in suevia accidit ; aer enim ille stillavit guttas , quae lineas vestes crucibus rubris quasi sanguineis imbuebant . which i the rather mention , because it does not only prove what i alledge it for ; but may keep , what is lately and very credibly reported to have happen'd in divers places of the kingdom of naples soon after the fiery eruption of vesuvius , from being judg'd a phaenomenon either altogether fabulous , ( as doubtless many have thought it , ) or a prodigie without all example , as is presum'd even by those that think it not miraculous . and to this i add , that 't will be the less improbable , that the more agile corpuscles of subterraneal salts , sulphurs and bitumens , may be rais'd into the air , and keep distinct natures there , if so fixt a body as common earth it self can be brought to swim in the air. and yet of this the worthy writer newly quoted gives us , besides what annals relate , this testimony upon his own knowledge : * certè hîc kempnicii undecimum abhinc annum mense septembri effluxerunt imbres , sic cum terra lutea commisti , ut eâ passim plateas scilicet stratas viderem conspersas . and to shew you that in some cases the particles even of vegetable bodies may not so soon perish in the air as they vanish there , but may retain distinct natures at a greater distance , than one would think , from the bodies that copiously emit them ; i shall add , that having desir'd an ingenious gentleman , that went on a considerable employment to the east-indies , to make some observations for me in his voyage ; he sent me among other things this remarque : that having sayl'd along the coast of ceylon , ( famous for cinnamon-trees and well-scented gums , ) though they coasted it almost a whole day , the wind , that then chanc'd to blow from the shoar , brought them a manifestly odoriferous air from the island , though they kept off many miles ( perhaps twenty or twenty-five ) from the shoar . nor should this be thought incredible , because the diffusion seems so disproportionate to that of other bodies dissolved by fluids ; as , for instance , though salt be an active body and resoluble into abundance of minute particles , yet one part of salt will scarce be tastable in an hundred parts of water . for sensibly to affect so gross an organ as that of our tast , there is usually required in sapid particles a bigness far exceeding that which is necessary to the making bodies fit objects for the sense of smelling , and , which is here mainly to be considered , there is a great difference between the power a body has to impregnate so thin and fine a fluid as air , whose parts are so rare and lax , and that which it has to impregnate liquors , such as water or wine , whose parts are so constipated as to make it not only visible and tangible , but ponderous . on which occasion i remember that having had a curiosity to try how far a sapid body could be diluted without ceasing to be so , i found by tryal , that one drop of good chymical , and , as artists call it , essential oyl of cinnamon being duly mix'd by the help of sugar with wine , retain'd the determinate tast of cinnamon , though it were diffus'd into near a quart of wine . so that making a moderate estimate , i concluded , that upon the common supposition , according to which a drop is reckon'd for a grain , one part of oyl had given the specifick tast of the spice , it was drawn from , to near fourteen thousand parts of wine . by comparing which experiment with what i noted about the proportion of salt requisite to make water tast of it , you will easily perceive ; that there may be a very great difference in point of diffusiveness between the little particles that make bodies sapid : which may serve to confirm both some part of the first chapter of the foregoing essay of the subtilty of effluvia ▪ and what i was lately saying to shew it possible , that antimonial glass might impart store of steams to the emetick wine , without appearing upon common scales to have lost of its weight ; since we see , that one drop of so light a body as oyl may communicate not insensible effluvia , but tastable corpuscles to near a quart of liquor . but this is not all for which i mention our experiment : for i must now add , that besides the almost innumerable sapid parts of a spicy drop communicated to the wine , it thence diffused a vast number of odorous particles into the air , which both i , and others perceived to be imbued with the distinct scent of cinnamon , and which perhaps the liquor would have been found able to have aromatized for i know not how long a time , if i had had leisure to prosecute the observation . chap. v. the third and last way i shall mention of shewing the determinate nature of effluviums , is to be taken from the consideration of their effects upon other bodies than the organs of our senses ; ( for of their operations upon these we have already spoken in the foregoing chapter ▪ ) for the effects , that certain bodies produce on others by their effluviums , being constant and determinate , and oftentimes very different from those , which other agents by their emissions work upon the same and other subjects , the distinct nature of the corpuscles emitted may be thence sufficiently gather'd . we may from the foregoing tract of the subtilty of effluvia , borrow some instances very pertinent to this place . for the temporary benumbedness or stupefaction , for example , produc'd in the fisherman's foot by the effluvia * of the fish ( amoreatim ) mention'd by the ingenious piso , manifests , that those stupifying emanations retain'd a peculiar and venemous nature during their whole passage through the shoe , stocking and skin , interpos'd betwixt the fish and the nervous part of the foot benumb'd by it . and though there are very few other bodies in the world , that are minute enough to pass through the pores of glass , 't is apparent , by the experiment there recited of the oblong iron hermetically seal'd up in a glass-pipe , that the magnetical effluvia of the earth may retain their peculiar and wonderful nature in a smallness that qualifies them to pass freely through the pores of glass it self . but that i may neither repeat what you have already met with in the foregoing tract , nor anticipate what i have to say in the next ; i will employ in this chapter some instances that may be spar'd from both . that divers bodies of a venemous nature may exercise some such operations upon others by their effluviums transmitted through the air , as they are wont to do in their gross substance , is a truth , whereof though i have not met with many , yet i have met with some examples among physicians . the learned * sennertus observes as a known thing , that the apprentices of apothecaries have been cast into profound sleeps , when in distilling opiat and hypnotick liquors they have received in at their nostrils the vapours exhaling from those bodies . 't is recorded by the * writers about poysons , that the root and juyce of mandragora casts those , that take it , into a deep sopor not unlike a lethargy . and though the apples of the same plant be thought to be much less malignant ; yet levinus lemnius relates that it happen'd to him more than once , that having laid some mandrake-apples in his study , he was by their steams made so sleepy , that he could hardly recover himself ; but the apples being taken away he regain'd alacrity , and threw off all drowsiness . among all poysons there is scarce any whose phaenomena are in my opinion more strange than those that proceed from a mad dog ; and yet even this poyson , which seems to require corpuscles of so odd and determinate a nature , is recorded by physicians to have been conveyed by exhalations . aretaeus writes ( as a learned modern quotes him , ) quòd à rabido cane , qui in faciem , dum spiritus adducitur , tantummodò inspiraverit , & nullo modo momorderit , in rabiem homo agatur . and as there are relations , among physicians , of animals , that have become rabiosi by having eaten of the parts or excrements of rabid animals ; so * caelius aurelianus , who writes , that some have been made to run mad , not by being bitten , but wounded only with the claws of a mad dog , tells us also of a man , that fell into a hydrophobia ( which is wont to be a high degree of the rabies , and by some of the antienter writers was employ'd to signifie that disease ) without being bitten by a mad dog , but infected solo odore ex rabido cane attracto . by which odours in this and other narratives of poysons i understand not a bare scholastick species , but a swarm of effluvia , which most commonly are all or at least some of them odorous . and though it may justly seem strange to many , that the venom of a mad dog should be communicated otherwise than by biting , which is suppos'd to be the only way he can infect by , it may appear less improbable , because matthaeus de gradibus names a person , who , he says , prov'd infected after many days , by only having put his hand into the mouth of a mad dog , who did not bite him . and the formerly mentioned matthiolus relates , that he saw two , that were made rabid without any would by the slabber of a mad dog , with which they had the misfortune to be besmear'd . * sennertus himself affirms of a painter of his acquainance , that , when he had open'd a box , in which he had long kept included realgar , a noxious mineral , sometimes used by painters and not unknown to chymists , and had unfortunately snuff'd in the steams of it , he was seis'd with a giddiness in his head and fainting fits , his whole face also swelling , though by taking of antidotes he escap'd the danger . divers other examples we have met with in the writings of physicians , which i forbear to add to these , because , i confess , i very much doubt the truth of them , though the deliverers of some of them be men of note . but the probability of most of the things already cited out of credible authors may be strengthned by what i shall now subjoyn , as a further proof of the distinct nature of effluvia ; of which it will be a very considerable proof , if medicines , which are of a milder and more familiar nature and operation than poysons , shall yet be able in some cases to retain , in their invisible particles swimming in the air , the same , ( though not so great ) power of purging , which is known to belong to them when their gross body is taken in at the mouth . of this i have elsewhere , on another occasion , given some examples . to which i shall now add , that i know a doctor of physick , that is usually purg'd by the odours or exhalations of a certain electuary , whose cathartick operation , when it is taken in substance , is wont to be but languid . and another doctor of my acquaintance , causing good store of the root of black hellebore to be long pounded in a mortar , most of those , that were in the room , and especially the party that pounded it , were thereby purg'd , and some of them strongly enough . and the learned sennertus somewhere affirms , that some will be purg'd by the very odour of colocynthis . and 't is not to be pass'd by unregarded ; that in the cases i have alledg'd , exhalations , that are endow'd with occult qualities , ( for those of cathartick medicines are reckon'd among such ) ascend into the air without being forc'd from the bodies they belong'd to by an external heat . and if i would in this place alledge examples of the operations of such effluvia , as do not pass into the air , but yet operate only by the contact of the external parts of the body , i could give instances , not only of the purgative , but the emetick qualities of some medicines exerted without their being taken in at the mouth , or injected with instruments . there are also other sorts of examples than those hitherto mentioned , that argue a determinate nature in the effluxions of some bodies emitted into the air. approv'd writers tell us , that the shadow of a walnut-tree with the leaves on it is very hurtful to the head ; and some instances they give us of great mischief it has sometimes done . and though the shadow , as such , is not likely to be guilty of such bad effects ; yet the effluvia of the neighbouring plant may be noxious enough to the head. for i , that was not at all prepossess'd with an opinion that it was so , and therefore without scruple resorted to the shade of walnut trees in a hot countrey , was by experience forc'd to think it might give others the head-ach , since it did to me , who , thanks be to god , both was , and am still very little subject to that distemper . and this brings into my mind an observation that i have met with among some ingenious travellers into the west-indies , who observe in general , and of late a country-man of our own affirms it in particular , of the poysonous manchinello-tree , that birds will not only forbear to eat of the fruit of venemous plants , but , as to some of them , will not so much as light on the trees : which i therefore mention , because probably nature instructs them to avoid such trees by some noxious smell , or other emanation , that offends the approaching birds . and i remember , that some of our navigators give it for a rule to those that happen to land in unknown islands or coasts , that they may venture to eat of those parts of fruits which they can perceive , the birds , like kind tasters , to have been pecking at before . nicolaus florentinus ( cited by sennertus ) tells us of a certain lombard , that having in a house , that he nam'd , at florence , burn'd a great black spider at the flame of a candle , so unwarily , that he drew in the steams of it at his nostrils , presently began to be much disorder'd and fell into a fainting fit , and for the whole night had his heart much disaffected , his pulse being so weak , that one could scarce perceive he had any ; though afterwards he was cured by treacle , diamose , and the powder of zedoary mixt together . and i remember , that being some years ago in ireland , i gather'd a certain plant ( peculiar to some parts of that countrey ) which the natives call maccu-buy , because of strange traditions that go about it ; the chief of which i found by tryal not to be true : but yet being satisfied , that its operations were odd and violent enough , i was willing to gratifie the chief physician of the countrey , who was desirous i should propose to him some wayes of correcting it ; and whilst i was speaking of one that required the pounding of it , he told me on that occasion , that intending to make an extract of it with vinegar , he caus'd his man to beat it well in a mortar , which the man soon repented he had begun to do : and the doctor himself , though at a pretty distance off , was so wrought upon by the corpuscles that issued out into the air , that his head , and particularly his face , swell'd to an enormous and disfiguring bulk , and continued tumid for no inconsiderable time after . i have not leisure to subjoyn many more instances to shew the determinate nature of effluviums , small enough to wander through the air ; nor perhaps will it be necessary , if you please but to consider these two things . the first , that many odoriferous bodies , as amber , musk , civet , &c. as they will , by the adhesion of their whole substance , perfume skins , linnen , &c. so they will in time perfume some bodies disposed to admit their action , though kept at a distance from them . and the other is , that in pestilential feavers and divers other contagious sicknesses , as the plague , small-pox , or measels , the same determinate disease is communicable to found persons , not only by the immediate contact of the infected party ; but without it , by the contagious steams that exhale from his body into the air. and having said this and desir'd you to reflect upon it , i shall conclude this chapter with an experiment , that possibly will not a little confirm a great part of it . considering then with my self , how i might best devise a way of shewing to the very eye , that effluvia elevated without the help of heat , and wandering in the air , may both retain their own nature , and upon determinate bodies produce effects , that a vulgar philosopher would ascribe to occult qualities : i remember'd , that i had found by tryals ( made to other purposes ) that volatile and sulphureous salts would so work upon some acid ones sublim'd with mercury , as to produce an odd diversity of colours , but chiefly an inky one ; on which account i judg'd it likely that my aim would by answer'd by the following experiment . i took an ounce , or better , of such a volatile tincture of sulphur , as i have elsewhere * taught you to make of quick-lime , sulphur and sal armoniack , and stop'd it up in a vial capable of containing at least twice as much ; then taking a paper whereon something had been written with invisible ink , i laid it down six inches off of the vial , which , being unstop'd , began , upon the access of the fire , to emit white fumes into it ; and by these , what was written upon the paper , notwithstanding its distance from the liquor , quickly became very legible , though not quite so suddenly , as if a paper , written with the same clear liquor , were held at the like distance directly over the orifice of the vial. and having caus'd several pieces of clean paper to be written on , with a new pen dip'd in the clear solution of sublimate made in water , 't was pleasant to see , how divers of the letters of several of these papers , being plac'd within some convenient distance of the vial , would be made plainly legible , and some of them more , some less blackish , according to their distances from the smoaking liquor , and other circumstances . but 't was more surprizing to see , that when i held or laid some of these papers , though with the written side upwards , just upon or over the orifice of the vial , though the contained liquor did not by some inches reach so high , yet the latent letters would become not only legible but conspicuous in about a quarter of a minute of an hour ( measur'd by a good watch fit for the purpose , as more than one tryal assur'd me . ) and as it may be observ'd , that in some circumstances the smoaking liquor and the solution of sublimate will make an odd precipitate almost of a silverish colour , so in one or two of our tryals we found a like colour produc'd , by the steams of that liquor , in some of the colourless ink. nor is it so necessary to employ a visibly smoaking liquor for the denigrating of invisible ink at a distance . for i have , to that purpose , with good success , though not equal to that i have recited , employ'd a couple of liquors , wherein there was neither sulphur , nor sal armoniack , nor sublimate . what other tryals i made with our volatile tincture of sulphur , 't is not necessary here to relate , only one experiment , which you will possibly think odd enough , i shall not omit ; because it will not only confirm the precedent tryals , but also much of the foregoing essay , by shewing the great subtilty and penetrating power of effluviums that seem rather to issue out very faintly , than to be darted out with any briskness . causing then something to be written with dissolv'd sublimate upon a piece of paper , we folded the paper with the written side inwards , and then inclos'd this in the midst of six sheets of paper , laid one upon another , not plac'd one within another , and folded up in the form of an ordinary letter or packet to be seal'd , that , the edges of the enclosing paper being inserted one within the other , the fumes might not get into this written paper but by penetrating through the leaves themselves : this done , that side of the packet , on which there was no commissure , and on which , were it to be sent away , the superscription should be written , was laid upon the orifice of the vial , which ( as was before intimated ) was some inches higher than the surface of the liquor , and left there about ten minutes ; after which taking off the folded papers , and opening them , we found , that the steams had pervaded all the leaves , in which the written paper had been enclos'd . for , though the leaves did not appear stain'd or alter'd , yet the formerly latent characters appear'd conspicuous . i have not time to discourse , whether and how far this experiment may assist us to explain some odd effects of thunder , or of that strange phaenomenon , ( glanc'd at in the foregoing chapter , ) which is said to have happen'd lately in the kingdom of naples after the great eruption of vesuvitus , which is said to have been follow'd by the appearing of the crosses formerly mention'd , some of which have been found on the innermost parts of linnen , that had been carefully folded up . but of these and the like things , i say , i have now no time to discourse , whether any thing derivable from our experiment may be pertinently apply'd to their explication . for which reason i shall add no more than that afterwards for further tryal we took a printed book , that chanc'd to be at hand , and which we judg'd the fittest for our purpose , because the leaves being broad they might the better preserve a small paper to be plac'd in the mid'st of them from being accessible to the exhalations sidewise , and having put the design'd paper into this book , and held it to the orifice of the vial , though there were no less than twelve leaves between them ; yet those letters , that happen'd to be the most rightly plac'd , were made inky in the short space of three minutes at the utmost ; though this liquor had been so long kept and so often unstop'd to try conclusions with it , that it had probably lost a good part of the most spirituous and piercing particles . new experiments , to make the parts of fire and flame stable & ponderable . by the honorable robert boyle . london : printed by william godbid , for moses pitt , at the sign of the white hart in little britain . 1673. a preface ; shewing the motive , design , and parts of the ensuing tract . the inducements which put me upon the attempt , express'd in the title of this essay , were chiefly these : first , i consider'd , that the interstellar part of the universe , consisting of air and aether , or fluids analogous to one of them , is diaphanous ; and that the aether is , as it were , a vast ocean , wherein the luminous globes , that here and there like fishes swim by their own motion , or like bodies in whirlpools are carried about by the ambient , are but very thinly dispers'd , and consequently that the proportion , that the fixt stars and planetary bodies bear to the diaphanous part of the world , is exceeding small and scarce considerable ; though we should admit the sun and fixt stars to be opacous bodies upon the account of their terminating our sight : which diffident expression i employ , because i have elsewhere shewn by two or three experiments , purposely devised , that a body may appear opacous to our eyes , and yet allow free passage to the beams of light. i further consider'd , that there being so vast a disproportion between the diaphanous part of the world and the globes , about which 't is every way diffused , and with which it is sometimes in great portions mingled , as in the water , which together with the earth makes up the globe we inhabit ; and the nature of diaphanous bodies being such , that , when the sun or any other luminous body illustrates them , that which we call light does so penetrate and mix it self per minima with them , that there is no sensible part of the transparent body uninlightned ; i thought it worth the enquiry , whether a thing , so vastly diffused as light is were some thing corporeal or not ? and whether , in case it be , it may be subjected to some other of our senses besides our sight , whereby we may examine ; whether it hath any affinity with other corporeal beings , that we are acquainted with here below ? i did not all this while forget , that the peripateticks make light a meer quality , and that cartesius ingeniously endeavours to explicate it by a modification of motion in an aetherial matter : but i remember'd too , that the atomists of old , and of late the learned gaffendus , and many other philosophers assert light to be corporeal ; and that some tears since , though i declined to pass my judgement about the question , yet i had employ'd arguments , that appear'd plausible enough to shew , that 't was not absurd to suppose , that the sun , which is the fixt star most known to us , might be a fiery body . and therefore doubting , whether the corporeity of light would be in haste determined by meer ratiocinations , i thought it very well worth the endeavouring to try whether i could do any thing towards clearing the dispute of it by experiments ; especially being perswaded , that , though such an attempt should be ineffectual , it would but leave the controversie in its former state , without prejudicing either of the contending hypotheses ; and yet , if it should prove successful , the consequences of it would be very great and useful towards the explicating of divers phaenomena in divers parts of natural philosophy , as in chymistry , botanicks , and ( if there be any such ) the allowable part of astrologie . ( nor perhaps would it be impossible by the help of slight theorical alterations ; to reconcile the experiments , i design'd , to either of the above-mention'd hypotheses , and so as to the explication of light , to one another . ) to compass then , what i aim'd at , i thought , 't was fit in the first place to try , what i could do by the union of the sun-beams , they being on all hands confess'd to be portions ( as i may so speak ) of true and celestial light : and then , i thought fit to try , what could be obtain'd from flame ; not only because that is acknowledg'd to be a luminary but because i hoped , the difficulties , i foresaw in the other tryals , might be in some measure avoided in those made with flame ; and if both sorts of them should succeed , the later and former would serve to confirm each other . according to the method i proposed of handling these two subjects , i should begin with some account of what i attempted to perform in the sun-beams : but the truth is , that when i chanc'd to fall upon the enquiry that occasion'd this paper , besides that the time of the year it self was not over-favourable , the weather proved so extraordinary dark and unseasonable that it was wonder'd at ; so that , though i was furnish'd with good burning-glasses , and did several times begin to make tryals upon divers bodies , as lead , quicksilver , antimony , &c. yet the frequent interposition of clouds and mists did so disfavour my attempts , that , however they were not all alike defeated , yet i could not prosecute the greatest part of them to my own satisfaction . and therefore being unwilling to build on them as yet ; i shall reserve an account of them for another opportunity ; and now proceed to the mention of that sort of experiments which depending less on casualities , 't was more in my power to bring to an issue . i know i might have saved both you and my self some time and pains by omitting several of these tryals , and by a more compendious way of delivering the rest . but i rather chose the course i have taken ; partly because the novelty and improbabilities of the truth i deliver seems to require , that it be made out by a good number of tryals ; partly because i thought it might not be altogether useless to you and your friends , to see upon what inducements the several steps were made in this inquiry ; partly because i was willing to contribute something towards the history that now perhaps will be thought fit to be made of the increment or decrement that particular bodies may receive by being exposed to the fire ; and partly ( in fine ) because the incongruity of the doctrine here asserted to the opinions of the schools , and the general prepossessions of mankind , made me think it fit by a considerable variety , as well as number , of experiments to obviate , as far as may be , the differing objections and evasions wherewith a truth so paradoxical may expect to be encountred . new experiments , to make fire and flame ponderable . though there be among the following tryals a diversity that invites me , as to rank them into four or five differing sorts , so to assign them as many distinct sections ; yet for the conveniency of making the references , there will be occasion to make betwixt them , i shall wave the distinction , and set them down in one continued series . and because i am willing to comply with my hast , as well as to deal frankly and without ceremony with you , i shall venture to subjoyn the naked transcripts of my experiments , as i had in an artless manner set them down with many others for my own remembrance among my adversaria , without so much as retrenching some circumstances that relate less to my present argument , than to some other purposes . i shall then begin with the mention of a couple of experiments , which though they might conveniently enough be referr'd to another paper ; yet i shall here set them down , because it seems very proper to endeavour to shew in the first place , that flame it-self may be as 't were incorporated with close and solid bodies so as to increase their bulk and weight . tryals of the first sort . experiment i. [ a piece of copper-plate not near so thick as a half-crown , and weighing two drachmes and twenty-five grains , was so plac'd with its broad part horizontal , in a crucible , whose bottom had a little hole in it , for fumes to get out at , that it could not be removed from its position , nor be easily made to drop down or lose its level to the horizon , though the crucible were turned upside down : then about an ounce and half of common sulphur being put into a taller and broader crucible , that , wherein the copper stuck , was inverted into the orifice of it , that the sulphur being kindled , the flame , but not the melted brimstone in substance , might reach the plate , and have some vent beyond it at the above-mentioned hole . this brimstone burn'd about two hours , in which time it seem'd all to have been resolved into flame , no flowers of sulphur appearing to have sublimed into the inside of the upper crucible ; and though the copper-plate were at a considerable distance from the ignited sulphur , yet the flame seem'd to have really penetrated it , and to have made it visibly swell or grow thicker ; which appear'd to be done by a real accession of substance : since , after we had wip'd off some little adhering sordes , and with them divers particles of copper that stuck close to them , the plate was found to weigh near two and thirty grains more than at first , and consequently to have increased its former weight by above a fifth part . ] exper. ii. [ having , by refining one ounce of sterling silver with salt-peter , according to our way reduc'd it to seven drachms or somewhat less ; we took a piece of the thus purified silver , that weighed one drachm wanting two grains , and having order'd it as the copper-plate had been in the former experiment , after the flame of above one ounce and a quarter of sulphur , ( that quantity chancing to be suitable to the capacity of the crucible ) had for about an hour and a half beat upon it , the silver-plate seem'd to the eye somewhat swell'd , and the lower surface of it , that was next the flame , was brought to a great smoothness , the weight being increas'd to one drachm five grains and three quarters ; which increase of weight falling so short of that which was gain'd by the copper , i leave it to you to consider , whether the difference may be attributed to the closeness and compactness of the silver , argued by its being heavier in specie than copper ; or to the greater congruity of the pores of copper to be wrought on by the fiery menstruum ; or to some other cause . ] if you should here ask me , by what rational inducements i could be led to entertain so extravagant an expectation , as that such a light and subtile body as flame should be able to give an augmentation of weight to such ponderous bodies as minerals and metals ; i shall now , to avoid making anticipations here , or needless repetitions hereafter , return you only this answer : that the expectation you wonder at may justly be entertained upon the same or such like inducements , as you may easily discover in another paper , entitled corollarium paradoxum . for , supposing upon the grounds there laid , that flame may act upon some bodies as a menstruum , it seems no way incredible , that , as almost all other menstruums , so flame should have some of its own particles united with those of the bodies expos'd to its action : and the generality of those particles being , ( as 't is shewn in the paradox about the fewel of flames , ) either saline , or of some such piercing and terrestrial nature , 't is no wonder , that being wedg'd into the pores , or being brought to adhere very fast to the little parts of the bodies expos'd to their action , the accession of so many little bodies , that want not gravity , should , because of their multitude , be considerable upon a ballance , whereon one or two , or but few of these corpuscles would have no visible effect . i could here , if it were expedient , mention some odd scruples about the preceding experiments , and some also of the subsequent ; but , lest you should , with some other of my friends , upbraid me with being too jealous and sceptical , i will not trouble you with them ; but proceed to the next sort of tryals , wherein , though the matter were not always manifestly beaten on by a shining flame ; yet it was wrought on by that , which would be called flame by those who take not that word strictly , but in a latitude , and which this igneous substance may more properly be stiled , than it can be call'd common fire , this being visibly harbour'd in burning coals or other gross materials , from which our metals were fenc'd . and i have elsewhere shewn by experiment , that visibility is not in all cases necessary to actual flame , particularly when the eye receives a predominant impression from another light. tryals of the second sort . exper. iii. into a crucible , whose sides had been purposely taken down to make it very shallow , was put one ounce of copper-plates ; and this being put into our cupelling-furnace , and kept there two hours , and then being taken out we weighed the copper ( which had not been melted ) having first blown off all the ashes , and we found it to weigh one ounce and thirty grains . exper. iv. [ supposing that copper , being reduc'd to filings , and thereby gaining more of superficies in proportion to its bulk , would be more expos'd to the action of the fire , than when 't is in places as it was formerly ; we took one ounce of that metal in filings , and putting them upon a very shallow crucible , and under a muffler , we kept them there about three hours , ( whilst other things that required so long a time were cupelling ; ) and afterwards taking them off , we found them of a very dark colour , not melted but caked together in one lump , and increas'd in weight ( the ashes and dust being blown off ) no less than about forty-nine grains . part of which increment , above that obtained by the copper-plates in the former experiment , may not improbably be due to the longer time that in this experiment the fil'd copper was kept in the fire . ] exper. v. [ being willing to see , whether calcin'd harts-horn , that i did not find easie to be wrought on by corrosive menstruums , would retain any thing of the flame or fire to which it should be expos'd ; we weigh'd out one ounce of small lumps of harts-horn , that had been burnt till they appear'd white , and having put them into a crucible , and kept them in a cupelling-furnace for two hours , whilst some metals were driving off there by the violence of the fire ; we found , that when they were taken out , they had lost six or seven grains of their former weight ; perhaps either because , notwithstanding the external whiteness of the lumps , the internal parts of some of them might not be so exquisitely calcin'd , but retain some oleaginous or other volatile substance ▪ or , because , having omitted to ignite them well before they were weigh'd , they may have since their first calcination imbib'd some moist particles of the air. which conjecture seem'd the likelier , because , having kept them a while in the scales they were weigh'd in , they did within two or three hours make it somewhat preponderate . on which occasion i shall add , that , at the same time , with the harts-horn we put in one ounce of well-heated brick , and kept that likewise in the furnace for above two hours ; at the end of which weighing it whilst it continued hot , we did not find it to have either sensibly got or lost ; but , some time after , it seem'd upon the ballance to have imbib'd some , though but very little , moisture from the air. ] exper. vi. [ upon a good cupel we put one ounce of english tin of the better sort , and having plac'd it in the furnace under a muffler , though it presently melted , yet it did not forsake its place , but remain'd upon the concave surface of the cupel , till at the end of about two hours it appear'd to have been well calcin'd ; and then being taken out and weighed by it self , the ounce of metal was found to have gained no less than a drachm . ] exper. vii . [ an ounce of lead was put upon the cupel , made of calcin'd harts-horn , and placed under the muffler after that the cupel was first made hot and then weighed . this lead did not enter into the cupel , but was turn'd into a pretty kind of litharge on the top of it , and broke the cupel , whereby some part of the cupel was lost in the furnace , and yet the rest , together with the litharge , weigh'd seven grains more than the ounce of lead and the heated cupel did when they were put in . ] but because , though this tryal shew'd that some weight was gain'd either by the metal or cupel , or both ; yet it did not by this appear , what either of them acquir'd ; it seem'd fit to subjoyn a further tryal . exper. viii . [ we took a cupel about two ounces in weight , made of about ten parts of bone-ashes , and one of charcoal-ashes , made up together with ale. this was by it self put in a cupelling-furnace , under a muffler ; and the laborant , well vers'd in weighing , was order'd to take it out , when 't was throughly and highly heated , and to weigh it whilst 't was in that condition ( i being then present : ) this being done , 't was forthwith plac'd again under the muffler , where some metalline bodies were cupelling , and kept there for about two hours ; at the end of which time 't was taken out red-hot , and presently put into the same ballance , as before , which was already fastned to a gibbet ; where having caus'd the adhering ashes to be blown off , i found , that whereas , when 't was first taken from under the muffler , we had but two ounces and two grains , now the same weight being put into the opposite scale , it had gain'd very near one and twenty grains . and here note , that 't was not without some cause , that i was careful to have the cupel weighed red-hot . for i had a suspition , that , notwithstanding the dryness of the bone , it might receive some little alteration of weight by imbibing some little particles wandering in the air ; which suspition the event justified . for leaving the cupel counterpois'd to cool in the ballance , in a short time it began sensibly to preponderate ; and suffering it to continue there nine or ten hours , till we had occasion to use the ballance , i found it at the end of that time to be about three grains heavier than before . ] this was not the only tryal we made about the augmenting the weight of cupels ; but this being the fairest , and exempt from those mischances , from which the other were not altogether free ; i shall content my self to have set down this : in the mention of which i thought fit to take notice of the increase of the weight of the cupel after it had layn in the scales , and also that we weighed it at first whilst it was throughly hot , because those circumstnces , as not being suspected , may easily be left unthought on , even by skilful experimenters ; and yet the weighing of the cupel , when it had been well neal'd , and the not weighing it soon enough after 't is taken from the fire , may keep those , that shall reiterate this experiment , from making it cautiously and accurately enough . for if the former circumstance be omitted , that which the cupel may seem to have lost of its substance , was nothing but the adventitious moisture of the air ; and if the later circumstance be neglected , the weight , it may seem to have gain'd from the fire , was indeed due to the waterish particles of the air. i could wish also , that tryal were made , whether the success would be the same in cupels made in differing sorts of bone-ashes , and other materials , wont to be employed for that purpose . for that i had not opportunity to do . exper. ix . iron being a metal , that experience had inform'd me will more easily be wrought on by fluids that have particles of a saline nature in them , than is commonly believed ; 't was not unreasonable to expect , that flame would have a greater operation on it , ( especially if it were before-hand reduc'd to small parts ) than on any of the bodies hitherto describ'd . which supposition will be confirm'd by the short ensuing note . [ four drachms of filings of steel being kept two hours on a cupel under a muffler , acquir'd one drachm six grains and a quarter increase of weight . ] exper. x. [ a piece of silver , refin'd in our own laboratory , being put upon a cupel under a muffler , and kept there for an hour and half , whilst other things were refining , was taken out and weigh'd again , and , whereas before it weighed three drachms , thirty-two grains and a quarter , it now weighed in the same scales three drachms , thirty-four grains and a half , or but little less . ] finding this memorial among divers others about the weight of bodies , expos'd to the fire , i thought it not amiss to annex it in this place ; though finding it to be but single , i would not have it to be rely'd on till further tryal have been made to discover , whether it was more than a casual and anomalous experiment ; and if the silver had not been refin'd , i should have suspected , that the copper , that was blended with it , as 't is usually blended with common silver , might have occasioned the increased of weight . ( postcript . ) since the foregoing experiment was first set down , meeting with an opportunity to reiterate the tryal once more , we did it with half an ounce of filings of silver , well refin'd with lead in our own laboratory , and kept it about three hours upon the cupel ; after the end of which time taking it out , we found it to be of a less pleasant colour than it was of before , and melted ( though not so perfectly ) into a lump , which weigh'd four drachms and six grains ; and yet , the success being so odd , and , if it prove constant , of such moment , i could wish the tryal were further repeated in differing quantities of the metal . exper. xi . [ we took a drachm of filings of zink or spelter , and having put it upon a cupel under a muffler , we kept it there in a cupelling-fire about three hours , ( having occasion to continue the cupellation so long for other tryals ; ) then taking it off the cupel , we found it to be caked into a brittle and dark-colour'd lump , which look'd as if the filings had been calcin'd . this being weigh'd in the same scales gain'd full six grains , and so a tenth part of its first weight . ] exper. xii . among our various tryals upon common metals , we thought fit to make one or two upon a metal brought us from the east-indies , and there call'd tutenâg , which name being unknown to our european chymists , i have elsewhere endeavoured to give some account of the metal it self ; whence i shall borrow the ensuing note , as directly belonging to our present purpose . [ two drachms of filings of tutenâg being put upon a cupel , and kept under the muffler for about two hours , the filings were not melted into a lump of metal , but look'd as if ceruss and minium being pouder'd had been mingled together ; some of the parts appearing distinctly white ; and others red : the calx being put into the ballance appear'd to have gained twenty-eight grains and a quarter . another time the experiment being reiterated with the like circumstances , we found , that two drachms of the filed tutenâg gained the like increase of weight , abating less than one grain . ] so that this indian metal seems to have gain'd more in the fire , in proportion to its weight , than any we have hitherto made tryal of . exper. xiii . [ being desirous to confirm by a clear experiment , what i elsewhere deliver contrary to the vulgar opinion of those that believe , that in all cupellations almost all the lead that is employ'd about them , does , together with the baser metals that are to be purg'd off from the silver or gold , fly away in smoak , as indeed in some sort of cupellations a good proportion may be blown off that way : we took two ounces of good lead and one drachm of filings of copper , and having caus'd a cupel to be ignited , and nimbly taken out of the furnace , and weighed , whilst 't was very hot , 't was presently put back , together with the two metals laid on it , into the cupelling-furnace , where having been kept for about two hours , it was taken out again , and 't was found , according to what ( as i elsewhere * note ) uses to happen in such circumstances , to have nothing on the surface of it worth weighing distinctly in the scales , in which the cupel with what was sunk into it amounted to four ounces three drachms and eleven grains , which wanted but nine grains of the whole weight of the cupel and the two metals , when they were all three together committed to the fire . ] so that , though we make a liberal allowance for the increment of weight that may with any probability be supposed to have been attained by the cupel and what was put upon it , yet it will easily be granted , that very much the greater part of the metals was not driven off in fumes , but enter'd into the substance of the cupel . tryals of the third sort . after having shewn that either flame or the analogous effluxions of the fire will be , what chymists would call , corporified with metals and minerals exposed naked to its action ; i thought it would be a desirable thing to discover , whether this flame or igneous fluid were subtile enough to exercise any such operation upon the light bodies shelter'd from its immediate contact by being included in close vessels ; but it being very difficult to expose bodies in glasses to such vehement fires without breaking or melting the glass , and thereby losing the experiment ; i thought fit , first to employ crucibles carefully luted together , that nothing might visibly get in or out , and of that attempt i find among my notes the following account . exper. xiv . [ we took an ounce of steel freshly filed from a lump of that metal , that the filings might not be rusty , and having included them betwixt two crucibles , as formerly , kept them for two hours in a strong fire , and suffer'd them to continue there till the fire went out ; the crucibles being unluted , the filings appear'd hard caked together , and had acquir'd a dark colour somewhat between black and blew , and were increas'd five grains in weight . ] the foregoing experiment being the first i mention of this kind , 't will not be amiss to confirm it by annexing the following memorial . [ an ounce of filings of steel being put between the crucibles luted together , after they had been kept about an hour and half in the fire , were taken out , and being weigh'd , were found to have gained six grains . ] exper. xv. [ two ounces of copper-plate were put into a new crucible , over which a lesser was whelmed , and the commissures were closed with lute , that nothing might fall in . after the same manner two ounces of tin were included betwixt crucibles , and also two ounces of lead ; these being put into the cupelling-furnace were kept in a strong fire about an hour and a half , while something else was trying there . and then being taken out , the event was , that the copper-plates , though they stuck together , were not quite melted , and seem'd some of them to have acquir'd scales like copper put into a naked fire , and the two ounces had gain'd eight grains in weight . the lead had broke through the bottom of the crucible , and thereby hinder'd the design'd observation . the tin acquir'd six grains in weight , and was in part brought to a pure white calx , but much more of it was melted into a lump of a fine yellow colour , almost like gold , but deeper . ] the prosecution of this tryal as to the copper-plates you will meet with in experim . xxi . to which i therefore referr you . n. b. because lead in cupellation enters the cupel , we were willing to try , if we could so far hinder it from doing so , as to make some estimate what change of weight the operation of the fire would make in it : and therefore being able already to make a near guess , how much a quantity of tin may gain by being calcined on a cupel , and remembring also from some of my former tryals the indisposition which tin gives lead to cupellation , we mixed a drachm of tin with two ounces of lead , and exposing the mixture ( in a cupel ) to the fire under a muffler , we first brought it to fusion , and then it seem'd at the top dry and swell'd and discolour'd ; notwithstanding which , having continued the operation a good while , because of other things that were to be done with the same fire , we were not lucky enough to bring the experiment to an issue worth the relating here , in reference to the scope above-propos'd , though in relation to another the success was welcome enough . ] exper. xvi . [ supposing that if copper were beaten into thinner plates than those we lately us'd , and kept longer in the fire , this would have a more considerable operation upon them , we took one ounce of very thinly hammer'd pieces of copper , and putting them betwixt two crucibles ( one whelm'd over another ) as in experim . xv. with some lute at the corners of the juncture , to keep the fire from coming immediately at the metal , we kept them in the cupelling-furnace about three hours , and then disjoyning the vessels , we found the metal covered with a dark and brittle substance , like that describ'd in the above recited experiment . which substance , when scal'd off , disclos'd a finely colour'd metal , which , together with these burnt scales , amounted to one and twenty grains above the weight that was first put in . ] if , when these things were doing , i had been furnished with a very good lute , which is no such easie thing to procure , as chymists , that have not frequently employed vulgar lutes , are wont to think ; i would have made a tryal of the ensuing experiment for a good while in the naked fire , notwithstanding that divers metalline minerals will scarce be brought to fusion in glasses , especially without such a fire , whose violence makes them break the vessels . for i thought , that by making a fit choice of the metals to be employed , i could prevent that inconvenience : but wanting the accommodations i desir'd , and yet presuming , that in a sand-furnace i might by degrees administer heat enough to melt so fusible a metal as fine tin , and keep it in fusion ; i resolved to make some tryals , first upon that , and then upon another metal . for though i was not sure of being then able to prosecute the experiment far enough ; yet i hoped , i might at least see some effects of my first tryal , which would enable me to guess , what i was to expect from a complete one . exper. xvii . [ we took then a piece of fine block-tin , and in a pair of good scales weighed out carefully half a pound of it ; this we put into a choice glass-retort , and kept it for two days or thereabouts in a sand-furnace , which gave heat enough to keep the metal in fusion without cracking the glass . then taking out the mixture , we carefully weigh'd it in the same scales , and found the superficies a little alter'd ( as if it were dispos'd to calcination ) and the weight to be increased about two grains or somewhat better . ] exper. xviii . [ the other experiment , i tryed in glasses , was with mercury , hoping , that , if i could make a precipitate per se in a hermetically seal'd glass , i should by comparing the weight of the precipitate , and the quick-silver that afforded it , have a clear experiment to my purpose ; and i should have no bad one , if i could but make it succeed with a glass , though not seal'd , yet well stop'd ; instead of those infernal-glasses ( as they call them ) which are commonly us'd and wont to be left open ( though some slightly stop them with a little paper or cotton : ) but though , partly that i might a little diversifie the experiment , and make it the more likely to succeed in one or other of the glasses , i divided the mercury and distributed it amongst several of them , and but a little to each , the success did not answer expectation , the hermetically seal'd glasses being unluckily broken ; and the precipitation in the others proceeding so slowly , that i was by a remove oblig'd to leave the tryal imperfect ; only i was encouraged , ( in case of a future opportunity ) to renew it another time , by finding that most of the glasses , though tall , and stop'd with fit corks , afforded some very fair precipitate , but not enough to answer my design . ] tryals of the fourth sort . most of the experiments hitherto recited , having been made as it were upon the by with others , whose exigencies 't was fit these should comply with ; very few of the expos'd bodies were kept in the cupelling-fire above two hours or thereabouts . upon which account i thought fit to try , how much some bodies , that had been already expos'd to the fire , would gain in weight by being again expos'd to it ; especially considering , that most calcinable bodies , ( for i affirm it not of all ) which yield rather calces than ashes by being without additament reduc'd in the fire to fine powder , seem'd to be by that operation open'd , or ( as a chymist would speak ) unlock'd , and therefore probably capable of being further wrought upon and increas'd in weight by such a menstruum as i suppos'd flame and igneous exhalations to be . and about this conjecture i shall subjoyn the ensuing tryals . exper. xix . [ one ounce of calx of tin , that had been made per se for an experiment in our own laboratory , being put in a new cupel and kept under the muffler for about two hours , was taken out hot and put into the scales , where the powder appear'd to have gain'd in weight one drachm and thirty-five grains by the operation of the fire , which made it also look much whiter than it did before , as appeared by comparing it with some of the calx that had not been exposed to the second fire : no part of the puttie was , as we could perceive , melted by the vehemence of the fire , much less reduc'd into metal . ] exper. xx. [ out of a parcel of filings of steel , that had been before expos'd to the fire and had its weight thereby increas'd some grains , not scruples ; we took an ounce , and having expos'd it at the same time with the calx of tin , and , for the same time , kept it in the fire , we took it out at the two hours end ; and found the weight to be increas'd two drachms and two and twenty grains . the filings were very hard bak'd together , and , the lump being broken , looked almost like iron . ] exper. xxi . the following experiment , though it may seem in one regard but a continuation of the xv th ; yet it has in this something peculiar from all the foregoing , that not only it affords an instance of the increase of weight obtain'd by a metal at the second time of its being expos'd to the fire , but shews also , that such an increment may be had , though this second ignition be made in close vessels . ] [ some of the copper mention'd in experim . xv. being accidentally lost , one ounce and four drachms of what remain'd was included betwixt two crucibles and expos'd to a strong fire for two hours , and suffer'd to continue there till the fire went out : when it was taken out , it appear'd to have gain'd ten grains in weight , and to have upon the superficial parts of the plates ( as we observ'd ) divers dark colour'd flakes , some of which stuck to the metal , but more , upon handling it , fell off . ] and here i shall conclude one of the two parts of our designed treatise : for , though i remember , that these were not all the tryals that were made and set down upon the subject hitherto treated of ; yet these are the chief , that having escaped the mischances , which befel some others , i can meet with among my promiscuous memorials ; whose number , when i drew them together , i could scarce increase , having by all these and other tryals of differing kinds wasted my cupels and commodious glasses , where i could not well repair my loss . whether i should have been able by reduction , specifick gravity , or any other of the ways , which i had in my thoughts , to make any discovery of the nature of the substance that made the increment of weight in our ignited bodies ; the want as well of leisure , as of accommodations requisite to go through with so difficult a task , keeps me from pretending to know . but these three things , i hope , i may have gained by what has been deliver'd . the first , that we shall henceforth see cause to proceed more warily in the experiments we make with metals in the fire , especially by cupellation . the next , that it will justifie and perhaps procure an easier assent to some passages in my other writings , that have relation to the substance , what-ever it be , that we are speaking of . and the third , ( which is the principal , ) that it will probably excite you , and your inquisitive friends , to exercise their sagacious curiosity , in discovering what kind of substance that is , which , though hitherto overseen by philosophers themselves , and , being a fluid , far more subtile than visible liquors , and able to pierce into the compact and solid bodies of metals , can yet add something to them , that has no despicable weight upon the ballance , and is able for a considerable time to continue fixt in the fire . additional experiments , about arresting and weighing of igneous corpuscles . experiments to discover the increase in weight of bodies , though inclos'd in glasses , being those that i considered as likeliest to answer what i design'd in the hitherto prosecuted attempt , and finding the seventeenth experiment as well as the next ( try'd upon mercury ) to be very slow , and its performance not to be very great , i began to call to mind , what , many years ago , experience had shewn me possible to be perform'd , as to the managing glass-vessels , even without coating them , in a naked fire , provided a wary person were constantly employ'd to watch them . and supposing hereupon , that , in no longer time than a laborant might , without being tir'd , hold out to attend a glass , a metal expos'd in it to a naked fire might afford us a much more prosperous tryal than that lately referr'd to , i afterwards resolv'd , when i should be able to procure some glasses conveniently shap'd , to prosecute my design ; in pursuance of which though i had not any furnaces fitted for my purpose , i directed a laborant to make the following tryals . exper. i. [ we took eight ounces ( troy weight ) of block-tin , which being cut into bits was put into a good round vial with a long neck , and then warily held over quick coals without touching them till it was melted ; after which it was kept almost continually shaken , to promote the calcination , near an hour , the metal being all the while in fusion , and the glass kept at some distance from the throughly kindled coals . the most part of this time the orifice of the vial was cover'd with a cap of paper ( which sometimes fell off by moving the glass ) to keep the air and steams of the coals from getting into the neck . and at the end of this time , he that held the glass being tir'd , and having his hand almost scorch'd , the vial being remov'd from the fire was broken , that we might take out the metalline lump , which had a little darkish calx here and there upon the upper surface , but much more beneath , where it had been contiguous to the bottom of the glass ; then putting all this carefully freed from little fragments of broken glass into the same ballance with the self-same counterpoise i had us'd before , i found , according to my expectation , an increase of weight , which amounted to eighteen grains , that the tin had acquir'd by this operation . ] exper. ii. [ this done we separated the calx for fear of losing it , and having melted the metal in a crucible , that by pouring it out it might be reduc'd to thin plates capable of being cut in pieces , and put into such another vial as the last ; we weigh'd it again together with the ●●tely reserv'd calx , but found , that , notwithstanding all our oare , we had lost three grains of the eighteen we had gain'd . this done we put the metal into another vial. but in regard the neck was shorter than that of the former , and could not like it be long held in ones hand ; and because also i was willing to see what interest the shaking of melted tin has in the quickness of the calcination , the glass , which had a stopple of paper put to it to keep out smoak and air , was held at some distance from the coals , only whilst the tin was melting ; and then was warily laid upon them and kept there for two hours , at the end of which 't was again taken off , and the metal weigh'd with the same counterpoise and ballance as formerly ; and then it appear'd to amount to eight ounces twenty-four grains , and to have much more separable calx than at the first time . nor did i much wonder , that the weight should be increas'd in this last operation but nine grains in two hours , and in the former twice so many in half the time ; since , during the two hours , the glass was kept in one posture , whereas in the first operation , it was almost perpetually shaken all the while 't was kept in fusion . and 't is observ'd , that the agitation of melted minerals will much promote the effect of the fire upon them , and conduce to their calcination . ] exper. iii. though these tryals might well satisfie a person not very scrupulous , yet to convince even those that are so , i undertook , in spite of the difficulties of the attempt , to make the experiment in glasses hermetically seal'd , to prevent all suspition of any accession of weight accruing to the metal from any smoak or saline particles getting in at the mouth of the vessel . and in prosecution of this design i thought upon a way of so hermetically sealing a retort , that it might be expos'd to a naked fire without being either crackt or burst ; an account of which tryal was thus set down . [ eight ounces of good tin carefully weigh'd out was hermetically seal'd up in a new small retort with a long neck , by which 't was held in ones hand , and warily approach'd to a kindled charcoal-fire , near which the metal was kept in fusion , being also ever now and then shaken for almost half an hour , in which time it seem'd to have acquir'd on the surface such a dark colour as argued a beginning of calcination , and it both emitted fumes that play'd up and down , and also afforded two or three drops of liquor in the neck of the retort . the laborant being not able to hold the glass any longer , 't was laid on quick coals , where the metal continued above a quarter of an hour longer in fusion ; but before the time was come that i intended to suffer it to cool in order to the removing it , it suddenly broke in a great multitude of pieces , and with a noise like the report of a gun ; but ( thanks be to god ) it did no harm neither to me nor others that were very near it . in the neck we found some drops of a yellowish liquor , which a virtuoso that tasted it affirm'd to be of an odious but peculiar sapor ; and as for the smell , i found it to be very stinking , and not unlike that of the distill'd oyl of fish . ] but , though our first attempt of this kind had thus miscarried , we were not thereby discourag'd , but in prosecution of the same design made the ensuing tryal . exper. iv. [ the tin which had been before ( in the first or some such experiment ) partly calcin'd in a glass , being melted again in a crucible , that it might be reduc'd to pieces small enough to be put into another glass , was put again into the scales , and the surplusage being laid aside , that there might remain just eight ounces ; these were put into a bolt-head of white glass with a neck of about twenty inches long , which being hermetically seal'd ( after the glass had been a while kept over the fire , lest that should break by the rarefaction of the air , ) the metal was kept in fusion for an hour and a quarter , as ( being hinder'd by a company of strangers from being there my self ) the laborant affirm'd . being unwilling to venture the glass any longer , it was taken from the fire , and when 't was grown cold , the seal'd end was broken off ; but before i would have the bottom cut out , i observ'd , that the upper surface of the metal was very darkly colour'd , and not at all smooth , but much and very odly asperated ; and the lower part had between the bottom and the lower part of the lump a pretty deal of loose dark-colour'd calx , though the neighbouring surface and some places of the lump it self look'd by candle-light ( it being then night ) of a golden colour . the lump and calx together were weigh'd in the same scales carefully , and we found the weight to have increas'd twenty-three grains and better , though all the calx , we could easily separate , being weigh'd by it self amounted not to four scruples or eighty grains . ] for confirmation of this experiment i shall subjoyn another , wherein but a quarter of so much metal was employed with such success as the annexed memorial declares . exper. v. [ two ounces of filings of tin were carefully weigh'd and put into a little retort , whose neck was afterwards drawn slenderly out into a very small apex ; then the glass was plac'd on kindled coals , which drove out fumes at the small orifice of the neck for a pretty while . afterwards the glass ; being seal'd up at the apex , was kept in the fire above two hours ; and then being taken off was broken at the same apex ; whereupon i heard the outward fire rush in , because when the retort was seal'd the air within it was highly rarified . then the body of the glass being broken , the tin was taken out , consisting of a lump , about which there appear'd some gray calx and some very small globuls , which seem'd to have been filings melted into that form . the whole weigh'd two ounces twelve grains , the later part of which weight appear'd to have been gain'd by the operation of the fire on the metal . in the neck of the retort , where it was joyn'd to the body , there appear'd a yellowish and clammy substance thinly spread , which smelt almost like the foetid oyl of tartar. ] exper. vi. to vary the foregoing experiments by making tryals on a mineral that is held to be of a very metalline nature , but is not a true metal , nor will be brought to fusion by so moderate a heat as will suffice to melt tin , and yet has parts less fixt than tin , as being far more easily sublimable , we thought fit to make the following experiment . [ we took an ounce of filings of zinke carefully weigh'd , and having as carefully put them into a round bolt-glass , we caus'd the neck to be drawn out very slender , and then order'd the laborant to keep it upon quick coals for the appointed time . afterwards returning home , i call'd for the glass , which he said he had kept four hours upon the coals ; answering me also , that there did for a great part of the time smoak appear to ascend from the zink and get out at the unstopt apex . and in effect i observ'd , that the upper part of the glass was lin'd with flores or sublimate of a darkish gray . the glass being dextrously cut asunder , we took out not only the filings of zinke , some of which were melted into little globuls , but the flores too , and yet weighing all these in the same scales , we had us'd before , we found five grains and somewhat better wanting of an ounce . which we the less wonder'd at , because of the continuance of the lately mention'd exhalations emitted by the filed mineral . ] exper. vii . for more ample confirmation of the truth discover'd by what i have been reciting about tin , i thought fit to try the like experiment upon another metal , which though of somewhat more difficult fusion than tin , i had reason to think might , if employed in a moderate quantity , and warily managed , be kept melted in glass without breaking it . and accordingly having carefully weigh'd out four ounces of good lead cut before-hand into pieces little enough for the orifice of the glass , i caused them to be put into a small retort with a long neck , wherein was afterwards left but an orifice not much bigger than a pins head : then leaving directions with the laborant what to do , because i was my self call'd abroad , at my return he brought me together with the glass , this account : that he had kept it over and upon the coals two hours , or better , and then supposing the danger of breaking the glass was over , he had sealed it up at the little orifice newly mention'd , and kept it on the coals two hours longer . before the glass ( which i found to be well seal'd ) was broken , i perceived the pieces of lead to have been melted into a lump , whose surface was dark and rugged , and part of the metal to have been turn'd into a dark-colour'd powder or calx : all this being taken out of the retort , was weigh'd in the same ballance , whereon the lead appear'd to have gain'd by the operation somewhat above thirteen grains . exper. viii . to shew that metals are not the only bodies that are capable of receiving an increase of weight from the fire , i thought fit to make upon coral a tryal , whereof my memorial gives me this account . [ little bits of good red coral being hermetically seal'd up in a thin bubble of glass , after two drachms of them had been weigh'd out in a pair of nice scales , were warily kept at several times over and upon kindled coals , and at length being taken out for good and all , were found of a very dark colour , and to have gain'd in weight three grains and about a half . ] exper. ix . one experiment there is , which , though it might have come in more properly at another place , is not to be omitted in this because it may invite us to consider , whether in the foregoing experiments , excepting those made on lead and tin in seal'd vessels , there may not be more of the fire adherent to or incorporated with the body expos'd to it , than one would conclude barely from the recited increments of their weight . for having taken very strong fresh quick-lime provided on purpose for choice experiments , and expos'd it , before the air had time to slake it , upon the cupel , to a strong fire where it was kept for two hours ; i found that it had increas'd in weight even somewhat beyond my expectation : for being seasonably put into the ballance , the lumps that weigh'd , when expos'd , but two drachms , amounted to two drachms and twenty-nine grains ; which makes this experiment a pregnant one to our purpose . for by this it appears , that notwithstanding a body may for many hours , or even for some days , be expos'd to a very violent fire , yet it may be still capable of admitting and retaining fresh corpuscles ; so that , though well made lime be usually observ'd to be much lighter than the stones whereof 't is made ; yet this lightness does not necessarily prove , that , because a burnt lime-stone has lost much of its matter by the fire , it has therefore acquir'd no matter from the fire ; but only inferrs , that it has lost far more than it has got . and this may give ground to suspect , that in most of the foregoing tryals the accession of the fiery particles was greater ( though in some more , in others less so , ) than the ballance discover'd ; since , for ought we know , divers of the less fixt particles of the expos'd body might be driven away by the vehemence of the heat ; and consequently the igneous corpuscles that fastned themselves to the remaining matter might be numerous enough , not only to bring the accession of weight that was found by the scales , but to make amends for all the fugitive particles , that had been expell'd by the violence of the fire . and since so fixt a body as quick-lime is capable of being wrought upon by the igneous effluvia , so as that they come to be as 't were incorporated with it , it may perchance be worth considering , whether in other calcin'd or incinerated bodies the remaining calces or ashes may not retain more than the bare impression ( unless that be stretch'd to mean some participation of a substance , ) of the fire . whether these particles that adhere to or are mingled with the stony ones of the lime may have any thing to do in the heat and tumult that is produc'd upon the slaking of lime , this is not a fit place to examine . and though by this experiment and those made in seal'd retorts , which shew that what is afforded by fire may in a corporeal way invade , adhere and add weight to even fixt and ponderous bodies , there is a large field open'd for the speculative to apply this discovery to divers phaenomena of nature and chymistry ; yet i shall leave this subject unmedled with in this place . a discovery of the perviousness of glass to ponderable parts of flame . with some reflexions on it by way of corollary . subjoyned as an appendix to his experiments about arresting and weighing of igneous corpuscles , by. the honorable robert boyle . london : printed by w. g. for m. pitt at the sign of the white hart , over-against the little north door of st paul's church . 1673. a discovery of the perviousness of glass to ponderable parts of flame . that i might obviate some needless scruples that may be entertain'd by suspitious wits upon this circumstance of our additional experiments , that the glasses employ'd about them were not exposed to the action of mere flame , but were held upon charcoals , ( which to some may seem to contain but a grosser kind of fire : ) and that also i might , by diversifying the way of tryal , render such experiments both more fit to afford corollaries , and more serviceable to my other purposes , i attempted to make it succeed with a body so thin and disingaged from gross matter as mere flame is allowed to be , knowing , that by going cautiously with it to work , one might handle a retort without breaking it , in spite of a violent agitation of kindled matter . exper. i. supposing then that good common sulphur by reason of its great inflammability and the vehemency and penetrancy of its flame , would be a very fit fuel for my purpose , i provided a small double vessel so contrived , that the one should contain as many coals as was necessary to keep the sulphur melted , and that the other , which was much smaller , and shap'd like a pan , should contain the brimstone requisite for our tryal ; and ( lastly , ) that these two should be with a convenient lute so joyned to one another , that all being clos'd at the top , save the orifice of the little pan , ( the fire and smoak of the coals having their vent another way , ) no fire should come at the retort to be employed , but the flame of the burning brimstone . then two ounces of filings of tin being heedfully weigh'd out , and put into a glass-retort provided for such tryals , and made fit to be easily seal'd up at the neck , when the time should be convenient , the sulphur ( which ought to be of the purer sort ) was kindled , and the glass by degrees exposed to it ; where it continued , as the laborant inform'd me , ( the smell of brimstone , peculiarly offensive to me , forbidding me to be present , ) near two hours before the metal melted ; after which he kept the retort near an hour and half more with the metal melted in it . then bringing it me to look upon , i perceived a pretty deal of darkish calx at the bottom , and partly too upon the surface of the far greater part of the metal , which now lay in one lump . the part of the retort that had been seal'd being broken off , we first took out the calx , and then the lump , and putting them into the scales , they had been formerly weigh'd in , found them to have made a very manifest acquist of weight , which , if both the laborant and i be not mistaken , ( for the paper , which should inform us , is now missing ) amounted to four grains and a half , gained by the recited operation . afterwards , we being grown more expert in making such tryals , the experiment was repeated with the same quantity of filings of the same metal : at the end of the operation , ( which in all lasted somewhat above three hours ) having broken off the seal'd neck of the retort , we found , that a good proportion of dark-colour'd calx had been produc'd . this being weighed with the uncalcin'd part of the metal , the two ounces we first put in appear'd to have acquir'd no less than eleven grains and a half ( and somewhat better . ) such superstructures , both for number and weight , may possibly in time be built on this and the like experiments , that i shall venture to obviate even such a scruple as is like to be judg'd too sceptical . but i remember , that , considering upon occasion of some of the experiments formerly recited , that though it were very improbable , yet it did not appear impossible , that the increment of weight , acquir'd by bodies expos'd in glass-vessels to the fire , might proceed , not from the corpuscles of fire , but from the particles of the glass it self , loosened by the power of so intense a heat , and forcibly driven into the inclos'd body ; i was content to take a couple of glasses , whereof one was shap'd into a little retort , and having weigh'd them , and then having kept them for a considerable time upon kindled coals , and then weigh'd them again , i could gather little of certainty from the experiment , ( the retort at one time seeming to have acquir'd above half a grain in the fire , ) save that there was no likelihood at all , that so considerable an increase of weight , as we divers times obtain'd in close vessels , should proceed from the glass it self , and not from the fire . exper. ii. because it seems evident enough , that , whatever chymists tell us of their hypostatical sulphur , common brimstone is a body heterogeneous enough , having in it some parts of an oyly or inflammable nature , and others acid ; and very near of kin to the spirits of vitriol ; i thought fit to vary our experiment , by making it with a liquor that is generally reputed to be as homogeneous as chymists themselves are wont to render any , i mean with a spirit of wine , or some such liquor as will totally flame away without affording soot , or leaving any drop of phlegm behind it . in prosecution of this design , we carefully weighed out an ounce of filings of block-tin , and put them into a glass-retort , fit for the purpose , whose neck was afterwards drawn out to a great slenderness ; and we also provided a conveniently shap'd metalline lamp , such as that the flame of this ardent spirit might commodiously burn in it , and yet not melt nor crack it ; which lamp , though furnished with a cotton wick , afforded no soot , because as long as it was supplied with liquor enough , it remained unburnt . these things being in readiness , the retort was warily approach'd to the flame , and the metal was thereby in a short time melted . after which the glass being kept expos'd to the same flame for near two hours in all , the seal'd apex of the retort was broken off , and there appear'd to have been produc'd a not inconsiderable quantity of calx , that lay loose about the remaining part of the tin , which , upon its growing cold , was harden'd into a lump . this , and the calx , being taken out of the retort with care , that no little fragment of glass should at all impose upon us , was weigh'd in the same scales as formerly , and found to have gain'd four grains and a half , besides the dust that stuck in the inside of the retort , of which we reckon'd enough to make about half a grain more ; so that of so fine and pure a flame as of this totally ardent spirit , enough to amount to five grains was arrested , and in good measure fixt by its operation on the tin it had wrought upon . exper. iii. for confirmation of the former tryal , wherein we had imployed the spiritus ardens of sugar , we made the like experiment with highly rectified spirit of wine , only substituting an ounce of lead instead of one of tin. the event , in short , was this ; that after the metal had been for two hours or better kept in the flame , the seal'd neck of the retort being broken off , the external air rush'd in with a noise , ( which shew'd the vessel to have been very tight , ) and we found pretty store of the lead ; for 't was above seven scruples , turn'd into a grayish calx , which together with the rest of the metal being weigh'd again , there was very near , if not full , six grains of increase of weight acquir'd by the operation . 1. n. b. the lump of lead , that remain'd after the newly recited operation , being separated from the calx , was weighed and cut in pieces , that it might be put into a fresh retort , wherein it was again expos'd to the flame of spirit of wine , that i might satisfie my self , whether probably the whole body of the lead might not , by repeated operations , or ( perhaps by one continued long enough ) be reduc'd to calx . and though , after the retort ( whose neck had been drawn out ) had been kept in the flame for about two hours , it was , by the negligence of a foot-boy , unluckily broken , and some of the calx lost ; yet we made a shift to save about five grains of it , ( whose colour was yellowish ; ) which was enough to make it likely , that , if we had had conveniency to pursue the operation to the utmost , the whole metal might have been calcin'd by the action of the flaming spirit . 2. n. b. and lest you should be induc'd by some chymical conceits to imagine , that the particles that once belong'd to flame , did make more than a coalition with those of the lead , and by a perfect union were really transmuted into the metal whose weight they increas'd ; i shall add , that ( according to a method elsewhere deliver'd ) i examin'd the seven scruples of calx , mention'd to have been made in the third experiment , by weighing them in air and water , and thereby found , as i expected , that though the absolute gravity of the metal had been increas'd by the particles of flame that stuck fast to it , yet this aggregate of lead and extinguish'd flame had lost much of its specifick gravity . for , whereas lead is wont to be to water of the same bulk , as about eleven and a half to one , this subtil calx of lead was to water of the same bulk little , if at all , more than as nine to one . these are not the only experiments i made of the operation of meer flame upon bodies inclos'd in glasses ; but these , i suppose , are sufficient to allow me to comply with my present haste , and yet make good the title prefixt to this paper . for , whence can this increase of absolute weight ( for i speak not of specifick gravity , ) observ'd by us in the metals expos'd to the mere flame , be deduc'd , but from some ponderable parts of that flame ? and how could those parts invade those of the metal inclos'd in a glass , otherwise than by passing through the pores of that glass ? but , because i judge it unphilosophical , either to more careful that what one writes should appear strange , than be true ; or to be forward to advance the repute of strangeness , to the prejudice of the interest of truth , though it be perhaps but a remote one , or a collateral one ; i shall deal so impartially , as to subjoyn on this occasion two or three short intimations , that may prove both seasonable for caution , in reference to the porousness of glass , and give a hint or two in relation to other things . i do not then by the foregoing experiments pretend to make out the porosity of glass any farther , than is exprest in the title of this paper ; namely , in reference to some of the ponderable parts of flame . for otherwise i am not at all of their mind , that think glass is easily penetrable , either , as many do , by chymical liquors ; or , as some , by quicksilver ; or , as others , at least by our air : those opinions not agreeing with the experiments i made purposely to examine them , as you may find in another paper . again , if we compare the increase we observe to be made in the weight of the bodies that we expose to the naked fire , and those of the same or the like kinds that we included in glasses , or so much as in crucibles ; it may be worth considering , whether this difference in acquir'd weight may not give cause to suspect , that the corpuscles , whereof fire and flame consists , are not all of the same size , and equally agitated , but that the interpos'd vessel keeps out the grosser particles like a kind of strainer , though it gives passage to the minutest and most active ? i offer it also to consideration , whether this perviousness of glass , even to the minute particles that pervade it , and their adhesion to the metal they work on , does necessarily imply pores constantly great enough to transmit such corpuscles ? or , whether it may not be said , that glass is generally of a closer texture , than when in our experiments the pores are open'd by the vehement heat of the flame that beats upon it , and in that state may let pass corpuscles too big to permeate glass in its ordinary state ; and that this penetration is much assisted by the vehement agitation of the igneous parts , which by the rapidness of their motion both force themselves a passage through the narrow pores of the glass , and pierce deep enough into those of the included body to stick fast there ; ( as hail-shot thrown with ones hand against a board , will pass off from it , but being shot out of a gun will pierce it , and lodge themselves in it ? ) and i know a menstruum that does not work upon a certain metal whilst the liquor is cold , or but faintly heated , and yet by intending the heat would be made to turn it into a powder or calx , ( for it does not properly dissolve it . ) perhaps it may not be amiss to add on this occasion , that though glass be generally acknowledged to have far smaller pores , than any other matter wont to be implyed to make vessels , that are to be expos'd to the fire ; yet till i be farther satisfy'd , i shall forbear both to determine , whether the rectitude , that some philosophers suppose in the pores of glass , as 't is a transparent body , or rather in their ranks or rows , may facilitate the perviousness we above observ'd in glass , and to conclude from the foregoing experiments , that ponderable parts of flame will be able as well to pass through the pores of metalline vessels as those of glass . for though , with a silver vessel , made merely of plate without soder , i made two or three tryals ( of which you may command an account ) in order to the resolving of these doubts ; yet by an accident , which , though it were not a surprizing one , was unlucky enough to defeat my endeavours , i was kept , for want of fit accommodations , from bringing my intended tryals to an issue . and now having endeavour'd by the foregoing advertisements to prevent the having unsafe consequences drawn from our experiments ; it remains that i briefly point at three our four corollaries that may more warily be deduc'd from them . to which , if i get time , i may subjoyn a hint or two about further inquiries . corollary i. confirming this paradox , that flame may act as a menstruum , and make coalitions with the bodies it works on . the experiments , we have made and recited of the premeating of flame ( as to some of its parts ) through glass-vessels , and of its working on included metals , may much confirm the paradox i have elsewhere propos'd , that flame may be a menstruum , and work on some bodies at the rate of being so ; i mean not only by making a notable comminution and dissipation of the parts , but by a coalition of its own particles with those of the fretted body , and thereby permanently adding substance and weight to them . nor is it repugnant to flames , being a menstruum , that in our experiment the lead and tin , expos'd to it , were but reduc'd to powder , and not dissolv'd in the form of a liquor , and kept in that state . for , besides that the interpos'd glass hinder'd the igneous particles from getting through in plenty enough ; i consider , that 't is not necessary , that all menstruums should be such solvents , as the objection supposes . for whether it be ( as i have sometimes suspected , ) that menstruums , that we think simple , may be compounded of very differing parts , whereof one may precipitate what is dissolved by the other ; or for some other cause , i have not now time to discuss . certain it is , that some menstruums corrode metals and other bodies without keeping dissolved all , or perhaps any considerable part ; as may be seen , if you put tin in a certain quantity of aqua fortis , which will in a very short time reduce it almost totally to a very white substance , which , when dry , is a kind of calx . and so by a due proportion of oyl of vitriol , abstracted from quicksilver by a strong fire , we have divers times reduc'd the main body of the mercury into a white powder , whereof but an inconsiderable part would be dissoluble in water . and such a white calx i have had by the action of another fretting liquor on a body not metalline . and having thus clear'd our paradox of the oppos'd difficulty , my haste would immediately carry me on to the next corollary , were it not , that there is one phaenomenon belonging to this place that deserves to be taken notice of . for , whether it be , as seems probable , from the vehement agitation of the permeating particles of flame , that violently tear asunder the metalline corpuscles , or from the nature of the igneous menstruum , ( which being as 't were percolated through glass it self , must be strangely minute , ) 't is worth observing , how small a proportion , in point of weight , of the additional adhering body may serve to corrode a metal , in comparison of the quantity of vulgar menstruums that is requisite for that purpose . for , whereas we are oblig'd to imploy , to the making the solution of crude lead , several times its weight of spirit of vinegar , and ( though not so many times ) even of aqua fortis , 't was observ'd in our experiment , that , though the lead was increas'd but six grains in weight , yet above six score of it were fretted into powder , so that the corrosive body appear'd to be but about the twentieth part of the corroded . coroll . ii. proposing a paradox about calcination and calces . another consequence , deducible from our discovery of the perviousness of glass to flame , may be this ; that there is cause to question the truth of what is generally taken for granted about calcination , and particularly of the notion , that not only others , but chymists themselves , have entertain'd about the calces of metals and minerals . for , whereas 't is commonly suppos'd , that in calcination the greater part of the body is driven away , and only the earth , to which chymists add the fixt salt , remains behind ; and whereas even mechanical philosophers , ( for two or three of them have taken notice of calcination , ) are of opinion , that much is driven away by the violence of the fire ; and the remaining parts by being depriv'd of their more radical and fixt moisture are turn'd into dry and brittle particles : whereas these notions , i say , are entertain'd about calcination , it seems , that they are not well fram'd , and do not universally hold ; since , at least they are not applicable to the metals , our experiments were made on . for , it does not appear by our tryals , that any proportion , worth regarding , of moist and fugitive parts was expell'd in the calcination ; but it does appear very plainly , that by this operation the metals gain'd more weight than they lost ; so that the main body of the metal remain'd intire , and was far from being , either as a peripatetick would think , elementary earth , or a compound of earth and fixt salt , as chymists commonly suppose the calx of lead to be . from which very erroneous hypothesis they are wont to inferr the sweet vitriol of lead , which they call saccharum saturni , to be but the sweet salt of it extracted only by the spirit of vinegar , which does indeed plentifully enough concurr to compose it . whence i conclude , that the calx of a metal even made ( as they speak ) per se , that is , by fire without additament , may be , at least in some cases , not the caput mortuum , or terra damnata , but a magistery of it . for , in the sense of the most intelligible of the chymical writers , that is properly a magistery wherein the principles are not separated , but the bulk of the body being preserved , it acquires a new and convenient form by the addition of the menstruum or solvent imployed about the preparation . and , not here to borrow any argument from my notes about particular qualities , you may guess , how true it is , that the greatest part of the body , or all the radical moisture is expell'd in calcination , which therefore turns the metal into an arid unfusible powder ; by this , that i have several times from calx of lead reduc'd corporal lead . and i remember , that having taken what i guess'd to be but about a third or fourth part of the calx of lead , produc'd by the third experiment ; i found by a tryal purposely devis'd , that without any flux-powder or any additament , but meerly by the application of the flame of highly rectified spirit of wine , there could in a short time be obtain'd a considerable proportion of malleable lead ; whereof the part i had the curiosity to examine , was true malleable lead ; so little was the arid powder , whence this was reduc'd , depriv'd by the foregoing calcination of the suppo'sd radical moisture requisite to a metal . the consideration of what may be drawn from this reduction in reference to the doctrine of qualities belongs not to this place . coroll . iii. one use , among the rest , we may make , by way of corollary , of the foregoing discovery , which is in reference to a controversie warmly agitated among the corpuscular philosophers themselves . for , some of them , that follow the epicurean or atomical hypothesis , think , that when bodies are expos'd in close vessels to the fire , though the igneous corpuscles do not stay with the bodies they invade , yet they really get through the pores of the interpos'd vessels , and permeate the included bodies in their passage upwards ; whereas others , especially favourers of the cartesian doctrine , will not allow the atomists igneous corpuscles , which they take to be but vehemently agitated particles of terrestrial matter , to penetrate such minute pores as those of glass ; but do suppose the operation of the fire to be perform'd by the vehement agitation made of the small parts of the glass , and by them propagated to the included bodies , whose particles by this violent commotion are notably alter'd , and receive new textures , or other modifications . but our experiments inform us , that , though neither of the two opinions seems fit to be despised , yet neither seems to have hit the very mark ; though the epicurean hypothesis comprize somewhat more of the truth than the other . for , though it be not improbable , that the brisk agitation communicated by the small parts of the glass to those of the body contain'd in it , may contribute much to the effect of the fire ; and though , by the small increment of weight , we found in our expos'd metal , 't is very likely , that far the greater part of the flame was excluded by the close texture of the glass ; yet on the other side 't is plain , that igneous particles were trajected through the glass , which agrees with the epicureans ; and they , on the other side , mistook , in thinking that they did but pass through , and divide and agitate the included bodies ; to which nevertheless our experiments shew , that enough of them , to be manifestly ponderable , did permanently adhere . whether these igneous corpuscles do stick after the like manner to the parts of meat , drest by the help of the fire , and especially roast-meat , which is more immediately expos'd to the action of the fire , may be a question , which i shall now leave undiscuss'd , because i think it difficult to be determin'd , though otherwise it seems worthy to be consider'd , in regard it may concern mens health , to know , whether the coction of meat be made by the fire , only as 't is a very hot body , or whether it permanently communicates any thing of its substance to the meat expos'd to it : in which ( last ) case it may be suspected , that not only the degree and manner of application of a fire , but the nature of its fuel may be fit to be consider'd . coroll . iv. the experiments above recited give us this further information , that bodies very spirituous , fugitive , and minute , may , by being associated with congruous particles , though of quite another nature , so change their former qualities , as to be arrested , by a solid and ponderous body , to that degree , as not to be driven away from it by a fire intense enough to melt and calcine metals . for , the foregoing tryals ( taking in what i * lately deliver'd of the lessen'd specifick gravity of calcin'd lead ) seems plainly enough to discover , that even the agitated parts of flame , minute enough to pass through the pores of glass it self , were as 't were entangled among the metalline particles of tin and lead , and thereby brought to be fixt enough to endure the heat that kept those metals in fusion , and little by little reduc'd them into calces : which is a phaenomenon that one would not easily look for , especially considering how simple a texture that of lead or tin may be suppos'd to be in comparison of the more elaborate structures of very many other bodies . and this phaenomenon , which shews us , what light and fugitive particles of matter may permanently concurr to the composition of bodies ponderous and fixt enough , may perchance afford useful hints to the speculative ; especially if this strict combination of spirituous and fugitive substance with such , as being gross or unwieldy , are less fit than organiz'd matter to entangle or detain them , be applied , ( as it may be with advantage ) to those aggregates of spirituous corpuscles , and organical parts , that make up the bodies of plants and animals . and this hint may suggest a main inference to be drawn from the operations of the sun-beams on appropriated subjects , supposing it to prove like that of flame on tin and lead . and now having dispatch'd our corollaries , we might here inquire , whether all the particles of fire and flame , that are subtile and agitated enough to penetrate glass , and fasten themselves to included bodies , be reduc'd by ignition to the same nature , or else retain somewhat of their proper qualities ? which inquiry i have some cause not to think so undeterminable , as at first blush it may appear . for , one of the ways , that may be propos'd for this examen , is already intimated at the close of the third experiment , which shews , that we may compare the specifick gravity of the calces of the same metal , made in glasses by the operation of flames ; whose fuels are of very differing natures . and i said , one of the ways , because 't is not the only way i could name , and have partly tryed . but though i might say more concerning expedients of this kind , and could perhaps propound other inquiries that may reasonably enough be grounded upon the hitherto recited phaenomena ( and those of some other like tryals , ) yet i must not unseasonably forget , that the pursuit of such disquisitions would lead me much farther than i have now the leisure to follow it . errata . pag. 44. l. 19. r. some metals work ; pag. 1. in the discourse about the determinate nature of effluviums , add the name of the author , viz. by the honorable robert boyle . finis . the printer to the reader . it hath been thought , it might be the interest of the reader , especially foreiners , to be advertised , that these essays are already translating into latin , and beginning also to be printed in that language ; which that it may duly be done , both as to this and the author 's other writings , to be publisht for the future , the greater care will be taken here , because it hath been several times found both at home and elsewhere , that the versions made of them abroad , and not in the place , where in case of any difficulty the author may be consulted with by the latin interpreters , are often very defective , and not seldom injurious to the sense he hath deliver'd them in . which being consider'd by those that desire to know the genuine sense of the author , 't is presumed , they will rather choose those versions , which are made by persons that have that advantage of comsulting him in any case of doubt , than such as shall mis-inform them ; notwithstanding the pretence of a cheaper rate of the book . which being thus advertised , the printer taketh this opportunity of farther acquainting the reader from the latin interpreter , that these essays , to his knowledge , were ready and in the press several months before dr. bartholin's acta philosophica & medica appear'd in england , in which there are two or three passages that may seem of affinity with some to be met with in the latter part of the papers about experiments of arresting the parts of flame , and of making them ponderable . a catalogue of the writings publisht by the honorable robert boyle . 1. seraphick love. london , for henry herringman , 1660. in 8o. 2. new experiments physico-mechanical , touching the spring of the air , and its effects . oxford , for thomas robinson , 1660. in 8o. in latin : oxford ; for the same , 1661. in 8o. 3. certain physiological essays ; to which is added , the physico-chymical essay about the differing parts , and redintegration of salt-peter ; as also , the history of fluidity and firmness . london , for henry herringman , 1661. in 4o. in latin ; london , by the same , 1661. in 4o. 4. some considerations touching the style of the h. scriptures . london , for h. herringman , 1661. in 8o. 5. the sceptical chymist . london , for john crook , 1661. in 8o. in latin ; london , for the same , in 8o. 1662. 6. a defence of the doctrine touching the spring and weight of the air , against the objections of franciscus linus . london , for tho. robinson , 1662. in 4o. 7. an examen of mr. hobbes his dialologus physicus de natura aeris ; with an appendix touching mr. hobbes his doctrine of fluidity and firmness . london , for tho. robinson , 1662. in 4o. 8. vsefulness of experimental philosophy . oxford , for rich. davies , 1663. in 4o. 9. experimental history of colours . london , for h. herringman , 1664. in 8o. in latin : london , for the same , 1665. in 12o. 10. history of cold. to which is added , an examen of antiperistasis , and of mr. hobbes his doctrine of cold. london , for john crook , 1665. in 8o. 11. hydrostatical paradoxes . oxford , for rich. davies , 1666. in 8o. in latin ; oxford , for the same , 1669. in 12o. 12. origine of forms and qualities . oxford , for rich. davies , 1667. in 8o. in latin ; oxford , for the same , 1669. in 12o. 13. free considerations about subordinate forms . oxford , for rich. davies , 1667. in 8o. in latin ; oxford , 1669. 14. continuation of new experiments physico-mechanical touching the spring and weight of the air , and the atmosphere of consistent bodies . oxford , for rich. davies , 1669. in 4o. 15. of the absolute rest of solid bodies . london , for h. herringman , 1669. in 4o. in latin ; london , for the same , 1672. in 12o. 16. several tracts ; viz. an introduction to the history of particular qualities : of cosmical qualities and suspitions : of the temperature of the subterraneal and submarine regions : of the bottom of the sea. oxford , for rich. davies , 1671. in 8o. in latin ; london , for the same , 1672. in 12o. 17. small tracts ; viz. of a discovery of the admirable rarefaction of the air , even without heat : new observations about the duration of the spring of the air : new experiments touching the condensation of the air by meer cold , and its compression without mechanical engins : the admirably differing extension of the same quantity of air rarified and compressed . london , for h. herringman , 1670. in 4o. in latin ; london , for the same , 1670. in 12o. 18. of the vsefulness of natural philosophy , tom. 2. oxford , for rich. davies , 1671. in 4o. 19. an essay about the origine and virtue of gems . london , for moses pitt , 1672. in 8o. in latin ; london , for the same , 1673. in 12o. 20. several tracts , containing new experiments touching the relation betwixt flame and air , and about explosions : an hydrostatical discourse answering some objections of dr. henry more : an hydrostatical letter , dilucidating an experiment about a way of weighing water in water : new experiments of the positive or relative levity of bodies under water : of the air 's spring on bodies under water : about the differing pressure of heavy solids and fluids . london , for rich. davies , 1672. in 8o. 21. essays , of the strange subtilty , the great efficacy , and the determinate nature of effluviums . to which are annext , new experiments to make fire and flame ponderable ; together with a discovery of the perviousness of glass . london , for moses pitt , 1673. in 8o. 22. a dialogue concerning the positive or privative nature of cold ; by a member of the r. society : and a discourse about the saltness of the sea ; and another of a statical hygroscope ; together with some phaenomena of the force of the air 's moisture . to which is added a paradox about the natural and praeternatural state of bodies , especially the air. london , for rich. davies , 1673. in 8o. notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a28965-e200 and some that were publish'd an. 1669. under the title of the atmospheres of consistent bodies . notes for div a28965-e600 this essay was designed to be but a part of the author's notes upon his essay about salt-peter . in a paper about improbable truths . in some papers about flame . * a discourse of pores of bodies , and figures of corpuscles . * as quercetanus , libavius , zabata , burggravius . ** as vidius , paraeus , caesalpinus , &c. * lib. 6. observ . 22. * lib. 4. de eeb. cap. 3. * libr. 3. con. 17. * lib. 4. de peste . notes for div a28965-e3210 * of the pores of bodies , and figures of corpuscles . * the vsefulness of experimental philosophy . notes for div a28965-e4530 * lib. 1. meteor . cap. 3 , & 4. * cap. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * about cosmical suspitions . * tract . de peste , lib. 2. cap. 3. * the plague which here miserably rageth upon the first of the flood doth instantly cease ; in so much as when five hundred dye at cayro the day before , which is nothing rare , ( for the sound keep company with the sick , holding death fatal , and , to avoid them , irreligion , ) not one doth dye the day following ; says mr. sandys in his travels , lib. 2. * mr. sandys in the book above-cited . * an essay of subterraneal exhalations . * agric. de nat. eorum quae effluunt è terra , lib. 12. pag. 236. * agric. de nat. eorum quae è terra effluunt , lib. 12. pag. 263. * see the essay of the subtilty of effluviums , chap. 4. * lib. 6. parte 7. cap. 1. * in explicatione herbarum biblicarum , cap. 2. * libro 3. acutor . morbor . * sennert . libr. 6. part . 6. cap. 2. * the liquor here mention'd is , for the main , the same with that describ'd by the author in his book of colours , experiment the 〈…〉 notes for div a28965-e7550 * essay the sixth of the useful . of nat. philos . notes for div a28965-e9840 * exp. iii. n. b. 2. the philosophical epitaph of w.c. esquire for a memento mori on his tomb-stone, vvith three hieroglyphical scutcheons and their philosophical motto's and explanation : with the philosophical mercury, nature of seed and life, and growth of metalls, and a discovery of the immortal liquor alchahest : the salt of tartar volatized and other elixirs with their differences. also, a brief of the golden calf, the worlds idol : discovering the rarest miracle in nature, ... / by jo. fr. helvetius. and, the golden ass well managed and midas restor'd to reason, or, a new chymical light : demonstrating to the blind world that good gold may be found as well in cold as hot regions, and be profitably extracted out of sand, stones, gravel and flints &c. .../ written by jo. rod. glauber. with jehior, aurora sapientiae, or, the day dawning or light of wisdom : containing the three principles or original of all things whereby are discovered the great and many mysteries of god, nature and the elements, hitherto hid, now revealed / all published by w.c. esquire. : with a catalogue of chymical books. 1673 approx. 371 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 131 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a34451 wing c6062 wing c6061_partial estc r6283 13501814 ocm 13501814 99781 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a34451) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 99781) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 784:21) the philosophical epitaph of w.c. esquire for a memento mori on his tomb-stone, vvith three hieroglyphical scutcheons and their philosophical motto's and explanation : with the philosophical mercury, nature of seed and life, and growth of metalls, and a discovery of the immortal liquor alchahest : the salt of tartar volatized and other elixirs with their differences. also, a brief of the golden calf, the worlds idol : discovering the rarest miracle in nature, ... / by jo. fr. helvetius. and, the golden ass well managed and midas restor'd to reason, or, a new chymical light : demonstrating to the blind world that good gold may be found as well in cold as hot regions, and be profitably extracted out of sand, stones, gravel and flints &c. .../ written by jo. rod. glauber. with jehior, aurora sapientiae, or, the day dawning or light of wisdom : containing the three principles or original of all things whereby are discovered the great and many mysteries of god, nature and the elements, hitherto hid, now revealed / all published by w.c. esquire. : with a catalogue of chymical books. cooper, william, fl. 1668-1688. helvetius, johann friedrich, d. 1709. vitulus aureus, quem mundus adorat & orat. english. glauber, johann rudolf, 1604-1670. novum lumen chimicum. english. [20], 16, [16], 41, [15], 37-56, [20], 78, [32] p., [6] leaves of plates : ill. printed by t.r. and n.t. for william cooper ..., london : 1673. added t.p. engraved. each work has special t.p. and separate paging. "a briefe of the golden calf or the world's idol ... / written in latin by dr. frederick helvetius and printed at the hague, 1666 ; and now englished and abbreviated for the ease of the readers by w.c. esquire." "the golden ass well managed and mydas restored to reason ... / written at amsterdam, 1669, by john rodolph glauber ... ; and translated out of latin into english in briefer notes, 1670, by w.c. esq." "jehior or the day dawning, or, morning light of wisdom : contaning the three principles or originals of all things whatsoever." w.c. are the initials of william cooper. cf. bm. reproduction of original in cambridge university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng alchemy -early works to 1800. chemistry -bibliography. alchemy -bibliography. 2007-08 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-09 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-10 jonathan blaney sampled and proofread 2007-10 jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion signaculum mundi pythagoricum diagram of the pythagorean cosmos iehova fecit omnia ex nihilo 〈…〉 secvla secvlorvm amen amen bonum infinitum i · mvndvs · archetypvs · devs iehova bonum finitum · ii · angelicvs · iii · etherevs · iiii elementaris diagram of man amidst the four elements, represented as four triangles contained within a single triangle, but extending beyond the bonum finitum into the realms of bonum infinitum and malum. homo coelvm 1 mercurius 4 stellae 6 angeli aqva 2 sal 5 metalla 4 pisces terra 3 sulphur 5 lapides 6 bestia aer 6 meteores 4 aues 5 plantae malum v · ignis · infernalis satan ignis : procellae inane : tenebrae abijss chaos a philosophicall epitaph in hierogliphicall figures with explanation a briefe of the golden calfe the worlds idoll glaubers golden ass well managed jehior the three principles or originall of all things published by wc e●●… with a catalogue of chymicall bookes ☉ ardens , et anima ☽ ▪ medio spiritus aut quam ☿ . sapientia múndi circa 3. versatúr , animam , corpus et spiritúm . qúod adúersus 🜂 pugnat , est 🜍 qúod ipsúm sústinet , est ☿ . natúra et anima é coelo deúm dedúcúnt . ratio et experientia fúndamentúm operis firm● stabile●●●upaedifi ●at . vltima ꝯiunctio 4 elimentorum haec dicitur ph●●…a 4 drupla ac spiritualis . haec scientia non enisi de occultis sapientum praeceptorū acp●●…orum . qualis est medicina tale 〈…〉 . corpora praeparate purgate . sol●ite 〈…〉 . magisterium ex úna radicepcedit in plures 〈…〉 london printed for william cooper att the pellican in litle britam 1673 the philosophical epitaph of w. c. esquire ▪ for a memento mori on his tomb-stone . vvith three hieroglyphical scutcheons , and their philosophical motto's , and explanation ; with the philosophical mercury , nature of seed , and life , and growth of metalls ; and a discovery of the immortal liquor alchahest . the salt of tartar volatized , and other elixirs , with their differences . also , a brief of the golden calf ( the worlds idol . ) discovering the rarest miracle in nature , how by the smallest proportion of the philosophers-stone a great piece of common lead was totally transmuted into the purest transplendent gold at the hague 1666. by jo. fr. helvetius and , the golden ass well managed , and midas restor'd to reason ; or , a new chymical light , demonstrating to the blind world that good gold may be found as well in cold as hot regions , and be profitably extracted out of sand , stones , gravel , and flints , &c. to be wrought by all sorts of people . written by jo. rod. glauber . with jehior . [ aurora sapientiae , ] or , the day-dawning or light of wisdom , containing the three principles or original of all things ; whereby are discovered the great and many mysteries in god , nature , and the elements , hitherto hid , now revealed . all published by w. c. esquire . with a catalogue of chymical books . london , printed by t. r. and n. t. for william cooper , at the pellican in little britain , anno dom. 1673. the authors epistle to the courteous and well minded reader . reader , i thought not of publishing this my epitaph , or hyeroglyphical figur'd scutcheons , further then my grave stone , being in a living grave , and in despair of life , when i made them ; but since almighty god hath gratiously extended the thread of my life , and providentially put these adjoyned treatises for my task before i dyed ; and being earnestly entreated by a friend to publish and explain them , i thought good to offer my mean mite to the world , so that thou mayest not only see and read an aenygma in these my scutcheons and epitaph , but have me thy aedypus to unfold them . where als● i have set forth the philosophers stone , and shewed the causes and manner of multiplication of life and seed , and given thee as an overplus , a clear relish of the alchahest , and salt of tartar volatized , with other elixirs , and philosophick medicines , &c. in 5 small succinct chapters , to put thee one step forward in this knowledge , if thou wantst my help , or if beyond me to shame thy backwardness of imploying thy talent to vsury , and profit of thy neighbour . and i wish all men would rather study substance and matter with laconick-brevity and plainness in their writings , then prolix puff-pasted eloquence , and ostentation ; that so our life might be improved in sound knowledge and virtue ; and god receive all praise and honour , to whom it is eternally due . now to this my short epitaph with explanation , i have added pythagoras his metapaysical philosophick figure , and have adjoyned abbreviated notes of helvetius his golden calf , and glaubers new chymical light , treating of the rarest transmutations and miracles of nature ; and likewise of unheard of extractions of gold and silver ( and something better ) out of all sands , and out of the very stones of the streets , for the relief of all men . proceeding from a true desire to be thy christian friend and servant , w. c. for twice five hundred . jan. 10 , 1670. l' aurum amice eligis rus. to the honourable robert boyl , esq eminently noble & accomplisht . honourable sir , the translation of helvetius his golden calf here annext , being licenced and entered in order to the prin●ing thereof , in sept. 1668. another ●ince took advantage to print and publish ●he same , little different ; that without ●rejudice to the translator we might say ●ith virgil , — hos ego versiculos , &c , we beat the bush , but others caught the hare , so lambs do bear their fleece , which others share . so bees make honey , and birds build their nests , and lands yeilds others profit plough'd with beasts . nevertheless it hath brought advantage to the reader , for i have since exceedingly abbreviated my former translation with the epistles , &c. not diminishing sense o● matter , and have adjoyned my own philosophical figured epitaph , with alchahest , elixis , samech , and their explanations , then also to be printed , which i dedicated to my worthy friend elias ashmole , esq but i have now further adde● pythagoras metaphysical figure , with●● most excellent , brief , and rare piece of a● unknown author , called , the dawnin● of wisdom , as also the new chymic● light of glauber , wherein i have man●ged mydas his golden ass , so as to ma●● him serviceable to all this nation , to bear their burthens , bringing him with these new lights and treasures here before your judicious view , as to a great mecaenas and strict examiner of learning ; hoping by the dawning or clear light of wisdom , you will judge both this ass and calf to be without all ignomy and scandal , having a faculty to speak as well for themselves , and their innocency , as ba-lambs . nay , to be phylosophically learned , and as richly laden , as those formerly sent with rich presents , to patriarchs or princes , being plentifully stored with gold , and other richer , miraculous , and inexhaustible treasures . my presumption for these names i hope will be pardoned , being philosophical terms ; and though such their lading may be sufficiently stored in your treasuries , and might seem boldness to be sent from so mean an artist , yet suffer me to present them to the world , ( though but as an ec●ho or vibrating glass ) to re-double ●he sound , and reflect the beams of your virtues and learning abroad , famous already by your own works and worth . i confess honourable sir , this my dedication , as a stranger , is especially grounded on the fame of your goodness , and communicative charity , the truest and noblest badges of honour , which if so , will now pardon me . but i stop here , taking off the imputation of base self ends , or flattery , by my concealment , with diogenes his recess of privacy , but remain your honours well wishing and humble servant , w. c. or twice five hundred . april 1. 1671. l'aurum amice eligis rus. to his worthy , and much honoured friend , elias ashmole esq one of the kings majesties heraulds at arms , and comptroller of the excises through all england . honoured sir , having but barely , though faithfully translated this helvetius , treating of the most rare and experimental transmutation of metals ; i thought it not fit to make any dedication , but seeing i have adjoyned my own epitaph , with several scutcheons , mottos , and explanations , with pythagoras his general figure , blazoning philosophical herauldry , and also the alchahest , samech ' with other elixirs , &c. i consulted it was very proper to present the same to your judicious view , whose abilities might challenge the same , especially since i received some civilities from you , of a little like nature , in the small intermission of my long troubles , 1662. likewise being an englishman , whose patronage in general you seem to avouch by those worthy collections of english philosophick chymical authors , formerly published by you . i know you have another coat of arms for my paternal family , in your heraulds office , which would suit with the said epitaph , if it were only as it is also intended for a plain sculpture to be upon my grave stone : yet such scutcheons had not been so proper for this place , these being chiefly here intended for the philosophers stone , agreeing with my said epitaph , in the elements , principles , and whole perfection thereof , excellently manifested by our late english phaenix , or elias artisto anonymon , in his book of the open entrance to the shut pallace of the king. now some perchance may think it incongruous for any man to publish his own epitaph , or annex any such novel scutcheons . yet since they and their explanations are philosophick ( and the philosophers patrons are truth and reason , which should govern all sorts of men ) i was the more confident of allowance and approbation . and indeed sir , i may affirm , they were made in a living grave , 1652. from whence i never thought to come forth no more , then probably jonas might in the whales belly , daniel in the lyons den , or the three children in the fiery furnace , being grievously oppressed and clowded in my long troubles , and since as little regarded . wherefore i hope these may be better excused , especially , if it may tend to gods glory , as i hope it will by a continual warning , or ( memento mori ) to the reader for his souls health , though he want the philosophick spectacles to understand the sense more perfectly . however sir , give me leave to tender you these small reliques of my obsequious obsequy , as burnt offerings , reviving and describing aarons calf ground to dust by moses , with helvetius his golden calf , burnt to a stone or pouder , by the teutonic elias artista , and i wish you might prove another elias ( as your name imports ) in this fiery chariot , or transfiguration for the benefit of this our english nation , and of the whole world , to glorifie him who is the giver of all good things . and although ( as if dead ) i should remain unknown in the whales belly , on jobs dunghil , or diogenes his tub , yet entertain these ( as your own worth deserves and requires ) with a noble mind not regarding the weakness or misfortunes of the giver , which will the more illustrate your virtues , and oblige , worthy sir , your faithful friend , and humble servant , w. c. or twice five hundred . july 16. 1668. laurum amice eligis rus. the philosophical epitaph of vv. c. esquire ▪ for a memento mori on the philosophers ( tomb ) stone . with three hierogliphical scutcheons displaying minervas , and hermes birds , and apollos birds of paradice in philosophical mottoes and sentences , with their explication . with a perfect discovery of the immortal liquor alchahest , or macchabean fire , and of the volatized salt of tartar , or samech , and of other elixirs , with their differences and properties . london , printed by t. r. and n. t. for will. cooper , at the pellican in little britain . epitaphium factum per w. c. minante periculo grande . scutisque affixis patefaciens avem minervae , hermetis , & apollinis avem paradici . in his hyeroglyphycis nvmerandi figvris . bubo minervae inter ramos haederae . creatio , chaos , corrupti● . ♈ mercurius sal ▪ anser h●rmogenis sive pullus in sole assatus . generatio . mortificatio . vivificatio . mundo lassatus tandem iveni ▪ hunc nidum ad me in terra reficiendu● nudus sum n●c tamen sentio srigus alo hoc pridem quod me nutrivit , quieteque hoc fruor loc● , cum amicis meis , consanguineis , ne plores igitu● , fugalo timorem , aut pulvis lachrymas hic ficce tu●s , est anima in caelis , in requie , cum sanctis ubi laudes angeli sine fine cantant olida sed mortalitatis haec parum hic fermentant dum perfecte putrescant , netideque purgentur , & tan ▪ dem , cum spiritu & anima rediviva resurgant . clangore buccinae quoe juncta lucebunt , eruntque divina , spiritualia , & fixa uti ch●istus , semp●rque manebunt unum quae t●ia sic facta unum bis v. c. restat . apollinis avis paradisi , phaeni● , icarus , vel ●quila excelsa sulphur . w. c. regeneratio . redemptio , glorificatio nemo ante obitum faelix . est in mercurio quicquid quaerunt sapientes , si ●ixum solvas faciasque volare solutum , et volucrem figas , facient te vivere tutum solve coagula , fige . dum fixum figit , tinctum fusibile tingit . si pariat ventum , valet auri pondera centum , ventus ubi vult spirat . capiat qui capere potest . l'aurum amice eligis , rus. an epitaph made by w. c. clowded by threatning disasters . with scutcheons annexed displaying minerva's and hermes birds , and apollo's bird of paradice , in hierogliphick nvmbers and in figvres . minerva's owl in an ivie bush . creation , chaos , corruption . ♈ mercury salt. h●rmog●n●s , goose or pullet roasted in the sun. generation , mortifications , vivifica●ion tyr'd of the world , at last found this nest to rest me in the ground ; i 'm naked , yet i feel no cold , feed that , that had fed me of old , and quietly enjoy this place , with friends about of my own race weep not then here , but banish fears , or let this dust dry up your tears my soul 's in heaven with saints in peace where angels sing and never cease . these grounds of mans mortality , rests here a while , till perfectly putrify'd , purg'd , cleans'd , and at last reviv'd with soul and spirit by bl●ft of trumpet w●ich being join'd shall and be spiritual fixt , divine , like christ ; and one for ever ●e shine , v. c. which being thus , is double you see . apollo's bird of paradice . phoenix , icarus or lofty eagle . sulphur . w. c. regeneration , redemption , glorification . no man's happy before his death . mercvry's birth 's best after 's death , mercvri's life vvas pvrg'd by strife . all 's in mercury that the wise men seek . if thou dissolv'st the fixt , and mak'st it fly , and mak'st the flying fixt , live safe thereby . dissolve , congeal , and fix , which being fixt will fix , and so being fusibly ting'd , will tinge , and mix. if wind be made of gold , 't is worth a hundred fold . the wi●d blow th where it list th receiv't they that can . laurum amice eligis , rus. signaculum mundi pythagoricum diagram of the pythagorean cosmos iehova fecit omnia ex nihilo 〈…〉 secvla secvlorvm amen amen bonum infinitum i · mvndvs · archetypvs · devs iehova bonum finitum · ii · angelicvs · iii · etherevs · iiii elementaris diagram of man amidst the four elements, represented as four triangles contained within a single triangle, but extending beyond the bonum finitum into the realms of bonum infinitum and malum. homo coelvm 1 mercurius 4 stellae 6 angeli aqva 2 sal 5 metalla 4 pisces terra 3 sulphur 5 lapides 6 bestia aer 6 meteores 4 aues 5 plantae malum v · ignis · infernalis satan ignis : procellae inane : tenebrae abijss chaos chap. i. a plain and full explanation of the aforesaid epitaph , scutcheons and motto's of w. c. as well for the philosophers stone as his own tomb-stone . this epitaph is literally the work of philosophers , and yet may revive the old useful adigy and motto upon this authors tomb-stone , to remember thy end . for as this flourishing signifies this author w c. being a mercurialist , tired of all worldly inquinaments ▪ so it illustrates all the ●lanets and their mercury , and the universal spirit and mercury of the world , and the specificks of nature ; and no less , the true mercury of philosophers for this work : free from all filthy corruptions well fitted , and put naked without garb , or any strange thing into its glass , and private philosophical nest or vessel , ( as into a grave and coffin ) with constant vapourous heat for putrifaction , and its true preparation , rectification , and perfection , orderly through its progression of colours , till it come to the true sulphur of philosophers , which in the interim , makes good that philosophick saying , ●st iter ad coelum , sed me gravis impedit aer , et me perfudit , qui me cito deserit humor . huic mihi sunt lachrymae , sed non est causa doloris , &c. englished thus , it tends to heaven , but the gross air hinders , and moisture falne quickly turns to cinders . hence comes these tears , though there 's no cause of grief , for they but nourish , th' earth gave them relief . and though worms feed upon my carkass here , my soul 's in heaven with my saviour dear . thus it may appear double you see ▪ or one in two , male and female , superiour and inferiour , gross and subtil , coelestial and terrestrial , sulphur and mercury , water and earth corruptible and incorruptible , or spiritual . and so the parts also are three , body , soul , and spirit ; sal , sulphur , and mercury ; ☉ . ☽ . & ☿ calx , ferment and tincture ; and the very mercury may be termed threefold , preparing , prepared , and essential , and according to ripley , and raimund , calcining , reviving , and essential . so likewise it may be termed four ; for the water , and earth which are two visible elements , comprehend fire and air , which are the four elements , which are turned inside outward , whereby they shew their effects and properties . thus terra ; stat. unda lavat , pyr purgat , spiritus intrat . the earth fastens , moist washeth , fire purgeth , and spirit enters . in and for which , also there are four fires used , natural , against nature , innatural ▪ and elemental ; all which , at the last will make a fifth essence ; and so by a perfect ternary quadrate , and quintessential process , from one , two , three , four , and five . it returns again into one most perfect spiritual sub ●ance , and so is reunited , and raised to a perfect circular centre , a fixt fusible and incorruptible medicine ▪ to make the true elixir of philosophers ; opening and shutting ●t pleasure , giving the ●eys of happiness to all that shall enjoy it , to enter to a kingdom of health , wealth , and honour , and shutting out all ignorant dark bodies , and spirits . thus then at last this medicine may obtain the name and number , intimated by w. c. which as it is this authors name , who is but one in person , and in figures , twice five hundred ; so is the medicine but one in substance , and in virtue twice five hundred , or a thousand for this cause the jews thought christ to be john baptist , risen from the dead , and therefore did such mighty works . and this we know ( saith st. paul ) that such as he is , such like shall we be at the resurrection , if we have his spirit , and follow him in pious obedience , patience , and humility . so that in this epitaph , as well as by the said scutcheons and motto's , is plainly set forth the divine and natural stone of the wise-men , with their sulphur and mercury ; though to be understood with a gr●in of salt ; and likewise the moral , natural , and mortal fate of man. the whole art therefore of this philosophy , is to begin where nature ends , and to take what you find most ready and perfect in nature ▪ and that which is nearest of kin ; and intirely separate the heterogeneal gross parts , and congregate the homogeneal , make them essential , and separate the elements , kill the quick , and quicken the dead , and circulate , fix and ferment all to the highest degree of exal●ation , and philosophical sublimation and perfection . as ripley saith , kill the quick , and to the dead give life ; make trinity one without any strife . thus opening and shutting by ixions wheel , in heavenly mansion , both in a natural and artificial vessel , till it come to the greatest perfection and number , if not infinite . and now note , though most philosophers in their writings , have concealed their true privy mercury , fire ▪ vessel , time and bath . yet here thou maist easily find all the secret ; if god have ordained thee to be helpful towards the redemption of his poor creatures , groaning under their burdens of oppressions and mortality . now as this epitaph doth thus set forth the true elixir of philosophers , and mans mortality ; so likewise these scutcheons or hyeroglifical figures you see do the same in the honourable pedegree of the philosophick true medicine , or golden ▪ fleece , as well for the life and health of mans body as metalls , both in the elements and principles of the said elixir , and in its coelestial and terrestrial parts , proceeding from their saline chaos , or first mercurial matter , and their glorified sulphur to their coelestial sphears of multiplication , fermentation , and projection ; and so they and their motto's agree sincerely , with all the philosophick sayings and intentions ; namely thus , some philosophers would have it one thing , and affirm , that the salt of metals is the philosophers stone ; others say , all 's in mercury that the wise-men seek ; and again , others do teach , that the whole art depends in and upon the true preparation of their sulphur , as being the most perfect of the three principles , whose orbs must be thrice turned about , as in my three figures and coelestial wheels : and some would have it one thing , comprising the nature of two , as a hermophradite or embrio ; moreover , some would have it absolutely two things , as male and female , fire and water , or water and earth , sulphur and mercury , or heaven and earth . some likewise would have it consist of three , salt sulphur , and mercu y ☉ . ☽ . & ☿ . body , soul , and spirit ; others would have it the four elements , and say , the conversion of them is the whole work . and some again would have it a fifth essence and quintessential spiritual body ; and say their mastery and mistery consists in these five numbers , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , & 5. as in my said epitaph and circular scutcheons appear , thus comprehended , in and by the chaos and products . the chaos in th' excentrick centre still , hath death's heads ternary , crows or owly bill . whose square face , under times confused glass , of fire and water , six days angles pass , within the spiny bush , expansion till , a sabatean rest makes all stand still . after each colour fram'd to th' owners praise , then all things multiply to the end of days . the two in number , are but one in kind , and four in nature , three in one do bind . and then the quintessence wheels thrice in'ts sphear , to conquer all the mortals every where ; which waters thus takes name from icarus , the lofty eagl●s son , and dedalus philosophers true sulphur and mercury their u●ctuous tincture ; and their water dry. the owl appears in darkness , yellowish red , and white are seen upon the gooses head. the bird of paradise , and phoenix fly , which starry brightness in th' adeptists skye ; through milkie paths up to the moon and sun , to multiply till the adept have done . then each that 's worthy , come and feast you here , with apollo , hermes , and ●inervah s chear : for here is nectar , and ambrosia still , vnder these hyerogliphicks take your fill . all which nevertheles , i acknowledge is really but one onely thing , or essence in the root , viz. the philosophers ☿ , although out of two or three particulars , or more in kind ; and one operation of several parts , as in my said epitaph , and circular figures comprised : nay indeed may be but one onely particular thing , and one continued simple and single operation , when duely prepared , and superfluities removed . but if one onely thing be taken , then it is divided into several parts ; or if several things be taken , they are brought to one ; and so may it be said of the operation , which all being but one , the philosophers nevertheless are pleased to distinguish it by its several progressions , colours , and properties , intimated by , and within the said three figured circles and their titles ; all agreeing with this old aenygma of vitriol , which being in many of the metallick kind , is and hath but one thing or substance ; and although but one , yet may be opened , divided , and have several parts ; and being done , be brought to one again , in one single and simple operation of nature ; thus , v. i. t. r. i. o. l. v. m. visitabis interiora terrae , rectificando invenies , occultum lapidem , veram medicinam . visit the interiours of earth , rectifying , and you shall find the hid stone , and true medicine . and like it , agreeing with this work of palyugenius , which hath two . hunc juvinem arcadium , insidum nimiúmque fugacem , prendite , & immersum stygiis occidite lymphis ; post hiales gremio impositum deus excipiat , quem ●emnia terra colit sublatumque in cruce figat . tunc sepelite utero in calido & dissolvite putrem , cujus stillantes artus de corpore nostro spiritus egrediens penetrabit , & ordine miro , paulatim extinctum nig●is revocabit ab umbris . aurata indutum clamyd●n argentoque nitentem , projicite hunc demum in prunas renovabiter alter , vt phoenix , & quae tangit perfecta relinquit , corpora , naturae leges & faedera vincens , mutabit species , paupertatemque fugabit . englished thus , take this arcadian slippery ●ad , who 's apt to fly , and in the glittering stygian lake , drown'd let him dye ; when hi●ls juices in his breast , god saves him from loss , whom lemnian earth doth nourish , lift up fix t' a cross , then in a warm cave buried , dissolve what 's rotten , from whose synews , drops of this our body 's gotten . spirits will pi●rce , and orderly from shades bring out , this offspring cloth'd with gold and silver round about . at length project this on live coals , and you 'l soon see , another ( phoenix like ) thereby renew d to be ; which with its onely touch , perfects all bodies here , past the strict bond , and laws of natures sphear ; and will change the species to a higher degree , whereby all grief may cease , and poverty shall flee . and yet understand me rightly concerning the said work , and matter of philosophers ; that gold for certain is the principle of gold-making powder , ( be it in what subject or appearance it will ) even as fire is the principle of firing : for nothing can give what it hath not . in auro , semina sunt auri. as augurellus and others testifie . in gold , is the seed of gold. and even the same may be said of lune , when 't is a masculine . and their mercury is the ground of both , and contains all three ; and is the earth , in which it is sown , and from whence it takes its original , and is of their own nature . but this must be living gold or silver , and not the common gold or silver , which are dead ; or the common fowl quick silver . and indeed these are more universal , cheap , common , and easie to be had , then most men , even some philosophers do think : which caused ingenious , and learned taulodanus to write against the subject of that worthy old philosopher bracescus , though both true philosophers , and their several subjects true ; and this made claveus in his chrysopeia , and argyropeia to doubt of some of lullie's processes ; for these principles are to be found in one subject , and in divers having a golden nature , as dunstan , arnold , guido , ripley , raimund , glauber , and others do testi●e ; and more ways are to the wood then one : for out of every or any particular metallick or mineral species , may by due philosophick preparation , be extracted the subject for the philosophers stone ; and every chymical work called particular may by purification , good preparation & sutable fixation , volatisation , and exaltation , be made a universal work for multiplication : nay out of every element , and principle of and in nature ; and almost every abject thing whatsoever , may be extracted a sulphurous , sol , lune , or mercury , enlivened for the philosophers work . and st. devogius affirms , that the said first matter of philosophers , is easier to be touched with the hand , then discerned or found by subtilty of wit or sophistick imaginations , and saith , he told it & the process literally to some , who nevertheless had not confidence therein , for the meanness of the same , and therefore left it without trial and certainly the antecedent and primordial ens auri , is in every element and principle ; the which are never so simple , but out of each the other may be extracted ; and we may observe a kind of demonstration hereof by our mother earth , who brings forth all things : for take any good and fit earth , extract all the stones , roots , salt peter , and whatsoever else is included , and being then left open to the air for some time in a convenient place , it will not onely of its self be impregnated again with new salt peter , vegetables , stones , mettals and minerals , but also with animals , and those very stones , &c. shall hold a sulphurous gold and mercury , fit for a philosopher to work upon , and to make a fit medicine for any of the three kingdoms of nature , and this being after specificated with a fit metallick , shall perfect the impure mettals , to sol , and lune ; and 't is strange that salt peter , a mineral in the earth , should have its root and quarry in the air. and verily every thing brought to such likeness in perfection of elements , and the three principles , as to be quintessential and fixt , are in community of substance with the principles of mettals , and are in a manner universal , and may help to make the stone for transmutation of mettals , as well as for the health of men , &c. for the community of matter of all things , is in sal , sulphur , and mercury , and the purity of the four elements is in pure water , and pure earth , brought to a quintessential essence , and so are in community of substance with mettals , and will be of equal nature with their principles , namely , in sal , sulphur , and mercury ; for the matters and principles of generation , are in sal , sulphur , and mercury , and these may as well be had by art , above the earth , as by nature in the mines , and so may be brought to a fixt sulphur of nature , which is as good an earth for the work as may be ; for guido saith of the earth , it is no matter so it be fixed . and raimund saith , nought is required in this art for transmutation , but pure earth , and pure water ; and ripley saith , hair and blood cannot be the stone for transmutation , but elements separated from them may ; and of ☿ separated from them , is little good , but if brought to sulphur of nature , it is as good earth for it as may be ; yet still mark , that it be brought to a community of nature , and must be fermented with pure real gold : yet you are not tied to go to so great a distance ; for things neerer of kin are easier transmuted , and the neerest the best . wherefore the artists may begin where nature ▪ left off in her simple and single operation . and ( like a good husband-man with corn ) sow the pure grain of gold ( not common gold ) in its pure mercurial virgin mother earth ( not common earth ) but a white crude , golden water or essence , brought to them by the help of eagles , or else by the mediation of the doves ; and the man in his glittering golden robes , may drink of his nectar in a pure silver cup , three to the graces , or nine to the muses ( as ripley intimates ) and according to the old mystical law. ter bibe aut toties ternos sic mystica lex est . drink three , or thrice three , which is a mystery ; and so the masculine and feminine , or ☉ . ☽ . & ☿ . being in perfect health , and in their prime and sperme , as one thing , willingly embrace , and joyn to spiritualize themselves into a sprout , or living seed , to grow up to the highest degree of the power , energy , and virtue of ☽ . and gold , and of the spiritual stone of philosophers , and to do whatsoever else the philosophers have need of . nam lapis philosophorum nihil alind est quam aurum in gradibus suis multiplicatum stante proportione quâ fuit in auro primo . for the philosophers stone is no other thing , then gold multiplied in its de-degrees , standing in the same temperature or proportion in which it was at the first : which must be nourisht with the mothers pure milk , till it can feed upon stronger meats , and so gets vigour to multiply . and then the glorified king ( triply crown'd ) shall vanquish his enemies , and redeem his brethren and kindred , in all or any nations from their vile corruptions : if they can but touch the hem of his garment ; or entertain him at his approach , as they ought ; for 't is alike to him , to raise their essences , as to separate their maladies . yet you must , first , learn the eagles that foster up the doves , and makes diana taste of venus's loves , where cupid conquers mars his furious ire , and makes the magnet draw the calib's fire ; which seems a riddle , and 's the gordian knot , and herculean , labour for the artists lot. without the perfect knowledge of which , thou canst never attain thy end . chap. ii. of the causes and manner of multiplication of life and seed ; and one way of preparing mercury for the philosophers stone , and others for making of vniversal medicines , &c. in the beginning god gave his blessing to increase and multiply ; and commanded that each thing from its like , should draw its form ; and so created in nature a certain chain , or subordinate propinquity of complexions , between visibles and invisibles ; by which the superiour spiritual essences descend , and converse here below with the matter . yet nature hath , nor had but one onely agent ( hidden in the universe ) which is anima mundi , working by its universal spirit , through innumerable distinct , concreates according to their specificque forms and seeds , which god the father , at first creation by his word and idea ( or son and holy spirit ) did glance at once into the first matter , and so set laws and bounds in nature : of , in , and over all , which he is still president , upholding , strengthening , and ordering all the said powers , as his instruments in every particular as well as in the general ; so that a sparrow falls not without his providence and power ; and so kind by kind , produceth kind in all natures , three kingdoms ( animal , v●gitable , and mineral ) by means of the said seed ; for as fernelius saith , nihil est in ulla naturae parte , quod non in se generis sui semen contineat . there is no part of nature which doth not contain within it self the seed of its own kind . god and nature still use the same , and as a mean to unite the form to its own matter , and to raise strength and appetite in the patient , and to invite the active virtue of form and life to work freely . yet still its motions to tend to its own specifick end as god had ordained ; except it be misplaced or abused ( as sendivogius expresseth , or joyned to some unfit matter ; which end being attained , the life then seems dead , or at a stand ; and so chained , hedged , and imprisoned with corporal ●ences , that it can work no further upon that subject to its promotion ; but onely doth organizare molem , and sets its prison or house into the best order it can ; branching into several members , that it may have the more room to employ its faculties , evidently seen in animals and vegitals with various motions : but in minerals ( more opprest with matter ) less apparent , and seeming slain by congelation , especially taken out of their mines , and mechanically used ; and so onely preserves its bodily being , till revived with new ferment , and matter , whereby the body is opened again to manifest its living , essential moisture hid in the centre , wherein the seed and spirit of life is placed as fire , and then revives and restores new operations , in the new adjoined nourishment or matter . and thus nature by help of art may transcend , ( and as it were ) go beyond its self ; and so the seed will still extend its power and life , as long and often as it be thus opened and fitted with new matter and ferments . for form is light , the source of central heat , which cloth'd with matter , doth a seed beget ; wherein life , like fire seeks it self t' increase , and e●ernize , if fuel ne're do cease . helmont in butler , and sendivogius in his new light , partly testifie the same . now this seed is no sooner produc'd , but it assaies to change the matter , and stamps its character therein , and so presently the matter lives , and the matter then coworks together with the form , to attain that end , to which the seed implanted doth intend . for all things live according to their kind , their life is light , as therein you may find . quantum quidque habet luminis , tantum habet & numinis , ( saith one ) and thus much for form and seed in general . know further now , that metals in the mineral kingdom are thus produced . their sulphur unctuous , coagulates , and fixeth a fluent moisture mineral called mercury , the which is a dry humidity that flows , yet wets not hands , its parts are so homogeneal , that the very fire its self doth not easily separate them . it is of waters progeny , yet far exceeds it in weight , and firm composure , which properties come not by chance , but by gods decree ; providence and power , from its specificque seed , and its hidden inward agent , form , and life , from anima mundi , which the water before had not ; neither yet hath it parts dissimular ( hand or foot ▪ head or eye ) as animals , or otherwise as vegitables : but is all homogeneal , and of most firm parts and root . now mercury hath most affinity with gold , known by their equal weight , purity , firm composure , and easie mixture ; next with silver , then jove , saturn , venus , and last and least with mars , which is a secret to understand and though mercury may be mixt and made amalgame , with all or any , yet it will not enter into any in the root without fit preparation and great art ; but drive away one from the other , in the fire , which is another secret , now the reason is , for that it and they are dead , or their life hid , imprisoned , and dormant within their bodies ( as is said ) and the sulphur fixt , and sealed in the perfect metals , and earthly fowl or crude in the impersect , which mercury abhors and rejects , or cannot cope with , being its self also in fetters , bound to his good behaviour ; and if you separate the f●ces of the latter , which are imperfect , yet you have but a fluid mercury from them like the common ; and a crude sulphur , too remote to join with gold , for gold having passed its enchantments and c●udities , scorns to be defiled therewith any more ; wherefore common crude sulphur , will easier join with other imperfect mettals , then with gold : but pure and fixt sulphur , sooner and better with gold then with the rest ; and therefore if you would make use of the sulphurs or mercuries of the imperfect metals , or the common . they must be each prepared and fitted with a living power , and so acuate as to become a fiery quickning agent , before it can reincrudate , open and enter the body of sol , whereby it s own water may appear , and its fiery seed and spirit of life issue forth , and be made active to work upon , and in the said female living mercury , it being sols own essence , flesh and bone , and its proper matter , earth and matrix ( as is said ) wherein seed will then quickly fructifie and increase : for sol though pure , perfect , and full of virtue in its self bodily ) must be reincrudate , crucified , and die to nature , that its virtue and tincture lockt up , and onely single in its self bodily , might become exalted with its body and , spiritually living , and fixt together in heavenly mansions , and so extend and communicate more largely its powerful virtues , and tincture to imperfect bodies , and spirits to redeem them from thraldom , corruption , and fire by imbracing one grain of his bounteous pure spirit , and so be raised at last to him for eternity . for so death and destruction of outward form , will be but as a back-door to the soul and spirits true birth , and its bodies eternal life and union , till it come at last to the highest perfection , by its fulness of tincture . thus is the philosophical corner-stone , made a true medicine , though rejected and scoffed at by many . and these are the effects hid from the voluptuous , covetous , and worldly-wise-philosophers , and revealed to solitary , meek , humble spirits , who forsake outward pomp and vanities , to embrace the fruits of piety and wisdom . now observe further , that every thing that is convertible into gold , hath its mercury and sulphur , which either is , or may be acuate , and made fiery and living for a philosophical preparation of and with sol , and so both the common and metallick mercury may be thus fitted and prepared to wed with sol. all which mercuries ( as is said ) beforehand in themselves are dead ; for mercuries preparation is thus , viz. by a mineral with sable silver veins , which is the dragon born in saturns den , devouring cadmus with his earthly men. first then this dragon double strengh ' to mars , must be yet pierc't by him being god of wars . then both will perish and become a star , where the young king is born , who is solar . then wash equal venus in 's blood , and let them joyn , till vulcan take them in a net , which mercury gently on his wings must bear , till he steals their wealth , and sols body tare ; wherein then sol will freely shed his seed , and this is all whereof we stand in need . which ordered right you cannot choose but speed . if you can prepare your mercury better , do 't freely , and care not for this letter . for all sulphurs and mercuries may serve your turn , if pure and living join'd t' earths will not burn . chap. iii. of the subject and marks of the immortal liquor alchahest . here reader make a little pause , and take this short hint for thy true instruction of the alchahest and macchabean fire , burning in water , and as a serpent ( or latex ) lying hid in the cavernes of the earth , and in other things and places ; being nevertheless but one anomolous balsammick salt , passing through the world , which almost every man knows and needs , though he observes not the marks to be that thing . i say , it is the primum ens salium , and hath a mark or cross affixt on it from the almighty , which ( as helmont saith ) the adept do know , and every curious philosophick searcher , may find to be a sure and certain token of its true alchahestical virtue , beyond any demonstration : and indeed we must not seek , or think to ●nd that in a thing which god and nature hath not implanted in it . for nothing can give , what it hath not . but the vertue , operation , and power thereof , may be cleared and exalted by art . this mark then i say is not the mark of cain , or any bestial curse , but clean contrary , and can preserve life ; so that none can kill it , though they would devour it ; which mark till you find , you shoot at rovers ; and though the ass have such an outward mark with ignomy , yet christ was pleased to ride upon it , and to grace the cross after by his mighty power of sufferings on it , he having a balsamick constant virtue of patience therein over it . some light is given of this mark and token upon it , both by paracelsus , the glory of chymists , and by brave helmont his great interpreter , but coucht close up from the rustick observation in convenient places ; yet their preparations are plainly set down to be only simple dissolution and coagulation , with easie heat , till it come to it s transmuted form , without any commiscible ferment heterogeneous to it self ; but this serpent biting his own tail , by digestion and putrefaction becomes invenomed , and so by solution mortified into the smallest attoms possibly in nature ; and then is raised , circulated , and revived for eternity to some higher orb or elixir , and so not possible to mix with any elementary impurity , or ferment to be transmuted , but seperates and preserves all and every essential concrete whereto it is joyned from corruption , and the causes of death without any diminution of its or their intire created virtue . chap. iv. of the salt of tartar volatized , or samec , and other elixirs . i may tell thee here nevertheless , that though the proper subject of this foregoing liquor , called the alchahest be but one anomalous salt , or first beginning of salts , with such a noted mark , and john baptist like , doth such great or mighty works , yet nevertheless the least elixirated subject in the philosophers kingdom ( though the lowest perfected salt ) will doe such alchahestical effects , and some beyond , especially being rapt up ( like paul ) from the quaternary elements , into the christalline third heavens above the fixt stars and planetary orbs : for paracelsus his high prepared samech , and every alcalisate incinerated wine of vegetables being brought to their full preparation and perfection , are alchahestical , at least succedaneous , as a circulatum minus ; and also all other balsamick quintessential things , and concretes in the three universal kingdoms of nature . but more especially the true mercurial saline , and sulphurous elixirs of philosophers wrought up and exalted to the bright christalline or angelical orbs , influences in spiritual fusible liquid forms , and appearencies are so universally alchahestical , that i say they may do the same things , if not greater , and make better exalted balsamick separations and preparations , then the ordinary saline alchahest . but the manner of preparation ( & modus dispositionis ) must be thought on to bring this to effect : for the degrees of hierarchy are much conducing to and for the glory of angelical powers and influences : and yet the said alchahest ( as a good forerunner ) may prepare the way or foundation to this grand elixir . 't is true , the alchalizate parts of samech , and other alcalyes , after their sufficient resolutions and pure soft apparelling for their first addresses to win their beautiful caelestial bride , and her beloved and delightful influences must have a hot and most pure affection ( chac'd from adultery , yet fusibly melting with heat ; ) and then each of them with a strong clutch ( like a domestick thief , nevertheless gently and at leisure ) will take away his beloved out ▪ of her chariot at such a time when he ●nds her in her greatest beauty , and most glorious pure attire , and with a cleanly conveyance , in the cool of the evening , will carry her away with all her wealth and jewels from her outward weak , and inward close attending strong guardians , who will then by her milder advice pacifie his heat for the present , but being once fully marryed and in his possession , her love will be so true and intire , that her tender affection will snatch and carry him on her winged embraces in her mantle , up to the highest mountains , from hers and his boisterous , pedantical , malicious enemies where afterwards they will live in peace upon heavenly manna in paradice , and dress the garden of eden with new plants , and may delight in all the fruits of life , having an angelical guardian and gardener with a flaming sword , to prevent and keep out all rustick and malevolent followers and pursuers . and reader , this greater secret may be here revealed ; that some affirm , all the concreats and things in natures , ●hree kingdoms , ( animals , vegetables , and minerals ) may be reduced to such a quintessential perfection of the four elements , and three principles as to have a community of nature , and will make the matter for the philosophers stone in any kind ; but then they must be fermented with gold and silver for metals and minerals , and so may easily transmute course metals into gold or silver , and perfect baser minerals and stones as well as they may exalt their own specifick kinds . i might further enlarge with some rare philosophick particular preparations in every kind or thing , and of the universal spirit , and general phlegmatick menstruum or dissolvent , and of some sweet oyls and spirits of balsamick , salts , sulphurs , and mercuries , &c. both for menstruums and medicines ; and to set forth butlers magnetick , mystical , physical , anodyne stone , with other sympatheticks , magneticks , &c. but it were against my intention of brevity , and i have sufficiently done in the general , for the philosophers stone and elixirs , ( instar omnium ) comprehends all . chap. v. an apologitical peroration of mans mortality , resurrection , and state for eternity . perhaps here some may say , it is not easie to find or understand all written in this short volume , by solitary experiments , or publick print , which i confess to be true ; nor could i , till i had the blessing to converse with some philosophick authors , and had living words to demonstrate it ; whereby likewise i felt and found out paracelsus and helmont , in their concealments , which i have here given thee a key to open ; and if it may be any help unto thee , acknowledge it from god ; if thou dislike it , thy time and charge will not be much prejudiced by these few lines , and might he spent worse , but take it for good intentions ▪ or how else thou pleasest , so thou forfeit not thy christian name by envy , or speaking evil of what thou knowest not . and thus i hope in this short discourse i have sufficiently explained my philosophical anygmatical scutcheons , and epitaph , with the alchahest , samech , and other elixirs , as also my adjoyning words and figures , the rest i leave , ( if thou be more curious ) to be explained by the aforesaid authors , and multitude of others better experienced in this art ; and if thou yet shalt blame me for thy want of apprehension hereof by these writings , or of my figures and epitaph , i am resolved to be dumb and silent like a dead man still ; for if i deserve blame i ought to bear it quietly ; if otherwise , i have been used to scandals and reproaches from pharaohs court , to jobs dunghil , and can take it for a glory to suffer patiently ; for i have set down what the philosophers and adeptists have said and confessed , viva voce , and in print ; nor could i or they give this knowledge in the plainest words , without the peculiar inspiration of god : wherefore if thou desirest this great blessing , ask it of him who giveth liberally and upbraideth not when it may tend to his glory . but be sure thou prepare thy self by purity and holiness , with true mortification , as thou desirest thy work should prosper and thrive . and therefore pray affectionately , that god , in and through christs spirit , may enliven thee from dead works , and separate light from thy dark body and chaos of sin , that so being truly baptized into him and his righteousness , by an essential and living seed of faith , thou maiest improve thy talent , and mount through and above the quaternary defiling world into the trivne power , and at last come to the quintessential , or super celestial central circle of peace , and heavenly beatitude . wherefore now , candid reader , if thou beest not satisfied with this work or these expressions ▪ leave them for the author , for the said epitaph and figured scutcheons will serve me well enough for a grave stone ( which was so chiefly intended at the first ) where i may lye at rest , with or without any other herauldry , or applause ; and wherein thou maiest plainly nevertheless read thy mortality , as on other tombs , to prepare thy self for thy long home of eternity , for thy body , soul , and spirit , must be seperate , and the four elements thus corrupted from the sal , sulphur , and mercury , generate worms , &c. which after a full and perfect separation , are again to be re united at the day of doom , for a quintessential , super celestial , and everlasting being : the good in joy and peace of the holy ghost , which had fermented the same by righteousness in this life into christs body as members , and was in all the saints and true catholick church , the hope of glory . but the other that were bad , left to their bestial , sensual , and divelish fermented affections , to be tormented eternally , with and by their bad spirits , and grosser essences , for their idolatry of fleshly , divelish , and worldly vanities , with horror and everlasting anguish of mind and body , wherewith nevertheless they will be nourisht and enabled to endure for ever and ever . all which i have declared , and cannot be easily hid from thee , though thou shouldst want lynceus eyes , or the philosophick eagles eye , to behold the light of nature exalted to the highest degree of the sun by art ; which nevertheless i wish thou maiest find out by this or some other means ; so it may tend to the praise and honour of god , and thine and thy neighbours eternal wellfare , who am thy friend and true lover of art and nature , and care not what thou saiest or thinkest of w. c. or twice five hundred . laurum amice eligis rus , a briefe of the golden calf . or the worlds idol . discovering the rarest miracle of nature . how in less then a quarter of an hour by the smallest proportion of the philosophers stone , a great piece of common lead was totally transmuted into the purest transplendent gold. with other most rare experiments and transmutations . written in latin by dr. frederick helvetius , and printed at the hague , 1666. and now englished and abbreviated for the ease of the readers . by w. c. esquire . laurum amice eligis rus. the epistle of vv. c. to the reader . reader , i have taught helvetius with his golden calf , our english tongue , to perswade thee ( by these experiments from a true adeptist ) of the reality of the philosophers stone , & universal medicine , and consequently to esteem the noble art of chymistry by which it is wrought ; and i heartily wish the laws were not so strict , nor the snares so many , against the honest practisers of this art , but to punish the others more severely that abuse the same , then i question not the further demonstration hereof . but the golden calf and fleece are sufficiently divulged almost in every language , and many rare english philosophers collected by our worthy countryman elias ashmole esq in his theatrum britannicum . there is also published a manuscript of a most rare anonymon ( probably yet living ) who like a miracle of nature , attained the elixir at 23 years of age , 1645. and as a true elias ( or fore-runner ) hath taught the same , in his book entituled , secrets revealed , or an open entrance to the shut pallace of the king. we have likewise the bright sun of our age , and lover of mankind , john rodolph glauber , basilius valentinus , and cosmopolite sendivogius , brave helmont , paracelsus , with several other translations in english , wherein many rare secrets are revealed for the honour of this art , improvement of our english nation , and to establish a belief of the said stone . this worthy helvetius it seems , had formerly a misprision of this art , but by these demonstrations mentioned in his book , he was convinced , and as worthily recanted to prefer the truth , and gods honour before his own repute , by which he hath gained more repute amongst all vertuous learned men . now if these experiments shall gain the like credit with you ( as i doubt not but they may ) you will not any ways detract or scandalize this almost divine art. nevertheless i do not perswade thee ( with the murmuring idolatrous jews to adore this ass or golden calf ( the workmanship of mens hands ) though termed the god of this world ) nor with jason or hercules to hazard thy self , or any limb , for the fleece , or branch of the golden tree ; but diligently to read and consider these and other learned authors to find a true coherence amongst them , and how with moses , or these elias artista's to wash the laeton , and burn the golden calf , and not thy books ; but beware thou fling not away thy mony before thou understandest the roots of nature , and the full art to proceed . if thou intendest the thing herein mentioned , least thou come off with loss and blaspheme the truth ; neither slight these reliques of the fleece as common dirt or dust , but rather magnifie the great creator , who hath not only given us this pretious stone for our health and wealth , but withal a most glorious white stone , clothed in scarlet , viz. his son christ jesus for the example , redemption , and eternal salvation of all men of that spirit , in and with whom are all blessings for male and female , poor and rich. but methinks these bright stars thus eminently appearing , with other manifest tokens would perswade us that the time is come , or not far off , when the true elias is or will be revealing this and all other arts and mysteries more plainly and publickly then before , though not perchance in or by any single person , but in some publick administration of spirit ( like a second john baptist in a fiery chariot ) to prepare the way for a higher design , by which men may forsake their vain lusts and pleasures , to follow this and other laudable arts. and exercise more justice , honesty , and love to their neighbours , ( hitherto very cool and remiss ) till they come to be transformed into the perfect image of christ , in , by , and with whom he will reign spiritually ; or else may find the smart of their vices by their violent fiery furies , and the stone out of the rock or mountain , dan. 2. 45. cut out without hands , to fall upon them in judgment , till they and their idols , gold and vanities be turned to dirt , or of no esteem , and afterwards the truth of religion in righteousness to flourish and cover the earth , as the waters do the seas , and then god will even delight to dwell in and amongst the sons and daughters of men , as the members of his beloved son , christs body , the true catholick church and christs kingdom ; though in some small differing outward forms , and that this his kingdom may come and hasten , is the prayer of your well wishing friend , w. c. or twice five hundred . laurum amice elegis rus. the epistle dedicatory of doctor john frederick helvetius . to the most excellent and learned , doctors , dr. theodosius retius , at amsterdam , doctor john casper fausius , at heidlebergh , and doctor christianus mentzelius , at brandenburgh , my honoured friends and patrons . most noble and acute searchers into the vulcanick anatomy : i would not be wanting to manifest the glory and riches of this ancient spagyrick art , which i have seen and done , by projecting a very little of the transmuting powder on a piece of impure lead , which in a moment ) was thereby changed into the most fixt pure gold , enduring the sharpest examination of fire , so that none need doubt , but certainly know the first material mercury of philosophers is to be found , and is as a fountain overflowing with admirable effects . yet it is not in my thoughts to teach any man this art , of which i my self am yet ignorant , but only to rehearse the proceedings i have seen . for it is only the part of bruits to spend their life in silence ▪ and not to declare that which might propagate the honour of the most wise , omnipotent god our creator : it being ungrateful for men , ( who ought to participate of the divine nature ) not to glorifie their maker . i shall therefore without flourishing , faithfully relate whatever i saw and heard from elias artista , touching this miracle . for truly i was not so intimate , that he would teach me to prepare the vniversal medicine throughout the artificial , chymical , physical method , yet he vouchsafed such a rational foundation in the method of physick , that i shall never sufficiently extoll his praise . receive therefore this small present which i officiously dedicate to you for admiration . farewell . n. e. e. d. v. your most humble servant . john frederick helvetius ▪ chap. i. before i describe the philosophical pigmy conquering gyants in this theatre of secrets , suffer me to transcribe some of helmonts words , out of his book of the tree of life , fol. 630. i am constrained ( saith he ) to believe there is a stone to make gold and silver , though i know many exquisite chymists have consumed their own and other mens goods in search of this mystery ; and to this day ( alas ) we see these unwary and simple laborants cunningly deluded by a diabolical crew of gold and silver , sucking hyes or leeches . but i know many stupid men will contradict this truth . this man will have it to be a work of the devils , another a hodge-podge , another to be the soul of gold ; so that with one ounce of this gold may again be tinged only one ounce of lead , and no more ; but this is repugnant to kifflers attestation , and others as i shall shew you : another perhaps believes it possible , but says , the sawce is dearer then the meat ; yet i wonder not at all , for according to the proverb , things that we understand not , we admire ; but things that please our fancy , we desire . now what will man do in natural things , who is fallen from the fountain of light into the bottomless pit of darkness , especially in this philosophick natural study . nay , i● they understand a thing , they despise it , not knowing that more is to be sought then is possessed . wherefore seneca said right , in his book of manners , thou art not yet happy if the ruder sort deride thee not . but whether men believe deride or contradict , there is a certainty of the transmutation of metals ; for mine eyes have seen it , my hands done it , and handled this spark of gods everlasting wisdom , or the true catholick , saturnine , magnesia of philosophers ( a very fire sufficient to pierce rocks ) a treasure equivalent to 20 tun of gold. what seekest thou more ? i believed it with the eyes of thomas in my fingers , i have seen i say in nature , that most secret supernatural magical saturn known to none but a cabalist christian : and we judge him the happiest of all physicians , to whom this soveraign potion of our medicinal mercury is known ; or of the medicine of the sun of our aesculapius , against the violence of death , for which else grows no better panacea in all the gardens . but the great god reveals not promiscuously these his solomonical gifts ; for it seems to most men a wonder , when they see the creature , by an occult implanted magnetical virtue of it's like , to be brought into a real activity , as for example . the ingenerated magnetical , potential vertue , in iron from the loadstone ; in gold from mercury ; in silver from copper ; and so consequently in all the metals , minerals , stones , hearbs and plants , &c. but here i may deservedly ask , which of the wisest philosophers is so acute , to perceive by what means or obumbration the imagination in any woman with child doth tinge venomous or monstrous things ▪ and dispatcheth its work within a very moment , if it be brought to activity by any external object , i believe many will say , it is a morto ▪ magical divelish work ; but such bablers are afraid of the resplendency of the essential light of truth , wherewith their owl-like eyes are lamentably afflicted . but as i may 〈…〉 are a cause of this matter , though thou or i perhaps cannot comprehend their heavenly influences ; neither are the plants which the earth affords to be slighted herein , although i or thou cannot rightly judge from their external signatures , the effects of their ingenerated virtues , which they eminently shew according to their degrees of power , in the healing and preserving of mens bodies . but are all men defective in their light of understanding , because i or thou are wanting in knowledge , how the powers created to one and the same end may be brought into activity . thousands of such things might be instanced ; although thou dost not know the splendor in the angels , the candid brightness in the heavens , the perspicuity in the air , the clear limpidity in the waters , the variety of colours in the flowers , the hardness in stones and metals , the proportion in living creatures , the image of god in regenerated men , faith in true believers , and reason in the soul : yet is there in them such a beauty , which very few mortals have throughly perceived , or plainly known . now why should there not be such an admirable virtue in the true philosophers stone , which truly i have seen and known to be so . yet hereby i endeavour not to perswade the worthy and unworthy alike , to labour in this work . i rather dehort busie searchers , from this most perillous secret , like as from some holy of holies ; yea , let every discreet student be exceeding cautious in reading and keeping company with sophisticate false philosophers . nevertheless to satisfie curious naturalists , i shall communicate faithfully whatsoever was acted between elias the artist , and me , concerning the nature of the philosophers stone . it is a thing much brighter then aurora , or a carbuncle , more splendid then the sun or gold , and more beautiful then the moon or silver ; insomuch that this most recreating light , can never be blotted out of my mind , though it should not be believed by learned fools , or illiterate asses , bubling nothing but the gloss of haughty proud eloquence . for in this exulcerated old malignant age , nothing can be secured from slanderous carpers ; but all such batts and bratts do err from truth , and in progress of time vanish , miserably ensnared in their own errors , yet our assertion shall stand till the very end of all generations , being built upon the eternal foundation of triumphant truth . and although this art be not yet known to all , the adept do assert according to experience , that this natural mistery is only to be found with the great jehovah , saturninely placed in the center of the world. in the interim , we account them happy , who by the help of art , are careful how they may wash this philosophical queen , and circulate the catholick virgin earth , within a magick , physicall christalline artifice ; nay , as khunrade saith , they aone shall see the philosophers king crowned with all the colours of the world , and coming forth of his bedchamber , and glassy sepulchre , more then perfect in his external glorified fiery body , shining like a bright carbuncle , or a compact , and ponderous transparent christal ; these shall see the salamander casting out waters , and washing therewith , the leprouse metals in the fire , as i my self have seen . what shall i say ? these shall see the ●byss of the spagyrick art , where this kingly art did rest and lye hid so many years in the mineral kingdom , as in their safest bosom . assuredly the true sons of this art shall not only manifest such a river of numitius ; in which long since aeneas being washt , and absolved from his mortality , by the command of venus , was presently transformed like to an immortàl god , but also the whole lydian river ( called pactolus ) transmuted into gold , as soon as mygdonian mydas hath washed himself in the some . also in a long series they shall partly see the bath of naked diana , and the fountain of narcissus ; yea , scylla walking in the sea without her clothes , by reason of the fervent rayes of the sun ; and shall gather the blood of pyramis and thysbe , by whose help the white mulberries were tinged into red . partly also the blood of adonis , transformed by the descending goddess venus , into the anemone rose : partly also the blood of ajax , out of which did spring the fairest flower of hyacinth or violet : partly also the blood of the gyants , struck by jupiters thunderbolt : partly also the tears of althea , shed when she had divested her self of her golden robes , and laid them down : partly also the drops from medea's decocted water , out of which green things did presently sprowt out of the earth : partly also medeas potion boyled out of many hearbs , gathered three days before the full moon , for the healing of her good old father jason : partly also the medicine of aesculapius ; partly also the leaves by whose taste glaucus was transformed into neptune : partly also the expressed juice of jason , by whose benefit he got the golden fleece , in the land of colchos , after he had fought generously in the field of mars , not without great danger of his life : partly also the garden of hesperides , , from whose trees might be gathered apples of gold : partly also , hippomines running a race with atalanta , delaying and conquering her , by throwing down three golden apples , given him by venus : partly also the aurora of cephalus ; partly also as it were , romulus transformed by jupiter into a god : partly also the soul of julius caesar , transfigured by venus into a comes , and placed amongst the stars : partly also pytho the serpent of juno , springing up after deucalions deluge out of the putrified earth , heated by the rayes of the sun : partly also the fire , whereby medea lighted seven candles : partly also the moon inflamed by the great burning of phaeton ; partly also the dryed shrub or branch of the olive tree , new greening with berries as a new and tender tree : partly also arcadia , wherein jupiter was used to walk : partly also the dwelling place of pluto , at whose entrance the three headed cerberus did watch : partly also that mountain where hercules burnt all his members he had from his mother upon a pile of wood , when the fathers parts did remain fi●t and incombustible in the fire , yet was he not one jot impaired in his life , but at length was changed into the likeness of a god. further , these true children of the philosophers , shall at last enter into the temple of the transformed rustick house , whose roof was built out of fine gold . indeed i cannot do less then once more proclaim aloud with the adeptists . o happy , and thrice happy is this artist ▪ who by the most gracious blessing of the most high jehovah obtains this art to prepare and make this almost divine salt , by whose efficacious operation , the metallick body or mineral is broke open , destroyed and killed , yet its soul is revived to the glorious resurrection of the philosophick body : most happy therefore is he who obtains this art of arts , to the glory of god , by earnest constant prayers : for certainly the knowledge of this mystery cannot be obtained , unless drawn and suckt out of the fountain of fountains , which is god. therefore every serious lover of this inestimable art should believe the chief of his business is , that with uncessant desires and prayers in a living faith , he implore , and adore the most soveraign grace of gods holy spirit in all his works : for it is the solemn custom of god to communicate his gifts candidly and liberally , only to candid and liberal men , mediately or immediately : for by this only holy way of the practice of piety , all students of difficult arts find what they desire . but they must exercise solitary philosophical and religious pleadings with jehovah , , with a pure mouth and heart : for the heavenly wisdom sophia embraceth our friendship , offering us her rivers of gratious goodness and bounty , never to be drawn dry . and most happy is he to whom the true kingly way shall be shewed by an adept possessor of this great secret. but i foresee this small preface will not satisfie my readers alike ; some perchance taxing me for presuming as it were to teach them an art unknown to my self , when this hath been my only purpose to relate a history : yet i doubt not but this study of divine wisdom , will be sweeter to some then any nectar , or ambrosia . i say no more , but conclude with that of julius caesar scaliger , that the end of truly wise men is the communicating of wisdom : according to that of gregory nysse● he that is good , communicates willingly his goods to others , for the property of good men is to be profitable to others . chap. ii. the testimony of divers illustrious authors of this arcanum . first , paracelsus in the signature of natural things , fol. 358 this is a true sign of the tincture of philosophers . that by its transmuting force , all imperfect metals are changed , viz. ( the white ) into silver , and ( the red ) into the best gold , if but the smallest part of it be cast into a crusible upon melted metal , &c. item , for the invincible astrum of metalls conquereth all things and changeth them into a nature like to its self , &c. and this gold and silver is nobler and better then that brought out of the metallick mines ; and out of it may be prepared better medicinal arcana's . item , therefore ever alchymist who hath the astrum of the sun , can transmute all red metals into gold , &c. item , cur tincture of gold hath astral stars within it : it is a most fixt substance and immutable in the multiplication . it is a powder having the reddest colour , almost like saffron , yet the whole corporeal substance is liquid like rosin , transparent like christal , frangible like glass . it is of a ruby colour and of the greatest weight , &c. read more of this in paracelsus heaven of philosophers . item , paracelsus in his seventh book of transmutation of natural things saith , the transmutation of metals is a great natural mistery , not against natures course , nor against gods order , as many falsely judge . for the imperfect metals are transmuted into gold , nor into silver , without the philosophers stone . item , paracelsus in his manual of the medicinal stone of philosophers saith , our stone is a heavenly medicine , and more then perfect , because it cleanseth all filth from the metals , &c. secondly , henry khunrade , in his amphitheater of the eternal wisdom . i have travelled much and visited those esteemed to know somewhat by experience , and not in vain , &c. ( amongst whom , i call god to witness ) i got of one the universal green lyon , and the blood of the lyon : that is gold , not vulgar but of the philosophers . i have seen it , touched it , tasted it , and smelt it : o how wonderful is god in his works ▪ i say they gave me the prepared medicine , which i most fruicfully used towards my poor neighbour in most desperate cases , and they did sincerely reveal to me the true manner of preparing their medicine . item , this is the wonderful method which god only hath given me immediately & mediately , yet subordinately through nature , fire , art and masters help ( as well living as silent ) corporal and spiritua● watching and sleeping . item , fol. 202. i write not fables , with thine own hands shalt thou handle , and with thine eyes see the azoth , viz. the universal mercury of the philosophers , which alone , with its internal and external fire , is sufficient for thee to get our stone ; nevertheless with a sympathetick harmony , being magick-physically united with the olympick fire , by an inevitable necessity , &c. item , thou shalt see the stone of the philosophers ( our king ) go forth of the bed-chamber of his glassie sepulchre , in his glorified body , like a lord of lords , from his throne into this theater of the world : that is to say , regenerated and more then perfect ; a shining carbuncle ; a most temperate splendour , whose most subtile and depurated parts are inseperably united into one , with a concordial mixture exceedingly equal , transparent like a chrystal , compact and most ponderous , easily fusible in fire , like rosin , or wax ▪ before the flight of quick silver : yet flowing without smoak , entring into solid bodies , and penetrating them like oyle through paper , dissoluble in every liquor , and comiscible with it , fryable like glass , in a powder like saffron : but in the whole mass shining red like a rubie ( which redness is a sign of a perfect fixation and fixed perfection ) permanently colouring or tinging ; fixt in all temptations and tryals , yea in the examination of the burning sulphur its self , and the devouring waters , and in the most vehement persecution of the fire , always incombustible , and permanent as a salamander , &c. item , the philosophers stone being fermented in its parts in the great world , transforms it self into whatsoever it will by the fire ; hence a son of art may perceive , why the philosophers have given their azoth the name of mercury , which adheres to bodies , &c. and further , in the same place it is fermented with metals , viz. the stone being in its highest whiteness , ●s fermented with pure silver to the white . but the sanguine stone , with pure gold to the red . and this is the work of three days , &c. thirdly , helmont in the book of eternal life , fol. 590. i have oft seen the stone and handled it , and have projected the fourth part of one grain wrapped in paper , upon eight ounces of quink silver boyling in a crusible , and the quicksilver with a small noise presently stood still from its flux , and was congealed like to yellow wax , and after a flux by blast , we found eight ounces wanting , eleven grains of the purest gold ; therefore one grain of this powder would transmute nineteen thousand , one hundred and eighty six parts ●f quicksilver into the best gold : so that this powder is found to be of similary parts amongst terrestrials , and doth transmute infinite plenty of impure metal into the best gold , uniting with it , and so defends it from canker , rust , rottenness , and death ; and makes it in a manner immortal against all tortures of fire and art , and transfers it to a virginean purity of gold , requiring only a fervent heat , item , in his tree of life , fol. 630. i am constrained to believe there is a gold and silver making stone or powder ; for that i have divers times made projection of one grain thereof , upon some thousand grains of boyling quicksilver , to a tickling admiration of a great multitude . and further as before is rehearsed in the first chapter . he also saith , he who gave me that powder had so much at least as would transmute two hundred thousand pounds worth of gold. item , he gave me about half a grain and thence were transmuted nine ounces and three quarters of quicksilver into gold ▪ and he who gave it me was but of one evenings acquaintance , &c. besides , the most noble expert man in the art of fire , doctor theodor. retius of amsterdam , gave me john helvetius a large medal with this inscription , theo-divine metamorphosis , &c. it was of count russ his making of styria , and carynthia in germany , of which one grain transmuted three pound of quicksilver into pure gold at all assayes . item , it is written that sixty years since alexander scotus made such a projection at hanaw in high germany , &c. i cannot here pass by dr. kufler in an extract of his epistle . first ● found ( in my laboratory ) an aqua fortis , and another in the laboratory of charles de roy ; i poured that aqua fortis , upon the calx of gold prepared after the vulgar manner , and after its third cohobation , the tincture of that gold did rise and sublimed into the neck of the retort , which i mixed with two ounces of silver precipitated in a common way , and i found that ounce in an ordinary flux transmuted an ounce and half of the said silver into the best gold , and a third of the remainder into white gold , and the rest was the purest silver fixt in all examinations of the fire ; but after that time i could never find more of that aqua-fortis . and i helvetius saw this white gold . item , another rare experiment done at the hague . there lived at the hague 1664. a silver smith , named grill , well exercised in alkymy , but poor according to the custome of chymists . this grill got some spirit of salt , not of a vulgar preparation , from one caspar knotner a cloth dyer , to use as he said for metals . the which afterwards he poured upon one pound of common lead in an open glass , dish or platter , usual for confections or conditures ; and after two weeks there appeared a most curious star of silver , swimming upon it , as if it had been delineated with a pensel and pair of compasses by some ingenious artist . whereupon the said grill told us with joy he had seen the signat star of the philosophers , whereof by chance he had read in basilius : i with many others saw the same to our great admiration . the lead in the interim remaining in the bottom of an ashy colour . after seven or nine days in july , the spirit of salt being exhaled by the heat of the air , the star setled on the lead or feces in the bottome , and spread it self upon it , which many people saw . at last the said grill took a part thereof , and out of that pound of lead , he found by computation twelve ounces of cupelled silver ; and out of that twelve ounces , two ounces of the best gold ; and i helvetius can shew some part of that spongeous lead with part of ●he star upon it , and also some of the said silver and gold. now whilst this envious silly grill , conceal●ng the use , endeavoured to get more of that spirit of salt from knotner , the said knotner having forgot what sort it was or else not finding it sudden●y ; was shortly after drowned , and grill with his family dyed of the plague ; so that none could make further benefit or tryal of the said progress afterwar● indeed it would move admiration , that the leads i● ward nature should appear in such a noble outwar● form by the simple maturation of the said spir● of salt ; neither is it less wonderful , that the phil●sophers stone should so suddenly transmute all m●tals to gold or silver , having its vertue potenti●ly implanted within its self , and raised into an ●ctive power ; as is manifest in iron toucht with th● load stone . but enough of this . chap. iii. the sooner a thing promised is performed , the more grateful . wherefor● i return to my predestinated history . the twenty seventh of december , 1666. in th● afternoon , came a stranger to my house at th● hague , in a plebeick habit , honest gravity , an● serious authority ; of a mean stature , a little lon● face , with a few small pock holes , and most blac● hair , not at all curled , a beardless chin , abo● three or four and forty years of age ( as i guessed and born in north holland . after salutation h● beseeched me with a great reverence to pardon hi● rude accesses , being a great lover of the pyrot●chnyan art ; adding , he formerly endeavoured t● visit me with a friend of his , and told me he had read some of my small treatises ; and particularly , that against the sympathetick powder of sir kenelm digby , and observed my doubtfulness of the philosophical mystery , which caused him to take this opportunity , and asked me if i could not believe such a medicine was in nature , which could cure all diseases , unless the principal parts ( as lungs , liver , &c. ) were perisht , or the predestinated time of death were come . to which i replyed , i never met with an adept , or saw such a medicine , though i read much of it , and have wished for it . then i asked if he were a physitian , but he preventing my question , said , he was a founder of brass , yet from his youth learnt many rare things in chymistry , of a friend particularly , the manner to extract out of metals many medicinal arcana's by force of fire , and was still a lover of it . after other large discourse of experiments in metals , this elias asked me if i could know the philosophers stone when i see it , i answered not at all , though i had read much of it in paracelsus , helmont , basilius , and others ; yet dare i not say i could know the philosophers matter . in the interim he took out of his bosome pouch or pocket , a neat ivory box , and out of it took three ponderous pieces or small lumps of the stone , each about the bigness of a small wallnut transparent , of a paile brimstone colour , whereunto did stick the internal scales of the crucible , wherein it appeared this most noble substance was melted ; the value of them might be judged worth about twenty tuns of gold , which when i had greedily seen and handled almost a quarter of an hour , and drawn from the owner many rare secrets of its admirable effects in humane and metallick bodies , and other magical properties , i returned him this treasure of treasures ; truly with a most sorrowful mind , after the custom of those who conquer themselves , yet ( as was but just ) very thankfully and humbly , i further desired to know why the colour was yellow , and not red , ruby colour , or purple , as philosophers write ; he answered , that was nothing , for the matter was mature and ripe enough . then i humbly requested him to bestow a little piece of the medicine on me , in perpetual memory of him , though but the quantity of a coriander or hemp seed , he presently answered , oh no , no , this is not lawful though thou wouldst give me as many duckets in gold as would fill this room , not for the value of the matter , but for some particular consequences , nay , if it were possible ( said he ) that fire could be burnt of fire , i would rather at this instant cast all this substance into the fiercest flames . but after he demanding ▪ if i had another private chamber , whose prospect was from the publick street , i presently conducted him in to the best furnished room backwards , where he entred without wiping his shooes ( full of snow and dirt ) according to the custom in holland , then not doubting but he would bestow part thereof , or some great secret treasure on me , but in vain ; for he asked for a little piece of gold and pulling off his cloak or pastoral habit , opened his doublet , under which he wore five pieces of gold hanging in green silk ribons , as large as the inward round of a small pewter trencher : and this gold so far excelled mine , that there was no comparison , for flexibility and colour ; and these figures with the inscriptions ingraven , were the resemblance of them , which he granted me to write out . d. 8. pag. 16 ▪ 1 amen holy holy holy is the lord our god and all things are full of his hononr leo. libra . — 2 the maruelous wisdome of the wonderfull iehovah in the vniuersall booke of nature i am made the 26 . th of august . 1666 3 ☉ ☿ ☽ the wonderfull god ; nature and the spagyricall art make nothing in vain . 4 to the honour of the euerlasting . inuisible ●ivne only wise most high & omnipotent , god of gods , holy . holy . holy gouernor and praiseworthy preseruer of all 5 holy art thou o holy spirit , halloluiah , ffye vpon the diuell and neuer speake of god without light amen . i being herewith affected with great admiration , desired to know where and how he came by them . who answered , an outlandish friend who dwelt some days in my house ( giving out he was a lover of this art , and came to reveal this art to me ) taught me various arts ; first , how out of ordinary stones and christalls , to make rubies , chrysolites and sapphires , &c. much fairer then the ordinary . and how in a quarter of an hour to make crocus martis , of which one dose would infallibly cure the pestilential dissentary ( or bloody flux ) and how to make a metallick liquor most certainly to cure all kinds of dropsies in four days : as also a limpid clear water sweeter then hony , by which in two hours of it self , in hot sand , it would extract the tincture of granats , corals , glasses , and such like more , which i helvetius did not observe . my mind being drawn beyond those bounds , to understand how such a noble juice might be drawn out of the metals , to transmute metals ; but the shade in the water deceived the dog of the morsel of flesh in his mouth . moreover he told me his said master caused him to bring a glass full of rain water , and fetch some refined silver laminated in thin plates , which therein was dissolved within a quarter of an hour , like ice when heated : and presently he drank to me the half , and i pledged him the other half , which had not so much taste as sweet milk ; whereby me thought i became very light hearted . i thereupon asked if this were a philosophical drink , and wherefore we drank this potion ? he replied i ought not to be so curious . and after he told me that by the said masters directions , he took a piece of a leaden pipe , gutter or sistern , and being melted put a little such sulphurious powder out of his pocket , & once again put a little more on the point of a knife , and after a great blast of bellows in short time poured it on the red stones of the kitchin chimney , which proved most excellent pure gold ; which he said brought him into such a trembling amazement , that he could hardly speak : but his master thereupon again incouraged him , saying , cut for thy self the sixteenth part of this for a memorial , and the rest give away amongst the poor , which he did . and he distributed so great an alms as he affirmed ( if my memory fail not ) to the church of sparrenda : but whether he gave it at several times or once , or in the golden masse , or in silver coyn , i did not ask . at last said he ▪ going on with the story of his master , he taught me throughly this almost divine art. as soon as this his history was finisht , i most humbly beg'd he would shew me the effect of transmutation to confirm my faith therein , but he dismissed me for that time in such a discreet manner , that i had a denial . but withall promising to come again at three weeks end , and shew me some curious arts in the fire , and the manner of projection , provided it were then lawful without prohibition . and at the three weeks end he came , and invited me abroad for an hour or two , and in our walks having discourses of divers of natures secrets in the fire ; but he was very sparing of the great elixir , gravely asserting , that was only to magnifie the most sweet fame , and name of the most glorious god ; and that few men indeavored to sacrifice to him in good works , and this he expressed as a pastor or minister of a church ; but now and then i kept his ears open , intreating to shew me the metallick transmutation ; desiring also he would think me so worthy to eat and drink and lodge at my house , which i did prosecute so eagerly , that scarce any suiter could plead more to obtain his mistress from his corrival ; but he was of so fixt and stedfast a spirit , that all my endeavors were frustrate : yet i could not forbear to tell him further i had a fit laboratory , and things ready and fit for an experiment . and that a promised favour was a kind of debt ; yea , true said he , but i promised to teach thee at my return with this proviso , if it were not forbidden . when i perceived all this in vain , i earnestly craved but a most small crum or parcel of his pouder or stone , to transmute four grains of lead to gold ; and at last out of his philosophical commiseration , he gave me a crum as big as a rape or turnip seed ; saying , receive this small parcel of the greatest treasure of the world , which truly few kings or princes have ever known or seen : but i said , this perhaps will not transmit four grains of lead , whereupon he bid me deliver it him back , which in hopes of a greater parcel i did ; but he cutting halfe off with his nail , flung ●t into the fire , and gave me the rest wraped neatly up ●n blew paper ; saying , it is yet sufficient for thee . i answered him ( indeed with a most dejected coun●enance ) sir , what n eans this ; the other being too ●ittle , you give me now less . he told me , if thou ●anst not mannage this ; yet for its great proportion ●or so small a quantity of lead , then put into the cru●ible two drams , or halfe an ounce , or a little more ●f the lead ; for there ought no more lead be put in ●he crucible then the medicine can work upon , and ●ransmute : so i gave him great thanks for my dimi●ished treasure , concentrated truly in the superlative ●egree , and put the same charily up into my little box ; ●ying , i meant to try it the next day ; nor would i ●eveal it to any . not so , not so ; ( said he ) for ●e ought to divulge all things to the children of art ; which may tend to the singular honour of god , that so they may live in the theosophical truth , and not at all die sophistically . after i made my confession to him , that whilst this masse of his medicine was in my hands , i indeavoured to scrape a little of it away with my nail , and could not forbear ; but scratcht off nothing , or so very little , that it was but as an indivisible atome , which being purged from my nail , and wrapt in a paper ; i projected on lead , but found no transmutation ; but almost the whole masse of lead flew away , and the remainder turned into a meer glassy earth ; at which unexpected passage , he smiling , said , thou art more dextrous to commit theft , then to apply thy medicine ; for if thou hadst only wraped up thy stollen prey in yellow wax , to preserve it from the arising fumes of lead , it would have penitrated to the bottom of the lead , and transmuted it to gold ; but having cast it into the fumes , partly by vi lence of the vaprous fumes , and partly by the sympathetick alliance , it carryed thy medicine quite away : for gold , silver , quick-silver , and the like metals , are corrupted and turn brittle like to glass , by the vapours of lead . whereupon i brought him my crusible wherein it was done , and instantly b● perceived a most beautiful saffron like tincture stic● on the sides ; and promised to come next morning , by nine in the morning , and then would shew me my error , and that the said medicine should transmut● the lead into gold. nevertheless i earnestly praye● him in the interim to be pleased to declare only for m● present instruction , if the philosophick work co● much , or required long time . my friend , my frien● ( said he ) thou art too curious to know all things i● an instant , yet will i discover so much ; that neithe● the great charge , or length of time ▪ can discourag● any ; for as for the matter , out of which our magistery is made , i would have thee know there is only two metals and minerals , out of which it is prepared ; but in regard the sulphur of philosophers is much more plentiful and abundant in the minerals ; therefore it is made out of the minerals . then i asked again , what was the menstrum , and whether the operation or working were done in glasses , or crusibles ? he answered , the menstrum was a heavenly salt , or of a heavenly virtue , by whose benefit only the wise men dissolve the earthly metallick body , and by such a solution is easily and instantly brought forth the most noble elixir of philosophers . but in a crusible is all the operation done and performed , from the beginning to the very end , in an open fire , and all the whole work is no longer from the very first to the last then four days , and the whole work no more charge then three florens ; and further , neither the mineral , out of which , nor the salt , by which it was performed , was of any great price . and when i replyed , the philosophers affirm in their writings , that seven or nine months at the least , are required for this work . he answered , their writings are only to be understood ●y the true adeptists ; wherefore concerning time ●hey would write nothing certain : nay , without the ●ommunication of a true adept philosopher , not one ●tudent can find the way to prepare this great magi●tery , for which cause i warn and charge thee ( as a ●riend ) not to fling away thy money and goods to ●unt out this art ; for thou shalt never find it to which i replied thy master , ( though unknown ) snew●d it thee ; so mayst thou perchance discover some●hing to me , that having overcome the rudiments , 〈◊〉 may find the rest with little difficulty , according to ●he old saying . it is easier to adde to a foundation , then begin a new . he answered , in this art 't is quite otherwise ; for unless thou knowest the thing from the head to the heel , from the eggs to the apples ; that is , from the very beginning to the very end thou knowest nothing , and though i have told thee enough ; yet thou knowest not how the philosophers do make , and break open the glassy seal of hermes , in which the sun sends forth a great splendour with his marvelous coloured metallick rayes , and in which looking glass the eyes of narcissus behold the transmutable metals ▪ for out of those rays the true adept philosophers gather their fire ; by whose help the volatil metals may be fixed into the most permanent metals , either gold or silver . but enough at present ; for 〈◊〉 intend ( god willing ) once more to morrow at the ninth hour ( as i said ) to meet , and discourse further on this philosophical subject , and shall shew you the manner of projection . and having taken his leave , he left me sorrowfully expecting him ; but the next day he came not , nor ever since : only he sent an excuse at halfe an hour past nine that morning , by reason of his great business , and promised to come at three in the afternoon , but never came , nor have i heard of him since ; whereupon i began to doubt of the whole matter . nevertheless late that night my wife ( who was a most curious student and enquir●● after the art , whereof that worthy man had discours● ▪ came solliciting and vexing me to make experiment of that little spark of his bounty in that art , whereby to be the more assured of the truth ; saying to me , unless this be done , i shall have no rest nor sleep all th●● night ; but i wisht her to have patience till next morning to expect this elias ; saying , perhaps he will return again to shew us the right manner . in the mea● time ( she being so earnest ) i commanded a fire to be made ( thinking alas ) now is this man ( though so divine in discourse ) found guilty of falsehood . and secondly attributing the error of my projecting the grand theft of his powder in the dirt of my nail to his charge , because it transmuted not the lead that time ; and lastly , because he gave me too small a proportion of his said medicine ( as i thought ) to work upon so great a quantity of lead ▪ as he pretended and appointed for it , saying further to my self , i fear , i fear indeed this man hath deluded me ; nevertheless my wife wrapped the said matter in wax , and i cut halfe an ounce , or six drams of old lead , and put into a crusible in the fire , which being melted , my wife put in the said medicine made up into a small pill or button , which presently made such a hissing and bubling in its perfect operation , that within a quarter of an hour all the masse of lead was totally transmuted into the best and finest gold , which made us all amazed as planets struck . and indeed ( had i lived in ovids age ) there could not have been a rarer metamorphosis then this , by the art of alkemy . yea , could i have enjoyed argus's eyes , with a hundred more , i could not sufficiently gaze upon this so admirable and almost miraculous a work of nature ; for this melted lead ( after projection ) shewed us on the fire the rarest and most beautiful colours imaginable ; yea , and the greenest colour , which as soon as i poured forth into ●n ingot , it got the lively fresh colour of blood ; and being cold shined as the purest and most refined transplendent gold. truly i , and all standing about me , were exceedingly startled , and did run with this aurified lead ( being yet hot ) unto the goldsmith , who wondred at the fineness , and after a short trial of touch , the judged it most excellent gold in the whole world , and offered to give most willingly fifty florens for every ounce of it . the next day a rumor went about the hague , and spread abroad ; so that many illustrious persons and students gave me their friendly visits for its sake : amongst the rest the general say-master , or examiner of the coynes of this province of holland , mr. porelius , who with others earnestly beseeched me to pass some part of it through all their customary trials , which i did , the rather to gratifie my own curiosity . thereupon we went to mr. brectel a silver-smith , who first tried it per quartam , viz. he mixt three or four parts of silver with one part of the said gold , and laminated , filed , or gramilated it , and put a sufficient quantity of aqua fort thereto , which presently dissolved the silver , and suffered the said gold to precipitate to the bottom ; which being decauted off , and the calx or powder of gold dulcified with water , and then reduced and melted into a body , became excellent gold : and whereas we feared loss , we found that each dram of the said first gold was yet increased , and had transmuted a scruple of the said silver into gold , by reason of its great and excellent abounding tincture . but now doubting further whether the silver was sufficiently separated from the said gold , we instantly mingled it with seven parts of antimony , which we melted & poured into a cone , & blowed off the regulus on a test , where we missed eight grains of our gold ; but after we blowed away the rest of the antimony , or superfluous scoria , we found nine grains of gold more for our eight grains missing , yet this was somewhat pale and silver-like , which easily recovered its full colour afterwards ; so that in the best proof of fire we lost nothing at all of this gold ; but gained as aforesaid . the which proof again i repeated thrice , and found it still alike , and the said remaining silver out of the aqua fortis , was of the very best flexible silver that could be ; so that in the total , the said medicine ( or elixir ) had transmuted six drams and two scruples of the lead and silver , into most pure gold. behold i have now related the full history , from the philosophical eggs to the golden apples , ( as the proverb goes ) and though i have the gold , yet where the philosopher and elias is i know not ; but wheresoever he is the almighty god ( protector of all creatures ) shelter him from all danger under hiswings ; and bring him to eternal bliss and happiness in his heavenly kingdom , after the end of his full pilgrimage in this life , for the succour and relief of christendome . and the whole world , amen . chap. iv. i betake me now to the dialogue between elias the artist , and the phisician , to express what is past , and all other passages . elias god save you helvetius ? i have heard of your curious search after natural things , and read thy books , particularly against kenelme digbys sympathetical pouder , where he glories to to heal all wounds at a distance . truly i delight incredibly in all such things , which we see in this look-glass naturally implanted in the creatures , whether sympathetick or antipathetick : for the inexhaustible treasures of the divine light and deity ( abundantly granted us ) may be perfectly known out of the creatures under the sky , or in the womb of the earth , or in the seas brought forth . that with all their gifts and powers ( protentially in them ) they might be be beneficial to restore health and help to mortal man. physician . sir , you are the the welcomest guest ; for a philosophical discourse of nature is the only refreshing of my spirit , and salutiferous nourishment ; come i pray into this chamber . elias . sir , it seems you have here a whole shop of the fiery art of vulcan , and perhaps all spagyrical medicines , most exactly drawn out of the mineral kingdom . but sir ? for what end so many medicaments ? when by a most few we may much sooner and safelyer restore the health of man , if the distemper be not deadly , either out of defect of nature , or putrifaction of any noble part , or the whole consumption of the radical humidity ; for in such desperate cases neither galenical cures , nor paracelsical tinctures can be helpful ; but it is not thus in ordinary diseases , where nevertheless often men are constrained before their fatal term , to travail out of this most sweet light amongst the dead , for want of speedy and potent remedies . phisician . sir , i apprehend by your discourse you are either a physician , or an expert student in chymistry ▪ verily i believe there are more excellent medicaments , and an universal medicine , which might prolong life ▪ until the determinate end , and also cure and heal all distempers in mans body , but who can shew the way to such a fountain , whence such a medicinal juice may be obtained , perhaps none amonst men . elias . truly i am only a founder of brass , yet almost from my cradle my genius prompted me to search curiosities in the fiery art , and i have diligently searched through the internal nature of metals , and though now i forbear assidual labour and accurate scrutiny , yet such labours and lovers are delightful to me ; and i believe the most high , great and good god , will in this our age afford his spagyrick sons the metallick mysteries gratis yet , by praying , and labouring to attain them . physician . i grant god affords his commendable good things gratis , yet he hath seldom given or doth easily sell to his sons this medicinal nectar for nothing . for we know certainly that infinite numbers of chymists have and do still draw water through a sieve , whilst they presume to prepare the universal stone of philosophers , and out of the books of triumphing adeptists , none can learn the manner of preparing it , or know their first matter . and whilst one searcheth on the lowest root and foot of the mountain , he never ascends to the highest top , where only he can eat and drink the ambrosia and nectar of the macro-sophists or philosophers . in the interim it is the part of a good physician , for want of that universal elixir , to keep a pure and safe conscience , and apply to diseases such restoring remedies in which he certainly finds the effect and virtue of curing them . therefore in all desprate diseases i use such most simple medicaments , that the patients either speedily recover , or are brought into some way of their former better health . for there are various kinds of salts generated in the glandules and lymphatick vessels , after the putrefaction of this or that received nourishment , which afterwards flourish out in various humours , and cause either internal or external distempers ▪ for experience teacheth us , that as many constitutions or complexions , so many diversities of diseases , although it be the very same disease in general . as we have experience in them who drink wine , where divers operations presently manifest themselves . for peter having drunk wine , presently begins to be angry and furious on the contrary : paul seems to have a lamblike timidity ; but matthew sings , and luke weeps . item . from the contagious scorbutical poison , the radical juice of peter in his lymphatick vessels and kernels is turned into acidity , which abstructs the passages and organs of all the whole body . from whence springs up under the skin discolourd azure or skie-colour spots ; but in the time of the plague they bud forth in the likeness of cornes of pepper . but the juice of the same parts in paul is changed into an opening bitterness from whence in the skin grow red spots under the arms and legs ▪ like unto flea-bites ; but in the plague time carbuncles . but the juice or humidity of the same parts in mathew is turned somewhat sweet and easie to be putrified , whence bud forth under the skin watry tumors on his arms and legs , the like almost you may see in hydropical patients ; but in the pestilence riseth pestilential tumors . but of the same parts in luke , the juice is changed into a sharpe salty driness , whence come forth under the skin of his arms and legs , precipitations of the ordinary ferment of the flesh , and such exsiccations as commonly fall out in the consumtive atrophia ; yea ; most often into the true atrophia : but in the plague , come forth most ardent swellings , with distractedness until death . behold my friend ! no physician , by one universal medicine can cure this only disease of the scorbutickpestilential or febrile-poyson , but indeed by means of a particular vegetable or mineral granted in nature from god , we may ; for i can succour and handle all scorbutical patients , with one scorbutical herb , as scurvy-grass , or sorrel , or fumitary , or baccabungia , called brooklime or red coleworts ; yea , much less can we succour them with one remedy compounded of all these divers species ; for as much as there is such an antipathy between scurvy-grass and sorrel , as there is between fire and water , and the same antipathy is also observed between the herb fumitary , and baccabungy : therefore the corrector of peters scorbutical , colouring salty , and sower poyson , is made with the bitter volatile salt of the herb scurvy-grass . the corrector of pauls scorbutick , tinging , salty and bitter poyson , is made with the fixt sowr salt of the herb sorel . and the corrector of mathew's scorbutick salty tinging sweet and moistening poyson , is made with the help of the fixt bitter and drying sulphur of the herb fumitary . but the corrector of luke's scorbutical tingent , salty , sharp and drying poyson , is made by the help of the sweet moistening mercury of the herb baccabungy , brooklime or red coleworts : as out of the external signature of those herbs is very easie to judge the specifick internal remedy , against these divers scorbutical diseases . verily my feiend ; if this be well observed , a prudent physician will doubt of the universal medicine . elias . i shall easily grant all which thou hast argued , yet the fewest of physicians observe this method . in the interim it is not at all impossible that there is also in the kingdom of minerals ( being the highest ) an universal medicine , by whose only benifit we may effect and afford all which are recounted by thee of many remedies out of the lowermost kingdom of vegetables . but our most great and good god for some weighty reasons , hath not given this kind of magnificent charismal gift or supereminent science promiscuously to all philosophers ; but hath revealed the same to a few , though all the adeptists agree that this science is true ▪ and that none ought to doubt of the truth thereof in the least . physician , sir besides the mentioned things , there are yet other observations strenuously opposing the operation of an universal medicine ; partly in respect unto mens age and strength ; partly by reason of the sex , and other circumstances , whilst there is a plain difference between the tender and strong : either by nature or education , and between the male and the female ; young man and maid ; and between the beginning , middle , or end of the disease ; and it must be known if the disease be inveterate , or but lately have invaded the party ; and lastly , if the ferment in this disease be promoted , or in another be precipitated : for the effervency of the ferment is made in the stomack , or intestines , and indeed many contradictions are against the universal medicine , and few phisitians have thomas a didymus spectacles at their fingers ends . elias , you have argued very philosophically ; for so many men , so many minds . and as sweet musick pleaseth not every mydas ears , or the same meats and drinks please every pallate : so the judgments of unskilful persons are very different concerning this universal medicine , both for humane and metallick bodies : and certainly the operation of this differs much from particular medicines ; some whereof nevertheless are in a manner universal , or so esteemed , as the herb scurvygrass , curing all sorts of the scurvy , marked with azure spots ; sorrel , every scurvy with red spots ; beccabungia ( red coleworts or brooklime ) atrophia , or the consumptive kind : and fumitary tumors of another kind : especially with such phisicians to whom the abovesaid observations are in high esteem . besides there is a vast difference between the universal medicine of true philosophers , which revives all the vital spirits , and the particular medicament of a slight cure ; where only the venome of humours boyling against nature ( in this man sowre ; in another bitter , &c. and in one saline ▪ in another sharp ) is corrected : and if these corruptions be not presently removed by the usual emunctories of mouth , nostrils , stool , urine , or sweat ; then certainly the corruption of one , begets another disease ; for every spark of fire having food , and not quencht , will arise to the greatest conflagration but if there be a defect in the motions of the vital spirits , then this is impossible to be effected by particulars ; wherefore it concerns every conscientious phisitian to learn how he may promote the motion of the vital spirits , to a natural digestible heat , which is most securely and best performed by our universal medicine ▪ by which the sick are notably recreated ; for as soon as this more then perfect medicine removes the mortifying seeds , nature is restored , and so lost health recovered ; and that only by a harmonious sympathy between it and the vital spirits ; wherefore the adept do call it the myster , of nature , defence of old age , and against all sicknesses , yea , of the very plague and pestilence ; for this being a kind of salamander , communicates its virtue and ( as a salamander ) makes a man live till his last appointed time against all the fiery epidemical darts of the angry heavens or their malevolent influences . physitian , sir ! i understand by your discourse , that this medicine doth nothing to the correcting of depraved or corrupt humours , but only by strengthning the vital spirits , and our balsamick nature ; but other practical chymists teach how to seperate he impure from the pure , and ripen the unripe ▪ o make the bitter become a little sower or acid ▪ and the sower sweet , and so to turn sharp into mild ▪ mild into sharp , sower into sweet , and sweet into sower . also i understand you say this universal medicine cannot prolong life beyond its prefixed time , but only preserves it from all venome and deadly sickness , which agrees with the vulgar belief , that the life depends only upon the will of god. but passing by these things , my question is still , whether a mans former nature may be converted into another new nature ? so that a slothful man , may be changed into a diligent nimble man and a melancholy man by nature be made a merry man ; or the like . elias , not at all sir , for no medicine hath power to transform the nature of man in such a manner , no more then wine drunk by divers men changeth the persons nature , but only provokes or deduceth what is in man potentially into act ; for the universal medicine works by recreating the vital spirits , and so restoreth that health which was suppressed for a time . in the same manner the heat of the sun never transmutes the hearbs and flowers , but stirs up their potential powers to become active . for a man of melancholly temper is again raised up to his natural melancholy disposition , and a merry man to become merry . and so in all desperate diseases , it is a present and most excellent preservative . nay if there could be any prolonging of life . then hermes , paracelsus , trevisan , and many others having had the said medicine would never have undergone the tyranny of death , but have prolonged their lives perhaps to this very day : it were therefore the part of a mad lunatick to believe that any medicine in the world could prolong life longer then god limits . physitian , worthy sir , i agree now cheerfully to all you have said touching the universal medicine , being no less regular then fundamental ; yet till i can prepare the same my self , it profits me not : indeed some illustrious men have written of it so cautiously in dark aenygma s , that very few can understand their progress to the end ; and if one could purchase all these authors , this short life might be therein consumed , and not attain the thing . it remains therefore only to pray and labour , ora ▪ & labora , deus dat omni horae , work and pray , god gives every day . elias , seldom indeed can this art of arts be pickt out of books without demonstration from some true adeptist . but waving this , let us come to transmutation of metals , by the most noble tincture of which many have written , but 't is true , few disciples attain this arcanum . physitian , your convincing arguments , and my fore going experiments , i believe all you say ; for dr. kuffler with the tincture of one ounce of gold , projected on two ounces of silver , transmuted as is said ▪ an ounce and half into the purest gold , and a third of the remainder into white gold , and the rest was still the purest silver imaginable . and van helmonts experiment proves the same , but especially alexander scotus , and count russes experiment , well known at prague , and as here you may see the inscriptiors done before the roman emperour caesar ferdinando the third ; where with one grain of tincture were transmuted three pound of mercury into the noblest pure gold . yet i confess i never saw a true adeptist , or projection made , and therefore cannot so absolutely conclude these things to be true . elias , my friend , the art will remain true , whether f. 1. pag. 34. like as rare men have this art : soe cometh it very rarely to light praise be to god for ever ; who doeth commvnicate a part of his infinite power to vs his most abiect creatvres the divine metamorphosis ex hibited at pragve xv ian a c mdcxlviii in the presence of his sacred caesarean m ty . ferdinand the third the thickness of that piece of gould ●ount rusz , uppermost hill master in steyer ●nd carinthiae ( two prouinces of high germany ) ●ath with one only graine of tincture transmuted ●●ree pounds of quicksiluer into pure gold fixt ●all assayes & proofes out of which was cast ●his piece of gould f. 2. pag. 35. 1 amen holy holy holy is the lord our god and all things are full of his hononr leo. libra . — 2 the maruelous wisdome of the wonderfull iehovah in the vniuersall booke of nature i am made the 26th . of august . 1666 3 ☉ ☿ ☽ the wonderfull god ; nature and the spagyricall art make nothing in vain . 4 to the honour of the euerlasting , inuisible trivne only wise most high & omnipotent , god of gods , holy . holy . holy gouernor and praiseworthy preferuer of all 5 holy art thou o holy spirit , halleluiah , ffye vpon the diuell and neuer speake of god without light amen . you believe or not : for example . in the singular exalted sulphurous virtue in the loadstone ( by its only touch derives a sympathetick vertue into the sulphurous iron to become another magnet or loadstone by its touch . so doth it happen in the philosophers stone , in the which is all that the wisemen seek . now in regard their writings are so numerous and dark : it is to be wished one laconick short epitomy were extracted out of all for the said art to be clearly manifested in a short time , with little labour and expence ; and so a most easie transite made to the best authors . but look here , i will now shew you the true matter of philosophers to confirm your belief . phisitian , is this glassy yellow masse it indeed ? i fear you do but jest or dally with me . elias , yea truly , thou hast now in thy hands the most pretious thing in the world , the true philosophers stone , none ever more real or can be better . neither shall any have another , and i my self have wrought it from the very beginning , to the very end . then stepping into a more private room he shewed me these five pieces of pure gold , made out of lead by the philosophical tincture , which saith he , i wear in memory of my master : now by thy great reading canst thou judge of what matter or substance it is made and composed . physitian , sir i cannot judge , but it seems you learnt it not of your self , but had a master instructed you to make it . now i beseech you sir , bestow a little crum of the same upon me , if it be but as much as a coriander or hemp seed , only to transmute four grains of lead into gold . elias , i confess an honest good man first shewed me the possibility , and then the art and manner to prepare the medicine , but to give thee any of this medicine is not lawful , though i had for it as many duckets as would fill this room ; not for my esteem of the matter , which is of no price at all , but for other private considerations , and to make it so appear , i would now through all into the fire to be consumed , if it were possible for the fire to destroy fire . be not therefore covetous , for thou hast seen more then many kings or princes that have sought for it . but i must now depart , and purpose to come again at three weeks end , and then if not hindred or forbid , i will abundantly satisfie thy curiosity to see transmutation ; in the interim , i warn you not to tamper with this dangerous art , least you lose your fame and substance in the ashes . physitian , sir , what shall i do , if it be not lawful for you to bestow so small a part of your tincture , because of your philosophical oath , taken at your drinking the dissolved silver in the rain water . yet know i do eagerly desire to learn this , and i believe adam ( thrown out of paradice for eating an apple ) would again desire this golden fruit out of atlantas garden , though to hazard the destruction you premonish . and though i have not yet seen transmutation from you , i thank you for your great friendship in forewarning me of the dangers , and shewing me what i have seen , and till your return , i shall delight my self with what is discovered both of your medicine and person . but i fear sir , if any king , prince , or potentate should know the same ( which god forbid ) they would perchance imprison and torture you , till you should reveal all the art to them . elias , i never shewed the stone to any in the world , but to you , except one aged man , and henceforth shall not to any ▪ but if any king , or other , ( which i hope god will not permit ) should rack me to pieces , or burn me alive , i would not reveal it to them , neither directly nor indirectly , as many circumferanious physitians , mountebanks , vagabonds , and others pretend to do . phisitian , good sir tell me in the interim , who are the best authors , in regard by experience you are best able to judge . elias , indeed doctor i have not read many books , but amongst those i have read , none more curious then cosmopolite sendivogius , the dutch borger derwerel , and brother basilins 12 keys , i can lend thee sendivogius at my return , in whose obscure words the truth lyes hidd , even as our tincture lyes inclosed in the minerals and metallick bodies . phisitian , sir , i give you most hearty thanks for your exceeding kindness and love , believing that marvellous and efficacious essences and tinctures , lies hid in metals and minerals under the external rinds and shells of their bodies ; though i find few so expert in the fire , to know how to pick out their kernel philosophically , for ( as isaac holland writes ) the outward body of every animal , vegetable , and mineral , is like to a terrestrial province , within which excellent spiritual essences do retire and dwell , wherefore it is needful that the sons of art should know how , by some saline , fit , sutable ferment ( pleasant and agreeable to the metallick nature ) to tame and subdue , dissolve , separate , and concentrate , not only the metallick , magnetick virtue , wherewith to tinge ; but also philosophically to multiply the same , in their golden or silvery homogenity . for we see that the bodies of all creatures are not only easily destroyed , but as soon as they cease to live , they hurry to their graves in putrefaction , viz. to their old chaos and darkness of orcus ▪ wherein they were before they were brought to light by creation in this world. but alas who or what man can or will shew us this art in the metallick kingdom . elias ▪ sir i confess you judge right of the natural destruction of things , and if it be gods pleasure , he can ( as to me ) send one ( sooner then thou hopest ) to shew thee the manner to destroy metals and minerals , in a true philosophical manner , and to gather their inward souls . in the mean time implore the blessing of this great god , who doth all things as he pleaseth . to whom i recommend thee , whose watchful eyes are always open , over all his regenerated sons , in and through christ jesus so be sure i am your friend . and once more farewell . thus my friend elias taking leave , left me three weeks , and to this very day ; nevertheless , ( as a spur ) he impressed all these things deep in my mind , and paracelsus confirmed them , saying , that in , with , of , and by metals spiritualized and cleansed , are perfect metals made , and also the living gold and silver of philosophers , as well for humane as metallick bodies . wherefore if this guest my friend , had taught me the manner of preparing this spiritual and celestial salt he spake of , by and with which i might ( as it were ) within their own matrix , gather the spiritual rays of sun or moon , out of the corporal metallick substances , then truly from his own light he had so enlightened me , that i should have known how magnetically ( by a sympathetick power ) in other imperfect corporeal metals , their internal souls might be clarified and tinged , so that their own similary bodies being of like kind , might be transmuted into gold or silver , according to the nature of red seed , into a red body ; or of the white seed into a white and pure body ; for elias told me that sendivogius his calybs was the true mercurial metallick humidity , by help of which ( without any corrosive ) an artist might seperate the fixt rayes of the sun or moon , out from their own bodies , in a naked fire , in open crusible , and so make them volatile and mercurial , fit for a dry philosophick tincture ( as he partly communicated and shewed me before he went ) to transmute the metals for all learned chymists must consent , that pyrotechny is the mother and nurse of many noble sciences and arts , and they can easily judge from the colours of the chaos of metals in the fire , what metallick body is therein . and truly , every day , metals and transparent stones ▪ are yet so procreated in the bowels of the earth , from their proper , noble , vapourons seed , with a spiritual tingent sulphurous seed , in their divers salty matrixes ; for the common sulphur , ( or the sulphur of any pure or impure metal , whilst yet conjoyned with its own body ) being mingled only with salt-peter in the burning heat of fire , will be easily changed into the hardest and most fixed earth . and this earth is afterwards easily changed by the air into most clear water , and this water after by a stronger fire , according to the nature of either pure or impure metallick sulphur admixed ) is turned into glass , coloured with various and very beautiful colours . almost so likewise is a chicken generated and hatcht out of the white of an egg , by a gentle natural heat ; and thus also from the seminal bond of life of any metal , is made a new and much more noble metal , by a heat convenient to a salty fires nature , though few chymists know perfectly how the internal virtues of metals ( always magnetically moving according to their harmony or disconsonancy ) are distinguished ; and why one metal hath such a singular sympathy or antipathy with the other metal , as is seen in the magnet with iron , in mercury with gold , in silver with copper , very remarkably . and so in some are notably found an antipathy , as lead against tin , iron against gold , antimony against silver : and again , lead against mercury . there are 600 such sympathetical and antipathetical annotations in the animal● and vegetable kingdom , as authors have written thus candid reader have i here printed what i have seen and done , for with seneca i desire to know only that i may teach others : nay if wisdom were given conditionally to be kept secret , i would reject it . if any shall yet remain doubtful , let him with a living faith believe in his christ crucifyed , and in him become a new creature , through the most strict way of regeneration , and be fixed therein in hope , and use true love and charity to his neighbour , till his life be justly , chastly , and holily sinisht , thereby safely to sail through the wicked and impudent sea of this world , to the peaceable haven of heaven , where is an everlasting sabbath with true christians and philosophers , in the true jerusalem . john frederick helvetius , count russ in syria , and carynthia in germany , with one grain of tincture , transmuted three pound of ☿ into pure ☉ at all assayes . the golden ass well managed , and mydas restored to reason . or a new chymical light appearing as a day star of comfort to all under oppression or calamities , as well illiterate , as learned , male as female ; to ease their burdens and provide for their families . wherein the golden fleece is demonstrated to the blind world , and that good gold may be found as well in cold as hot regions ( though better in hot ) within and without through the universal globe of the earth , and be profitably extracted : so that in all places where any sand , stones , gravel , or flints are , you cannot so much as place your footing , but you may find both gold , and the true matter of the philosophers stone . and is a work of women and play of children . written at amsterdam , 1669. by john rodolph glauber , the bright sun of our age , and lover of mankind , like a true elias riding on this golden ass , in a fiery chariot . and translated out of latin into english , in briefer notes , 1670. by w. c. esq . true lover of art and nature , and well wisher to all men , especially to the poor distressed houshold of faith ; the true catholick church , and body of christ , dispersed through many forms of religions , through the whole world , as the perfect israelites . the thickness of that piece of gould like as rare men have this art soe cometh it very rarely to light praise be to god for ever ; who doeth commvnicate a part of his infinite power to vs his most abiect creatvres the divine metamorphosis exhibited at pragve xv ian ac. mdcxlviii in the presence of his sacred caesarean m ty . ferdinand the third count rusz uppermost hill master in steyer and carinthioe ( two prouinces of high germany ) hath with one only graine of tincture transmuted three pounds of quicksiluer into pure gold fixt in all assayes & proofes out of which was cast this piece of gould the epistle of vv. c. to the christian and courteous reader . job 28. 6. & 2 esdras 8. 2. reader , god who made man out of earth or clay , and out of stones could raise up seed to abraham , hath here sent thee manna , and commanded these very stones to yield thee bread , in these calamitous times , or rather that which may satisfie thy honest and moderate wishes more for food and all necessaries ( as was intended in the fiction of mydas ) for every thing thou touchest by this art may turn to gold , and purchase whatsoever thou needest for thy self , friends and family , without borrowing , extortion , or fear of want , or wearing longer ears then will become a rational man and a good christian ; and so thou maiest prove a true fortunatus , or providential mydas , & procure thee a lighter heart then many that have a heavier purse , which ▪ may be exhausted , lost or spent on their lusts , and yet not satisfie their fears or covetous desires , though in present plenty of corn and wine . yea , if thou hast grace and wisdom , out of the very stones in the streets , or jobs dunghill , thou maiest raise the golden fleece , though in extract and jobs small quantity , and mayest gain the philosophers stone , and withal make gold more plentiful then in solomons days , and ride in triumph over the world on this golden ass , by glaubers new chymical light , without old balams property . quid non mortalia pectora cogis auri , sacra fames . let this art therefore breed in thee a holy hunger of god , rather then gold , and improve this talent to gods honour that sent it , and to thy honest neighbours good ; and fear not to be the poorer , though thou light thy neighbours candle , by communicating somthing of this art , or the fruicts thereof liberally , as thou wouldst be done unto ; that so all may glorifie the almighty giver for his great treasures and bounty , and live together in peace and love , without griping , grudging , or anxiety ; whence may spring the true golden age , so long expected and desired , with halcion days ; neither needest thou be sollicitous for thine or their posterity , least they want bread , if thou givest them but these stones with the use thereof for a legacy . i have no other message at present , but to wish thee herewith to be content , and provide thee treasures for eternity , without taking notice of this mean messenger that brought it hither to thee , who though invisible or unknown , shall remain thy well wishing friend and servant , w. c. or twice five hundred . l'aurum amice elegis rus. postscript . to help thee here a little forwarder . take four ounces ( or what quantity of powder of emery you please , such as cutlers use , and is bought at the ironmongers , or else good yellow , red , or purple talcum , or other good stones or minerals , dissolve it in spirit of salt , of glaubers cheapest making , distill or evaporate the menstruum gently , or precipitate the tincture by lixiviat salt , with ☽ or ☿ or the properest loadstone ☉ , and reduce all by ♀ , but be sure not to be too hasty for a regulus ; but when you think it sufficiently washt and digested , cast it into a cone for the first regulus , then with glaubers martial discipline , mortifie the remaining sulphurious matter , and you have a courser sol , and after a lunary body . then begin again , and add the last to the first , and turn ixions wheel in the fire as oft as you please , till you find good profit . john rodolph glavber's epistle to the reader , reader , satan with his followers seeks nothing more , then the destruction of mankind , and to hinder him from the gifts and favour of god. wherefore i desire thee not to slight or judge of these things rashly , which thou knowst not ; but first prove and try them throughly , and although you should fail ( as it may easily happen to the inexpert ) yet blame not my writings or good intentions ▪ but your own unfit capacity , or inexperience ; for i write nothing here , but what i have often effected , and can perform and prove true every hour . consult therefore first with other more experienced searchers , whom i may hope have not all erred and lost their labour in so easie a work , that even a boy of ten years old may understand it possible and fecible . nevertheless believe not that i should set down here the manner of extracting gold in lumps or great quantities for profuse usage , but i shall rather take heed and beware of that . n. b. now as i said throughout all parts of the world , and in every sort of sand , pebbles , and stones , is held good gold , excepting lime-stones , which alone seldom or never have any gold , else in all rocks of greety sand , flints of whatever colour ; also in gravel , scurfe , or ballast on mountains , valleys , in the bowels of the earth , the sea , ponds , pits , rivers , and floods , ( none at all excepted ) there is gold to be found but sand and stones , hold most in hot countries ; and although they be white , clear , and shining , without the least colour , yet there is some gold ; yea , even sometimes in clay grounds , and in artificial baked tyles and bricks . the first kind of proof take white sand or flints , wherein you think there is not the least gold , to which joyn three parts of minium , or any other pouder or calx of lead flux this mixture in a crusible covered in a wind furnace , or by blast of bellowes , and so let them flow well together for one hour , and it will turn to yellow glass , then pour it forth least by delay it pierce the crusible , and run among the ashes . powder this glass , and mix therewith half its weight of sal alcali , or soap , or pot ashes : then put this mixture into an iron pot or crusible , where you may first put nails or other bitts of iron , then flux this in the fire , and the 〈…〉 lead will be reduced into a body again by the said iron ; pour out this into an ingot or cone , and the regulus of lead will sink to the bottom , and the flints or sand ( like scurffe and dross ) will swim on the top , but the lead will contract such a black roughness , that it will not easily flow . for the which take this remedy . place this regulus in a wind furnace , and upon one ounce of the melted regulus cast a dram , or something more of salt peter , and let them flow together ; then the sal nitre will draw the black roughness from the lead into a scurffe , which being poured forth and melted again , becomes tractable and white , and will easily flow upon a test , but if you have not the skill to effect this work ; put your black rough regulus of lead into such a crusible or test , as the vulgar call treibscerbe ( which is like a large hard crusible bottom ) cover it , and let it purge it self in the fire for half an hour , or at least for a quarter , and it will be white and tractable . but the washing or cleansing by salt peter is far better ▪ weigh a peny weight , dram or scruple of this , and a like quantity of lead ; test them in a hard fixt cupel apart , and this regulus will hold a grain of gold , and the common lead only a grain of silver . the second kind of proof . take one part of white flints or sand , mix thrice the quantity of salt of tartar , or any other alcaly , and therewith fill a third part of a crusible ( but not more least it run over ) let it stand half an hour to be glowing red , and it will turn to a white pellucid glass , pour it into fair water , or rather into a lee ; and the sand or flints will be dissolved into a thick oyl or water . ☞ in this water digest for an hour or two , half an ounce of filed , rasped , or rather scraped lead , and the lead will extract a spiritual gold from the said water or flints , and will thereby become yellowish ; which take forth day , and test on a copel , and you shall find a grain of gold , but out of so much common lead will be only a grain of silver , which is the proportion to be found in any lead ; whence you may certainly conclude that white flints and sand contain in them spiritual gold , the which being joyned with metals become corporal . the third kind or manner of proof . dissolve ♄ or lead in aqua fortis ▪ and pour it forth into salt water , and all the lead will precipitate and fall to the bottome , in a white calx or powder , mix three parts of this calx with one part of powder of flints or sand , and add half so much salt out of lees or other alcali , mix them and put them into an iron crusible , where old nailes or bits of iron be put in , fill it to the top and cover it close for half an hour to melt and flow , till all the sharp corrosive spirits in the lead be mortified by the iron , and then the lead will be reduced to a body as before , which cast into a taper pointed ingot or cone , and the regulus of lead will sink to the bottome , the which must be washt and cleansed by salt peter , or in a fixt copel under a tyle , till it purge out the dross or faeces , then test it , and as much of the same lead severally apart , and the one yeilds a grain of gold , and t'other only a grain of silver , as before is sufficiently expressed . the true manner of proving all flints , rocky stones , pibbles , and sands , &c. legitimately and infallibly ; whether they contain much gold or little ; with a plain reason for all . take four ounces of sand or flints , or other stones , neal them red hot in a crusible , and quench them in cold water , and so they become tractable to be beaten or ground to powder . put these four ounces of powder into a glass cucurbit or retort , and pour thereon two ounces of aqua regis , to moisten the said powders very well and thoroughly , and let it stand so in warm sand for half an hour , and the said aqua regis will extract all the gold out of the flints or sand ; to which pour on two ounces of warm water , and stir it very well about , then strain or filter it through cap paper , and the water will pass through the paper with the tincture , and leave the sand alone in the paper ; then pour on more warm water into the paper , and let it run through the sand again , and so it will wash away all the remaining gold and tincture out of the sand , and carry it into the receiver , which is likewise to be added to the rest ; then pour upon this impregnated water or liquor , some ordinary lees or rather some spirit of urine , and it will so mortifie the aqua regis , that the gold will presently precipitate in a yellow powder to the bottom ; cant off the water and wash the said gold with more fresh water till the powder of gold be sweet and perfectly clean ; after dry it very warily , else the said gold will fulminate with that force as to break the glass in pieces , and whatsoever else is about it . but if you mix a little powder of vulgar brimstone to the said calx or powder of gold , and let it glow in a glased crusible , then it will not fulminate at all . after this mix therewith some borax and reduce it in a crusible . and thus you may know what quantity of gold is contained in the rest of the sand or flints of that nature . n. b. unless perchance the said sand or flints have iron mixt , whereby then the gold will become pale and brittle . now in such a case you need not presently mix the said calx of gold with borax , because both the gold and iron would be reduced together , and so would be adulterate , and disappoint you of your expectation in that trial ; but such mixt gold must be separated from the iron on the test with lead , and so your proof will be good and without error . there is another sort of trial and proof of sand , flints , and stones , &c. but since this way is easie and sufficient , we shall rest herein . n. b. yet my councel is , instead of aqua regis , to make use of spirit of salt , which will be cheaper , with ☽ and ♂ for a loadstone , and antimony for the flux . now learn the difference of natural , corporal , solid gold , and that which is volatil and spiritual , which is the primum ens auri , or first beginning of g ld . ☞ consider therefore that corporal gold by corrosive waters or salts , is easily extracted and reduced , but the spiritual is not so . but now the reason that corporal gold , by the aforesaid proofs and experiments , is always ▪ extracted and drawn forth , and happens upon this account , for although in the said white sand there may be no corporal gold at all , yet by the aforesaid proofs , some is extracted , though truly not much , nor more then the silver was which the lead contained which was used in the said trials . note therefore that the said silver in the melting , drew the said spiritual gold out of the said flints , stones , or sand ; so that thereby it became ting'd and transmuted into corporal gold ; the which was very apparent hereby , for that no more gold was found then the quantity of silver contained within the said lead ; and as it was in the other parcel of common lead , used in that trial ; for if more corporal gold had been in the sand or lead , it must necessarily have exceeded the quantity of silver in the said lead , for the silver contained in the said lead , mixt with the said flints , could not fly away in the air , to leave room only for so much corporal gold , and therefore the cause that the silver remained not silver ( as in the common lead was ) that it was transmuted and turned to gold ▪ by the tincture , and spiritual gold drawn out of the first ens of sand , stones , and flints ; and must be ascribed to the said first ens or spiritual gold contained in the said sand , stones or flints . now i have written this book only for the extraction of corporal gold out of sand , stones , and flints , &c but we leave the spiritual gold for the philosophers , that they may make their stone out of it . wherefore , n. b. whoever seeks to draw gold out of sand , stones , and flints , &c. let them chuse such stones , sand , &c. out of which they may draw corporal gold , with good profit which the womb of common , white sand , and flints cannot bear or bring forth . the reason nevertheless , i wisht you to take white sand or flints , &c. to make experiments and trals , was because every one might see , that in all kind of sand , good gold is contained , though out of all it cannot be profitably extracted , by reason the white sand and flints , &c. are often without corporal gold , but never without spiritual gold , by the which nevertheless silver may be tinged , and transmuted into good gold , as may plainly appear by and in the aforesaid practice and tryals . but now the philosophers seek not corporal gold but spiritual , and they will know where , and in what subjects the spiritual or first essence of gold is most plentifully contained , and how to get the same with ease . therefore although the said first essence of gold be in white sand , and white flints , &c. yet the said philosophers will not meddle with that so willingly , nor will any expert true philosophers , tye themselves so to one subject , as not to use any other thing to get their tincture ; to whom it is well known that the first essence of gold is found in every thing throughout the whole earth ; for where-ever there is any sulphur , there may be had the first essence of gold to have their tincture . but now in all vegetables , animals , and minerals , there is a sulphur certainly known and found , therefore in all parts of the world , the matter of the philosophers stone may be had every where : so that the poor may have the same without charge , no less then the rich , according to what the philosophers doe proclaim , saying their matter is every were , and you may have the same in any parts of the world without money , and it meets you , and is trod on under feet , and cast out on the dunghils ; for so the true philosophers do say , and write . also a true philosopher will not require or need much gold for his medicine ; for if he have but halfe an ounce which he brings to perfection , it will suffice for his whole life , and be in in his power to multiply , and bring it to perfection as often as he please ; and necessity shall require . so that it may easily be demonstrated , that not only gold , but somewhat more rare ( viz : ) the true tincture is in stones , which the ancients did intimate in these words . auro quid melius jaspis , &c what is better then gold , a jasper stone , &c. so paracelsus exceedingly commends red-talc , granats , antimony , and lapis lazuli ; expressing further , that the tincture or first essence of gold may be gotten out by sublimation , &c. take notice also further , that the first essence of gold may be found in any other small or meaner stones , and amongst the first and chief of these , viz. the blood stone , sythydis , magnesia , pedemontana , emery , and such like . in the which also it is so fixt , that to possess it there needs no other art , but the manner of extracting it , and giving it ingress by gold. on the other side , the first ens of gold , in the vegitable , animal , and mineral sulphurs , marcasites and antimony are had in plenty ; but are so volatil , that those little stones are to be preferred . but now in brief i shall shew , that in stones ( of which hot countries hath most gold ) there is not only fixt gold , but also volatil ; whence the true tincture may be perfected : for whoever can make the first essence of gold that is in stones volatil , and gather it by distillation , doth get a graduating water by which our quick fluid mercury or quick-silver may be coagulated to good gold. and whoever can joyn , and marry this volatil first essence of gold to corporal gold , and this with that to be made one , and procure ingression , he may hope for far more good , and may expect undoubtedly to enjoy the same to a better use and profit : for that the first essence of gold is more useful and needful to prepare the tinctures then corporal gold it self , as not a few philosophers have signified by the following words ▪ who say , gold and silver are not made by them , unless this first essence do effect it . the first ens also of gold , which lies hid in all vegitables and animals , doth coagulate mercury , even to yallowness , but not constant and fixt ; but if it be made fixt , it also fixeth and coagulateth with constancy , but doth not so before . it remains therefore most assured true , that where ever sulphur is found , there is also the first essence of gold , and where the first essence of gold is , there is also the tincture ; wherefore , being sulphur is found in every thing of the world , to the least herb , stone , and bone. it follows that also out of any little herb , piece of wood , little stone and bone &c. the true tincture may be prepared . ●ow this our new light doth not profit him that is blind , and will presume and resolve to be so still , more of this you may find in my third century and also make first part of my spagyrick pharmacopeia how sand. flints , and the like impregnated stones may be known , whether they contain little or much gold. flints , sand , stones , &c. that are white of all sorts , contain the least quantity of gold , and yet are never without some volatil , though not to be extracted with profit ; but most commonly the yellow and red have most gold , yet not always to answer the charge in dissolving and extracting . yellow , duskish , and black commonly hold much , and where through white , also yellow sand and stones , where lines are found ( like veins through them ) especially if they shine clear and glister with many little sparks of ☉ close together . likewise that sand is rich with gold , which appears like talc , wherein are found some stones , in which red or duskish talc appears , even as in all talc gold is found but yet in some more some less . all flints and stones in brooks , called bartenston , which though appearing white externally , yet after they are made red hot in the fire , and broken in water , appear yellow like gold , are sufficiently rich . green , yellow , or skie coloured stones , translucid like horn ( vulgarly called horne-stone , are also for the most part rich . also all reddish , black , and dark , dusky flints , have always gold , but for the most part mixt with iron , which therefore frustrate the vulgar labourants menstruum , and so makes it useless . all quarze quarries , the coverings of mines , and also saphir stones , or other in the earth in veins like metals , or open to the air or water , being coloured , hold gold. the blood-stone , and that which is of kin to it , emery , granats , and lapis lazuli , do all hold gold. the granats hold corporal gold , and the first essence of gold , some much and more then others , and others but a little : but these aforesaid stones are so hard , that strong waters ( as aqua fort ) cannot work upon them ; yet some remedy may be found to extract them . in all transparent amphitams , sapphirs , rubies , amathists and asinths , is the first essence of gold , but hard to be extracted . all ( fluores , oars and flowers ) used in the mines of ☉ and ☽ to reduce them to a flux , whether violet or purple coloured ▪ yellow , red or green , are endowed with unripe volatil gold , which of you heat red hot ▪ will vapour a king of green , yellow , or red fumes , and a snow-white colour will remain on the stones . now if any can tell how to save those flying fumes , he may with it coagulate mercury into gold. in like manner by means of distillation , a green water may be drawn out of all such like stones , in the which mercury will coagulate it self into gold ▪ this green water also the ancients have called their green lyon , which devours the ☉ or gold , and prepares a tincture for ☽ or ☿ . i would say more of this matter , but shall refrain for the covetousness , and wicked men , who seek nothing but the ruine of their neighbour , and to live in pomp and pleasures , who as unworthy , god will have wander in darkness , without this knowledge . wherefore let all that by gods grace have any illumination , beware the communicate nothing to wicked men , though they seem angels of light : nusquam tuta fides , there is no faith to be found on earth . soli deo tu confidas , promissis hominum diffidas , deus s●lus fidem servat , a mundo fides exulat ; which is , in god shalt thou put thy trust , mans promises distrust as dust ; god only keeps his promised plight ; but from the world all faith takes flight . wherefore i say , let all well-minded men beware of luxurious , proud , vain , and covetous persons ; for these vices proceed from the devil , and return again to him , and one can hardly find an honest man , though sought with diogenes his lanthorn , amongst many : for which cause i shall e're long publish a short tractate of evil and wicked men , viz. how and whereby to know them by their outward signatures and form , for virtue and vice ? and had i known this skill before , it had been a great advantage to have made me beware of such dissembling impostures . if any shall hereby reap any benefit , let them give god the praise , and be mindful of the poor : if otherwise , let them believe they are yet unworthy to have such things communicated to them ; for truly i have written here so plainly and truly , as no philosopher ever did before me . but now nevertheless i confess i have a more easy way for these things , viz. for extracting gold out of sand , &c. and such as never was known before to the world. 1. my first method is with a water of small charge or price , which may be had in plenty without distillation . 2. my second is a singular metal , of which chauldrons may be made , in which these stones and sand , with this small prised water are boiled , and yet not corroded or consumed thereby , and after the water shall dissolve any gold out of the sand or stones , then you may draw forth the sand and water with a scoop or bowl proper for this use , with holes in the bottom , and a wooden basket strainer thereupon , and so the impregnated ▪ water or menstruum , with the gold , may pass through , and leave the sand or stones behind in the scoop or bowl with the strainer , then pour on more warm water on the said sand , to wash out the remaining gold and tincture , and after all is washt out , throw the said sand or stones quite away , as useless . 3. my third compendium is , to pour upon the said clear menstrum , which hath the gold or tincture , another singular sort of water of small price , whereby all the said gold and tincture ( at such a height and quantity . ) in the solvent , will be precipitated to the bottom ; and so the clear solvent being freed from the tincture , must be canted off to serve again for the like use , as preserving still its own strength and virtue , without any abatement or diminution whatsoever , either by the said water precipitating , or by any other ways whatsoever ; and if any be lost or spilt by the usage , it may be easily repaired , by getting more of the same , without much trouble or charge . now if any should mix any precipitating lixiviat liquor or lees with the said solvent , contrary to its nature , and thereby mortifie the solvent by precipitating the gold ( which is done in other processes , and is used in and by my former experiments and trials in this books about the white sand and stones , &c. ) what dammage and loss would come thereby ; for every time there is occasion to use it , our dissolvent should be destroyed , and the extraction thereby become very troublesome and chargeable ; especially being done in glass or earthen cucurbits or bodies ; but this way all things cost almost nothing , and may be done in greater vessels , and cheaper , and the said waters be without loss . and this kind of extraction may be compared like the making of salt-peter , where the workman having extracted the salt-peter , throws away all the ashes and dirt , and puts more matter into the ( cupam ) tubs or bowls , for ●he like common water to extract more . 1. our fourth compendium is that precipitated calx of gold , after the filtration in a bag , is taken ●ut , dried , and by a good , cheap , and singular good matter flux it , is reduced to a body ; and so ●o part of the said gold will be lost or diminish●d . in these four compendiums for the extraction of gold , will come profit , but not so much other ●ays ▪ now let none marvel why i reveal not here any of ●●ese four compendiums ; i have been enough bitten ●y the envy of other men : for where they could not ●nderstand my writings by their own dulness , though ●ad plainly enough expressed the matter ; and so could ●ot perform the same ; they then publickly brought scandal on me , and reported , that whatever i writ were lyes ; nay , some others have seen the thing performed , and yet afterwards for hatred and envy , have slighted it and me . but however whilst i live , ( by gods grace and providence ) i shall be helpful to my neighbour , by using my talent to serve them , and like a most bright shining light will shew the wonderful great mystery of god , to the ignorant and simple people , against the will of all the enemies of truth , though they fret and vex never so much at it , i have resolved so to do ; yea , behold though my adversaries should all conspire and wholly devour me alive , they should swallow but a mean or lean morsel of earth ; for glauber should be and remain glauber still , till the consummation of the world or ages ; now if these men were of the ancient stamp and frame of faith and virtue , they would not detract and scandalize their innocent neighbour , without deserving ill at their hands . let these things be sufficient at this time concerning the extraction of gold out of sand , stones , and flints . now further i say ; although every one should use this extraction of gold for their imployment or trade , yet the one would not be a hindrance to the benefit of the other , by reason stones and sand are obvious to every body in all countries , as also the salts that are useful to extract the same are plentiful , so that nothing is wanting but a lover of the work to set his hand unto it . paracelsus in his book of vexation of alchymists saith , that more gold and silver is found upon the earth ▪ then in the bowels thereof , and that often times a countrey clown throws a stone at a cow ▪ which is worth more then the price of the cow , and it is most certain true , and will remain true ; for a lye cannot degenerate or exalt it self to a truth ; but in its time hereafter shall be punisht in eternal darkness with the devil ( as the father and original of all liers ) without doubt democritus his laughter , and heraclitus his weeping came from the contemplation of mortal mans eager pursuit after gold and silver through great anxities , labours , and troubles with loss of health and hazard of soul and body sailing many times through the vast ocean for it , and tearing open the earth to rush and sink down therein to fetch out gold and silver , which is so plentifully and easy to be had upon the superficies of the earth in every region and countrey , as that its ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) abundance may be had . solomon writ not from the purpose saying that great virtue was in herbs , woods and stones : for that which is fixt in stones is volatil in herbs . as in my little treatise printed 1663. demonstrated ; although the first ens of gold ( whence gold may be made ) be in both . we read also in esdras there is much earth to vessels or pots ; but a little pouder or dust to make gold. and all sorts of earth are not so rich to gain by extraction of gold , nor it is to be thought that all stones and sand and every one are so rich in corporal gold as to yield any profit ; yet they still contain the first ens of gold , or yield such a calx , by which ( or the help thereof ) good gold ▪ may be made ; the which calx or pouder , if we knew how to extract and order , we would make greater accompt , and esteem it more then of gold it self . now since such an aurifying , or goldmaking pouder is so largely extended and diffused in stones and sand , &c. yet it is not easy to beat it or force it out with a hammer , but only by a peculiar art , is to be extracted , and perfected ; thereupon the blind multitude of covetus gold hunters will not believe it no more then ignorants , who knows nothing of the art ; and yet this art hath been always esteemed amongst philosophers as their greatest secret of secrets , and so hath been preserved amongst them . also where paracelsus writes of the first ens or essence of gold , he tells us it may be drawn forth by sublimation ; and basilius valentinus also tells us , that the preparation of the universal tincture , may be compared to the distillation or extraction of the burning spirit of wine from the lees , and may so be obtained ; oh friends , this is truly a sufficient clear comparison ; for as in a great quantity of lees of wine or beer , a little of the good spirit is hidden and the residue is a useless mud ; and yet that little quantity of spirit is drawn out with profit by means of distillation out of that great quantity of mud or faeces , and is thereby concentrated into a little room , and withall is so virtuous and piercing a spirit that one spoonful thereof is more worth , then the whole runlet or vessel full of faeces . now by such ways or means would the philosophers have us draw forth and extract the primum ens or form of gold by art , out of stones and sand , though dispersed and diffused far abroad in them , and so to concentrate their virtue and tincture into a small compass , of the which a very small quantity ( if but as big as a pea ) is of more worth and value , then a great mountain of useless and unprofitable dead earth . further , i would not conceal this from thee , that throughout all germany by , and in the rivers are found stones , the which abound with gold and silver , and are sufficiently rich ; and if you beat or break them to pieces , you will find within some of them some little holes , pits , or concavities , with a yellow or fusky dark powder , which being melted with borax will yield a silvery gold , i must avouch and affirm i never saw or knew any mortal man , that understood or observed those stones before , much less the golden powder hid in them ; which without doubt is by reason of mens carelesness to find out the physical great mysteries of god. here now i must admonish all men , that it were of great consequence and concernment for parents to place their children to be trained up in their youth , with some honest artist , or workman to teach them that , which in case of necessity might gain them an honest and commendable livelihood . but the rich having a plentiful estate , think they shall leave enough for their children , never to want ; yet if one misfortune or another happens upon them , or upon their children , as burning of houses , or ships , or goods lost by pyrats or thieves , or creditors fail , or ships miscarry , then whither to turn or what course to take they know not , but only to fly away , or live like vagabonds , or fill a gaol ; and all this for want of some laudable art learnt in their youth . and thus they become desperate , the one forsakes wife and children to travel to the indies , where not a few are devoured by beasts or canibals , some drowned or starved , others sell themselves or become souldiers , and like mad dogs at last are slain ; others after they have spent their means cannot subsist or provide for their family , and so become vicious livers , and have a miserable doleful life , till they perish and go to hell . all which might have been avoided by learning some good mechanick arts in their youth , or flourishing conditions . but when difficult and raging times approach , or that too many be of a trade in a city , the one beggers the other , and so there is no remedy but physick which may likewise fail . but a physitian might learn something else that would get a livelyhood , besides his practice , then he need not make so many visits to gape for his fees of his poor distressed patients : and so the lawyer need not for base profit sell the law or their clients cause to prepare himself a seat in hell , where afterwards to dwell for ever . nor the divine be afraid of his patrons , or benefactors , and so sooth them up in their sins , but preach the truth to all without flattery , and so prefer gods honour , and the peoples real good , with a true zeal before his private profit , to the hazard of his soul . so also of all the rest . now having declared or toucht this matter , i am passing and go away sighing and mourning , that the genuine hermetick philosophy and medicine , is so little practiced or esteemed , as also the natural true alchymy ( and not adulterate ) which genuine art is the queen of all arts , and shall remain so to the worlds end . when as therefore this art of extracting sand and stones , is so great a treasure and useful as we have heard , and carelesly kickt by men at their feet every where ; why do we not rather extract them to nourish our selves and families , and defend us from the injuries of the times , handsomly and honestly . why do we not i say leave the indies to their own inhabitants , and mannage our own countries or earth in europe where we dwell , where is abundantly sufficient to sustaine us , for whatever we want ; i cannot but again and again ingeniously confess , that if it were possible to renew my youth , or call back but ten years , i would not neglect publickly to profess and teach the true philosophy ▪ medicine , and alchymy , and so make it to be known demonstratively . but the sand of my glass is almost run , and my day far spent , so that i cannot undertake these so laborious practices , but must leave and resign the same to other more in their prime of youth and strength , whilst i am fading and vanishing hence . but all the good i can do whilst i live by faithful writing , i shall not neglect for my neighbours profit and advantage , and ( god favouring my purpose ) i shall shortly publish unheard of secrets ; here now it only rests to set an end to this tractate . an amonition to the courteous reader . whatsoever i have written in this little book of extracting gold out of sand , stones , and flints , is so true and certain that there needs be no question thereof . yet i may tell thee , as soon as this treatice came under the press , another way of extracting gold out of stones came into my mind far better then the former . by which gold may be drawn out and extracted much sooner and better : because to this my new way , there is no need at all of kettles of copper or brass , &c. but great quantities may be extracted without boyling in or with such vessels , but in others that are every where to be had ; so that one man in this new way in one day may easily extract the gold out of a thousand ( m ) pounds of sand or stones , &c. so that i cannot chuse but communicate this also ( which is far beyond th eformer ) if i shall understand , this may be generally profitable , and gratefully accepted in these bad times and fear of worse . whereby to be publickly serviceable to my country , and future generations . and so i commit all to the guidance and protection of the almighty . dated at amsterdam 26 / 15 july , anno dom. 1666. jehior 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the day dawning ; or morning light of wisdom : containing the three principles , or originals of all things whatsoever . whereby are discovered the great and many mysteries in god , nature , and the elements , hitherto hid , now made manifest and revealed . to the honour of god , the love of our neighbour , and to the comfort and joy of the children of wisdom . in the 4. book of esdras 6. v. 10. the books will be opened before the heaven ; insomuch that they all shall see . zachariah 14. 7. at the time of the evening it shall be light. the epistle to the honest , sober reader . curteous reader , this spring or dawning of wisdom , was published some years since ; but being out of print , and something better improved by the author , and sutable to pythagoras his metaphysical and physical figure , with my smaller philosophical epitaph and figures , i thought good to make them with the rest into one small volume , where much light of divinity and philosophy will appear , concentrated and multiplied to any ingenious spirits . it is gods greatest bounty to give light and eyes to see , not only the corporal , and temporal ; but the spiritual and eternal light of wisdom . quantum quidque habet luminis , tantum & numinis . the more light the more of god who dwelleth in light , and in his children , who are children of light and life : for this is the condemnation and death , that light is come into the world , and men love darkness rather then light ; because their deeds are evil. this therefore as a trumpet , these latter days may awaken , and teach men what god , the world , and devils are , that so their souls and spirits hereby quickened and inspired , may the better know themselves , and arise from dead works of sin and sensual vanities ( the first resurrection of grace ) to be sure to rise again with christ in the kingdom of heaven in glory : for many talk of heaven , and being in its glory with christ ; which have it not within them , or desire to be there with such mortified pure and peaceable company as go thither ; who rather have hell , and feed on it , and delight in it , and such company ; which the better to distinguish and reflect upon the the way and company for heaven , take these four observations . to do evil for good , is devilish ; evil for evil , natural , sensual and bestial ; good for good , humane ; and good for evil , divine . the wisdom therefore from above is still pure , holy , and good ; gotten by mortification on the cross of christ , and brings joy and peace in the holy ghost for the kingdom of heaven ; but horror , amazement , and misery attend the rest , who live not after the gospel of the cross of christ ( which is the power of god to salvation ) but after the flesh , and do evil to serve the devil . to know and fear god therefore is perfect righteousness , wisdom , and eternal life ; so that the patriarchs and many termed heathen , not having the outward name of christ , may have his spirit and essential name , and be better members of him then we who live not thereafter : for ( as the scripture saith ) he was the rock of ages , was slain from the beginning , and hath enlightned every one that cometh into the world , and was before adam . but most men do not know nor fear god ; but superficially believe there is a god , and therefore talk of him as parrots , and sometimes worse by lyes , oaths and curses , &c. and therefore have no true faith in him or his son : for did they truly know and consider him still in his property and works , to be infinite , wise , omnipotent and omniscient ( just as well as merciful ) and that he is able to destroy them in a moment , in the very act of sin ) then would they fear him , ( the first degree of wisdom ) and so after christs example avoid all occasions and appearance of sin , as they can and will do in some acts for a very childs being present : and so would believe that he who made and created the eye and ear , and gives it life and sense in the instant of its exercise , can both see and hear as well as any eye and ear , which can see or hear nothing at any time without his help ; and likewise that he is as really present ( though invisible to the outward sense ) as any creature can be which he hath made ; yea , and that he knows our very secretest thoughts too , in whom we live , move , and have our being . but i am not in a sermon , but an epistle ; nor would i hinder thee in the porch from entring into this glorious building of light , where thou mayst find an heavenly manna ▪ and sumptuous mansion or eternal tabernacle for thy self , not made with hands and so i take leave to be thy christian friend and servant , w. c. july 3. 167● , the preface to the lovers of wisdom . loving readers , we remember and know that all understanding and wisdom cometh from god , and all good things we receive from the father of lights : and that wisdom is nothing else , but the breathing of god ; who sends his spirit , and teacheth men what wisdom is , the truth and true knowledge . syrach . 1. jam. 1. wisd . 7. 25. job 32. 5. wisd . 9. 17. john 20. 22. acts 2. psal . 94. 10. syrach . 38. 6. exod. 26. 1. 2. this knowledge consists chiefly in three things . 1. to know god. 2. our selves ▪ 3. that which god hath created ▪ after wisdom and knowledge , followeth judgment ; namely , to discern good from evil ; light from darkness ; truth from falshood : upon judgement and understanding followeth election and will , to doe the one , and to shun the other . the knowledge or understanding of all things is threefold ; namely , 1. of men , 2. of angels , 3. of god. the understanding ( or knowledge ) of men is but in part . the knowledge of angels is in fear and trembling ; but gods knowledge alone is perfect . wisdom , knowledge , and the examining thereof , cometh from the spirit alone , which is in men , angels , and god. for the spirit searcheth into all , even into the depth of god. 1 cor. 10. 11. the wisdom , knowledge , and understanding of men is three-fold , after the spirit of the same . namely , the spirit of men generally in this world is foolishness in gods eyes , for let men be never so learned and vvise , yet the perfect and true wisdom is hidden from them , because they do not know themselves , 1 cor. 1. 2. mat. 11. 25. some of these wise men are called philosophers , according to the spirit of sects boasting of the holy scripture , of god , and of christ : but they have no knowledge of them , because their spirit is not of god , but they are only mens opinions of god , and of christ ; and are carnally and earthly minded , full of errours and confusion . lastly , the spirit of gods holy ones , who being godly and spiritually minded , are taught of god. the vvisdom and knowledge of the first is full of folly , darkness and ignorance . the wisdom of the second is full of misleading philosophy ▪ and continual contentions . the wisdom of the third sort of men who are godly , is but in part , although true and good . rom. 1. 29. ephes . 4. 18. colos . 2. 8. 2 tim. 3. 4. 1 cor. 13. 9. 11. truly wise men dive into the best gifts and perfection , which are of three sorts , charity , prophecy and examination . love and charity are the center , and contain the circle of all godly virtues and have faith and hope , but prophesying hath all knowledge , wisdom , and doctrine . lastly , examination containeth all understanding , judgment and discretion . in these three things all is contained that belongeth to wisdom , the center whereof is the word of god. this is that which all men ought to study , and should communicate to others according as they have received a gift of the spirit of grace● ; that god the author of all good , may be glorified : and that none do boast of gifts and extol himself above others ; but rather be humble : and then none ought to quench the spirit , neither in himself nor others ; but rather to stir it up . and lastly , let no man despise prophecy , that he may not offend god , his neighbour , nor scandalize himself . love forbeareth all : the wisdom of the spirit searcheth all , and examination tryeth all . since we have undertaken , through the admonition of the spirit , to speak of wisdom ( as much as our knowledge in part may afford ) therefore we intreat the reader in love , that those whom we displease ( or who are offended ) would tolerate us in love , as knowing that wisemen also must bear with fools ; and things spoken of in this book may not presently be rejected , but rather be suffered to stand , remembring that god also is patient unto sinners . but if any one do think himself wise , let him shew the spirit of judgment , and let him discern thus , least he judge himself also . for we hold that we also have received a gift of the spirit of grade , which we will not suffer to dye ; but to the praise of the lord we will put it out to use , out of love to the children of wisdom ; although not as an instruction , but as a good testimony to our selves ▪ that we have received a gift of the spirit not in vain . the reason that induced us to the writing of this book is , because we hope to be beneficial to the children of wisdom . it may be we have publisht the like twelve years ago , the title of it being aurora sapientiae : yet since it hath been desired by some again , i have not altered the title , hoping that it is not a little mended and corrected . i have set it out briefly , that it may neither be tedious to the reader , nor chargeable to the buyer , nor yet painful to the printer . benevolous reader , take all in good part , and thus we commend the well wishers to gods gracious ptotection . the contents of the several chapters of this book . of the books of wisdom , in which the same may be learned ; how , and in what manner ? chap. 1. of the principles and beginnings of all things , as also of god himself ; and of all whatsoever . 2 of the first principle of all things which is god. 3 of the second principle , which is nature . 4 of the third general principle , namely the elements . 5 of the three special principles , spirit , wind , and water . 6 of the particular principles ; body , soul and spirit . 7 of the elements and contrary elements in the creation . 8 of the principle or original of that evil one , and of the angels . 9 of the difference of the light and darkness , as also of the light and fire . 10 of the principle of the fire , and its mystery . 11 out of what , wherein , and whereby all things good or bad do subsist , pass away ; and yet how they last for ever . 12 of the creation of the world. 13 of the particular creation . 14 of the mystery of the word . 15 of the mystery of the created lower visible things . 16 of the creation of man ▪ and of his anatomy . 17 of the image of god , after which man is created 18 of the mystical image ; that is of the mystery of god. chap. 19 of the truth and spirit , by which all wisdom is justified 20 of the mystery of time and to understand ▪ 〈◊〉 aright . 21 the conclusion . 22 avrora sapientiae ▪ morning light , or dawning of wisdom . we take the liberty according to the gift of the spirit , to speak briefly of wisdom , in this little treatise , without any prolixity . and because we made mention in the preface of a three-fold knowledge , as of men , of angels , and of god ; now we will speak here that wisdom also is threefold ; as 1. the natural of all created things . 2. the wisdom of faith unto salvation . and 3. the secret and mystical wisdom , which gener●lly is unknown : and that we call , vera philosophia , theologia , and theosophia of these three we will speak as briefly as may be possible . the spirit of the lord be upon both the writer and the reader . amen . jehior , or the morning light of vvisdom . chap. i. of the books of wisdom , in which the same may be learned ; how and in what manner ? there are chiefly but three books in which all wisdom is contained . namely , 1. the whole nature and creation , 〈…〉 great book of heaven and 〈…〉 2. the book of the holy writ in the letter of the holy word of god. 3. man himself . the only center or principle of these three is the word of god , which is the book out of which these three books have their original . the first book of nature contains seven other books which are the seven elements , of which in particular here●fter . these seven books have three other books opposite , which are the three contrary elements , of which also hereafter . the second book , the holy writ is divided into three other books , as into the law of the old : into the gospel of the new : and into the eternal gospel of the everlasting testament and covenant , which comprehends the book of the revelation of jesus christ . the third book of man is only one book , and is sealed to the blind , but opened to the seeing . in this book is hidden , sealed ; and also manifest and opened all wisdom : and man is called the image or honour of god : ( o● which below ) and man cannot be called by any other name , 1 cor. 11. 7. out of the first book we learn philosophia the natural wisdom in and about the knowledge of created natural things which are of the elements : and we learn this wisdom out of the three principles and seven elements ; and discern the same from the three contrary elements , else we cannot find the truth of the natural wisdom . out of the second book we learn theologia or divinity , the wisdom unto salvation ; and that in the three foresaid books through the seven spirits , isaiah 11. and we di●●●nguish it from all humane glosses , and books of prophane ones . for the book expounds it self , and needs no humane interpretation , but only hath need of faith , which apprehends all things . out of the third book , which is gods image , we learn the true knowledge of god ; as also his being and essence , and his whole mystery : in so much as he that desires to know god , must learn to know him in his image , and that perfectly ; which perfect knowledge is this , that god is man , and that he is true man , who is of god ; and god is in him . this is the wisdom , that is mystical hitherto , and yet is manifest but only to the wise : and is called theosophia ; because god doth no where so clearly manifest himself as in man , who is his image , or honour , or glory , 1 cor. 11. 7. therefore man needs not to go far , but only into himself , to learn the true knowledge of god , and to seek after god in himself ; and himself in god. if he do not thus , all is vain , and no where else any wisdom to be found . acts 17. 27. luke 17. 21. seeing the three other books proceed only from the one book , as the world of god , therefore all three do testifie unanimously of this book 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , namely each in its letter , wisdom and testimony , but none so clearly as man doth . this is that great , whole and perfect library of wisemen , wherewith in justice and equity they may be contented . all wisdom and knowledg , with their mysteries in these books , we may not learn any where else , but only through the same spirit , who himself hath penned these books , made , and testified . he therefore who is desirous to study these books , must from the bottom of his heart acknowledge and confess his own blindness , folly and ignorance ; and must pray unto the father of lights , for illumination , wisdom and understanding , that he would send his holy spirit which may lead us into all truth , and take us away from all foolishness . and falshood , and may bring us to the light of gods glory . which may not be done by any other means , then through a love to god , and to mans own salvation , and through a holy life without all hypocrisie , and through the light that commeth from above , and not from beneath , from man and his wisdom , which all those must learn to deny , that desire to learn the wisdom of the holy ones . we will speak thus ; that hitherto all these books were sealed up , but are now opened in the end of the world according to the prophecy , 4 esd . 6. 20. dan 12. 9. zach. 14. 7. and if wise worldly men are offended at this , they betray themselves , that the wisdom of the holy one is not in them the books of wisdom testifie unanimously of the word by which all things are created , and in which only all wisdom doth rest , and which is the beginning of all beginnings , in which is all , and without which nothing is , which is all in all , god blessed for ever ; amen . chap. ii. of those principles and beginnings of all things , as also of god himself , and of all whatsoever it be . the principle of all principles , and beginning of all beginnings , as also of god himself , is only the word , according to the testimony of the divine truth and word it self , john 1. now the word may not be defined otherwise , then that it is a spirit , breath or voice of god , yea god himself in such a subsistence , essence and being , as namely , how the image of god doth represent us according to the similitude which is man , as that he is a quic●ning spirit , a spiritual adam , and heavenly man , which is god the lord glorined and magnified for ever , amen . now we hold altogether that this is the proper definition of god , and no other , which the holy writ clearly signifieth . 1 cor. 15. 45 , 47 , 48. who according to his image and similitude . hath created a spiritual adam , and terrestrial man ; when god said , let us make adam or man after our image , after our similitude , gen. 1. 26 , 27. now the word being the beginning of all beginnings , there is contained in the same the light , life , and love. the light affords the revelation of god , for god is light , and dwelleth in light , and is the father of lights . life is the virtue and power of god , and a quickning spirit , who hath , createth , and preserveth all . love is a testimony of god , in which is the father , the son , and the holy ghost ; in one word which is called jesus christ , the spiritual adam , and heavenly man , messias , who is essential , alpha and omega . all in all , the beginning and the end , the first and the last , blessed and praised for ever . amen . rev. 1. 22. now the word being the true principle in god himself , then consequently all proceedeth from the word , out of which do chiefly manifest themselves three general principles , in which principles , with and through which , all things are contained , and are these , namely , god , nature , element . now these three general principles afford also a threefold world , namely a divine uncreated from godflowing world from eternity , then an angelical world , which proceedeth or lighteth forth , or shineth forth out of the light in which god dwelleth ; and lastly an elementary world , whose original came out of the water . after these three general principles , proceed also three special principles , namely ghost , wind and water . now every world hath its proper ghost , wind and water in their kind and nature . all things created out of the divine world from above are created out of water and spirit from above , through the wind and breath of the omnipotent god ; for to the divine world is properly competent the spirit ; to the angelical is properly competent the wind , and to the elementary world is water proper . after these special principles , follow lastly particular principles , each of which hath its proper being , out of which , in which , and from which it consists : but these three principles proceed from the former , and are spirit , soul , and life , and body : all bodies are out of the water : all life and soul out of the wind : and all spirit out of the spirit . but concerning the angels , their body is out of the wind of the angelical world , their soul and life a fire-flame , and their soul a ●ight of which elsewhere : these are our principles in the wisdom , out of which all things have their original : whether other principles may be shewed unto us , we do much doubt . the primum mobile , first mover of all things is the word , for in it is the life . the secundum mobile , second mover of all things , is the spirit , through which all things are created . the tertium mobile , third mover is the wind , and these three moving principles are the perpetnum mobile , everlasting mover of all things , by which all things move , live , and have their being . but these three do rest upon the water bodily ; out of which the world is and all things are : and in the air ; according to the life , wherein all things are : and in heaven , from which all things come from above after the spirit ; but the spirit from god , from which he cometh and returneth thither . john. 1. 4. psal . 104. 30. acts 17. 28. eccles . 12. 7. but all these come together on and in the earth , as in the heart of the world . wisd . 1. 7. in these principles , out , with , and through the same , subsist all things : and without these nothing can subsist , that is , or hath a being , and are light , life and love ; god , nature , and element ; spirit , wind , and water ; body , soul , and spirit , and that in the word . chap. iii. of the first principle of all things which is god. god , being the beginning of all beginnings ; as from which all things proceed , then his beginning is from no other : he is without a beginning , because he is not from another ; yet though he hath his beginning from no other , he representeth in himself his beginning to all . this beginning of god is not a beginning to god himself , but to us ; for he himself is all in all . now that he might shew himself to us men , to testifie and instruct us of him , therefore god sheweth himself in his beginning , which is the word , which is god himself . now through this vvord is shewed to us , testified and taught that , and what god is , and who he is : but without word or speaking may be neither doctrine nor testimony , nor a presentation ; as reason doth make it manifest . therefore the vvord is the beginning of god to us , out of which all testimonies , names and relation of god do proceed ; as out of the depths of god , which consist in their own proper spirit , wind and water . the name of god is but one , according to the essence , which no man knoweth , but only he upon whom he is written , with the living letters of the spirit of god , and his vvord essentially , which is christ , and those that are of his being . these are they in whom the vvord dwelleth essentially , and that see his glory in a light and eye that no body else can see . all the names of god come together only in this one name : for the whole fulness of the godhead dwe leth in him bodily , who is called alpha and omega . zach. 14. 9. col 2. 9. he that seeth him seeth also god , and the father , and the living word , and the quickning spirit . john 14. 9. 1 john 1. 1 cor. 15. 45. even so he that seeth man , seeth also with the body , the soul , and the spirit , which are in their nature invisible . the testimony of god consisteth in three : namely in three witnesses , which are the father , the vvord , and the holy spirit . now as the name proceeds from the word , so doth every testimony of god , and resteth only upon the dear and true witness that is called amen ; which is the beginning of gods creatures . rev. 3. 14. and the testimony of god stands thus . god father , word , holy ghost , amen , which is christ . now because no body can testifie of god , but he himself alone ; and all testimonies of truth must be justified by three : therefore god also testifieth of himself by three ; but they are not three persons , but one onely person , and one only god ; even as in one earthly mans body , soul and spirit cannot be three distinct persons , so in god are not three persons . but this is the testimony of god to us in the name ( non in nominibus , sed in nomine ) of the father , son , and holy ghost which consist in the word , which three are one thing and one : but this testimony none acknowledgeth save he that hath it within himself essentially , that is , that hath the spirit out of god , and is annointed and sealed with it . this is the testimony of god with one word , through which we are sons and heirs of god. rom. 8. lastly , the revelation of god consists in seven powers , which are the seven spirits of god. rev. 1. 4. chap. 4. 5. chap. 5. 6. zech. 4. 2 , 10. and rest upon him who is called , and is jesse ; who is of no other ; but out , through , in and of himself , is is self subsisting , in whom is all , who hath all ; also the fulness of the godhead . rev. 3. 1. isa . 11. col. 2. 9. for through him all things are created in heaven and in earth , and by him all things are preserved , by him also all is redeemed and reconciled ; he reigneth over all , and hath all under his power , through him all lost things are restored at his glorious coming ; he also holdeth judgment over all flesh , over quick and dead ; and lastly he will make old things new , and will abandon and put away all old things everlastingly . therefore the mystery of god consists in one , three and seven ; and according to this mystery all other things are created and consist in one , out of three , through seven ; and are therein testified , learned , manifested , or justified ; nothing at all excepted whatsoever it be ; and that for this reason that god in his mystery may be learned and glorified in and on all his creatures . herein consists now the mystery of the vvisdom in its measure , number and weight , as in one , three , and seven , whereby all things are numbred , measured , and weighed , so perfectly , that nothing can be added to it , or diminished from it . for all the works of god are perfect , and testifie of the creator , according to the mystery of the wisdom ; namely , that by the works may be known him , that made them , that what and who he is in his mystery . chap. iv. of the second principle , viz. nature . nature is the second principle and beginning of all things , and stands betwixt god and the elements , through which god worketh into the elements , at , through , and by means , and is in its consideration even as angelical , whose beginning is out of god a forth-blown breath , vvind and air of the almighty , in which consists the soul and life of all created things , and every living soul , and is concentred and fastened together essentially , bodily , and self-subsisting in the tree of life , even as god in christ , and the whole elementary world in man. this second principle is not everlasting according to the beginning ▪ yet eternal according to the end , even as the angels are . it is not created out of nothing , as this world ; but proceedeth from god , even as the life from the spirit , as a breath , vvind , or air doth proceed ; and is also the breath of gods vvord ▪ in which is life thus , that the speaking of the word is a living eternal breath , and is distinct from god , as a living breath or soul from the quickening spirit . the living breath , soul or life of all things i● according to its original out of the nature , but the spirit out of god , namely after his measure , and the body out of the elements . the spirit as the soul , or the life are distinct thus : as god , who is eternal life , and the quickening spirit himself , and hath life from no other , because himself is the spirit : and as the living soul , having her life not out , from , and by , or through it self , but out of the spirit , which maketh things alive , whose breath is the life . now that is soulish which hath its life not from it self , but from the spirit , and which is not a spirit , but only a breath . all things whatsoever are in their being , have the food of thir souls and life out of nature , and that from heaven through the wind and air , from which all that hath breath doth live und feed , as through the forth-going breath of the vvord contained in the second principle ; for the word of god feeds every spirit , life and body with its breath or blowing upon ; because life is in the word , which beareth all things by his power , even as it hath created all things . now as all things consist of body , soul and spirit , so they have three sorts of food to their ilfe & substance , the bodily food to the body , out of the elements , as from that which cometh out of the waters , and out of the earth , whence also the body doth come , is taken and is made . the soulish food to the soul & life in every thing out of nature , through both the elements of vvind and air , from whence also the life and soul doth bome . the spiritual food to the spirit , and that from god , at from whom the spirit is , namely each spirit according to its measure , and to the spirit in every way this food cometh from heaven , through the spirit and light , as from the three spiritual elements , from whence also the spirit did come . nature doth assemble it self in her spirits life , and body to the wind , air and water . the angelical world in its body is no earth , as the elementary is , but it is the right body of the water , out of which it subsisteth , and that body is here beneath with us ice , but above it is an angelical earth like unto a christal . and in a word , it is a most noble salt of life , fertile , or constant , or firm over all , and is the paradise in it self . it is an angelical air , which doth not fetch breath there as the living soul , for the life of nature is eternal in regard of the end ; but it liveth and moveth in the virtue of gods word eternally , sine respiratione , or without breathing . therefore death cannot reign in the angelical world over the nature , and over the tree of life , but is rather overcome by it ( how much more by god ) for the tree of life stands unmoveable : therefore by the breaking of the fruit of this tree , at the glorious coming of christ , all shall come from death to life , and shall be freed and redeemed from death , devil and curse . lastly , in its spirit also it is of an angelical spirit ▪ by the power of the word and testimony of god. thus namely , that the dragon hath no power over it , but is conquered by the spirit of the same , is cast out , and quite extruded and cast away ; how much more th●n by god. therefore seeing the nature in her spirit is the wind of the almighty , and a going forth of the light in which god dwelleth , and cannot come to that evil one , or may not fall into an evil , neither may it be blasted or poisoned by the breath of the old serpent . the divine world in its being is compared to the most noble body of the water and earth , as it were to a heavenly body which is and are an essential spiritual salt , as the most noble and pure gems , precious stones , and glistering gold. in its life it is the breath of the almighty , a soul and life proceeding out of the mouth of god in and to an eternal life ; and in its spirit , the spirit of the lord it self , who is god praised for ever . god is the spirit ▪ the nature is the soul or the life , and the elements are the body : but be it known , that each world hath its proper nature and element , and that the one world is never changed into the other , neither can it be altered , nor one principle general into another . now each principle hath its proper spirit , life and body . chap. v. of the third general principle , namely of the element . god himself is all in all , out of him are all things according to the spirit , by him are all things according to the word , and to him are all things according to the providence or confidence . rom. 11. 36. wisd . 1. 7. chap. 12. 1. gen. 1. john 1. psal . 104. 27 , 28. 136. 25. 145. 15 , 16. the nature is all , but not in all ; because she is not in god , who hath his own nature , and the elements also are not all , but something only ; which is a salt. this something is from god after the spirit , from nature after the life and soul , and from the spiritual water after the body . and again , the water out of the salt ; each world is , and doth flow out of the other , the nature stands to the angelical world , and is a flowing out of the divine world ; and the elementary world is an overflowing of the nature and angelical world . lastly , man cometh forth out of the three worlds , and is the concentred or conjoyned centrum of all the worlds . there are seven elements or powers of the world , as spirit wind , air and water ; light , heaven and earth , and are such , by which , in , and through which this world consists and subsists , and without which it cannot subsist . these seven elements are created out of such a one , which in the elementary world are all in all , and are incorruptible ; namely salt , which is an excretion of nature , execrementum quasi sobriè sumptum , whereby in this world all things bodily subsist , and are preserved . now there is a threefold salt , namely , a spiritual , soulish , and a bodily and palpable . the bodily is fixt and permanent , both in water and fire : whence we know out of what , wherein , and whereby all things stand firm and constant , both in the water and the fire , that they may not be drowned , and wherewith they are closed up . the soulish salt is flying ; because life and soul is in it , and the growth of all whereby all things receive both body and life : but when it cometh down again , and turneth to the fixed salt again , then they receive life . but the spiritual salt is a right true essence , and in this world the most noble being of all being ( spiritus universi ) the spirits of the elements , and their light , and heaven in its essence . the spiritual salt dwelleth in the spirit , light and heaven , and giveth to the body of the resurrection , as spiritual from the spirit , light and heaven . the volans or flying salt dwelleth in the wind , air , rain , and dew , this giveth out of wind and air to the body after death , the fixed corporeal salt dwelleth in water and earth , out of which this our body doth subsist : but salt is the right fixed salt , and the right water of life , which is a dry water , and together water and earth , in which the air and wind is secretly hid , and also the heavens , light and spirit in its depths , which are then the seven powers of the element and world ; and all seven may easily , undeniably , and manifestly to the eye be demonstrated , if the same be anatomized . this only element of all elements , is a power of all powers in this world : the salt is an excrement of nature by the word of god , and is bodily a seed of the water , and all elements from whence the water did spring , or proceed , or flow , by the breathing of the spirit of the lord for a seed to all the world , and abundantly increased by the moving of the spirit of the lord ; so that the whole earth is formed out of it . the fixed salt is threefold , as in the earth , in the water , and in heaven . the flying salt also , as in rain , water and dew , air and wind. the essential also is threefold , as in the light spirit , and upper water . the waters supplie three places or degrees , for out of them them the world did subsist , which is remarkeable , always the one is hid in the other . the flying salt is the key , and openeth with it , descending in the spring , that every thing raiseth from the dead , greeneth and groweth , and with its ascending in the harvest shutteth them again . the elements are threefold , namely , spiritual soulish and bodily . there are three of the spiritual elements , as bodily , the heaven ; soulish the light , and spiritual the spirit . the soulish are twofold , as wind and air. the bodily also , as water and earth : always the one is hid in the other , and the one always comprehends the other six in it ; and always the one of them is bodily manifest , visible , and knowing , or palpable , but the other six are hid in it . each element also in it self is threefold , as spiritual , soulish and bodily . the spiritual earth is , and are the precious stones or jewels , and that is the body of the spirit . the soulish earth is the gold , the spiritual water bodily are the pearls , the soulish is the amber , afterwards the corals bodily . in all these dwell many powers , especially if out of water and spirit by means of the fire , they are made new and spiritual . all elements are in the one with all their powers , which is a spiritual rock , out of which the water of life doth spring to all creatures , and ebbeth and floweth in the whole world , and filleth up elementarily all in all . and when in the end of the world , this one is taken away from them , then all the elements are consumed in and by the fire . chap. vi. of the three special principles , spirit ▪ wind , and water . the three special principles , as far as they are principles , come according to their original , as the spirit from god , the wind from the nature , and the water from the rocks and wells of the element . every body in the elementary world is out of the water , even also heaven and earth . all living , soul and breath is from the wind , in all bodies , and all spirits are from the spirit : the spirit hath by it the light and heaven , the wind , the air , the water , the earth . now as every thing hath its original ; so it is of the same fed , nourished , and thither it returneth again . now the water is a gathered , concentred , and bodily palpable air . the air is a soft sensible bodily gathered wind . and the wind is a living gathered spirit . but the spirit is such an out-spoken word , which createth and maketh some living thing ; so that it stands there essentially , where it was before . psal . 104. 29 , 30. in the beginning of the creation , the spirit moved on the water ; by which moving is understood the wind , by which the spirit hath breathed on the waters , and made them fertile for the creation of the world . all things that are , move and have a being , have their original from the one , infini eternal father , eheve , jehovah and jesse , which is the essential , self-subsisting , living word , which is and was in the beginning , and remaineth everlastingly ▪ to which word all other things are just nothing . through it all things are created , are preserved , nourished and fed in their spirit and life , as through the breath of the almighty . 4 esd . 16. 13. heb. 1. 3. mat. 4. 4. now by the three special principles , as spirit , wind , and water , which are elements also , all creation is finished , not only because they are the means by which the general principles do work ; but also because they contain in them the right seed of all things , and the same in the only true element of which we made mention afore . for these three bear in their body all salt and feed , fixed ; and flying , and essential ; as also heaven and earth , with all that is therein , and bring forth into the world , each to its proper self-subsisting , or substance . now as all is produced out of the special principles , according to the creation and nativity : but the sin with the curse and corruption hath made all evil ; so must all that is born anew return to water , wind , spirit , and out of the spirit and spiritual water , must by the wind be born anew to the image of the coelestials ; yet so , that in their glory they be no other then angelical and divine , and bear the image of the coelestials . this new birth goeth out of the upper waters , and out of a coelestial earth to speak elementarily , and are nothing else but salt . there is another birth also that goeth out of the fire , and is done in pain and torment . the new birth out of the water , and through the water is done in drowning by water to death , that out and in the earth is done through death and corruption : the birth out of the fire , as a contrary element , is done in and through the fire in hell. every new birth and regeneration is done through the spirit , as also every creation and alteration . the new birth out of the water is done , when water is to be poured upon that which shall be new born : which the bad contrary elementary doth drown , kill , and reduceth to nothing : and on the contrary stirreth up the good , draweth it out and maketh it glorious , and distinguisheth the good from the bad , rejecteth the bad , and chooseth the good , and keeps it . the new birth out of earth is done , when a thing is reduced to its proper ▪ earth ▪ dyeth and putrifieth therein , then afterward cometh forth again , and riseth out of the earth with a new and spiritual body , and parteth with the naughty and corrupted . the new birth in the fire is done , when all is cast into the fire , and that which doth not hold fire is consumed by degrees : and only that which is spiritual remaineth and is saved : and then afterward the new birth with a spiritual body cometh forth : 1 cor. 3 13 , 14 , 15. 1 pet. 4 6. although we speak here physically and elementarily ; yet understanding men will judge theologically , and the wise may search physically , how every thing hath its true earth , water , and fire , and so mark and observe this mystery . now is the spirit , wind , and water , by which all things in the world are effected . these the word sendeth forth to all creations , births , and alterations . these are never quiet , for they are by and with the word , the perpetuum mobile , as above was mentioned , and co-operate continually into the light , heaven , air , and earth : which four elements stand still unmoveable into which the three special principles do overflow with their body , soul , and spirit , as to the water , wind and spirit ; and work out all , and finish the same . the water is as it were the element , the wind is like as angelical , and the nature , and the spirit is divine . chap. vii . of the particular principles , body , soul , and spirit . w●th those are the principles inclosed and consists in a threefold trinity ; and always one produceth ▪ another and stand always orderly in their subordinates , and agree together , that they make up a true and whole harmony , and are enclosed at last in the light , life , and love. the body of all them is , and consists out of the water , also the earth , the water out of the wind ; the wind ▪ out of the spirit ; and the spirit o●t of god there is a threefold body , namely , a sensible or palpable out of water and earth : a soulish out of wind and air ▪ and a spiritual , out of heaven ▪ light and spirit . so is an elementary hody , an angelical , and a divine , very well to be distinguished on man. further the soul is corporeal out of the air from whence it is fed also : and soulish out of the wind : and spiritual out of the light. the spirit is corporeal out 〈◊〉 from the heaven : soulish out of the light : and spiritual out of the spirit of the elements , out of the nature , and of god , according as the creature is . out of these three general principles , man hath also a threefold spirit according to his measure , and is the perfectest creature : always one body dwelleth in the other : and as soon as one body is dissolved and broken ; in the same moment another and more noble body is manifest , and that in all things . if now the body becometh nobler , needs must the spirit be more noble , high and glorious . but this is the body , after which the wise do seek ; namely , the salt which containeth all in it self . this body they drown in a water , which floweth out of the centrum of the vegetables ; and draw out all vertues , which afterward come together in a celestial spiritual body , and afford that precious jewel . all things that are killd and dye naturally , are drownd in a cold saturnine water , for all natural death is done by coldness ; but what is kill'd in the fire without a saturnine water , is not fit to nature for a better state . only the salt we seek in the fire , and then through the water , and afterwards cleanse and purifie it with the baptism of fire and of water . we should therefore six our thoughts on the water , and use the fire very carefully , because it is a contrary element , before which nothing can subsist , but only the salt. this is the true body of all elements , and of all things in the whole world , if that be taken away , th●● all perisheth quickly , and the gold it self also in the fire . this is the right heaven , wherein dwell all powers , and is in all things in the whole world their heaven , and is compared to the tree of life in paradise . now the soul according to the highest degree , is out of the nature : according to the second degree , from the light ; and according to the third degree , out of the wind. these are the principles of the living soul : soul and spirit are distinct , as god and nature , spirit and wind ; as angel and living soul , yea as spirit and breath . the middle principle among the three principles , is always instead of the mother , as the nature , wind , and soul. the body is the child ; which the spirit , ●s a father begets through the soul . out of the spirit cometh the soul , he lets it out as his breath and from both these the body : the firm soul and spirit , as the true life and spirit which is like unto the angelical world , is always in the right body of all things that is , in the salt , when it is opened , then they come forth in a great clearness , as in an angelical glory . at last the spirit of all things is out of the three general principles , in each according to their portion and measure . now the spirit affords the right inward essence , the forma essentialis , differentia specifica abstractum essentiae , and nothing else . from the same the body and soul also receive their essence , whereby the one from the other essentially and properly , are distinguished ; as man from beasts ; a beast , foul , fish , vermin , &c from others : and so one thing from another . all creatures are distinguished chiefly into three : as into animalia , all living souls : into vegetabilia , all that grow and spring out of the earth : and into mineralia , things that grow under the earth , and are digged out , and so in the water also . these are distinct as the three principles , and in our wisdom always a fair harmony doth represent it self . all living souls consist out of water and bloud , in their seeds through a moist warmth , and a warm moistness each in its mother . all growing things consist in their seed , out of a slimy water , through the salt , which is fixed in the root , flying in the herb , leaf and grass , and essential in the flower ; and all three concentre at last in the seed . all minerals , metals , and what belongeth to it grow out of a fat earth , which the salt of the earth doth hatch : and do coagulate through a cold fire , which is a saturnine water , that is , a fiery water , and a waterish fire that doth not burn . even as upon earth all things grow by rain and dew , as also in the earth it raineth , thaweth , and is misty , thereby grow the minerals , metals , and the like ; and all this from the salt fixed , flying and essential the flying salt begets sulphur , the essential begets mercury . among the vermin the chiefest is the viper , with her brood and kind , and is mercurial . among the vegetables is the vine , a channel , out of which come three sorts of water , and also a noble mineral , and is the centre of the vegetables . among the mineral is the gold , yea the salt. of all these three the concentred center is man , above all that is created . chap. viii . of the elements , and contrary elements in the creation . the seven elements or powers of the world do rest only upon one , which is a right well of all elements in our thoughts , because it containeth all . an element is such a thing , out of which , and in which the world and all doth consist ; without which , nothing can subsist again , a contrary element is such whereby the world and elements are altered and corrupt and at last must quite perish thereby . now all things are created out of three principles materialiter , namely out of the word , as out of a spiritual ; out of nature , as a soulish ▪ and out of the elements and contrary elements , as an incorporeal-corporeal , and corporeal-incorporeal ; that is , out of the elements after something , and out of the contrary elements according to nothing . the word is the all , the elements are the something ; and the contrary elements are the nothing the nothing is become something by the word of god ; and the something will become nothing again , when at last the word is taken away . although the contrary elements were once nothing , yet in the creation they are a principle along , because they were made , which were not afore , and are of god counted not evil , but good ; because god did look upon them , and hath covered and hid their principle , which was nothing , yet concentred and fastened together , corporeal in and on the tree of knowledge of good and evil , which must have stood there as a witness ; namely , that the world was created out of nothing ; yet this should be undiscovered and not ashamed , that is , it should not be broken , namely , that the shame of the whole world might not not stand ashamed before the face of all the world , and for a confusion be quite dead and perish . now as long as the contrary elements remained unknown , and in their concentrated center were not broken , they are very good : but so soon as they are known in their depths , they are such a thing as puts the world to a shame , and at last altogether doth consume it , and reduceth it to nothing . these contrary elements are three , darkness as corporeal , fire as soulish , and corruption as spiritual ; yet corruption before the fall was no corruption , but only an alteration , not unto evil , but unto good , and a change and exchange of all created things . the fire before the fall was not consuming , but in its knowledge was good and useful : in like manner darkness was very good , and for a rest and refreshing to all creatures ; but now it is an habitation to ill spirits , and as far as darkness in the air reacheth and goeth , so far and high also in the air hath satan his dominion and reign . ephes . 22. chap. 6 12. and so are the contrary elements become hereditary to satan through sin , who is the prince of darkness , and potentate of the fire , and the fire over him , and a principle and beginner of perdition , out of darkness , hell is harched , which is threefold . 1. corporeal , according to its place , under the earth in the nethermost places . ephes . 4. 9. luke 16. 28. 1 pet. 3. 19. 2. soulish in the reign of the devil , and prince of darkness in high places . 3 , spiritual in the devil himself and his children . this hell will be cast at last into the fiery lake . out of the fire is produced an unquenchable ever burning sulphur , and such a consuming fiery flame , which killeth life , and yet always maketh death alive . the hellish fire is three fold ; in the hell , in the devil and his children , and in the fiery pool : out of this alteration , or rather perdition , is at last death gotten ; which in its bodyliness is a cold fire , and a fiery coldness : according to the soulishness , a gnawing worm that continueth , devoureth , and never eateth , yet always consumeth and still begetteth again : according to the spirit , death is the devil himself essentially , who hath begotten sin , and sin hath begotten him , the devil . now darkness was good before the fall ; for light was hid therein , which god commanded to come forth out of the darkness : the fire also was good before the fall ; for life rested therein , because no flame was burning in the fire , nor was manifest . the change and alteration was good also before the fall ; because love did shew it self therein , by the increase of the creatures . now since light , life and love include all , therefore they were comprehended also in the contrary elements ; but they were separated from the same , and thrust out and parted through sin ; and so that ▪ which was very good became exceeding bad , and turned good and evil to a contrary and adverse thing . after the fall hell and death were begotten , and the fire was made manifest , visible and corporeal ; so that it went up into the height by reason of sin ; so that by gods permission and command it may fall down from heaven upon the wicked world , especially it doth lye in and on the fiery cherub before the door of paradise , and guardeth the way to the tree of life ; but in the glorious and joyful coming of the great god jesus christ ▪ this fiery cherub must be gone and come down , and all contrary elements must reduce to nothing , that is , they must no more reign ; and also the devil himself must from above be cast down , taken captive , and in prison must be bound a thousand years , to the glorious liberty and redemtion of the creature , from the vanity , curse and death , where all things as they were created , will be renewed . chap. ix . of the principle or original of that evil one , and of the angels . before this elementary world was created of god , the angels , and the angelical world , and paradise , which were above the upper waters , were first , and that so certain , as the nature was first before the elements , and god before all things . therefore always out of the upper things , things beneath were gotten , and the upper is always before that which is below , even as the spirit is first before the soul and body , now the angels god hath called through his word out of the same light , wherein god dwelleth after their spirit , for that end , that they should serve him , and hath presented them in the fiery flame , after the soul , and as a wind , after their body . now the angels being out of the light , wherein god dwelleth , therefore they can know on , in , and out of the same , what gods command is , and this light is the face of god in heaven , a spiritual food of the angels , which light the angel of the children may behold , whereas on the contrary the angels of sinful men may not behold it , until the sinner doth true repentance , then his angel may appear again before that light , and before the face of the lord , of which there is great joy among the other angels : but as long as the sinner doth not repent ; so long appeareth the devil before god , and accuseth the sinner day and night before him . now amongst god ' angels ▪ ●ucifer was the chief ; for he carryed the 〈…〉 clear morning star , which was and is the son of 〈◊〉 but he was not content with that great honour and dignity ; but would fain have been lord and god himself , and no more a servant . this coveting was in lucifer gotten by an ill look and eye toward god , inflamed within himself , in the same fiery flame , out of which the angels , after their soul are , and that so much and heavy , that the light did depart in his spirit from lucifer , and instead thereof an unspeakable great darkness came out of the fire , which lucifer himself had kindled ; and so instead of heaven , a hell it self . so the fiery flame unknown to lucifer , undiscovered and hid , was blown up by himself out of envy and grudgings , so that it turned to an essential anger , yea to a consuming fire , wherein at first did rest the life ▪ but was afterwards turned into a living death , which never dyeth , and a deadly eternal life made manifest , as a soul to satan . at last through lucifers pride a strange wind was gotten in lucifer , as a body unto him , and satan hath quite lost the angelical principle , and self-subsistance , and became a strange bird , and a wild fly. lucifer did try whether he could not be a god , or like unto god , which yet he was in his portion and measure , therefore he is called a tempter and satan ▪ and he was become such an one , namely , both a god and a creator , and a creature of his own , and lost all all gods testimony wholly , as also the testimony of good angels . he is a knave or lyer from the beginning through sin , which hath begotten him , and he hath begotten sin , he is sins father , and sin is his mother ; that hath begotten him , and he her through covetousness in the leering eye of self-love and imagination . now as sin is that evil , and found out in its principle by lucifer , so it hath turn'd him into an evil one , and one is the principle of the other ; and so he can be excused by no means . so lucifer hath murdered himself , and hath lost the angelical printiple , and is , and remaineth a forlorn child , and son of perdition the right antichrist for ever . thus is sin gotten through coveting , and coveting through looking upon , and looking upon through imagination , and that through self-love , and that through an arrogant liberty , this through security , and that through wantonness , where there is no fear ; for as fear is the beginning of wisdom , so is wantonness the beginning of folly and sin . he that is fearful will not easily hazard upon sinning . lucifer was created of god a good angel ; and that so , that he might easily have been kept from sining : so also might man if he would himself ; but self-will brought him to that sin , yea his own wantonness ; but now he could not be so perfect created , that he could not fall into sin at all . the reason is , because his weight , measure and number could not endure it ; because he was not born of god , but had his principles besides god , although through god ; but what is born of god and of his seed , that cannot sin , because it is born of god , to whom it is impossible to commit sin . thus is made clear and manifest the mighty abundant difference in the creation , which was very good at the renovation , which was done in and on the old creature , by means and help of the spirit of god , and among the new births from above of god , which is it alone to make children and heirs of god , and co-heirs of christ , unknown to the world , and their wise children . now the angels consisting out of wind , fire and light , and the fall of lucifer standing before them as a warning ; therefore they cover their feet and faces before god with fear and trembling , and are rather ashamed of themselves , that they may find grace before the lord god. now they are a fiery flame for a protection of the godly , and a perdition and death to the wicked : god also is a consuming fire in his angels , not on , or in himself , and will come also with his angels , and his power , and with fiery flames to judgment . cuap . x. of the difference of the light and darkness , as also of the light and fire . hitherto the light was not reckoned under the elements by the wise of the world , though it be the first of them in the creation , for in all creatures the bloud and eyes are first ▪ and not the heart . now the light is a going forth of gods glory ▪ and it never goeth down or decayeth in its spirit , an● is a dwelling of the seven spirits of god , as the darkness is an habitation of evil spirits . in the light dwelleth the spirit of the lord , the spirit of wisdom and understanding , the spirit of counsel and of strength , the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the lord. all wisdom understanding and knowledge , all judgment and examination , and every truth and righteousness cometh from , and out of the light , and through the same . and as the light doth illuminate the whole world , and maketh day , and is the day it self : so it illuminates also every spirit in all living souls ; and as there is no day without light , neither can be ; so no wisdom , nor knowledge nor understanding can be without light . but the light in its body , in our opinion , is a pure essential spiritual salt from which all gemms and precious stones get their colour ; as also all flowers and beauties their fairness . all which the spirit of light doth work , and adorneth all things with beauties ; for in the light all colours are hid , and are gotten by the same , the soul of the light is nothing else , but a joyful life out of nature , as an angelical life , and his spirit and eternal love proceeding from the spirit of the lord. out of this light god hath made the lights of heaven , which are coagulated , living and comprehensible lights , and are nothing else in their essence , but a spiritual essential and exceeding pure christalline salt , so high tempered , as ever any thing may be without any quality or property of heat ; coldness , warmth , moistness , drought , and have their proper motion in and on themselves ; especially the sun ●unneth always with the light and day , but the moon with the darkness and night , and the other stars in and on their places and order . those lights of heaven do shew always and every where clearly the power of the elements and contrary elements , what their operations be , through which powers all things in the whole world are finished and wrought upon , but through the lights of heaven no less then a looking glass sheweth such and such you see . now the powers of the elements and contrary elements change and revolve daily , weekly , monthly , and yearly . now because out of the light cometh knowledge , which searcheth out all the depths in every spirit , soul and body , and presents them in the lights of heaven , prophesie , tell , and give to understand to the beholders , who are the children of the light . the spirit of light searcheth all in all things , and sheweth by the lights of heaven every ascendent or spirit in all things , and also in man , namely what spirit , soul and body he hath received at his nativity ▪ out and according to the elements and opposite elements , as also what spirits do incentre in him : all which if bad or evil man may decline ▪ or resist by the holy and good spirit , as a beast can shake off the dust or flyes . now the lights of heaven rule the whole world , namely acording to their time , and shew things present , past , and future : now because every element hath its spirits , as the earth , the water , and the air , and their eyes are more spiritual then our bodily ▪ they can therefore spy something in the lights of heaven , and reveal it to man : but the children of light do not use the communion of such spirits at all , neither should it be ; because it is the next degree to witch-craft ▪ the natural magick can do much ; of which the wise men of the east made use profitably , who clime to christ : but the angelical may do more yet , and much more the divine . but we must strive always after the best , and man hath within him a threefold magnet or 〈◊〉 whereby he can draw to him all spirits in the world , and can do wonders . but what saith the lord to it mat. 7. 22 luke 10 ▪ 20. for by the natural magick , devils may be cast out , and great wonders done by it . the prince of darkness can turn to the shape of of an angel of light , and will have every where his hand in the work . now is a very dangerous time ; because all spirits are stirring ; because their end is so nigh , that it is hardly believed . the air is fuit of spirits , and the he earth also is full of them , and every man hath his proper angel , and his bad angel also : by the good angels all good things man doth , are set down truly , and the bad angels observe all evil that man doth , and when once the books are to be opened , men will be judged according to their works and words . well be it with him , who hath blotted out his black register with repenting tears . the spirit we cannot see , unless our eyes be opened . lastly , between light and darkness , light and fire is such a great difference , as between life and death ; blessedness and perdition ; yea as between god and the devil . the light is and will be an eternal dwelling of god : but darkness and fire is an everlasting habitation of devils and the damned . chap xi . of the principle of the fire , and its mystery . there is a threefold fire , namely , the fire of the contrary element , the fire of the angels , and the fire of the devils . the fire of the contrary element is threefold . first before the fall , a still resting and unmanifested fire , without a burning flame . secondly , after the fall , a kindled , manifested , burning , flaming fire . thirdly , a cold waterish fire , which doth not burn , yet smoketh , & worketh into the earth upon minerals , and metals . with this cold waterish fire all things are forced , and the metals also ; for it doth calcinate them , and turneth them as it were into ashes , destroyeth and openeth them . this fire is chiefly threefold , as 1. vegitable , which is as it were tempered , and is a well rectified vineger , which is extreamly useful . of which not many words , sat sapienti dictum . secondly , it is a mineral fire , which chiefly is the true spirit of nitre , a spiritual water out of salt-peter , which hath both heat and cold , and is infernal and coelestial . thirdly , mercurial or saturnine , a strong salt that hath not its fellow . without this no metal is engendred , nor broken , or groweth , in which is a great mystery hid , more then can be imagined . but the true spirit of nitre must not be prepared without a cold fire ; for the raging , horrible , and furious hell , which is in saltpeter , must in its devouring and consuming fire be over whelmed , drowned and devoured , and be reduced to a blessed heaven . now when a heavenly water is at hand , then a new birth from above out of water and spirit can follow . here lyeth hid a great medicine in time of the raging plague , head-aches , leavers , stone , gout , and many more diseases , to be used . and truly the time is come , when all things must be made manifest ; and although we have not yet with our hands prepared it ; yet the spirit of wisdom can teach us all what is secret and mystical , who searcheth into all deepnesses ▪ and can shew , testifie ▪ and make known to us that which no eye hath seen , no● ear hath heard , and which hath never entred into mans heart . thirdly , there is also a metalline cold fire , which reduceth all metals , yea gold it self to nothing ; only that noble grain in the gold hidden , stayeth and remaineth , which cannot be forced , and that fire is lead , saturn , which devoureth all metals , and consumeth also it self in the fire at last : even as the common fire doth consume and devour all wood , and at last it self is consumed , and goeth out : but in the cinders that remain , there lyeth the treasure hidden , which must be drawn out of it with hot water . the metals have two sorts of waters , a cold and a hot , and both are fire . the cold is saturn , lead , the hot is mercury . now as the one is an extream hellish cold ; so is the other extream hot of a hellish heat ; so that by reason of heat it stands in a continual flowing , although it feels outwardly cold. now in this fire water , the metals , especially gold , after their death , are born anew , namely , in the metalline world , and reign ; and yet are anew clarified , christalline , spiritual , heavenly body ; which is so glorious , that it can make inferiour and less precious , yet to his nature not unlike metals to his own substance . so much is it worth to know the nature of fire , and its mystery , without which no good or profitable use of it may be had , for our good ; for all must be killed first in the cold fire , even as it were through its winter , according to the proceeding of nature , must dye and putrifie , if it shall be produced again in a new body ▪ now the fire according to its principle , is begotten out of darkness , from thence it is produced , and returneth into it again : but darkness was begotten out of the nothing , and that nothing stood there in the beginning of the creation to the something , as a testimony of that which was created : for all that is made and created , that was before nothing , and before it be fashioned , then it was not fashioned without a frame , and was as it were a dark ens or being , out of which afterward is born the light , that is a fashionable being that is out of the invisible , a visible thing is made . therefore the darkness and fire , in a good sense , and before the fall , are an excrement of the light , yet are good and useful , even as that which a workmaster heweth or cutteth away from that matter , which he intends to make some fashionable thing : even as chips from wood are of the same substance with that which is framed out of it ; yet an excrement of it , and when these chips are flung into the fire , they return to nothing . so the contrary elements when they are known ▪ they are no more good , but an opposition , adverse and stark nought . further be it known , that in the divine world are no contrary elements , nay there can be none in it , although their power hath pressed into it yea in the depths of god , in which it grew dark , when the lord of glory dyed on the cross , and the fire of the raging wrath of god consumed the same , and death and perdition killed him , who can speak it out , or who knows what this saying doth mean ! also in the angelical world there is no darkness ▪ but yet there is fire . this angelical fire is an excretion of the light , out of which the spirit of the ●ngels is ; and this fire also in the beginning , and before the fall hath been a quiet and unknown fire , and very good ; because it was and is the soul of the light in the angels : but after the fall it was manifest , known and turn'd to a flame , and such a one wherein the raging anger of god doth rest , in which all gods judgments do consist , and come out of the same . this fire now in the angels with its rage , anger , and consuming flame is not evil at all ; but a just fire of gods justice to punish the wicked . all anger , rage and judgment proceed out of the angelical world , as also the law , which was promulgated with fire . exod. 20. acts 7. 53 , 38. gal. 3. 19. heb. 2. 2. of the devils fire was spoken above : more things could be said of the fire , which for brevity sake we omit . chap. xii . out of what , wherein , and wher by all things good and bad do subsist , pass away , and yet how they last for ever . although our knowing and prophesying be but part ; yet we will not quench the spirit , and we are not to despise prophesying : and the reader in the lord may know , that we have our wisdom , be it about natural things , or spiritual , learned out of the holy scripture , and not out of pro hane writings ; for the bible is sufficient to us to all wisdom , and we used in 24 years no other book to find out wisdom , but the bible : out of this book the spirit of wisdom through the anointing , can teach us all things , and needs no other spirit or man to teach us . every thing in a word subsists only by salt , they perish without it , and in the same , and it lasteth for ever in them both good and bad . there is a threefold salt , namely a divine , angelical and elementary . all must be seasoned with salt , if it shall last good , and salt is the most noble and wholsomest balm , the best preservative and conservative , the highest strengthening . the salt of the divine world is a true light , a spirit and vvater from above , whereby we are illuminated , breathed on , and baptized , yea seasoned and salted , that the hellish may have no power over us . for every one must be seasoned with fire , and must be tried with fire , who and what doth subsist in it , that is blessed , else it is nothing at all . mark 9. 49 , 50. 1 cor. 13. 14. the salt of the angelical world is a quick life , in its glory concentred of god into the tree of life ; which when it shall be broken at the glorious coming of jesus christ , then all created things in heaven and earth , in this elementary world , he will so gloriously and powerfully season with salt , that they shall be freed and redeemed from sin , curse , death , devil , vanity , pain and misery , and that will be a noble food at that great supper , of which as of an angelical , and coelestial manna , all flesh , that is , all created things and whole creatures , shall eat , and drink , and feed , and then also shall be put away the sharp , bitter , sowre , consuming , devouring , perishing , and ●o nothing , reducing salt of the contrary element , it shall dye , and to its place be separated . of the elementary salt we have spoken already above . there is another salt also of the contrary element , which is threefold ; namely in the earth , sea and air , the salt of the contrary element , is a sharp devouring , consuming salt , and reigneth in all creatures , and is always mixed with the good salt which in the consuming sharp salt is held captive , and can no sooner be set at liberty , till that which holds it captive be drowned and killed by a cold fire , which is a water above mentioned . this salt now is predominant chiefly in the minerals of the earth , in the mineral salts , as common salt , vitriol , saltpeter , alume , salmoniak , &c. and is as it were fixed in this . in all sulphur , especially in the common sulphur the salt of the contrary elements is flying : but he that can make it fixed with a cold fire hath a more precious thing then gold is . but what is more abused then saturn , saltpeter and sulphur ? they shoot it into the air , being so precious . o malice and wickedness of men ! is it not so that god hath made choice of things , which the world holds to be ignoble , foolish , and rejected , and base . lastly in all arsenicks is the salt of the contrary elements , essential and spiritual . true it is a right poison , but having an essence , why should not some thing be hidden in it . it must be carefully and purely killed with a cold fire , and be reduced to a new noble birth . it is to be observed by the by , that every lee , especially that of quicklime is a cold fire , and that same in the unmature metals , that have yet their sulphur , mercury and arsenick , may doubtless be of good use , especially in some iron or copper mines , in which the sulphur of sol , the glory of gold sufficiently appeareth ; for the flying must through a fixed , be made firm and glorious . and truly herein is more hid then the world believes . now in the salt is both life and death : and as good things have their salt ; so have bad , and both are firm , the good therefore ; because the life is in it ; and the bad also therefore ; because there is both life and death in it . for what death killeth with extream coldness , that life reviveth again by fire : therefore the fire is the life in the devil and his children , and the cold is death : but it is such a life which is not of god ; nor out of the light and love but out of the devil himself , out of darkness and anger , which is with unspeakable torment , anguish ▪ pain , misery . the salt in the sea is a soulish salt , raging and furious , of which something may be said , because a mystery is hid in it ; it shineth also in its fire , and is a sulphurious light so that it may be seen . lastly , the salt in the air is essential , and arsenical , and poisoneth things on earth , man , beasts and fruits , &c. these three sorts of salt of the contrary element , are made known after the fall , therefore we must separate salt from salt , that is good from bad , to reject bad , and embrace that which is good in the end all bad things fall to the devils share , especially the contrary elements with their salt , which maketh up the fiery pools ▪ devouring and gnawning , and yet not consuming , living for ever ; yet not alive , but dead , dyeth for ever , and yet never liveth : and thus it hath rightly the name of a contrary element . chap. xiii . of the creation of the world. now having known the principles in their subordinates , and the center concentrated both in and on the elements , as also in the contrary elements ; thence we may observe how all things are created by the word , and then to know also what scha ma jm is , of which is written in the book of the creation ▪ that god elohim in the beginning have created scha ma jm which the interpreters have rendred heaven and earth , which runnneth contrary to the text , and against the order of the creation . who can tell us what scha ma jm properly is ? true we cannot speak with tongues ; for we are more taken up with prophesying , according to the grace bestowed upon us . therefore we will give the interpretation of it to others , to let them search , to learn what scha ma jm meaneth . so much is known , that out of scha ma jm all other things are come , as also the water , out of which heaven and earth in the beginning of the creation were created ; for it is not enough that we know , how that the world was created out of the water ; but we ask also from whence came that water then , out of which the world was made ? for the wise go after wisdom , even to her depths , and give not over , till they find the bottom , and all principles . the book of wisdom saith , chap. 11. v. 23. the whole world is before thee , god , as a moment of the little tongue in the weights and scales , and as a drop of the dew that falleth in the mornings upon the earth . it is manifest , that all water and dew , before it is a bodily water , is first a vapour . but how ▪ and out of what , and from whence , and whereby that vapour ariseth , must be searched into : and in our opinion it is nothing else , but such a bodily spirit , who in himself incloseth all in all , and yieldeth and giveth all to all , and at last gathereth all to himself . out of which now the world is created , that same is also in all things , and without it there is nothing no where , and when that is taken away from it again , then it can be no more of a being . that we may set out the depths of the creation , out of which it was produced , these are threefold . first the word of god in which is light , through which all things were made , and that which is in all things , is instead of the spirit , according to the highest degree in the creation of the world ; and this is the true spiritual seed of all things , without which nothing is , neither can be . afterwards is the soul of all the world , and is distinguished from god , as the breath from the spirit , and is the breath of the speaking word of god and instead of the soul is the true life of all things , according to the highest degree , and is the soulish seed of all things in the world . lastly , the salt is the body and bodily seed of all things , and of the whole world , in which dwelleth and resteth the word , and the spirit of god. these three hatch from themselves a water , which is a scha ma jm , out of which the whole world hath its original , according to the middle degree , but the lower degrees are the elements . these three give and set down the three general principles for the creation , as god , the nature , and the elements : and again these three , the spirit , wind , and water ; and at last in these three every creature , and all is inclosed totally in the light life and love. the word is god , and god is the word , the spirit is the nature , and an out-breathed breath of god , and the nature is the spirit and soul of the world. the salt is an element of all elements , and the elements in their glory are nothing else but a salt , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . out of these three consists scha ma jm , and the whole creation of the world , in each and all their true principles . in all creations the word is the beginning , the spirit the middle , and the salt is the end . in the beginning of the creation scha ma jm was unfashioned and unframed ; there were also darknesses over the face of the depths , and there was a chaos or confused being : but the spirit of the lord moved upon the water , thereby it became seedy , and the first thing that was created in it was light , but was comprehended of the darknesses so long , till god said lehior , come forth thou light , and come before the day , and make a day , that it may be light : and presently light parte● from the darkness ▪ and is according to its body and being ▪ an essential most refined spiritual salt , which not otherwise , but by the eye may be brought to the sense . the darkness containeth in it fire , and the light was parted from darkness , and the fire lay secretly hid therein ▪ which afterward by reason of sin broke forth to be visible ; and is called not or , light , but vr , fire . after the the light was created the heaven , a firmament out of the water , as ice and chrystal : in which the flying soulish salt of life became fixed an firm , and heaven it self is such a salt , in which dwe● all the powers of life , and of the soul , and from thenc● from above are poured forth into the nether world through the spirit , wind , and air , whose body i● the water , into which the flying salt is carryed . after the heaven was created , the earth , the bodily centre of the world , a gross body which containeth in it self the fixed salt into which earth all the elements do incenter . the light is compared to the divine world , the heaven to the english , and the earth to the elementary . above the heaven and the firmament are the spiritual , above the waters , into which nature doth pour forth it self , which above the upper waters have their world , and the true paradise , where there is meer light and no darkness . which world in these last times is made manifest , in which the nuptial of the lamb and his bride , and the great true supper will be kept : those that in the first resurrection and change at the coming of jesus christ have part , shall meet the lord , and taken up into the air to go with him into paradise , and shall thus be with the lord always . the whole sphere of the world of earth and water are carryed and held up by the air , even as a body is kept and held up by the spirit and breath , that it may not fall . chap. xiv . of the particular creation . the creation in its order is threefold . first general in the scha ma jm , which was the first materia , and is yet , out of which corporally all things are created , into which all principles come together , and are concentred : afterward special , on and in the element , as lights , heaven , earth , and water , spirit , wind , and air , are contained in scha ma jm. lastly particular , as in all these things , which out , on , in , and by the elements were created , produced and made . the first that was made in the particular creation , were the vegitables , all growing things on earth , as grass , herbs , trees , amongst which the vine tree is the chiefest . now every thing hath its proper seed in it self : therefore here ceaseth creation ; and conception and birth begins , out , in , and by his own seed ; but at first all things were brought forth out of the earth , on grass , trees and herbs , through the word , spirit and salt. the salt hath given to the grass , herbs and trees their bodies , which they all have in them . the spirit hath given them power and virtue , especially for physick ; but the word giveth the blessing to it . the true physick . virtue and blessing may be sought , and gathered out of the salt of the earth , and of every herb , and be made corporeal ; and at the time when it doth greeny , that the essence may be extracted , and reduced to a spiritual and coelestial body , which cometh forth green , and yieldeth power to physick . christ saith unto his disciples , mat. 5 13. ye are the salt of the earth the reason , because thereby the whole world was seasoned , and made fertile , that it did grow up to everlasting life and happiness . but now all salt is become unsavoury ; the reason , because there is no spiret nor word of life in it . therefore it is cast upon the dunghill , and trampled upon : and behold the lord will create a new one amen . halelujah . the particular creati●n hath begun from , and on the lower , and went upwards . as now the earth is adorned with grass , herbs and trees ; so had god on the fourth day adorned the heaven and firmament with lights , sun , moon and stars , which came forth and grew out of fixed flying and flying-fixed salt of the heaven , and are even as the precious stones of the earth . they are fixed in their heavenly body , and at the highest temper , but they are flying in their course , although some of them do stand still . the chief lights of heaven are the seven planets . saturn is the highest , and belongeth to the earth , and standeth to the earth ; who knoweth whether he were the highest at the beginning , or whether he came to be the highest after the fall , and that mercury was to give place to him . many things are to us hid , and much of mystical secrecy is in them . for saturn eateth all , and is death , and domineers over all . but mercury maketh alive and growing . of all much were to be said , but sapienti satis . therefore we must take good heed to the contrary elements , which over the fall ruled over all : but we must be careful and witty to rule over them , that death may be drowned and swallowed up in victory . on the fifth day god created out of the waters all things that live therein , and also the birds out of the flying salt in the water : hence it is that they are so flying ▪ and these have their particular consideration by reason of the flying salt , and in their feathers they are physical in flying mercurial diseases , as in the falling ▪ sickness , madness , giddiness ; for these diseases have their original from the spirits , through gods permission , and must be cured with a flying salt , which is reduced to the highest degree . be it known also , that there is great virtue in precious stones , as in pearls , amber , coral , namely , when they are first baptized with a coelestial water , which be altogether spirit . the load-stone also hath its mystery : and who can tell all ? we may well say , great are the works of the lord : he that observeth them taketh delight therein , and to them they are propounded . on the sixth day god created all the beast of the earth , and the worms , and at last man , with him he closed up the creation . among the ●ermius or beasts , the serpent is the center ; in the beginning she did not creep upon her belly , and did not feed upon earth , but that was laid on her as a curse from god. whether she had wings we will not deny : there is great subtilty in her , and a mystery hidden therein : at the beginning she was not venomous ; and among all the beasts she was the next by and about man , as she will also be the next about him in the new world , when that enmity is at an end . isa . 11. 8. no creature is so bodily fair and subtil as the serpent . now because she was at first always about man , therefore the devil did perswade her to perswade man , that he should break of the tree of knowledge , and eat of the fruit thereof . because the serpent is mercurial and flying , and is the center of all beasts , therefore needs must there be a great mystery in her for physick , if rightly prepared for the mercurial diseases , especially being full of bones . therefore god hath finished the work of creation on the sixth day , with and on men ; of whose creation hereafter ; and on the seventh day the lord did rest , and blessed that same day . the six days bear a curse by reason of sin ; but the seventh day that now truly cometh , that bringeth blessing and rest , joy , honour and glory ; which joyful day of our redemption , we through the spirit of prophesying do annunciate to all creatures under heaven in an everlasting gospel , and a very joyous message , which to annunciate is given to us from the spirit of prophesying . chap. xv. of the mystery of the word . ii is known out of the holy scriptures , that all things are made and created by the word , and that yet all things are made by the word , and are preserved through the word . but here we will not speak theologically , but only naturally according to the creation ; neither do we speak theosophically of the depths of god , both which we save till another time and place . the word of creation is the general power of god , out of which , in which , and by which all things are , subsist , and will be . this general power of almighty god every creature makes use of for its best good : but only man abuseth it , as also do the devils and spirits by gods permission : hence it cometh , that men must give an account of every idle word ; because they have abused the breath of the almighty , and use it to sin . oh , that i could lay a lock to my mouth , that i might not transgress with my tongue . because now all mysteries are hid in the word , therefore the same also performs all things in the world : therefore we will say , that hence ariseth a three fold magick through faith , that is a power to know something to bring it to an effect . first there is a natural magick , which cometh out of natural faith , wherein there is such a magnet or load stone , that it can draw all things to it . this faith is gotten in man , either of nature in his spirit , which is the true and right ascendent , namely the spirit of man , and by no means this or that astre or constellation , as the ignorant do imagine , which is only in signam ascendentis , &c ▪ or this faith through the art and instruction of the natural magick , is wrought in man , so that his spirit receiveth the ascendent , and rejoyceth in the same . as the ascendents in an may very well be transmuted , transplanted , and altered by the spirits . of his natural magick , without witchcraft , the wise men of the east made lawful use , who knew the star , and proceeded so far therein , that they go not only great knowledge , but have also done wonders . this natural magick is learned out of the true and perfect degree from the spirit of god , and goeth before and beyond the ascendent , because commonly other spirits do mingle themselves into it . this magick art daniel and his fellows had studied , as also moses the prophets , and went beyond the wise m●n & magicians of egypt far with th ir skill . from this natural magick art the false magicians took theirs , and because the true ascendent was not in them , namely the spirit of god , but had only their elementary , or their masters ascendent , therefore also lucifer made shew of an angel of light , and became ascendent in them , and made sorcerers of them . now as true magicians know and perform all by the word of god , which speaketh in them , operates out of them , and by them ; so the sorcerers abuse the word in its power , and perform wonders thereby , till moses his staff and serpent devoureth theirs , and daniels wisdom exceleth all the others wisdom . balaam was a right natural magician ; but the covetous spirit was ascendent in him , that he went to the sorcerers , that is to the spirit of sorcery , and the spirit of avarice had blinded his eyes , that he could not see the angel that resisted him ▪ but the ass saw him and was shye , therefore balaam must be kill'd by the sword , as others that deserved it . num. c 31. v. 8. out of this false magick art come all s rcerers and witchcrafts with their bewitching spel● , tokens , words and works , and all those that have familiarity with spirits : let every one take heed of spirits , and let them not rejoyce when spirits draw near unto them ; but rather fly from them , and pray to the father of lights for the holy ghost , that he may come to them . secondly , there is a prophetical and apostolical magical art , which cometh out of faith of gods spirit in his children , in which the word with glory dwelleth ; the same speaks to them , in them , as in the prophets we read , the lord hath spoken to me ; namely , not always outwardly with a loud voice , but rather inwardly . thus old simeon had an answer from the lord ; thus the lord also spake through the ephod , &c. by this magical art the prophets and apostles have done so many miracles , raised the dead , and only by the word . this magical art the devil presumeth to imitate , namely that the word should speak out of chrystals , by looking into it , out of rings , wherein perhaps dwelleth a spirit , and speaketh out of it , &c. but this is not the word , but only a spirit bewitched into it . lastly , there is yet a higher magick of gods children ▪ which worketh over and beyond nature , and that through faith , as when moses divided the waters with his red , and jos●uah bid the sun and moon to stand still , and the like ; which things are beyond the course of nature , but all is done by and through faith : so also when elias shut up the heavens that it should not rain , and all these things are performed in , out , and by the power of the word of god , which when it calleth and commandeth , then it must stand there . the sorcerers also think to make use of this magick , but theirs is meer witchcraft by gods permission ; and yet things are performed really by them , even as the egyptian sorcerers brought up frogs , &c. but not by the finger of god , but by the spirit of the devil , by which shortly the three unclean spirits and frogs will do wonders , to seduce the kings of the earth , as also other false prophets . rev. 16. 13. mat. 24. 29. lastly the word speaketh out , in and by all things , because it is in all things , and that by the signature and mark of every thing in the external viewing , and sheweth clearly what is hidden within of power and virtue , if only the speech and voice of the word could be heard and understood : but in the renewed future world , all these things will be clear and manifest to the praise of god. chap. xvi . of the mystery of the created lower visible things . god hath brought forth all created visible sublunary things out of the invisible that were so at the beginning , he made them to something and visible , and gave to every of them a body , soul and spirit after their kind , and in them he hath hid his invisible glory , that is the invisible in the visible . and the coelestial in the terrestrial . this is the mystery after which we must diligently seek , that is after the hidden wisdom , which no eye hath seen , nor can see , neither ear hath heard , nor hath it entred into mans heart . all these sublunary created things visible , have a terrestrial body , and is visible : but they have also a coelestial body hid within them inwardly : the same is so long invisible , till the visible body is dissolved and broke ; and afterward the invisible body is set forth to appear visibly , which is heavenly and spiritual , consisting out of water and spirit , and is nothing else but a christalline , yea new born salt of life , which cannot be overcome by the contrary element . further , every thing hath a soulish life , that is such a one which must fetch breath out of the common air , and this is nourished by the same , a life , which in a moment is and must be mortal , so that nothing is lasting of it . now to this soulish life is a quickening spirit , which doth not fetch breath , as soulish life ; but it hath life , and is in it self a spirit of life , and not a breath , and hath eternal life in him , and is nothing else but the spirit of god , and the breath of the almighty that quickneth all . lastly , all things have a spirit , that returneth thither from whence it came , and doth not stay in the dead ; because it is not the spirit of the dead , but of the living , and is the spirit of god , which in and by the old creation and creature doth not stay for ever , but only in and by the new , which is from above . thus nothing is lasting in this world , but vanity and corruption , but it sheweth to us clearly , how that all these created sublunary visible things are an image of the things above . this mystery god hath discovered to his children and to the wise , that namely this lower created visible elementary world is an image of the upper visible spiritual , coelestial , yea divine world . therefore when the visible elementary world doth vanish , then the spiritual world yet invisible , will be made m nifest and visible : therefore there is no creature , which doth not shew the mystery of the superiour spiritual world ; of which mystery and wonders in the future renewed world in zion will be preached . now the apostle siath clearly , we do not look upon the visible , but upon the invisible , 2 cor. 4. 18. seek the things that are above , and not the things on earth . col. 3. 2. in my fathers house are many dwellings that last for ever , saith christ . john 14. why should we regard the visible things which are fading away . the apostle saith , if there be a soulish body , then there is a spiritual body also . 1 cor. 15. 44. and when this house of our earthly tabernacle is broken , then we have an house from above of god , which is not made with hands . 2 cor. 5. there are terrestrial bodies , there are also coelestial . 1 cor. 15. 40. yet always the spiritual , coelestial , and yet invisible , are hid within the soulish , terrestrial , and visible . now as god his invisible glory continually poureth down into this sublunary world , so he gathereth it to him again , and then when all is ended in the end , he will set them before him in a new creation , as it is written rev. 21. 5. behold i make or create all things new . but before this new creation cometh , the renewing of the old creation and creature goeth before . namely , in the joyful coming of the lord , which will be with great power and glory , because all shall be set free that is called creature . rom. 8. 23. from the devil , curse , death , then will be the joyful jubile . now we must know , that there will be great difference between the renewing , and the new being it self . the old creature is made new in its old being ; but the new creature hath a new essence , and that not from below , as the old , but from above , for above is the right essence , below is o ly the type and image ; this is the mystery we are to observe . above are the right principles and elements ; these below are only a shadow : below are meerly terrestrial bodies ; but above are the coelestial , although they are hid in those below . the terrestrial bodies are meer ashes , but the coelestial are a noble salt of life . the terrestrial life is only soulish and a mouth full of breath : if that be gone , then down falls all . but the coelestial life is an eternal life and cannot dye . the terrestrial spirit is but a wind , if that be gone it flyeth into the air and vanisheth : but the spirit of god is a quickening spirit ' even as god himself is . now as all things are an image of the heavenly , so in truth the soulish adam , and terrestrial man , is an image also of the spiritual adam , and heavenly man , which is christ in god , and god in christ . this is the great and miraculous mystery which thou o man , o adam , o thou image of god chiefly above all things shouldst observe , that thou maist know thy self in god , and god in thee , and maist know and learn what man is , what adam is , what the image of god is , that is , what thou thy self art ( of which in our book adam ) which is the greatest wisdom ; namely for one to know himself , after a perfect and true knowledge , which is spirit and truth : he that doth not regard this , but despiseth it , which yet is gods image , rebuketh himself , and will be rebuked of god also . chap. xvii . of the creation of man and his anatomy . man hath nothing so much to care for , as himself that he may know his own best , and salvation , now he that knoweth himself aright in spirit and in truth , knoweth god also , and all things . therefore mans knowing himself availeth most to himself . now to speak briefly , all things , and man also consist in one , three and seven . the one is individual , a self-subsisting in it self . the three are body , soul and spirit . and the seven are chiefly the seven powers , after the seven powers of the seven elements , and after the seven spirits of god , which seven powers every creature hath in it self in its glory . even so man is an only man in himself personally , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 individualiter , in his self ▪ subsistance : but is put together of three , as of body , soul and spirit , and is testified by seven powers , as 1. by moving , 2. by hearing , 3. by seeing , 4 by smelling , 5. by tasting , 6. by thinking and reasoning , 7. by sounding or voice . moving containeth the life , to feel , see , go , &c. are reckoned all to one . in this part now man is soulish , like unto the living souls and beasts , which have all these but in their portion and measure , number and weight , namely as much as belongeth to them . according to this , man hath no more then they , and hath with them a living soul , out and after the elements , of equal beginning out of the earth , and of like going down to the earth again . sal. in eccles 3. 19. after , man hath more then the beasts which is out of another world , namely out of the angelical ; which is the mind , which in its spirit is a preacher of the law , in all men from nature , and hath the knowledge , will and conscience to good , directs man to all good , and accuseth man in evil things , in his conscience . num. 2. 15 , 16. lastly , man hath also a higher and more glorious thing in him , which is the breath of the almighty a heavenly soul and life from god , which god breathed into the first mans nostrils and face , wherewith he hath marked and testified his divine inward love to his image , in and on a piece and part of the eternal light and life . gen. 2. 7. job 27. 3. c. 33. 4. according to this part , man is immortal , because he hath such a treasure within him , namely the breath of the almighty , and thus herein he is very much distinct from the beasts , yea ▪ he is above the angels in this heavenly soul is hidden the kingdom of god , and in this breath of the almighty consists the true manhood , by which he becometh a true immortal man : but in the other elementary part , he is like unto the beasts , terrestrial , corruptible , mortal , dust and ashes , now man having received at the creation such a part out of god , from thence he can be made partaker of the new birth , creation and creature from god , of his nature and essential seed , which is the most holy flesh and bloud of the word , which is christ , and thus the new man is the new creature out of gods , and his quickening words seed , that is of christ , and of this spiritual adam and heavenly man , of his flesh and bone ▪ john 1. 13. c. 3. 1. john 3. 9. 1 pet. 1. 23. 2 pet. 1. 4. 2 cor. 5. 17. 1 cor. 15. 45 , 47 , 48. eph. 5. 30. this seed of god man receiveth into his heavenly soul , through the holy spirit to a new life of gods inheritance : and this body together with this heavenly soul , and the holy ghost from god in its full self-subsistance , doth not personally appear , till after the angelical glory and laying down of the same body . lastly , in the end it entreth into the divine world : hence it is said not to be manifest yet , what the children of god are , 1 john 3. only in a riddle and obscure word is it spoken of . after the part of the first resurrection of the changing , at the coming of christ , and according to the jewel of the heavenly calling , all these that are partakers of it , receive an an elical body , life and spirit , therewith they enter into paradise , and the angelical world , and will be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , like to the angels . mat. 22. 30. mark 12. 25. luke 20. 36. each body of man ; also the soul and spirit are nourished and preserved from that , from which they come and are taken as the elementary body out of water and earth , the soul out of wind and air , and the spirit out of heaven , and go again into the same , when they are dissolved . according to the elementariness there is a threefold body in man , whilst he liveth out of water and earth , when he is dead , out of wind & earth till the resurrection , & when he riseth out of spirit , light and heaven , and know that every element hath its proper body , life and spirit . further gods holy ones rest after they depart in the elementary part in the earth , grave , or where they are deceased . so samuel was heard out of that place of his grave where he deceased , to pronounce a ruine to the rejected king saul . according to the angelical part they rest in abrahams bosom , which are the chambers of the just in the high heaven : but according to the divine part , they are in paradise ; of all three the scripture testifieth clearly . lastly , infidels come to hell and prison with all , except the dead body : but those that have sinned against the holy ghost , and have no pardon for it , neither in this nor in the other world , are buried in the death , because they have committed a deadly sin . all the dead rise incorruptible , that is in a spiritual and coelestial body . but what glory or shame every body shall receive , shall be known after the general judgment is past chap. xviii . of the image of god , after which man is created ▪ that man is created after gods image , is manifest out of scripture . gen. 1. 26 , 27. jam. 3. 9. but only this is the question , what this image is , after which man is created . every creature or beast are made after their own kind and image , but man only after gods image . this image is christ , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , essentially , bodily the image of the invisible god. col. 5. 15 , for god is a spirit , and and may not be felt nor seen , unless it be in his essential substance , and substantial essence . even as man in his true manhood , after which he is distinguished from all other living souls , a spirit or spiritual in and on his spiritual soul , and mans spirit cannot be seen , felt or known , otherwise then in his body , in which he dwelleth with all his fulness . so the invisible god , who is a spirit , cannot be seen or known but in christ , and his substantial body , as in which god the father , the word and the holy ghost , together with the whole fulness of the godhead dwelleth bodily . john 14 9. 1 john 1. col. 2. 9. and this is the spiritual adam , a quickening spirit , the heavenly man , the lord out of heaven 1 cor. 15. 45 , 47. the image of god is threefold ; namely 1. the image of the essence essentially , after man is , his own image in his own proper essence and body : so christ also is the essential and bodily image in god , even as mans body in man , and so is god in christ , as man is in his body , his own essential self-subsisting bodily , and personal image . 2. the image of that form , on the outward appearance of that form , face and members , 3. the image of the living properties , power , or what name soever it may be called . here is manifest the mystery of the image of god , and that god in christ , and christ in god was much sooner a man then we ; for we are in all things fashioned after him , and so his counterfeit . christ the image of god , and man who is out of gods image and honour are thus distinguished ; namely , 1. as the image and essence . 2. as essence and essence . 3. as spiritual , heavenly and divine , and as soulish , terrestrial and from beneath , that is as adam and adam , man and man , and as above and beneath . the soulish adam is not an image of god after the essence , as christ , reason , because his essence is terrestrial , and from beneath ; but in and on that terrestrial body only that image in that manner , as a counterfeit , and that in a terrestrial soulish essence from beneath out of the earth : so is the soulish adam and terrestrial man , an image of the spiritual adam and heavenly man , as a stony wooden or image of wax of a living mans image , is not in humane essence , on the flesh and bloud , but in another being . now as essence and essence are one distinct from another ; so is frame and frame . 1 , the inward form of god , is the most holy godhead , which with all fulness dwelleth bodily in christ . of this form man hath received the breath of the almighty in a heavenly soul to his inward essential form and true manhood . 2. the bodily visible , palpabl and personal form of god , essentially in which god personally appeared , and personally was made manifest , is the flesh of the word the body of christ after this man hath a body of flesh , bloud and bones , but not divine , spiritual and heavenly , but soulish , terrestrial , and from beneath . 3. the manifest face . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and looks , and presence on the head , body and all members , and their powers and strength . after this also is man framed , and thus to be looked on ; in which consideration many mysteries may be observed , although the spirit of errour saith , as if god had no head , eyes , ears , face , nose , mouth , no hands nor feet , because he is a spirit ▪ which rather befalls those spirits of errour , he hath eyes and seeth not , neither acknowledgeth the image of god in christ and in man , hath ears and heareth not , and a heart , and understandeth nothing , further man is made after gods similitude , and is like unto god ; namely 1. on the heavenly soul , eternal and immortal ▪ and thence he is of god. 2. like in power , that he can do much , namely after his part , measure and weight . 3. like in glory , as a god , over all other creatures a lord and ruler , good reader here you must know and observe , that this great mystery doth manifest here , and bringeth along the right jehior let it be light , the day of the revelation of the son of man , of which christ saith ▪ expresly , luke 17. 22. &c. on which the the son of man is revealed , and that this is the revelation and appearance of jesus christ , of whom the holy apostles have prophesied . 1 pet. 1. 7. & 5. 1 tim. 6. 14. 16. ● joh. 2. 28. tit. 2. 13. 2 tim 4. 8. & 2 thes . 2. 8. thus the revelation or appearance of the coming is clearly distinguished . mal. 3. mat. 24. 30. and chiefly rev. 12. he that hath eyes let him see , and he that hath ears let him hear , and an understanding heart hearken unto it . but this is the revelation and appearance of christ , the day of the revelation of the son of man , namely , that god in christ , and christ in god , a spiritual , divine , heavenly adam , and man from eternity is , and hath been in a divine , spiritual , heavenly essence , flesh and bloud , and after this his essential image he hath in the creation created and framed a soulish adam , and terrestrial man. chap. xix . of the mystical image , that is of the mystery of god. this is the mystery of god , as was said already , which is clear and manifest on the soulish adam and terrestrial man from beneath , that namely above is the true adam and man , but beneath is only his image . wonderful is gods counsel , and who hath known the lords mind , who was so pleased , that the last should be the first , and should receive the money or peny , and the blessed glory at first . well may these last say , this is the day which the lord hath made , let us rejoyce in it ▪ it is marvelous in our eyes . ●sal . 118 , to day is fulfilled the word which is written , the stone which the builders rejected , is become the corner stone , and it is marvellous in our eyes ; for the spiritual rock , of which all the fathers have eaten and drunk from the beginning of the world , and upon which the church of god is founded and builded , remained unknown , till to the seventh trumpet , where the mystery of god must be manifested , and is also made manifest ; for the spiritual adam , and heavenly man in his divine flesh and bloud , through which we are so dearly bought , is thrust away from the holy place ; and on the contrary another flesh and bloud from beneath out of sinners is brought into the holyest for an abomination of the desolation . but now the new creation is come , in which the word saith , and the lord himself speaketh , as he hath promised . isa 52. 6. c. 40. 5. saying , jehior , or let it be light for the day is come , which is known to the lord , & to them to whom he will reveal his mystery . zech. 14. concerning the mystery of god in the creation of man , it is thus that god hath created man , a man and woman . gen. 1. 27. and took the woman out of the man , chap. 2. 21 , 22. to shew the great mystery of christ , and of his church , which is his wife and spouse , out of his flesh and bones . ephes . 5. 30 , 31 , 32. but the divine , spiritual and heavenly eve is threefold . 1. the most holy godhead it self . 2. the church of christ . 3 the heavenly soul in man. this is the body of christ his church , whose saviour he was made , for which he gave himself . the divine eve as the most holy godhead is the mother of us all , and the right jerusalem which is from above . the spiritual eve as the church of christ is the mother , the spouse of the lamb. the virgin and daughter of jerusalem . the heavenly soul is the heavenly eve , a maid of the lord , a daughter of jerusalem , who was married to a terrestrial man , who brought her to great misery and death ; but the lord was made a servant for her , and hath made her free again through his death , and hath married unto her a new adam man , out of his flesh and bone , of which she hath a divine inheritance . now if we ask after the mystery of god , how that may be made known , answer is , on man it may be known : there is but one man in one person , but in it three witnesses of his substance , as body , soul and spirit , and in seven powers : the spirit is always in stead of the father , and is the father himself also , and begetteth by the soul , as by the true mother , to himself a body , which is the child and the son , in which dwelleth all fulness . so there is but one god , in one only person , but in three witnesses , father , word and holy ghost , and in seven spirits or powers of god : god is a spirit and a father , and begets through the word , and in the same to himself a body , a child , a son , in which he with all his fulness dwelleth bodily , in this manner , that he that seeth the father , seeth the son also , the word it self , the quickening spirit , and the quickening adam himself . afterward god begets a son , not after the person , or a personal distinction , as one man another man , else there would be two gods , although there is but one only god : but after the testimony for our sakes he begets a son , that we namely by that witness , as of the father and son in god , might be made gods children , heirs and co ▪ heirs out of his seed , flesh and bones ; for god in and for himself needs neither father nor son , because there is never no more in him but one in number , but even himself is jesse , and all in all , neither are there two or three , but one only , and none else . 3 lastly god begets also a son , and is a father after the testimony , and that to all creatures , and what ever he hath created , namely , that all might have a trust and confidence in him as also the young ravens , when they are forsaken by the old ones . this testimony is done by the spirit , which from god is in all things , and fills up all . wisd . 1. 7. chap. 12. 1. who it is that cryeth to god out of the young ravens , who is a god of the spirits of all flesh . num. 16. 22. and remembreth to god , that he is a father of all creatures , and cannot , neither ought to forsake them . now the spirit is it , that calleth upon god in all creatures , and praiseth and glorifieth , him where is is said in the psalm . all that hath breath praise the lord ; every spirit laud and praise the lord ; the earth , the sea , and the trees in the forest praise the lord. o man there is much in the spirit , the knowledge of him availeth much ; for if you do not know him , you are but a beast without a spirit , as ecclesiastes and others more have it . chap. xx. of the truth and spirit , by which all wisdom is justified . when we intend to speak of the wisdom , it must be done in the spirit and truth . now nothing is truth but only the spirit , and the same can lead us into all truth , can teach us all , and can tell us of things to come ; for all spirits are in subjection to him , he penetrates through them all , even as fire doth to gold and silver seven times , and the good that remaineth in it , it doth not undoe , but rather thinks that there is a blessing in it , and bloweth into the smoking ●lax , a fire of life , light and fire , and in●useth it self into the same , that it may be fitted for a new creation , for a multiplication into many thousands . but nothing may attain unto wisdom , unless it be first gone to the fire for a tryal , even as the gold cannot come to its glory , unless it be gone in the crusible through the consuming fire seven times , that afterward it may be baptized with water and spirit to a new birth , and become a new gold , and become out of the same spirit and water increased into many thousands , and as a heavenly gold , spirit and metal , whereby other inferiour metals may be turned into the substance of the best gold. so it fareth with man that shall get wisdom , first he must be baptized with fire , then with water , and then with the spirit , and all this is done in the crusible of the terrestrial man. but all wisdom is sufficient through the spirit , and in truth , through principia subordinata , & concordantia , which do concenter afterward in a harmony . the principia contain the true beginning of every thing from whence it came , thither it doth return also , and from thence it is preserv'd also . the subordinata contain the order , straitness and perfection of every thing , as they do hang one in another , stand and subsist one by another , even as a ladder or stairs , there must not be one step amiss or wanting , else the subordinata are not true . commonly there are seven subordinata , and follow one upon another orderly , and things that follow one after another are subordinata , and thus it is perfect , lastly this is a concordance , that all things may agree one with another , and a contrariety be no where found , seen or heard . even as in sweet musick all things are harmonious , let the voices be as many as they will , and change one in another , going out of one into another , and an everlasting ternarius remaineth therein , and so the principles and concordance consist in ternarius and vnity , where one floweth out of another till to the number of seven of the subordinata , which reach after the greater number till to twelve . at last the harmony concentreth , and encloseth all , which taketh altogether in one , three and seven , and presents one as the other , namely the upper as the lower , and the lower as the upper ; so that none be against the other , although they be so far distinct as god and creature , spirit and soul , heaven and earth , yet one is in the other , the one is known by the other , and the one is justified by the other , and that in spirit and truth . search now and see , try and learn , hear , observe , and judge what wisdom this is , and what truth and spirit is presented in this book . the fool knoweth nothing of the wisdom , and doth not understand her way . lyers do not understand the truth , nor do they know her principles ; and the soulish , bruitish , and profane know nothing of the spirit , although they hear his wind blow , yet they know not from whence it cometh , nor whither it goeth . therefore do not look upon men , do not inquire after men that is nothing , and do not stare upon the image to the intent to adore it , as all those do that dwell on earth . rev. 13. but only inquire after the spirit and fear him ; for he will direct all in the word of truth and righteousness : him you are to honour , and against him do not think , speak , or do , that you may not be condemned out of your own mouth . now all spirit , truth and wisdom reveal themselve ; in these three , and are thereby known and justified , namely in a divine light , in a divine life , and in a divine love , where these three are in , on , and about man , there is really spirit , truth and wisdom . the divine light containeth all wisdom , understanding , and knowledge . the divine life containeth all truth , holiness and righteousness : and the divine love containeth the whole spirit , and poureth him out into our hearts , and thereby we know , that god hath loved us , because he hath given us of his spirit , which cryeth in us abba , and giveth testimony to our spirit , that we are the children of god ; he poureth forth our tears and prayers before god , that we might find grace before the lord , and teacheth us to pray aright before the lord about things that are above , & maketh intercession for us with unspeakable sighs . thereby we know in the spirit and in truth , where the right wisdom , the divine truth , and the holy ghost is , for these three light , life and love proceed from god , and god himself is light , and there is neither darkness nor fire , in or about him . god is eternal life , there is neither death nor perdition out of him , in or about him . god is love it self , and there is neither vvrath , nor pain , hell nor ●amnation , out or of him . he that stayeth by , in , and on these three , namely by the divine light , in a divine life , and in a divine love , he stayeth and abideth in god , and god in him , in the spirit and truth , according to the wisdom and true knowledge of god , and knoweth what is truth , spirit and wisdom , and tells their true principles , subordinates and concordances in a divine harmony , proved to the elect angels and men in spirit and in truth . chap. xxi . of the mystery of time , to understand it aright . nothing so secret at night , but the day may reveal it , when the light cometh to its day , and the day to its light , and the clear sun doth shine over all that is under heaven . the night is past , and behold the day breaks on with its fair morning light , which is a light fire , and a fire-light , who can now subsist ; for the lord cometh , yea the lord cometh coming , amen , halelujah ! he is like unto the fire of a founder , and like unto the sharp lee of sope boylers , he will melt , prove try , &c. he will wash , purifie and cleanse , and who can stand before him . mal ▪ 3. this he doth therefore , that all filth may be done away before the sun riseth , and may not put the whole earth and world to banishment or destruction . chap. 4. now that day being come with its light in this time , then the mystery of the time of the whole world will be revealed : but always is included and closed in and with the number of seven . for in the seventh day god finished the creation , and so in seven always included : but the number 7 standeth thus , 7 , 49. 70. the number seven after our time , standeth chiefly upon the seventh trumpet , in and with it the mystery of god is finished , yea revealed . rev. 10 , 11 , 12. chap. as also with the seventh vial of gods wrath : but as much as we know in part , we are and live betwixt the fifth and sixth vial. the number 49. sheweth expresly that fair mystery of the time of the refreshing and restitution of all that is lost . levit. 25. and the number 49 is the end of the little seventh day , and a beginning of the great seventh day , and sabbath of god. lastly the number 70 seeth upon the 70 weeks in the prophet daniel , as also upon the expiration of the 1335 days . chap. 9. 24. & 12. 12. when these are about , then the transgression will be reconciled , every prophecy fulfilled , and the most holy , holy with his saints will take the kingdom , and jerusalem rebuilded , and the eternal righteousness , and all what hath been lost by the fall shall be restored . of this great glory and unspeakable joy , the spirit prophesieth in all creatures , yea in all lights of heaven , and in all the elements . but where are the seers , where are the hearers , and where are the observers . further concerning the time of the world , it is divided in 1. 3. and 7. the one time generally containeth the whole great day of the world 12 hours . mat. 12. which shall be 6000. years , and so there were 500. years to an hour ▪ but the days shall be shortned , so that they shall not be full 6000. years and the days or years of that shortning are clear in the book of genesis , at the first judgment over the world , &c. the three times of the world now are , that they shall be divided ▪ namely , the 6000. years into three times : as the first time from adam till noah at the deluge , and containeth 1656. years : from the deluge till to the messiah , born of the virgin mary is the second time divided into 12 parts , each containeth 214. years , or 214. ½ year , which added together make 2568. years from the deluge till to the messias . 4 esd . 14. 11. now if 1656. are summed up with the other , then the messias is born into the world of the virgin mary , in the year of the world 4230. the third time of the world is from christs nativity , till to his glorious coming ; the mystery of which year is mystically signified in 4 esd . 7. 28 , 30 ▪ & chap. 9. calculation . concerning the abovesaid threefold number , 7. 49. 70. therein is the mystery clearly signified without any diminution or addition , if only you will open your eyes , ears and hearts to see , hear and observe , clearer it cannot possibly be told , these numbers in themselves calculated , namely , to know certainly how many years every hour of the twelve do contain , because the 6000. years are not compleat , but those days must be shortned but now as in the former times and judgments over the world , always seven days went before the judgment came upon the world : so it is now in and with the time of the judgment over this world . gen. 7. 4. josh . 6. levit. 25. now when the judgment is proclaimed , seven days goeth before the proclamation . now if you have the spirit of daniel , then number and reckon how many days are past , and how many are behind to the judgment . none believeth what alterations there are at hand , the whole world lyeth in wickedness , and it will perish in it . but that we may keep nothing from the reader , and wellwisher to wisdom , and that he may fully conceive the time of the end , namely in the sure token of it , then there are three signs of it ; the first is , that presently after the great horrible bloudy battel , that is at hand , he do come , whom we expect . mal. 3. & 4. and the gospel of the kingdom be preached in the whole world for a testimony over all nations , that one shepherd and one flock may be . mat. 24. 14. ▪ rev. 14. 6. zeph. 3. 8 9. the second time is , when the ten lost tribes of israel are found out again over the water into the land , and upon the mount israel do come from the orient after the sixth vial is poured out , rev. 16 , 12. 4. esd . 13. 4. isa . 11. 11. chap. 27. 13. jer. 31. 8. deut. 30. 4. mica . 4. 6. 7. rom. 11. 25. yea whole israel and whole juda will come again into their countrey , and will turn to the lord their god. hos . 3 , lastly , the last sign of the coming of the lord is when the beast , and all kings of the earth , together with gog and magog , by the seduction of the three unclean spirits into the land of israel , and to the valley of jehosaphat , and upon the hill of israel come together to a battel , &c. and are destroyed with fire from heaven . rev. 19 , 19 , 20 , 21. ezek. 3. 8. joel 3. isa . 24. 21 , 22. this is the end , then beginneth the kingdom and priesthood of melchisedech , halelujah , come lord jesus , and deliver us from the evil one. amen . conclusion . courteous reader , we conclude this our jehior or morning light , and salute you in the lord , from the lord in the spirit of grace and supplication , which the lord will pour out over us all , through the power from above , that we might find grace before him at his coming , and may not be put to shame when he judgeth . reader , if you are a wellwisher to wisdom , then take of us the crumbs which we have gathered from the lords table , and accept of them till melchisedech cometh , and distributeth the holy shew-bread , and to drink of the new wine of his distributing at the great supper of the nuptials of the lamb in paradise , the fruits whereof himself will set up . you are to give thanks with us to him , from whom all good gifts come from above the father of lights , praying ▪ that he would inlighten us all , turn us to him , and make us happy for ever . this is according to the love of god , whose dedesire is , that all men may be saved , and that all may come to the knowledge of the truth : therefore let us be merciful , loving and perfect , even as our heavenly father is merciful , loving and perfect , that it may be known and revealed , that we are his children . but curteous reader , if you affect folly , and art a despiser of wisdom , go to , and despise , but be sure that you do not despise men herein , but god himself , who hath given us his spirit , and from whom all wisdom cometh , and think that the spirit of judgment will require an account of you in that day . but reader , if you are a pharisee and hypocrite , and seekest rather honour from men , then from god ; we 'll consider then , what the lord saith , 1 sam. 2. 30. he that honoureth me , him i will honour also , and he that despiseth me , shall be despised again . and christ saith , mat. 10. 3● . he that confesseth me before men , him will i also confess before my heavenly father that is in heaven . he that denieth me before men , him will i also deny before my heavenly father . but reader , if you are a simple heart , and art not fit for wisdom , then abide on , in , and by the fear of the lord , in a godly life ; which fear is not only the beginning of wisdom , but also the end of wisdom , and it is no help to man , though he be able to speak with an angelical tongue , and had all knowledge , and understood all mysteries , and had such a faith , whereby he could remove mountains , and withall had not the love of god , which endured everlastingly , all will profit you nothing . therefore blessed are the babes and sucklings which know not these outward things , for theirs is the kingdom of god , because the spirit of god is declared in them . therefore let no man be puffed up with knowledge : and for our part we are not extol'd therewith , for satan also doth buffet us with fists , and doth upbraid us with our shame . therefore we humble our selves that the lord may accept of us in mercy , who giveth grace to the humble , and beholdeth low things , and him that is of a contrite heart , and trembleth at his word . lastly , this is the conclusion , that every one examine himself , and that according to the spirit , truth and wisdom , and no otherwise , whether god , christ , and the holy ghost be in him , which every one may know by his thoughts , words and works , in his affection , will , and pleasure , and in his knowledge and conscience . every good thing is from god , and of god , and not of men. all sin is from the devil , who seduceth man , and leadeth him to perdition and destruction . well be to him , who separates bad from good , rejects bad things , and maketh choice of good , and beareth fruit thereby . the lord zeboah will at last take away the evil eternally , and restore the good again , and return bad things to that evil one , and recompence it upon his head , amen . the lord our god be gracious unto us , and help forward the works of his hands , yea , the works of his hands he will help forward , amen . praised be the lord that cometh , and blessed be his glorious name . all the world be full of his honour , amen ▪ hallelujah . finis . a catalogue of chymical books which have been written originally , or translated into english . elias ashmole esq his theatrum chymicum britanicum ; or , a collection of our famous english hermetical and poetical philosophers , ( viz. ) th. norton , geo. ripley , geofr . chaucer , jo. dastin , pearce the black monk , rich. carpenter , abrah . andrews , th. carn●ck , will. bloomfield , ed kelley , jo. d ee , th. robinson , the magistery of w. b. jo. gower , mystery of alchymists , jo lydgate , will. redman , with divers anonymi , and certain fragments with annotations upon the same . lond. 1652. 4. — his fassiculus chymicus ; or , chymical collections of the ●ngress , progress , and egress of the secret hermetick science , collected out of the choicest & most famous authors , lond. 1650. 8 o. — the way to bliss . lond. 1658. 4º don alexis of piemont , his collection of secrets , with the manner of making distillations , &c. lond. 1580. 4º fr. antonies apology for his medicine called aurum potabile , lond ▪ 1616. 4. aula lucis , or , the house of light ▪ by s. n. lond. 1●52 . 8 , artefius his key of the greater wisdom , 8. vide flammell . abr. andrews his hunting of the green lyon , vide theatrum chymicum britanicum . alphonsus king of portugal his 2 treatises of the philosophers stone , vide treatises . albertus magnus , his secrets of the virtues of herbs , stones , beasts , &c. lond. 1637 , 8. anonymi quidem . a discourse of magical gold , vide discourse . a true order to distil oyls , &c. aide true and perfect order . a profitable discourse against bad garbling of spices , vide profitable . secrets revealed concerning the philosophers stone , vide secrets . secrets and wonders of the world , vide secrets . physical dictionary , vide physical . hermetick banquet , vide hermetick . enchiridion physic● restitutae , vide enchiridion . liber patris sapientiae , vide theatrum brit. hermes bird , vide th. brit. experience and philosophy , th. brit. the hermets tale , vide th. brit. description of the stone , vide th. brit. the standing of the glass for the time of putrifaction and congelation of the medicine , vide th. brit. the distillation of all manner of spices , seeds , roots , and gums , vide distillation . the method of chymical philosophy and physick , vide method . th. brown's natures cabinet vnlockt ; or the natural causes of metals , stones , precious earth , juyces , humours and spirits ; the natures of plants in general ; the affections , parts , and kinds in particular , &c. lond. 1657 , 12. jo. beguines tyrocinium chymicum ; or chymical essays from the fountain of nature , and manual experience , lond. 1669. 8. hier. bruynswayke's virtuous book of distillation of the waters of all manner of herbs , with the figures of the stillatories , translated by lawr. andrew . lond. 1527. fol. geo. baker's new jewel of health ; containing the most excellent secrets of physick and philosophy ; and of all distillations of vvaters , oyles , balmes , quintescences ; with the extraction of artificial salts , the use and preparation of antimony , and potable gold , with the vessels and furnaces , and other instruments thereunto belonging ; being the second part of the treasury of euonymus . lond. 1576. 4. andr. bertholdus , of the wonderful effects , virtues , and strange use of the new terra sigillata , found in germany . lond. 1587 , & 1589. 8. r. bostock esq of the difference of the ancie●t physick first taught by godly fathers ; and the latter from idolaters and heathens , as galen , and such others , lond. 1583. ed. boldnest's aurora chymica ; or a rational way to prepare animals , vegetables , and minerals for physical use , and preservation of the life of man , 1672. 8. — his medicina instaurata ; or the grounds and principles of the art of physick made by chymical operation ; and the insufficiency of the vulgar way of preparing medicines . lond. 1665. 8. r. bacon's art of chymistry 16. — his mirror of alchimy 1597. 40. — his admirable force of nature and art. 4º — his tincture of antimony , vide b. valentine . fr. bacon lord of verulam , his natural history , with articles of enquiry touching metals and minerals , &c. lond. 1670 , fol ld. blaise of viginere , his discourse of fire and salt , lond. 1640. 4. will. bloomfield's blossoms , vide th. brit. b. g. penotus à portu aquitano , his excellent works , vide firovant . sam. boultons magical but natural physick ; with a description of the most excellent cordial of gold , lond. 1656. 8. rob. boyle esq sceptical chymist . lon. 1661. 8. — his essay about the origine and virtues of gems ▪ lond. 1672. 8. — his considerations touching the usefulness of experimental natural philosophy , 2 parts , oxford , 1664 , & 1671 , 4. — his new experiments physico mechanical , touching the spring and weight of the air , and their effects , oxford 1660. 8. ibid. with additions , and continuation , oxf. 1662 , & 1669 , 4. — his phisiological essayes , and other tracts ; with some specimens to make chimical experiments useful to illustrate the notions of the corpuscular philosophy , &c. lond. 1669. 4. — his experiments and considerations touching colours , begining the experimental history of colours , lond. 1670 , 8. — his origine of forms and qualities according to corpuscular philosophy ; illustrated by considerations and experiments , written by way of notes upon an essay about nitre , oxon. 1666 , & 1667 , 8. — his tra●●s of cosmical qualities , things and suspitions of the temperature of subterraneal and submarine regions , and of the bottom of the sea ; as also . an introduction to the history of particular qualities , oxf. 1671 , 8. — his experimental history and observations of cold , london 1665 , 8 — his hydrostatical paradoxes made out by new experiments , lond. 1666. 8. dan. coxe's discourse of the interest of the patient in reference to physick and physicians ; with a detection of the abuses of the apothecaries , and their unfitness for practice discovered , lond. 1669. 8. osw . crollius & j. hartmans basilica chymica ; or royal and practical chymistry : or a discovery of those excellent medicines & chymical preparations of our modern chymists , lond 1670 , fol. — his philosophy reform'd and improv'd ; discovering the great and deep mysteries of nature . to which is added , the wonderful mysteries of the creation , by th. paracelsus , lond. 1657. 8. th. chaloner's virtue of nitre , and the effects thereof , &c. lond. 1534. 4. will. clark's natural history of nitre ; or , a philosophical discourse of the nature , generation , place , and artificial extraction of nitre , with its virtues and use , lond. 1670. 8. will. clever's flower of physick , with three books of philosophy for the due temperature of mans life , lond. 1540. 4. nic. culpeper's treatise of aurum potabile ; being a description of the three-fold world , elementary , caelestial , and intellectual ▪ containing the knowledge necessary to the study of hermetick philosophy , lond. 1656. 8. — his new method of physick ; or a short view of paracelsus and galen's practice of the nature of physick and alchimy , &c. lond. 1654. 8. lancel . colson , vide philosophia maturata . geof . chaucer's channons ● eomans tale . vide th. brit. a chymical dictionary , lond. 1650 4. vide sendivogius . th. charnock's breviary of natural philosophy , and aenigma's , vide th. brit. lud. combachius , sal , lumen , & spiritus mundi philosophici ; being a treatise of the true salt , and secret of the philosophers . lond. 1657. 8. rich. carpenter's works , vide th. brit. dr. croon's letter concerning the present state of physick , and the regulation of the prastice of it in england ▪ lond. 1665. 4. dud. dudley s metallum martis , lond. 1665. 8. jo. dees testament ▪ vide th. brit. st. dunstan of the philosophers stone , vide philos . maturata . a description of the philosophers stone , vide th. brit. the distillation of all manner of spices , seeds , roots , and gums , lond. 1575. 8 dictionary , vide physical and chymical . a discourse of magical gold. — against bad garbling of spices , vide profitable jo. dastin's dream , vide th. brit. euonymus his treasure of the secrets of nature , and apt times to prepare and distill medicines , as quintessence , aurum potabile , aromatick , wines , balms , oyls , perfumes , garnishing waters , &c. lond. 156● . 4. — his treasury , the second part , vide baker's distillations . enchiridion physica restitutae , lond. 16. experience and philosophy , vide th. brit. nicas . le febure , his compleat body of chimistry for the knowledge of that art and its practice , london . 1670. 40. — his discourse on sir walter raleighs great cordial , lond. 1664. leon. firovants compendium of the rational secrets of physick , &c. with the hidden virtues of sundry vegetables , animals , and minerals ; whereunto is an nexed paracelsus his 114 experiments ; with certain excellent works of b. g. penotus à portu aquitano ; also is . holland's secrets concerning his vegetal and animal works ; with queritan's spagyrick antidotary , lond. 1652. 40. ed. fentons secrets & wonders of nature , lond. 1569. jo. french's art of distillation of the choicest spagyrical preparations , experiments and curiosities ; with the description of the furnaces and vessels used by ancient and modern chymists , and the anatomy of gold and silver , with their preparations , curiosities , and virtues ; with two books of sublimation and calcination . also , the london distiller , exactly shewing the way to draw all sorts of spirits and srong-waters ; together with their virtues , 1651 , 1667 ▪ 4. — his london distiller in 8. with a clavis to un lock the deepest secrets in that mysterious art ▪ lon. 8. — his yorkshire spaw ; or , a treatise of four medicinal waters , ( viz ) the spaw , or vitrioline , the sting , or sulphur ; the dropping , or putrifying ; and s. magnus wells in york-shire , their cause , virtue , and use , lond. 1654 , 8. nic. flammel's hyerogliphical figures of the philosophers stone ; with artefius his key of the greater wisdom , lond. 1624. 8. fragments of the philosophers ▪ vide th. brit. jo. rod. glaubers description of the new philosophical furnaces ; or , the art of distilling of the tincture of gold , or the true aurum potabile , with the first part of the mineral work . lond. 1651 , 4. — his golden ass well managed , and mydas restored to reason . a new chymical light , shewing that gold may be found in cold as well as in hot regions , or be extracted out of sand , stones , gravel , or flints , &c. vide philisophical epitaph . neh. grews anatomy of vegetables ; with a general account of vegetation , lond. 1671. 12. jo. goddard's discourse of the unhappy condition of the practice of physick in lond. 166● . 4. jo. gower of the philosophers stone , vide th. brit ▪ will. gratarolle of the philosophers stone , vide treatises ▪ jam. hasolle , alias elias ashmole . jo. bapt. van helmont's works of physick & chimistry , lond. 1664. fol. — his ternary paradoxes of the magnetical cure of wounds , the nativity of tartar in wine , and the image of god in man , translated by dr. walter charleton , lond. 1650. 4. helmont disguised , or the vulgar errors of emperical and unskilful practisers of phisick confuted , lond. 1657. 8. — his vindication , vide starkie . isaac holland's secrets concerning his vegetal and animal work vide firovant . — his work of saturn , vide b. valentine . jo. hesther's secrets , vide quercitan . the hermetical banquet drest by a spagyrical cook for the better preservation of the microcosme , lond. 1652. 8. io. fred. helvetius his golden calf which the world adores and desires ; or , the incomparable wonder of nature in transmuting lead into gold , done at the hague lond. 1670. 8. — ibid. epitomized , vide philosophical epitaph . the hermits tale , vide theat . brit. jo. hartman's royal chimistry , vide crollius . jo. heydon's exhavaranna ; or , english physicians tutor , in the astrobolisms of mettals , rosie crucian , miraculous saphiric medicines of the sun and moon ; the astrolasmes of saturn , jupiter , mars , venus , mercury , &c. all harmoniously united , with his psonthonphanchia , &c. lond. 1665 , 8. jo. jones his discourse of the natural begining of all growing and living things , lond. 1574. 4. — his bathe of bathes ayde , the antiquitie , commoditie , propertie , use and knowledge thereof , in diet and medicines ; with the benefit of the ancient bathes of buckston , lond. 1572 , 4. jehior , the day dawning or the morning light of wisdom , containing the three principles or originals of all things , vide philosophical epitaph . edw. iordans discourse of natural baths and mineral waters , and original of fountains , lond. 1632. 4 o , sir edward kelley's work of the philosophers stone vide th. brit. rob. lovel's compleat historie of animals and minerals ; being the sum of ancient and modern galenical & chymical authors concerning beasts , birds fishes , serpents , insects , and man ; and of earths metals , semi-metals , salts , sulphurs , and stones , both natural and artificial ; with their place , matter , names , kinds , temperature , virtues , use , choise , &c. oxford , 1661 — his compleat herbal , or the sum of galenical and chymical authors , touching , trees , shrubs plants , fruits , flowers , &c. lond. 1665. 12º reym . lullys philosophical and chymical experiments , with the right and due preparation of both elixers , and the perfect way of making the great stone of philosophers , as it was truly taught in paris , and some time practiced in england by r. lully , in the time of king edward the third , vide paracelsus . jo. levens path-way to health , for distilling of divers waters , and making of oyls , &c. lond. 1587. 4º & 1664. 12. lathams spaw in yorkshire , with some remarkable cases and cures effected by it , lond. 1672. 8. — a further account of latham's spaw in yorkshire , as it may conduce to publick advantage , lond. 1672. 8. a letter sent by a learned physitian to his friend , wherein are detected the manifeld errors used hitherto of the apothecaries , in preparing their compositions , as syrups , condites , conserves , pills , potions , electuaries , lozenges , &c. with a far better manner to preserve and correct the same , lond. 1586. 8. a little book of secrets for liquifying and using of gold and silver , lond. 8. jo. bapt. lambye his revelation of the secret spirit , declaring the most concealed secret of alchimy , lond. 1623. 8 jo. lydgate's secreta secretorum , or letter of alexander the great to aristotle , vide theatrum brit. liber patris sapientiae , vide th. brit. the london distiller , vide french. lev. lemnius his secret miracles of nature , with philosophical and prudential rules for the health of body and mind of man , fit for those that search into the hidden secrets of nature , lond. 1658. fol , magnetical philosophy , 8º nicol. monardus of the vertues of divers herbs , trees , oyls , plants , and stones , with their use in physick , and a discourse of the bezoar stone , of iron , and the vertues of snow , lond. 1577. 4 o. jo. maplets green forest of sovereign vertues , in all the whole kind of stones and metals , plants , herbs , trees , and shrubs ; of beasts , fowls , fishes , creeping worms , and serpents , lond. 1567. 8. chr. merret's view of the frauds and abuses committed by apothecaries , in relation to patients and physitians , lond. 1069. 4 o. mich. majerus his themis aurea , or laws of the rosie cross , lond. 1656. 12 o , — his lusus serius , or serious pastime . lond. 1654. 12 o. the magistery of w. b. vide th. brit. the mystery of alchimists , vide th. brit. the marrow of chymical physick , or the practice of making chymical medicines , shewing the order to draw forth from vegitables , minerals and metals , their spirits , oyls , vinegars , salts , extracts or tinctures , essences and magisteries , flowers and salts , &c. lond. 1669 , 12 o. hen. nollius his chymists key , or doctrine of corruption and generation , lond 1657. 8 o. & 16 o. — his hermetical physick , or the right way to preserve and restore health , lond. 12 o. ant. neri his art of glass , shewing the ways to make and colour glass , pastes , enamels , lekes , and other curiosities by fire , lond. 1662. to which is added an account of the glass-drops made by the royal society , 1672. 8 o. th. nortons ordinal of alchimy , vide . th. brit. hen. oldenbourg esq his collection of the philosophical transactions , for several years , 40. the method of chymical philosophy and phisick , lond. 1664. 8. edw. mainwaring's compleat physitian , wherein are the characters of the chymical emperick , and chimical physitian , with the excellency of chymical preparations , lond. 1668. 8. march. needham his medela medicinae , or plea for the free profession and a renovation of the art of physick , lond. 1665. 8. philosophia maturata , or the practick and operative part of the philosophers stone , with the way how to make the mineral stone , and the calcination of of metals with the work of st. dunstan concerning the philosophers stone , and the experiments of rumelius , and the preparation of angel. sala , published by lancelet colson , lond. 1668. 12º the philosophical epitaph of w. c. esq for a memento mori on the philosophers ( tomb ) stone , with three hieroglyphical scutcheons , displaying minerva's and hermes birds , and apollo's bird of paradise in philosophical mottos and sentences with their explication , and a discovery of the liquor alchahest , of salt of tartar volatized , and other elixirs , with their differences and proprieties ; also a brief of the golden calfe , discovering the rarest miracle in nature , of a strange transmutation of lead into gold , made by dr. jo. fred. helvetius with figures ▪ likewise jo. rod. glauber his golden ass well managed , and midas restored to reason , a new chymical light for comfort of the oppressed , demonstrating gold to be easily extracted in all places out of sand , stones , gravel or flints , and the true matter of the philosophers stone , to which is added . jehior the day dawning , or the morning light of wisdom , containing the three principles or originals of all things whatsoever , discovering the great and many mysteries in god , nature , and the elements , all published by w. c. esq lond. 1673 , 8. — his secrets of alchimy ▪ lond. 8 , aur. theo. paracelsus his treatise of the cure of french pox , with all other diseases arising and growing thereof , lond. 1590. 4. — his 114. experiments , vide firovant . — his key of philosophy , or the most excellent secrets of physick and philosophy , with the order of distillation of oyls , gums , spices , seeds , roots , and herbs , with their perfect taste , smell , and virtues , and how to calcine , sublime , and dissolve all manner of minerals , and how to draw forth their oyl and salts , lond. 1580 , & 1633. 8. — his dispensatory 8. — his archidoxes , 8 ▪ — his chymical transmutation , genealogy and generation of metals and minerals , with the vertues , and use of dr. trigs water , with the mumial treatise of tentzelius . the philosophical and chymical experiments of rym . lully , with the right and due preparation of both elixirs , and the perfect way of making the great stone of philosophers , as it was truly taught in paris . and some time practiced in england by r. rully , in the time of king edward the third , lond. 1657. 8. paracelsus his wonderful mysteries of the creation , vide crollius . — his philosophical and chymical treatise of fire and salt , 8. — of the nature of things , 9 books , 1650. 4 o ▪ vide sendivogius . — of the supream mysteries of nature , of the spirits of the planets , occult philosophy , the magical , sympathetical and antipathetical cure of wounds and diseases , the mysteries of the twelve signs of the zodiack , lond. 1656. 8. eug. philalethes anthroposophia theomagica , lond. 1650 8. — his magia adamica , lond. 1650. 8. — his anima magica abscondi●a , or a discourse of the universal spirit of nature , lond. 1650 , 8 : — his euphrates or waters of the east , or a discourse of the secret fountain , whose water flows from the fire , lond ▪ 1671. 8. eir. phil. philalethes , alias geo. starkies marrow of alchimy , being an experimental treatise of the secret and most hidden mystery of the philosophers elixir , lond. 1654. 8. hugh plats jewel house of art and nature , with divers chymical conclusions of the art of distillation , &c. lond. 1594. 4 o. — his subterraneal treasure , lond ▪ 40. jo. partridges treasury of hidden secrets , lond ▪ 1591. 8 : nic. prepositas practice of approved medicines , precious waters , &c. lond. 1588 ▪ 4 o. sim. partlisius his new method of physick , or a short view of paracelsus , and galens practice of the nature of physick and alchemy , lond 8. hen , power 's experimental philosophy ; or new microscopical , mercurial , magnetical , and subterraneal experiments , lond. 1664. 4º bern. g. penotus a portu aquitano his ex●ellent works , vide firovant . a profitable discourse composed by divers grocers against the bad garbelling of spices used in these days , and against the combination of the workmen of that office , lond. 4º a physical dictionary , or an interpretation of such crabbed words and terms of art , as are derived from greek and latine , used in physick , anatomy , chyrurg●ry and chymistry , 8. eug. philalethes lumen de lu●ine , lond. 1651. 8. — his forms and confessions of the fraternity of the rosie cross , lond. 1652. 8. ioach poleman novam lumen medicum , lond. 1662. pearce the black monck upon the elixir , vide theat . brit. geo. phaedro's physical & chymical works to cure most difficile diseases , with the secrets of coelestial physick , lond. 1654. 8. io. quercitan his true and perfect spagyrick preparation of minerals , animals and vegitables , with their use , whereunto is added divers secrets of io. hesther , lond. 1591. 8. — his answer to iacob aubertus , concerning the original causes of metals , set forth by aubertus against the chymists , lond. 1591. 8. — his spagyrick antidotary . vide firovant . — his practice of chymical and hermetical physick , for the preservation of health , lond. 1604. 4º th. raynoldes declaration of the vertues , use and excellency of the oyl imperial , lond. 1551. 8. io. rhenodeus his dispensatory of the natures , properties and vertues of vegitables , minerals and animals , of galenical and chymical materials , with an absolute pharmacop●ia , lond. fol. lud. rowzet of the queens wells , or a tteatise of the natures and vertues of tunbridge-water , lond. 1670. & 1671. 8. th. robinson of the philosophers stone , vide th. brit. will. redmans aenigma philosophicum , vide th. brit , geo. ripley's compound of alchimy , his vision , his verses , on the emblematical scrowl , his mystery of the alchymists . preface to medulla , and his short work , vide th. brit. ian. cunr. rhumelius his experiments , vide philos . maturata . florianus randorff of the philosophers stone , vide treatises . mich. sendivogius his new light of alchimy , taken out of the fountain of nature ▪ and manuel experience , together with a treatise of sulphur ; also paracelsus his nine books of the nature of things , with a chymical dictionary explaining hard words in paracelsus , and others , lond 1650. 4º alex. van uchtens secrets of antimony , in 2 treatises with basill , valentines salt of antimony , and its use , lond. 1670. 8. io , schroders compleat chymical dispensatory treating of metals , precious stones , minerals , vegitables and animals . and how rightly to know and use them , lond. 1669. fol. — his history of animals and their use , lond. 1669. 8. tho. shirleys philosophical essay , declaring the probable causes whence stones are produced in the greater world , with a search into the origin of all bodies , lond. 1671. 8 dan. sennertus his institutions , wherein are the grounds , of chymistry . lond. fol. & 8. geo ▪ starkies natures explication , and helmonts vindication , or a full apology for chymical medicaments with a vindication of their excellencies , against the gallenists , lond. 1658. 8. — his marrow of chymical physick , or a treaetise of making chymical medicines , lond. 1661. 12º will. salmons synopsis medicinae , or a compendium of astrological , galenical and chymical physick and philosophy , deducted from the principles of hermes and hippocrates , lond. 1671. 8 ▪ will. sympsons hydrologia chymica , or the chymi al anatomy of the scarbrough and other spaws in yorkshire , with some observations upon dr. witties treatise of scarbroughs spaw , with a description of the spaws at malton and knarsbrough ▪ with the original of springs , fountains , &c. lond. 1669 , 8. — his hydrological essays , or a vindication of hydrologia chymica , being a further discovery of the scarbrough spaw , and of the right use thereof , with an account of the alom-works at whitby , &c. lond. 1670. 8. rob. sharrock of the propagation and improvement of vegitables , by the concurrance of art and nature , &c. lond , 1671. 8. simon sturtevant's treatise of metalica . secrets for liquifying and using of gold and silver , lo. 8. secrets revealed , or an open entrance to the shut pallace of the king , containing the greatest treasure in chymistry , never so plainly discovered concerning the philosophers stone , lond. 1669. 8. secrets and wonders of the world , lond. 1587. 4º the store-house of physical and pholosoprical secrets , teaching to distil all manner of oyls , from gums , spices , seeds , roots , herbs , minerals , &c , lond. 1633. 4º patr. scots tillage of light , or a true discovery of the philosophical elixir , lond. 1623. 8. angel. sala's preparation , vide philosoph . maturata . io. sawtre of the philosophers stone , vide treatises , geor. thomsons galeno pale , or a chymical trial of the gallenists , lond. 1665 8. — his gag for iohnsons animadversions upon galenopale , or a scourge for galen . lond. 1665. 8. — his vindication of my lord bacon , and an assertion of experimental philosophy , with some observations of true chymical science , lond. 671. 8. — his letter to dr. stubs , wherein the galenical method of medicaments are proved ineffectual , by experimental demonstrations , lond. 1672 , 4. — his apology against the calumnies of the gallenists , vide his book of the pest anatomized , lond. 1666. 8. dr. trigs water , with its vertues and use , vide paracelus . p. thybaults art of chymistry , as it is now practiced , lond. 1668. 8. geo. tonstal of the scorbroughs spaw spagyrically anatomized , 1071. 8. and. tentzelius his mumial treatise , vide paracelsus . will. turners treasury of english baths , and of the baths of other countries , lond. 1587. 4º the true and perfest order to distill oyls out of all manner of spices , seeds , roots and gums , lond. 1575. 8. five treatises of the philosophers stone , two of alphonsus king of portugal , one of iohn sawtre the monk , one of florianus randorff a german philosopher , and one by will. gratarole , by h p. lond. 1652. 4º th. tymmes philosophical dialogue , wherein natures secret closet is opened , lond 1612. 4º geo. thor. his cheiragogia heliana , an easie introduction to the philosophers magical gold , to which is added , zoroasters cave , and jo. pontanus's epistle upon the mineral fire , lond. 1659 , & 1667. 8. basil . valentine his last will and testament , with two treatises , one of manual operation , the other of things natural and supernatural , lond. 1670. 8. — his triumphant charriot , of antimony , lond. 1656. 8 — of natural and supernatural things , of the first tincture , root and spirit of metals and minerals , how the same are conceived , generated , brought forth , changed and augmented with rog. bacons , tincture of antimony , and is . hollands work of saturn . lond. 1671. 8. — his salt of antimony and its use , vide suchten . io. websters metallographia or history of metals , with signs of ores , and minerals , before and after diging , the causes and manner , of their generations , their kinds , sorts , and differenc s , with a description of new metals , and semi metals , and other things pertaining to mineral knowledge , also of vegitability , of mystical chymistry , of the philosophers gold and mercury , of the liquor alkahest , aurum potabile , and such like , lond. 1671 , 4. dan. widdows his natural philosophy , or description of the world and several creatures therein , ( viz. ) of angels , mankind , heavens , stars , planets , the 4 elements with their order , nature and goverment , as also of minerals , metals , plants , and pretious stones , with their colours , forms and vertues , lon. 1631 4º tim. willis his search of causes of a theophysical investigation of the possibility of transmntatory alchymy , lond. 1616. 8. rob. witties pyrologia mimica , or an answer to mr. sympsons hydrologia chymica , lond. 1669. 8 , — his scarbroughs spaw , or a description of the nature and vertnes of the spaw at scarbrough in yorkshire , and of the nature and use , of sea , rain , snow , pond , lake , spring and river-waters , with a discourse concerning mineral-water , lond. 1660. 8. will. williams his occult physick , or three principles in nature anatomized , by a philosophical operation from experience in three books of beasts , trees , herbs , and their magical and physical vertues , lon. 1660. 8. weckers secrets , lond. fol. the yorkshire spaw , vide french. zoroastres cave , vide thor. the bookseller to the reader . courteous reader , be pleased to understand , that some ( small number ) of these books in this catalogue cannot absolutely be called chymical , but have a very near affinity thereunto , the knowledge of natural philosophy being an introduction to supernatural things ; nor do i pretend to publish this as an absolute collection of english chymical authors ; ( distrusting i may have forgotten some of common note ) but rather as an essay to provoke others ( better able ) to perfect it . several of these books i have drawn out of the catalogues of and : maunsel , william london , and the mercurius librarius ; others i have more largely transcribed from the books themselves , with the date when printed , and in what volume , as near as the shortness of my time would permit , having but a few days to collect it ; and therefore i crave excuse for my mistakes , and leave the perfecting thereof to time , and other mens ingenuity , who shall please to take the pains to add what shall come within the verge of their knowledge , or be presented to their view . vale.