Philosophical Transactions/Volume 3/Number 42
PHILOSOPHICAL
TRANSACTIONS.
Monday, Decemb. 14. 1668.
The Contents.
The Description
THis Description is found in an Italian Book entitled L'OCCHIALE all' OCCHIO, overo DIOPTRICA PRATTICA del Carlo Ant. MANCINI in Bologna 1660, in 4°, which coming not into these parts, at least not to our knowledg, till now, could not be sooner taken notice of. It treats of Light; of the Refraction of Ray's; of the Eye and the Sight; and also of the considerable Helps that may be afforded to the Eye, to make it see what is almost incredible. Besides which there are deliver'd in it the Practical Rules for working Spectacles for all sorts of sights, and especially Telescopical Glasses for observing the Planets and Fixed Stars by Sea and Land; and others, to magnifie the smallest of near Objects thousands of times.
There being, among the rest, described by the Author a particular way, call'd by him New and Universal, for making Convex-glasses upon a Plain for all practicable lengths of Diameters of Spheres, without other dishes or concave Moulds; we shall, for the satisfaction of some of the Curious, that are not Masters oi the Italian Tongue, and desire to know, what this way is, give it them in English, thus;
To give a Spherical Figure to a Plain by a Plain, (which at first sight may seem at Paradox) by moving one Plain upon another by a circular Motion, proceed to this manner: Let the piece to which the Glass to be wrought is fastned, be adjusted in the head of a Pole, which is to be of the length, the Semi-diameter of the Sphere of the Lens requireth; and, upon the Stool or Form, where you intend to work, let there be put a Plain of Iron or other Mettal, level to the Horizon; and perpendicularly over this Plain let the Pole be fasten'd to the Ceeling of the Room, if it be high enough; or to another steddy fastning, lower than the Ceeling, if need be, after this manner: About the head of the said Pole let there be fa{ten'd a Frame, made of two concentric rings or hoops, so that the one be mov'd within the other upon two Poles, and this other upon other Poles, movable between two small arms fixt to the Ceeling: which Frame you may imagine like that by which the Mariners Compass is kept Horizontal, or that, which they use in Italy for carrying Oyl-lamps by night Horizontally: Or the same may be done with a Ball moveable within two Circles fixed, and fasten'd on the top of the said Pole. All which will be better understood by the Figures, in the first of which, the Lens is T, cemented to the Piece E, fasten'd to the Pole S, which passes through the Center of the inner Circle B, moving upon the pivots I. H. (Fig. 2) in the outer Circle A; and this is fasten'd in a Frame upon the pivots L M, in the arms C D, fixt in a wall, or above in the Ceeling (as hath been said) according to pleasure, or the conveniency of the place; and above this Frame let a Pin be put through the upper Pole, to hinder its getting out of the Circle B. and to the end that it may be raised a little, but not to be made lower by the Workman,
Or else, let the Pole S. be thrust into the Ball O N. (Fig. 3.) movable within the two Circles P. Q. very well fixt to the two arms ZZ. and let those two Circles be made parallel, hindring the Ball to get out. But the Office of these two Circles may be perform'd by one alone, but larger, in the manner of a Socket, which may gird about such a part of the circumference of the Ball in the middle, as not to let it flip out. 'Tis enough, if the Ball do but freely move in it; yet so as alwayes to touch it: which also is to be observed in the Ball with two Circles, by that means to keep alwayes the Center thereof, when it moves, just in the same situation.
Let the Plain of the Iron, or other Mettal, on which the Glass is to be ground (F. in Fig. 1.) be plac'd level upon the Form G. to do whic, I have practised the following Contrivance. Let there be prepared two square Planks of wood (FR) equally thick, long and broad; but in the undermost let there be fixed a square Ruler, solid and firm, as long as is the thickness of both the said Planks; and in the upper Plank let there be a square hole or groove so fitted, as that the Plank may steddily slide upon the said Ruler; And to such Rulers (which may be called the Regulators of the 2. Planks) let there be made a ledge to keep the board more steddy and stiff upon the Ruler.
Further, let these 2. Planks have two Gutters (R. V.) of a Figure, going a cross from end to end; into which may pass two wooden wedges, like Y (of which may be made four, to put one of them against another in the said Gutters.) And then, when you will place the Plate FT. level on these Planks, FR, take a Pendulum, or other levelling Instrument, and adapt it upon the said Plate, which if it be not found level, observe on which side it leans, and adjust it by the wedges.
The use of this Instrument is very easie, since 'tis sufficient to guide with your hands the Mallet, fastned to the Pole upon the Plain, where the sand is spread; making such turns, as they use to doe in this work; and continuing so, till the Glass has taken its Spherical Figure. It may be pollisht upon the same Plain applying to it the Paper smoothly cemented on. But here it is to be consider'd, that the polishing, practised with this Instrument, is very long and tedious; so that O would advise, after the Glass is wrought to the perfect figure on the Plain, to make * These Gutters the Author describes in another part oi this Book; where he saith, That there must be a Polisher made in the form of a Gutter, excavated its whole length; which may also be hollow'd Spherical by means of a wooden Mould, turn'd of a Spherical figure by a Gage, fixt on a Mandril, and made to turn round: which he saith, may also be better perform'd upon certain square Stones of a peculiar kind, which, when he first attempted the working of Glasses, he made great use of. use of certain Gutters* proportionable to the Sphere, whole Semi-diameter is represented by the length of the Pole above-mentioned; using for the rest, the rules known and observed in the grinding of Convex Glasses.
So far this Author of this contrivance, which though it be Ingenious and Mathematical, yet is it conceived by skilful and considering Artists, that it will be very difficult to put it into practise with Glasses of any considerable length; it being also much doubted, whether the Author himself hath ever used it, or seen it used in long Glasses.
An Extract
There was made another Experiment the 20th of May, last at Udine, at the House of Signior Griffoni, by the transfusing the blood of a Lamb into the veins of a Spaniel, of a middle size of that kind, 13 years old, who had been altogether deaf for above 3 years, so as what noise soever was made, he gave not any sign of hearing it. He walked very little, and was so feeble, that being unable to lift up his foot, all he did was to trail his body forward. After the Transfusion practised upon him, he remained for an hour upon the Table, where he was yet untied, but leaping down afterwards, he went to find his Masters, that were in other Chambers. Two dayes after he went abroad, and ran up and down the streets with other Dogs, without trailing his feet, as he did before. His stomach also returned to him, and he began to eat more and more greedily than before, But that, which is more surprising is, that from that time he gave signes, that he began to hear, returning sometimes at the voice of his Masters. The 13th of June he was almost quite cured of his deafness, and he appeared without comparison more jocund than he was before the operation. At length, the 20th of the same Month he had wholly recovered his hearing, yet thus, that when he was called, he turned back, as if he that had called him, had been very far off. But that hapned not alwayes; in the mean time he heard always when he was called.
Another Extract
Eustachio Divini hath made a Microscope of a new Invention, wherein instead of an Eye-glass convex on both sides, there are two plano-convex Glasses, which are so placed, as to touch one another in the middle of their convex surface. This Instrument, of which Hon. Fabri treats largely in his Opticks (viz, Prop. 46.) hath this peculiar, that it shews the Objects flat and not crooked, and although it takes in much, yet nevertheless magnifieth extraordinarily.
It is almost 1612 inches high, and adjusted at 4 different lengths, In the first, which is the least, it shews lines 41 times bigger than they appear to the naked Eye: In the second, 90 times: In the third, 111 times: and in the fourth 143 times. Whence one may easily calculate, how much it augments surfaces and solidities.
The Diameter of the Field it discovers, or the subtense of the visual angle, measured upon the Object-plate, in the first length is of 8 inches and 7 lines: in the second, of 12 inches and 4 lines: in the third, of 13 inches: an in the fourth, of a little more than 16 inches.
As they viewed with this Microscope the little grains of sand searced, they perceived an Animal with many feet, its back white and scaly, but less than any of those hitherto observed. For, although the Microscope shewed every grain of sand as big as an ordinary Nut, yet this Animal appeared no bigger than one of those grains of sand seen without a Microscope. Whence may be concluded its smallness, which occasion'd one of the beholders to give it the name of the Atome of Animals.
TESTIS EXAMINATUS.
The Text it self follows verbatim thus;
QUid sit testis, quæ ipsius natura, quibus conglobetur particulis, adeo scire arduum, ut quicunque dissonis Authorum lectionibus, neglecta Enchirisi, duntaxat inhæserit, dediscat potius, quam addiscat cum hic affirmet unum, ille hoc idem de eadem perneget particula; quasi idem omnino membrum, Protei ad instar, toties mutaretur, quoties tractatur, & inspicientium oculos usque satageret eludere.
Vasa Spermatica præparantia testiculu Substantiam neutiquam ingrediuntur; ita autumat Mundin; Ingrediuntur omnino; ita Vid. Vidiu. Sylv. Barthol. Colomb. Subeunt quidem intro; sed non omnia, majori duntaxat ex parte; ita Highmor. Non; sed minori tantum; ita censet celeberrimus Marchett. P. M.
Galen. Melet. Mundin. Laurent. Highmor. Barthol. Vesling, & alii quos taceo, plures; genuinam testis substantiam albam, mollem, laxam, glandulosam, statuunt. Riolan. eam deprehendit non utique glandulosam, sed penitus fibrosam, quasi globulus fibrularum foret sibi invicem scitule coacervatarum. Vesal. mens est, innumeram Vasculorum minutissimorum congeriona in interiori testiculo luxuriare, interseminato passim peculiari carne; ita ut ipsi jocinori non ineleganti analogia Testis respondeat, Parenchyma proprium existens. Francis, Anton. Catto; Testis substantia rotunda est, ala mullis, Vasculis tenuissimis intertexta.
Semen per medios trasnsire testes, dogma Hippocraticum est bis inculcatum: Hinc nervos indigitat Glisson. Lineam fibrosam describit Riol. Ductum Membranosum per medios testes expabsyn, internum seminis delatotem & describit & depingit Highmor.
Quí e Didymo egreditur inchoatum semen? Riolano per poros quinque aut sex in extremis lineæ fibrosæ, patulos. Highm. per ductum a se inventum.
Laurent. per exilas fistulas, quibus epididymis continuationem cum teste habet. Vid. Vidiu. per anfractus, Erucarum ac Vermiuim modo, in lateribus epididymidis existentes. Vesling, semen e testibus ad parastatas variciformes transfertur; sed interim via non indicatir.
Epididymis quid sit, vix novimus. Ex doctrina Aristotel. est meatus durus ac nervosus: Galen. Est media guædam substantia testes inter, & vasa. Vesling. Corpus est glandulosum. Barth. Compages intus glandulosa simul, & fungosa, exterius vero membranosa. Highm. Epididymis principium glandulosum, reliquum autem vasculis pertextum est tenuissimis spisse circinnatis, intestinulorum ad instar. Riolan. Tota Epididymis unicum vas est continuatum, integrum, plusculis complicatum rugis, & fibrulis arctissime pressum.
Ham ambigua non minus epididymidis origo, quam indoles. Spigel. Laurent. Vesling.: eam a vasis spermatis continuatione quadam repetunt. Id inficiatur Walæus. Bartholino. placet, ut ex ipso pullulet teste per fistulas exiles ceu fibras candidas innumeras.
Seminis testes insudant generationi, si Galen. Silv. Mund. Riolan. &c. audiamus:: Sin contra Aristoteli, Fallop. Cabrol. Spigel. faveamus, huic neutiquam præsunt ministerio.
Pugnantibus ergo Authorum sententiis hinc inde distractus volui dubiis utcunque me expedire; cæpi testem accuratius versare, patientius lacerare, curiosius introspicere; & quid inde observarim, En tibi geminis produco Figuris; quarum una (nempe 4a) est Testis virilis: Altera, (nempe 5a) Aprungni, ut in tumentiori mole clariora legantur omnia.
Interim te monitum velim: Tria in hac Anatome scitu præstantissima desiderari. 1. An vasa testicularia plura sint? An unicum, multiplici flexura breviatum? 2. An, ubi, & quomodo coeant cum præparantibus, ut materiam hauriant seminalem. 3. Quæ, & qua parte, ipsorum cum ductu intercedat connexio. seminis pro commeatu?
Cæterum ad majorce rei intelligentiam, adeas Highm. tabulas X. XI. Alia si noveris hac in parte, quæ meos latuerint oculos*, * Besides what D. de Graef hath since publisht upon this Subject, the same hath been lately examin'd by the R. Society with so much care and exactness, that now there remains but little doubt of what is conceived, and hath been so many years agoe, by able Anatomists here in England, of the structure of the Testicles, viz. that they are a Congeries, or heap of very fine vessels, that may be drawn our like thred, and distinctly expos'd to the Eye. evulges enixe rogo, meo aliorumq; commodo. Valeas
Account of two Books.
THe Illustrious Author of this Book hath therein afresh furnisht the Philosophical World, with a set of very material and pregnant Experiments (to the number of 50) which are partly improvements of the former of this Nature, partly, (and those far more numerous) superadded new ones: concerning which, He declareth, that in great part he aimed thereby to shew, that these very Phænomena, which the School-Philosophers urge, as clear proofs of Nature's Abhorrency of a Vacuum, may be not only explicated, but actually exhibited, some by the Gravity, and some also by the bare spring of the Air; which latter he now mentions as a distinct thing from the other, not as if it were actually separated in these Tryals (since the Weight of the upper parts of the Air does, as 'twere, bend the Springs of the lower) but because that having in the formerly publisht experiments, and even in some of these, manifested the efficacy of the Air's Gravitation on Bodies, he thought fit to make it his task in many of these, to shew, that most of the same things, that are done by the Pressure of all the super-incumbent Atmosphere acting as a Weight, may be likewise perform'd by the Pressure of a small portion of Air, included indeed, but (without any new Compression) acting as a Spring.
The Experiments themselves, contain'd in this Book, are still of that sort, which need but a short absence of the Air; there being another sort, which require, that the Air should be kept out for a considerable time from the Bodies, whereon the trial is made; concerning which latter, the Author still gives the Reader hopes of presenting him in due time with such as may not be unacceptable to him. The Experiments of this Part are;
1. About the raising of Mercury to a great height in an open Tube, by the Spring of a little included Air; wherein 'tis discours'd, how this Experiment may be made use of against those, who in the explication of the Torricell. Experiment recurr to a Funiculus, or a Fuga Vacui.
2. Sheweth, that much included Air rais'd Mercury in an open Tube no higher, than the weight of the Atmosphere may in a Baroscope: where notice is taken of the great force of the Spring of the Air then when it could not raise the Mercury any higher.
3. Sheweth, that ye Spring of the included Air will raise Mercury to almost equal heights in very unequal Tubes; where the reason is added, why this and the former Experiment were not tried in Water; as also an Account of an adventitious Spring, that was super-added to the Air by Heat.
4. About a New Hydraulo-pneumatical Fountain, made by the Spring of un-compressed Air; together with the uses to be made of it, as in Hydraulo-pneumaticks, or to shew, by what degrees the Air restores its self to its Spring; or especially to find, what kind of Line the Salient water describes in rarify'd Air.
5. About a way of speedily breaking flat Glasses by the weight of the Atmosphere.
6. Sheweth, that the breaking of Glass-plates in the foregoing experiment need not to be imputed to the Fuga Vacui.
7. About a convenient way of breaking blown Bladders by the Spring of the Air included in them: and of the usefulness of this Experiment in other tryals.
8. About the lifting up a considerable weight by the bare Spring of a little Air included in a Bladder. Which as 'tis a surprising experiment, so it seems not unserviceable for the explaining of the motion of the Muscles.
9. About the breaking of Hermetically seal'd Bubbles of Glass by the bare Spring of their own Air; with an observation, that they broke not presently, and what the reason might be of the slowness of that effect.
10. Contains two or three trials of the force in the Spring of our Air uncompress'd, upon stable and even solid Bodies, whereto 'tis external.
11. Shews, that Mercury will in Tubes be rais'd by Suction no higher than the weight of the Atmosphere is able to impell it up: where the Principle of a Fuga Vacui, and that of a Funiculus are shewn to be insufficient.
12. About the different heights, whereto Liquors will be rais'd by Suction, according to their several specifick Gravities: accompanied with a remark, that the proportion of the weight of Mercury to Water is not quite as 14 to 1.; as also, that the notion of a Fuga Vacui is unreasonabie; together with the use that may be made of this Experiment in the estimating the gravity of several Liquors, with some tryals thereupon.
13. About the Heights, to which Water and Mercury may be rais'd, proportionably to their specific Gravities, by the Spring of the Air,
14. About the Heights answerable to their respective Gravities, to which Mercury and Water will subside, upon the withdrawing of the Spring of the Air.
15. About the greatest height to which Water can be rais'd by Attraction: where the height of the Water is compar'd to that of the Quicksilver at the same time in a Baroscope, and examined according to the proportion of their specific Gravities; together with a reflexion on a mistake in the common Writers of Hydraulicks, having a conceit of carrying Water over never so high Mountains.
16. About the bending of a Springy Body in the exhausted Receiver: no alteration the Spring discover'd.
17. About the making of Mercurial and other Gages, whereby to estimate how the Receiver is exhausted: of which Gages one is preferr'd and described.
18. Concerning an easie way to make the Pressure of the Air sensible to the Touch of those that doubt of it.
19. About the Subsidence of Mercury in the Tube of the Torricell. Experiment to the Levell of the Stagnant Mercury; accompanied with some confirmations of what had been said in the first Treatise of the Physico-Mechanical Experiments.
20. Shewing, that in Tubes open at both ends, when no Fuga Vacui can be pretended, the weight of water will raise Quicksilver no higher in slender than in larger Pipes.
21. Of the Heights, at which pure Mercury, and Mercury amalgam'd with Tinn, will stand in Barometers; together with the use that may be made of this experiment, to discover how much two mixt bodies penetrate one another; as also further to illustrate, that the height of the Liquors in the Torricell. Experiment depends upon the Æquilibrium with the outward Air.
22. Proposeth a way of making Portable or Travailing Barometers; with a particular description of the Figure, such a Barometer is to be of, the way of filling it, putting it into a Frame, and securing it from the harm, the Mercury it self might do in the transportation; where is added the great usefulness of this Instrument, with an intimation of others of a different kind, &c.
23. Confirms, that Mercury in a Barometer will be kept suspended higher at the top, than at the bottom of a hill: on which occasion something is noted about the height of Mountains, especially the Pic of Teneriff, esteemed to be in its perpendicular height 7 miles, by the more accurate observations.
24. Shews, that the Pressure of the Atmosphere may be exercised enough to keep up the Mercury in the Torricell. experiment, though the Air press upon it at a very small orifice.
25. Shews, that an oblique pressure of the Atmosphere may suffice to keep up the Mercury at the usual height in the Torr. Experiment, and that the Spring of a little included Air may do the same, together with the use that may be made of the former experiment for a portable Baroscope.
26. About the making of a Baroscope, that serves but at certain times; taking notice of the arguments it affords against a Fuga Vacui.
27. About the Ascension of Liquors in very slender Pipes in an exhausted Receiver.
28. Touching the great and seemingly spontaneous Ascension of Water in a Pipe fill'd with a compact Body whose particles are thought incapable of imbibing it: by which is examin'd an Explication, that has been made of the cause of Filtration.
Whence a probable cause of the Ascension of Sap into Trees is suggested. An attempt annex'd, to make a Syphon, that should run of it self without Suction.
29. Of the seemingly Spontaneous Ascension of Salts along the sides of Glasses; with a conjecture at the cause of it.
30. Contains an attempt to measure the Gravity of the Cylinders of the Atmosphere, so as that it may be express'd by known and common weights.
31. About the Attractive Vertue of the Loadstone in an exhausted Receiver.
32. Shews, that when the Pressure of the External Air is taken off, 'tis very easie to drawup the Sucker of a Syringe, though the hole, at which the Air or Water should succeed, be stopt.
33. About the opening of a Syringe, whose Pipe was stopt in the exhausted Receiver, and by the help of it making the Pressure of the Air lift up a considerable weight. 34. Shews, that the Cause of the Ascension of Liquors in Syringes is to be deriv'd from the Pressure of the Air.
35. Shews, that upon the Pressure of the Air depends the sticking of Cupping-Glasses to the fleshy parts they are apply'd to.
36. About the making, without heat, a Cupping-Glass to lift up a great weight.
37. Shews, that Bellows, whose Nose is very well stopt, will open of themselves, when the Pressure of the External Air is taken off.
38. About an attempt to examine the Motions and Sensibility of the Cartesian Materia Subtilis, with a Pair of Bellows (made of a Bladder) in the exhausted Receiver.
39. Contains a further attempt to prosecute the Inquiry propos'd in the fore-going Experiment: First with a Syringe and a Feather; then with a Syringe in Water; where 'tis examin'd, if there be an Æther or Materia Subtilis, what kind of body it must be: with a Confirmation of the 34th Experiment.
40. About the falling, in the exhausted Receiver, of a light Body, fitted to have its motion visibly varied by a small resistance of the Air: where is mention'd a Design to try this way, what the degrees of Celerity would be of descending Bodies in an exhausted Receiver. Directions given, which way to lengthen Receivers for the Trial of this and other Experiments.
41. About the propagation of Sounds in the exhausted Receiver: Two Trials perform'd by the contrivance described as necessary for this and divers other Experiments: Where also is examin'd an assertion of Mersennus, and a Proposal of his shewn to be unpracticable, &c.
42. About the breaking of a Glass-drop in an exhausted Receiver, wherein an Hypothesis, ascribing the Cause of the breaking of them to the force of the External Air, is examin'd.
43. Concerning the Production of Light in the exhausted Receiver.
44. Touching the Production of a kind of Halo and Colours in such a Receiver: The reason of it propos'd, with a suggestion, that the same cause might have been of that Apparition of Light mention'd in the formerly publisht Experiments.
45. About the Production of Heat by Attrition in the exhausted Receiver.
46. About the slaking of Quick-Lime in it. 47. Of an attempt made to measure the Force of the Spring of included Air, and examine a Conjecture of the difference of its strength in unequally broad-mouth'd Vessels.
48. About an easie way of making a small quantity of included Air raise in the exhausted Receiver 50 or 60 pounds, or a greater weight.
49. Concerning the Weight of Air, and the estimating thereof, both by the help of a seal'd Bubble, and by weighing the Receiver it self: together with an Advertisement of the variation of the Gravity of the Air, and that, by Experiments made at different times or places, there are obtain'd different proportions betwixt It and Water,
50. About the disjoining of two Marbles (not otherwise to be pull'd asunder without a great weight) by with-drawing the Pressure of the Atmosphere.
Which Experiments are, where 'twas necessary, illustrated with Figures, to the number of 30 in 8 Plates.
The whole is concluded with some Notes and Trials about the Atmospheres of Consistent Bodies (here below) shewing, that even Hard and Solid Bodies (and some such, as one would scarce suspect) are capable of emitting Effluvia, and so of having Atmospheres; which is prov'd first a priori, both by the Atomical and Cartesian Hypothesis; and then demonstrated by particular Examples in several Bodies: where, instancing in those, that are most fixt, the Author examines the Argument of DesCartes against Electrical emanations, drawn from the fixedness of Glass.
Whereunto are subjoined not only some Observations about the Electricity of Bodies, as that of Amber by the Sun, and that of Glass by the Heat of the Fire; but also some Considerations, that may induce us to believe, that very many other Bodies, not yet discover'd to do so, emit their Effluviums.
IN this Curious and Experimental Treatise the Reader will First meet with some Animadversions upon Dr. Witties Tract of the Scarbrough-Spaw; our Author affirming, that upon bringing the said Dr. Witties constituent Principles of those Waters to the Test, he could not find them there; nor, upon a thorow examination of the Vertues ascribed to them, see cause to believe them to be such as that Doctor affirms; but, after he hath endeavour'd to make it out by severe Trials and Observations, that the five Ingredients assign'd by the said Doctor, viz. Iron, Vitriol, Allum, Niter, and Sea-Salt, are not there, as he layes them down; he declares that he means not to deny them all, but to assert those, which he finds there demonstrable by Experiment; and thereupon affirms, that that, which indeed gives the Essence to this Spaw, is an acid Aluminous Mineral Salt, preying upon and dissolving a slight touch of the Mineral of Iron. And saving cleared this by Experiment, he proceeds to consider its Vertues; where, after a short account given of the Original of most Diseases, how they arise from a vitiating of the several Ferments, either causing a rawness, or over-acidity, or other hostile qualities in the Nutritive Juyce; he declares, for what Diseases this Spaw is proper, and for what not; affirming, that it avails nothing in Pestilential Diseases, Pleurisies, Poysons, Leprosie, the Lues Venerea, Morphew, Cancer, Falling-Sickness, Apoplexy, Palsie, Asthma; but that its efficacy is most discernable in the Scurvy, Dropsie, Strangury, or Stone, Jaundice, Hypochondriack Melancholy, Cachexies, and Womens Diseases proceeding from the Obstructions of the Menses: adding, that in the Esurine Salt of Allom are as noble medicinal Vertues to be found, as in any other Mineral specificated Salt whatever; this Salt being, in its first Essence, volatile and exquisitely penetrative, forcing its passage through the obstructed Meanders of the bowels, and notably opening the closed parts, and thereby restoring the blood, and other peculiar spirituous Juyces of the Genus nervosum, to their primitive fermental vigor.
Secondly, In the same Treatise is contain'd a short Description of the Spaws at Malton and Knarsborough; the former of these two having, in our Author's opinion, the like ingredients with those of Scarbrough, but with a fainter spring; the latter, imbued only with a small portion of Esurine acidity, that hath preyed a little upon, and acquired a slight touch from the Minera of Iron.
Thirdly, He discourses of the Original of Hot Springs and other Fountains; where having shew'd that they come from Mineral Salts; and how those Salts, upon the contact of one another, or of Mineral Bodies, are the Efficient causes of Heat in those Springs; he thence takes occasion to teach, How Artificial Baths may be made analogical in vertue and operation to the Natural; shewing withal the efficacy of Hot Springs and Baths, whether Natural or Artificial, in curing most of the stubbornest Diseases.
Fourthly, The Author digresses to the Vindication of Chymical Physick describing first, what the Chymical Art is; next, endeavoring to remove the reproach laid on it: and lastly, declaring the great assistances thereby afforded to Nature, above ordinary Shop-preparations, in order to the Cure of Diseases: From which last he takes occasion to exspatiate into the praise of this Art, upon the account also of its great usefulness for improving Experimental Philosophy, and for penetrating into the Principles of all Concretes, whether Vegetable, Animal, or Mineral: inserting withal, by way of digression, his thoughts of an Universal Character; meaning such an one, which, being known in all parts of the World, should signifie the same thing in all Countreys; so that all People skill'd therein should every where read it every one in their own Language.
To all this is annex'd an Appendix concerning the Original of Springs in general, in which the Author admits, that Rain-and-Snow-waters are indeed the proximate Cause of all Land-Springs and sudden Floods, filling the Porosities and Channels of the Earth's surface, and that the remaining part restagnats, till it meet with convenient Currents out of Brooks and Ditches into other Rivolets, and those again, by further passages, swell into Rivers, and thereby cause Inundations of low grounds, till those Rivers empty themselves, by other intermediate ones, into the Sea it self: But that the same should be the cause of the Fontes Perennes, or Living Springs, he positively denies; advancing this Thesis, That there is a Circulation of Water in the Terraqueous Globe, as requisite to its well-being, as the Circulation of Blood in Animals, whereby the water, through subterraneous Channels along the Sabulum bulliens, runs from Sea to Sea, and also from the Sea to the Heads of Springs, and from them into Rivolets, and those into Rivers, and thence into the Ocean, and so circulates round: which, he saith, includes also another Circle of Rain and Snow, which first arising by Exhalations from the Sea and Earth, are carried down again upon the Earth and Sea, and joyning issue with Rivolets from Springs, do swell Rivers, which again discharge themselves into the Sea.
Lastly, The Author concludes, first, with an account he gives of a Ternary of Medicines used by himself, for curing many Diseases; viz. 1. Cathartick, or Solutive; 2. Cordial, or expelling of Wind; 3. Diaphoretick, or Sweating. The first he calls Scorbatick Pills; the Second, Elixir Proprietatis, or Cordial Elixir; the third, Diaphoretick, or Sweating Pills. Which three Preparations, he saith, are composed of the best Vegetables, extracted by Salts, that are graduated to the highest pitch; experienced by himself to be both safe and effectual in the cure of Diseases. Secondly, with a Desription of the Essence, as he calls it, of Scarbrough Spaw which he maketh to be the remainder after divers sabulous separations; viz. a kind of Alumino-nitrous Salt, which, being duly order'd, shoots into long Christalline Stiria's, and branches it self forth in curious shapes in the bottom of the Glais, exposed to a Balneum Maria.
Errat. No 41. p. 826. l. 21. r. ut. fiant, ib. l. 30. r. augentur, p.827. l. 23 r. Tellure, ib. l.ulc. r. quid, p. 832. l. 35. r. notanda.
Errat. No 42. p. 838. l. 15. r. proeced in, p. 844. l. 17. r. albuginea, ib. l. 29. r. videre est.
In the SAVOY,
Printed by T.N. for John Martyn, Printer to the Royal Society, and are to be sold at the Bell a little without Temple-Bar, 1668.