Philosophical Transactions/Volume 4/Number 51
Numb. 51.
PHILOSOPHICAL
TRANSACTIONS.
September 20. 1669.
The Contents.
An Extract of a Letter
Sir,
I Can at present acquit my self but of one of the Commissions, you gave me when I took my leave of you, referring the other no more leisure.* See the Figure. And I herewith send you the Plan * of our Salt-making Marishes, together with the Way of making our Salt. If there be any thing, I have forgot, or related obscurely, give yourself only the trouble of advertising me of it, and in my next I will add or cleer it.
AAA. is the Sea.
II. the Entry, by which the Sea-water passes into BB.
BB. the first Receptacle; in which the Water is kept 20. inches deep;
When it raines, the openings 22, 33. are stopp'd, to hinder the Water from running into the Marish mark't EEF. Unless it rain much, the rain-water doth little hurt to the Marish; and although it rain a day or a night, we doe not let the water which is in the Marish run out, the heat of the Sun sufficiently exhaling such Rain-water, if, for example it be not above an inch high. Only, if it have rain'd very plentifully that day, no Salt is drawn for the 3. or 4. next-following days, But if it rain 5. or 6. days, the people are then necessitated to empty all the Water of the Beds by a peculiar Channel, conveighing it into the Sea; which Channel cannot be opened, but when 'tis Low water. But 'tis very seldome, that it rains so long as to constraine men to empty those Beds.
'Tis obvious, that the hottest years make the most Salt; where yet it is to be noted, that besides the heat of the Sun, the Winds contribute much to it, in regard that less Salt is made in Calme, than in Windy weather. The West and North-west Winds are the best for this purpose.
Our Country-people draw the Salt every other day, and they draw out of those Beds, mark't hhh, every time more than an hundred pound weight of Salt.
In the hottest part of the Summer there is Salt made even during Night.
The Instruments used to draw the Salt, have many small holes, to let the Water pass, and to retain nothing but the Salt.
According to the Quality of the Earth or Ground of the Marish, the Salt is made more or less White. The Reddish earth maketh the Salt more Gray; the Blewish, more White: Besides, if you let run in a little more water than you ought, the salt becoms thence more White; but then it yields not so much. Generally all the Marishes require a fat Earth, neither Spungy nor Sandy.
And as to the Whiteness of Salt in particular, there are 3. things to be considered: First, that the Earth of the Marish be proper. Secondly, that the Salt be made with good store of water. Thirdly, That the salt-man, who draws it, be dextrous. In this Isle of Rhe there are, that draw very dark Salt, and others, that draw it as white as Snow; and so it is in Xaintonge. Chiefly care is to be taken, that the Earth at the bottome of the Beds mingle not with the salt. The Salt, we use at our Tables, is perfectly white; which is thence, that 4. or 5. hours before the Salt is to be drawn, we draw the Creme, or that salt which is form'd on the top of the water. The grains of it are smaller, than of the other. Generally the Salt of Xaintonge is somewhat whiter, than ours. I do not well know the bigness of the Sea-Salt made by Fire; but ours is of the size of a Pepper-grain sand of a Cubical shape.
The Marishes are preserv'd from one year to another by overflowing them, so that the water be near a foot high above the Marishes.
There are Marishes, that are not separated from the Sea but by a ditch of 20. or 30. foot large: others are further distant, receiving the Water by Channels, that are made according to the Scituation of the Marishes. To preserve this Ditch, it is strengthened with stones from the foot to the top, as we use to pave streets.
The Timber of the Marishes, if it be of good Oak, keeps near thirty years; but there is used but little Wood, all the Ditches and Apertures being done with stones.
An Answer
TOuching the Forerunners of this Fire, there was, for the space of 18. days, before it broke out, a very thick dark sky in those parts, with Thunder and lightning and frequent Concussions of the Earth, which the people make terrible reports of, though I never saw nor heard of any Buildings cast down thereby, save a final town or village, call'd Nicalosi; about halfe a male distant from the New Mouth, and some such other slight Buildings among those Towns, that were after over-run by the Fire. Besides, it was observ'd that the Old top or Mouth of Ætna did, for 2. or 3. months before, rage more than usual; the like of which did Volcan and Strombilo, two Burning Islands to the West-ward. And the top of Ætna must abous the same time have sunk down into its old Vorago or hole, in that 'tis agreed by all, that had seen this mountain before, that it was very much lower'd. Other Forerunners of this Fire I have not heard nor met with.
It first broke out on the Eleventh of March 669, about two hours before night, and that on the South-East-side or skirt of 
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As to the matter, which thus ran, it was nothing else, but divers kinds of Metals and Minerals, rendred liquid by the fierceness of the Fire in the bowels of the Earth, boyling up and gushing forth, like the water doth at the head of same great River; and having run in a full body for a good Stones cast or more, the extreamities thereof began to crust and curdle, becoming, when cold, those hard porous Stones, which the people call Sciarri, having the nearest resemblance to huge Cakes of sea-cole; full of a fierce Fire. These came roling and tumbling over one another, and where they met with a bank, would fill up and swell over, by their weight bearing down any common building, and burning up what was combustible. The chief motion of this matter was forward, but it was also dilating it self, as a Floud of Water would doe on even ground, thrusting out severall Armes, or Tongues, as they call them.
About 2. or 3. of the Clock in the night we mounted an high Tower in Catania; whence we had a full view of the Mouth, which was a terrible sight, viz. to see so great a mass or body of meer Fire. Next morning we would have gone up to the Mouth itself, but durst not come nearer than a furlong off, for feare of being overwhelmed by a sudden turn of the wind, which carried up into the Air some of that vast pillar of Ashes, which to our apprehension exceeded twice the bigness of Pauls Steeple in London, and went up in a streight body to a farr greater hight than that; the whole Air being thereabout all cover'd with the lightest of those Ashes blown oil from the top of this pillar: And from the first breaking forth of the Fire untill irs fury ceased (being 54. days) neither Sun nor Starr were seen in all that part.
From the outside of this pillar fell off great quantity of Stones, but none very bigg, neither could we discern any Fire in them, nor come to see, where that fiery stuff broke out, there being a great bank or hill of Ashes betwixt it and us.
At the Mouth, whence issued the Fire, or Ashes, or both, was a continual noise, like the beating of great waves of the Sea against Rocks, or like thunder a farr off, which sometimes I have heard here in Messina, though situated at the foot of high hils and 60. miles off. It hath also been heard 100. miles Nordward of this place, in Calabria (as I have been credibly informed,) whither the Ashes have also been carried: And some of our seamen have also reported, that their decks were covered therewith at Zant, though its likely not very thick.
Of those Burnt Stones or Sciarri, I have some by me of divers qualities, and shall procure what more I can, to be sent by the first passage.
About the middle of May we made another Journey thither, where we found the face of things much altered, the City of Catania being three quarters of it compassed round with these Sciarri, as high as the top of the Wals; and in many places it had broke over. The first night of our arrival a new streame or gutter of Fire broke forth among some Sciarri, which we were walking upon an hour or two before, and they were as high as to be even with the top of the Wall. It powred itself down into the Citty in a small gutter of about 3. foot broad, and 9. foot long of meer Fire, the extremities still falling off into those Sciarri; but this streame was extinct by the next morning, though it had filled up a great void place with its Sciarri. The next night was another much bigger Channel discovered, powring itself over another part of the Wall into the Castle-ditch, which continued (as we were informed) some days after our departure. Divers of those smal Rivolets did run at the same time into the Sea, and it does so still at this very day, though faintly.
It was observed, that those streams of Fire never grew broader nor visibly longer, nor moved out of the place, they were seen in; which put us a little more to examine their working, and we did conclude, that not only then, but in the fury also of its running, it made it self certain crufted gutters to run in, to keep itself, as 'twere from the Air, which by degrees did cool and fix it, as more plainly appear'd above at the Mouth, where, the first time of our going thither, we found the Sciarri generally thus coold and fixt. And hence also it might proceed, that these live Sciarri, meeting with any bank or high ground, would puff and swell up, till they had overcome it; so that in many places, especially under the Wals of Catania, were Vallys of those Sciarri, and the Fire never brork forth, or discovered itself in those streams, until it had gain'd its hight; for those rivolets ever went declining.
Having spent a couple of days about Catania we again went up to the Mouth, where now without any danger of Fire or Ashes we could taken a free view both of the old and new Channel of the Fire, and of that great mountain of Ashes cast up. That, which we guessed to be the old bed or channel, was a three-corner'd plot of about 2. Acres, with a crust of Sciarri at the bottom, and upon that a smal crust or surface of Brimstone. It was hedg'd in on each side with a great bank or hill of Ashes, and behind and at the upper end role up that huge mountain of the same matter. Between those two banks the Fire seems to have had its passage. At the upper end in the nook upon a little hillock of crusted Sciarri was an hole about 10. foot wide, whence 'tis probable the Fire issued; and it might have had several other such holes, since either crusted over or covered with ashes. At the bottom of this hole the Fire was seen to flow along, and below it was a channel of fire, beneath that surface of Sciarri, which being cleft a top for some space, we had an easy and leisurable view of the metal flowing along, whose superficies might be a yard broad, though possibly it carried a greater breadth underneath, the gutter going sloping. What depth it had, we could not guess: it was impenetrable by Iron hooks and other Instruments we had. We were very desirous to have got some of this matter at the Spring head, but we could penetrate no more into it, then with ones finger into the palme of the hand. 'Tis likely, that some running may have been more yielding, than we found this. From this channel, but especially from that hole above it, issued great store of a strong sulfureous smoak, wherewith some of our company were at first almost stifled through inadvertency. About once in a quarter of an hour there would rise a pillar of smoak or ashes, but nothing comparable to the former; which seem'd to come from the middle top of that new made Mountain. I confess, it was an omission in us, not to goe up to this mountain, being so near; but because it was troublesome and not without danger, the rest of the company being satisfied with what they had already seen, would not stay to see any more.
At this our last being at Catania we found the people busy in barricading the ends of some streets and passages, where they thought the fire might break in; and this they did by pulling down the old houses thereabout, and laying up the loose stones in manner of a wall, which they said would resist the fire as not being mixt with lime; though it was the great weight and force of that fiery matter in pressing forward, and not its burning, that overthrew the buildings, as plainly appeared in the Convent of the Benedictins, and in the Town-wals, where the great deluge of Fire did pour it self; it not breaking into the City, but pouring it self over the wals, as hath been said.
Unto this very time 'tis said to have run at mile into the Sea, and as much in front, though it was much less, when we were there. The shore goes gently declining, having at the extremity of the Sciarri about 5. fathoms, and about half as much they are above water.
The superficies of the water, for 20. foot or more of those rivolets of fire, was hotter than to endure on's hand in it, though deeper it was more temperate, and those live Sciarri still retain'd their fire under water, as we saw, when the Surges of the Sea retreated back in their ordinary reverberations.
The general face of these Sciarri is in some respect not much unlike, from the beginning to the end, to the river of Thames in a great frost at the top of theJce above bridg; I mean, 'ying after such a rugg'd manner in great flakes: but its color is quite different, being most of a dark dusky blew, and some stones or rocks of a vast bigness, clole and solid.
But notwithstanding their ruggedness, and store of fire, which we could see glowing in the clefts and cavaties, we made a shift to ramble over a good part of them; as 'tis said also, that people would doe the same in its greatest violence of burning. For as those live Sciarri, and those Rivers of fire themselves were so tough and impenetrable as to bear any weight, so the superficies of the Scarri might be toucht and handled, the fire being inward, and not to be discerned but near hand, especicially in the day time: And 'twas somewhat strange fight to see so great a River come so tamely forward; for, as it approached unto any house, they not only at good leisure removed their goods, but the very tiles, and beams, and what else was moveable.
'Tis observable, that none of those, that went to see it, when there was little else to be fern but the cold Sciari, but declared to have found it a much other thing, than they imagined, though related to them viva voce by those who had formerly been there.
I shall add, that the whole country from the very Walls of Catania to 20. miles on this side is full of those old Sciarri, which former Eruptions have cast forth, though the people remember none so biqg as this last, or that burst out so low. This Country is notwithstanding well cultivated and inhabited; for length of time hath either mollified much of those old Sciarri, or new mould or ashes have overgrown them; though there still remains much Country, which, it may be, will never be made serviceable.
What is the perpendicular hight of this Mountain, I cannot learn. It cannot perhaps be rightly taken, being so subject to alter its height and shape. But it is a very goodly Mountain to look upon, as one passes by Sea to the East-ward, standing alone by it self, rising from the very shore; and at shortest passage is reckoned 20. miles up to the top, though from Catania it hath 30. milcs, as before.
An account of two Books I. DISCOURS de M. STENON sur L' ANATOMIE du CERVEAU. A Paris 1669, in 12.
IN the beginning of this Discourse the Author represents, that those, who search after solid knowledge, will find nothing satisfactory. in all that hath been hitherto written concerning the Brain: that all, which Anatomists agree in, is only, that it consists of two Substances, a White and a Grayish, and that the former is continued with the Nerves, that are distributed through the whole Body; and the latter serves in some places for a kind of Cortex to the White, and in others, severs the white filaments from one another. But that they are yet ignorant, what those substances are; in what manner the Nerves are Joyned in the White; and how farr their extremities advance in it; from which disposition yet depends all the diversity and variety of our sensations and motions. And as for the Ventricies or Cavities of the Brain, he affirmes them to be no less unknown, than its Substance; some Anatomists ing in them the Spirits, others making them the receptacles of the Excrements of the Brain,—and both perplext in assigning the source and Issue of the Excrements, and the Spirits, and the manner of the production of the latter.
Besides this, he finds a great defect in the way of dissecting the Brain, and having shewed the imperfection in the common ways, he proposes and recommends that (though difficult one) of continuing the filaments or threds of the Nerves through the Substance of the Brain, to see, where they pass, and where they terminate.
Next, he entertains the Reader with an Enumeration of the chief Errors of Anatomists touching the brain. And here he examins particularly the Systemes of Dr. Willis and Monsieur Des-Cartes. In the former ⟨he takes⟩ special notice, that the Author there of lodges the Common Sense in the corpus Striatum; the Imagination in the Corpus Callosum; and the Memory in the Grayish Substance which encompasses the White. But then he declares, that these assertions are very obnoxious; for, whereas Dr. Willis describes that Corpus striatum, as if there mere two sorts of Streaks or Rays, some ascending, some descending, he finds, that a separation being made of the Gray body from the White, those Rays will be found to be all of the same nature, that is, they make part of the White substance of the Corpus Callosum which passes towards the Marrow of the Back, separated in divers Layers by the intervening of the Grayish Substance. Which being so, saith he, with what certainty can we be made to believe, that those three Operations are performed in those three Bodies? And who can tell us, whether the nervous Fibres have their beginning in the Streaked Body, or whether they rather pass through the Callous Body into the Gray Substance?
In the latter of M. Des Cartes, he finds, that that Philosopher hath rather devised, in his Treatise of Man, such an Engine, that performs all the actions, Men are capable of, than described Man, as really he is; which he undertaketh to prove by divers instances, taken from the Cartesian fabrick of the parts of the Brain: in the doing of which our Author showes great dexterity, skill, and accuratenes. And from hence he proceeds,
To observe the want of exactness in the Cutts or Figures, hitherto given of the Brain: and although he acknowledgeth, that the best Figures, hitherto made of that part are those of Dr. Willis, yet he finds several faults committed here and there, and conceives, there are many things to be added for making them perfect: which certainly this able Anatomist will consider further, and according to his Ingenuity, as he shall see cause, rectify, if the Author of the Book, deflected on, prevent him not.
Having thus discussed the hitherto practised way of dissecting the Brain, and the litle light to be derived thence, together with the defectiveness of the Figures belonging thereto, he leavtth it to the Consideration of Judicious men, what saith is to be given to the Explications made upon such unsolid foundations; and that done, he declares, which are the two only ways for attaining the true knowledge of an Engine; viz. One, by having the contrivance of it discovered by the Author himself; the other, by taking it in pieces to the very least parts, and examining them all both severally and joyntly. The former not being to be expected, he excites the Lovers of real knowledge to the careful performance of the latter; excusing in the mean time those two sorts of persons, that hitherto have addicted themselves to Anatomical researches, viz. Physitians and Chirurgions, for not having made satisfactory discoveries by their labors, and alleadging on their behalf their want of time requisite for this purpose; the ill consequence of which he represents to be, that they often undertake to cure a Body, of which they know not the Structure, which is no better, (saith he) then if a man would repair or wind up an Engin, the parts of which he is ignorant of. And as for Professors of Universities or other Schools, he judges them not so proper for that particular application, and the variety of methods of dissecting; both which is necessary for examining every the smallest part, and the observe thereof, there being sometimes required whole years for finding out one onely thing, that perhaps may afterwards be demonstrated to others in one hour; which he exemplifyes by divers instances of Discoveries, made by some of the modern Anatomists.
He concludes his Discourse by recommending the method which seems best and most convincing to him, for making true Discoveries in Anatomy; where he adviseth, that for obtaining the true history of the parts, we should examine and accordingly draw them in that State, in which they are found naturally, without at all forcing them; thereby to find, whether the parts are indeed joyned together or separated, and what situation is assigned them by Nature it self. Where he desires, that the Anatomist would not only be intent upon the part, on which he is for the present employed, but also reflect upon all the Operations,he hath made before he came to that part, which may have caused some change or other in the same, as to its scituation, connexion &c. Of which he also alledges divers Examples, especialy as to the Brain.
Besides this exact attention on all the Operations, he further counsels the Change of the ways of Dissecting, and deduceth the ill consequences of binding ourselves to certain fixt Laws of dissecting each part; this benefit resulting from that Change, that if it doth not always discover something new, it lets us know at least, whether we have been deceived in what we have seen formerly, especially in things dubious and contested. Of the necessity of this Change he brings manifest proofs, and having done so, he alledges the reason why he says nothing of the Use of the parts of the Brain, nor of the actions called Animal; it being impossible to explain the motions, that are made by an Engin, if the artifice of the parts be not known, and those Anatomists rendring themselves ridiculous, that discourse so magisterially of the Use of the parts, of which they know not the structure.
Last of all, he observes, that when all this, he hath discoursed of, is done, that is but the least of what is to be done; in regard that for the acquiring of some good Knowledge of the Brain, there muff be Dissections and Examinations made of as many Heads, as there are different species's of Animals, and different States and Conditions of each kind; since that in the fetus's of Animals it will be seen, How the Brain is formed; and what could not be seen in sound and entire Brains, may be seen in such, as have been changed by sickness.
II. Instead of the other Book, of which we purposed to give here an Accompt, we find our selves oblieged somewhat to enlarge that which was, for want of more leisure, too cursorily given in Numb. 49. of Dr. Witties Answer to Hydrologia Chymica, concerning the Scarbrow Spaw. To do therefore right to this Worthy person, we ought among other things to take notice of what he saith in his Preface; That when he first published his Book, he had found the Scarbrough Spaw, even in 20. years Experience, to be eminently successul in the Cure of very many diseases, which had resisted all rational Methods, that had been used either by himself, or others of his Faculty. That now his Practice had been near 30. years, and that now he can add same considerable Cures, which he hath not hitherto expressed.
Now to sollicit this Learned Doctor and others for their farther Discovery's of Sanative Waters, and to add weight to the Argument; we may observe, that A. 1634. Dr. Thobias Whitaker, a famous Physitian of Norwich published in English a discourse Περὶ Ὑδροπωσιας, or Drinking Mineral Warters; particularly reflecting upon a Mineral Water then discovered in Norfolk, and producing the Joynt-advice of all Antiquity (as he pretends,) at least of the best Writers, namely of Hippocrates, Galen, Avicenna &c. generally against all use of Mineral Waters either to be taken inwardly, or for any outward application. This Discourse is recommended by the express approbation and elogies of Dr William Clement, Fellow and Register of the Colledge of Physitians in London, and by Dr. Alex. Read Fellow of the same Colledge.
This may give fit Caution against the rash Use of such Waters, when ordinary. Medicins may be effectual; and to take the advice of skilful Physitians in the Use of them. And for the Poor, which are not able to retain Physitians, nor to pay Apothecaries, they must abide the adventure of repairing to those kind Fountains, which doe not unfrequently cure, when all other costly and tedious Methods doe faile. And here they may find the Suffrage of many Curious and Inquisitive Authors, and the evidence of much Experience; Here they may see the real and great performances of Cures, and what are the particular Cures, what the particular Ingredients, and what the mixtures, together with the several ways of Analysing the Waters &c.
As to the Sanative Properties in general of many Minerall Fountains (besides the numerous Experiments of all sorts of people for many Ages in some places, and of late discovery in other places) Dr. Wittie recites the Judicious testimony of Dr. French and Dr Dean concerning the Knarlborough Spaw; Doctor Jordan concerning the Baths in Somersetshire, Dr. Heer's Spadocrene; Doctor Frambesarius and Dr. Ryetius of the Sauvenir in Germany, Dr. Fallopius de Therm. Aquis and the Spaws in Germany and Rome, de Balneo Aponitano, and the water at Corsena: Of such waters in general, Paracelsus and Helmont: And this Doctors own description of St. Mungo's Well at Cockgrave. To which we may now add Astrap-weli in Northampton, lately discovered, together with that at Stall-bridge in Somersetshire, which last begins also to be in high esteem for extraordinary Cures of the Scorbute, Asthma &c. which, besides common fame; is (as we were freshly informed by a worthy friend) attested by Dr. Highmore, who affirmes also upon his own Tryal, that it hath a larger proportion of the Minerals, than Astrap-water; but that the Force holds not, if removed from the Spring-head. And Dr. Wittie hath himself sufficiently asserted the Vertues of the Scarborough-Spaw; and particularly, that it cured the Asthma, Inveterate Catharrs, Heckticks, Consumptions, Scurvy, Dropsy, and other diseases, when they seemed seemed incurable: That an Alderman of Hull (to whom himself, and the famous Dr. Primrose, were, 15. years agoe, joyntly Physitians for the Asthma) had in few days perfect cure by the Spaw, and is yet living to vouch the testimony: So that all the neighbourhood are taught by frequent experience to sing the old Song of Claudian, which he made for his Aponus.
Publica morborum requies, commune medentum
Auxilium, præsens Numen, inempta Salus.
And this old Record may put use in mind, that lofty Groves and healing Fountains have been reputed Holy in old times; and we can show the Hospitals, which have been long agoe built and endowed on purpose to entertain the poor passengers in their travels to such waters. This I had not here mentioned, but to introduce our Authors weighty remark; That these Waters loose all their virtues, yea their quantity and bulk also, though in Glasses, and under the Hermetick Seale, if removed from the Fountain-head; that then they become suddenly putrid, ill-colored, loosing the tast and scent, and being very noxious, and begetting the Jaundise and worse diseases. The like is affirmed by Dr French, that the Knarsborough Water expires through Glass and the firmest Seales. And Dr. Heer affirmes of his Spadocrene, that by such removals, illas a communibus nihil discrepasse, ut quibus singulis lagenis aquæ vitrum (which is guessed to be half a pint) decesserat. He adds; Decedit etiam quantitati— si fons hic alio transferatur—quia spiritu turgentia plus loci, quam eo privata, occupare amant. And Frambesarius reports as much of the Sauvenir, that in bottles well healed up, there wanted to every lagena (flask) one Glass of its measure (doubtless through the losse of the volatile Spirits.) Here we want instruction, Whether the decrease was as well of Weight as of Bulk of Quantity.
Whatever these Spirits be, which will neither endure to travel from the place, nor will be confined in any botle, not under any Seal; Dr Wittie undertakes to evince by good Proofs, and manifold indications, that these Scarborough waters have a mixture or tincture of Iron, Allum, Nitre, and probably of a small dose of Common Salt: Nay, he affirmes punctually (p, 175) as upon his own Experiment, that 5. quarts of this water contain at the least an Ounce of Minerals, and in dry years, 10. drams; And yet that the usual dose for women to remove the Green sickness is 3. quarts of water, and sometimes more.
He further voucheth his own Trial (p. 179.) that Knarsborough hath 2. Ounce of Salt in a Gallon, though it be 40. miles distant from the Sea: And that he hath found also by tryal, the 16th part of the Nothern Sea-water near Scarborough to be a body of Salt (an Ounce of Salt for every pint;) and he conceives the Southern Seas to contain a greater proportion of Salt. Hare we must distinguish, that the 2. Onnces of Salt above mentioned, to be found in every Gallon of Knarsborough-water, belong to the Well there called the Sulphur-well: And for the healing properties of the Sweet well (es they call the other Well at Knarsborough) he refers to the Ingenious and illustrious Experiments of Dr. French and Dr. Dean.
All which being considered, we cannot but add, that whoever discovers such healing waters, and publickly prescribes the safe and right use of them, does really distribute larger and nobler Almes, than if he built and endowed a Savoy. For this prolongs life, and restores health, (whch is sometimes better than life) both to rich and Poor, to Natives and strangers, to Neighbors and Travellors.
We cannot take off out hands here, without annexing our Authors related Experiment of Carps (p. 25.) which were taken out of Ponds newly drained, and being put with fresh water into a Copper Brewing-vessel, to be preserved but for one night, were all found dead in the morning. This he imputes to the poisonous steams of the Copper communicated to the cold water.
Among the Causes of Hot-Springs, he doth (p. 181.) alledge a considerable remark on an Observation, made by the late Lord Fairfax, of some heaps of White powder, which he found sweat out of the Earth near Bath (in Somersetshire,) which being put into the water, makes it hot; as my self (saith the Doctor) did experience 5. or 6. years after his Lordship had taken it up.
As to his last Experimentai Demonstrations and Observations, How the fall of Rain and Snow may generally and most frequently be the cause of out purest, liveliest and most lasting Springs, they doe all agree most punctually in all circumstances, with the Experiences and Observations of an Antient and very Worthy Gentleman, who lives on th side of Mendip-hills, and hath had his Eyes always from his Youngest days upon the fairest and fullest Sources and Amnery's, I say not of Mendip but I think I may say of this Island. This Gentleman hath given to a friend of his the Instances and Particulars under his own hand, both for the Springs about Mendip, and in other parts of England; and hath many other Ancient Witnesses to joyn with him in the same Certificate. And yet Dr. Wittie attributes much (some will say, more than enough) to the Conversion of Air into Water in the Subterraneaous Channels: For the Illustration of which he himself knew a Sergeant, belonging to Hull, who in a Diabete did void above 6. quarts or 12. pounds of Urine every 24 hours, for some weeks together, till all his Musculous parts were dissolved into Urine; the measure whereof did farr exceed the weight of his whole Body, and of his Meat and Drink: In all this time he drank not 3. pints of drink in a day. I know net whether I dare alleadg here Sir Kenelm Digby's relation, he recited of the Nun, which voided 200 pounds of Water, as from her bladder, every 24. hours, for some weeks together: or that Older record of a sick Maid in Italy, who did every day voyd 36. pints or pounds of Urine for the space of 60. days; during which time there were collected 1740. pounds of Urine more than the weight of all her Meat and Drink, that she had taken. Horum & similium sides penes Authores este.
ERRATA in Numb. 50. to be thus corrected Pag. 1001. l. 14. read Hippocrates. p. 1005 l. 1. r. as farr as the Tropick. p. 1007. l. 25. r. (from the Lizard) p. 1009 l. 14. r. are not many. ib. l. 20. r. hints, easily p. 1012. l. 14. r. not very rare. ) p. 1013. l. 16. r this kind ib. l. 18 r. to breed. ib l. 21. r. Histoire p. 1015. l. 22. r. their head. p. 1019. l. ib. r. Zwelfer. ib. r. Pharmacopæa.
LONDON, Printed by T. N. for John Martyn Printer to the Royall Society, and are to be sold at the Bell a little without Temple Bar, 1669.