Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Part 21

The Experiments are ten.

1. _A Solution of Vitriol and Camphire_; in which by a change of Texture, appear'd the Production of a deep colour from a {195} white Body, and a clear Liquor without any external heat: The destruction of this Colour, by adding only some fair water: The change of an Odorous Body, _as Camphire_, into an Inodorous, by mixing it with a Body, that has scarce any sensible odour of its own: The sudden restauration of the _Camphire_ to its native scent and other qualities, by common water, &c.

2. _Sublimate, distill'd from Copper and Silver_, which both did wholly loose their Metalline forms, and were melted into brittle lumps, with colours quite differing from their own; both apt to imbibe the moisture of the Air, &c.

3. _A solution of silver into Luna Cornea_: Whereby the opacous, malleable and hardly fusible Body of _Silver_, was, by the addition of a little spirit of salt, reduced into Chrystals, differing from those of other Mettals; diaphanous also, and brittle, and far more easily fusible, than Silver; wholly unlike either a Salt or a Mettal, but very like to a piece of _Horn_, and withall insipid, though the Solution of Silver, be very bitter, and the spirit of salt, highly sowre, &c.

4. _An Anomalous Salt_; (which the Author had not, it seems the liberty to teach the Preparation off) whose Ingredients were purely Saline, and yet the Compound, made up only of salt, sowre, and strongly tasted Bodies, was rather _really_ sweet, than of any other taste , and when a little urged with heat, its odour became stronger, and more insupportable than that of _Aqua fortis_, _distilled Urine_ and even _spirit of salt Ammoniack_; but yet when these Fumes settled again into salt, their odour would again prove inoffensive, if not pleasant &c.

5. _A Sea-salt, whence Aqua fortis had been distilled_: Where the Liquor, that came over, proved an _Aqua Regis_: the substance in the bottom, had not onely a mild taste, and {196} affected the Pallat much more like salt-peter, than Common salt; but was also very fusible, and inflammable, though produced of two un-inflammable bodies: and the same substance, consisting of _Acid_ salts, by a certain way of the Author, produced a _Fixt_ salt.

6. _Oyle of Vitriol poured upon a Solution of Bay-salt:_ whence was abstracted a liquor, that by the smell and Taste appeared to be a spirit of salt. In which operation, the mixture, by working a great change of Texture, did so alter the nature of the compounding Bodies, that the sea-salt, though a considerably fixt Body, was distill'd over in a moderate Fire of sand, whilst the Oyl of Vitriol, though no such gross salt, was by the same operation so fixt, as to stay behind: Besides that the same, by a competent heat yeilded a substance, though not insipid, yet not at all of the taste of Sea-salt, or of any other pungent one, much less having the highly corrosive acidity of oyl of Vitriol, &c.

7. _A dissolvent, made by pouring a strong spirit of Nitre on the rectified Oyl of the b.u.t.ter of Antimony, and then distilling off all the liquor, that would come over, &c._ This _Menstruum_ (called by the Author _Peracutum_) being put to highly refined Gold, destroyed its Texture, and produced, after the method prescribed in the book, a _true Silver_, as its whiteness in colour, dissolublenes in _Aqua fortis_, and odious Bitterness, did manifest: which change of a Mettal, commonly esteemed to be absolutely indestructible by Art, though it be far from being _Lucriferous_, is yet exceedingly _Instructive_; as is also the way, the Author here adds, of _Volatilizing_ Gold, by the power of the same _Dissolvent_.

8. _Aqua fortis, concoagulated with differing Bodies_, produced very differing Concretes: And the same Numeral Saline Corpuscles, that being a.s.sociated with those of one Mettal, had already produced a Body eminent in one Taste, did {197} afterwards, being freed from that Body, compose a Liquor of a very differing taste; and after _that_ too, being combin'd with the parties of another Mettal, did with them const.i.tute a Body of a very eminent Taste, as opposite as any one can be to both the other Tasts; and yet these Saline Corpuscles, being instead of this second Mettal, a.s.sociated with such a one as that, they are driven from, did therewith exhibite again the first of the three mention'd Tasts.

9. _Water trans.m.u.ted into Earth_, though the Author saith of this Trans.m.u.tation, that it was not so perfect, as he wish'd, and as he hopes to make it.

10. _A mixture of Oyle of Vitriol and Spirit of Wine._ These two Liquors, being of odd Textures in reference to each other, their conjunction and distillation made them exhibite these _Phaenomena_: _vid._ That, whereas Spirit of Wine has no great, nor good scent, and moderately dephlegm'd Oyl of Vitriol is wont to be inodorous; the Spirit, that first came over from their mixture, had a scent not only very differing from Spirit of Wine, but from all things else, that the Author ever smelt; the Odor being very fragrant & pleasant, and so subtle, that in spight of the care taken in luting the Gla.s.ses exactly together, it would perfume the neighbouring parts of the _Laboratory_, and afterwards smell strongly at some distance from the Viol, wherein it was put, though stopt with a close Cork covered with two or three several Bladders. But, after this volatile and odoriferous Spirit was come over, and had been follow'd by an Acid Spirit, it was at last succeeded by a strongly stinking Liquor, &c.

But _Manum de Tabula_: the Book it self will certainly give a satisfaction far beyond what here can be said of it. {198}

_Some New observations about the Planet _Mars_, communicated since the Printing of the former sheets._

There was very lately produced a Paper, containing some observations, made by Mr. _Hook_, about the Planet _Mars_; in the _Face_ whereof he affirmed to have discovered, in the late months of _February_ and _March_, that there are several _Maculae_ or _Spotted parts_, changing their place, and not returning to the same Position, till the next ensuing night near about the same time. Whence it may be collected, that _Mars_ (as well as _Jupiter_, and the _Earth_, &c.) does move about his own _Axis_, of which a fuller account will be given hereafter, G.o.d permitting. This short and hasty intimation of it, is intended onely to invite others, that have opportunity, timely to make Observations, (either to confirm, or rectify) before _Mars_ gets out of sight.

Printed with Licence for _John Martyn_, and _James Allestry_, Printers to the Royal Society. 1666.

{199}

_Num._ 12.

PHILOSOPHICAL _TRANSACTIONS._

_Munday_, _May_ 7. 1666.

The Contents.

_A way of Preserving Birds taken out of the Egge, and other small _Fetus's_; communicated by _Mr. Boyle_. An Extract of a Letter, lately sent to _Sr. Robert Moray_ out of _Virginia_, concerning an unusuall way of Propagating Mulberry-trees there, for the better improvement of the _Silk-Work_; together with some other particulars, tending to the good of that _Royall_ Plantation. A Method, by which a Gla.s.s of a small Plano-Convex Sphere may be made to refract the Rayes of Light to a _Focus_ of a far greater distance, than is usuall. Observations about _s.h.i.+ning Worms_ in Oysters. Observations of the Effects of _Touch_ and _Friction_. Some particulars, communicated from forrain Parts, concerning the Permanent _Spott_ in _Jupiter_; and a contest between two Artists about _Optick-Gla.s.ses_, &c. An Account of a Book written by _Dr. Thomas Sydenham_, ent.i.tuled, _Methodus Curandi Febres, propriis Observationibus superstructa_._

_A way of preserving Birds taken out of the Egge, and other small _Faetus's_; communicated by _Mr. Boyle_._

This was imparted in a Letter, as follows;

[Sidenote: * _In the Usefulness of Experimental Philosophy._]

The time of the year invites me to intimate to you, that among the other Uses of the Experiment, I long since presented the _Society_, of preserving Whelps taken out of the Dams womb, and other _Faetus's_, or parts of them, in _Spirit of Wine_; I {200} remember, I did, when I was sollicitous to observe the Processe of Nature in the Formation of a Chick, open Hens Eggs, some at such a day, and some at other daies after the beginning of the Incubation, and carefully taking out the _Embryo's_, embalmed each of them in a distinct Gla.s.s (which is to be carefully stopt) in _Spirit of Wine_: Which I did, that so I might have them in readinesse, to make on them, at any time, the Observations, I thought them capable of affording; and to let my Friends at other seasons of the year, see, _both_ the differing appearances of the Chick at the third, fourth, seventh, fourteenth, or other daies, after the Eggs had been sate on, _and_ (especially) some particulars not obvious in Chickens, that go about; as the hanging of the Gutts out of the _Abdomen_, &c. How long the tender _Embryo_ of the Chick soon after the _Punctum saliens_ is discoverable, _and_ whilst the Body seems but a little Organized Gelly, _and_ some while after _That_, will be this way preserv'd, without being too much shrivel'd up, I was hindred by some mischances to satisfie my self: but when the _Faetus's_, I took out, were so perfectly formed as they were wont to be about the seventh day, and after, they so well retain'd their shape and bulk, as to make me not repent of my curiosity: And some of those, which I did very early this Spring, I can yet shew you. I know I have mention'd to you an easie application of what I, some year since, made publick enough; but not finding it to have been yet made by any other, and being perswaded by Experience, that it may be extended to other _Faetus's_, which this season (the _Spring_) is time to make provision off, I think the _Advertis.e.m.e.nt_ will not seem unseasonable to some of our Friends; though being now in haste, and having in my thoughts divers particulars, relating to this way of Preserving Birds taken out of the Egge, and other small _Faetus's_, I must content my self to have mention'd that, which is _Essential_, leaving divers other things, which a little practise may teach the Curious, unmention'd. Notwithstanding which, I must not omit these two Circ.u.mstances; the _one_, that when the Chick was grown big, before I took it out of the Egge, I have (but not constantly) {201} mingled with the _Spirit of Wine_, a little Spirit of _Sal Armoniack_, made (as I have elsewhere delivered) * by the help of _Quick-lime_: which Spirit I choose, because, though it abounds in a Salt not Sowre, but Urinous, yet I never observed it (how strong soever I made it) to coagulate Spirit of Wine. The _other_ circ.u.mstance is, that I usually found it convenient, to let the little _Animals_, I meant to imbalme, lie for a little while in ordinary Spirit of Wine, to wash off the looser filth, that is wont to adhere to the Chick, when taken out of the Egge; and then, having put either the same kind of Spirit, or better upon the same Bird, I suffer'd it to soak some hours (perhaps some daies, _pro re nata_) therein, that the Liquor, having drawn as it were what Tincture it could, the _Faetus_ being remov'd into more pure and well dephlegm'd Spirit of Wine, might not discolour it, but leave it almost as limpid, as before it was put in.

_An Extract of a Letter, sent lately to Sir _Robert Moray_ out of _Virginia_, concerning an _unusual_ way of propagating _Mulberry trees_ there, for the better improvement of the _Silk-Work_; together with some other particulars, tending to the good of that _Plantation_._

I am disappointed at this time of some Rarities of Minerals, Mettals, and Stones; but you may have them any other time, as conveniently, &c. I have planted here already ten thousand _Mulberry trees_; and hope, within two or three years, to reap good silk of them. I have planted them in a way unusual here, which advances them two or three years growth, in respect of their being sown in seed: And they are now, at writing hereof all holding good, although this has been a very long and bitter winter with us, much longer and colder, than ever I did find it in _Scotland_ or _England_. I intend likewise to plant {202} them all, as if they were _Currants_ or _Goos-berries_, so thick as hedges; whereby one man may gather as many of them, as otherwise, when they are planted in trees at distance, four persons my do. Expedient is the benefit of this Trade. Having discoursed of this new way to all here; they are generally inclinable to it; considering that the Planting their Trees, as before, at distance, and letting them grow high, has been the main obstruction of that work hitherto, and the loss of their time and gain: but being in hedges, they will be always young tender plants; and consequently will be easily cut in great quant.i.ties with a pair of Garden Sizzers. But there may be suggested yet another, and perhaps a better way; which is, to sowe some Acres with _Mulberry seed_, and to cut it with a sith, and ever to keep it under. I have also bethought my self of a new way, for a few hands to serve many Worms, and that more cleanly than before: which also will be a means, without more trouble or pains, to separate unhealthy worms from healthful; and by which a great many more may be kept in a room, than otherwise upon shelves, as is usual here. Besides this, I have sown a little _French Barley_ and _Rice seed_, and am thinking on a way of un-husking them with expedition, and so preparing them for the Merchant, as they use to be: But if you can inform me, how they are prepared, you may save me some labour. If I had any _Coffee_ in husks, or any other vegetable commodity, from the Streights to try, I would here make tryal with them. Its like, that some of those Merchants that are of your _Society_, and keep a Correspondency there, may a.s.sist in procuring them. By the latter s.h.i.+ps I intend to send you a New sort of sweet sented _Tobacco_, which I have not yet had time to improve.

_A Method, by which a Gla.s.s of a small Plano-convex Sphere may be made to refract the Rayes of light to a _Focus_ of a far greater distance, than is usual._

This is proposed by Mr. _Hook_, in consequence of what was {203} mention'd from him in _Numb._ 4 _pag._ 67, of these _Transactions_.

Prepare (_saith he_) two Gla.s.ses, the one exactly flat on both sides, the other flat on the one side, and convex on the other, of what Sphere you please. Let the flat Gla.s.s be a little broader than the other. Then let there be made a Cell or Ring of Bra.s.s, very exactly turn'd, into which these two Gla.s.ses may be so fastened with Cement, that the plain surfaces of them may lye exactly paralell, and that the Convex-side of the Plano-convex-Gla.s.s may lye inward; but so, as not to touch the flat of the other Gla.s.s. These being cemented into the Ring very closely about the edges, by a small hole in the side of the Bra.s.s-ring or Cell, fill the interposed s.p.a.ce between these two with _Water_, _Oyl of Turpentine_, _Spirit of Wine_, _Saline Liquors_, _&c;_ then stop the hole with a screw: and according to the differing refraction of the interposed Liquors, so shall the _Focus_ of the compound Gla.s.s be longer or shorter.

But this (adds the _Proposer_) I would only have look't upon, as one instance of many (for there may be others) of the _Possibility_ of making a Gla.s.s, ground in a smaller Sphere, to const.i.tute a Telescope of a much greater length: Though (not to raise too great exspectation) I must add, That of _Spherical_ object gla.s.ses, those are the best, which are made of the greatest Sphere, and whose substance hath the greatest refraction.

_Observations about _s.h.i.+ning Worms_ in Oysters._

These Observations occur in the _French journal_ of _April_ 12. 1666. in two letters, written by M. _Auzout_ to M. _Dela Voye_; whereof the substance may be reduced to the following particulars.

1. That M. _Dela Voye_ having observed, as he thought, {204} some s.h.i.+ning Worms in Oysters; M. _Auzout_, being made acquainted with it, did first conceive, they were not Worms (unless they were crushed ones) that s.h.i.+n'd, as having not been able then to discern any parts of a Worm; but only some s.h.i.+ning clammy moysture; which appeared indeed like a little Star of a blewish colour, and stuck to the Oyster-sh.e.l.l; being drawn out, shone in the Air its whole length (which was about four or five lines,) and when put upon the _Observers_ hand, continued to s.h.i.+ne there for some time.

2. That M. _Auzout_ afterwards, causing more than 20. douzen of Oysters to be open'd at Candle-light, really saw, in the dark, such s.h.i.+ning worms in them; and those of three sorts. _One_ sort was whitish, having 24. or 25.

feet on each side, forked; a black speck on one side of the head (taken by him for a _Chrystallin_) & the back like an Eele, stript off her skin. The _second_, red, and resembling the common _Glow-worms_, found at Land, with folds upon their backs, and feet like the former; and with a nose like that of a dog, and one eye in the head. The _third_ sort was speckled, having a head like that of a Sole, with many tufts of whitish hair on the sides of it,

3. That, besides these, the _Observer_ saw some much bigger, that were grayish, with a big head, and two horns on it, like those of a Snayl, and with 7. or 8. whitish feet, but these, though kept by him in the night, s.h.i.+n'd not.

4. That the two first sorts are made of a matter easily resoluble, the least shaking or touch turning them in into a viscous and aqueous matter; which falling from the sh.e.l.l, stuck to the _Observers_ fingers, and shone there for the s.p.a.ce of 20. seconds: and if any little part of this matter, by strongly shaking the sh.e.l.l, did fall to the ground, it appear'd like a little piece of a flaming Brimstone; and when shaken off nimbly, it became like a small s.h.i.+ning Line, which was dissipated before it came to the ground.

{205} 5. That this s.h.i.+ning matter was of different colour; some, whitish, some, reddish; but yet that they afforded both, a light which appear'd a violet to his eye.

6. That it is very hard to examine these worms entire (especially the white ones) because that at the least touch they doe burst, and resolve into a glutinous moysture; whence also if it were not for their feet, that are discover'd in their matter, none would judge them to be Worms.