PHILOSOPHICAL DIALOGUES Concerning the Principles OF NATURAL BODIES: WHEREIN The Principles of the Old and New Philosophy are stated, and the New demonstrated, more agreeable to Reason, from Mechanical Experiments and its usefulness to the benefit of Mankind. By W. Simpson. M. D. LONDON: Printed by T. Hodgkin, for Dorman Newman at the Kings-Arms in the Poultry. 1677. TO The most noble Prince, GEORGE, DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM, etc. My LORD, WHen I had writ this small Philosophical Treatise, I was casting about in my thoughts, whether this Infant needed a Patron, it was not (as I judged) so much) an Embryo-Anchorite or of such tender Age, but it might go abroad without hold; nor so much stricken in years, as it had need of a Staff, in as much as ipsa veritas suimet patrona est maxima; nor yet that it was arrived to that full strength as to need no support: Amidst which considerations my Lord, your Grace fraught with experimental Philosophy came in view; but I stopped a while, pausing upon it, not daring at the first glance, to be so confident, till I had taken a better prospect of your personal candour to Ingenuity; (which was not the least of those resplendent Gems that adorn the breast of Nobility) your encouragement to the improvements of Philosophy, grounded upon Mechanical Experiments; your favouring that for of Physic founded upon, and illustrated by the Noble Chymia, the Basis of a genuine Philosophical Hypothesis; and in particular your great condescension in familiar discourse concerning matters of this nature: All which, My Lord, duly weighed, has given me the boldness to take liberty of dedicating these my Labours (the first of their kind, I know off, yet extant) to your Grace: If worth the perusal, it's well: with what curiosities they will entertain you, let them speak for themselves. May these Philosophical Speculations shade themselves under your Tutelage, and take shelter under your suffrage, shall doubtless give them better lustre abroad, rendering them more acceptable to others, and give him an encouragement to a further concern, who is My Lord, Your Grace's Most humble Servant W. Simpson. THE PREFACE TO THE READER. Candid Reader, SEveral Sheets of which this ensuing small tract is composed, had laid by me near seven years, whose Nativity might be Calculated from that time I was so deeply engaged with my quondam Antagonist, Dr. Witty, about Mineral Waters, and particularly about the Mineral or Spaw-waters of Yorkshire: For after I had writ my Hydrolog. Chym. ere I had concluded the second part (being intitutled Hydrolog. Essays, or a Vindication of the first) I fell upon some Philosophical Speculations, which when I had scattered in lose Papers, let them lie dormant, waiting a seasonable oppurtunity for the publishing thereof: And taking an occasiion lately to review them, I corrected, altered, and added as I thought necessary, putting them into a dress, how suitable to the genius of this Critical Age, and how worthy to see Light, as it's not meet for me to say, so must refer to thy more serious consideration, and deep judgement to determine. Perhaps thou mayst without much streining guess whom I mean by Hydrophilus' personating the old Philosophy: if thou through any Analogy to the Peripatetic Philosophy, he in his Book vindicates, or through any likeness to his morose Sentiments and dogmatical Placets, or by any other similar Motives, shalt be drawn to conclude him to be the Person, I shall not gainsay; then may'st thou fix thy eye upon him, (no less like than a well drawn Copy, to the Original) as the grand Champion of that Old Cause or if thou approve not thereof, may by that name imagine any other person indifferently, speaking for, and arguing on the behalf of that lean and therefore hectically inclined, and well nigh expiring Philosophy, which will certainly die of a Consumption, in Tract of time (as the other comes on, and grows vigorous,) wearing insensibly away. In this Treatise, as in a Landscape, mayst view such a draught (although in Epitome) of the Principles of natural Philosophy, as if drawn to the Life, may generally and genuinely (without any force) represent and solve (we think) nature's Phaenomena in the appearances of most Bodies we meet with: In it may find such a set of the Elements of natural Bodies, as (if wound up to the height) may conspire the procuring a Philosophic harmony: Not to say here, how teeming a womb our Principles have, nor how they do quadrate (and that perhaps more universally) with Nature in her abstruse causes, nor how consistent with themselves, nor last how adapted to the regular motions of Nature, and accommodated to the rendering intelligible Nature's model in the Fabric, Metastasis, and taking in pieces of Bodies, viz. in making Philosophic appearances more conspicuous to our understanding, but refer all our speculations to stand at the Bar of thy more mature (not I hope severe) judgement. We have in this ensuing discourse, but slightly touched upon our Principles, especially that sevenfold complication of Fire, whose Principles are under one or other of the seven modifications, twisted or interwoven amongst most Bodies (especially Animals, Vegetables, and many Minerals) we converse with: yet may ex ungue leonem, measure the whole by the scantling: the further and ample discourse thereof, we refer to its proper place (viz.) to our Tentamen Physiologic. to which this is chief introductory: As to our Halologia Chymica being our discourse of Salts, and our Lithologia Physica concerning petrification, to both which we sometimes refer the Reader: our labours therein are at present only in Embryo, yet pretty forward towards the Birth, if at their full time shall be thought worthy to be borne, may ere long see light. Seeing the field of Nature is very large, and many may be taking measures thereof by their several ways of Physico-metrical commensuration, and that every one has his liberty to survey her with the best instruments Mechanism will afford; and yet the Artists and all the Tools they can procure or invent, the former too short sighted, and the latter too few, to reach her profundity, to sinned out the quadrature of her Circle, or to take the exact dimention of her Solids. So that there is work enough for as many Geomitricians (I had almost said Pioners) to Nature, as are adapted by long observation, and study for that work: And in my opinion all the late Physico-Metricians (if I may so call them) have in one sort or other done well; Thus Tachenius, Ʋander Bect, Beckerus, etc. have every one in their several capacities performed some service towards on improvement of Philosophy; not that I could, or would justify each of these in their several Hypotheses, but I think they have done this great piece of service, in that they have furnished us with many mechanical experiments, which although each in their way makes use of for building their particular Hypothesis, yet we may well admit them as materials (viz.) Wood, Stone, etc. in order to a further and more rational Fabric: but above all these, the noble and worthy Boil has laid in so many materials, by his curious and manifold mechanical experiments and observations, as has thereby furnished the Chequer of learning with a vast stock. Hence its reasonable (I say) every one should have liberty not only in laying in materials, but also of venturing (if he have skill in building) to put them together, what freedom I have taken herein, is no more than what is in common to any other: And in short, whether I have used any skill in cementing together those notions I had grounded upon mechanical experiments, and what uniformity there is in the Fabric I have ventured on in this ensuing, and in other tracts already published, or yet to publish, (being room enough in the vast shop of Nature for as many as please to set up for themselves) is referred (gentle Reader) to thee to determine. And wherein I fall short in this tract, (as being only an abstract of the Principles of Philosophy) I have endeavoured to make up in my Zymologia Physica, or Philosophical discourse of Fermentation, (a noble subject and worthy the best of Pens,) to which occasionally I sometimes refer: also in my aforesaid pieces. If this find acceptance, I have thoughts also (favente numine Divino) to collect and digest some scattered notions, and at present immature speculations, I have about the abstruse Phaenomena of Hypochondraisme and occult qualities; where the the true seat is of that grassant and afflicting malady; whence issues such varieties of sypmtoms, and what the Organs by which it's managed, with some considerations offered about the cure thereof, by other remedies than are through the ignorance of its causes) usually prescribed. Meanwhile, if thou look favourably upon these present (although small) endeavours, may encourage him to a further task, who bids thee farewell, W. S. LONDON, April. the 10th. 1677. PHILOSOPHICAL DIALOGUES. SECT. I. Pyrophilus. WEll met, Hydrophilus, what's the matter that your Countenance is so discompoed? what is't that troubles you? Hydrophilus. Troubles me, Pyrophilus? you know well enough, you need not ask the Question. Pyroph. I may perhaps guests; but pray tell me what it is that sticks so on your stomach, as to cause such a cloudiness to overcast the brightness of your natural features? Hydroph. It is in plain terms, a company of your new Philosophers forsooth, that a man cannot sit quietly down with our old imbibed Principles of peripatetic Philosophy, nor safely ruminate upon them, but must be disturbed by your conceited fancies indeed; we that have some of us spent so much time in the Colleges, and have taken a great deal of pains to be skilled in the old Philosophy of Aristotle, and his followers, and you (a company of Punies) to amuse us, and (which is worse) the world, with your new Crotchets, like so many new-nothings; it was never a good world since such a young fry of Novel Philosophers peeped up. Pyroph. But why (Hydroph.) so wrath with the new Philosophers? Hydroph. Would it not (Pyroph.) raise the spleen of any, even the calmest Dogmatists, to see you appear upon the Stage of the World, like so many Americans, presenting new and unheard of things, yea like so many innovators in Philosophy, every one bringing his Beads, Rattles, etc. I mean his new Notions, filling the ears of the people with your so much noised Mechanical Experiments forsooth. Pyroph. Stay, why so passionate (Hydroph?) pray curb your choler, and discourse more calmly; there's no cause of such heat, if you weigh the matter well. Hydroph. That's strange! how can a man restrain from passion, while he observes a company of you innovators endeavour (if it were possible) to bereave a man of his beloved Notions, to rob him of his first conceived Opinons, to tumble the Phiosophical Orb up-side down, yea by ransacking and demolishing ours to establish your new Crincums'. Pyroph. But stay (good Hydroph.) be not so hasty, go not on so fast; let not the zeal for the old Philosophy hurry you too fast, nor drive you out of good nature. Hydroph. I tell you (Pyroph.) I have much ado to bear it, I can scarce contain myself within bounds when I think on't: That we who have spent the most, yea the prime and flower of our years in sucking in the old Principles, should now of a sudden, through the introduction of your Whims, be looked upon as triflers, yea be brought to this unhappy dilemma, either to reclaim our formerly taken-in Principles, or to run the hazard of the repute of old Peripatetics, which now gins to sound as badly in the ears of the World, as it doth in the ears of a woman to be called Old. Pyroph. Pray (Hydroph.) compose yourself a little, and be more calm; let not the headiness of passion overrule you, but discourse the matter fairly and mildly. Hydroph? Mildly, (Pyroph.) how can that be? when we are so affronted and abused, that our esteem in the world seems passed its crisis, and got upon the wrong side of the vertical point, deeply declining, and all through your so much admired Philosophical Stratagems: For I know not better how to denominate your mechanical Experiments than so many Stratagems, by which you seek cunningly to overturn and lay waste the walls of our good old Philosophy. Pyroph. The affront (Hydroph.) is not so great, if you consider that from the aforesaid mechanical Experiments a new Hypothesis is, or may be raised, whereby you may approach nearer the knowledge of the truth (the great work of Philosophers.) Hydroph. Truth? I tell you we were sufficiently satisfied before of the truth of our already established Hypothesis: and therein (although an inch broke no square with us) could solve the Phaenomena well enough, at at least as much as we thought needful for us, who do not affect too much nicety in our speculations, nor to be too critical in our deductions. Pyroph. Well (Hydroph.) but will not truth be more acceptable to you when the reasons of things shall be deduced from more natural and genuine Principles, illustrated by mechanical Observations. Hydroph. Mechanical Observations (said you Pyroph?) yea that's your Diana, you and the world of late so much admire: your Bacon, and your Boil, or your Bacon well boiled is so much in fashion with you, that scarce any other Dish (although never so good) prepared after an old fashion, will go down with you. Pyroph. But withal (Hydroph.) you forgot to add a Calf's head, which together make a savoury Dish (usually going hand in hand) much in use in the Colleges, especially amongst the Seniors, those old sit-fasts. Hydroph. Droll not (Pyroph.) for I am in good sad earnest, and cannot but tell you (even with a heavy heart) it's a hard case, that we must be compelled to turn Schoolboys again, and go with Satchels on our backs, to learn at your Pyrotechnical and Mechanical Schools, or else lie under the censure of every pitiful smatterer, that's lately crept out of the shell, and no sooner looks about him, but falls to Mechanism and Mechanical Philosophy forsooth, a thing never known, nor scarce thought of by our ancient Predecessors. Pyroph. It's, I confess, a great trial of your ingenuity, and demonstrates how much (Hydroph.) you favour truth, although attainable after former disappointments, to quit the first Principles (although strongly impressed) and to turn Volunteers to another more plausible cause, which yet is no more than the badge of an ingenuous temper. Hydroph. What for us that are grey headed in the ancient sort of Philosophy, understanding every tittle of the materia prima, forma substantialis, privatio, all the affections of natural bodies, internal and external, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, and quiddities of a thousand things more, familiar to us in our Philosophy, which we have all ad unguem; For us, I say (Pyroph.) to be constrained, to have all these impressions wiped off, and so become so many rasa tabulas susceptible of new impressions of another new (we know not what) sort of Phiysiology, would it not, think you, gall any man to the inwards? Pyroph. But if all those Notions by the induction of another, and more plausible Hypothesis be demonstrated (Hydroph.) to be no more than figments and Utopian Conjectures, shall not that (what ever it be) which is grounded upon an experimental Basis, be more satisfactory, and of more validity, than the other (you quote) which is founded upon airy Chimaeras and fanciful Dreams? Hydroph. I shall not dispute that (Pyroph.) only what you insinuate, That ours is built (like Castles in the Air) upon mere Chimaeras, remains for you to prove. Pyroph. Which I shall endeavour to do (Hydroph.) for your satisfaction in the sequel of our Discourse. Hydroph. Well, but if I must be the judge to determine the controversy betwixt us, I should (Pyroph.) (once for all) for Antiquities sake, and indeed for our own too, (who have toiled in that sort of Philosophy) give it clearly against you: for I must declare, I highly approve (and that for some reasons aforesaid) of the old sort of Philosophising. Pyroph. You are it seems then (Hydroph.) a Philosopher of the old fashion, and therefore, no doubt, can readily give your suffrage on your own side: But if you bring not better, or more recent Arguments for the upholding thereof, that are yet more cogent than any we see hitherto, your old manner of Philosophising will be out of date, and you, ere long, will want Proselytes. Hydroph. Why? if we can (Pyroph.) by an Hypothesis already erected satisfy ourselves, in the general, in the explicating of the causes of things, it's enough, we have what we aim at: For we would not (we declare) be guilty of too much prying into the nature of things, left we confound our thoughts, and at length lose ourselves by too deep speculations into the reasons of things, contained in the vast Volume and intricate Labyrinth of the World. Pyroph. True, (Hydroph.) the circuit of nature is of a large extent, many (not to say infinite) are the Meanders of that intricate Maze of things we converse with; one Century is not enough, nor a great many Philosophers sufficient to pry narrowly and well to search into, so as throughly to find out the vast depth of all the secrets of nature, or to investigate every Phoenomenon of the Mundan Susteme, or rightly to know every Encheiresis, and the Motion of every Wheel of the vast Machine of the World. Hydroph. Why therefore, (Pyroph.) seeing nature is so intricate in all her works, and so curious in every texture of bodies (as you seem to insinuate) why, I say, should we be too solicitous about any one Hypothesis, so as out of an affected humour (some are more guilty of than others) to prefer that before another. Pyroph. Because to me (Hydroph.) it seems rational that that Hypothesis (what ever it be) by which the Phaenomena can more clearly and genuinly be solved, ought of right to be preferred before the rest; for if I mistake not, to render any Hypothesis such, it is indispensably requisite that the principles concluded on, be of a competent number, teeming nature, perspicuous, and the most universal, well grounded upon Mechanical Experiments, and such whose deductions in the solution of the apparences of Nature, are to be (not racked but) natural and genuine. Hydro. We are apt to think (Pyroph!) (if we may be judges in our own cause) ours to be such: it has moreover served the world so many ages, being kept a foot by the Sages of every generation, till of late that some of you Upstarts have by your fanatic whims, grounded upon the canting mechanical experiments, won so much upon the world, as to give great jealousy ours is upon the verge of oblivion: and were it not that others (from whose judgement were are apt to measure our own demerits) were amuz'd with the new fancies, we could be content (for our own parts) to be bystanders to laugh at you, and to wait till we saw you weary of your own conceits. Pyroph. But if I tell you (Hydroph.) that you are allowed, (no more than others,) to be competent judges in your own concerns; and therefore the controversy is fairly to be scanned and determined by indifferent persons. And as to the continuation of your Hypothesis for many centuries and its flourishing in the days of many learned men, that makes no more for the evincing the truth thereof, than because for many centuries of the world, the Antipodes was disbelieved, yea by learned men, for instance Saint Austin, Lactantius, and others, that opinion of the Antipodes was deemed to be a direct heresy; that therefore, I say, it was really so: Or, if any, though never so learned man, before Columbus his time, should have concluded that no such vast part of the world was really discoverable, as America, that vast, large and rich part of the habitable Orb, because from the same reason not then found out, which after so many centuries and so many famed Navigations was not known till the late discovery made by (the thereby famed) Columbus, that therefore such a conclusion, I say, should have been genuine: whereas indeed it would have savoured so much of Antiquity, as to have proved very fatal to further invention, and contrary to what matter of fact might, yea did afterwards produce. And as to your being concerned that others now of late should be taken with our new Philosophy; we well know it toucheth you to the quick, to be lessened in your repute in the world. Hydroph. Well, (Pyroph.) suppose I should with you conclude, that such an Hypothesis as you speak off were chief to be desired, and that ours was not such; yet we find you are not well agreed amongst yourselves in order to the establishing thereof. Pyroph. That's not material (Hydroph.) For although several judicious and worthy men erect Hypotheses different from each other, and all cannot be thought to square with the genuine principles of nature, yea perhaps not one of them do coincide with the tenure and just method of nature, all (even the best) being reputed no other than Hypotheses; yet in as much as any Hypothesis is but a compendious System of Principles so laid or granted, as from whence genuine deductions and rational conclusions are to be made for the better and more clear understanding of the reason of things: Therefore what Hypothesis soever it be, whose principles are such and so laid as to approach nearest the character aforesaid; that without all doubt is by all ingenious persons to be preferred, till a better, (I mean such as comes nearer the mark and approacheth nearer the intent of nature) be found out, whereby the Phaenomena may yet more clearly genuinely and universally be solved. Hydroph. Why, what jangle is this (Pyroph.) you make about your new Hypotheses? are you displeased with the Philosophy of the Ancients, do you despise their inventions? Pyroph. No, far be it from me (Hydroph.) to have too low thoughts of the learning and sagacity of the Ancients; surely we are very much beholden to them in many things; and were they now living in this our age would many of them be most accomplished in the improvements of the new discoveries in Philosophy and Physic, and therefore in their time are to be looked upon with a favourable aspect. But to set up our staff with a ne plus ultra amongst the Ancients, notwithstanding the late great improvements of ingenuity and advancement of learning in all sorts of Philosophical inquiries, is (if I mistake not) too much to indulge Antiquity, savours too much of affecting that which is old, and dints the appetite to a more plentiful Banquet of more recent rarities. Hydrop. I tell you (Pyroph.) I am resolved (for aught I yet know) to stick to the Ancients back and edge, it's their learning with which I have been trained up. Pyroph. True, Hydroph. you and I are both beholden to them, you for their Precepts as the rule of your Philosophy and Physic, I for the same, as they are foils to set off the beauty, and shades to give a lustre to the new experimental Philosophy, or as contraries to illustrate each other. Hydroph. I must tell you (Pyroph.) that I look upon Aristotle and his followers or Commentators to be the chief, if not the only Dictator's of the good old Philosophy. Pyroph. And I must take leave to tell you (Hydroph.) that so much as Aristotle had of real solid knowledge, witness his History of Animals, which doubtless was acquired by a diligent and industrious autopsy, so much the Modern Philosophers put a value upon him: But as to the whole Body of his Physics, when I view his Theory of the Principles of natural Bodies, I cannot otherwise look upon them than as mere entia rationis, and in good earnest are merely figmental, viz. that which is not in rerum natura. SECT. II. Hydroph. WHy? are not (that we may speak to the purpose) his three intrinsic principles sufficient for the production of all natural Bodies (viz.) his Materia, forma, ac privatio? Is not his Materia prima, the first subject matter of all Bodies, as that out of which all natural bodies are not only made, but ultimately reducible into; and that which itself is without shape, yet capable of receiving all form, of which it is always greedy. Pyroph. Truly (Hydroph.) I know not what to make of his materia prima, yea think neither he, his Commentators, or you to boot, could ever ten how to render it intelligible: For the Peripatetics say, that it doth not subsist per se, but is only in potentia, and yet it is an ens non actu tamen potentia: Now (Hydroph.) that a constituent primary principle of all bodies should not be itself a body, is I confess a mystery to me indemonstrable. Hydroph. What think you (Pyroph.) of his forma substantialis, which he defines 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, (viz.) that which determines the materia prima in hoc aliquid, as that by which the essence of the thing is introduced into matter, and from which every thing is denominated. Pyroph. I have the same thoughts of it (Hydroph.) as I have of his materia prima (viz.) that they are both unintelligible, and, like an image, are nothing in the world. Hydroph. But what think you (Pyroph.) of his third Principle, Privation, which is the absence of the form in the subject matter, with an aptness of the matter to receive form. Pyroph. I think (Hydroph.) (and see no solid grounds to the contrary) that it is as imaginary as the former: and that his whole ternary of Principles of natural bodies are to be reckoned at the best but amongst entia rationis, and therefore not at all to be reputed essential Principles of natural bodies, but in a true sense are merely precarious: Therefore the famed Verulam in his Tract de sapientia veterum, to this purpose hints, where he saith, Opinio Peripatet. de stimulo materiae per privationem fere non ultra verba tendit, & rem potius sonat quam signat. Hydroph. How do you (Pyroph.) look upon his external Principles of bodies, viz. the efficient and final. Pyroph. Only (as I said before) entia rationis, mere reflections of an intellectual being, and therefore have no concurring influence upon bodies as Principles. Hydroph. But are there not (Pyroph.) (according to our Peripatetic Philosophy) certain affections of natural bodies, and those as the Philosopher distinguisheth either internal or external; viz. motion and rest, finite and infinite, which are internal: place and time, external: are not these, I say, proper affections inherent and consequent to natural bodies as such? Pyroph. Before I give my thoughts thereof, I would know (Hydroph.) what he or you mean by those affections of matter, and first what is meant by that affection called Motion? Hydroph. It is, (Pyroph.) if I may speak in our own Language) an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, or the action of that which is in potentia, as such. Pyroph. Surely that's a definition (Hydroph.) as difficultly to be understood, as to know what the Egyptian Osiris was: or to unfold their Mystical Hieroglyphics; yea, and for aught I know, more dark than to unveil the Enigmatical Emblems of the Hermetick Philosophers: however more difficult (I think) than to know the natural causes of the flux and reflux of the Sea, and less obvious than to know the causes of the Inundation of the River Nilus. Hydroph. But do not you think (Pyroph.) that motion is a proper affection of natural bodies, and that there are various species thereof, which are either conversant about a substance, or an accident: that of substance to be pertinent to motion, in order to generation and corruption? Pyroph. Yes, as to the first (Hydroph.) I do look upon motion as the most proper and compatible affection of matter, in order to the fabric of all natural bodies: but as to the division of the species thereof, I confess I do not understand; for I judge motion to be a simple affection of matter, not divisible into species: and that amongst bodies, as such, there are to be found, no other motion than that we call local motion, which is the chief mechanical affection of matter. Hydroph. That's strange (Pyroph.) how can that you call local Motion be of so large extent, as to comprise all the various species of motion to be found in our System of Philosophy, while itself is but reckoned amongst the sub-divisions of motion, taken in our general sense? Pyroph. It's true (Hydroph.) it compriseth all the various species of motion, although in your Philosophy it be but found amongst those sub-divisions pertinent to accidents; where it comes lagging in the fag end of the discourse of motion, by Aristotle and his Commentators. Hydroph. But doth not every loco-motion suppose a terminus à quo, and ad quem? Imagine then in the motion of bodies some to move only upon their own Axis (as no doubt some do) where then (Pyroph.) is your loco-motion, your terminus à quo, and ad quem? Pyroph. I answer (Hydroph.) It's easily solvable by imagining any one point of that body moving upon its Axis, and the respect it has to any adjacent body, visible, or couched in the Atmosphere, it no sooner can be thought to move or wheel about, but it loseth the former respect, and applies to another, whereby is really demonstrated a loco-motion, (viz.) a terminus à quo, and ad quem, the thing sought for. Hydroph. But pray (Pyroph.) is not generation and corruption a motion incompatible to loco-motion? Is not generation a motion or mutation, à non esse ad esse, by which a new substantial form is acquired, and corruption a motion or mutation ab esse ad non esse, whereby the same substantial form is lost, and that generatio unius est corruptio alterius, ac vice versa? Are not these performed by motion in a large sense, and yet I hope they are not reducible to that slight sub-division of motion, we call local motion? Pyroph. I answer (Hydroph.) that I see nothing in that mutation of bodies one into another, which you call generation and corruption, but what is compatible only to loco-motion, guided by seminal or spermatic Principles in the Fabric of Vegetable and Animal bodies, and by somewhat analogous thereto, even in the composition of all other mixts: and that those various changes amongst bodies one into another, ascribable to generation and corruption, are no other than the different Metastasis of the constituent Particles of bodies, or the various interweavings and complications of their intestine Principles; which whether shifting places in the same concretes give the different Phaenomena incident to the same body, while its constituent parts and genuine ferments keep their natural tenure, method, and order, proper thereto, or else separating a portion of the most defecate parts, which contain an efflorescence of the whole, become by further and more gradual elaboration, spermatic Principles (being the whole reduced to an Epitome) congenial to what at first was set on work by the Primitive Fiat, for the upholding the creation by propagation, or similar productions. In all which the main affection of matter is local-motion, where the parts in such size, shape and figure, by motion, guided by seminal Principles, with their congenit and peculiar collisions make up the texture, suppose of one body: The same parts being differently acted by fire, ferments, salts, or solvents, separate themselves from their first texture that with the seminal beginnings composed the fabric of one body, now being guided by the other aforesaid active Principles or extrinsic Agents convene in another form which thereby give the appearance of another mixed body. Only with this difference, that in bodies that are propagated by seminals or seedlings, the motion is guided by the seminal Principles and fermental Collisions connatural thereto. But in bodies that undergo a mutation one into another by the aforesaid active Principles of fire, ferments, salts and solvents, the motion is thereby guided according to the activity and engagement thereof in bodies, whereby they are disposed differently, taken in pieces variously, and complicated in different forms from what they were before, whence they affect our senses with different qualifications of colour, shape, heat, cold, fluidness, permanency, etc. from what they did before. Hydroph. Well, (Pyroph.) but methinks you should give us an instance whereby we might better understand your Theory by some practical example; for I can give you an instance, how we apprehend generation and corruption to be a motion, which yet we are not convinced is attributable to locomotion, and that thus: We see that the flesh of an Ox corrupting in the Air begets Bees, and that of a Horse, Crabrones, Flies, where the corruption of one thing (viz. the Ox his flesh) is the generation of another (viz. Bees) which certainly is a motion from that which was not before to a new thing, and yet we know not how you will solve this by local-motion. Pyroph. Very well (Hydroph.) I was indeed about to have confirmed what I said by an instance, which is in promptu, but that I was anticipated by yours, which I shall endeavour first to take off, and then shall propound mine: As to what you say therefore concerning generation and corruption in your example of Bees generated from the corruption of flesh of Oxen; Crabornes, Flies, from Horseflesh, etc. which you look upon as a motion from a non esse to an esse, and from an esse to a non esse: As to which terms first I must tell you, Hydroph. that these are only entia rationis, and therefore as such have no influence at all upon matter in the production of natural bodies, nor may be reckoned as any species of motion. But as to a true solution of the instance which you propound (Hydroph.) viz. how this change of bodies happens whereby they are (Proteus-like) transformed out of one shape into another, may, I judge, be thus explicated (viz.) when the natural fermentations of the juices of the body of the Ox, etc. (which while uniform and in their progressive and edifying motion, upheld by its natural balsam the flesh and other parts entire,) had ceased by the death of the animal, than the same ferments by a retrograde motion unravel their formerly woundup clew, and for want of some embalming saline particles, which chief consisted in the progressive motion of the ferments, a putrid fermentation gins, which by an analysis of the body takes it in pieces, and in its reduction ad minima, some acid and sulphureous parts combine with some seminal effluvia, and by a transposition of parts become animated into such or such a form, where, by the different Metastasis of the sulphureous and some fluid saline particles, directed in their loco-motion by some seminal emanations (lurking in the inward recesses of the body) they become together determined into such a peculiar shape of an other texture and form from what it was before. That the shape, figure, and form of these new products are determined either by seminal effluvia, or by new ferments which conspiring with the fluid, saline and sulphureous parts in the analytical solution of the compage of the former body, make them combine into such a shape different from what it was before, might, I say, be demonstrated by many instances: the first is confirmed by the body of a Duck buried, from which (as Kircher observes) Toads may be engendered, and that from some seminal parts of a Toad which lurk in the humours or flesh of a Duck nourished thereby, which by putrefaction are set a work and draw into consent some fluid saline and sulphureous parts resolved by the putredinous ferment and jointly are determined into the form of a Toad. Thus Worms are engendered by a putrid ferment in the blood and other constituent humours and flesh of animals, as also of the humane body: in so much as Shenkins observes that Worms have been found even in the very heart: And Pareus tells us, they have been seen in the Liver, Lungs, Reins, and Bladder; yea the mass of blood undergoing any putrid resolution proves verminous. Paracelsus saith to the same purpose, Regiones membrorum suos vermes noverunt, ita enim per anatomiam in cerebro repertus est vermiculus qui piam & duram matrem pertuderat, unde phrenesis solicitabat, tales per anatomian etiam in cord reperti fuerunt, similiter in regione splenis fellisque vermes gigni possint: neither is there any putrid ulcer, impetigo, or elephantiasis which hath not his worms from a putridinous ferment: also in Cheese, Milk, Vinegar, and Horns exposed to the Moon, in which by a Microscope Worms are discoverable: So that these spermatick effluvia joining issue with some saline and sulphureous parts set at liberty by a putrid ferment in the analytical resolution (called corruption) or rather mutation or migration of bodies out of one form into another, produce variety of new products daily in the mundane System. And what if I should tell you (Hydroph.) and make it good too that there is no Plant which in its putrefaction gives not some peculiar sort of Insect from an oviparous original: nor any perfect Animal (perfect I mean in sua specie) which doth not either immediately from the putridness of its body, or at least by putrefaction of its excrements, give some sort of animal Insect or other, witness that of Lucretius, — Obnoxia cuncta putrori Corpora, putrores insecta animata sequuntur. which also is very evident even in the humane body, in which scarce any member inward or outward which is not subject to produce Worms. And as the new Productions are most-what shaped by the Motion and Manuduction of the Spermatic Principles with other parts set at liberty from the former Texture, which by new shuffling of parts constitute new bodies, so also some alteration amongst bodies are made (I mean in order to new Shapes) by the mediation of new Ferments, as for instance, that from brown Bread and Honey Aunts should be produced; where from a mixture of those two a new Ferment should proceed, which becoming animated is determined into the form of an Ant: so from Honey and Dew that Eels should be engendered, and so the rest of the like Productions. Lastly, Other Mutations there are (Hydroph.) of bodies out of one shape into another, which own their original to either, or both of the aforesaid causes (viz.) to seminal Effluvia's, or new Ferments: of which sort are the production of Scorpions in the Brain of a Man, by frequent smelling at the Herb Basil, or from the fracedinous ferment of the same Herb betwixt two Stones, the same Animal may be produced, as both Helmont and Kircher observe: it's very probable this Plant may take its original from some putredinous resolution of a Scorpion, as the Satyrions of divers sorts do from the Sperm of several Animals, which fermenting in the leffas terrae, produce those Plants with those Signatures of the Genitals. For (I must tell you Hydroph.) as there is scarce any Plant in whose putrid Analysis it gives not an Animal of one sort or other; so there are many Animals out of the putridness of whose spermatic parts fermenting with the nutritive Juice of the Earth, Plants may be produced, of which sort are Basil, all the kinds of Orchis, Satyrions, Mushrooms, Androsemum, etc. yea, and from the like causes may many poisonous Plants take their original: For as the industrious Kircher observes, many or most of these Plants are found to grow in morticinis cadaverum, viz. where dead Carcases have been corrupted upon the Ground, or been buried in the Earth, in which places Hemlock, Wolfsbane, Monkshead, Henbane, Assafaetida, wild Camomel, etc. are most frequently found: where from the spermatic parts of putrid cadaverous bodies, fermenting with the succulent parts of the Earth, or other Excrements, new shapes are assumed, either of other Animals, or Plants, according to the direction of seminal Effluvia, or specifical Ferments. So that the Metastasis of those bodies out of one shape into another, whereby they are very differently represented to our sensitive Organs (as that which was lately an Animal, may become a Plant, and that which was a Plant, may presently be changed into an Animal) may very well proceed (as I said) partly from the loco-motion, or transposition of seminal Principles, and partly from the awakening of new Ferments. Thus you see (Hydroph.) how I have interwoven mine with your instances, and that the better to illustrate the manner of mutation of bodies out of one form into another, whereby we may be able to solve the urgent Phaenomena incident to bodies in their Metastasis, or Transfiguration (if I may so call it) by the various extension of the parts of matter differently guided by seminal Principles, and specifiic Ferments, without having recourse at all to Aristotle's Materia Prima, his Quaternary of Elements, substantial Forms, or other general affections ascribable to natural bodies according to the Theory of the Vulgar Peripatetic Philosophy. Where I cannot but wonder why Aristotle's Commentators, should, where they treat of the general Affections of natural bodies, omit the Discourse of the four Elements, seeing they are, as they say, simple homogenial bodies, from which all Concretes are compounded, into which they are ultimately resolved, and themselves irreducible into any thing before them, which therefore they esteem as the true Principles of all bodies, and yet they are not according to their own account the materia prima: so that their materia prima is but at the best a thing in potentia, and that is only as much as to say, a nothing: Therefore it's left to the four Elements, to be according to your Doctrine, the true Principles of bodies depending upon the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Qualities, and yet, I say, they treat not of these till after they have done with the most general affections of Matter, which to me argues a large and indispensible chink in the junctures of that old Philosophy you so much value. SECT. III. HYdroph. But seeing (Pyroph.) we are engaged in a Discourse about the Principles of natural bodies, and the general Affections thereto belonging, and that you deny our materia prima, substantial forms, and privation to be real Principles of natural bodies, as also oppose Motion and its Species, with other general Affections of Matter, as they are laid down by our Philosophy, pray tell us how you apprehend the composition of bodies to be, enlarge yourself, and render what you have already said somewhat more intelligible. Pyroph. I have already (though in short) given you hints by several instances, how I apprehend the Mutation of bodies out of one shape into another do happen. Now (Hydro.) I shall give you an abbreviate Account of my thoughts, how these (thus liable to mutation) are composed. And that first by showing you, that the Matter, bodies (I mean such as are determined by one specifical shape or other) are made up of, is the same (as to the material and constitutive part of Concretes) with that which is in common to them, as considered in their Metastasis out of one form into another: and therein to show, how it lies under a threefold consideration, of so many general Affections: Next to show what are those hidden Agents and mechanical Principles shut up in the seminaries of all such sort of bodies, by which those general Affections, and essential qualifications of Matter, are exerted, and manuducted, in order not only to the Fabric, but pulling down, construction, but reduction of all such bodies. last: Instances to show how all this is done by illustrating upon several remarkable Phaenomena amongst Vegetables and Animals. As to the first, How Matter as Matter is the common subject the materia substrata of all natural bodies, which we else where show to be Water, or such a texture of the parts of Matter, as sooner or later fall into that fluid body, we call Water, the parts whereof however rarifyed, or subtilised, as really water, I mean when condensed, or collected, and seminal Masques taken off, as every spark of Fire, is Fire, concerning which we take occasion to enlarge in our Tentamen Physiolog. to which we refer you. As to the general and essential affections of matter, in order to the structure of bodies, the first is Motion, and that no other than loco-motion, or an intestine collision of the constituent parts: For without such motion neither would the parts of matter be inclinable to convene in any form for the texture of bodies, nor would the texture of those bodies already supposed to be in rerum natura, ever be changed out of one into another, which yet must necessarily be granted as long as things appear upon the wheel of vicissitudes on the stage of the World: all things, I say, would be at rest, and in a calm stillness, all the Springs, Wheels, Cords, and Pulleys (to speak like a Corpuscularian) of automatous Productions, would be let down, disordered, broke, and out of joint, if motion should cease, which therefore makes it an affection both general and essential to matter. The next essential qualification of matter is divisibility: For if matter should be indivisible into minute parts, there could be no difference of bodies, all would have the same shape, and the varieties we see of bodies in the nursery of the World would not be: therefore matter must fall under our consideration as divisible into minute parts, yea, and of those many may be so small and indiscernible as may escape any perception by our senses, though never so acute or fortified by the best of artificial contrivances. The third essential affection of matter is Extension: which is that whereby the concentred parts of one parcel of matter, may be so enlarged as to fill a greater space, or to measure a larger Tract (by manifold) than it did before: For matter being set on work by motion, which in the fabric of bodies consists in an intestine collision, and being divided thereby into minute parts, which combining in such or such a texture make up such a shape as is represented by one body or other: This again being subdivided, or taken in pieces by some such active principles of matter, which we call Fire, Ferments, Salts or Solvents is thereby made capable of extending a larger space than it did before. Thus matter (or water the original matrix of all concrete bodies) being moved, divided, and in a sort extended one part upon another by the manuduction of Seeds or Ferments towards the production, suppose of an Animal, Vegetable, or Mineral Concrete, which being determined into some peculiar shape (not jumping by an accidental and blind concourse of the mustering Atoms into spontaneous textures of bodies, according to the wild Epicurean Doctrine but) by the seminal Principles (called by the Hermetic Philosophers the innate Plastic Spirit.) This, I say, being further examined either by Fire, Ferments, Salts, or Solvents, becomes capable of being extended over a much larger space than before: so that extension of matter has relation both in order to the fabric of bodies as bodies, as also in order to the Metastasis thereof out of one shape into another. Now, I say, as matter in order to the texture of bodies has the essential affections of Motion, Divisibility and Extension; so we are to conceive of these parts divided under some shape, size, or figure, whereby they may the better convene in such postures as may by the manuduction of Seeds and Ferments make up the generality of mixed bodies in the World: with what figure so ever they be in their minutest parts physically divisible into, yet till they arrive at others by close combinations they fall not under our cognizance as principles of bodies, as we further declare in our Tentamen Physiolog. Hydroph. But pray (Pyroph.) what are those Seminal Principles and Ferments (the next thing you proposed to discourse of) which you call hidden Agents and mechanical Instruments shut up in the seminaries of all such bodies, to which you refer much of your Doctrine of Natural bodies, chief in order to the Fabric of Vegetables and Animals, and by which you seem to differ from the Philosophy of the Corpuscularians? Pyroph. Yes (Hydroph.) that I confess, for the better understanding the Basis of Nature's works, in the establishing a well-grounded Hypothesis, we are rightly to consider, what is understood by seminal Principles, and Ferments. By seminal Principles, therefore I mean the same with what I elsewhere (in my Tentamen Physiolog.) call semina foecunda, or Seeds, which I suppose (for none dare positively aver) are Minute Portions of the two Principles Acid and Sulphur, concentred and wound upon a very small bottom, implanted and wrapped up by the parent of Nature in small raiments of matter, ubi prima cuduntur rerum stamina, which Principles in one are specifically differenced from what they are an another, whence the great variety in the textures of bodies of all Vegetables and Animals: which Principles are, I say, the organical Instruments and mechanical Agents included in all those bodies vulgarly called Seeds: wrapped up, I said, in small raiments of matter, not but that these Principles themselves are also material, and are at the long run reducible into Water, the material Principle of all Concretes, but with this difference, that they are pure subtle parts, (entangled in more gross) adapted for motion, or that collision we suppose indispensibly necessary in the Fabric of all such bodies. By Ferments here, we mean the foresaid Principles (being seminal sparks hidden in matter) which are (other requisites duly concurring) actually put into motion, or set into a natural and genuine collision. These Principles in the progressive motion of their collision, yea, and in the whole round of their operation, (becoming thereby actual Ferments) give according to their various stades, the different Phaenomena of the same body: so that all the apperances' are measured forth according to the progress or regress of the aforesaid Principles. Thus Vegetation (as to Plants) is nothing else (as we elsewhere in our Zymolog. Physic. and Tentamen further say) but a slow paced motion or gentle collision of the aforesaid Principles, consisting in an intestine struggling thereof. Thus for instance in the production of a Vegetable Seed-bearing Plant, as suppose of Rosemary, Marjoram, Time, etc. where we have nothing but the minute Seed with the intrinsic Principles, which are the connate plastic Faber seated in the Centre thereof, and what it can determine matter into: Now when this Seed, being put into a due capacitated Matrix or Earth, gins, by the fructifying nitrous Salt in the Earth, or Air, or both, together with the concurrence of an aetherial matter, etc. (requisite to the setting all Vegetable Springs into motion) to open itself, the Principles or hidden mechanical Agents (or that seminal embryonative spark, locked up in the visible Grain, or Seed) become an actual Ferment, whereby Matter, which is always moved at the beck of those implanted Principles, and is thereby subdivided into minute parts, enters the Pores, and Streiners thereof, with such adaptation of Particles proportionable thereto, which becomes thereby extended, and is by the foresaid actual Ferment proper to that Seed, wrought into such a texture of parts, or specifical form singly peculiar to that Plant: where the shape, colour, sapour, odour, and other specifical endowments are determined by the seminal Principles, set into a fermental motion, and are the results of Matter formally extended thereby: For that a Plant should constantly (and more forcibly, during the time of the vigour of its natural Ferment) breathe forth so strong an apporrhoea, or odour, as to be able to smite our senses therewith, as if 20, yea 100 could (as sometimes they may) stand within the Orb of its activity, might all be sensible thereof, is, I say, a demonstrable Argument of the extensibility of Matter and subtle Emanation of subtilised or volatized Parts, even in the Fabric of that Plant, carried off by the quick actions of the aforesaid Ferment; which is yet further discoverable, either by the reverse motion of the foresaid Principles of the Plant, whereby the same ferment in its Retrograde motion becomes putredinous, causing (in some Plants but especially in Animals) a fetidness, whereby also happens a Metastasis into an Insect (from causes aforesaid) or by force of fire into a fume of 100 yea 1000 fold larger compass than the body itself was, which fume although extending so large a space, is yet so gross as to make itself the object of our senses. Thus you see (Hydroph.) how the same Principles, which lay dormant in the seed, (while in the Garner) where they are poised in equilibrio, and remain alone, so long uncapable of fructifying or multiplying; how? I say, in order to the awakening these Principles and putting them into a fermental motion, there are some concurring requisites duly to be considered, viz. that it should be cast into a peculiar Soil or Ground, as its proper Matrix, which is the Matrix of the Husk, as the Husk is of the true Seed, where the Leffas Terrae (or juice of the Earth) being imbued with so much nitrous Salt as is sufficient, softens the Husk and makes it swell, whose compage being loosed, the Air with its other (necessarily concurring to the exciting the Principles in every vegetable Production) getting entrance, awakes or puts the implanted Embrio-Principles into motion, thereby rendering them fermental; whence the noble Seed shut up in an obscure point, ariseth, whose mechanical Principles (necessary to the building all Bodies) are I say, called forth to act, break the Prison-doors, and in their mutual wrestle, cause that grand Phaenomenon of Nature, we call Vegetation, where Water by the manuduction of Seeds or seminal Principles becomes determined into fibrous off-shoots, & those being hollow, carry along more of the succulent juices, which as it flows in those Pipes, upon its access, more Fibers, Sap-vessels, and others, (whether as Veins, Arteries, etc. analogous to Animals, we refer to the particular disquisitions of the worthy Malpighius, & our Countryman Dr. Grew) are produced; while the formerly made Vessels by access of Air (or being long exposed thereto) become condensed or hardened into stalks, wood, etc. and so is wrought on, by the weavings of the foresaid seminal Principles, till the whole Plant or Tree put on its entire form of Root, Stalk, Bole, Bark, Branch, Fruit, or Flower. Besides which weavings, coagulations, and condensations of water into vegetable concretions from causes aforesaid, it's moreover if I mistake not (Hydroph.) as easy (and as daily performed) for Nature from the power of seminal ferments set a work in Vegetation, and after continued by allowing due requisites or ferments congenial, to turn I say, Water into Wine, as it is for the same, by the winding off of those ferments in a natural circulation to reduce Wine into Water, both equally and daily performed by the same seminal Principles differently and in their circular motion considered; yea, and to turn also Water into all manner of potable or fermentable liquors by the mediation of the foresaid Principles, once broke off from Vegetation, and kept afoot by the melting of the Grain, then dissolved in Water, and after by a ferment connatural set into a fermentative motion, as it is for the same potable Liquors at the long run of their ferments (insensibly winding off) to be reduced into Water again, and so on in a constant round of action and circulation of motion in the upholding the great vicissitude and interchange of things. So that these Principles in their gentle collisions are not only the cause of Vegetation in all manner of Plants and Trees, and the various apparences thereto belonging, both of generation and corruption, weavings and unweaving of Bodies by the winding on and off, of the Principles; but also put into new and different collisions or higher fermentations become the Patrons of all potable Liquors, and yet higher become the efficients of heat, and that either remiss or intense, yea so intense as to break forth into actual Flames, and so by such rapid fermentations exhibit the Phaenomena of fire and light not only compatible to Vegetables, but also to Animals, and all sulphureous Minerals, as we farther discourse in our Zymologia Physica and Tentamen Physiologic. And further, how from the twist and evolutions of the same Principles, how I say the most obvious Phaenomena, are thence solved; for instance, how colours, those ludicra sulphuris, the sport of vegetable Sulphurs, from whose intertexture and coagulations upon their genuine Acids are produced such different textures in Vegetables, as from thence are struck those amiable colours our Optics are so pleasantly accosted with: How sapours of Plants are the results of vegetable fermentations in order to an equal temperature, to and from which as they approach or recede, they become pleasant or ungrateful, whose gratefulness (especially of fruits) depend upon their approximation to maturity, where their Acids are sweetened by the maturity of their Sulphurs upon the wheel of Vegetation: How odours of Vegetables are but the efflorescence of their Sulphurs or subtle emanations emerging from intestine vegetative fermentation, where from the continual hits and unwearied touches of the native Acid upon its Sulphur, the Sulphur becomes so subtilised as to wheel off in a sensible Apporrhea: How also the medicinal virtues thereof do thence depend; and how lastly, their propagation is from natures skilful management of the same Principles performed; You may, I say, see further in our late Philosophical Treatise of Fermentation. SECT. iv Hydroph. BUt before you pass from the discourse of your Principles as concerned in Vegetation, and having touched somewhat relating to the Propagation of Plants in your piece of Fermentation: pray (Pyroph.) how are they (I mean your Principles) concerned in that manner of Propagation of Trees, and perhaps some Plants by engrafting and inoculation, and what improvements may thereby be made? Pyroph. Well reminded (Hydroph.) For that we may nor busy out selves with empty and fruitless Speculations (the usual product of your old Philosophy,) it will be necessary in order to the establishing and confirming our Hypothesis, to acquaint you in answer to your desire, that the engrafting or inoculation of a Cion or Bud into the bowl of a Stock in order to the propagation of Fruit-trees for the improvement of Nurseries, seems to me, Hydroph. to be nothing else but an artificial planting of those trees, as if they were indeed put into a good proper soil, by putting their seeds into suitable beds of Earth; whereby the seminal Principles concentred in the Seed, or contracted into those prolifique Buds, are put into their proper Matrix, which with other requisites concurring, are set into their vegetative spring, or fermental motion: And that the adaptness of stocks answers the peculiarity of soils, in as much as all sorts of Cions are no more properly or with expected success, to be grafted or inoculated in any sort of Stock, than any sort of soil is naturally fitted and qualified for every kind of Seed, only with this difference, that in the one (viz. the Earth) the juice prepared lies more crude, and scattered, yea, is more liable to casualties, especially to injuries by cold, while the other (in the sap in stocks) is more digested (if I may so say) and better collected into Vessels, and peculiar strainers, and lastly, is not so exposed to casualties, nor so open to injuries by access of cold: Now that the bowl of one Tree is as a peculiar soil to the proper engrafted or inoculated prolifique Gem (for both grafting and inoculation are but the planting or insertion of the same seminal Bud or Cion) is hence evident, because if Earth be so much cast up as to reach above the place of inoculation (or grafted too, if I mistake not) after they have taken good hold and that it hath sent forth Branches, the prolifique bud casts forth fibrous Roots, just as if it (or the Seed) was originally put into so much well prepared soil: so that the Root and Bole of a Tree do no other, (I mean as to engrafting and inoculation) than prepare a juice fit for the nourishment, growth and increase of any other suitable Graft or Gem inserted thereinto; which the aforesaid Gem imbibes and transmutes by its own fermental Principles, into its own nature, admitting not of the least tincture of the native disposition or seminal inclination from the assumed Sap, but dashing all those preconceived seminal tinctures, make use of it to no other purpose (according to the intent of Nature in her great work of propagation, where she is so so exact and curious as in nothing more) than thereby to strike up the new vegetative implanted spark, whose Principles being thereby set a-work, become fermental, and so employs that juice in the fabric of its own peculiar Body, guided and shaped by its own plastic faber, I mean its foresaid seminal, and now (being exerted into motion) fermental Principles, carrying on the building by its intestine slow-paced collision (vulgarly called Vegetation.) Thus for instance, we commonly inoculate a fruitful Bud or Cion of an Aprecock or Peach into a Plum-stock, whose thriving, budding, putting forth Branches, etc. are no other than the evident indices of the action of the seminal Principles of those inoculated Gems, which being set into motion (by requisites duly concurring) admit of the juice or Sap of the bowl (they are inoculated into) becomes fermental, dashing the preconceived seminal tincture of the Stock (whereby it was disposed to the putting on the form of a Plum-tree) transmutes that juice into its own nature, and so from the intestine struggle of the said seminal Principles of the instanced inoculated Bud, proceeds the vegetation and growth of the whole, clothing itself with all those natural Liveries peculiar to the texture of such seminal prolifique Principles. Now that this sap of the Stock is as a prepared soil, or a peculiar Earth for the Seed to be sown in, and wherein it thrives as well (if not better) than in a natural soil, is evident (Hydroph.) because if you throw up Earth (after it has begun to thrive and put forth Branches) above the place where it was inoculated, it takes Root by putting forth fibrous Shoots, which you may then transplant, (cutting off the former Root and Bole) and so it becomes an entire Tree of itself: and from the same causes it is, that you may by splicing (as the Gardiner's call it) propagate as many Trees as you please: also by layers (as they are called) you may propagate as many Trees almost as there are prolifique Buds if they covid all be conveniently laid, whereby every Bud (or as many as you please) gets a Root to itself, by taking in that Sap from the Earth, which they do from Stocks they are otherwise planted into: In all which, the seminal Principles are set a work and become fermentative, hurling forth bodies or clothings according to the form of the plastic faber seated in the Centre: whence it appears, I say, that the Sap of the Stock is to a Cion or or prolifique Bud, as the Earth to a Seed, or as the Earth to a laid Cion. Now the improvements, Hydroph. that hence may be drawn, are various, and that in order to the accelleration, melioration, and fructification of some Trees in other Climates or Countries than where they naturally grow; Thus we daily see the Imps of an Aprecock hastened as to its fructifying, by being inserted into Plum-stocks, Peaches, by being put into Aprecock, Flanders, Hart, Duke, etc. Cherries, put into wild or black Cherry-Stocks, etc. which thereby in two or three years become Fruit-bearing-Trees, which would not in many more, if set from a Stone or Seed, or propagated from a slipped Cions: which are not thereby only hastened as to their growth and maturity, but also are bettered thereby, both as to bulk of Fruit as also pleasantness and gratefulness of taste. Thus probably the prolifique Imp or Bud of Quinces, skilfully put into early Apple-stocks, might hasten them as to maturity; later Grapes of a more delicate taste, artificially inoculated into more early, might do the same: yea very likely if accurate trials were made of this nature, probably not only Melons (as to Plants) inserted into Pompions might make them both more early and more large, especially if the Seeds of Pompey should be brought up in hot-beds to be ready early in the Spring, while the other are also fostered in the same, till they were fit for inserting: But also many other rare observations might be made concerning other maturations and meliorations of Plants and Fruits, not yet taken notice of. As to the third improvement, viz. the assistance of Nature by Art, in the fructification of some Trees in other Climates or Countries than where they naturally grow; Thus probably if the prolific Bud of Oranges (trained up from their seedlings in hot-beds, or other suitable soil) were inserted into some sort of Trees that grow well with us, and seem somewhat to resemble them, as for instance in some choice Apples (as Pippins or Pearmains) or in Quinces, thence we might very probably have Oranges to grow frequently with us in England: for the reason, why such tender Trees (more accustomed to hotter Climates) do not fructisy with us, is chiefly through the defect of concurring causes, (which I above call by the name of Requisites duly concurring) amongst which are most considerable the want of a competent heat, or the presence of our intense cold or frost in the Winter time, which reaching the Roots of such tender Trees, prevents their Fruitbearing by suspending the fermental action of the Principles, if not totally kills them. Now (Hydroph.) according to our already proved supposition, that Stocks answer Soils, and are really as such to prolific Buds: therefore if instead of training up Orange-Trees from hot Nurseries, we take their prolific Imps, which we can by hot Beds easily procure, and insert them by Inoculation into the Stocks or Branches of any, or the most likely of those Trees aforesaid, we thereby secure them from intense Frosts we usually have in Winters, the chief defect amongst requisites concurring, and which hinders otherwise the Fruitbearing of some Trees in other Climates than naturally they spring up in: which, I say, being removed by the aforesaid artificial Expedient, gives great likelihood of having upon such trial, plenty of Oranges growing with us in England. Thus also if the fruitful Buds of Figgs (which rarely in England come to maturity for want of heat, and chief by being late) were inoculated into some sort of good Pears (for instance Bergamots, or some other early Pear) or Branches thereof, might probably procure their maturity: and thereby to sit peaceably under the improvements of our Vines and our Figg-Trees. Amongst the aforesaid due requisites necessarily concurring, I chief mean Climates, and thence different Soils (although there are also great variety of Soils under the same Climate) where, according to the difference of natural heats from the Sun, the Principles are put into a slower or quicker Motion, from whose more flat or sharp and agile collisions, some bodies or Fruits are wrought with a courser or finer spun texture; or by longer weavings become more elaborate, and arrive at higher maturities, whence proceed Fruits of more delicate taste, affecting the more gratefully. What improvements (Hydroph.) might hence be made, nothing but matter of experiment will satisfy, concerning the meliorating, at least enlarging of Collyflowers, by taking the superannuated stem or bowl of a choice sort of Cabbage (which the year before has been prevented of bearing Fruit, by cutting it off while young) and early thereinto the next Spring to insert a Collyflower (brought up in a hot or other prepared Bed, or preserved over Winter from its seed put down in Autumn.) And so many more choice Observations might be made, the truth of which only matter of trial will evince and satisfy the curious searcher. Lastly, What improvements might hence also be made (Hydroph.) is only here proposed to further trial, in order to the having of Roses (and perhaps other Flowers) all the Winter long, by inoculating their prolific Buds at a due season into some Sempervives, or Wintergreens, I mean for instance in Yew, Fir, or Pine, especially if those Trees were assisted by some Artificial heat, as being planted near some Stoves or Furnaces (if found that that would accord with their constitution) where heat was kept and conveyed to them all Winter long: For the Principles in any prolific Bud being set into motion, by being planted in any proper Stock, the Juice of that Stock being warmed by any adventitious heat, or what way so ever kept in action, becomes like a Soil fitted for them, whereby the aforesaid Principles become fermental, and by a slow paced intestine collision becomes the essential cause, yea, is the very ratio formalis of vegetation and growth, by which the Seed, like a seminal Faber, works until it have hewed forth its own body, & be clothed with all the shape, lineaments and proportions answerable to the Antitype or latent-Idea couched in the central point, and exert all the powers capable of emerging therefrom, by putting on the entire form of the whole Plant or Tree. SECT. V Hydroph. AS you have expeditiously enough illustrated what you mean (Pyroph.) by your Principles as seminal and fermental in order to the generation and production of Vegetables, and towards the solving many remarkable Phaenomena thereof; concerning which what you fall short in here, it seems you make up in your Treatise of Fermentation already extant, and in your Tentamen Physiolog. you have ready for the Press: So pray (Pyroph.) give us some touches concerning your Notions, how according to your Hypothesis, you apprehend the generation of Animals, and their most noted apparences, are performed from your aforesaid Principles. Pyroph. In the generation of Animals from their seminaries, the aforesaid Principles (if I mistake not, Hydroph.) are no less (suo modo) conspicuous, than what I have illustrated them to be in the production of Vegetables; and that both as they are Principles locked up in some minute portions of epitomised matter, and likewise as they, being by requisites duly concurring, put into motion, become fermental. For we account of Generation of Animals not other than an evolution or natural expansion of the implanted seminal Principles contained in the minute Embryo, and rendered prolific by the fermental odour (if I may so say) of a masculine Ferment; we cannot otherwise reckon, but that the noblest of fermental animal Juices (in order to propagation) and where the spirits are most vigorous, and fecund, is the masculine sperm of Animals; which is a digested spermatic Elixir, capable of tinging those more crude feminine Juices, or a natural, but highly prepared liquid Magistery, circulated and brought on to maturity in its peculiar vessels: yea, the very efflorescence, (if I may further add) of Animal Juices, impregnated at due seasons with such a stock of spirits, emerging from a fermentation proper to itself, as renders it capable of inspiring those feminine ovaria, or uterine Vesicles, with a subtle, but very active Ferment, which awakens those minute dormant, and otherwise sterile Embryo's, sets them by its own vigorous action into a sort of (if I may say) vegetative, or expansive motion. It's not the gross body of the prepared masculine or seminal Sperm, or any visible juice, or sensible part thereof (however by circulation maturated) which is admitted into the female Matrix, as the worthy Harvey excellently shows in his Tract, de generatione Animalium, Nihil in utero (saith he) post coitum invenias, generatura enim maris, brevi vel elabitur, vel evanescit: & tamen adsit aliquid, quod foeminam foecundam reddat; But it is a spirituous Ferment, indolis contagiosae (of which the seminal Liquor is but the Vehicle) at seasons so heightened, as it (if meeting with an aptness of Reception in the Female) breathes upon the oviformal Embryo, invigorates it into activity, putting those implanted and close shut up Principles into Motion. For the aforesaid industrious Harvey tells us, speaking of what is contained in the Female Matrix, in order to Conception, De generat, Animal. 278. Quod ad procreatio nem foetûs spectat, omnia animalia eodem modo ab oviformi primordio generantur: siquidem in eorum generatione, hoc solenne est, ut primordium vegetale (ovi naturam referens) praeexistat, ex quo foetus producatur: est hoc in omnibus vel ovum vel oviforme quid; And as he farther adds, Inest igitur in utero omnium animalium conceptus primus sive primordium; quod teste Aristotele, est veluti ovum membrana oblectum, cui putamen detractum est. So that in the propagation of all Animals (the noblest, and for whose sake the rest were made, not excepted) the Embryo anchorite, or epitomised Animal, shut up within the walls of each of the uterine Vesicles, or oviformal Membranes, retains its just and proportionable form and shape, how minute soever in that seminary oviformal original, enclosed in the Female Matrix: and only waits for an inspiration from the active masculine, spirituous, and fecundating Ferment, which is to strike up those dormant Principles, into an actual Fermentation or animal fire, whereby the little Embryo (the seminal Principles being once put into motion) gins (from a supply of maternal Juices) by a fermental expansion and evolution of its parts, to vegetate and grow bigger, till from those rudiments, by a continual and successive gradation, the vital fire be struck up: whereby the womb after conception by the inspiring of the pregnant male Ferment is forthwith close shut up; nature being so solicitous in this great affair of propagation, & so wonderfully curious (both to prevent monstrous Productions, as also multiplicity of contemporary Births from frequent & inordinate Coitions) as that she doth, after Conception, seal up the Matrix (as I may say) hermetically, that not the least of Air, nor what is much more subtle (viz. the Masculine Ferment) can have the least ingress; The Animal and Mineral Ferments herein conspiring, that after impregnation of either (viz. of the Animal Embryo Juice, or Mercurial Liquor) by their peculiar Seeds, the Matrix both Animal and Philosophical are (I say) both, the one Hermetically to be closed up, the other naturally sealed up, and kept from all heterogeneous assaults, whether in the Air or elsewhere, till in the one, it be brought on to the maturity of an Animal Life, and in the other, be elaborated to the perfection of the Philosophic Elixir. Concerning the progress of which, in order to the Exit or Birth of the Embryo, we have somewhat enlarged in our Hydrolog. Chymica, and probably may do more elsewhere. But how the same Principles in their fermentative Collisions in the Animal Juices, are the cause (other requisites concurring) of the circulation of the Blood, the source of all Animal heat and warmth, the efficients of nourishment and growth: The cause of the generation of Spirits, and thence of Vital and Animal Functions (viz. Sense and Motion) of the Body, how the Fountain of all the several Ferments in the peculiar Vessels and Conduits of the Body. Hydroph. But pray (Pyroph.) be not too concise in these great Matters: How in particular (according to your Principles) do you understand concerning the faculty of the Stomach, you call the Ferment thereof, which doth perform such wonderful effects? doth it by its innate heat according to our Philosophy) or by its acid Ferment, as of late several Neoterics have thought, or by some latent quality unknown to us: For it seems to be of a strange penetrating nature, as to be able to turn all the several sorts of Food into a Cremor, and thence fit it for further preparation in order to blood and nourishment? Pyroph. True (Hydroph.) the work of the Stomach (let it be done by what Agent it will) is wonderful, and in that very thing Nature's path is very mysterious. That it consists not in an innate heat, is evident, first, because no degree of heat of what pitch soever imagined can perform the like Mutations or Reductions of bodies. And secondly, because all heat is (according to our Hypothesis) the result of Fermentation, and there fore wherever the heat of the body was which is the constant effect of the intestine struggle of the Principles contained in the Animal Juices, there would it necessarily follow that it should perform the like operation in every part where it's found, but constant observation contradicts the consequent, therefore heat is not the cause of that dissolving action of the Stomach: And that it consists not in an acid Ferment (the more plausible of the two) will be evident from the deposition of what we conclude it to be. Lastly, that it is not from an occult quality will be clear from what we shall afterwards discourse of the inexistency (and therefore futility) of qualities. But how, I say, a pure subtilised Ferment is continually elaborated into a most depurate and refined Elixir, containing the most defecate Principles of the blood and aliment, whence blood is prepared, is by circulation conveyed from the blood into the Stomach, by the Gastric, and perhaps other Arteries, inserted into the Ventricle, where through the congenealness to our every day received alimental Juice, can (by reason of its subtlety of parts) penetrate, dissolve, and unlock the compage of such alimentary bodies, and at length put them into a similar motion, by striking up their essential Principles into an intestine Collision, which is that very thing we call a Ferment, and is therefore here (according to our Hypothesis) the true cause of the stomachical Ferment, that great and almost universal Alkahest of nature, that can dissolve bodies, though of many different sorts of Textures, where the same Principles are to be found which essentially more or less constitute all alimentary Concretes and Liquids too. For I must tell you (Hydroph.) that the congenealness of Principles of bodies under very different Textures and various Compages, give the cause of their more universal solution by Menstruums prepared analogically thereto, yea and give the reason why the Principles of one are brought into motion by the action of the other; that is, by the congruousness of the Principles of the solvent to those of the solvend. So that how the Ferment of the Stomach consists not in an implanted acid, nor any other native Ferment, peculiarly inherent in that part: But how it chief (if not solely) owes its original to the circulation of the aforesaid highly prepared, and much elaborated Elixir of the blood, which communicated by the foresaid ducts, by its great penetrability and agility easily mixeth with the assumed aliment, and by the assimilation of Principles sets the whole mass into a fermentative motion, and thereby taketh in pieces its Compage by a genuine solution: For the universal constitution of all alimentary bodies, and by which they all agree in somewhat that is common amongst them, consists in some texture or other of the two grand Principles, Acid and Sulphur: which fermentative Motion, I say, of the Principles by further solution, percolation, separation, and afterwards by yet more intimate commixtion is carried on to the preparing the blood and spirits, and thence to the elaborating the aforesaid volatile Elixir, which conveyed into the Stomach, completes the whole round of digegestions, and performs the whole circulation compatible to Animals in their great work of nourishment and preparation of spirits in order to Sense and Motion, and other functions peculiar to animal bodies: how, I say, all this is performed by the various collisions and elaborations of the aforesaid Principles, what we only hint here, we discourse more at large in our Tentamen Physiolog. to which we refer you. SECT. VI Hydroph. WHat mean you (Pyroph.) by those active Principles you spoke of before, viz. Fire, Ferments, Salts, and Solvents, by some of which all concrete bodies are taken in pieces, and new textures or neutral Productions are thence made, and by which great changes as you say happen amongst Bodies. Pyroph. I bring those mentioned (Hydroph.) at present under the notion of extrinsic Agents, which have a powerful efficacy in order to the effecting great changes amongst Bodies they are applicable to. Hydroph. What mean you (Pyroph.) by fire according to your Hypothesis: for we suppose it to be the most hot, dry, and lightest Element, placed sub concavo Lunae. Pyroph. Your opinion (Hydroph.) of fire will not be worth the while to refute, and indeed I think will easily disappear of itself, upon the displaying of ours: By Fire therefore in this place, I mean the vulgar (viz.) the fourth (and sometimes the first) complication of our Principles of Acid and Sulphur, which consists in the highest collision, and intestine rapid motion, those Principles, sown or implanted in all combustible Bodies, are capable of; which although here we put amongst extrinsic, yet may also truly be reckoned as the greatest intrinsic Agent, in order to the great changes of the same Bodies from their own highly agitated Principles. Hydroph. Are there not many opinions concerning the nature and essence of Fire? Pyroph. Yes (Hydroph.) Yours with the rest of your Hypothesis we reduce to six Classes, as you may see in our Tentamen Physiologic. where we undertake to show the great extent of Fire enlarged to all its Dimensions, not barely confining Fire within the ordinary limits of that which is vulgar and culinary, concerning the illustrating of which, as considered in itself, and as applicable to other Bodies, from our Hypothesis we are not sparing; But also the industria do propose the consideration of Fire as extended to the solving the more general and universal apparences of Nature in the production of Bodies. Hydroph. Why, how (Pyroph?) Pyroph. By supposing the Genesis of all specific concretes comprised in the threefold kingdom of Nature, to be nothing else but a certain Evolution and Expansion of seminal Principles, carried on by a gentle and mutual Collision of the mechanical Agents, which are the very ground work of all natural Fire in Bodies: or rather, (if you please) to be nothing else (which yet amounts to the same thing) but certain igniculi or little Fires deposited and hid in so many minute portions, or Urns of matter, as there are variety of things, giving motion and vigour to every Body wherewith it's clothed, to the completing thereof in all its numbers: so that every thing we converse with in its existency from Creation or Generation, represents somewhat miraculous to us viz. an igniculus or little Fire, burning after its manner, as made up from the very Principles of Fire mutually acting by a soft Collision, and yet the thing itself (wonderful! and like the Bush which miraculously burned with Fire and was not consumed, Exod. c. 3. v. 7. as the Divine Philosopher in his Pentateuch, tells us, so this) is not consumed. Hydroph. But why (Pyroph.) so lofty in your discourse, and so curious in your so high speculations of Fire? these are strange notions, such as we read not of in our, nor other sort of Philosophy I have yet met with; Pyroph. Because I find, Hydroph. by considering Bodies in their Generation or Production, and in their reductions or unweaving, and the various Metastases and changes amongst themselves, I say by laying things well together, and by putting them into their due Balance, reducing them to their several Classes, that there are seven complications, or so many modes of Aggressions of the aforesaid Principles, Acids and Sulphurs: So that by searching into the depth of Bodies and into the various complications of their seminal Principles, we cannot but suppose in Nature, so many sorts of Fires, hid in the bosom of things, as there are modifications of the Principles, by which they variously combine to the building of Bodies from their Rudiments, and to the raising them up from their seminaries or radical beginnings, also to the taking them in pieces or reductions thereof: and from which many and those the chief (yea perhaps all) Phaenomena of natural Bodies or Concretes we converse with, may with a great deal of facility and perspicuity be genuinely solved; concerning which we designedly enlarge in our Tentamen Physiologicum. SECT. VII. Hydroph. PRay, Pyroph. What are those seven Complications of your Principles, which you say are found in the great series and chain of the causes of things, and from whence you conclude so many Fires contained in the orb and shut up in the Centres of those Bodies we are concerned with? How do you reckon them? Pyroph. The first is when the Principles combine in such a peculiar Collision as that the ethereal matter is interwoven therewith, and is fomented by a continual supply from the perpetual circulation of the aforesaid Aether: of which sort, are those we call Solar Fires, because made from the same Principles as the Solar rays are: which I say consist of an Eradiation of Solar beams, springing from an incessant but peculiar fermentation in the Body of the Sun, and fostered by an unwearied circulation of Aethereal matter, (as we show in our discourse of Fermentation:) This Solar-Fire has a twofold consideration, First, per se, and Secondly; as it is transmissive or communicable to other Bodies. Hydroph. How do you understand that first consideration, per se? Pyroph. That from whose direct or reflexive motion, swimming through the vast depth of the Aether (called by the Epicureans, Inane) are produced by an eradiation the grand Phaenomena of Light and Heat in the great Orb of the Macrocosm. Hydroph. What I pray (Pyroph.) is light, as communicable to us from the great Fountain thereof the Sun, and as that grand Phaenomenon by which all others are made to appear? Pyroph. Light we suppose (Hydroph.) to consist in an illumination of Air, by a perpetual Emanation of Solar beams, issuing (as I said before) from an incessant, but peculiar fermentation in the Body of the Sun. That Light is not a quality of a lucid Body, as you define it, but a corporeal substance; and how it is necessary to the exhibiting variety of colours, and answers the rule of Dioptrics, we shall afterwards in its place discourse. Hydroph. What is that we call Heat, as issuing from the Body of the Sun? Pyroph. It is nothing else (Hydroph. If I rightly understand) but the reflexive motion of those Solar-Rays which in their Emanation from their Fountain, cause Light. Hydroph. How are Light and Heat distinguished in their Causes? Pyroph. They differ in this only: (viz.) That Light is the bare illumination of the medium, Air, by a direct Progressive motion of the Solar Rays from the aforesaid fermentation, as the proper object of the Eye, and by which all other things are made to appear, while heat is the reflection or Reverberatory motion (as we say in our tract of Fermentation) p. 106.) of the same Luminous Beams (issuing from the said Fermentation) from the Earth or other solid Bodies, affecting (by that Fermentative motion) our Sensative Organs of feeling. Hydroph. You have told us Pyroph. how you understand Light and Heat to proceed from the same Fermentative motion of Solar Rays, the one in a direct, the other in a reverse or reflected line: But how are those you call Solar Fires made? Pyroph. I answer, (Hydroph.) that (besides what we have already said) by Concentration of the aforesaid Rays those Fires are made (viz.) from which Rays, (by Glasses contrived for the purpose) artificially concentred, are produced actual Fires, which will give Flame to, and Burn any Combustible. So that Heat is Fire in a remiss degree, or the same Rays thinly dispersed in their vehicle the Air, while Fire is Heat in an intense Degree artificially concentred, and both are Essentially the same, that is, are really from the same causes. And as to the second consideration of Solar Fires, viz. as transmissive, or communicable to other bodies, we mean such as hitting upon some peculiarly adapted Textures of Bodies, do by their congruousness fix themselves, and thereby are the causes whence several Phaenomena (mentioned in our Tentamen Physiologic.) are easily solvable. Hydroph. What is the second complication of your Principles, and what Phaenomena in the main are thence solvable? Pyroph. The second is, when the foresaid Principles do mutually accost each other by a gentle Collision; which is twofold, the one progressive from the Centre: The other Retrogressive from the Superficies. The former respects the Generation and Productiof things, as is manifest in every genuine Fermentation, both of Vegetables and Animals, whence the Vegetation of Plants, and the natural Fermentation of Animal Juices, conducing to their Generation, increase, and perfection or maturity; The latter eyes Putrefaction; whose Ratio formalis is taken from the reversed motion of the same Principles mutually acting, where by a different modification, the Acidum sets upon the Sulphur and thence produceth that putredness and fetidness the frequent effects thereof: concerning which Principles as considered in their Progressive and Regressive motion in order to the Production and Reduction of things, more elsewhere. Hydroph. What is the third modification of your Principles, and the apparences in general referrable thereto? Pyroph. The third is when the Principles by a stronger and more sensible Collision hit upon each other: and that's twofold: viz. Natural and Artificial; 1. Natural, as amongst Vegetables is manifest in their ripened Juices, whose Principles struggle with stronger Collisions; also in Hay, Lime, Straw, Corn, etc. which have got moisture, being laid up wet: amongst Animals it's manifest in every spurious and exorbitant morbid Ferment, and lastly amongst Minerals, as is evident in every strong Collision of the Principles; and that either in their Embryonative Juices or in concrete Minerals, from whose Principles mutually struggling do all Natural Baths, yea all heats which arise from Metals or Minerals Naturally or Artificially performed, take their Original. 2. The artificial is manifest in every effervescence made between factitious Alcalies (fixed or volatile) and Acids; concerning which you may see more at large in our Philosophical discourse of Fermentation and in our Tentamen Physiologic. Hydroph. The fourth you have mentioned before, which is the most high and rapid motion the Principles are capable of, whence you compute the Ratio formalis of vulgar or Culinary Fire, and thence also (it seems) solve the Phaenomena thereto appertaining: But pray go on, Pyroph. to tell what your fifth is, and what thence results. Pyroph. The fifth, is when the Principles after they are by the most rapid Collision brought to an ignition, are transmitted from their own into other Bodies, where penetrating are by a kind of a fixation locked up, thereby becomeing the Authors of divers Phoenomena, as is evident in the Calces of Metals made sicco modo, for instance of Lead, (in the preparation of Minium) Iron, and Mercury, in calx vive, in fixed Alcalies lately made, etc. Hydroph. Now proceed on to acquaint us what the sixth complication of your Principles is, and what Phaenomena in short are thereto referrable. Pyroph. The sixth is when the Principles are complicated by a certain Colliquation: whence the Fires thence resulting may (properly enough we think) be called Colliquativi ignes, which are threefold, 1. Caustical. 2. Corrosive. 3. Putrefactive. 1. Caustical, are either Lixivial or Vesicatory. Lixivial, are fixed Alcalies of Plants, fixed Nitre, Calx vive; Vesicatory, are Chemical Oils, Cantharideses, and some Plants, as ranunculus, cicuta, urtica, inward bark of Walnut, etc. 2. Corrosive, take their original from Mineral Principles colliquated by force of Fire; whence all Corrosive Menstrua are produced, there being as many Corrosive Fires as Menstrua; Some more Corrosive than others, according to degrees of the Colliquation of the Principles. 3. Putrefactive, whence also a threefold Colliquative Putrefactive Fire, (viz.) 1. Pestilential. 2. Venenous. 3. Properly Putrefactive. Concerning all which, and the apparences thence genuinely solvable, besides what is obiter delivered in our discourse of Fermentation we have at large treated in our Tentamen Physilogic. Hydroph. Now Pyroph. hast to tell us of the last complication of your Principles. Pyroph. The seventh and last, is when the Principles are fixed by an intimate and radical union, whence arise Fires of their kind, which by reason of the fixity and inseparable connexion of the Principles, they (as in an Orb above the rest of the Apparences of Nature) suffer no flagration of parts, nor admit of any injury by the strongest tortures of Vulcan or vulgar Fire (which consists in the fourth Complication of our Principles,) or any other below itself, as is evident in the Metals, especially the fixed, and in the Philosophic Elixir. Nor do they undergo any separation of parts, as appears in the Liquor Alkahest, and Mercury of Philosophers, which by reason of the intimate and radical union of their constituent Principles, are liable to no sequestration of Heterogeneities, the common fate to most Bodies: from which Modification of the Principles of Fire it truly (if such there be in rerum natura) becomes the Ignis Philosophicus, otherwise called the Philosopher's Sulphur, that hidden Tincture, so much disbelieved by many, and those also learned men: which secret Fires applied to their proper Bodies, burn only away their Dross, separating their impurities without the destruction or Consumption of their intrinsic Seeds originally implanted therein, whence is solvable the very Ratio formalis of the transmutation of Metals. Yea, and from this seventh complication of the Principles it is, whence probably those abstruse Maxims of the Hermetick Philosophers may genuinely be solved, where they tell us of their Water which burns Bodies, and their Fire, which moistens them; aqua Philosophica corpora urens (viz. eorum hetereogenea) eademque madefaciens, they burn with Water, and moisten with Fire, a great Paradox in Nature! through our ignorance in the abstruse causes of things, of which more interspers'dly in our Lithologia, and Tentamen Physiologic. but especially in our Chrysologia Hermetica. From which Principles differently according to the aforesaid sevenfold Modifications complicated, the Phaenomena of Nature in her works, are according to our Hypothesis easily solvable: concerning which you may see many considerable instances illustrated in our Tentamen physiology. Hydroph. It seems then (Pyroph.) that Fire in its genuine and Physical sense, is of a larger extent, than ever we dreamed of: For you make Fire or the Principles thereof, to be Seminal and Mechanical Agents, in all Bodies, especially in those from Seminal Productions: & these to be reckoned amongst the intrinsic, but pray how are they as extrinsic Agents, so much concerned in the great Metastasis and Catastrophe of Bodies? Pyroph. When I accounted Fire amongst the extrinsic Agents, it was only as Culinary, viz. the vulgar (I mean such as our fourth complication of the Principles exhibits) and as considered applicable to Bodies already constituted, and to the changes thence issuing; that is, as the Principles of any combustible Body was by a rapid Collision brought into that highest motion we call Fire, as these I say were applicable to other Bodies (whose Principles in some Modification or other had woven the Texture thereof, and so lay dormant,) and did as adventitious Agents, excite the latent Principles into action, so they thereby become extrinsic Agents: thus the Fiery or combustible Principles being put into action in one Body, as suppose Wood or the like, this as an extrinsic Agent, is able to excite the same combustible Principles in any other combustible Body. But it is applicable to other Bodies, as an extrinsic Agent, upon no other account than this, (viz.) from the congenealness of its Principles, to those in Bodies it's applicable to: for as Ferments (to take them in the usual acceptation) work upon no Bodies, but such as have Principles Analogical to themselves, which is the very Ratio formalis of such Ferments acting upon other Bodies, (viz.) their congenealness: so Fire, no otherwise burns Bodies, than as its Principles being brought into a rapid Collision, awakens the same sort of Principles in Bodies it's applied to, exciting those Principles into the same motion which lay dormant before. SECT. VIII. Hydroph. HOw do you reckon Ferments amongst extrinsic Agents? Pyroph. Much what as I have said concerning vulgar Fire. For although most Bodies, (especially Vegetable and Animal) lodge within themselves, their own Ferments; by which they undergo that intestine motion of their constitutive parts, they are natually inclined to, as appears in the Vegetation of Plants, from the Fermentation of their genuine Principles; and in the Motion, Circulation, Generation of Spirits, etc. in the Fermentative Juices of Animals, yet these are also liable to Mutations from extrinsic Ferments, being adventitious Agents, which according to the Degrees of their Energy, either excite or heighten the native, or pervert them into that which is spurious: But in all alterations that are made by those extrinsic Ferments, either by stirring up the supine (native) Ferments, or by graduating and advancing them in their vigour and strength, do it I say always by a consimilarnes of Nature; that is, by a congenealness of the extrinsic to the intrinsic Ferments, concerning which we discourse more largely in our Tentamen Physiologic. Hydroph. What mean you (Pyroph.) by Salts, which you reckon also amongst extrinsic Agents, and concerned in the Changes of Bodies? Pyroph. I look upon them (Hydroph.) as other sorts of extrinsic Agents, which applied to, and interweaving with other Bodies beget great alterations in their apparences: Thus for instance, Quicksilver, which is a fluid Body, doth by the interposition of Salts (as of Vitriol, Nitre, or Fossil Salt) arise together by the help of Fire in the form of a white Crystalline Sublimate, when from the apparences of a fluid Body, and Argent-Colour, it becomes determined by the aforesaid interweaving of Salts into a consistent, solid, and white Body; as may be seen in the preparation of Mercury Sublimate both Corrosive and Dulcis: which solid Body shall become fluid again as Water, by the help of Fire, if thereto be added Sal-Armoniack, and filings of Copper, or the Calx of Verdigreece, remaining after the distillation of that Spiritus Veneris, so called by Snelfer. Thus also two Saline fluid Liquors, (the one made by putrefaction and Distillation, either from Animals or Vegetables, the other by distillation prepared from Fermentative Liquors) put together, shall lose their fluidity, and become a dry Osta; as is conspicuous, not only in the well known mixtures of Spirit of Wine, and Spirit of Urinal, Blood, Salarmoniac, Plants, etc. but also two Mineral Liquors (mentioned in our Halolog. Chym.) mixed, a dry Osta may be made: likewise Oil of Vitriol poured upon a peculiarly prepared Vitriolin Liquor (to be mentioned in the aforesaid Treatise of Salts) turns to a blue Clay: And as some fluid Bodies, by Salts, as extrinsic Agents, become Solid; so some Solid Bodies by Salts, become fluid, as for instance Butyrum Antimonii (viz. Butter of Antimony) in a gentle heat, is as fluid, as an Oil of a strong Body, and yet consists of the Flowers of Antimony brought into that form, by the additional Salts, before contained in sublimate: so Antimony by Salts loseth its colour: Thus from black, with the addition of Salts, it becomes brown, or yellow, as in the Hepar of Antimony, and from thence by further addition of Salts, and Calcinations, it becomes a lighter yellow, at length white, with a sleight yellow reflection, as is evident in Diaphoretic Antimony, in Mercurius Vitae, and Bezoardicum Minerale, concerning which Mutations amongst bodies you may see more in our aforesaid Discourse of Salts. Hydroph. What mean you (Pyroph.) by Solvents, the last you reckon upon the score of extrinsic Agents, in order to the changes which happen amongst bodies? Pyroph. By Solvents I understand all or most sorts of Menstrua, whether preparable amongst Animals, Vegetables, or Minerals; amongst Animals, such whose energetical Crasis depends chief upon volatile Alcalies, and those as more or less complicated, or colliquated with their connate Sulphurs: amongst Vegetables, such, where first either the Sulphur is depressed, and the Acidum prevalent, as in all Acids or Vinegars' distillable from the fermented Juices of Plants, once depraved, viz. in Vinegars, Alegars, etc. or their Spirits: or Secondly, where the Acidum and Sulphur are in aequilibrio, as in all vinous or other fermentative Liquors; Or Thirdly, where the Acidum is depressed, and the Sulphur exalted, as in all vinous Spirits, distillable from fermentative Liquors: Lastly, amongst Minerals, such where first the Acids prevail and are thin, or lean, as in Spirit of Vitriol: Secondly, where the Acids imbibe and colliquate more of their Sulphurs, as in Spirit of Salt: Thirdly, where the Sulphurs prevail, and yet are bound down by a strong Colliquation with their Acids, as in the Oil of Vitriol, Sulphur per Campane, Aquae Stygiae: or lastly, where the Sulphur is most prevalent, as in Oil of Antimony: In all which there are real (although gradual) Colliquations of the Mineral Principles, with what alterations they make upon other bodies, they are applicable to, and that as they are extrinsic Agents, not only the Chemical Dispensatory's, but also our Halolog. or Discourse of Salts do abundantly illustrate. Hydroph. How do these extrinsic Agents you have mentioned, accord amongst themselves, and how thereby reconcilable to your Hypothesis? Pyroph. Because, as I said, Fire (viz. the vulgar) made from the fourth Complication of our Principles, was applicable to other bodies (whose Principles otherwise lay dormant) as an extrinsic Agent: so if we take Fire in the largest sense, as extended through all the seven Complications of the Principles, whereby (according to our Hypothesis) it is concerned in the Fabric of most (if not all) bodies; then we shall find that even the other three (viz.) Ferments, Salts, and Solvents, are in one sense or other most-what reducible thereto. Thus Ferments are comprised chief in the second and third Complications of the Principles; and Solvents in as much as they depend (for the most part) upon the Colliquation of the Principles, do most-what result from the sixth. The greatest difficulty I find, is in Salts as Agents, and in petrific Concretes, viz. how Salts in their concretions, and Stones in their nativity, are comprisable within the sphere of our Principles, and reconcilable to our Hypothesis; concerning Salts, how they all in their several concretions comprehend a Sulphur, in one degree, mode, or other, locked up in their Compage; And how a tenfold complication of the Principles of Salts are necessarily to be considered in order to all the various Concretions, they are in Nature or by Art (in imitation of Nature) reducible to, and concerning the manifold Phaenomena thence solvable: For (for instance) one saline Liquor by the addition of another Salt or Body, doth assume the form of an Oil, Butter, Jelly, Day, Osta, etc. is demonstrated by particular Examples and Illustrations: Also how Salts do preserve bodies they are applied to from putrefaction, by preventing the access of somewhat in the Air, which is concerned in the setting those retrograde Springs in motion, I mean in putting the Principles into their reverse and analytical Fermentations, showed in the taking bodies in pieces by putrefaction: And lastly, how these Principles may be arrested from their Motion and suspended from their putrefactive Fermentations, by additions not only of Salts, Frost, Air, Fume of Brimstone, and additionals of other Condiments, but also by bare but artificial Extrusions of Air, concerning all which at large you may further see in our Halolog. Chym. (almost finished upon that Subject) when extant: and as to the Nativity of petrific bodies, from their intimate and essential causes, both as relating to the Macro, as well as to the Microcosm, you may consult, when extant, our Lithologia Physica, being a Discourse of Petrification. Hydroph. Wherein (pray Pyroph.) do your Principles differ from the Corpuscularian? For you seem in some things to strike in with their Hypothesis. Pyroph. If you will observe (Hydroph.) you will find, as in many things it accords, so it differs much; for theirs supposeth in the main matter moved, which also includes in it the figure, shape, and size of the parts moved, reducing them into certain minute figured parts, irreducible into less, which convening in such and such numbers, with others of different figure, combine together under the mask of some other figure than before, and so constitute this or the other body, shaped according to the texture of those parts so collected and united together; whereas ours, although it include much of this Doctrine, especially that of matter moved, and under the consideration of variety of figure, shape, and size of the constituent parts: yet herein it differeth, first that it doth not consider the parts as reduced or reducible into indivisible, and yet figured points; But supposeth all the however minute parts of matter which do accost our senses, or make any alterations in our Juices (by which we usually make an estimate of their Figures or take their Dimensions) to be yet divisible into less parts, whose figure as not necessary to the constituting, so not needful to be reckoned upon in our Calculation of the Nativity of bodies. And Secondly: We suppose the natural or physical division of parts, to transcend by many degrees that of Mechanism how acutely and artificially soever performed: which physical sub-division we (in our Discourse of Fermentation, and in our Tentamen Physiolog.) ascribe wholly to the Energy of Ferments, viz. to the subtle Collisions of our Principles mutually acting, which is able to knock off every Angle, to perforate every Solid, and to split in pieces every Globula of Matter, that upon such Figures fall under our cognizance. Hydroph. But pray (Pyroph.) first, Why are your Principles called Mechanical? Secondly, Why do not your Principles, as reducible at the long run into Water, forfeit their Natures or Essences of Principles? Pyroph. I answer (Hydroph.) as to the first, they are called Mechanical, because material; and next, because being as such and set into their peculiar motions are sufficient for the physical Mechanism and structure of all bodies, or such as Nature employs (as we suppose) in the Mechanism of all specific Concretes throughout its threefold Kingdom: so that to the building of all bodies from intrinsic Agents, these are (according to our Hypothesis) necessarily and essentially requisite. And as to the second, I answer (Hydroph.) that although these Principles be the proximate Agents, and primarily to be considered in order to the hewing forth of bodies from their material original water, determining water into this or the other specifical Concrete: yet we do not esteem of these active Principles to be otherwise than material, only spiritualised or subtilised Matter, for Spirit, in our Physical sense, we only look upon as subtilised matter: and therefore as such at the long winding off, are reducible into water, or convene in such a fluid texture of parts ascribable to water. SECT. IX. Hydroph. BUt do not the Atomical Philosophers and you agree in the main, in the Principles and general affections of bodies afore-named? Pyroph. Yes, But besides what I have already said wherein ours chiefly differ from theirs, we must also crave leave to tell you (Hydroph.) that we descent from them in those extravagancies, which renders it justly to be reputed heathenish or vain Philosophy, especially as they sprang from the old Fountain, witness the roving fancies of the first starters of the Corpuscularian Doctrine; I mean of Epicurus, Democritus, Leucippus, Lucretius and the rest of that Classis; whose opinion was, that matter and motion was Eternal; and that innumerable worlds were generated by the fortuitous Coalition of Atoms, as Magnenus tells us out of Diogenes Laert. Seneca, etc. Witness, what Claudianus Pau. elegantly describes in these lines, speaking of Democritus, Ille ferox, unoque tegi haud passus Olympo Immensum per inane volat, finemque perosus, Parturit innumeros angusto pectore mundos. So that according to their opinion, the World & all the mixed Bodies therein were huddled together by the Justlings, Counter Scuffles, and Duelling of Atoms, which by accidental jumpings into such and such postures and figures, produced such and such figurative sensible Bodies as make up the whole pompage thereof: whence Virgil in his Eclogues gives a hint of that Doctrine. Namque canebat uti magnum per inane coacla Semina terrarum, animaeque marisque fuissent, Et liquidi simul ignis, ut his exordia primis Omnia, & ipse tener mundi concreverit orbis. For they suppose matter out of which the World is made Eternal, and by their inane an infinite space, wherein infinite small Particles or Atoms of that matter are contained, which Atoms (we might think) being gamesome and frolic, might make infinite congresses, running a tilt upon each other, and that without any designation or appointment of any Divine, Supreme, intelligent power, twist upon each other, and by a blind (I know not what) impetus, by chance strike the figure of so many Worlds and amongst the rest, form the beautiful regular compage of that World we see: and that the Earth, while in its vigour and fertility, brought forth Men and other Animals, as now it doth Plants: So that they suppose the generation of mixed Bodies, to be nothing else, but a congregation, and corruption to be a segregation of Atoms; and all this sine numine divine, without any Divine Fiat, and therefore may well be called heathenish or vain Philosophy. Hydroph. But pray (Pyroph.) is not that Philosophy or knowledge of natural things the best, whose Principles doth best agree with and come nearest to the Mosaic and consequently Christian Philosophy? Pyroph. Yes (Hydroph.) without doubt. Hydroph. Well then surely ours, I mean the Aristotelic Doctrine of natural Bodies must be the best: for we own a Divine power, that has not only created, but by the same upholds all things in the World. Pyroph. So far (Hydroph.) is very well, and that which every solid Hypothesis should suppose: But to lay such a foundation of fruitful Principles, as to make the Doctrine of natural Bodies the most intelligible, and thereby to solve the various Phaenomena most demonstrably, is the main matter. Hydroph. Why? is not our Doctrine of the four Elements, Principles large enough, to erect a true Hypothesis thereby of natural Bodies? Are not all mixts produced therefrom and ultimately resolved thereinto? Pyroph. To which I answer, that the four Elements as they are by Aristotle and his Commentators laid down, as the materia proxima of all Bodies, are both too straight and narrow to raise up a Structure of Bodies therefrom: as also too many to enter the composition of natural Concretes. Hydroph. Why? How are they too straight? Are not all Bodies made up with Fire and Air, Water and Earth? Are not these (Pyroph) the beginnings of all Bodies? Pyroph. These four Elements (Hydroph) are too straight, because all natural Bodies in their genuine Analysis are not resoluble thereinto: and such are demonstrably Principles or Elements into which mixts are ultimately reducible. Hydroph. Are not our Quaternary of Elements such? In as much as they are (according to our Hypothesis) simple Homogenial Bodies, from which all Concretes are primarily compounded, and into which they are ultimately resolved; which for instance enter the composition of the Body of Man, as well as other mixts: For we read Gen. 3. That upon the Curse, Man was to return to the ground out of which he was taken: So that Earth must be one main ingredient of the Body of Man; which Earth unless it be bound up with a Watery moisture, as with Glue, would fall from together; and therefore must needs suppose Water another Element in the Fabric of the humane Body; So that there is Earth and Water, and because as we suppose all Generation is made up of contraries, therefore Air and Fire as contraries to Earth and Water must also be of necessity there: That the immoderate dryness and coldness of Earth and Water may be tempered with the moisture and heat of Air and Fire; and so all be brought to a kind of equality. Besides, Ex iis constamus ex quibus nutrimur, but we are nourished by the four Elements and Bodies thence made, Ergo. Pyroph. Here indeed you seem to come pretty close to the point Hydroph. by an experimental Induction (as you suppose) of the humane Body, in the Fabric whereof you conjecture the four Elements to become the principia materiata, and that not only of man's but also of all other mixed Bodies in the World, and this you do, by first taking in the Element of Earth, as the Basis of the rest, and that you ground from Adam's return to Earth from whence he was taken; which was part of the sentence God pronounced against Man for his disobedience at the fall: I must tell you (Hydroph.) that this is no Argument for Earth as a simple Homogenial Element to enter the composition of the Body of Man: for that sentence, Thou shalt return to the ground, for out of it wast thou taken: For dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return, seems to me to intimate no more than thus (viz.) that seeing Man by his transgression had forfeited his right to an Eternal and Immutable Inheritance (which upon his obedience had then been confirmed upon him) he had now upon his disobedience a Sentence of the Mortality of Body passed upon him; and that after the revolution of some years, his Body should undergo the same vicissitude and Law of Mutability with other temporary transient mixed Bodies in the World: Dust thou art, and unto Dust thou shalt return, intimates a Reduction of the Body into its primitive minute parts whether in a liquid or dry form, whether reduced into a Juice or Leffas of the Earth by the fracedo of the Grave, or that Juice further coagulated into some Species of Earth: For the word in the Original is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by which Earth is signified as being the Sublunary part of the World distinguished from the Heavens or Celestial Bodies, but is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which intimates a red elixirated Earth, where an efflorescence of the Panspermion of the Macrocosm becomes concentred; in as much as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which takes its original from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the Microcosm or little World, which is the Epitome of the great World. And although (Hydroph.) we should admit Earth as a constituent Principle or Element of Bodies, which yet in our Hydrologia Chymic. by several Mechanical Experiments have demonstrated Water (not Earth) to be the material Principle of all Concrete Bodies) and so to take in Water and Earth as two Elements of Bodies, I say notwithstanding that Adoption of Earth to be an Element, we see no reason for a necessity of taking in the other two of Air and Fire as Principles of Bodies: which you ground upon this Supposition that all Generation is made up of contraries, (which yet in some sense is true, as elsewhere in our Doctrine of Fermentation we show) and therefore having Earth and Water granted as two Elements, you conclude a necessity of Air and Fire to temper the other, and bring them into an equality by their contrary qualities. For if we can, Hydroph. (as we may elsewhere) solve those primary qualities of heat and cold, dryness and moisture, without having recourse to their subjects of inhesion, as the Elements are reputed to be: then those Elements (at least as to the quaternary of them) must of necessity cease to be primary constituent Principles of Bodies, seeing the Elements in order to the Fabric thereof are to do it by their supposed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or combination of qualities. And although that of Aristotle be true (viz.) Ex iis constamus ex quibus nutrimur, yet the Assumption or minor which commonly is annexed annexed thereto (viz.) but we are nourished by the four Elements, and their Concrete Bodies, is as false: which although they further endeavour to prove by the instance of Plants, of which we feed, these are (they say) nourished by Earth and Water, are cherished by Heat, which proceeds from Fire, and are preserved by Air, and therefore we feeding upon them, feed upon the four Elements, of which they are made. Whereas (Hydroph.) we elsewhere acquaint you, how Plants have not their original from the Quaternary of Elements, but from Seeds and specifical Ferments, which determine the motion of matter, into such variety of shapes, which we usually see them distinguished into, and that chief upon matter, whose parts are so wrought as to become fluid, I mean Water, which is the proximate material Subject of most (if not all) Concretes, whether in their Genesis or Metastasis. Hydroph. But I will give you another instance, how we understand the four Elements, to be the Principles of mixed Bodies, and that is by the destruction or reduction of things into those Principles from whence they take their Original; as suppose in burning a piece of Wood; you may (Pyroph.) view a separation of the four Elements, for the fumes go into Air, the expressed moisture of the Wood is of the nature of Water, the Ashes is of the nature of Earth: and lastly the Fire or Flame is obvious enough to the Eye. Pyroph. This experiment of the burning of Wood, evinceth nothing, Hydroph. of the pre-existency of the Quaternary of Elements, by its reduction into Fume, Moisture, Ashes and Flame: For that by which (according to the Peripatetie Doctrine) you would have Air to be demonstrated to be a constitutive Principle of Wood, is the fume: which if so, then must this Fume be like the Air a simple Homogenial Body, which yet how simple so ever you may repute, we know Hydroph. how to separate by the Pyrotechnic Art, five or six several distinguishable things: as if done in close Vessels, a four Spirit; if openly, it separates a soot to the sides of the Chimney, as of a great receiver: from which we have separated a Phlegm, Spirit, Volatile-Salt, Oil, and Caput Mort. enough to make it justly be denied the being a simple Elementary Principle: and therefore some do two things at once, (viz.) both char their Wood, and at the same condense the Fumes in large receivers or pipes, whereby they get the four Spirit: For the charing of the Wood, is nothing. but a fixation of the Sulphur, with the Salt: which Sulphur before would flame forth, but now being smothered, it only glows in the Coal. So that that whereby you would demonstrate a reduction of Wood into the Element of Air, by the Fumes thereof, you see (Hydro.) how we find it to be a mixed Body itself, consisting of Heterogeneous parts, many of which are further reducible into more primary Principles; yea even the very acid Spirit, made by distillation of Woods, as of Guaiacum, Box, etc. Which one would deem (if any) to be a simple Liquor, is yet by addition of Alkalizate Bodies, such as are Coral, Crabs-Eyes, Pearl, fixed Salts of Herbs, etc. is reducible into a piercing Liquor quite of another sort than before, which I have also observed from the acid Spirit of Verdigrease dinted or mortified by a fixed Alcali, to have by further distillation, been reducible into a quick penetrating Spirit, not acid at all, but very much emulating the Spirit of crude Tartar; which will not (as Acids usually do) change the Syrup of Violets into a red Colour; And as to what you say (Hydroph.) that the expressed moisture in burning the Wood, is of the nature of Water: this very thing I say has an Empyreumatic odour, which is further reducible, and therefore forfeits its badge of a primary or Elementary Principle: As for the remaining Ashes, which you suppose to be of the nature of Earth, you are mistaken, for they are a great part of them separable in the form of a fixed Salt, which is quite another thing than that you call Earth. And further, that this very Earth separable after the Calcination of the Vegetable and Elixiviation of the Salt, is not Elementary, will be evident from the following experimental Observation: for from about 200 weight of Oak-wood, first charged, and then burnt to Ashes, I had but 3 pound of Ashes, which by Lixiviating gave me 5 ounces of fixed Salt and about 2 pound 8 ounces of insipid Earth: which very Earth I say was no more to be accounted an Elementary Principle of the aforesaid Wood, than fixed Salt thence produced by Calcination, because the like quantity of Wood being otherwise handled by Fire (besides what different products would result from other Agents) viz. by a naked firing (without any previous charing) gives a larger proportion by much of fixed Salt, than the former; which very fixed Salt, may also by frequent Calcination, Solution, Filtration, Evaporation or Distillation, may I say, be all converted into an Earth (the same the Wood charged was reducible to) and Phlegm: & no Philosopher ever admitted fixed Alcalies (such as are produced by Fire from a Plant) amongst Elementary Principles, or if any did, yet was easily refutable by the aforesaid experiment: so that it's hence clear (beyond Ambiguity) that Earth in the composition of Bodies is not an Element, but a Product of the Fire, as we further illustrate by other parallel experiments in our Tentamen Physiologic. And lastly, that the flaming of the Wood should indicate an Elementary Fire, is somewhat strange: For this Fire in the Wood (which we reckon to be made by our fourth Complication of the Principles as aforesaid,) consumes, or rather reduceth it into more simple Bodies; which yet are most what new Products of the Fire, and other twist of the same Principles: whereas an Elementary Principle, should rather constitute, than destroy Bodies: So that none of those are at all demonstrative of the Quaternary of Elements. SECT. X. Hydroph. WEll (Pyroph.) but we do not suppose that all mixts are immediately reducible into the four Elements; but many bodies first change into other forms, by a kind of vicissitude, and yet at the last are resolvable into the four Elements, of which they consist: Thus Herbs, and other Food, we take for our nourishment, undergo various changes, in our bodies, into Chyle, Blood, Flesh, Bones, etc. and after Excretion, is converted into a Stercus, which at length is resolved into Earth. Pyroph. It's true, (Hydroph.) let us imagine what Hypothesis we please, yet are not concrete bodies always immediately reducible into their first constituent Principles, but sometimes undergo a transposition of parts, whereby they acquire a new form, and so a second, third, and so on in a round of vicissitudes, before there happen a total Analysis into its primitive Principles or through-resolution of a Concrete into its Minimums. But that this ultimate reduction of Concretes, should always at the long run, prove the four Elements, is not methinks (Hydroph.) demonstrable by your propounded instance of Herbs, or other Aliment, taken into our bodies, for nourishment: For that they admit of various Mutations, according to the different digestions they pass through, is that we cannot deny; but that these should be intermediate changes of our Food, before it be ultimately reduced, into the Quaternary of Elements; is that we are not to let slip unexamined. And first we are to consider, that towards the making of changes amongst bodies, out of one form into another; where there is the same material Principles substituted, and only a Metastasis happens; there must, I say, of necessity concur the super-induction of new Ferments (or other sorts of extrinsic Agents, as aforesaid) which by macerating, subjugating, and altering the parts, may raise up a new Structure of a different form, than was before, and yet that body no whit the nearer to a reduction into its Elements now than before. So that what changes, or alterations our Food undergoes in the several digestions of our bodies, are to be ascribed to no other than the different Ferments it passeth through; which altering the texture of the parts, subverts the first, and bringeth on a new form; so from the form of Beef, Mutton, Bread, Beer, etc. (though different amongst themselves) yet by the uniform operation of the Spirituous, elixerated Ferment of the Blood, thither in its circulation transmitted as aforesaid, become altered, or transmuted into a similar Chyle, or Cremor, which being refined through the straight Colanders of the Venae lacteae, by which it is percolated from the dreggy Feces along the Duodenum, Colon, and Ilium, and further purified in the Glandules, is sent up by the Thoracical Vessels, into the Jugulars, where it's let into the ascending Branch of the Vena Cava, becomes dashed with blood, and by coming to the Heart, where, by the Air in its circuit through the Lungs, it's volatized, and assumes the form of vital blood; which being carried along the Aorta, and other thence branching Arteries, sublimes or distils into pure volatile Spirits, for the supply of the genus Nervosum; part of which mean while being carried into the whole habit of the body, becomes coagulated in the fibrous parts, into Sinews, Flesh, Bones, etc. according as it is determined, and arrested by the particular assimilative Ferments of the several parts. Next to which (Hydroph.) we are to consider, the humane as well as other mixed bodies, during the revolution of their specifical Ferments, are in a constant perspirability; always (I mean during the season of the vigour of their genuine Ferments) a making up, and as often resolving, or taking in pieces, (viz.) in a perpetual flux of constituent Elements; otherwise what means the continual supply we have from daily nourishment, by fresh Food? For if there were not a constant flux, and wasting by perspiration, we need not so constant a supply by Food. In as much as when we come to a full maturity of years, as to the Vegetation, or growth of our bodies; which is from 18 or 20 till towards 30 years (some sooner, others later) Than what ever of Food we take in (deducting what is separated, as Urinal, Excrements, and the like) as much, I say, of real nourishment, as is by the digestive Ferments daily made thereof, so much do we transpire, and lose: so that supposing by compute, that in most bodies, every day (I mean while in health, and Ferments strong) 7, 8, or 10 ounces of fresh blood may be produced: and yet notwithstanding suppose most men to be weighed at 24, 26, or at furthest 30 years of age (excepting some few that may by the more than ordinary coagulation of that which should transpire, after those years, grow fat, and gross) and again at 40, 50, or 60 years, it will be found, that generally there is no increase of weight at all during that time; and yet, I say, so much blood is spent every day in nourishment, and so much of the ultimate assimilated aliment is daily transpired, and all this without any residence, or caput mort. of the blood, being constantly (whilst the Ferments, Spirits, and Organs are sound and regular) volatized by a Ferment from the Air. And yet this Blood is made from various kinds of Flesh, Fowl, Fish, Bread, Drink, etc. all which lose their pristine form by the power of the specifical Ferments, through which they pass: so that if I should tell you (Hydroph.) that when we come to 20, or 30 years of age, and so on, we have not the same numerical bodies as we had in our infancy; nay, perhaps not the same we had 5 year ago, you will think it a Paradox (if not Heterodox) and yet if fairly scanned, what, I say, will not be found improbable. For if we duly consider, how that which yesterday appeared in the form of part of a Sheep, Calf, Ox, Deer, Pigeon, Goose, Turkey, Corn, Herbs, Beer, etc. shall to day be transmuted into Chyle, Blood, Flesh, Bones, etc. of a humane Body; yea, this to transpire within a few days, and assume other forms, and all this, by the power of Ferments, which are as the noble Helmont saith, the parents of Transmutation. If the nutritive parts of our body was not in a constant flux, and always winding off, we should in time become Anakites, grow to be mighty Giants: But from the vigour of the Ferments of the body, together with a perspirability communicated from the Air, the succulent, yea the solid parts themselves, are always upon the wing. Thus as new parts are daily by a rotation of Ferments added, so the old as constantly march off, or wear away: or rather as the former texture of parts by a perspirability wind off, so new parts by fresh supply of Food (passing the circle of Ferments) are woven on: to confirm which, viz. that the Ferments wind off the old, and wind on the new coming parts of added Nutriment; appears by this Observation, that old Cows or Oxen, after they have done their expected service, being put to feed at fresh Grass, do by the power of the aforesaid Ferments, lay on new flesh, which eats as tenderly, as if the Goods had been killed young: so that that which solely determines matter, in this grand circulation of bodies, out of one shape into another, are the seminal and specifical Ferments, and during the vigour of these the form of the body is kept entire in its specifical difference from other concrete bodies. Wherefore the same specifical Body, after the revolution of some years, is no more the same numerical Body, than the Ship which went from Athens, and by frequent repairs returned at last without one foot of old Timber, that it was at first built with, may be said to be the same. Hydroph. But if so (Pyroph.) why do not we live always? Seeing as you say our Bodies are in a constant fluor, and as the old parts wear off, new ones come on; what should hinder, but they should always do so, and we live longer than Mathusalem? Pyroph. To which I return (Hydroph.) that although our Bodies consist in a constant flux of Parts; and that nutrition is an apposition of new, in the place of the old, or transpiring Particles; yet as the form of this circulating matter is determined by the seminal, and therefore specifical Ferments; so the decaying of our Bodies, both by sickness and old Age, depend Essentially upon the intenseness and remissness of the vigour of those Ferments: so that when these grow languid by diseases, the Body wastes by a Marasmus; or when they at the long run of old Age, become enfeebled, and draw towards their limit, according to the great and irrevocable decree of the Almighty, Statutum est omnibus semel mori; then do they come to their period, as to their Progressive motion, (I mean in order to nourishment, and support of the Body thereby) and leaves the Body to be taken in pieces, either by a Putredinous Ferment, promoted by access of Air; or by the Fracedinous odour of the Grave: whereby it's either transmitted into other Animals, (by the power of their Ferments) or reduced into its primitive Juice, or Leffas of the Earth; For the strength, floridness, activity, and that which is commonly called the constitution of the Body, depends mostwhat if not solely upon the vigour of the Ferments, as you may see further in our Hydrologia Chymica, and Zymologia Physica. Hydroph. Well (Pyroph.) I have this yet to add against what you say, and that is to query; why we should be troubled at any time with those sorts of diseases, we call Chronical? For it should seem to me (if what you say concerning our bodies being in a perpetual flux of parts be true) that few diseases would be of any continuance, so as to acquire the name of Chronical, because as the Body, so they also would wear off in time. Pyroph. To which I answer, (Hydroph.) that as the Ferments are the primary active and transmutative Principles, to which the most incident Phaenomena of diseases are chief reducible: so what alterations are made in the Body, by the Ataxy of Diseases are mostwhat referrable thereto: so that Diseases happen not to the Body, as it falls under our consideration, in the notion of a constant flux, and vicissitude of parts; but as it is composed of a round of Ferments, whose exorbitances, prevarications, and frequent errors, become Essential to the begetting Diseases: And therefore although the Body as to its material constitutive Principles, may admit of a constant alteration of parts in an Agile fluor, yet doth it not follow that Diseases are also as constantly worn off; because they belong to the Body as considered under its Classis of Ferments: so that as the Ferments in their vigour are the Authors of the Eutaxy or due temperament of humours, and consequently of Health; in like manner their spurious exorbitances, are the essential causes of those disorders, and discomposures in the Body we call Diseases. SECT. XI. Hydroph. BUt pray (Pyroph.) why did you in your discourse about the four Elements, being our supposed Original of all concrete Bodies, say, that they were too many to enter the composition of natural Bodies? Pyroph. Because (Hydroph.) some of them, as for instance, the Air and Fire (the latter of which, as considered in its supposed Elementary Sphere sub concavo lunae, or as culinary) concur not as constitutive Principles, to the making up of mixed Bodies. Hydroph. Why is not Air in all, or most Bodies? Pyroph. Yes, Hydroph. But not as a material Principle of Bodies, but with the Aether to fill up vacancies, and to do other Offices, in part below, but more fully illustrated in our Tentamen Physiologic. Hydroph. Can either Animals live, or Vegetables grow without Air? Must it not therefore be an Essential Constitutive Element of Bodies? Pyroph. I grant (Hydroph.) that neither Animals can live, nor Vegetables grow, without the confluence of Air, impregnate with its Nitro-Hermetick Salt: and yet see no necessity, why it should thence follow, that Air should be an ingressive Principle of Bodies: For it may help to promote the vigour of the Ferments in Animals, by helping to Volatize the succulent parts, and make the blood circulate the better without Stagnation or spurious Coagulations in the Vessels; and yet may not at all be an Elemental Principle of Bodies. Also it may concur to the promoting Vegetation of Plants, partly by impregnating the Nursery of Vegetables, the Earth, with a Volatile nitrous Salt, and partly (with its Aether) by setting the seminal Principles of Plants at work: for Earth (as we further enlarge in the Appendix to our Hydrologia Chymica) is not fertilized, nor brings forth Plants, without a concurrence of the foresaid Salt, nor are the seminal Ferments of Vegetables awakened, without the benevolence of the Air and its congeneal Aether, saturated therewith, which constantly floats in the Air, as in its proper Sea. Hydroph. But is not Air one parcel of which the Universe is made? Pyroph. Yes. Hydroph. And is not that matter a part of that whereof Concretes are made? Pyroph. No, For although it be matter, yet is it such a Texture thereof, as is only pliable, but not convertible into other Bodies, that is, never loseth the form of Air: for notwithstanding its Universal concurrence in the constitution of most Bodies as aforesaid, yet doth it never quit its genuine form, as we further show in our Tentamen Physiologic. Hydroph. But we define Air to be an Element moderately hot and most moist, filling every place that is not already with another Body. Pyroph. It is (Hydroph.) if I mistake not, neither hot nor moist of itself, and therefore can be no Element: for that which according to the Peripatetic Sense, makes it an Element, is the supposed combination of the qualities of Heat, and Moisture: by which it should seem, that moisture according to your Philosophy, was the Essential quality of Air, and by which Moisture, with a moderate heat, it should enter the composition of Bodies: Now if I make it good, that there is no moisture, but what is Essential to Water; then will your Element of Air cease to be such. You must know therefore (Hydroph.) that wherever you can find moisture, the Pyrotechnick Art will demonstrate it to be actually Water, and that either in a fluid Texture of parts, whereby it appears even to the Sense, to be Water, or at least in an extended form, floating vapore tenus in the tenuious and easily recessible Body of Air. Whence it's evident, moisture is no quality at all; from the aforesaid reason of its being really and essentially Water, either in a fluid or extended form; as you may further see in our Hydrologia Chymica. So that moisture is only and primarily compatible to the thin woven Texture of the parts of Water circulating in the Air, and to the Air but secundary, as the Vehicle of the extended Body of Water. Hydroph. But is not the moisture which we see wets stonewalls, before Rain falls, that which properly belongs to the Air, yea, and the very Air transmuted into Water? Pyroph. I answer, no, for that is nothing but simple rarified Water, or the Body of Water extended in the perforations of the Air, which while interspersed in the tenuious and pliable Body thereof, by the smallness of its rarified parts, escapes our Sense, and so remains till the parts thereof come nearer together, which gliding along the surface of Stones in Buildings (while the lower Region of the Air is ponderous therewith) becomes gathered into a visible Body of moisture or Water, and therefore is not Air transmuted into Water, as you may see more at large in our Hydrologia Chymica. Hydroph. But pray (Pyroph.) seeing you neither admit of Air as the subjectum inhaesionis of moisture, nor moisture to be a primary or essential quality of Air, and consequently deny Air to be an Element of Bodies, and that there is no transmutability of Air into Water: I say pray what do you suppose Air to be? Pyroph. I look upon Air (Hydroph.) to be such a parcel of matter, whose parts consist in a tenuious, diaphanous, pliable and fluid Texture, of easy recess, susceptible of the impressions of the minutest of Bodies, and capable of permitting rarified Waters, Vapours and all sorts of Apporrhoea from the terraqueous. Globe to pass and repass: of all which, and many other minute Bodies that fall not under the perception of our senses, it is the proper Vehicle, also subservient to the motion of all Bodies that tack to and fro within its Orb, is the Vehicle of Species, the medium of all influences and transactions betwixt the Celestial and Terrestrial Bodies: And as Trismegistus in Asclepio, saith, Aer est organum vel machina omnium, per quam omnia fiunt, not as an Element, but as a Machine for the motion of all Bodies. Its parts I say are tenuious, that it may the better give way to the motion of Bodies, within its orbit; of easy recess, that it may the better admit of other rarified Bodies, which are in a continual circulation, and those perforations to be of no prefixed figure, but either round, or angular, according to the pressure of its parts by the motion of other Bodies; Diaphanous, that it may the better transmit the Rays of luminous Bodies; pliable, I said, that it may be the more subservient to the justlings of Bodies, and may the better recede upon the access of other moveables; and lastly, fluid, that it may thereby prevent any large vacuum, and may the better press into the Porosities of Bodies; Thus a stone being cast at a distance, which by the impulse it has got, draws, suppose, a straigt line in the Air, forcing some parts of the Air, and those press upon the next adjacent, and those the next, till by a circulating motion they fall constantly into the rear of the deserted space, made by the motion of the stone, and so immediately supplies the vacancy thereof, and thereby contributes to the perpetuating the first impulse from a hand, Sling, or Engine; For if the Air did not constantly succeed by a circular motion, close in the rear of the movable, the impulse would immediately flag, and the motion of the Body cease. And although Democritus his two grand ingredients of the world were Atoms, and that which he calls vacuum or inane, which was nothing else but what we in the verge of our Atmosphere call Air, and above is Aether; yet certainly, although the parts of Air, are so tenuious, and diaphanous, as never to become visible to our eyes, yet I say, may no less be reputed matter, (in how different a Texture soever) than that which enters the composition of natural Bodies, as genuine Elements thereof. Hydroph. These are general considerations of Air, as it falls in a large sense under our apprehension: But pray (Pyroph.) how do you apprehend of it in a more strict and particular sense, in order to the intimate concerns of Animals and Vegetables, which seem to have some near dependence thereon, both as to their Generation, Conservation in their Species, and Metastasis too. Pyroph. Not so general considerations (Hydroph.) as you may perhaps take them to be, but may many of them very well serve to some Phaenomena of both Animals, Vegetables and other Bodies, as they fall under a Philosophic inquiry; for that it should by its tenuious, pliable, fluid Texture, be subservient to the motion of Bodies, is thereby no less serviceable, as for the general so the particular concerns of Animals and Vegetables, both by concurring to the Motion, Sensation, Secretion, and Perspiration of Animals; as also by promoting the motion and Vegetation of Vegetables; and that too as it is perforable and diaphanous admitting both of luminous as well as other Bodies which circulate in its Orb, for the helping forward Animation, and Vegetation, and all this by invigorating the Essential Ferments of both, which its congenial associate the Volatile nitrous Salt, and Aetherial matter hid therein. Without which, the functions of Vitality could not be performed, for without those jointly concurring, neither would the Ferments be actuated, the parts perspirable the Taper of Life set a flaming, nor in fine the Body movable without the help of that Organum, as Trismegistus calls it: which is further evident by what improvements, the great Naturalist, Esq; boil, hath made in the lately invented Pneumatick Engine, into which if Animals be put, and the Air pumped forth, they fall into Palpitations and in a very little time, for want of the help of this Essential Organum, the Ferments are damped, the Spirits run counter, flag, and the Taper of Life is quickly extinct, so that they speedily die of Spasms and Convulsions. And as the Air with its Volatile Salt, is an Essential Machine (not as an Element) necessary to promote (if not also to excite) the Functions of Vitality in Animals; so it is no less effectual, in the invigorating the seminal Ferments of Vegetables: For neither are these brought on to maturity, nor do they grow without the concurrence thereof; Inasmuch as the superficies of the Earth, which is the Matrix or Nursery of Vegetable Seeds, is porous and spongy, whereby the Air has access to Seeds, even in their first openings, and beginnings to motion; concurring to the first workings, of the seminal Principles, by putting the Springs & Ferments into Action; and when they by the Vegetative Collision of their Principles put forth, or spring out of the Earth, still require the assisting influence of this fluid Aereal matter, of which if they be denied, their Ferments cease to act, and the Body withers. And as to what you ask (Hydrop.) how the Air is concerned in the Metastasis of Bodies, out of one shape into another; I answer, that new Ferments are super-induced upon Bodies, for the mutation thereof, by the mediation of Air, whereby the seminal Principles, which by their intestine and Progressive Collisions have been the Mechanical Agents in the Production and Genesis of Bodies, do now, by the superinduction of new Ferments, from the Air, fall into other sorts (I mean Retrogressive) Collisions, thereby takes the same Body (they built before) now in pieces by a putredinous Ferment; For if some Bodies can but be secured from the Air (or from what is contained in the Air) before a putrid Ferment be introduced, (that is, before the Principles be put into their reverse motion,) they may be preserved entire in their form: the truth of which, may be confirmed by several Mechanical instances: For besides the Additaments of Salts, Sugars, and Vinegars, wherewith many sorts of things, as food and all Confections may be preserved a considerable time for use: and besides the Occlusions of the Pores of some Bodies, especially Pullen and the like, killed and hung up in the Feathers, whereby those Bodies may be kept entire from putrefaction by the Frost Air, as they preserve their killed Pullen for several Months sweet and good, in New-England; I say, besides all these, I know a peculiar Artifice of preserving Aprecocks, Damsens, Gooseberries, Cherries, etc. without the addition of any thing, save a skilful contrivance of excluding the Air: of which more in our Zymolog. Physic. and Tentamen Physiologic. Thus also Quinces by taking forth the Core which boiled with some other Quinces to a Mucilage, with which they are to be filled, and put into a close Vessel, filled round with the same Mucilage, will preserve them entire in their form for a whole year; so flesh kept in a constant current of Water, or in Spirit of Wine, will be preserved a long time in its entire form, as sometimes a Puppy has been kept entire, and Embrio's are preserved from any putrid Ferment in Spirit of Wine. Also Beef seasoned and well baked, and put in a Cask filled with despumed Butter, has thereby been kept good in long Voyages: Thus by embalming, Fumes, and Cerecloths, Cadaverous Bodies are kept a great while from putrefaction: also by a constant heat the same Bodies may be Mummized, witness the Bodies both of Men and Beasts in sandy Deserts (as those of Arabia) being covered over with Sands by whirlwinds or Hurricanes, are by the heat of the Sun (constantly beating upon them) and by being separated from the Air, turned into Mummy, found unbar'd by other contrary Winds. So that you see hence (Hydroph.) how Bodies are prevented of their otherwise sudden Metastasis into other shapes, either by additional Saline or other sorts of Condiments Liquors, Steams, etc. or other more solitary Exclusions of Air; all which do anticipate the sudden Analysis of Bodies, (which frequently happen from new putredinous Ferments) by arresting and suspending the Principles of Bodies in their Fermentative Collisions: wherefore you see that the Air is not only of general but particular concern, as in the production and conservation of Animals, and Vegetables, so also in the production or putredinous Analysis of them into other forms. Besides all which (Hydroph.) we are to consider the Air as the common Vehicle of Heat, Cold, and Moisture, not as Qualities which are Essential to Air, as their subjectum inhaesionis, but as actual Bodies, how minute soever, are capable enough to smite our subtle Organs, and affect our Senses, set on work by Winds from different quarters, which are the Clavigeri tempestatum in order to the mutation of weather. For although these float in the Air and are not seen, (excepting that of Moisture gathered together in a Mist, Fog, or Cloud) yet that they are perceptible enough to our Senses, is evident amongst the rest, from the minute Particles of Cold, which float in the Air from Northern Winds, and are of such Shape, or Size, as they not only pierce our Skins, and moderately shut the Pores thereof, thereby invigorate the Ferments, whence our Appetites to Food are stronger, and the Digestions the better performed in Frost than in warm Wether. And in colder Countries and Climates, than in hot, but in cold raw Wether the Pores (those small Portals of the Body) stand a char (if I may so say) whereby the alterations in the Air have the easier access into our Juices, to procure the like in them; whence we observe, in such Wether people generally take more cold, and are more prone to Diseases, as well Acute as Chronical, than at other Seasons. Which Frost Air, if it be very sharp, congeals the fluid humours of our Bodies, forcing the Spirits to a retreat unless opposed by a warmth from exercise or Spirits of good Liquor, yea the same cold Particles meeting with Water, doth so fill the Pores thereof, that from a fluid, they (by their interposition) make it become for a time a kind of solid Body: which when the winds change, and are carried in different Percledi of the Air, as breathing, suppose from the South, or West, Southeast, or South-West points, the Particles of Heat and Moisture muster in the Air, and mortify, dint or resolve the cold Particles. For it's very probable that the congealing of Water into Ice by Cold, is nothing else but the congelation of the Atoms (which in one Sense we admit) of Cold, rivetting themselves fast in the Pores of the Body of Water, in as much as these floating in the Air, either brought to us by those Winds which blow over the Northern Frozen Seas, which in their resolution may extricate themselves from their former combinations, being carried by the fanning of the Wind from that quarter, or from what other causes soever, meeting with liquid Bodies, by their piercing nature insinuate themselves into the Texture thereof, and as they wove themselves in, they put a stop to the motion or fluidity of those liquids, unless preserved by some active, nimble, spirituous parts, and from a fluid make them become (as we said) a sort of solid Bodies; which as they fill some Pores of Water, so they cause some other parts of Water to constringe or concentre themselves; whence is one reason, why in Frosty Seasons, Rivers (that are otherwise high by late falls of Rain) are upon Frosty Winds shrunk up, and Water in Vessels exposed to the Air, are sensibly contracted or lessened. Wherefore all Bodies whose Texture consists most what of liquid parts, if they contain so many of those aforesaid nimble, spirituous, fermentative Particles, by the briskness of whose motion, the liquids are kept fluid, then are they secured (so long as kept either circulating in their own, or defended by close Vessels) from the injury of the cold, undergo no coagulation therefrom, nor are altered thereby; Thus the Blood, and liquid Juices in the Body of Man or other Animals, as long as they are invigorated with Spirituous, Saline and Sulphureous parts, which keep them constantly in a circulating Motion, so long are safe from the injury of cold: so all Fermented Liquors, whether Wines, Cider, Perry, Ale, Beer, etc. while the Ferments are active, with Spirituous parts interwoven in the whole Texture thereof, and kept in close Vessels, so long are not apt to be surprised by cold, or to be congealed thereby into Ice: unless through the excessiveness of Cold, and perhaps carelessness in stopping up Vessels, Wines or other Fermented Liquors become Frozen, as sometimes happens upon very long Voyages into cold Climates, witness that of Fishing for Whales, by some Hollanders in the Northern-Seas, their Wines (otherwise generous enough) were by extremity of cold Frozen, the Hoops being taken off, and the Wines uncasked, they were found congealed into Ice, and stood in the form of the Vessels they were put in: which Ice they perforated with Augers, and found about the Centre of the Ice, a little Liquor of an Amethyst Colour, which was the pure Balsamic Spirits of Wine concentred, and therefore incapable of being congealed by cold: all the rest of the Body of Ice, being dissolved by Heat, was an insipid Phlegm or mere Water of Wine, into which if a little of the true Fiery Spirits was poured, made it like Wine, after which manner they drank it. And in our late intense Frost, December last, the Particles of Cold were so copious, and piercing, as it froze Beer and Ale in Cakes, Sherry Sack in Bottles, and a Lixivium of Vegetable Salts I had by me; yea a pretty smart Spirit of Vitriol standing in a Bottle in a Window, was as far as I could discern totally Frozen up: and in Yorkshire in some places, it froze the moisture in people's Nostrils, into Icicles, that with their finger (as an Eye-witness told me) they pulled out pieces of Ice. So all Volatile Spirits, whether Vinous, urinous, or Oleaginous are (being kept in close Vessels) capable of defending themselves from being congealed by cold. For neither Spirits of Wine, or Volatile Spirits of Blood, Urinal, Soot, Hartshorn, etc. nor distilled (therefore called) Chymical-Oyls, as of Turpentine, Cinnamon, Cloves, Rosemary, Sage, Wormwood, etc. are I say none of them apt to be Frozen by Cold, but can defend themselves, by their nimble, active, spirituous parts, from the injury thereof: in like manner all Mineral acid Spirits, as of Vitriol (except, as aforesaid) Alom, Nitre, Salt, etc. can (if kept in close Vessels) preserve themselves from damage by cold: so also Lixiviums made of the fixed Salts of Tartar, or other Vegetables. But those Liquids, that are destitute of saline, sulphurous, or other fermenting Particles, are of themselves capable of admitting the ingress of cold Atoms, so as to suffer some Vacuolums to be filled, and other parts to be constringed into a solid form of the congealed body of Ice, and all this by the medium of Air: which is the vehicle of these cold Atoms. SECT. XII. Hydroph. BUt we say (Pyroph.) that cold is an active Quality, which doth congregare homogenea & heterogenea, and as such doth condense & congeal Water into Ice. Pyroph. Those qualities (Hydroph.) together with the quaternary of Elements, which you look upon as Principles of mixed bodies, and from whose combinations, you would solve the different apparences thereof, I have told you, and I think partly demonstrated as such, not to be in rerum natura. Hydroph. But what different impressions (Pyroph.) are made in the Air from cold Particles, and from Ferments of a contrary disposition, and what alterations thence happen to Animal Juices, and how performed? Pyroph. I answer, That as the Air by reason of some congeneal Ferments (tacking to and fro therein) doth conspire not only to the awakening the Ferments of Animals and Vegetables, and to the keeping them a foot, and that both in order to building of bodies, as well as to the pulling them down: so doth the Air at other seasons contain other Particles of cold, which are able to suspend the motion and action of the former, that is, if very intense, are able to destroy the Ferments of Men and other Animals, as is evident by the kill of many Men and Beasts in cold Countries, as in Russia, Greenland, and Norway, the Frosts are sometimes so strong as that Men are sometimes brought to Inns or Markets frozen on Horseback, are found rigid, and starved to death, sitting straight up like Statues; And in Vegetables its very discernible to have them mortified by strong Frosts. And as the cold Particles arrest the vital and vegetative Ferments of Animals and Vegetables, so it likewise suspends the putrefactive Ferments in the resolution, or taking bodies in pieces, locking up those resolving Ferments: hence the Carcases of any sort of Animals exposed to the Air, having a putrefaction already begun, and thereby grown , have, I say, upon strong Frosts, those putrid Ferments shut up, and send forth no foetor, or bad smell; and that by reason of the cold Atoms, which fix themselves in the Pores of such bodies, and thereby arrest the motion of the Principles: which cold Particles are no sooner extricated by change of weather, but the Ferments, I mean the putrefactive, are let lose again, and then goes on as strongly as ever. Yea, in thawing Winds, all putrefactive Ferments grow vigorous, and are carried in great and numerous swarms through the common Vehicle, the Air, which either smite our Nostrils very sensibly, or affect our Juices indiscernably to the producing great alterations therein: How much the frost Particles penetrate any Fruits, so much do they when the Frost breaks, undergo a putrefaction, as is obvious in Apples, and other Fruits, which the more they are exposed to frost Air, so much the sooner they rot, and that because the active Principles are so far mortified (through the openness of their Pores) as to their natural and intestine Fermentation, and so easily (upon the unhinging and unrivetting the cold Atoms,) fall into regressive and putrefactive Fermentation. Hydroph. Have you (Pyroph.) any artificial way of representing cold to us? Pyroph. Yes, how cold may be produced, we had an Experiment above 7 years ago, which was thus: Having mixed Sal Armoniac, and Saturn Ore upon a Marble, or in a Mortar, and put them into a subliming Urinal (for a peculiar purpose we then proposed) to which adding Water, and shaking them together, while the solution was making produced an intense coldness to the hand holding the Glass, and washing the outside of the Glass with water, found as it was poured on, immediately it became long fleaks of Ice, which as we took off and poured more water on, did the same again and again: the same will Sal Armon. dissolved per se in water do, also its caput mort. remaining after the sublimation thereof with Pot-ash or Salt of Tartar, dissolved in Water. And to make two cold Liquors (cold to touch) to heat each other (to evince the reason of the contrary quality, viz. heat) we have put Oil of Vitriol to water, which being mixed by shaking, immediately contracts a greater heat than can be suffered by the hand that holds the Glass; and from the same cause, one may easily cause Ice itself to cause heat to another cold Liquor, by proceeding, as before, with Ice put in Oil of Vitriol, as the worthy Experimentator, Mr. boil, tells us in his last Tract. Hydroph. How do you (Pyroph.) suppose the freezing of Water to be resolved, or thawed? what becomes of those Atoms of cold, when a Frost is over? and what further Observations do you make of those Ferments in the Air upon thawing seasons, and sometimes in other weather? Pyroph. To which I answer (Hydroph.) That as the Atoms of cold are brought to us through the Air by certain peculiar winds, which in their motion meeting with capable (viz. liquid watery) bodies, becomes coagulated therewith into that rigid body we call Ice; so there are other Atoms of heat which are brought at other seasons, through the same Vehicle of Air, by different (although to that purpose peculiar) winds, which in their motion, meeting with those of cold, either in the Air, or coagulated in watery bodies, resolve, mortify (I mean alter their texture) and dint them so, as either altering their texture, whereby they for a while swell, and flow together with the water (whence upon thaws, Rivers for a time grow bigger) till they can extricate themselves from the moist, and warm Particles, they are involved in; and by other winds are carried into other places, to perform the same offices: or else do as some sorts of Salts do to others of a different texture, viz. one to mortify (to use a Chemical term) dint, and change another, until there result a neutrum, or third thing different from either of the two. Besides which, we are to consider (Hydroph.) that these mutually acting and working upon each other, beget new shapes amongst themselves, and many times prove subtle penetrating Ferments, which being carried in the belly of the wind, insinuate into fermentative Liquors, and set them freshly a working, which we see frequently happen in thawing winds, that both Ale and Beer often ferment anew, yea Wines too, especially about the time of Vintage, when those fermentative Particles are arrested, and determined by vinous Atoms, which at that season take wing, and float in the Air. The same also may cause strange, and different fermentations in the blood, and other Juices of our bodies, the efficient sometimes of Fevers, and other Endemical, yea Epidemical Diseases: and that these winds and changes of Air thereby have an odd influence upon the fluid Juices of our bodies, is apparent, in that vulgar, yet true Proverb, that some carry Almanacs in their bones, can discern the changes of weather before hand, which as we apprehend can be from no other cause, than that the minute Particles of heat, cold or moisture, or combinations thereof (carried by different winds in the Vehicle of the Air, from whence all varieties of weather do certainly follow, which, I say, at first, or aforehand, mustering in an invisible manner in the Air) become Ferments, which rouse up old Aches, Pains, Asthmas, Heaviness, weakness of the Joints, and other Symptoms vulgarly ascribable to the Scurvy, and and that many times before the weather be discernably changed, because these otherwise indiscernible alterations of weather, are prefigured, and transacted before hand in the Air. Whence many times (as may be obvious to a curious eye) proceed the sudden and unexpected alterations of Symptoms in diseased and crazy bodies, which so much puzzle Physicians to know whence such sudden changes, contrary to their expectation should happen; how well do things succeed, even according to their desire, and sometimes beyond their expectation at some peculiar juncture of time (attributed by Astrologers to I know not what configuration of the Planets) and on the other hand, how cross and thwarting to their hopes, things happen at other seasons; and all this many times from various excited Ferments in the Air, which work differently upon bodies, according to variety of constitutions, disposition of the Ferments, and modification of other parts. So also from other alterations in the Air, by some winds, a verminous ferment is excited, as we see in the Spring time, when the winds breath long from the East, that many Caterpillars, and other Infects, are produced upon Trees, and Plants; and many times putredinous animated Ferments are brought with winds from cadaverous bodies, which floating in the Air, prove seminaries to contagious and verminous Diseases; whence the great Plague at Milan, at which time, as Cardan reports, the Air was filled, yea the very dust of the Earth animated with those contagious Vermicles; so that in the Air often lurk secret Ferments, which may both produce different symptoms in the same disease, as also be the cause of many Epidemical Diseases, whose Character (I mean of Exotic Ferments) may for some time be in the Air, before they settle upon Bodies, so as to cause a general discomposure. And from the same cause, very probably it is, that Animals which are frequently abroad in the Air, have a foresight or presensation of the alterations of Wether; (whence the ground of Auguration amongst the Ancients) for their Bodies, being always exposed to change of Air, in the variety of weather, become thereby in their Texture of parts, more capable of being affected, with the least changes of Air, in which are always the forerunners of certain alterations of weather, by the foresaid congress of the minute Particles of Heat, Cold, Moisture, and what else which give being (by different Winds from divers quarters) to changes of weather. Thus Cranes are observed by some Naturalists, that when they fly softly, and silently, do presage fair weather; but when they hasten, make a great noise, and fly in a disturbed order, do predict Storms; so likewise Storks and Wild-Geese, as Wolfangius tells us in his Historia animalium Sacra; and therefore Storks and Cranes, before the coming of Winter, take wing and fly in Troops in a triangular form into hotter Countries, witness from Thracia into Egypt; and from Cilicia, into Persia: [not to say what is reported, that when they fly near Mount Taurus, where store of Eagles are, they each take a stone in their Bill to prevent any noise, lest the Eagles should seize upon them.] Not unlike to which the learned Wormius in his Museum, relates somewhat wonderful concerning a sort of Bird frequent in Norway, upon which change of weather has aforehand strange influence; his words are as followeth, Museum. Norm. p. 304. Aliud genus (saith he) Norvegiae & Islandis frequens, est è Mergorum vel potius Colymborum genere, Nidum prope aquas ita struit, ut cum necessitas flagitat, in eas se celeriter praecipitare potest: sed nidum repetitura, infixo terrae rostro se suspendit, donec corpus sublevaverit, ac petitum obtinuerit nidum; ubi imbres largiores imminere peculiari naturae instinctu persentiscit, pullis ac nido suo ab inundatione metuens, querulo sono aerem verberat; è contra cum coeli serenitatem & clementiam praesagierit, laetis acclamationibus, & alio gratiori sono pullisapplaudit, unde de futura tempestate certi accolae, vocem Hui audientes exclamare solent Norvegi. SECT. XIII. Hydroph. WHat think you (Pyroph.) of the drying quality, which we define, qualitas patibilis, quae suo facile, alieno autem termino difficulter clauditur: Is not this compatible to the Earth primarily, and to the Air secundarily, and to other Bodies as they admit of the combination of this with other qualities, in the composition thereof. Pyroph. I think (Hydroph.) and perhaps may make good, that what you call a drying quality, is no more a quality than its opposite moisture; and that as moisture is no quality primarily of the Air, nor secondarily of other Bodies in their Composition: so neither is dryness, as a quality, either peculiar to the Earth, or to Compound Bodies: For in that a Body is said to be dry, is in as much as the parts which constitute it, are of another Texture than liquid, and are so woven together, as to have few (at least as discernible) fluid parts. And those dry Bodies, are either naturally such, as for instance, some sorts of Stones, and some Calces of calcined Bodies, which by no force of Fire are ever reducible into any liquid form: or else such Bodies, as while kept from force of Fire, are accounted dry, of which are all Metals, Minerals, Metalline, and Mineral Over, so me Stones, as Pebbles, Flints, Sand, Ashes of or calcined Bodies, all which by stress of Fire may be made to melt and become fluid, some per se, as the Metals and some Minerals, others by addition of Salts, as some Minerals, also Mineral and Metalline Ore, Pebbles, Flint, Sand, etc. by the addition of Salt of Kelp, Tartar, or other calcined Vegetables melt into transparent Glass. Thus the Calx of Metals fretted by Acids, and thereby reduced after Evaporation in minimums (viz.) into their impapable Alcolizate powders, are seemingly dry, yet these very subtle Crocus' of Metals; witness that of Copper, dissolved into, and incorporated in that Body we call Verdigreece, by the help of the sour Juice of Grapes, or in that which remains after the Vintage, if that be dried and beat to a most subtle powder, (which by the motion of a Pestle or the like, presently by the minuteness of its parts, fly up, and doth ferire nares as also that of natural Vitriol) do I say both by stress of Fire arise in a considerable white fume, and condense into a plenty of liquid Spirits, as is evident in the Spirit of Verdigreeee, of Vitriol; and so most of other Bodies, which being divided into their Minimums, so as to appear in a dry Sapless form, may yet by distillation be turned mostwhat into liquids, or by reduction into their Sulphurs or Mercuries (if Metalline Bodies) be furtherconvertible into the fluid Texture of parts. Wherhfore seeing dryness is no other than such a Texture of parts in the construction of Bodies, as renders the Concrete not easily fluid, nor apt to flow together, when the constitutive parts are rather continuous than contiguous: therefore must this dry quality, as well as the rest of the same fraternity, ipso facto, forfeit its supposed Essence of a quality, and lose its repute of a nothing, for so I esteem it, or little better, while under the notion of a quality. Hence those degrees of qualities, which (Hydroph.) you in your Philosophy) and medics are apt to ascribe Concretes to, are no more to be taken notice of, than the qualities themselves: so that all your Solutions of apparences by your supposed degrees of the Primary qualities, will (what is said being premised) of their own accord fall to nothing. Hence for instance, Iron, which you in your Scarb. Spa, repute to be of the third degree of dryness, is no more to be taken notice of, as to a Philosophical Solution of the Essence of that Concrete) than if you had said it had been in the third degree of nothing, for both are alike unintelligible; of which more particularly in our Hydrological Essays. Hydroph. Well (Pyroph.) I might justly reply to you, as formerly, we in the Disputations of the Schools used to accost the Cartesians, viz. Contra principia negantem non est disputandum: These are new conceits, which we that are grown old in the Philosophy of Aristotle and his followers, are not at leisure to take notice of: But what will you make (Pyroph.) of the second qualities, viz. those we call Density, Rarity, Gravity, Levity, Hardness, Softness, Thickness, Thinness, Aridity, Lubricity, Clamminess, Friableness, Asperity, and Smoothness? Are not these necessarily to be reputed Qualities, by which we arrive to some knowledge of the nature of the Bodies they are found in? Pyroph. As to which query (Hydroph.) concerning the second qualities, I answer, that as the first qualities, are not in rerum natura, as such, so neither are the second, for sublata causa tollitur effectus: But the first are the supposed cause of the second, which being (by reasons aforesaid) deducted out of the Catalogue of Entities, nothing of the second qualities, as such can remain. For that that Texture of parts which makes Bodies appear to our Senses, dense or rare, heavy or light, hard or soft, rugged or smooth, etc. should be reputed Secondary, depending upon the quaternary of the first qualities, Heat, Cold, Dryness, and Moisture, is I say, as indemonstrable as unintelligible; for all these (as far as I apprehend) depend merely upon the different Texture of the constitutive parts of Bodies, whereby they variously affect our Senses, yea and many of them compatible to the same Body, as its parts are variously agitated by fire, Ferments, Sal s or Solvents, whereby the same Body so differently acted, and its parts transposed, may very changeably affect our Senses, after so many different manners, as may make up all or most of those you call second qualities. Hydroph. Is not rarity a second quality, arising chief from Heat, having its parts extenuated, as Herbs, Pruinae, Clouds? And is not Density another from Cold, having its parts bound up, and solidly adhering to each other, as Glass, Stone, Iron, and the rest of the Metals? And further is not Levity a quality arising from Heat, making things capable of moving upwards; and Gravity a quality from Cold, which makes things move downwards towards a Centre? Pyroph. I answer (Hydroph.) that in what you term Rarity, I see no necessity of giving the name of a second quality arising from the Primary Heat; but that it is only such a Texture of parts in the composition of some Bodies, as makes them appear thin, and as it were finely woven; being a rare Texture of parts, with many Streiners, Porosities, or vacuolums interspersed, according to whose Fabric of parts, our Senses are generally affected, so as they fall under such and such distinct perception thereof. Thus Air is a rare Body, in as much as its parts are of a fine, thin, tenuious pliable Texture as aforesaid: And as Rarity, so Density is no quality, being no other than such a Body, whose parts are closely set together, with few Porosities, thus Stone, Glass, Mealline, and Mineral-Bodies, are such whose constitutive parts are closely bound up, and fast riveted together; and therefore no need of ascribing its original to cold. As for Levity, it is peculiar to such Bodies whose Texture is rare and finely woven, and so the sequel of that we call Rarity. Also Gravity is the contrary, being the necessary product of such Bodies, whose parts are closely put together, I mean of those which are compact and dense Bodies. And as to the rest, of second qualities, as Hardness, Softness, Thickness, Thinness, etc. all which I say, are but different Modifications of the parts of Bodies, whereby they variously affect our Senses, having the same way of solution as those I have already spoken of, therefore shall forbear. Now that these (Hydroph.) are neither the Indices nor the Products of the Quaternary of first qualities, and consequently not to be reckoned (as such) in the Category of qualities, is evident, in that one and the same Body, by a Metastasis of its parts by Fire, Salts, or Solvents, may undergo all or most of those you call second and perhaps first qualities too: so that to which of these, the Essence of that Body should be attributed, would prove a query too difficult for most of your Philosophy grounded upon these qualities, to resolve. Thus for instance, suppose we take Antimony into our consideration, which in its Min●ra, is a stony, dense, heavy, hard, friable Body; this being melted by Fire, and thereby separated from its petrifique, gritty, and sabulous parts, gives us that Body of Antimony usually fold in the Shops; which still retains all the aforesaid properties, which are the natural sequels of its present Texture of parts; But suppose this by fire be forced in Fumes into Flowers, adhering to the sides of Pots, Ovens, or other large receivers, give a rare, light, soft and impalpable Body, with a white colour; which fluxed by further addition of Fire, becomes a dense, heavy, hard, friable but diaphanous Body called the Vitrum or Glass of Antimony, where by the Vitrification of its parts, it emulates that other product of the Fire made from Ashes and Sand fluxed together: [Concerning the reasons and causes of Vitrification in general and particular, we discourse in our Tentamen Physiologic. and Litholog. Physica.] This glass prepared as aforesaid, will by further addition of Fire and Salts, become Metalline, melt and run into a Regulus, which melts and flows like Lead or Quicksilver, (called by Chemists the coagulated Mercury of Antimony) is dense, hard, heavy, and opacous, which again may be sublimed into Flowers, out of which Flowers may a current Mercury begot by boiling with Salt of Tartar, etc. as is mentioned in Volume. 4. Theat. Chym. Nova disquisit. de Helia Artista. Also Antimony by addition of Salts with the help of Fire, produceth that Mass we call hepar Antimonii, (which makes the frequently used Emetic Wine) upon which dissolved in Water, if distilled Vinegar be poured, it makes a speedy separation of a Red and Yellow Sulphur, with a Fetid Sulphureous smell very like the Water of the Sulphur-Well at Knarsborough in Yorkshire: But if in lieu of Vinegar, more Salts be added, and it be further calcined, it turns from a yellow to a Carnation, then to a white Colour, which when edulcorated by washing the Salts therefrom, becomes that Body we call Diaphoretick Antimony, being a white (with yellow reflection) soft, impalpable powder. In like manner, Antimony calcined with Aquafortis, either becomes white, or by another addition thereto, with a slight Artifice is turned into a green Sulphur which flames, and has all the properties of common Brimstone: So Antimony with the addition of Mercury sublimate, is by the help of the Salts therein contained, brought into a glacial Oil, which as it becomes a fluid Body by the least Heat, so it is congealed into Crystals frequently by Cold: if upon this Oil, warm Water, or Oil of Tartar be poured, precipitates into a soft powder, called Mercurius Vitae: if Spirit of Nitre or Aquafortis be distilled therefrom, it becomes (after the passing away of a stifling Sulphureous Arsenical Fume) another soft, white, impalpable powder, called Bezoadicum Minerale. Thus you see (Hydroph.) how the same Body of Antimony, is by the various application of Fire, and Salts, so altered in the Texture of its parts, as to give that variety of apparences under which it arrives differently disguised to our Senses, viz. as that which appears dense, heavy, hard, of one colour, etc. shall presently discover itself to be rare, light, soft, of another colour, etc. and which even now appeared solid, and permanent, shall forthwith become soft, and fluid; where it will be difficult to judge truly of the nature of this Mineral Concrete by the present prevalency of any of these secondary qualities. Yea and further to acquaint you, what great alterations and changes may be made in the same Body, by the transposition and sometimes volatization of the parts, through the mediation of Fire and Solvents, I know by a certain method, how to make Antimony (the Body we urge for instance) as solid a Concrete as it is, arise over the Helm in an easy Heat, and in the form of a Liquor, and by which sometimes I have known it come into the Helm, even in the gentle heat of Balneum Mariae, in the form not only of a limpid liquor, but also sometimes of a Salt dissolvable per deliquium into an Oil, easily discernible by its lactescence and precipitation by the bare addition of simple water. I might (Hydroph.) confirm this by further instances of the like nature, viz. by urging the various Phaenomena's of Vitriol, Copper and other Metals, whose different transposition of parts by Fire, Salts, and Solvents, make up the great variety of those necessary sequels of Bodies, which you term Qualities, whether primary or secondary; and yet are really no other, than the different mutation of the constitutive parts of Bodies, out of one Posture, and Figure into another: whereby the same Body differently smites our senses with those mechanical Affections of matter, which (Hydroph.) you ascribe to the first and second qualities: For the further illustrating of which, you may consult the works of that worthy and incomparable Philosopher and industrious searcher of Nature, the Honourable Boil, especially his Treatise of the Origin of Forms. But before we conclude this Section, give me leave (Hydroph.) to acquaint you, that amongst other Instances, we have and might urge, how that from Metals by the mediation of Salts, and help of Fire, may result other sorts of concretions than usually appear, by different modifications masked with various qualifications: So that Mineral-gums (if I may so call them) may hence be made, which are much different both in colour, capacity of taking flame, fusibility like water, etc. from any of the ingredients that enter the composition thereof: Thus for instance, from Sal Armoniac, Mercury sublimate, and cap. Mort. of Verdegreece (left after the distillation of its Spirit) mixed and put in a subliming Urinal, after it fluxed together (for it boils like water) for five or six hours, when cool, I found in the bottom a Cake of a kind of Rosin, very hard, somewhat red, almost like Gum guttae; the sublimate which arose, was but very thin and inconsiderable, which Rosin would take Fire, and burn with a blue Flame, and that chief from the Sulphur of the Copper, which is opened by the Salts. And not only Art, but Nature herself exhibits us the various Phaenomena of Water, under the disguise of Frost, Snow, Hail, etc. where for instance, in Snow the otherwise liquid, fluid, ponderous and transparent Body of Water, by the interposition of Frost or cold Atoms blowing from the North, becomes (by having the Texture of its parts so altered) as so many Flats or Planes, laid with layers of cold Particles stratum super stratum (as I may not improperly say) a white, soft, light, opake, continuous and (unless it meet with heat) dry body so that you plainly see (Hydroph.) how humidity, siccity, fluidity, continuity, ponderousness, levity, transparency and opacity, and in particular whiteness is compatible to the same Body, whose parts are variously altered and transposed per se, or with additionals. SECT. XIV. Hydroph. BUt are there not (Pyroph.) other qualities of Bodies whereby they become the Objects of the Senses, as Colours, Sapours, Odours, etc. To begin with the first, do not we rightly define colour to be extremitas perspicui in corpore terminato? Pyroph. Those you reckon (Hydroph.) are no more to be accounted Qualities, than the rest beforenamed: But are to be looked upon as different affections of Concrete Bodies, as they stand in a relation to a perception by our senses; and first as to the definition of colour, whose genus is extremitas, methinks Aristotle began at the wrong end; For it is not the extremity of a Diaphanous Body which gives Essence to colour, being only necessary thereto à Posteriori: For if I mistake not, light should be the genus of the definition of colour which admitting of various refractions and reflections, in, and from the extremities or surfaces of Bodies, make those different apparences thereof we call colours. Besides, it should seem to me, that what you call extremitas perspicui, is not of that extent as to comprise the generality of colours, although we should admit of it as the genus; and that because we see colours as frequently made, by simple reflections of light from the surfaces of bodies, witness from all Vegetables, Animals, stained or died Garments and the rest, as well (I say) as by refractions of the same light (the efficient of all colours) in perspicuous bodies: For that colour should be confined to the only extremity of a diaphanous body, is methinks too straight every way, both as to the genus, as also to the specifical difference of the true definition of colour; in as much as where a diaphanous body proves opake, the luminous Rays which before were refracted, do now become terminated and reflected, and yet doth no less produce variety of colours than before. As for instance, Suppose a Solution of Vitriol made in distilled Water, which is a perspicuous body, giving a green colour, and that as well by refraction as transmssiion of Rays from a luminous body, gliding side-ways, and smiting through the Liquor, which renders it diaphanous; whose texture of parts with the interstices in the fluid Menstruum, causeth (I say) such a refraction of light, as thereby represents it under the form of a green colour. If into this green diaphanous Liquor (Hydroph.) you pour a clear solution of Galls, the texture of the vitriolin parts in the water will become so altered, as that in lieu of a diaphanous, it will become an opake Liquor; so that the luminous Rays which before were refracted and transmitted, will now become either reflected or so entangled in the texture of the parts, as neither to make a transmission, refraction, or any considerable reflection of light therefrom, and therefore becomes opacous or black. For by the addition of Galls to the aforesaid Liquor, the first body, whose parts were uniform and regularly transmitted and refracted, the Rays of light, doth now by this commixture with the Particles of Galls, muster in so confused a posture, make an extraversion of large flats, some of which always fall in the rear of the Angles, and junctures of others; so as the transmission of light is quite intercepted, and therefore what reflection is made, is only so much as to be sufficient to make that representation of bodies by that colour we call black. Which that it is so, appears further by pouring Oil of Vitriol, Spirit of Nitre, Aquafortis, or the like corrosive Acid Spirits upon those vitriolin opacous Liquors, or other bodies made black by vitriolin astringent Steins; where you will presently view those Particles of the Gall, which before filled the Pores of the Liquor, and by extraverting many flats made the Liquor opacous, dark, and inky, will now become fretted, dissolved, and the flats lessened, so as the parts will again return into their former uniform posture, and suffer the light (by becoming clear) to be transmitted as before, so to become a diaphanous Liquor, as at first: as you may further see in our Experiments about the change of Colours in Spa Water, in our Hydrolog. Chymica. And that colours are nothing else but different refractions and repercussions of light from bodies, according to various Angles of incidence and reflection from the different texture of the depth or superficies thereof, carried through the transparent Tunicles and Humours of the Eyes, as through so many Glasses (for from the natural Fabric of the Eye are artificial optical or microscopical Glasses contrived) vibrating after a various manner the Optic Nerves, so as to make that kind of sensation we call Vision: That colours are, I say, nothing else but such I might confirm by many more instances (viz.) by the frequent Manuals of Dyers, Tanners, Painters, etc. in their colouring Garments, Leather, Wood, etc. by actual bodies (not qualities) of Vitriol, Alum, Argol, Indigo, Madder, Lime, Oak Bark, Minium, Ceruse, Verdigreece, Spanish-white, Gum, Vernice, ultra-Marine, etc. all which produce different colours, not from inherent qualities in those bodies, arising from a legitimate contemperature of the four Elements, but represent themselves as being actual bodies; I mean, show that great variety of colours by the different texture of their constitutive parts, whereby light becomes so differently refracted or reflected, as to be sufficient to cause that great variety of colours, we see amongst bodies: where we might from the aforesaid different reflections and refractions of light show amongst the causes of those apparences we call colours, what for instance white is, and how made, which we suppose to be no other than that texture of parts which results from many superficies, flat, or spherical born up at some little distances from each other, by one or more of these following causes: viz. 1. By Air; 2. Atoms of Cold; 3. Other similiar inter-woven bodies; 4. Or lastly, are wrought into such a texture of parts by the preparatory Vessels. First by Air, as is evident in Torrents, great falls, and other agitations of Waters, in the white froth of Ale, Beer, or other fermenting Liquors, also in the warming of Ale or Beer, etc. where the Particles of Water and fermentative Liquors are huft up with those of Air, being thereby reduced into globular Bubbles, the aggregation of which give us that Phaenomenon of white observable therein: the like may be reckoned upon in production of white Ointments from the concussion of Oils, etc. Secondly, or by Atoms of cold, as is evident in the obvious Phaenomenon of Snow: where, from the cold Atoms woven in, with, and between the flats (for such are the figure of its parts under this disguise) of watery Particles, results that colour of white, as also other apparences compitible to water under the Masque of Snow. Thirdly, Or by other inter-weaving bodies, as is evident where the texture of bodies are such as are made up of many superficies each upon other, by a natural stratum super stratum, born up by some other interposing parts, as is evident in natural Concretions, viz. Talk, Alabaster, Bones, Horns, Plumes, etc. In factitious, viz. Luna Cornea, Venice-glass pulverised Ceruse, Paper, etc. In all which the light from the aforesaid texture of parts is so refracted and reflected as to exhibit us that appearance of white in all such bodies. Or lastly, are wrought into such a texture of parts by preparatory Vessels, by which in Animals, I mean the Lacteals, and Glandules, whence the whiteness of Milk, and by other Analogous in Vegetables, whence the milky Juices of all sorts of Spurges, Carduus Marie, etc. But to demonstrate further, that Colour (and in particular White) is no other than the result of such a peculiar texture of bodies, as reflects the light after such a mode compatible to that appearance: and that the same body undergoing no other change of any additional, but barely a transposition of the parts of the active Principles therein contained, was spontaneously reducible to its pristine clarity and transparency, I had this following Phaenomenon represented to me in an Experiment I was then trying; In which Experiment, I shall forbear to name one of the constituent Liquors, in as much as in the main it relates not to this place, and only reckon upon the (to our purpose) pertinent Phaenomenon which was this; I having two transparent Liquors by me, one was rectified Spirit of Wine, the other a Mineral Liquor, upon the mixing these, I had (besides the gentle heat caused from a moderate fermentation of the Principles) forthwith the appearance of a Milk-white Liquor, through the whole body of the mixture, which (and what was very curious and remarkable to behold) within a very few minutes without any extrinsic addition, was spontaneously reduced to a transparent Liquor, as limpid almost as either of the Liquors was before mixture: and all this (which yet adds to admiration) without the least precipitation, or any sort of sediment what ever. I might further enlarge (Hydroph.) but that I pretend not here to give a Body of Philosophy, therefore shall designedly contract. Hydroph. Well, but seeing (Pyroph.) we have been discoursing of Colours, and that you say light is essential in the Fabric thereof, Pray what do you think of Light itself; do not we rightly define it to be actus perspicui quatenus est perspicuum, and do not we truly distinguish betwixt lux and lumen, in that we say, lux est lucidi corporis qualitas, being a quality of a luminous body as it abides, and is fixed in the lucid body; as for instance, that light which is in the Sun, Stars, or Fire, while it is in those bodies we call it lux, but when it is dispersed in a perspicuous body, as the Air, than it is properly lumen; and that in Fire the lux, or quality thereof sendeth forth that we call lumen, which illuminates the body of Air, and thereby makes it perspicuous. Pyroph. To which Hydroph. I answer, That your definition of lumen to be the act of a perspicuous body as it is perspicuous, and your distinction of lux and lumen, are all too short (in my apprehension) of the offence of a lucid or luminous body, and that because what you call actus perspicui (as you define lumen) is no more according to your own Hypothesis than a product of a quality, or a quality of a quality: For it is (you say) produced from that you call lux, and this, you say, is a quality of a lucid body; so that lumen must be the product of lux, a quality of its quality, and by consequence one quality must be the subject of another, and why not of a third, viz. splendour, and so a fourth, and so ad infinitum. Nay further, to suppose light to be a quality of a lucid body, as it abides and is fixed in that body, and yet that this should produce that you call lumen in another body, which it has or can have no essential dependence upon, is to admit of qualities without the predicate of a subject, which according to your own Doctrine is absurd enough. Hydroph. But what think you (Pyroph.) of the genus of light, is it a substance or body, or is it not rather a quality, or quid incorporeum? That it is not a corporeal substance, we have several Arguments to urge; as first, If it were a body, it could not so suddenly be diffused through the whole Hemisphere, and that by reason of resistance of the medium. Next to that it would suppose a penetration of bodies, and that because there is no part of a perspicuous body, as of Water, and Air, but is illuminated thereby. And lastly, if light was a body, so would also darkness be, because contraries. Pyroph. These are indeed (Hydroph.) the main Arguments of Aristotle and his followers against the corporealness of Light, which we shall easily impugn. As to the first therefore we say, that it is not so difficult to apprehend that an essential luminous body (such I mean whose light springs from the evibrations of the intestine Fermentation (of its kind) of its intrinsic Principles, that is, whose light is from itself and not from another) should upon its extensive motion, immediately reach to the periphery of its Orbs activity, then that it should perform that work of illumination by an imaginary quality of a quality, by a lumen, which has its being from a quality of a lucid body. As to the resistency of such mediums (the constitution of whose parts by its teniousness and facile recess, render them diaphanous upon the access of the Rays of light) is no more an obstacle to the speedy diffusion of the body of light, than the Air doth resist the explosive motion of Gunpowder, or than the Air doth oppose the activity of Fire within its own Orb. And therefore (Hydroph.) we might better (and I think more agreeable to its nature) define Light to be a quick Evibration or extensive and (of its kind) fermentative motion of the intrinsic Principles of lucid bodies, stretching its nimble corporeal Rays from its self as the centre to the periphery of its Orbs activity: a quick Vibration, and extensive Motion, I said, because that adds to the quickness of its transmission through a proper medium: For we see that one spark of Fire, or fired matter, moved suddenly in a round, makes an apparition of a whole circle of Fire, which suppose it were a Radius, or a Ray of Fire whirled suddenly about its own centre, would immediately appear as a whole sphere of Fire, and that merely from the quickness of its motion, which seemingly makes Fire or Light appear much more than really it is. So that we can no sooner consider a lucid body in motion, that is, its Principles or parts in an intestine collision or fermentative extrusion, but at the same instant we must apprehend it extended, and that extension is terminated by the utmost circle of its activity: in so much as supposing a luminous body moved, and extended, as aforesaid, is itself but the centre to the whole Orb of its light, whose Rays probably, in their extensive motion are globular bodies, whirled about their own Axis, which very Orb may not improperly be called the Luminary: unless we take in another notion of the co-existency of fiery Particles: (liquidi simul ignis, the liquid Fire, as Virgil speaks, in his Eglog. to Sileno) interspersed in the depth of the great Sphere, which becomes enkindled, and takes flame upon the access of the Rays of the great Luminary, the Sun. Whether way we please to take it, amounts to the same thing: For whether we consider, suppose the Sun as the great Luminary in Motion, extending its Rays instantaneously to the greatest circle of its lucid Orb reaching from itself round to the supposed Vortices of the otherwise conceived fixed Stars, and illuminates the whole Orb save the shades of the opake bodies, the Earth, Moon, and other Planets, which in their motion about it have always some parts shaded (which is that we call Darkness) which, I say, whether we consider the solar Luminary, that great fountain and treasure of light, moved, extended, and thereby filling its whole Orb (the shades excepted) even to the periphery thereof, with corporeal Rays through the whole medium of the vast Expansum, is the same as to apprehend a liquid Fire, or fiery Principle interspersed in the whole depth of the Fabric of the World, which upon the access of its Compeer, the Rays of light immediately darted from the Sun, or mediately reflected from other bodies, joins issue therewith, takes Flame, and together by the agile Motion of their parts, compose one great luminous Orb. So that motion, and consequently extension is proper to both, making (either way) light to diffuse itself speedily through our Hemisphere: For whether it be darted immediately from the Luminary, and so fill up the whole Orb of light, or it meeting with congeneal fiery or sulphureous Particles floating in the great deep, giving flame to one part after another, till the whole become illuminated, may be conceived readily performable by motion: For a few fiery Particles put into a vibrating agile Flour, or into a rapid collision makes a great light, and spreads far in a medium, whose texture of parts makes no interruption in the transmission thereof. To assign a precise figure to the Corpuscles of light, is too curious, and perhaps hazardous of incurring a contradiction: For to say with the Democritans that fiery Atoms are of a pyramid form, implies methinks a tacit contradiction both in Mathematics, as well as in Physics; For according to their Doctrine, Atoms) even as the word itself) implies indivisibility; which that these minute Particles should be indivisible, and yet Pyramid-wise is to me very strange, for being they are bodies, and these bodies Pyramids, must of necessity be solid Pyramids: now that such which are always made up of Lines, Superficies, and Profundities (the natural sequels of Solids) should 〈◊〉 … thstanding all this be supposed indivisible, is certainly indemonstrable. Although indeed if we might imagine with the Cartesians, the Globulary Figure seems to be the most congeneal to the nature & Phaenomena of Light, as being of all Figures the most apt to be moved, and most capable of being reflected by its hitting against other Bodies, and that because the globular in their incidence upon other Bodies, of what figure soever, (saving such as are concave in their Texture.) do always touch in punto, which makes them so apt to recoil, and make Angles of reflection answerable to those of incidence: and yet to determine a precise figuration of Atoms, as such, wants not its absurdity, as we elsewhere in our Tentamen Physiolog. take an opportunity further to enlarge. These being premised, you see (Hydaoph.) it proves not difficult to assign the cause, why the Rays of Light though corporeal, should so readily and instantaneously be transmitted through the Hemisphere, or rather through the whole Sphere, (excepting as aforesaid the shades of the Earth and other Planets) as to make that Light we see in the World, notwithstanding the immenseness of the vast medium it wades through, the radius of which Circle, is both in relation to its self as also to its Circle, incommensurable whose motion is always in right lines, unless intercepted by the interpositions of opake Bodies. Your next Argument (Hydroph.) of the Penetration of Bodies upon the supposition of the corporealness of Light, grounded upon the general perspicuity of illuminated Bodies, will not be uneasy to refute, and that because the bodies of perspicuous mediums are therefore diaphanous, in that they are tenuious, & pliable and thereby easily, and readily give way to the transmission of the nimble corporeal Rays of Light, which upon that account pervade the tenuious Texture of such mediums even ictu oculi; and yet these Rays if compared with other minute Bodies floating in the Atmosphere, are not altogether so numerous, as we are apt commonly to apprehend: For although to our eye placed in any point of the diaphanous medium, upon the extension of the Body of Light we see the Air totally illuminated, as if it were nothing else but Light, yet if we consider the largeness of the Texture of our Eye, and the proportionableness of an object to render it capable of affecting thereof, we shall find that it will require the mustering of a great many of minute Bodies, to make up the least sensible Object: so that the Texture of the eye is so framed by glassy humours, as to concentre the largely dilated Rays of Light, That thereby it may become serviceable to the transmission of Species. For the tunica uvea of the Eye being perforated and defended by the transparent Tunicles called Cornea, & adnata, are supposed as a plain Glass or foramen in a dark Room, through which the sensible Species of Objects, are by the help of Light transmitted, but yet so as they appear only inverted: Therefore that these Images (〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉) of things which float within their Orbs, may appear in their proper form, is required the help of the Crystalline humour, which is lenticular & convex, inserted into the vitrious humour as a Gem in a Ring whereby together with the help of the, albuginous humour, (which is to dint & shade the Species of things with their accompanied Light, lest it should come too strongly upon the Crystalline convex humour) the Species that were inverted in the tunica uvea might be reversed, and put into their due posture in the convex Glass of the Crystalline humour, like as the inverted Species transmitted through a plane Glass or foramen into a dark room, are reversed by the help of a Tube, with a convex Glass in it, which thereby represents the Species of Objects at a great distance upon the opposite white Wall, or Paper, in their due and regular order; as for Recreation sake, we sometimes have seen: For the most of the Dioptrics are chief grounded upon the Texture of the natural frame of the Eye. So that it is by these Glasses (that I may so call them) of the Eye, that the distant Rays of Light become concentred, to make a sensible impression there; whereby the Air seems to us to be so totally diaphanous, as if there was nothing else but Light, when indeed it needs a Collection of its Rays by so skilful a contrivance as the Fabric of the Organ of the Eye, to make it sensible. Wherefore it is very apparent, that notwithstanding the corporealness of the Rays of Light, there is no necessity of the consequence of the penetration of Bodies both because of the distance of the Rays of Light, as also of the tenuiousness and pliable fluidness of the medium. As to your last Argument (Hydroph.) viz. that if Light was a Body, so also would darkness be, because contraries; for the consequence of which Isee no reason at all: & that because darkness is nothing else but theinterception of Light, which is further manifest in that at the same time that the lucid Body of the Sun or other luminous Body is in motion, (I mean by its emission of Rays extended) at the very same time is darkness made by the shades of opake Bodies. For the radius of the Sunbeams extend far beyond the shaded, and therefore dark cones of the Earth, and other Planetary Bodies: so that in the shade there is darkness, because Light is intercepted by an opake Body; but beyond the shaded cone, the Rays become further continued, even to the very circumference of its vast luminous Orb: and so the like of any other lucid Body: for if a Candle be placed at a competent distance from a Globe in a large Room; so far as the Conical shade of the Globe reacheth, so far it is dark, but beyond that, the Rays are again continued even to the extent of its Orb's activity, if nothing interrupt. And now (Hydroph.) having overturned your Arguments against, let me give you one (for all) for the corporealness of Light: and that is thus (viz.) that which may be moved, percussed, or reflected, is a Body; But such is Light, Ergo. The Major is apparent, both because qualities cannot undergo a loco-motion, but as considered in their subjectum inh●sionis; nor can they admit of percussion or reflection; as also because these are only proper and peculiar to Bodies; for two Bodies moved towards each other, with a force, or one Body hitting upon another at rest, must recoil in one Angle, or other, and that necessarily, because Bodies. That the minor is true, all the Rules of Dioptricks' evince, besides we see that the Rays of the Sun smiting against the dense Body of the Earth, and becoming reflected therefrom, gives us that heat of Wether, we usually have in June, July, and August: also the dispersed Rays of Light being collected by burning Glasses, do concentre in a fiery Cone, which actually gives a flame to combustible things: Hence it was that Archimedes, as by some mechanical Engines he shattered, and sunk, so by some Glasses artificially contrived, and suitably placed, he fired the Ships at a great distance, that besieged Syracuse: yea, and by the same Light of the Sun concentred, may (for aught we know) this Ball of the Earth be calcined into its primitive Embers, and may perhaps be vitrified too at the last into a Crystalline transparency. SECT. XV. Hydroph. WEll (Pyroph.) but what think you of Sapours? Is not Sapour a quality of a mixed Body, arising by Heat, from an earthy dryness, contempered with a watery moisture? these no more than odours are substances or Bodies, but qualities, which are in Bodies, tanquam in subjecto. Pyroph. I think (Hydroph.) that Sapour is no quality of a mixed Body, arising from any contemperature thereof, but consists only in a relation betwixt our food, etc. and our ; is that whereby our aliment becomes sapid as I may say, and indicateth a consonance or dissonance betwixt Concretes, and our gust or ; doth not consist as the Chemists will have it solely in the Saline Principle of things, although I must confess it much-what depends thereon: But it is either from the predominancy of the Saline or from a commixture of that with the Sulphureous parts of the Concrete, which together make up that we call Sapour in Concretes: for one or both these upon chewing being dissolved (at least some portion thereof) in the Saliva, presently thereby insinuates into the pores of the Tongue and , and so affects that Sense we call Taste, and this by the different Textures and combinations of Salt, and Sulphur, in all palatable or saporous Bodies. The Organ of that Sense is situated chief in that Membrane which like a neb overspreads the , Tongue, Larinx, oesophagus, and is in common with that of the Stomach: whence it is that some disgustful things only tasted, do irritate the Stomach to that convulsive motion we call Vomiting: For Sapours are no otherwise than as Concretes stand related to that Sense of which they are the proper objects, being no qualities inherent in Bodies, nor are to be found in Bodies as they consist of the quaternary of Elements: and therefore are no results either of a terrestrial dryness, or watery moisture, nor from the combination thereof. And if I should acquaint you (Hydroph.) with my thought herein, I might not let to tell you, that I apprehend (and see nothing in the Peripatetic Philosophy of validity to contradict) that the essential difference of the taste of Bodies upon the same Organical sense, doth consist in a due proportion and just adaptation of the sensible to the sense, I mean that as the Textures of Bodies are various, having different complications of their Saline and Sulphureous parts, so they accordingly do differently affect that sense, having some parts by mastication (chewing) dissolved in the Saliva, (brought thither by Glandules, and Lymphiducts) which by different Texture of their constitutive parts, variously smite and affect the sensible Membrane, which as those dissolved parts in the Saliva, become more or less proportionable to the Pores of the sensative Organ, so do those affections of Bodies we call Tastes, prove grateful or ungrateful, thereby variously affecting the Sense with those tastes we call sweet, bitter, sharp, sour, salt, astringent; austere and the rest, (if there be any more.) Hydroph. But are there not some Bodies (Pyroph.) that have insipid Salts? How do these affect the Senses? Pyroph. No (Hydroph.) to talk of an insipid Salt, employs no less than an ignorance of the Physical construction of Bodies, and besides also a contradiction: For therefore are things chief sapid, because Saline, in as much as there is no Salt without its Sapor, which if it lose, it's no longer Salt (is indeed good for nothing) and therefore things are said to be insipid, when their Salts are separated by washing orotherways, or when the Principles are, locked up; so that I say what we call insipid, is such a Texture of parts, where the Saline and Sulphureous ingredients are either totally exhausted, or else interspersed so remissly as they affect not the Sense at all: of which sort are all decayed rotten woods, Drugs, all calcineous powders of Minerals, Metals, Animals, or Vegetables; all Marcasites, Stones, Sand, etc. or lastly complicated and locked up, so as our Organs of Sense are not capable of reaching or being affected by them. But mechanically to represent those different Modifications of Bodies (called vulgarly Qualities) which are nothing else but properties of Bodies as they stand related to our Organs of Sense, how I mean such tastes result from such and such different modes of the Principles mutually acting in Bodies, we might illustrate from the following experiments and observations, that (for instance) upon the dissolving Silver in Spirit of Nitre, or Aquafortis, & evaporating the solution to a Crystallin form, those very Crystals become tightly bitter, even as Gall; although neither of the ingredients had the least perceptible taste thereof: the same acid menstruum poured upon another Body of a different Texture, produceth that quality we call sweet, as is evident in the Crystals of Lead made by Aquafortis, Spirit of Nitre or even the Vegetable acidity of Vinegar; which Saccharum Saturni (as it is called) is as sweet as any vegetable Sugar. 3. The acid Oil of Vitriol poured upon another metalline Body, as upon Mars or Venus, it causeth an astringent taste, as is evident in the vitriol of Iron, or Copper. 4. An esurin Acid complicated with an Alum glebe, gives Alum and the styptic taste thence emerging: also Oil of Vitriol meeting with another Body, viz. Quicksilver, gives after edulcoration, a factitious Alum, and Styptic taste, thereto belonging. 5. An Aqua regis poured upon Gold, gives a solution or Salt, whose austere taste will (as the worthy improver of Mechanical Philosophy, Mr. boil saith) very much resemble that of Sloes or of unripe Bullace. And as bitter, sweet, astringent, styptic, austere, so probably all other remarkable qualities are producible by Art, imitating Nature; in as much as both have the same Principles, only variously modified, to proceed upon: the same Principles being substituted to both, that what Art goeth upon the same nature suo modo probably useth in the productions of Bodies and their qualities Physically. In all which aforesaid experimental observations we see the same (or analogous) acidity being determined upon different Bodies, give various Phaenomena of tastes, according to the difference of the Sulphur enclosed in divers Bodies it meets with: and whereas we have no better way of taking measures of Nature's workings in Bodies from her own intimate and Essential Principles, than by Mechanics, or artificial imitations thereof: Therefore by how much the nearer we approach by skilful contrivances to emulate Nature in the production of new Bodies and qualifications or properties thence resulting, the more likely are those Principles (we so search forth) to be consonant to those of nature, the great matter we aim at. For as sweetness (for instance) is made from some Acids hitting upon and concentring with insipid Bodies, in whose Texture a peculiar Sulphur lodgeth, (as in the examples aforesaid) so likewise probably Nature useth an acid and a peculiar Sulphur (both native and seminal) as the mechanical Agents in the Physical production of the Saccharin juice of Sugarcanes: that Vegetable Sugar (as well as metalline) has its innate acidity, is evident, from the separation of an acid liquor in the distillation of Sugar, as well as an acid spirit is by the same way separable from Metallin or Saturnin Sugar; which very acidum as well as that of Vinegar or Aquafortis will with the insipid Body of Lead or Minium, gain a fresh sugarness or saccharin sweetness: and that it contains a Sulphur, is evident, both from the coruscation of Sugar (I mean Loaf, or hard) beat in a Mortar, which strikes fire at every knock of the Pestle: as also from the Oil distillable with the acid Spirit. And what we have said of the Vegetable and Metalline Sugars, Art imitating Nature in order to the producing that property we call sweet, the same analogically may possibly, consideratis considerandis, be said of all the rest of those other properties or relative qualities we call Tastes. But to say what combinations of Saline and Sulphureous parts in the various Texture of Bodies, and what proportions and adaptations thereof will be requisite for the making several sorts of Sapours, to rank them in their several Classes from those peculiar contrivances of matter, which contribute to the Fabric of Bodies, as they stand related to that Sense, is a work now Hydroph. too tedious to insist upon: For it would require a diligent scrutiny into the different figuration of Salts, and that not singly into the forms the variety of Salts naturally shoot into, but as those stand entangled with Sulphureous parts, and those again involved in the Texture of other combining Particles, which much altar their former solitary figures, and thereby produce varieties of Sapours: concerning which we shall touch in our Halolog. Chym. Nor shall we here further discourse of those morbid disaffections or preposterous prevarications of this Sense by the irregularities of the Organs thereof from those alterations of the Juices and Solids of our Bodies, which we call Diseases: but shall leave them to further inspection. SECT. XVI. Hydroph. SEeing we have discoursed of Sapours, lastly what think you (Pyroph.) of Odours? Is not Odour a Quality of a mixed Body, arising from a dry Sapidness contempered with a moisture, brought forth by Heat? Pyroph. That Odour should be a Quality, (Hydroph.) I as much deny as I have done Sapour, neither do I see any grounds, why it should be supposed to arise from any dry sapidness, or any contemperature thereof, with a proper moisture from Heat: For first having (and I think evidently enough) demonstrated the non existency of Concretes from the quaternary of Elements; it will therefore naturally follow, that secondary affections of Bodies, in order to their relation to our Senses, are to be solved by some other more rational Hypothesis, and that is by ascribing it to an extension of some nimble, agile parts, carried off by an insensible collision of the intrinsic Principles of Bodies; where the parts are from the intestine Fermentation subtilised, & highly volarized, which bears much upon the Energy of the Sulphur, the different Texture of whose apporrheas (chieflyemerging from their dilated operative Sulphurs) do variously ferire nares smite differently upon that Organ of Sense, as to produce that great variety of Odours, we find Issuing from Concrete Bodies. That Odours chief depend upon the Volatization, and Fermentative extension of Sulphurs, is most-what apparent in Vegetables, where we see those are most Aromatic, which are most pregnant with Sulphurous Emanations, and whose Sulphurs are most subtle, and extensive, (from their intrinsic Fermentation) always upon the wing: For we see that odorous Vegetables are most fragrant at their time of flowering and seeding, during which season the Sulphurs or Oils are most predominant, as being uppermost in the wheel of operation, and so breath forth the effluvia to the utmost circle of their Orbs activity: which as I said are not Qualities, but minute Particles of extensive active Bodies, set on work by the springy Ferments connatural to their seminal Principles, and wound off in the form of subtle and invisible Apporhea; whence probably proceeds the great variety of Vegetable Odours, Also in Animals, the Odours of all their Excrements as Dung, Urine, Sweat, suppurated matter of Ulcers, etc. proceed from various Sulphurs excited by different Ferments in the Analysis of Concretes in their Road to nourishment. So also most Odours arise from the Sulphurs of putredinous and cadaverous Bodies, where they are taken in pieces by putrid analytical Ferments. And as the objects, so the Organs of this sense, is next to be considered, concerning which we we shall in short say, that the different Texture thereof, is capable of rendering to us the causes of divers, and those abstruse Phaenomena, whence we say, that there are some subtle effluvia which exhaling from Bodies, as the result from the Fermentation of Animal Juices, which thereby become the Object of some curiously wrought Organs of Sense, how ever acute, yet are sufficient to smite the delicately wrought Organs of other Animals, is Evident amongst other Creatures chief in Dogs, who excel in the curiosity of smelling beyond all comparison, who can by the great sagacity of their Organs, or from such a Texture thereof as is susceptible of the most minute impressions of the least Effluvia, who can I say by their bare smell discern their master, among thousands and how they will trace their steps throughout a whole Country, and find their own way home at a vast distance, by the same faculty or acurateness of Organs. Yea, that even the Organs of our Senses are in some persons (through an idiosyncrisia) capable of arriving at a higher pitch of sensation, than is vulgarly observed, even beyond the ordinary proportion of Men, may (amongst other examples) be evinced by that strange relation, which Joannes Leo of Africa, and quoted by learned Cafaubon, of a blind man that was a Guide to certain Merchants travelling through the deserts of Arabia: Casaub. p. 23. The man Road upon a Camel, led his Company not by his eyes (for he had none) but by his smell, which was so exquisite, that having been acquainted with those ways before, he could find by the sent of the very Earth, nay of the Sand, (which was reached to him at every mile) where he was, and describe the places unto them as they went along, yea told them long before (which proved true though not believed then) when they drew near to inhabited places. Now how Bodies should by their extended Sulphurs or intrinsic Ferments, so differently affect the sensative Organ, as to produce all those various impressions upon our Sense, which we call Odours or smells, and those in so different a manner as we (for want of a method of describing them) know not whether we have all the same impressions of smells from the same Concretes: How the composure of the sensative Organ consists, or lastly how the manner of the various combinations of Sulphureous Effluvia (flowing from Fermentative Collisions of their intestine Principles) happen to our Senses, we shall not now, I say, take time further to discuss, but leave to further enquiry. FINIS. ERRATA. PAge. 6. l. 19 r. Physiology p. 8. l. 16. r. Systeme p. 21. l. 5. r. Crabones p. 21. l. 20. r. Crabones p. 23. l. 21. r. Skenkins p. 26. l. 23. r. Monkshood p. 38. l. 25. for bowl r. trunk p. 39 l. 15. r. Malting p. 42. l. 6. for bowl r. trunk p. 43. l. 3. for bowl r. trunk p. 45. l. 23. for hurling r. he wing p. 46. l. 1. accelaration p. 61. l. 2. deal your p. 73. l. 23. r. naturally p. 74. l. 27. when r. where p. 75. l. 8. r. Swelfer p. 75. l. 14. r. offa p. 79. l. 5. r. offa p. 79. l. 1. after for r. how p. 81. l. 14. r. globule p. 83. l. 26. r. compage p. 110. l. 26. after to r. solve p. 114. l. 8. production r. reduction p. 129. l. 16. r. Worm. p. 131. l. 16. r. impalpable p. 136. l. 26. after retains add almost p. 141. l. 25. r. lares p. 152. l. 8. r. tenuiousness p. 153. l. 21. r. fiery p. 155. l. 7. r. fluor p. 162. l. 25. r. web.