w

CURTIS COILLECTIir^^

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY
THE JOHN G. CURTIS LIBRARY

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2010 with funding from

Open Knowledge Commons

http://www.archive.org/details/employmentformicOObake

in

EMPLOYMENT

FOR THE

MICROSCOPE.

In TWO PARTS.

I. An Examination of Salts and Saline Sub-
fiancis^ their amazing Configurations and Cnjlals^

as formed under the Eye of the Obferver :

WITH

Plain Diredions how to prepare fuch Subftances,

and preferve them inconftantReadinefs for Infpedhon;

whereby the Curious may always be funiifhed with

numberlefs Obje^ls hitherto little known.

ALSO

Occafional Confiderations on GemSy Poifons^ the

Vegetation cf Metals, the Refufdtation of Plants, the

Formation of Amber, Corals, and many other SubjecSts.

II. An Account of various Animalcules
never before defcribed, and of many

other Microfcopical Discoveries :

With OBSERVATIONS and REMARKS.

LIKEWISE

A Defcription of the Microscope u fed in

thefe Experiments, and of a new Micr:7ncter {^xxm'y

to fhew. the Size of magnified Objecli.

Together with

Inftruflions for printing off any Medal or Cci)7»

Illuftrated with Seventeen Copper Plates.

By HENRY BAKER, Fcllou' of the ^^W ^o:le:^.
and Member of tTiC Society of Ant i qua-. :es of Londoru

Rerutn Natura nujqiuim ?!:ag^s qua7}i in Minimis iota eQ.
Plin. Hill. Nat. Lib. XL Cap"". 2.

7, The SECOND E D I T I O N.

' LONDON:

j^ Printed for R. and ]. Dccsley, in Pall-mall, 1764.

o

'"^r

^A-Ct

vu-

^ T O T H E

RIGHT HONOURABLE

The Earl of Cardigan

My'LORD,

5:^ I S Grace the late Duke of iMoN-

r^(^ TAGU, (whofe Name muft be

W^ ever dear to all that knew him)

sl was pleafed to honour, with his
particular Notice, the Experiments and Ob-
fervatlons defcribed in the following Sheets^
and frequently exprefTed his Deiire of hav-
ing them made public : and as your Lord-^
(hip feemed no lefs to admire thefe wonder-
ful Operations of Nature, I take the Liberty
to requeft your Acceptance of a Work,
whofe Novelty and Variety will, I hope^
yield you fome Entertainment, at the fame
time it affords me the defirable Oppor-
tunity of profeflhig my moft humble R.e-
foea.

A a

Thi

iv DEDICATION.

The iirfl Part of this Treatife difcovers irl
the Particles of Matter compofing Salts and
faline Subftances, Properties whofe amazing
Effects would furpafs all human Belief or
Conception, were we not convinced of their
Truth by the flrongeft ocular Demonftra-
tion. That beautiful Order in which they
arrange themfelves and come together under
the Eye, after being feparated and fet at Li-
berty by Diflblution, is here defcribed and

Ihewn. Did they amongft them all

compofe but one kind of figure, however
fimple, with Conftancy and Regularity, we
fhould declare it wonderful : What muft
we then fay, when we fee every Species
working as it were on a different Plan, pro-
ducing Cubes, Rhombs, Pyramids, Penta-
gons, Hexagons, Odagons, or fome other
curious Figures peculiar to itfelf ; or com-
pofing a Variety of Ramifications, Lines,
and Angles, with a greater Mathematical
Exadnefs than the moft ficilful Hand could
draw them ?

Senfible of my own Ignorance, I pretend
not to account how this is done : all I know
is, that Chance or Accident cannot poffibly
produce Conftancy and Order, nor inert
Matter give Adivity and Dirediion to itfelf.
When therefore thefe Particles of Salts are
CcQn to move in Rank and File, obedient to
unalterable Law5. and compofe regular and

de-

DEDICATION, . v

determined Figures, we mufl recur to that
Almighty VViklom and Power which plan-
ned out the Syftepn of Nature, directs the
Courlcs of the Heavens, and governs the
whole Univerfe.

The Experiments here defcribed, and
which the Reader is inftrudled to make, mufl
I think generally entertain ; but merely to
entertain, is, I hope, the leaft of their
Worth. They may poflibly lead to the
Knowledge of what palles in the Formation
of Gems, and the moft beautiful mineral
Produdions : And as every new Difcovery is
an Encouragement to farther Difquifitionj>
the Hints here given may perhaps fet abler
Heads at Work to improve Art on the Prin-
ciples of Nature. Examinations by the Mi-
crofcope, in the Manner here dirbftedi may
likewife be employed to afcertain the Truth
and Purity of many fimple Subftances an4
Compofitioiis made ufe of in Medicine, an«d
detedl Fraud and Impofition.

The minute living Animals exhibited iii
the fecond Part of this Work, will excite a
confiderate Mind to admire in hdvi fmall a
Compafs Life can be contained, what va-
rious Organs it can aftuate, and by what
different Means it can fubfifl-* They will
alfo fhew that the Hand which Hiade them
is not confined to Size of Form ; and that if
has not been wanting to beftow on Creatures
almofl invifible, and feemingly inconfider-

A 3 able>

VI DEDICATION.

able, every Member and Faculty convenient
to their Happinefs. — But this is an endlefs
Subjed, with v^^hich I fhall detain you no
longer than to obferve, that were there
wanting Proofs of a Deity, they might
here I think be found in great Abundance,

Your Lord{hip*s great Condefcenfion and
Goodnefs, in honouring this Work and its
Author with your Patronage, muft always
be remembered and acknowledged with the
utmoft Gratitude, by.

My Lord,

Your Lordihip's much Obliged
and moft Obedient

Humble Servant,

ENRY BaKEE-^

I vii ]

PREFACE.

> ^h" I S hoped the Book now publijl:ed ivtU
-^ be accepted favourably by the Curious^ and
particularly by thofe acquainted with the ufes
of the Microfcopc, as it opens to tljeir View
an almoft inhaujiible Store of Obj eels for that
Inflrument ; and ?nany who are Strangers to
it, may, 'tis likewife hoped, be excited by what
they read here, to lend fame Attention to fuch
cf Nature s wonderful Produ5lio?2S as cannot
be known without it. The earneji Wifh and
Defire of the Author is, that all Fecple would
fee with their own Ryes, and determine by their
own fudgment -, 7ieither rafily difbelieving
what is here related becaufe it may feem
furprizingy nor lazily giving it Credit c?i his
hare Word without ?naking Experiments them-
felves, •'■

As many of both Sexes who have not had
the Advantage of a learned Education, are
notwithftanding greatly defrou^ of Knowledge-,
for the Sake of fuch, this 7'reatfe is written
in Terms niofl eafy to he under food-, and a
fdort Account of the feveral Suhfances here
examined is given for their Information.

He

VIU

PREFACE

He begs Pardon of the Phyjicians end Che-
f}nftsi for encroaching now and then on thdf
Province^ in the Courfe of the following Ob-
fervations and Remarks ; and hopes they will
generoujly txctfe any Mijlakes he may have
fallen intOy as he is neither Phyfcian nor Che-
tnijl. Thofe too who are themfelves well ac-
quainted with the Subjects here defrribed, wiH
noti he hopes, be difp leafed at his endeavouring
to injlruBfuch as know them not,

lie acknowledges his Obligations to many
ingenious Friends, who have favoured him
with their Obfervations from iime to "Time,
feveral of which are inferted in this Work ;
and /hall always be thankful to any Gentleman
who will fend him an Account of whatever he,
thinks remarkable^

Ccn«*

(ix)

Contents of the Chapters.

PART the FIRST.

CHap. I. Concenihig the Configuration^;/^
Cryftals ^'Salts ^Wfaline Subftances, r
Chap. II. T'hc Method of preparing Salts and
faline Subftances, Jor the viewing their
Configurations, lo

Chap. III. Of Silts in general, 16

Chap. IV. OfDiJjolutiony 19

Chap. V. Of Cryjialization^ 2t

Chap. VI. DireBionsfor making a Colledlioii
of the Solutions of Salts and faline Sub-
ftances, and preferring them always in
Readinefs to be exanmed by the MicrO"^
fcope, 3 2

Chap. VII. A general Explanatio7i of the
Plates, with fome farther thoughts on the
Cryftals and Configurations of Salts, 37
Chap. VIII. Of Gem Salt, Spring Salty and
Sea Salt, 50

Chap. IX. Nitre or Salt Petre, 62

Chap. X. Of Vitriol in Genera^ JS

Chap. XI. Blue Fitroil, 76

Chap. XII. Green Vitriol, or EngliJJj Coppe-
ras, 84
Chap. XIII. IVhite Vitriol, 88
Chap. XIV. Dijlilled Verdigreafe, 93
Chap. XV. Alum, 96
Chap. XVI. Borax, 106
A CHAP,

X Contents of the Chapters.

Chap. XVII. Salt Ammoniac ^ log

Chap. XVIII. Salt of Leady 114

Chap. XIX. Salt of^iji, 1 17

Chap. XX. "Eris Veneris , . iig

Chap. XXI. Flowers of Antimony, 122
Chap. XXII. Corrofive SiibBnatey a?2d Arfe-

nicy 125

Chap. XXIII. Salt of A?nber, 138

Chap. XXIV". Scarborough Salty 147

Chap. '!&^N , Cheltenham Salty 149

Chap. XXVI. Epfom Salty 150

Chap. XXVII. Sal Poly chrejlumy 15a

Chap. XXVIIl. GZ^^^^rV iS<^//, 153

Chap. XXIX. Salt of Tartar y i jj

Chap. XXX. Tartar Vitriolatedy 158

Chap. 'y^JK^, Flowers of Benjamin y 160

Chap. XXXII. Salt of Camo^niky 162

Chap. XXXIII. Salt of Coral, 1 63

Chap. XXXIV. Salt ofBaumy or Balm, 165

Chap. XXXV. Salt ofFenneh 3 66

Chap. XXXVI. Salt of Biickthorny 167

Chap. XXXVII. Salt of Berberry y 168

Chap. XXXVIII. SaltofCiicuw.bery 170

Chap, XXXiX. Salt of Peruvian Barky lyi

Chap. XL. Salt of Liquorice y 172

Chap. XLI. Salt of Butcher s BroOfn^ 173

Chap. XLII. Salt of Wormwoody 175

Chap. XLIII. Salt of Tobacco, 1 j6

Chap. XLIV. Salt of Car duns, ij^

C}\'Si'^,^hY,Salt of Lave?idary ' 178

Chz^.XLYLSaltofMiigwort, lyg

Chap. XL VII. Salt of Hartshorny 180

CHAP

Contents of the Chapters. xi

Chap. XLVIII. Salt of Urine, i S i

Chap. XLIX. Salt of Millepedes. 183

Chap. L.Rheiwj, 184

Chap. LI. Of Camphire, 1 8 8

Chap. LII. Of Manna, 189

Chap. LII I. Concerning the Vegetation of

Metals, 1 9 1

Chap. LIV. 0/^//?fRefufcitatIon ^Plants, 208
Chap. LV. Mifcellaneo7isObfer'vationso?i'id\iSy

&c. 2 1 2

PART the SECOND.

CHap. I. Of i be Hair-like InfeBy 233

Chap. II. Of the Oat-jini??2aly "241
Chap. III. Eels in Parte Viviparous, 244
Chap. IV. Eels in blighted Wheaty 250

Chap. V. Of the Proteus y 260

Chap. VI. Of theWheeleryOrfVheelAniinal ,266
Chap. VII. Different Kinds of Wheel A?!!--

vials, 292

Chap. VIII. Animalcules ii)ith Shells and

Wheels y 295

Chap. IX. The Water Flea "with branched

Horns y 302

Chap. X. The Bell-Flower Animaly or Plum-

ed Polype y 306

Chap. XI. The Satyr y 314

Ch2ip,Xll. Three acgt^aticAnimals defcribedy^ 1 6.
Chap. XIII. The Globe Animal, 322

.Chap. XIV. Eggs of the fmall Frefh- Water

Snail, and Ammalcules adhering to thentyi^id^
Chap. XV. Ofcluficrtftg Polypesy 334

CHAP.

xii Contents of the Chapters.
Chap. XVI. the Mulberry Infe^y 348

Chap. XVII. ^he Pipe AnmaU J49

Chap. XVIII. The Water Hog-Loufe, or Sow,

Chap. XIX. Of the Frejh-Water Squillay 356
Chap. XX. The brifiled InfeB , 363

Chap. XXI. An JnfeB with FiJh'likeFinsy'}^6^
Chap. XXII. An Infe5i with Net--like Arms^

366

Chap, XXIII. InfeBs found on the Bark of

the AJhy 371

Chap. XXIV. The Loufe of the Carpy 374

Chap. XXV. The Loufe of the Banfickle or

Prickle-backy ^77

Chap. XXVI. The longfnouted Squilky 378

Chap. XXVII. A Letter from a Friendy

containifig many curious Microfcopical Ob-

fervations, 380

Chap. XX VIII. OfluminousWater Infers yT^gt^

Chap. XXIX. The Loufe of the Baty 406

Chap. XXX. Obfervations on a large Spidery

409
Chap. XXXI. Mifcellaneous Obfrvatiansy^i ^

Some Account of a new conflrudled Micro-
icopc ufedin the foregoing Experiments,/\.2Z,

Remarks on a Micrometer to be applied to
Double Compound Microfcopes. By
M2irim¥6iks,E/qiF.R.S. , 426

A Defcription of Mr. Z/^^//T£^^w^(5f/J*s Micro-
fcopes, . . 434.
Plredions for making the Reprefentation or

FiSure oi ^ny Medal Qv Coiny ^ 436

EMPLOYMENT

FOR THE

Microscope, &c.

CHAP. I.

Concerning lie CoKTiGVRATiot^s andCRY"
ST also/Salt sands ALiiiESvBSTANCES.

'S I wifh nothing more hearti-
ly than the real Advance-
ment of ufeful Knowledge,
by difcovering, as far as pof-
fible> the Operations of Na-
ture in the Formation of
Bodies, and their Effedls on one another :
and as the moft reafonable Way of account-
ing for their EfFed:s muft arife from a Dif-
covery and confideration of the Figure,
§ize> Solidity, Weight and Motion, of their

B con-

-^ Conjigiiratiom and Cryjlah

conftituentParts I fince we do not, I think,
fnppofe Body to i(5t: on Body by any other
Principles^: I have long imagined, that
if by an eafy afid natural Separation of
fuch their conftituent Parts, it were poffible
to know the comparative Size and Figure,
Sohdity and Motion of the Particles com-
pounding Bodies, when fo feparated from
one another ; and if we could alfo learn in
what Order and Figure they naturally come
together, and re-unite after fuch a Separa-
tion^ it might lay a Foundation "thereon
fome able Builder may ered: a valuable
-Superftru^^ure, ~-

With this View I have been making Ex-
periments, almoft eentlnually, for above
ten Years paft, on a great Variety of Sa-
line Bodies, Minet'al, Vegetable and- Ani-
'ma^,'1^s "Well ^as inany other -Stibftances,
both fimple and compound, whofe Parts
can be diflblyed in Fluids, aftier a -Method
which has never hitherto been defcribed by
any Author, or prad:ifed before inyfelf \tj
any body that I have heard of. iAnd tho'
I have found their original f^articles ufidifco-
verable by any Microfeope, the Time I hope
has not been wholly mifempJoyed i -fin^cie
I have been enabled, by the-helpiof that
Inftrument, to behold the. amazing/Order

-iiijiii, . and

' " ' V ■ -. <^ -, . » - „, , . ^- - *».> W* ^ . . -

* ,Unlefs the new dlfcovered Properties of Ele^ricity be
imagined owing to fome Cames we are not yet acquainted

with.

of Zdlts end Saline Sutjlances. j

and Rcgularitv, wherewith, after being fe-
parated by Dillblution, they come together
and rC' unite under the Eye, when put in
Adtion by certain Degrees of Heat, in Con-
figurations appropriated to each of tliem
rclpedlively, and with a Conilancy that is
furpriiing.

That particular Notice, wherewith the
Royal Societv was pleafed to honour
thofe Experiments "f-, encouraged me to
profecute them with all tlie Care in my
Power, to minute down every remarkable
Circumftance in the Procefs, and to make
iaithful Drawings of each Configuration.

Much has been already publiilied by fe-
veral curious Obfervers concerning the Cry-
ftaiizations and regular Figures of Salts,
and none I hope will imagine I am hereby
endeavouring to deprive them either of their
Difcoveries or their due Praife. But I pre-

B 2 fume

t Aft€r many repeated Examinations of Salts and Saiinc
Subftances by the Help of Glafles, in the Winter cf the Year
1743, ^ ^^^ ^^^ Honour twice of entertaining the Royal
Society with a View of their Configurations, which were
then thought To extraordinary, that very many of that illu-
firioas Body came often afterwards to fee them more at Lei-
iijre at my Lodgings; and in the Y^ar 1744, Sir Hans
Sloane, Bart, late Prefident of that Society, was pleafed,
at the Recommendation of his worthy SuccefTor Mas.txn
FoLXES, Efq; and of the Council o\ the faid Society, to
beflow on mc the Medal of Gold, annually prefented (as
the Donation of Sir Godfrey Copley, Bart, of which Sir
Hans i? the only furviving Truftee) to whomfoever of their
Members {hall be deemed to have produced the snoll extra-
ordinary Difcovery during the whole Year.

4 Configurations and Cryjials

fume my Experiments go a great deal far-
ther, both as to the Manner of Examina-
tion, and the Variety of Subjedls examined :
for by the Affiftance of Heat, which in a
greater or lefs Degree is perhaps a conftant
Agent in all the Operations of Nature,
very different Configurations and EifecSts are
produced than what can be caufed without
it, and our Information is thereby rendered
much more compleat and perfeft.

To give one fingle Inftance of this, which
takes place equally in moft other Subjedls :
The Cryftals of Alum are well known, and
their Figures (when a Solution of it is per-
mitted to cryftalize quietly and of itfelf)
have been truely defcribed and piftured by
others to be oftaedra, confifting of hexangu-
lar, triangular and quadrangular Planes :
but nobody I believe has before difcover'd,
at leaft nobody hitherto has informed the
World, that the Particles of Alum, when
feparated by Diffolution, and excited to
Adtion by a certain Degree of Heat, fo
arrange themfelvcs as to compofe regular
and delightful Star-like Figures of different
Sizes, many whereof have long ftreaming
Tails and refemble Comets : that it flioots
forth in fome Places Figures like Palifadoes,
and in others an almofl infinite number
of parallel Lines, mofl exquifitely ftrait,
exadt and fine^ fome croffing others at
right Angles, and compofing an Appearance

beyond

of Salts and Saline Suhjlarices. ^

beyond Defcription beautiful . F/de Plate III.
No. I. Indeed the Produdtion of the Star-
like Figures depends on a certain Nicety in
the Heat continued for a certain Time,
which one is not always fure to hit precife-
ly ; and therefore, though they appear very
frequently, they are not quite fo conftant
in every Trial as its other Configurations -,
but I doubt not Pradice and Obfervation
will render them fo in Time.

I mufl beg leave to call thefe Arrange-
ments of the Particles by the Name of
Configurations, thereby to diftinguifh them
from the Cryftalizations mentioned by
others, whereto they bear little or no Re-
femblance. Cryftalizations feem produced
by a Tendency or Attradtion of the Saline
Particles towards certain Points, about which
they combine in regular and determined
Forms, according to their refpedtive Kinds.
Configurations owe their Shapes moft pro-
bably to different Fits of Repulfion and
Attradtion, (thofe two wonderful Princi-
ples which occafion moft of the Changes
in Nature) taking place at certain Intervals
and in certain Proportions, and operating
according to Rules that are conftant and
uniform, though little known to us at
prefent. Or if, to make the Subjedt un-
derftood the better, I may be permitted
to fetch a Comparifon from a common
Suppofition, without examining whether it

B 3 be

p Configurations and Cryftah

be true or ialfe, Cryftalization is like the
retiring of the Sap into the Roots of Trees^
at the Approach of Winter, where during
the cold Seafon it renaains dormant and
unad:ive : Configuration refembles what re-
fults from the Expaniion of the fame Sap
at the Return of Spring, when excited to
Adion by the Sun's genial Warmth, it pufhes
every Way^ exerts it^ vegetative Force,
and becomes productive of Buds, Leaves,
Branches, Bloffoms and Fruits. But the
Drawings of one and the other compared
together and confidered, w^ill render this
Difference more intelligible than all the
Words in Language.

The beautiful Regularity and Order al-^
ways obfervable in the Works of Nature,
are no where more evident than in the
Experiments I am mentioning ; where the
invifible Particles of Matter, thou2;h difuni-
ted by a Menflruum, and removed to Dif-
tances from each other^ are no fooner ex-
cited to Adtion than they mutually affift
one another to compofe Figures peculiar
%o their feveral Kinds, with as much Cer-
tainty and Uniformity as Seeds of the fame
Plant produce Plants like one another, not
indeed precifely as to the Number or Po-
fition of their Branches, Leaves or Flowers,
but ir^ the general Growth and Fafliion,
and thofe other Particularities whereby eacl^
Species is diflinguifhed.

Pur

Of- Salts and Saline Subjlanccs, j

Our Eyes are continually accuftomed to
fee the Produ6tions of Nature when finifh-
ed, or brought a confiderable Way to-
wards it; and what contemplative Man
can behold them without Admiration and
Delight ! but in thefe Experiments we are
inabled, by the Affirtance of Glaffes, to view
her actually at Work, forming under our
Eyes, and in a few Minutes, Bodies fo ex-
quilitcly beautiful that nothing but Seeing
can give any juft Idea of them ; and that
too with fuch a Variety, as to the 1 Ian
and Fafhion of each Kind, as is abfolutely
unconceiveable.

Defcriptions of the Subjedls here treated
of would be unintelHgible without the Af-
fiftance of Drawings. Drawings therefore
have been made, and Copper Plates en-
graven, at no fmall Expence, of the diffe-
rent Configurations hereafter mentioned :
which, though greatly deficient in Beauty and
Regularity, if compared with the Originals,
and only pretending to give fuch a ge-
neral Refemblance as may diftinguifli each
Kind from other, will 'tis hoped prove fa-
tisfadtory to thofe who {l:iall pleafe to re-
peat the Experiments after me : for how-
ever flrange they may appear, they are
no fanciful Reprefentations produced by the
Strength of Imagination, nor are they
taken haftily from one or two Trials, but
truely fhew what generally prefented in

B 4 great

8 Configurations and Cryflah

great Numbers of repeated Obfervations.
Their Figures are indeed fo extraordinary,
that I fhould not dare to have kid them
before any body, much lefs to have pub-
lifhed them, were there not many Gen-
tlemen of unexceptionable Credit who are
livine Witneffes of their Truth, and was I

CD

not alfo able, almoft at any Time, to pro-
duce Configurations like thofe they were
taken from.

Thefeconflant and regular Workings of
Nature, which the Microfcope difcovers,
may poffibly conduct us a Step farther in-
to her Receffes, and affiO: us to judge of
Caufes and Effeds in many Cafes where
at prefent we are greatly at a Lofs, fince
according to Dr. Woodward -fy ** the Stea^-
** dinefs and Conftancy of Nature in all its
*' Produdions, and in the Formation of all
^^ Bodies, happens from the Conftancy of the
^* Procedure of the Agents that are inftru-
^' mental to the Formation of thofe Bodies,
" and from the Unalterablenefs of the Cor-*
*^ pufcles which ferve for conftituting and
*' compofing of thofe Bodies. " And we are
told by the Rt. Rev. Author of Syris :{:,
that the '' Analogy, Conftancy and Uni-
*^ formity in the Phaenomena or Appear-
*' ance? of Nature are a Foundation for gene-
^* ral Rules : and thefe are a Grammar for
^' the Underftanding of Nature, or the Series

*^ of

t Vid Woodward's Nat. Hift. of Foffils, Eng, Edit, Vol
lo p. 1 86. X Sed. 122.

of Salts and Saline Suhjlances* ^

*' of EfFe(5ls in the vifible World, whereby
*^ we are inabled to forefee vv'hat will come
** to pafs in the natural Courfe of Things."

As there is good Reafon therefore to
expeft, that the following Experiments
may conduce fomething towards account-
ing for many Caufes and Effefts in Nature,
when duely confidered by People of true
Judgment, to fuch I freely fubmit them ;
without pretending any thing more my-
felf than barely to relate Fadts : but fhould
they fcrve no other Purpofe than to pre-
fent a new Set of Objedls for the Micro-
fcope, full as wonderful and entertaining as
any that have ever been yet examined,
affording by Mixture a Variety almoft in-
finite, eafily procured, and always ready for
Obfervation, there are many I flatter myfelf
to whom they will prove acceptable. And
I fhall endeavour to affift as much as pof-
fible the Curiofity of thafe who may be
inclined to repeat thefe Experiments after
me, by defcribing in the plainefl Terms
each Circumflance necelTary to be known,
either previous to, or during the Time of
Obfervation by the Microfcope, and dare
affure them for their Encouragement, that
the Trouble is very little, though the Plea-
fure and Information refulting therefrom is
great.

To begin then with the Manner of pre-
paring thefe Subjefts for Obfervation.

CHAP.

IC> Method of preparing

CHAP. IL

I'ke Method of preparing Salts and S Aim's,
Substances, for the viewing their Con -

FIGURATIONS.

IDiflblve the Subjeft to be examined in no,
larger a Quantity of River or Rain Water
than I am certain it is fufficient to faturat^^..
If it is a Body eafily diffolvable I make ufe of
cold Water, otherwife I make the Water
warm, or hot, or even boiling, according
as I find it neceffary. After it is perfectly
diffolved, I let it reft for fome Hours, till, if
overcharged, the redundant Saline Particles
inay be precipitated, and fettle at the Bottonx,
or fhoot into Cryftals ; by which means I
am moft likely to have a Solution of the
fame Strength at one Time as at another ^
that is, a Solution fully charged with as
much as it can hold up, and no more ; and
by thefe Precautions the Configurations
appear alike, how often fo ever tryed i
whereas if the Water be lefs faturated, the
Proportions at different Times will be fub-
jed: to more Uncertainty ; and if it be exa-
mined before fuch Separation and Precipita-
tion of the redundant Salts, little more will
be k^n than aconfufed Mafs of Cryftals.

The Solution being thus prepared, I take
up a Drop of it with a Goofe Quill, cut in

Fafliion

Salts and Salme Suhjlances. 1 1

Fafliion of a Scoop, and place it on aflat Slip
of Glals of about three Quarters of an Inch
in Width, and between three and four Inches
long, fpreading it on the Glafs with the
Quill, in either a round or oval Figure, till
it appears a Quarter of an Inch or more in
Diameter, and fo fliallow as to rife very
little above the furface of the Glafs. When it
is fo difpofed, I hold it as level as I caa
over the clear Part of a Fire that is not too
fierce, or over the Flame of a Candle at a
Diftance proportionable to the Degree of
Heat it requires, (which Experience only can
direcS,) and watch it very carefully, till I
difcover the Saline Particles beginning to
gather and look white, or of fome other Co-
lour, at the Extremities of the Edges, Then
(having adjufled the Microfcope beforehand
for its Reception, armed with the fourth
Glafs, which is the fitted for moft of thefe
Experiments,) I place it under my Eye, and
bring it exaftly to the Focus of the Magni-
fier, and after running over the whole Drop,
J fix my Attention on that Side where I
obferve any Increafe or pufhing forwards of
cryftaline Matter from the Circumference
towards the Center.

This Motion is extremely flow at the Be-
ginning, unlefs the Drop has been overheat-
ed, but quickens as the Water evaporates,
and in many Kinds towards the Conclufion
produces Configurations with a Swiftnefs

^ncon-

/

1,2- Method of preparing

unconceiveable, compofed of an Infinity of
Parts, which are adjufted to each other with
an Elegance, Regularity and Order, beyond
what the exadteft Pencil in the World
guided by the Ruler and Compaffes can ever
equal, or the moft luxuriant Imagination
fancy.

When Adlion once begins, the Eye can-
not be taken off, even for a Moment, with-
out lofing fomething worth Obfervation :
for the Figures alter every Inftant till the
whole Procefs is over ; and in many Sorts,
after all feems at an End, new Forms arife,
different entirely from any that appeared be-
fore, and which probably are owing to fome
fmall Quantity of Salt of another Kind,
which the other feparates from and leaves
to ad: after itfelf has done : and in fome
Subjects three or four diiferent Sorts are ob-
fervable, few or none being fimple and ho-
mogeneous.

When the Configurations are fully form-
ed, and all the Water evaporated, moft Kinds
of them are foon deftroyed again by the
Moifture or Adlion of the Air upon them ;
their Points and Angles lofe their Sharpnefs,
become uneven and defaced, and moulder
as it were away. But fome few are perma-
nent, and by being inclofed between Glafl^es,
as I fhall direct hereafter, may be prefer ved
Months, or even Years, entertaining Objedts
for the Microfcope-

Salts and Saline Sub/lances. i ->

A". B. It happens oftentimes that a Drop
of a Saline Solution can hardly be fpread on
the Slip of Glafs, by reafon of the Glafs's
Smoothnefs, but breaks into Httlc Globules,
as it would do were the Surf^ice greafy;
this was very troublefome, till I found a way
of preventing it, by rubbing the broken Drop
with my Finger over the Glafs, fo as to leave
the Glafs fmear'd with it ; on which fmear'd
Place when dry, another Drop of the Solu-
tion may be fpread very eafily in what Form
one pleafes.

It likewife fometimes happens, that when
a heated Drop is placed properly enough for
Examination, the Obferver finds he can dif-
tinguifli nothing: which is owing to Sa-
line Steams that rife from the Drop, cover
and obfcure the Objedl Glafs, and therefore
muft immediately be wiped away with a foft
Cloth or Leather.

'Tis I think an allowed Maxim, that Salts

adl not unlefs in a State of Diflblution, for

which Reafon I diffolved them in order to

obferve their manner of adlinor. A certain

Degree of Heat is likewife mofl commonly

employed by Nature in all her various Pro-

dudions : wherefore I imagined that by

^the Affiftance of Heat, applied in different

-Degrees, I might in fome fort imitate Na-*

•ture, and produce fuch Figures as Salts are

thrown into, not when they ceafe to a<5t,

'^which I apprehend is the Cafe when they

^ are

#

14 Method of preparing

are formed into Cryftals, but even whilft they
are acting : and this what I call their Con«
figuration does moft wonderfully fhcw.

My Intention was to difcover as far as
siiight be, the natural Inclination, Progreffi-
on and Figure of each refpedtive Salt under
Examination ; it was conlequently necefiary
to avoid making ufe of anyDiffolvent, which
by containing other Salts might create Con-
fuiion, and produce Forms not conftant or
eiTential to the Subjed: of Inquiry. River orr
Rain Water has therefore moft common-
ly been my DifTolvent, being what I
judged leaft likely to prejudice my Experi-
ments. I am very fenfible neither Salts or
other Bodies are to be obtained unmixt and
perfed:ly homogeneous: but I have taken
pains to procure fuch of each Kind as ap-
peared moft pure and perfed:, I mean of
the fimple Salts i as for the Compounds I
was obliged to rely on the Chemift.

In all Examinations cby the Microfcope
of Saline Solutions, even though made in
the Day-time, I always employ the Light
of a Candle, and advife every Obferver to
do fo likewife : for the Configurations be-
ing exceedingly tranfparent, are rendered
much more diftinguifhahle by the brown
Ciight a Candle affords, than by the mon5
white and tranfparent Day light; and be-
£des, either by moving the Candle or turn-
ing the Microfcope^ fuch Light may be
V varied

Sii/^s and Salwe Stibjlances. "1%

\Tined or directed juft as the Subjedl re-
<juires.

It may be alib proper to take notice,
that no Kinds of Microfcopc are fit for thefe
Obfcrvations, but fuch as have an open
Stage, whereon the Slips of Glafs with the
Liquor upon them may be placed readily,
and in a perfedl: horizontal Polition ; and
•4»oreover where they can be turned about
freely, and without difordering the Fluid.
Thofe Microfcopes where Sliders or Slips
of Glafs are thrull: in between two Plates,
as in JVilfm'Sy &c. be they in whatever Di-
rection, cannot therefore properly be em-
ployed here.— -The following Obfervations
-were all made by a double Microfcope,
-conftructed by Mr. Cuff, in Fleet-Jireet,
vAxh. fome Regard to thefe Experiments.
Its Figure refembles what is called com-
monly the Double Refiscfing Microfcope^ and
-like that it receives Light from a Speculum
xrwde^neath : but befidcs an Improvement
in the Fofition of the Glaffes, its Stage is
•difencumbered with Legs, ^nd quite open
^Tor the Reception of Objecfts without Trou-
ible; its Motion -is not by Jerks, as in the
Microlcope juft now mentioned, but re*
'gulated by a fine-threaded Skrew, whereby
-it is adjufted to the Eye with great Eafe and
'Exaftnefs : and all that try it will I believe
judge it not only the moft convenient Micro-
-fcopefor this Purpofe, but like wife for gene-
4 ral

3^6 Of Salt J in general.

ral Ufe. Wherefore as this Inftrument, which
has been conftrudted fince the Publica-
tion of the Micro/cope made eafy, could not
be given there amongft the other Micro*-
fcopes then in ufe, T intend at the End of
this Treatife to infert a Drawing and fhort
Defcription of it.

C H A P. Ill,

Cy Salts in generaL

IT feems necelTary in order to make
the Matter in Hand underftood the bet-
ter, that fome Account be given of what
is meant by Salts and Saline Subjiances^ to-
gether with fome fhort Explanation of the
Diflblution of fuch Subftances, and their
Gryftalization afterwards ; whereby the Dif-
ference between my Experiments and thofe
^of others may become more evident.

Few will I prefume imagine, that I mean
by Salts fuch Subftances only as afford what
is called a Salt Tafte; for Salts are of all
Taftes, and Sugar itfelf is no other than
a Salt extrafted from the Sugar Cane. But
^wc underftand by Salts, all Subftances what-
S'foever that are diffolvable in Water, or
whofe Parts become fo feparated thereby
as to difappear therein 5 which, notwitji-

ftanding

Of Salts in general. 17

ing the Water being evaporated, Hicw thcm-
fclvcs again combined in fomc Ibrt of an-
$;ular Forms, with a Degree of Tranfpa-
rency, and to the Tafte are more or lefs
pungent. To this may be added, that they
are fufible by Fire. ,

Saltj thus undcrftood, is one of the firft
Principles of the Chemifts ; and indeed has
good Reafon to be efteemed fo, as it en-
ters into the Compofition of all Bodies. It
is every wherCj and in every thing : for if
any Stone, Plant, or Animal be burnt^ a Salt
remains in the Afhes, which may be ex-
trad:ed by Water^ and feparated from the
Caput Mortuum.

It is the Nutriment of Animals, Vege-
tables and Minerals, infomuch that Herbs,
Roots, Breadi &c. deprived of their Salts,
can neither fuilain> nourilh, or increafe the
Bodies of Animals ; and the Earth when di-
verted of it becomes abfolutely barren o

Vegetables and Animals, whilfl llourifli-
ing and alive^ difcharge by Perfpiration and
other more fenfible Evacuations the Excefe
and Recrements only of the Salts whereby
they are preferved : but when they perilli,
the Chain whereby the Parts were kept to-
gether becomes broken, the Salts regain
their Liberty by Putrefaction, fome tiy
iaway into the Air, and the reft rem.ain in
a Condition to enrich and render fertile

e that

1 8 Of Salts in general.

that lean and hungry Earth which is dc-
ftitute of ilich Salt.

Taftes, Smells, and moft other Effedls
of Bodies on one another, feem occuiioned
by the Adlion of Salts, which by ftriking
on our Organs produce Senfations corre-
Jlpondent to their Figures, and by the fame
means affedt all other Bodies.

Being tranfparent, and having a ftrong
attradlive Power, they probably fupply both
Matter, Conliftence and Form to Spars, Cry-
ftals. Diamonds, and all other Gems and pel-
lucid angularly figured Foffils. When com-
bined and at Reft they are perhaps the Bafis
of Cohefion and Solidity in moft Bodies,
the Pegs or Nails that hold the Parts of
other Matter together ^ but when put in-
to Motion by the Separation of their com-
ponent Particles, and their repulfive Force
(which is no lefs vigorous than thdr attrac-
tive Power) becomes exerted, they are the
moft adlive Principles in Nature, like Knives
or Launcets cut their Way through every
thing, and produce the moft furprizing
Changes. Whence the Chemifts fay, that
in the Sun and in Salt are all Nature's Pro-
ducStions ; and, that he who knows not Salts,
will never perform any thing in Art.

The Diftinftion of Salts into acid and
alkaline, into volatile, fixt, and efTential, I
fhall leave the Reader to tonfult chemical
Writers about.

CHAPo

[ 19]

CHAP. IV.

Of Dissolution.

THE Diflblution of Salts or faline Bo-
dies is eftedted by an Intrufion or In-
tcrpofition of the Particles of Water, or
fome other Diffolvent, between the Particles
that compound fuch Bodies ; whereby their
Combination is deftroyed, and they become
feparated from each other.

Sir Ifaac Newtoyi -f- accounts for the DiiTo-
lution of fuch Subftances from the great
Principle of Attraction, and the Manner
thereof is explained by Dr. Friend, in his
PrceleBiofzes Chemiccey p. 6i, where he
gives a mechanical Defcription of the dif-
folving of common Salt in Water ; the mean-
ing of which in few Words is, ** that the
** Corpufcles of Salt being extremely fimple,
'* minute, andfolidfor their Bullc, are con-
fequently indued with a flrong attradtive
Power: (Attraftion being, cceteris paribus,
always in proportion to the Quantity of
Matter :) the Particles of Water are there-
fore attracted more vigoroufly by the fa*
line Particles than by one another : for the
watery Particles cohering but flightly, and
moving readily, when they approach the
** Particles of Salt, rulh as it were into their
" Embraces; and opening aPaffage into their

C 2 ** Pores,

f Vid. Newton^s Opticks, p. 35 1-

€C
iC

tt

20 Of T>tJ}oliition.

" Pores, which are very numerous, the Tex-^
*^ ture and Cohelion of their Parts become
** intirely broken and deftroyedj the Corpu-
*^ fcles are feparated, and float here and there
" in the Warer."

Water (or fome other Liquor) having
thus iniinuated betv^^een the component
Particles of faline Bodies, deflroyed their
Cohefion, and removed them from each
other; if the minute difunited Particles are
fev^er than what the Interftices of the Water
can contain, they remain fufpended in the
Fluid, though being extremely fmall and
tranfparent the Eye cannot difcern them; for
notwithftanding Salts are fpecifically heavier
than Water, their minute Particles, when
feparated, having their Surfaces increafed
In proportion as their Bulk is diminifhed,
are unable to overcome the Refiftance of
the Fluid, and confequently cannot fink
therein. But if the faline Particles are
more in Quantity than the Interftices of
the Water can eafily contain, the Refidue
attrad each other, form little Mafles hea-
vier than the Fluid, and either fall to the
Bottom, or adhere to the Sides of the Veffel,
and that moft commonly in the Form of
regular Cryftals,

CHAP,

[ 21 ]

CHAP. V.

Of Crystalization

THE iifual Way of procuring Cryftals
from any Salt or faline Subflance
ijs, to diflblve the fame in warm Water; to fil-
ter the Mixture if there be any Foulnefs ;
to evaporate till a Film is iztw at Top;
and then to fet it in a cool Place to (hoot.
Heat enables the Water to diffolve and hold
up a greater Quantity of the Salt than it
would do without it, and Cold afterwards
greatly ailifts its forming into Cryftals.

The Cryltals thus formed, whether more
or lefs in Quantity, will always have fuch
Figure as is pecuHar and conftant to the
Kind of Salt they are procured frora ; and
how often foever their Particles be fepa-
rated by Solution, they will come together
again, and reunite in fuch a Manner as to
produce Bodies exadlly of the fame regu-
lar Forms , which muft im^ply, that fuch
component Particles, whatever their Shape
or Texture be, are themfelves unalterable,
and that the Principle or Law whereby
they are brought together is uniform and
perpetual. Their Concretion may be ac-
counted for on Sir IJaac Ne-w.tons, Princi-
ples, by the attractive Force with which
all Bodies, and Salts more efprxialiy, by
reafon of their Solidity, are indued; where-
by, when the Water wherein they float

C 3 is

22 Of Cryjializaiionl

is evaporated to fuch a Degree that the
faline Particles come v/ithin the Reach of
each other's attractive Power, and do ac-
tually attradl one another more vigorouf-
\y than the Fluid attracts them, they forrn
themfelves into Cryftals. And as to the Re-
gularity of their Figures, " that argue$
(according to the fame great Man) that
^' the Particles of the Salt before they con-
^^ creted, floated in the Liquor at equal
^^ Diilances in Rank and File j and by
*^ confequence that they adted upon one
another by fome Power which at equal
Diftances is equal, at unequal Diftan-
ces unequal. For by fuch a Power they
^^ will range thernfelves uniformly, and
*^ without it they will float irregularly, and
^^ come together as irregularly," He alio
fuppofes, *' that the Particles not only range
^* themfelves in Rank and File for concret-
*?f ing in regular Figures, but alfo by fome
^? kind of polar Virtue turn their homo-
'^^ geneal Sides the fame Way -f*.

As that Conftancy of Figure, obfervable
in the Production of Cryilals from the
fame Salt, proves their component Particles
to have fome determined and unalterable
Shape, fo the Difference of Figure pecu-
liar to the Cryftals of diiferent Salts, in-
duces one to believe, that the component
Particles of each Kind differ no lefs in

Shape

^\ Ns'mton^s Gp ticks 5 ?dEdit. P^ge 363.

Cojnponcnt Particles of Salts. 2 3
Shape from the Particles of every other Kind
than the Cryftals they compofe do.

The Particles of them all are indeed fo f

cxquifitely minute, that no human Eye or
Inllrument can poffibly difcern them, be-,
ing finer, in feveral Kinds, even than the
Particles of Air, forcing their Way through
Metals, Glafs, and other Bodies, where
the Air can find no Entrance. Conjeaures
have notwithftanding been made concern-
ing their Figures; fome fuppofing them
exadlly of the fame Shape in little, as the
Cryftals they conftitute by their Combi-
nation are in a larger Size ; whilft others
infift, that their Shape is intirely different
from what appears in the Cryftals ^ the
Figures whereof arife, as they imagine,
from a ftronger Attradion on fome Sides
of the fame Particles than on others,
whereby the Concretions on thofe more
attracflive Sides are greater : for, fay they,
if the Particles of Salt that fwim in a Fluid
attrad each other mutually, and by their
Figure have a greater attradive Power
in fome Parts than in others, and if their
Contad be greateft in thofe Parts, fuch
Particles will form themfelves into Bodies
with given Figures, or, in other Words,
will conftitute regular Cryftals,

That ingenious mathematical Profeffor
and PhyficTan of Bononia * , Domi?ncus

C 4 Giiliel-

* Vid. Difcorfo fiprm U Figun «V Sali. Printed at
Bologna 4'°. 1688.

^4 Component F articles of Balis.

Guiy minus obferves, that the fenfible
Cryilals of any Salt, however large or mi-
nute they may be, have always the fame.
Figures : the Co-ordination of the Parts
not depending on the Quantity of the com-
ponent Matter : that Nitre, for Example,
in its Efflorefcencies from Walls^ difpofes
itfelf into very flender Bodies of the like
Figure exadly as its larger Cryftals ; and
that not only Cryftals too fmall for our Eyes
to fee, but even the minuted Particles of
their Salt, that were diffolved in the Water
before their Cryftalization, have the fame
Figure as the larger Cryftals have. Whence
lie fuppofes the firft Principles of Matter
whereof the Salt is compofed, and which
pn Account of their Smallnefs no Force
can poflibly divide, to have fuch deter-
mined Figures, as they can never change,
impoied on them at their Creation. And
for this he auotes M!r. Leeuwenhoek. who
^.fterts, that in Solutions of Cyprian Vitriol,
and of Tartar, he has ktn Particles, which
though not larger than the twenty thou-
fandth Part of the Thicknefs of a Hairj
y/ere exactly figured like their larger Cry-
^als ; and thofe Figures in two or three
Minutes increafed to an hundred times
their former Bulk, ftill retaining their Fi^
gure, however they were enlarged in Length
|ind Breadth.

Nor does he imagine any other Caufe

foi

Component Particles of Salts. 2jf

for the Separation of a Salt from the Fkii4
w'herein it is dilTolved, but an Indination
of the Planes of the fmalleft Particles tq
unite ', which Inclination being alike in all,
dicy join one after another on every fide :
by which means the Size grows larger, but
the Figure alters not. Thofe in common
Salt he affirms to be minute Cubes, in Vi-
triol Parallelopipids, and in Nitre hexagonal
Prifms.

Hence he infers, that the Figures of the
Cryftals prove not only the Exiftence and
Shape of their component Particles, but
withal demonftrate that the Cryftals are
themfelves produced by an appofite Union
of fuch-like figur'd Particles, whofe Figures
cannot be deftroyed unlefs by Annihilation.

That the moft minute Cryftals difcerna-
ble by the Microfcope may be obferv'd grow-
ing under the Eye, and enlarging their
Dimenfions many thoufands of times with-
out an Alteration in Figure, I dare affirm
from my own Experience : but I pretend
not thereby to determine the real Shape
of the original Particles of any Salt, or to
underftand the other Properties concerned
in their Combination. After all my Expe-
riments, I am too feniible of my own Ig-
norance to fet up any Hypothefis : that
I leave to abler Judges on future Tryals ;
begging Leave inftead (hereof to fubmit the
following Queries to be confidered at Leifure.

[ 26 ]

^U E R I E S.

.0 not Attradion and Repulfion feem

' to be the principal ad:ive' Powers

whereby the natural Changes in Bodies are
produced ?

Are not thefe Powers inherent, proba-
blvj in all Matter, however their Agency
may be fufpended, diminiihed, augmented,
or otherwife diverlifyed ?

May we not fuppofe, that by the firft
of thefe Powers the original Particles of
Matter be brought together and conjoyned,
in the Formation of moft compounded Bo-
dies ? and does not the Deflrud:ion of fuch
Bodies, or the Separation of their compo-^
nent Particles, feem probably greatly owing
to the Latter ?

Is there not Reafon to believe, that the
Particles of Matter conftituting Gold, Stone,
Wood, Fleih, &c. are different from each
other ai Origme; and, confequently, that
there are diiferent Kinds of fimple mate-
rial Particles ?

Muft not thefe Particles (however un-
conceivable their Minutenefs be) have fome
determined Figures and Sizes ? May not
fuch Figures and Sizes be different, and
indued with different Degrees of the at-
tradive or repuliive Force : and may not
the Difference in Bodies as to Coherence^

SqU-

QUERIES. 27

Solidity, Duration, &c. be owing to the
various Intermixture and Combination of
Particles either a/iic^ or un/i^e in Size and
Figure -f ?

May there not be a Kind of Polarity in
the original Particles ? or, may they not
attrad: at fome Points and repel at others,
and that in various Proportions, according
to their Inclination towards each other, their
Diftances, their Points of Contadt, or other
Circumftances ? May not fuch Attraction
or Repullion be excited, or fufpended, by
Heat, Cold, Motion, Reft, Gfc. ? And as
Light has alternate Fits of eafy Reflexion
and eafy Tranfmiflion J, occafioned by the
different original Properties of the different
Sides of its Rays ^% (as Sir Ifaac Newton

has

+ ** All the Phasnomena in Nature are produced by-
Motion. There appears an uniform working in things
great and fmall by attrafting and repelling Forces. But the
particular Laws of Attraftion and Repulfion are various.
The minute Corpufcles are impelled and directed, that is
to fay, moved to and from each other, according to various
Rules or Laws of Motion. Some Bodies approach together,
others fly afunder, and perhaps fome others do neither.
When Salt of Tartar flows per deliquium, it is vifible
that the Particles of Water floating in the Air are moved
towards the Particles of Salt, and joined with them. And
when we behold vulgar Sal: not to flow per deJiquium,
may we not conclude that the fame Law of Nature and
Motion doth not obtain between its Particles and thofe
of the floating Vapours ? A Drop of Water afl^umes a round
Figure, becaufe its Parts are moved towards each other : but
the Particles of Oil and Vinegar have no fuch Difpofition
to unite." Hde Bifhop ofCLOYNE's Syris^ Page ilo.

X Newton's Opticks, Page 339. Again, 347.

* Ibid. Quere 26.

s§ ^U E R I E S,

has fliewn :) may there not alfo be alter^
nate Fits of eafy Attradion and eafy Re-
puiiion, occafioned by the Conjundlion, or
Oppoiition, of the attrad:ive or repuliive
Sides in the Particles of Matter ? May not
the Succeffion of fuch Fits be extremely
quick, as in the Vibrations of Bodies, &c. ?
and may they not be prevented, diminifh-*
ed, circumfcribed, augmented, propagated,
or communicated with almofl infinite Va-
riety (as to the Modification) according to
the Conftitution of the Bodies wherein they
are excited, and the Aptnefs or Unaptnefs of
other Bodies near them ?

May we fuppofe the Attracflion and Re-?
pulfion of Magnetifm, Gravity and Elec-
tricity, to be different Powers, or different
Modifications only of the general attradlive
and repulfive Power fuppofed refident in
all Matter? " ' ■

Do not Heat and Motion feem mofl: likely
to excite Repulfion i and are not Cold and
Reft moft favourable to Attrad:ion?

When the Particles of Subftances eva-
porate, become volatile, or fly away, is not
f\ich Volatility owing to the repulfive Force
of the Particles, fome how or other put into
Action r And is not the Explofion of Gun-
powder, &c. occafioned probably by a Fit
of Repulfion, excited fuddenly and violently
by Fire, in the component Particles of the
Gunpowder ?

Slip-

^U E R I E S. p,^

Suppofing thr.t Salts are diflblved, or their
Parts feparated, (according to Sir I/acic
Newtofis Theory, and the beforemen-
tioned Explanation of Dr. Friend,) becaule
the Particles of Water are more flrongly
attracfted by the Particles of Salt than by
one another, and rulh between and dif-
iinite the faline Particles : may not the re-
pulfive Power of the faline Particles, as to
one another, be exerted at the fame Time ?
or may not a Fit of Repiilfion inftantly fuc-
ceed the former Fit of Attradlion '^ ? And,
if the repulfive Power be of equal Force
in each of the Particles, will they not be
repelled to equal Diftances from each other^
and confequently be difpofed in Rank and
File : and when their next Fit of Attracti-
on takes place, will they not unite accord-
ing to their i\rrangement, and conflitute
regular Figures ?

Without fuppofing fuch Fits of Repul-
fion and Attradion, will it not be very
difficult to conceive, how the Particles of
Salt, which, notwithftanding their mutual
Attradlion and Contadl, became feparated
each from other by their ftronger Attradti-

oa

* Unlefs by fome fuch mrans, it is not eafy to imagine
that the Particles of Water "Ihould be able to enter the
Interftices between the conftitaent Particles of Salts ; for the
firft Particles of Salts arc found to be fmaller even than thofe
of Air, by their paffing through Cork, Glafs, and other
Bodies, which Air cannot pafs through, and confequently
their Interflices mull be ftill much finaller.

§5 ^U E R I E S.

on of the Particles of Water, fhould after-
wards, when carried to Diftances from each
other, where their mutual Attradlion muft
be rendered much weaker, forfake the Par-
ticles of Water (which they had attraded
and joyned themfelves to fo ftrongly) come
together again, and combine more firmly
than they did before * ^ for Cryftals are not
near fo eafy to diffolve as Salts before they
are cryftalized ?

Does not the Power of Attradlion in-^
creafe as the Diftances between the Par-
ticles decreafe ? Is it not of great Strength^
when they are brought in Contadt ? and
would not moft Bodies be abfolutely folid,
and their Parts almoft infeparable, was not
Hardnefs an effential Property in Matter,
which (by rendering the Particles incom-
preffible) prevents their Contact otherwife
than in Points, and occafions numberlefe
Pores or Interftices between them ?

May not the attractive and repulfive
Pov^er be in proportion to the Surface rather
than the Solidity, (as it is found in Magnets,)
and in Confequence thereof, are not the
fmalleft Particles indued with the ftrongeft
Attradlion and Repulfion?

If

* When a Glafs Tube, made Eleflrical by rubbing, attrafts
a downy Feather, foon afterwards repels it, and drives it
continually away until the Feather has touched fome other
Body ; after which it immediately attrafls, and then repels it j
have we not a plain ocular Demonftration of alternate Fits of
Attraftion and Repulfion ?

^U E k I E S. 31

If the Particles of Matter have Sides and
Angles, will they not touch in more Points,
and form Bodies more folid and durable
when joyned together laterally, than when
connected by their Angles ? And if the
Surfaces of fuch Bodies are fmooth and
poliflied, will not their Juncftion be much
the firmer ?

When one Salt is faid to be converted
into another, or appears in the Figures of
another, by the Addition of fomething
thereto ; may it not be fuppofed, that by
the Intervention of other fhaped Particles,
the Particles of the firft Salt are prevented
from cohering by the fame Sides and An-
gles as they did before ; and that by the
Mixture of thefe Figures the new Forms
are produced? — Some Solutions will mix
and form Cryftals and Configurations by
Combination : in others, however blend--
ed, the Cryftals of each Kind appear al-
ways feparate,

Are not tranfparent Bodies compofed pro-
pably of homogeneous Particles, or Parti-
cles of the like Size and Figure, arrang-
ed in fome uniform Direction, w^iereby
their Interftices being rendered regular, are
fitly adapted for tranfmitting the Rays of
Light ? And is not the Tranfparency of all
faline Cryftals and Configurations moft likely
to be owing to the fame Caufe ?

4 Do

g£ DireBiom for cotkdling

Do not the Colours of Bodies alfo depend
on the Arrangement of their Particles, for
the more or lefs ready Reflexion, Refrac-
tion, Tranfmiflion^ or Retention of the
Rays of Light 'I

CHAP. VI.

Dirediions for making a ColleBion of the Solu^
fwnsof^ALTS <3:WSaline Substances^
and preferring them always in Readinefs to
be examined by the Micro/cope.

S the Curious may be defirous to>
colleft and keep by them the feveral
forts of Salts mentioned in this Treatife^
whereby they may at any time amufe them-
felves or entertain their Friends at a Mo-
ment's Notice; I fhall put them in a Way
that will intirely anfwer this Purpofe^ found-
ed on my own Experience.

Let a Drawer or Box be made three
Inches in Depth, ten Inches wide, and
fourteen Inches long in the Clear i at about
an Inch and a quarter from its Bottonti
place a thin Board of the exad: Length and
Width of your Drawer, horizontally, on ^
four little Pillars faftened in the Corners^
this Board having firft of all round Holes
cut through it, iti Rows, of a Size to re-
ceive Glafs Phials that hold one Carter

of

Sofuttons of Salts. 23

of an Ounce, and luliiciently large for them
to go ealily in and out. Such a Board will
conveniently admit of twelve Rows, each
Row havini> eit^ht Holes.

Being thus furnifhed with a Repofitory
for your Colled:ion, and provided with
liinety-lix Phials of clear Glafs to place in
thefeH'les, where they w'ill fiand in order
without Danger of tumbling down or be-
ing otherwife difplaced, put into each Phial
as much of any Salt or faline Subftance,
reduced to Powder, as you are certain will
be fufficient to faturate about half the
Quantity of Water it can contain ; for 'tis
beft to prepare no more at once, as thereby
you will leave room for making Mixtures
and trying Experiments, which if the
Bottles are quite full you cannot do io welL
Then with a Tea-fpoon, half fill your
Phials with" boiling Water, immerging them
all the while up to the Neck in a Bafon
of Water, likewife boiling hot "f*, and hold
them there till the Salt is all diffolved, or
you are fure the Water will difTolve no
more.

This done, faften with fliff Pafte a fmall
Piece of Paper on the Side of each Phial
near the Neck, that it may eafily be fecn ;
having previoufly marked the Papers i, 2,
3, 4, 5, (^c. in a numerical Order. Fit

D the

f Cold Water or warm Water will do for fome forts, but
'|loj Water doei ao harm to any, and is beit fox moH.

34 Dir e5i Ions for colkdting

the Phials with good found Corks, on which
you muft Ukewife mark the fame Numbers,
that you may not miflake the Bottles they
belong to: and do not think it enough to
mark the Corks only, for many of the
Salts will deftroy the Marks upon the
Corks, and by that means leave you in the
Dark as to what they contain, unlefs
there are Papers alfo marked, to help you
out.

Make then an exadl Catalogue of them,
fetting down each Particular under a Number
correfpondent to that on the Bottle it is in -,
whereby you will at any time find readily
whatever Solution you want to examine.
You may range your Bottles in what Order
you think fit : that in this Treatife is per-
haps as good as any.

Thefe Preparations will keep good
many Years; and when any Phial is almoft
out it may eafily be repleniflied, fo as to
preferve' your Collection always compleat.
You mufl not expedt to fill all your Bt)ttles
immediately; forty or fifty forts will be
perhaps as many as you will foon be
able to procure ; and therefore, if you fhall
be fatisfied with thern, your Box may be
contrived in the above Manner to contain
only fome fuch Number. But a diligent
Enquirer will be able to add to them frona
Time to Time, and would not willingly be
limited in his Refearches. Suppofe how-
ever

Solutions (f Salts^ 35

ever you have only forty Sorts 3 by diffe-
rent Mixtures and Compofitions of them
with one another, you may produce many
thoufands of Subjedls for Examination, and
be continually difcovering new and won-
derful Configurations : from this rich Store,
by combining different Salts, and in diffe-
rent Quantities, innumerable Varieties may
be formed, as from the different Arrange-
ments of the twenty-four Letters of the
Alphabet, all the Sounds of Language may
be fignified.

Here is an unbounded Field, which I
only point out to the Curious, without de-
fcribing the Beauties I have frequently met
with in my Rambles there. 'Tis enough
for me to fhew the Configurations and
Cryflals of Salts fimply and fingly ; I re-
commend to thofe who have moreLcifure, to
examine them all differently combined.

Solutions thus prepared will be always
ready to fhew the Configurations forming
under the Obferver's Eye; a Sight no one
can behold without Admiration and De-
light. It would likewife be very defirablc
to preferve the Configurations themfelves, •
after they are compleat and perfedt, or in
their diflferent Stages : but this in general
cannot be done, for much the greater Part
of them are broken and deflroyed by the
Air foon after they are produced. A few
however are durable, and may be kept a

D 2 long

36^ DireBions for colleBing

long while in good Perfedlion, if another
Slip of Glafs, of the fame Length and
Breadth, be placed over that the Configura-
tions are formed upon, with the Interpo-
fition only of a very thin Slice of Cork
between them at each End, to guard the
Configurations, by keeping the GlafTes
afunder, from being any ways rubbed or
damaged. A little Glew, flrong Gum, or
fticking Pafte, applied to each Side of the
Slices of Cork, will faflen the GlafTes fo
well together as to make of them a fort
of Boxes or Cafes, including the Configura-
tions, and defending them from any Injury,
if the open Sides be fhut up, by pafling a
narrow a Slip of Paper over them : but then
Pin-holes mufl be made through^ the Paper;
for if the Air be intirely excluded, the Con-
figurations will foon decay.

I have now by me feveral of thefe
little Cafes of Glafs, containing Configu-
rations and Cryfi:als that appear nothing at
all the w^orfe for keeping, though they
have been prepared at leaft four Years.
Thefe are always ready to fhew in a Mi-
nute, without any farther Trouble, and are
a very pretty and curious Set of Objed's«
The GlafTes for them are all cut by the
Glazier of the fame Size exadtly, viz, one
Inch and three Quarters long, and almofl
an Inch broad. They mail be free from
'Scratches, Flaws, or Air Bubbles,

The

Solutions of Salts, ^i^j

The Salts whole Configurations or Cry-
ftals may be thus kept, are common Salt of
fome kinds, not of all : Ahmi^ fome of
the Vitriols, Sacchanim Sattirniy Efis Veneris^
Salt of Amber, and fonic others, vvliieh
are eafily known by their not breaking or
diflblving away fooa after they are pro-
duced.

CHAP. VII.

. A general Rxplanatioii of the Plates, ivith
fome farther Thoughts on the Cryfals aud
Configurations oj Salts.

HAVING declared already what I
mean by Configurations, and Q^iven
a full Account how to prepare fahne Sub-
ftances for that Purpoie, and to makea
proper Colledion of them, little more Is
requifite at preient than to explain briefly
what the following Plates defign.

Each Figure reprefents a Drop of the
Solution of that Subitance whole Name it
bears; and is calculated to lliew iht Procefs
of its Appearances, from the firft beginning
to crydalize about the Edges, to th.e fr.ll
and com.pleat Concluiion of all its fe\ eral
Changes.

As Heat excites Allien, and fets the Inline
Particles in Motion, thofe Particles, whilil

D 3 float-

3 8 thoughts on Gonfiguraiions and Cryjials.

floating in a heated Fluid, may be fuppofed
to have a confiderable Liberty of exerting
their attradlive and repulfive Properties, as
they approach each other in their Fits of Re-
pulfion or Attradlion -, or according to the
fortuitous Appoiition or Approach of their
attrad:ive or repulfive Points each to other ;
whence a Commotion muft neceffarily arile,
fome attrad:ing and others repelling^ till fuch
time as the Particles can difpofe them-
feives in the Order and Figure that muft
iieceffarily refult from their original Forms
and Properties : which Forms and Proper-
ties being fuppofed unalterable, how often
fbever they are diiTolved or feparated, they
will conftantly unite again in the very fame
Manner ■^. And accordingly, in many of the
following Solutions innumerable little MafTes
may be difcovered, hurrying about moft
violently, and in all Dired:ions, before there
appears the leafl: Tendency towards ihooting
into regular Figures,

The Solution being: more fhallow, and
the Attradion greater^ about the Edges of
the Drop than near its Middle, the floating
Particles of Salt tend towards the Edges
in great Abundance, and begin there^ moft

com-

* Should the Particles wear away, or break in Pieces, the

Nature of Things depending on thejn would be changedo
Water and Earth compofed of old worn Particles and Frag-
ments of Particles, would not be of the fame Nature and
Tex-tura now, with Water and Earth compofed of intire
Particles in the Beginning. Iskvjton''^ Opticks, p. 376,

T^boughts on Configurations and Cryjials . 3 9

commonly, to combine in fuch Cryftals
as are peculiar to the Subjed: ; the Side
and Angles of which Cry dais formed with-
in the llirrounding Fluid are regular, po-
liflied, and tranfparcnt : and their oppo-
fite Sides would be the fame alfo, were
they not terminated by the Edges of the
Drop, and unable to form themfelves upon
the dry Glafs.

This ufually is the Beginning of the
Procefs ; and thus far the Power of Attrac-
tion feems ahnoft wholly to prevail: a
Power whereto Cryflalization appears al-
moft intirely owing j Repulfion, on the
contrary, may be deemed the hrft Agent
in producing Configurations : or to fpeak
more plainly. Attraction, by making all the
Particles within a certain Circumference
move towards fome certain Points, and
combine together in a regular Order, pro-
duces Cryftals; Repulfion, by pufliing them
outwards from fome certain Points, in a re-
gular Order, occafions Configurations, when
they are brought together again by Fits of
Attraftion.

Should it be objedled, that our Configu-
rations may alfo be produced by Attrac-
tion only, I mull prefume to think that is
fcarcely poflible ; for the Shoots that firft
appear do not only puih forwards vigcrouf y
in the Procefs, but divide and fubdivide into
innumerable Lines and Branches ; which

D 4 Divifion

40 1'houghfs on Configurations and Cryjlals.

Diviiion and Subdivifion feem directly con-
trary to the Efred: of an attradive Power 5
fince Attraction can hardly be fuppofed to
make Particles of the fame homogeneous
Matter feparate. 1 am however inclinable
to believe, that the Fits of Repuliion, which
pufh out the aforefaid Lines and Branches,
may be attended or immediately fucceeded by
Fits of Attradtion, laterally, in the Particles
compoiing them ; whereby the interme-
diate faline Particles difperfed in the Fluid
betv/een the faid Lines and Branches are at-
tra6led to the Sides, combine with, and
become a Part thereof. For was it other-
wife, when the Fluid is quite evaporated,
Particles of Salt would be found between
the Lines, which they are not in any Quan-
tity, Such a Propullion forwards and At-
trad:ion fide ways, at, or nearly at the fame
Jnflant of Time, may eafily be imagined, if
we fuppofe two oppofite Sides of the faline
Particles indued with an attraffive, and two
other oppofite Sides of the fame Particles in-
dued with a rcpulfive Property, in fome fuch
Sort, as every Ray of Light is confider'd by Sir
Jfaac Newton, in his Obfervations on the
double Refradion of Wand Cryftal, as hav-
ing * four Sides or Quarters, two whereof
pppofite to one another incline the Ray to
be refradled after one Manner, and the other
^wo oppofite Sides incline the Ray to be
fefradied after a different Manner.

Cryflalsi

* Ns'wtonh Opticks, p. 334.

thoughts on Configuratioris and Cry/lals. 4 1

Crydals and Configurations are frequently
fecn together in the lame Drop, and form-
ing at tlie fame Inllant. As fo.>n as the
Cryftals become difcernable by the Micro-
fcope, they are either Cubes, or Rhom-
boids, or Columns, or pyramidal, or trian-
gular, or fome other certain Figures ; and
to what Bignefs foever they may become
inlarged, they fliew, from their very hrfl:
Appearance, the fame Sides and Angles that
are feen afterwards when at their utmoffc
Size, no Alteration of Figure attending their
Increafe in Bulk But the Configurations
change their Forms every Moment, pulliing
forwards in new Shapes continually, and
leavino- no Refemblance of the Forms that
prefented firfl: : infomuch, that no better
guefs can be made (in a Subjedl never
before examined) what Configuration will
be form'd thereby, from feeing its firfl
beginning Shoots, than from feeing the
Germen or feminal Leaves of an unkncwa
Seed one can pafs a Judgment what other
Leaves, Flowers and Fruit fuch unknown
Seed {hall produce.

From the firfl pufhing forward of the
Salt there is a continual feeming progref-
five Motion and Change of Figure ^-^ : but

as

* Notwith (landing this Manner of Expreflion, in Con-
formity to the Appearance^ of Things, I luppofe the Con-
figurations of Salts are produced according to certain Laws
of Repuhion and Attradion, whereby the floating Parti-
cles

42 thoughts on Configurations and CryJIah.

as Motion can not be pid:ured, I have en-
deavoured to fupply that Defed:, by repre-
fenting, in feveral Parts of the fame Drop,
the different Stages or Appearances that
are moil remarkable during the whole Pro-
cefs, and by giving a particular Account
thereof in the Defcription.

The cryftaline Shoots that prefent about
the Edges of the Drop demand our firft
Examination j and it is advifable from their
very Beginning to keep the Eye conflantly
iixt upon them, and to obferve their Growth,
In feme Subjefe the Configurations pufh
out from thefe Cryftals into an Infinity of
regular Branchings; but in others, and thofe
efpecially of the mineral Kind, the Cry-
ftals ihooting from the extreme Edges in-
to the ambient Fluid prefer ve themfelves
feparate and entire, even through all the
Changes that happen, and by their Tranf-

parency

cles of Aich Salts become arranged in certain determiued
Figures, according to their refpedlive Kinds, by Juxta-pofi-
tion. Accretion or Apportion, and not by any Protruiion or
ihooting forwards in the Manner of the Growth of Plants.
And therefore though ^r<?'Xu?«o-, JJjootingout^ h-anching^ pro-
truding^ and fuch like Terms, are frequently made ufe of in
the Courfe of this Treatife, in order to avoid Circumlocu-
tion, and to render the Subjefl more familiar ; the Readeris
^^{uQ^ to take Notice and remember, that fuch like Expref-
iions are not to be underftood literally in the ftrift Senfe of
the Words, as fuppoling any thing fimilar to Vegetation ;
riny more than among People v/eli fkill'd in Aftronomy the
Sun is fuppofed aftually to move from Eaft to Well, to rife in
a Morning and to go dov/n at Night, though they frequent-*
\y fpeak of its moving fo, of its x\{\VLg^ and its going down,
in conformity to common Appearance.

Gems their Prodiiclion and Colours, ^j

parency and poliflied Sides and Angles,
bear a near Refemblancc, when enlarged
by the Microlcope, to the Shootings (in the
Fill u res ot Rocks and Mines) of Spars,
Cryitals, and feveral Kinds of angular and
figur'd Gems, and ferve moreover to point
out after what Manner iiich Bodies are alfo
probably formed in a furrounding Fluid *",
and poffibly too of fimilar Materials : for
there feems nothing unreafonable in fup-
pofing, that different mineral Salts, diflblv-
ed in fome Fluid exfuding from Rocks
or Mines, and tinged wdth metalline Mat-
ter, may, through the wonderful Chemi-
miftry of Nature, fuppiy the different Sub-
ftance, Hardnefs and Colour of Spars, Cry-
ftals, and precious Stones ; in fome fuch
like Way as their Refemblances are pro-
duced from the Solutions of fuch Salts J,
Nor are the Hardnefs of precious Stones,
their being void of any faline Tafte, and

their

* Cryftals and all angular Bodies concrete In the Midfl
of a refolvent Fluid or Menftruum. The Fluid wherein
Cryftal is concreted, is to Cryilal as common Water is
to Salt. (Steno's Frcdromusy Eng. Edit. Page 64.) That is,
the Cryftal Particles arefeparated and float in fuch Fluid, as
the Particles of Salt dc, when diffolved in common Water.

X Mines, or Beds of iMetal, r.re met with conftantly, if
fought after, near the Places where precious Stones are
found. The Ruby is fnppofed by fome to take its Tcint
from Gold, by others from Iron ; the Emerald and Sapphyre
from Copper, but by different Menftrua; the Topaz from
Lead or Iron, Granates from Iron, cffr. and a Mixure
cf tv^'o or more Teints from different Metals may poffibly
give Colour to the Amethyft, the Hyacinth, the Opal, t^c.
A greater or lefs Proportion of metalline Matter may alfo
fender the Gem deeper or paler, harder or foftcr,

WhcQ

44 thoughts on GemSi

their IndlfTolubility, fufficient Objections
againft Salts being the Bafis of Diamonds,
Rubies, Emeralds, Granates, (Sc. lince it
is obfervable, that Glafs, in whofe Compo-
lition Salt is a principal Ingredient, proves
alfo undiflblvable, is indued with a con-
fiderable Degree of Hardnefs, and (as its
component Salts cannot ad: unlefs diffolv-
ed) is confequently infipid, or rather ab-
folutely taftelefs.

Whoever ftiall pleafe to repeat thefe Ex-
periments after me, will I believe be fa-
tisfied, that the Cryftals lliooting from a
Solution of diftilled Verdigreafe, which
is a Vitriol loaded with Copper 5 thofe Cry-
ftals I mean whofe Roots are at the Ex-
tremity of the Drop, and their Points in the
ambient Fluid, refemble nearly the fhoot-
ings of Emeralds both in Figure and Co-
lour : that the Cryftals of Ens Veneris <, a
Preparation of Iron, wonderfully emulate
the Topaz, <cf^. No

When the faline Particles combine, without any metal-
line Admixture, the Concrete appears colourlefs, and
probably forms pure Cryftals or Diamonds. The extreme
Hardnefs and Luftre of the Diamond refult perhaps from
the almoft abfoluteHomogeneity andPurity of its component
Particles ; whofe Sides or Planes having admitted no foreign
Particles between them, touch in many Points, and be-
come thereby almoft infeparable. Saline Particles in fuch
Purity meet, however, but very feldom, and in fmall Quan-
tity : but as mineral Salts abound almoft every where, and
efpecially about Rocks and Mines, they frequently ap-
pear in Shoots or MafTes, blended more or lefs with talcky
or other Matter, and probably conftitute our Cryftals^j
^pars, l£c.

their Produ^lmu and Colours, 4 j

No Kinds of Matter that we know of,
except Salts, have a Tendency to fuch-like
Figures : but Salts when at Liberty alwavs
appear in them. The Tranfparency of
Salts is alfo another Property almofl: pecu-
liar to themfelves and the Bodies we are
fuppoling them to compofe : and therefore,
notwithltanding in thefe our hafty and im-
perfed; Experiments the Shoots are fo mi-
nute as to require a Microfcope to difcern
them, and fo tender that the Air in a
fhort Time deftroys them, may not Nature,
who proceeds furely, though fxowly, pro-
duce Bodies from a better Combination
of the fame Kinds of Materials, of Size pro-
portionable to the Quantity of fuch Mate-
rials, limilar in Figure and Colour, hardly
feparable and of long Duration ?

I have dwelt the longer on this firft
Part of the Procefs (which the Drawings
point out in the Shootings of dijlilkd Verdi-
greafcy Plate II. i, i : in thofe 01 Alum, Plate
\ll,l?b: and oi E71S Veneris, Plate IV^. a a)
fince every Obferver muft be highly pleafed,
to behold the beautiful Appearances of Eme-
ralds, Diamonds, &c, riling as it were from
their native Bed, forming their regular Sides
and Angles under his Eye, and glittering
with a Brilliancy and Colouring hardly to
be imagined.

What has been hitherto defcribed re^i*
•gards the Figures only that proceed from

#

46 thoughts on Configurations and Cryjiah.
and feem rooted to the very Extremity of

the Drop. -The detached Cryftals that

appear forming within the fame come next
under Examination : and thefe, from their
very firft becoming difcernable, being en-
compafTed on every Side by a Fluid re-
plete v/ith faline Particles, (which, fwim-
ming at Liberty, are attracfted or repelled
from every Quarter, till the Points of greateft
mutual Attrad:ion meeting in Contad:, com-
bine according to their refpedlive Figures -f- :)
Thefe, I fay, have all their Sides moft
commonly regular and compleat, with fuch
Number and Difpofition of polifh'd Planes
and Angles as fully diftinguifh from what
Salt they are derived. — Thefe are the Cry-
ftals that were before mentioned to retain
their Figure however their Size inlarges :
They, and they alone, are properly to be
termed the Cryftals of fuch Salt, and many
of them in Elegance of Form and native
Luftre excel the Workmanfliip of the moft
expert Jeweller. Thefe are intended to
be reprefented in the Alum Solution at f^
and in that of Rns Veneris at b b. They
are alfo fhewn again by themfelves, and in
a larger Size, under thofe and fome of the
©ther Drawings.

f All folSl Cryflals, Gems, and other Bodies that have
regular Planes and Angles, without an Appearance of be-
ing broke off from any Root or Stem, are probably foriri*
cd in the fame Manner.

thoughts on Confgiirat'iom and Cryjlals. 47

After the Cryftals about the Edges are
grown large, and thofe farther within the
Drop have Hkewife pretty nearly attained
their full Size ; in the Solutions I mean
where fuch Cryftals do form; for feveral
Kinds produce Configurations but no Cry-
ftals ', and, on the contrary, in fome few,
'ciz, of Sal Gem, common Salt, ^c. though
abundance of Cryftals are produced, no
Configurations at all appear : After, I fay,
the Cryftals are formed, the Configurations
begin to fhoot, proceeding fomewhat flow-
ly at the firft : but they quicken by De-
grees, and dart at laft, in many Subjedls,
quite over the whole Drop, as fwift as
Lightning ; and that efpecially if the Drop
has been too much or over fuddenly heat-
ed. Therefore when the Configurations ^^
cnce begin, the Eye fhould never be taken »P
off, till they are intirely finiflied. Some
Defcription of them is given under each
particular Subjecft, and they are reprefented
in the Drawings, as the third Stage of the
Procefs, fignified by c, D, f, F, G, in the
Alum Drop, and by c and d in the Di-op of
FuJis Veneris.

Thefe Configurations are no lefs con-
flant in their Forms than the Cryftals are,
infomuch that each Subject is cafily di-
ftinguilhed by them. They feem compofed
likewife of the fame tranfparent (hining
Particles: but the Figures they produ<2e
4 arc

4^ Human Kno'wledge very zmperfe5i,

are fo extremely diflferent, that every con-
fiderate Obferver muft judge them owing
to feme very different Property in Nature. —
I have ventured to mention Attrad:ion
and Repulfion, as two Principles that we
may fuppofe concerned in producing thefe
different Appearances, but am very far from
being obftinate in this Opinion, or un-
wilhng to recede from it, whenever any
more probable Caufe can be afligned. I
am fufficiently fenfible how liable we are
to be miftaken, and how very little we
know even of the moft common Things.
The very Elements that are continually
about us, the Fire, the Water, the Air we
breathe, and the Earth we tread upon, have
many Properties beyond our Senfes to reach,
or our Underftanding to comprehend : and
when we imagine we know any one thing
perfectly, I am afraid we flatter and de-
ceive ourfelves very grofly. It is our Hap-
pinefs, hovv^ever, and our Duty, to beftow
fome Time and Pains in making ourfelves
acquainted with the Productions and Changes
that Providence continually brings about
in a regular and conftant Manner. We
are able to fee Effeds, though their Caufes
are beyond our Knowledge : but as no
Effedl can be produced without fome Caufe,
when we behold Order, Harmony, and
Beauty arife out of Confuiion, by means
of certain adlive and unalterable Properties,

where-*

I' bought s on ConJ!giiratto72S andCryJlah. 49

wherewith the Author of Nature has in-
dued the original Particles of Matter; though
we cannot underfland the mechanical
Operation of thefe Properties, or know:
really what they are or can perform, we
fliould raife our Contemplations and Ado-
ration to that Eternal, Omnipotent, Supreme
Firlt Caufe, who is incomprehenfible in all
his Works : and here, perhaps, here only,
our Ignorance may commendably become
the Mother of our Devotion.

In fliort, if the Cryftals of faline Sub-
rtances are wonderful, their Configurations
are infinitely more fo, : their Variety and
Beauty no Words or Language can poflibly
exprefs ; and trying to give the Pidures
of them is like endeavouring to paint
the Luftre of a Diamond, or the Bright-
nefs of the Sun-fliine. mm

It happens in fome Kinds of Solutions,
that after the firft Cryftals are form.ed, the
Configurations perfefted, and w^hen every
thing feems over, and all is quiet, other*
new Configurations, and Cryftals too, pre-
fent themfelves, in Figures very different
from the former, and what probably are
owing to Salt of another Kind that was
latent in the Mixture.

CHAP.

[50]
C H A P. VIII.

Of Gem-Salty Sea-Salty and Spring-Salt.

t^EM-Salt diffolved in warm Water, and
^"^ a Drop applyed to the Microlcope on a
Slip of Glafs, either holding it over the Fire
for a little while to haften the Experiment,
or leaving the Water to evaporate at leifure,
affords the feveral Figures that appear in the
iinl Plate N^ L

Sea- Salt treated in the like Manner pro-
duces Cryflals as at N'' 11.

The Figures of Spring-Salty or * Bajket-
Salty obtained by the fame Method, are
ihewn at N^ III.

The Figures of thefe three Salts differ
very little -, each of them producing Bodies
of the like Forms ; 'viz, folid Cubes,
fquare Plates, and hollow Pyramids, hav-
ing Safes that are either exad: Squares, or
Redangles, and whofe floping Sides dimi-
niili gradually upwards by a kind of Steps,
fome terminating in a Point, and others
appearing truncated, or ending with plane
Surfaces. Each Kind of thefe Salts does
not however produce the fame Figures m
equal Plenty, for Gem- Salt affords moft
Variety^ Sea-Salt abounds chiefly with

thofe

* This does not mean that all Salt made from Springs h
Bajket-Salt, but only that our Bajket-Salt is one kind of
Salt nude from Springs,

Rocky Sprtfig, arid Sea-Salt. 5 1

ihele two Figures N° II. and Spr'mg-Salt
with thofc at N" III.

Moll Writers rcprefent the Cryftals of
thcfe Saks as Cubes -, and fuch in Truth
they feem originally to be : I mean when
io minute as jull: to become diftinguifhablc
by the greatell Magnifier : large MafTes of
Sal'Gc??!, and fomctnnes of Sea and Sp?l?ig~
^alt are {^^n in cubical or red:angular
Figures, made up without doubt of innu-
merable minute Cubes. But in all Exami-
nations by the Miciofcope of the Solutions
oi thefe Salts, the Bodies that form and
grow under the Eye are, in the general,
not Cubes, but hollow Pyramids : though a
Prepoffeffion that the Cryftals of fuch Salts
are Cubes, makes thefe Figures, even under
Infpecflion, often imagined fo to be: for
the fquare Out-line, which is only the Bafe
of an hollow Pyramid (if great Attention
be not employed) is apt to give the Idea of
a Cube : and the different Ranges or Steps,
which by a gradual Diminution upwards
compofe the floping Sides of the Pyramid,
are eafily millaken, from their great Tranf*
parcncy, to be no other than Lines upon
the Surface of the Cube. Indeed a tew
Cubes are feen now and then amongft the
other Forms, but their Number is far too
fmall to conclude the general Figure from :
thofe very Cubes in fome Pofitions have

E 2 likewife

52 "Rock^ Sprmg, and Sea-Salt.

likewife the Appearance of regular Hexai-
gons, as in Plate I. N° I. /.

I have examined various Species of thefe
Salts from different Parts of the World, and
particularly feveral brought from Egypt y
Hungary, Germany, &c. by my worthy and
ingenious Friend Dr. Richard Pocock, Arch-
deacon of Dublin, and F. R. S, which
tho' red, brown, white, &c, and feemingly
of very different Contexture, fome appear-
ing fibrous, others fparry, talcky, &c, yet
when diiTolved and examined, much the
greateft Part of the regular Bodies produced
in them all were of the fame general Fi-
gure, /. e. hollow Pyramids-, with little
farther Difference, than that fome were
more tranfparent and fharper at the Top
than others. It may therefore reafonably
be concluded, that an hollow Pyramid,
either pointed or flat, is the general Figure
of all Fojil, Sea and Spring- Salts, when
after being diiTolved, and a fmall Degree
of Heat given, their Particles are brought
together, and unite again according to the
Order and Dilpoiition of Nature : which
hollow Pyramid is compofed of minute
Cubes moil regularly and wonderfully com-
bined *. And this has been demonilrated

even

* Dr. Bownrig^ obferves, in his very curious Treatife
of the An of making Common Salt 3 p. Gy. That when by
a very gentle Exhalation of "Water from common Salt, it

is

Rockf Sprvig, ami Sca-Salf. 53

even to the naked Eye by the Salt made
after Mr. 'Thomas Lo^wrulcs's new Method,
where Muhitudes of fuch regular pyrami-
dal hollow Bodies may be found, compofed
as it were of a Number of little Stairs ; and
fo large, that each Side of their fquare
Bafe is at leaft a Quarter of an Inch in
Length "f*.

None of thefe Salts afford any Branch-
ings out : the Appearances round the
Edges of the Drop, when Heat is apply'd,
being nothing elfe but a Congeries of fallne
Particles hurried together with very little
Reg>ilarity, and producing no new Forms :
for which Reafon thefe Combinations are
not reprefented in a Drop, as all that llioot
into Figures more different are. But not-
withftanding the general Shape of thefe
Bodies is nearly the fam^e, there are parti-
cular Differences very well worth obferving,
which the Drawings endeavour to exprefs.

E 3 P L x^ T E

is fufFered to flioot into its true Form, its Cryftals are found
of a cubical Figure of various Sizes : and many of thefe
fmaller Cryftals are united together into hollow Pyramids
with a fquare Bafe. Thefe Pyramids are truncated, beincr-
not finifhed at the Top, but having there fixed a Cube of
Salt of a more than ordinary Bigncfs.

t Mr. Lo-cV7ides fays <' in the Salt made by the Sun, as
** well as by my way, you will never fail of feeing very
** many little Pyramids, which are compofed of a Parcel of
** fmall cubical Grains piled up in a moil eraft Order, and
*' cemented together with wonderful N:::.ty : and the
*' Crowns of thefe Pyramids are always Cu^es < { ?. much
** larger Size than any of the r^fl.'* . Vid. Brine Salt ith-.
pro-v''dj p. 16.

54- Figures of Gem-SalL

PLATE I. N° I.
Figures /j/'Sal- Gemm^e^ or Rock-Salt,

a- A fquare pyramidal hollow Body, fome-
what opake, whofe four Sides are
Hoping Triangles, and meet in a Point
^t Top.

1^ - A Body with four equal Hoping Sides^^
terminated by a Plane at about half the
Height of the former : not much
tranfparent, but hollow.

^ - A Body vi(mg about the Height of the
lafta in the Manner here fne wn, an4
very tranfparent, except as the Line^
imply.

d- h fquare thin Plate^ exceedingly tranf-
parent.

* - An hollow Pyramid, whofe Bafe is z
Redlangle, and whofe Sides are flop-
ixig and terminate in a Ppint ; the
Vi^hole femi^tranfoarent.
f" A narrower hollow Re6i:angie, with
floping Sides not much tranfparent,
rifmg about half as high as the pre-
ceding^ and then ending in a fiat Sur-
face that is very tranfparent.

g - Another hollow Figure, having a rec3:-
angular Bale, very tranfparent, with
lloping SidcvS as in the Pid:ure.

i6~An

Figures of Sea- Salt. 5^

h ' hn hollow Body, who fe Top is a large
traiifparcnt Square, and whole Sides
are darkiih In the Middle, but very
tranfparent at the Ends, whereby the
four Corners become alfo tranfparent.

I - A very pretty tranfparent truncated pyra-
midal Figure, whofeTop is alfo a tranf-
parent Square, and whofe four Corners
appear to open and feparate.

y^ - A folid Cube, femi-tranfparent.

/-Another Cube, which by its Pofition,
if carelefly examined, will probably
be miftakenfor an Hexagon.

;;; - A fquare Plate of fome Thicknefs, but
tranfparent: its Situation makes it feem
a Rhombus.

;7;2 - Two oblong Plates, extremely thin and
tranfparent, with a Spot in the Midft
of each.

PLATE I. N^ ir.

Figures of Sea-Salt.

0 - A fquare Pyramid, hollow, and pretty
tranfparent, wherein a Kind of Steps
appear gradually leflening upwards.

p - Another Figure about half the Height
of the preceding, whofe Top is a very
tranfparent fquare Plane, and whofe
four floping Sides are graduated and
confiderably tranfparent.

E4 PLATE

5 6 Hollaw Pyramids and Cubes^

PLATE I. W III.
. Figures ^Sprii^g-Salt.

After the Defcrlptions already given, 'tl^
needlefs to fay more of the four following
Figures q, r, Sy t^ than that they alfo are
hollow pyrarnidal tranfparent Bodies, with
fuch different Graduations as themfelve§
pretty tolerably reprefeat.

V,. 'z^—Two of the large hollow Pyramids
of Mr. 'Lawndes^ Salt, drawn in. fuch a
perfpedtii^e Ni^"^ as may beft exprefs
their re'4l Figure j pach having a fquare
Bafe, and four triangular Sides that are
pearly equal. ?4any fine Lines appear run^
ping acrpfs thefe Sides parallel to the Bafe,
which on a ilrid; Infpedion, are found
to be a regular Graduation of Steps, leflen-
ing from the Bottom upwards. Thefe Py-
rarni^s do not commonly end in Points, but
are terminated by a cubic Figure; each Cor-
ner of their Bale is alfo frequently fupport-
€d by a Cube, but oi a fmaller Si2?e^ and
fall lefler Figures of the fame Shape appear
along the linear Edges, in number equal to
|he Steps, and clohng the Angles wherq
they join. There are Graduations within-
fide thefe Pyramids correfpondent to thofe
yvithout, like the Underwork of a Pair
pf Stairs. The Size here exhibited is
' . ' ' ' • hut

A Deception by the Micro/cope. 57
bill little larger than that of the real Bodies
.they were drawn from.

It is very well worth remarking, that
amongll: the many pyramidal Figures pre-
senting themfelves in a Drop of the Solu-
tion of thefe Salts, every one feems to ftand
ered: upon its hollow Bafe, and appears,
when under Infpedtion by the Micro-
icope, exaiftly in the fame Manner repre-
fcnted in the Plate: but this is a Deception;
for in double Microfcopes compounded of
three convex ClaiTes after the ufual Manner,
all the Parts of an Objedt are feen invert-
ed; that is, the Top appears at Bottom,
the left Side on the right, &c. The Lights
and Shades being alfo inverted, the finking
Places appear to rife, and the rifing Places
to fink in : fo that in Truth the hollow
Bafe of the Pyramid is really uppermcfl
and next the Eye, tho' it feems to be quite
otherwife. And in Confirmation of this,
I was affured by Mr. Lowndes y that In the
making his Salt, nothing is more common
than to fee the Pyramids forming upon the
Surface of the Brine, and always with their
truncated Ends downwards *.

We

• We are told in the Memoirs cf the E.oyal Academy of
S.ciences for the Year 1700, that Monfieur Homberg (hewed
a little Pyramid of Salt, f.rmed in a Cryftalization. It
was but low in Proportion to its Bafe, hollow within, and
its Bafe v.a:- uppermoil during the Time of its Formation;
which Monfieur Homberg ti.us accc untb for. There was
formed, fays he, at firft, a little Cube of Salt (the Figure
Salt naturally afF(?as) on the Surface of the f;^lted Water.

This

58 Salt nvhence derived, and how diffufed-

We begin our Experiments with that
native foflile Salt, ufaally called Rock-Salty
from its Place of Growth, and from its
Clearnefs Sal-Gem -y as it is probably the
Principle or Baiis of feveral other Salts.

Sea Water owes its Saltnefs moft likely
to vafl: Quanitities of this Salt diffolved there-
in; which being extrad:ed by different
Methods, becomes either Bay-'Salt, or what
we commonly call Kitchen-Salt : and Springs
running through or over Beds thereof^ and
becoming faturated therewith, afford by
Boiling and Evaporation all our Inland or

Ba/ket"

This Cube did not fink, though heavier than the fait Water,
any more than a Needle if laid on Water gently would do,
and for the very fame Reafon ; for when a Needle is placed
in fuch a Manner on Water, a little Hollow is made about
it, filled v/ith Air only, in which it lies as in a little boat ;
becaufe the Bulk of the little Hollow and Needle together
is lighter than Water of the fame Dimenfions. A fimilar
Hollow was formed about this Cube of Salt, which enter-
ed a little into the Water without fmking ; its upper Sur-
face was dry, and rofe ab ve the Surface in the Hollow,
though not fo high as the general Surface of the Water
round it. Other Cubes of Sa?t cryftalizing along the four
Sides of this dry Surface bogan to form a fmall hollow
Square, of which the firft Cube compofed the Bafe. Thefe
little Cubes when joined together, becoming heavier than
the firfl fmgle one, and being encompafled with lefs Air in
Proportion, from their Jundlion to the firil by their inner
Sides, funk Hill deeper in the Water, that is, to the upper
Surface of the little Cubes which adhered to the firft Cube,
New Cubes of Salt adding themfelves to thefe funk the Bo-
dy yet lower down, and others continually joyning them af-
ter the fame Manner^ by enlarging the hollow Square, ftill
plunged it more and more, and formed the inverted Pyra-
mid ; which grov^ing at laft too heavy, funk to the Bottom
of the Water, and then increafed no more.

Salt whence derhed^ and how dlffi^fcd. 59

Bajket-Salt ; fo th'At, in Reality, Rock-Salty
Sea- Salt, iind Spring' Salt are derived from
one and the fame Original in the Bowels of
Rocks and Mountains ; and upon the ftrid:-
eft Examination, they feem to differ no
otherwife than by fome adventitious Mix-
tures, as our Experiments evince, by (hew-
ing that neither of them form any branch-
ed Configurations; but when their Particles
combine again after DifTolution, they con-
ftantly compofe the fam.e Kinds of pyra-
midal Cryftal Bodies, with Bafes that are
either exad; Squares with four equal Sides,
or elfe having two oppofite Sides longer than
the other two, but always making a right-
angled Figure.

This Salt is conveyed by Springs and
Rivers where-ever their Waters can find a
PafTage. Its fineft Particles rifing with Ex-»
halations from the Sea and other Waters,
are likewife difperfed univerfally, and fa-
turate the Surface of the whole Earth : where
entering the Rcots of Plants they promote
Vegetation, help to compofe their folid
Parts, afcend with their Juices, and, ac-
cording to their Mixture with them, pro-
duce that amazing Variety of Taftes, Smells,
and other Qualities, Some of this may be
recovered in its original Form by Art from
mofi: Kinds of Vegetables, while the reft
becomes fo changed by being blended with
other Subflances, as to appear in the Shoots

pr

6o 'The Nature and ufeful Properties of Salt.

or Cryftals peculiar to each Sort of Plant,
and probably conftitutes its effential Salt*

It is alfo taken continually into the Sto-
machs of Animals, their Food abounding
with it, and affording them proper Nutri-
ment by the Means thereof. It diffolves in
and circulates with their Blood and Hu-
mours, and becomes fo highly fubtilized by
the Heat and Action of an animal Body,
that the greateft Part of it is rendered vola-
tile, and can hardly be reduced again into
its original Figure, though fome of it may
always be foand unaltered in the Blood,
Urine, &c. And the Fertility which Dung
produces in barren Soils is owing to the
Abundance of it contained therein : for
though Salt in its natural State is prejudicial
to Vegetables, it becomes fo tempered after
having paffed through the Bowels of living
Creatures, and been intimately mingled
with their putrifying Fsces, that it caufes
them to thrive exceedingly.

No Menftruum is yet found to diffolve
Gold^ unlefs one of the Salts we are treat-
ing of be an Ingredient therein ; they be-
ing the only knov/n Diflblvents of Gold, as
Nitre is of Silver : but on the contrary.
Common Salt, Rock-Salt, or Spring-Salt,
mixed with j^qiia Fortis or Sprit of Nitf^,
will prevent its diffolving Silver, though
fuch Mixture proves the readieil Diffolvent
of Gold.

The

^be Nature ajld ufcfulFroperiks of Salt, 6 1

The peculiar Excellence of thefe Salts
for the Prcfervatlon of Flefh, Fifli, Gfr. is
too well known to need Defcription ; and
their other extraordinary Virtues, when pre-
pared in different Ways, are too many to
be mentioned here. Glauber afferts, that
common Salt is the moll ufeful and moft
excellent of all the reft, beinor the Prin-
ciple whence all other Salts, either ^nown
or unknown, are chiefly derived, and may
by Art be produced. By a little Labour and
Fire, and the Addition of fome metallic
Sulphur, it may, he fays, be converted into
Alum orVitrioh by Fire, Air, and Sulphur,
into Salt-Petre ; by the Help of a fiercer Fire,
into an alkalious Salt, and by deflroying its
Acridity, into a Salt fit for inriching Land,
and extreamly ferviceable to fandy and
barren Soils *.

Common Salt diflblved in fharp Vinegar,
and a Drop thereof a little heated, fhoots
fom.e pretty Configurations from the Edges,
and affords Cryftals of the Figures juft now
defcribed, extremely clear and beautiful,
though fmaller than ufual. Thefe fre-
quently are joyned together with a curious
Variety of Compofition, which the Cryftals
of the fame Salt dilTolved in Water never
exhibit, for they commonly form feparate
and difpofed at Diftances from each other.

Diflblved

^ j Vid. De K^f. $a/ium, Amllel. p. 49*

62 ' Cryjlals of Nitre ^

Diflblved in Spirit of Wine it likewife
produces Configurations, but very different
from thofe in Vinegar, with Cryflals fmaller
than ordinary, and having little or no
Tranfparency.

Dr. Boerhaave fays, thefe three Species
of Salt diifolve alike in three Times and a
Quarter of their own Weight of Water J :
but I have found a confiderable Difference
in different Waters^ and in different Portions
of the fame Salt.

CHAP. IX.

Nitre, or Salt-Petre.

"^ H I S Salt being diifolved in Water,

a Drop of the Solution fhoots from

its Edges, with very httle Heat, into flattifh
Figures of various Lengths,exceedingly tranf-
parent, and with Sides that are flrait and
parallel. Thefe are {hewn in their diffe-
rent Degrees of Progreflion, at the Letters
a, by Cy dy Cy Plate I. N^. IV. where a
reprefents how they firft begin

Many of them appear cut Hoping at the
Ends down to a fharp Edge, in the Man-
ner of a Chiffel, and are fome wider and
others narrower. Several alfo are found

with

X Shaw's Bosrb, Chem. /. io6. Vol. I^

and its ConjjguraUo77s, 6j

with one Corner taken off obliquely, and
that in different Angles, leaving the other
Corner fometimcs quite a Point, and foinc-
timcs having a little Breadth.

After Numbers of thefe are formed, they
will often dilfolve again under the Eye and
intirely difappear ; but if one waits a little,
new Shoots will pufli out, and the Procefs
go on afrefli. Thefe firft Figures fometimes
inlarge only, without altering their Shape,
and fometimes form in fuch Sort as
the Drop reprefents ; but if the Heat has
been too great, they fhoot haftily into nu-
merous Ramiiications, very regular and
beautiful, but which we have not attempted
to draw, from the great Difficulty of do-
ing it. There feems all the while a violent
Agitation in the Fluid, and moft commonly
towards the Conclufion, a few Ocftaedra
(com>pofed of eight triangular Planes, or
two quadrangular Pyramids joined Bafe to
Bafe) appear ; which belong probably to
fome other Kind of Salt intermixed with
the Nitre : Pyramidal Figures of common
Salt are likewifc fometimes feen; and of thefe
I have now and then found the greateft Plen*
ty when the Nitre has fcemed moil white
and pure, which 1 pretend not to account
for, unlefs common Salt has been employed
to make it fo.

The regular Cryflals of Nitre are repre-
fented underneath the Drop, greatly mag-
nified

64 Cryjlah of Nitre y how obtained.

nified according to my Method of Exami-
nation, though indeed lefs than what may ba
found when large Quantities are prepared in
the common Way 5 and coniift of fix pa-
rallel Sides or Planes, which compofe Bo-
dies of different Lengths, and differently
terminated at the Ends. There is alfo a
confiderable Variety as to the Equality and
Inequality of thefe fix Sides. The moil
common Cryftals are fomewhat flat, and
have two broad parallel Planes oppofite to
one another, and four that are much nar-
rower 3 two of which [viz, one that goes
Hoping from the upper and the other from
the under Plane) meet on each Side^ and
conftitute a pretty fharp Edge. One End
of thefe is commonly cut off floping on
both Sides along its whole Breadth, but
feldom in the fame Angle. Vid. Fig. i.
Sometimes however there are four broader
Planes, and only two narrower; and now
and then the Sides are pretty equal, and
their Bafe is nearly an equilateral Hexagon.
The feveral Differences in the Drawing are
likewife to be met with, as well as fome
others, but the rareft as well as the prettieft
is that at Fig. 6.

The beft Way to obtain thefe Cryftals for
the Microfcope, is by faturating fome warm
Water in a Spoon with Nitre ; (not with
more however than it can perfedly diffolve)
when in a few Minutes little Concretions

will

Cryjlah of Nitre. 65

will be feen forming at the Bottom, wliich
being taken up on the Point of a Pc-nknife,
before they are grown too large, and placed
with a little of the Fluid on a Slip of Glafs,
will be found, if they are not broken by
the Removal, to have amongft them feme
or all of the Figures fliewn in the Drop,
and again repreftnted in a larger Manner
underneath the fame. And though the
Cryftals thus obtained are exceeding fmall,
they are much more intire, diftind:, and
true, than what by concreting in vaft Quan-
tities become Millions of Times bigger,
as they are frequently iztw in the Shops.
Amongft thefe too may be found many
Cryftals perfed; at both Ends, by having
been formed wholly detached in the fur-
rounding Fluid, whereas thofe v/e get by
any other Method are almoft conftantly
broken at one End, from their having been
fixed thereby to the Side or Bottom of the
Veflel they were formed in, or elfe tQ one
another.

PLATE I. N'^ IV.

T!he Cryjlah of Nitre.

1. The moft common Figure of Nitre--

Cryjlah y with one End broken off.

2. A Cryftal with both Ends perfect; one

in the ufual Form as above, the other
F cut

66 Cryjlah of Nitre.

cut off more obliquely, and compofing:
an hexangular Plane. The Sides of
this Column are four broader and
two narrower Planes, whereas the
preceding coniifted of two broader
and four narrower.

3. Another Cryflal, having one End a.

great deal floping and graduated, and
the other cut off at different Angles.

4. A Cryftal inclofed feemingly within^

another, and forcing its way out, by
burfling through the other's Side.

5. A Columns with fix equal or nearly equal

Sides: one End broken, and the other
forming an hexangular Pyramid, whofe
Sides are correfpondeot to thofe of the
Column.

6. A fhort hexangular equilateral Column,.

both whofe Ends are Pyramids, hav-
ing Sides that correfpond with thofcr
of the Column.
One Particularity in Nitre is, that its
Cryjflals are perforated from End to End *»,
all along, juft within the Corners where the
Planes interfedr; as may be proved in the
larger Shoots, by the Breath's paffing thro'
them ealily on blowing. Thefe Channels-
are pointed out in Figure 2, by the fix
Dots at its End; they are likewife {hewn
more perfe^flly at Fig. 7. which reprefents

part

# r-

ugliek Dtfc.fopra Is Fig. di Saliy p. 12,

Nitre what y and how obtained. 67

part of a Column with Hairs paffing thro*
its Perforations.

This Salt is found juft under the Turf
about Patnefs in the Northern Parts of the
Kingdom of Bctigal, and probably in other
Places thereabouts, whence it is brought
to us in great Abundance by the Ecji-
India Company "^^ : but all produced in Europe
appears either like a kind of Efflorefcence
adhering to Rocks and Walls, being what
the Ancients called Aphronit?'um, and
what is called by us Natural Salt-Petre, of
which the Quantity coUefted is but fmall ;
or is elfe extracted by Art from certain
Earths and Stones, the Ruins of old Build-
ings, the Dung of Pigeons, and the Excre-
ments and Urine of other Animals : the
Manner of doing which is related by feveral
Authors.

Examin'd chemically (and to ufe the
Chemift's Terms) it appears compounded
of a volatile acid Spirit, and a fi.xt alkalious
Salt. Such a Spirit the Air abounds with :
and this Spirit by penetrating into, and be-
coming incorporated and fixt by the alka-
lious Salts of Lime, and fome Sorts of Earth
and Stone, is probably the acftive Principle
that produces Salt-Pet?^e. It is alfo very
likely owing to the fame Principle, that Salt-

F 2 Petre

* Vid. WQoi-jcard'%.lUthod of FoJJJUy p. z^-

6S I^itre ivhat, ' and how obtained.

Petre may conftantly be obtained from the-
Mortar and Rubbiili of old Walls, which
have been long expofed to the Air 3 and that
the fame Materials, after being divefted of it
by Art, will afford a farther Quantity by
lying a few Years together. The extreme
Hardnefs of the Mortar in fome old Build-
ings, where it is found more difficult to be
broken than even the Bricks or Stones it
ferved to cement, feems likewife occafioned
by its being fo fully impregnated with this
Spirit -f- or Principle, that it becom.es in a
manner petrified : and the alkalious Salts
wherewith the Excrements of Animals
abound, ferve probably, in the like Manner,
to fix and embody the fame Spirit, and
conflitute Salt-Petre. Some have under-
taken to make it likewife from Lime, Pot-
Afhes, &c. but howfoever it be produced,
it may always be diftinguifhed by its hex-
agon ai Shoots.

Let us now confider what other Pro-
dudions of Nature appear in this hexago-
nal Figure; and we fhall find that all
Cryftals uolefs either il:raitened for Room

or

f May not what we call a volatile Spirit confift of Parti-
cles exceedingly minute, and of Ibme determinate Figure ;
whofe Property it is to repel each other, from certain Points,
in certain Direftions, and to certain DiHances ; whereby
they are unable to combine together, unlefs by penetrating,
mixing, and becoming embodied with other Matter, whofe
Pores they can ftrike into ? and may not their repulfive
Power be increafed by Heat or Motion i*

CoJifideratwns on Nitre. 69

or overcharged with foreign Matter, is con-
ftantly formed into Pyramids of fix Sides,
or into hexagonal Columns terminated with
fiich Pyramids, and refembling the Nitre
Shoot 5. And as thefe Cryftais flioot moft
commonly from Rocks of calcarious Stone,
may not their Form be owing to the fame
volatile Spirit, more flrongly fixed and
embodied, and compofing a more hard and
tranfparent Subflance, by an Admixture
with fome Matter different from that where-
with it compofes Nitre ? And if, injftead
of exfuding from Stones, and adhering
thereto by one End^ ufaally called a Root,
thefe Principles happen to concrete in fome
Fluid, or other foft Bed, where both Ends
are equally at Liberty to fafhion themfelves
according to the Inclination of their compo-
nent Particles, may w^e not fuppofe they
may then produce * thofe fparry or cry-
ftaline Pyramids, joyned Bafe towards Bafe
by the Intervention of an hexagonal Column
which are known by the Name of Buxioii
Diamo?idsy from the Place where found
moft plentifully ; and which in Figure re-
femble exad:ly the Shoot of Nitre 6 ?

The next moft remarkable Bodies of this
Kind of Figure are thofe of Snow, which

F 3 are

* Vid. IVood-ojardH Bijiory ofFoOlh, vol. I. p. 1 6 1. Thefe
Bodies are called hides by JUro-vcmd. See his Mujfaum,

70 An univerfal volatile acid Sfirkf

are always hexangular, or with fix Points*,
, nearly refembling the Bafe of the Column
of Nitre i, or thin Slices of fuch a Column
cut off tranfverfly : and as freezing is ufually
imputed to the Redundance of Nitrous
Particles in the Air, thofe who embrace
that Opinion will probably find little Diffi-
culty in fuppofing this Form of Snow oc-
cafioned by the fame Principle that gives an
hexagonal Figure to Nitre : and perhaps
they are not miftaken in fuch a Suppofition,
though there is fome Reafon to believe they
may be fo as to the Abundance of the Par-
ticles of Nitre they imagine exifting in the
Air,

The continual Perfpiration of growing
Vegetables, the Putrefacflion and DiSblution
of thofe that perifh over the Face of the
whole Earth, all which abound with vola-
tile acid Salts; the continual Exhalations
from Seas, Lakes, Rivers, and other Waters,
which carry alfo up with them abundance
of the fineft Particles of Mineral or Sea Salts,
the Steams and Vapours from Metals and
other Subftances, all thefe compofe together
the volatile acid Spirit v/herev^ith the Air is
filled, and which probably is the adlive
Principle that gives the Figure, and fupplies
Part of the Matter to Cryftals, Snow, and
Nitre.

But

■^ The Flakes found now ar.d then with twelve Points, are
probably two Flakes, whofe fiat Surfaces are ftuck tcge-

ti?r, Vv'ith their Rays alternately difpofed.

its wonderful Effe5ls, 71

But the Particles of this acid Spirit are
no more the Particles of Nitre, than Nitre is
the Gunpowder which it compofes by the
Addition of Sulphur and Charcoal. And
the Truth of this feems confirmed by the
Impoffibility of obtaining a fingle Grain of
real Nitre from any Quantity of Snow or Ice :
whereas Nitre being but little volatile, fome
of it certainly would be found if it was really
there. However, though no Nitre can b^
found, after the volatile Salts that link'd
the Particles of Water to one another are
driven out by Heat, and the Water becomes
fluid, it is obferved to be much harder, or
lefs fit to make a Lather with Soap, than it
was before its being frozen, from its retain-
ing fome fmall Portion of the acid faline
Particles, in the fame manner as any Water
may be rendered bard, by putting into it a
few Grains of common Salt, or a few Drops
of any acid Spirit.

'Tis probable thefe acid Spirits are pro-
duced every where 5 but being extremely
volatile, and eafily driven away by Heat,
they foon become diffipated in thofe hot
Regions, under, or nearly under the Sun's
dired: Rays, unlefs they are immediately
embodied by mixing with fome other Mat-
ter ; and confequently, thofe Countries
nearer the Poles, whereto they are driven
by the Sun's Heat, muft abound with them,
more or lefs, in proportion to the Ability or

.F 4 Inabi-

72 An iiniverfal volatile acid Spirit^

Inabitlity of the Sun's Rays to drive them
again from thence : and thefe extremely
minute and ad:ive Particles, being continu-
ally in Motion, ftrike into, penetrate, and
fix between the Pores of all Bodies capable
of receiving them. Thus, mixing with
faline Exfudations from, or certain Salts
contained in Earths, Stones, &c. they may
probably incorporate therewith, and con-
crete into the hexagonal Shoots of Cryftal 2
filiinp- up the Interftices of Water, and
becoming there v/ith embodied, they com-
pofe that hard Subftance v>^e call Ice -f- ;
which differs nothing from Cryftal in
Clearnefs, and perhaps would have the
like Form, did not the Quantity and Situa-
tion of the Fluid prevent it ; iince we
find that ¥/ater, faUing in fmall Drops, is
concreted v/ith the fame Particles into an
hexangular Figure.

Thefe Particles ftriking into the Bodies
of living Animals occafion the Senfaticn of
Cold : if their Quantity be great, they pro-
duce firft a fevere Pain, and then a Numb-
nefs, by impeding the Circulation of the Ani-
mal Fluids; and if they are not driven away
by H^^.t from Motion or other wife, or their
Quantity be much increafed, they ftop the
Circulations intirely, and bring on certain

Death :

f The freezing or fudden Change of Water into Ice,
gives the beft Idea, how Cryftal, Gems, &c. may be form'd,
and that too perhaps in a very fudden Manner.

its timiJerfid Effects, y\

Death : and animal dead Bodies frozen be-
come as hard as Stone. Hence it appears,
that freezing is not the Refult merely of the
Abfence of Heat, but is really owing to
fome adive and penetrating material Prin-
ciples, which by mixing with oiher Bodies
become thereby fixt: and the Exiflence of
fuch Principles in the Air is farther appa-
rent from the rufting of Metals, the Ero-
fion of Stone, Glafs, <£fr.

The Suppolition that Salt-Pefre is com-
pounded in great mealure of this fame vola-
tile acid Spirit exifting in the Air, is ftrength-
ened, not only by the manner of its Pro-
duction, but alfo from its ftriking the
Tongue, when tafted, with a pungent S^n.-
fation of Cold, like what this fame Spirit
in the Air gives : Moreover, a volatile acid
Spirit may be obtained from it in confider-
able Quantity, whofe Particles are fo adlive
and powerful, that they penetrate, disjoin,
and feparate the component Particles of all
Metals except Gold, as well as Stones and
moft other Bodies.

Suppofing fuch Spirit one of the chief
Principles of Salt-Pelre, may not its exceed-
ing Volatility, when fuddenly and violent-
ly excited to Action, by the Fire contained
in Sulpliur kindled by Charcoal, produce all
the prodigious Eiiects of Gunoowder ^}

and

* Vid. ^eries, p. 26,

74 Properties of Nitre.

and alfo by certain Mixtures in the Air,
become the Caufe of Thunder, Lightning,
and other wonderful Phaenomena ?

The foregoing Conjed:ures, into which
I fear I have been led too far by my Sub-
jedl, may 'tis hoped be forgiven, as they
are fubmitted intirely to the Conlideration
of better Judges, without the leaft Delign
of impofing them on any one. — But to
return to the known Properties of Sali^
Petre.

It is faid to be the only Diffolvent of Silver,
as Sea-Salt is of Gold: for Silver is diflblve-
able in no Menftruum yet known, unlefs
there be Nitre in it; and yet if Salt be added
thereto, the Mixture will no longer diffolve
Silver but Gold. It preferves the Flefh of
Animals from Putrefaction as well as Sea-
Salt, and has the lingular Property of giving
it a red Colour*. In Diftillation alfo, the
Fumes that arife from Nitre are red.

CHAP.

* The Roots of Madder mixed with the Food of Ani-
mals tinges their Bones of a curious Red. Vid. Philo/oph,
Tranf. N» 442, and 443, where Experiements in^ Proof
thereof, are given by IVIr. Belcher, F.R.S. The fame islike-
v/ife confirmed N«> 457, by farther Experiments made by
yionL Du Harael du Motueau,

". 7~7^ Plate I/./^

[ 1^ ]

CHAP. X.

Of Vitriol in general.

THE mod celebrated of our modern
Chemills fuppofe an acid Spirit exift-
ing univerlally in the Air, and pervading
the whole terraqueous Globe. This, they
tell us, is an uniform Matter, or firft Prin-
ciple, diftributed every v^^here throughout
the Earth and Atmofphere ; though of a
Nature fo extremely fubtile, that it never
becomes fenfible, unlefs compounded with
other Subftances; but incorporating rea-
dily with different Kinds of Matter, it com-
pcfes, they fay, therewith all the Variety
of Salts, Cryftals, Gems, Metals, and Mi-
nerals ', the Colour, Figure, Solidity, and
other Properties whereof are owing to the
Difference of fuch Admixture.

This is fometimes called ^ the Sal Acidum
Fqffiley at other times the Fague Acid.
Compounded with Earth, and an oily Mat-
ter, it is thought to be the Bafis oi Sulphur;
oi Alum with a cretaceous, and of Vitriol
with a metalline Subdance. It is alfo fup-
pofed to be the faline Part or Principle of
all Salts, which Monf. llo7nberg reduces to
three Kinds only, viz, iSHtrCy Sea-Salt, and
Vitriol.

The

* Vid. Wcod-ivard'i McthoJ of FcJJiJsy p. 37.

^6 Blue VitrioL

The Configurations and Cryftals of Vi-
triol vary according to its different Kinds :
and its Difference in Kind is fuppofed owing
to different Admixtures of the fame, or dif-
ferent metallic Matter, with that acid Salt
(or Spirit) which is the Bafis of all kinds of
VitrioL Thus, when Copper is diffolved
by and incorporated therewith, the Vitriol
produced is blue j when Iron is the Metal,
the Vitriol is green ; and Lead, Tin, or
Lapis Calmninaris mixed with Iron is ima-
gined to render the Vitriol white. There is
ftill farther Variety ; but Iron appears to
be a conftant and principal Ingredient in
the green and white, as Copper is in the
blue.

What occur'd in the Examination of each
comes next to be defcribed.

CHAP. XL

Blue ViTRioi,.

L L Vitriol of this Colour is fuppofed

__ to receive its Teint from Copper ;

the beil: is produced in Hungary and the
Ifland of Cyprus.

A Drop of the Solution heated a little,
•zwd^ examined as before mentioned, pro-
duces Cryftals round the Edges, very fhort

at

Bine Vitriol. -y

at the Beginning, but increafing gradually
as reprefented Flate II. (in the Drawing
Q2\\t A Blue Vitriol) at the Figures i, 2, 3,
which denote their Difference of Form, and
the Progrefs of their Growth. Thefe cry-
flaline Shoots are Iblid, tranfparent, and
regular, and reflect the Light very beauti-
fully from their poliHied Sides and Angles.
As the watery Part evaporates, numbers
of long ilender Bodies refembling Hairs
are feen here and there, fome lying Side
by Side, as it were in little Bundles (vid. 4.)
and others croffing one another, in fucli
manner as to feem all radiatins: from a
Center, and compofing flar-Hke Figures,
which fee at 5^ 5. This Sajt proceeds but
ilowly, and requires fome Patience before
the Configurations begin to fhoot : which
they do at laft, and that towards the Middle
of the Drop mod commonly, after a very
pretty Falhion, as at 6 ; and it is to be ob-
ferved, that here alfo the principal Lines
ilfue from a Center. Any farther Defcrip-
tion of the Drawing feems unneceffary : but
it is remarkable, that none of the regular
Cryftals are found in this Way of Examina-
tion, though they are to be obtained in
good Plenty by the ufual Method of Eva-
poration, (sc.

One of thefe regular Cryfcals, of the
Size they are commonly found in the Shops,
is reprefented by the two Figures A and B,

which

78 Copper obtained from Iron^

which fhew exadlly the different Sides there*
of. It coniifts of ten Planes.

If a Piece of Iron be left for fome fhort
time in a Solution of blue Vitriol, its Sur-
face will appear of a Copper Colour, and
is really covered with Particles of Copper,
either precipitated upon, or attracted by
the Iron, to which they firmly adhere, and
whofe Pores they feem to fill. This may
ferve to fliew, after what manner fome
Springs of Water are able to perform what
is ufually called a Tranfmutation of Iron
into Copper ; which indeed is nothing more
than a gradual DilTolution of the Iron, whofe
Place becomes as gradually fupplyed, and
its Figure affumed by the minute Particles
of Copper floating in the faid Water : fo
that, although a Mafs of Copper may be
found, after a Length of Time, inftead of
a Mafs of Iron, there is no Tranfmuta-
tion in the Cafe. The whole Fadt feems
only to imply, that the minute Particles of
Copper v/herewjth the Water is ftored, be-
ing much fmaller than the Pores or Inter-
ilices between the Particles of Iron, do firft
of all get into and fill up the faid Interftices.
We have then a Mafs compounded of Iron
and Copper -, but the Iron Parts thereof
becoming gradually corroded and wafhed
away by the Water (the mineral acid Salts
it contains rendering it a Menflruum there-
to) their Places are immediately occupied

by

710 Tranfmiitation. yg

by Particles of Copper, which the Water
brings along with it continually -, and a
Body of Copper at length is fubflituted in
the room of the Iron that was corroded
and waflied away. The Petrifaction of all
Bodies that were originally of fome other
Subftance than what they now appear to be,
w^as probably produced after a like Manner;
for it feems highly improbable that any
Subftance whatever can ftridly fpeaking be
converted into a Subftance of fome other
Kind, however Appearaces may happen to
impofe upon us.

Dr. Brown informs us in his Travels, of
two vitriolic Springs, called the old and
the new Zimenty rifmg from a Copper Mine
in Hungaryy which in fourteen Days turn
Iron left in their Waters into Copper, and
that too more pure, ductile, and malleable.
than any Copper extradted from the Ore :
that he took out with his own Hands from
one of thefe Springs the Figure of an Heart,,
which had been put thereinto eleven or
tv^'elve Days before, and found it as per-
fe6t Copper as it had been Iron when put
in. Some, he adds, wUl not allow this
to be a Tranfmutation, but argue. That
the Waters being faturated with a Vitriol
of Copper, and fmding a Body fo eaiy to
receive it as Iron is, it infmuateth thereinto
fo far as to divide and precipitate the Iron,

leaving
2

8o. Copper obtained from Iron^

leaving its own Subilance inftead thereof "^^
And this molT: certainly is the Fad:, though
the Dofior feems to doubt it ; the Purity of
the Copper may be brought in Proof, and
is not to be wondered at, for the minute
Particles thereof, that floated in the Water,
and were depoiited in the Pores of the Iron,
mnft neceffarily be lefs blended with fo-
reign Matter than any Copper in its Ore
can be.

There are Copper Mines in the County

of Wicklow in Ireland, called the Mines of

Cro?:e Bawr/i, or Coro7ta Alba^ on the North

Side of the River Arklow, where the Water

raifed from the Mines, that ufed to run

away in Wafte, has lately been converted

to great Pi-ofit : for by placing Iron Bars

on Beams of Timber fixed for that pur-

pofe acrofs large Fits or Cifterns, (floored

with fmeotb Flags and lined on the Sides

with Stone and Lime) through which the

Water runs, the Iron becomes incruf!:ed

in a few Days with Particles of Copper :

which, being fwept off from Time to Time,

and .falling to the Bottom, are, when a

Quantity is colleded, taken thence, in

a fine brown Powder confiiling of Copper

and the Ruft of Iron ; which affords, when

fmelted

* Vid. >grow»'s Travels, 4to, /. 109.

710 ^r'anfinutation, 8r

fmelted and purified, a rich Copper, lo^
per Ton more valuable than what is ob-
tained from the Ore of the iiime Mine.-

This was dilcovered, by obferving, that fome
Iron Tools of the Workmen, which had
fallen accidentally into the Water, were after
a while incrufted with Copper.

A Chain of thefe Pits is already made,
each 10 Feet in Length, 4 in Width, and 8
in Depth : and as many more may be lunk
as People pleafe, there being a continual
Supply of Water to run through them all.
They make ufe of foft Iron, which attracts
the Copper Particles beft, diffolves, mixes,
and participates w^ith them in form of a
brown Dull:. A Ton of Iron in Bars pro-
duces one Ton, nineteen Hundred, and two
Quarters of brown Duft ; and each Ton of
Duft fmelted, affords 16 Hundred Weight
of pure Copper. There are at prefent about
500 Tons of Iron in the Pits. A large Bar
of foft Iron will be dilTolved in about 1 2
Months ^\

N. B. Whilfl: the minute and invifible
Particles of Copper are floating at Liberty

G in

• The above Account is the Subftanceof a Letter to Sir
Hans Sioane, which he favoured me with the Ufe of; and al-
fo of another Letter communicated to the Royal Society by-
Lord Cadogayi : both thefe Letters were written by the Re-
verend Mr. William Henry ^ who was himfelf upon the Spot.
I havealfo a Lump of Metal, wherein mod of the Iron has
been difTolved in the Water, ajad its place fupplicJ by Par-
ides of Copper.

Sz Colours ohtained by Copper ,

in any Menflruum, they are flrongly aC*
tradted by Iron ; infomuch that if a Needle
or the Point of a Knife be held but for
a few Minutes in a Solution of blue Vi-
triol, or if blue Vitriol be wetted and
rubbed upon Iron, it will prefently be
cafed over with Copper : and yet when
thefe fame Particles are collected into a
Mafs of Copper, there feems no Attraction
between that Mafs and a Mafs of Iron^
nor has the Magnet any feniible EfFedt on
Copper.

Copper affords a blue or a green Tinc-
ture, according to the Menftruuna wherein
it is diffolved 5 and therefore is fuppofed to
fupply Colour to the Emerald, Sapphire^
^urquoifef Lapis Lazuli, Lapis Armenus,
and moft other Stones and Minerals that
are either green or blue, as well as ta
the Subje(f^ we are at prefent treating of.
The amazing Variety of Blues and Greens
deducible from this Metal, and the Changes
of one into the other, are exceedingly
worth the while of every curious Per-
fon to fatisfy himfelf about by a Train of
eafy Experiments; the Way of making
which may be found in Boyle s Treatife
of Colours, in Boerhaave^ Chemifiry, as
tranllated by Dr. Shaw, Vol. II. page 342^
6f^. and in iiZ/7/'s Letter, printed at the End of
his T^heophraJluSy on the Effects of different
MenJiruumso7iCapper'ywYxtXQYfQ are informed,

that^

'how ^tfjUngcdbk one into another. 83

thati of the Mineral Acids, Spirit of Sea- Salt,
Spirit of Nitre, and Aqua Regia, produce with
this Metal different Kinds of Gi'cen : Oyl of
Vitriol, Oyl of Sulphur, and AquaFortis, dif-
ferent Degrees of B/ue : that, amqngfl the
vegetable Acids, diilillcd Vinegar, Juice of
L?mon, and Spirit of Verdigreafe (which is a
Vinegar abforbed by Copper) afford different
Greens: that, of the fix'd Alkalies, the Salt
of Wormwood, PotAfhes, and Oyl of Tar-
tar per deliquium. give all a deep and d^elight-
ful B/ue; as do alfo, among the volatile Alka-
lies, Spirit of Sal Armoniac, Spirit of Urine^
and Spirit of Hartfhorn : that, of the neu-
tral S^its, crude Sal Armoniac produces a
fine B/ne ; ilative Borax a deep, and Sea- Salt
a Whkifh Green,

" A Solution of Copper in any of the
*' befcrementioned Acids, fo weak as
'' to leave the Menftruum colottrlefs like
Water, may in an Inflant, by the Af-
fufion of a few Drops of Oyl of Tar-
tar per deiiquium, be converted in-to- a-^
glorious Blue ; or by a like Quantity of
Spirit of Nitre, into a beautiful Green ;
nay, by this means made B/ue, may be
yet changed into G^^een by a larger Quan-
tity of the Acid: and even when thus
made Green, again converted into its for-
^' mer Blue, by a yet larger Quantity of
^' the Alkali.

•* The blue Tindures of Copper made
■* in the fix'd Alkalies, may ^\io be di-

G z '* veiled

u

C(

(<
<<

$4 Tindiurefrom Copper how diffujihte.

** veiled of their Colour, and rendered co-
lourlefs and pellucid like Water, by Acids,
if the Proportions be carefully regarded.
The blue Liquor here is made colourlefs,
as the colourlefs Liquor was before made
Blue 5 and the pellucid Liquor thus pro-
*' duced, will exhibit all the Phasnomena
*^ before defcribed in that originally colour-
lefs. To this it may be added, that even
the ftrong blue and green Solutions are ea-
lily changed from Blue to Green, and from
** Green to Blue in the fame Manner." *

And how far Copper can difFufe its
Tindture, (or its Parts become divifible)
may be learned from Mr. Boyki who found
a fingle Grain of Copper diflblved in Spirit
of Sal Ammoniac, would make 256806
times its own Bulk of clear Water of a blue
Colour ; would give a manifeft Tindlure to
above 385200, and a faint yet diftinguifh-
able one, to more than 530620 times its own
Bulk J.

CHAP. xir.

Green Vitriol, oxEngliJh Copperas.

o

UR Green Vitriol contains a great
deal of Iron, but appears not to hold
any Copper, which makes its Colour dif-
ficult

* HiW^ Theophrafiusy pag. i88, 189.
X Vid. Bojk Abridged, Vol. I. pag. 408,

Green Vitriol y or Engli/lj Copperas, 85

ficult to account for : fince all mineral Sub-
fiances, whofe Colour is blue or green, have
been generally fuppoled to derive their Co-
lour from Copper.

When diffolved in Water, it conftantly
drops to the Bottom a yellow ferrugine-
ous Sediment; which being taken ^away,
the remaining Liquor, after a due Time of
Reft, affords Cryflals much clearer and of
a finer Green than the Vitriol was at firft.
Thefe being diffolved again throw down
another yellowifh Sediment, but in much
lefs Quantity than before, and when cry-
ftalized a-new appear of a ftill more live-
ly Colour. And by repeating this Opera-
tion, they may be rendered perfed:ly tranf-
parent and of a delightful Green ; tho*
after all fome Iron will ftill be left, which
fubjedts them to contraft a Ruft, if expofed
to the open Air.

A Drop of the Solution, moderately heat-
ed, and applyed to the Micro fcope, be-
gins to cryftalize about the Edges, and
proceeds gradually, as the Figures i, 2, 3,
Plate II. N° 2. reprefent, under the Name
of Green Vitriol, After waiting fome Time,
the Configurations pudi out, fuddenly and
haftily, towards the Middle, in the Man-
ner reprefented by Figure 4, which begins
at af and thrufts forwards and fidevvavs
at the fame Inftant, with wonderful Order
^rid Regularity, to the other Extremity /?,

G 3 wherq

86 Green fit r to I ^ or Englijh Copperas.,

where the whole Procefs is at an End. Its
regular Cryftals are rarely found in this Ext
amination, but a Couple of them as obtain-
ed by diffolving a Lump of our Subjed: ia
boiling \¥ater, and leaving it at Reft for
a Day or two, are placed at the Side of
the Drop. Tlij^ -firft of them A, is one out
pf a great many that were formed on the
Side of the Glafs wherein the Solution ftoodj,
and adhered thereto. Thefe being pro-
duced in the clear Part of the Liquor, above,
the ferrugineous, thick Sediment which
had been precipitated but was not taken
away^ were much greener and more tranf-
parent than the Vitriol firft diffolved. Ex-
cepting fome Irregularities they w@re all of
the fame Shapes with Sides nearly corre-

aponamg.

The Figure B reprefents an Od:aedronj
that being the genei-al Shape of many Cry-
ftals formed in the yellovy thick Sediment
at the Bottom, a Fortnight or three Weeks
after, the clearer Part of the Liquor having
ht^n poured av/ay : and confequentlj the,
DiiFerence of Figure between this and the
former miifl: be imputed to the much
greater Proportion of Iron in this thau
that.

Our green Vitriol^ or Englifa Copperas,^

is made from the Fyptcey that are found

in great abundance on the Shores of Siif-

Jkx^ 'EjJ'e^Xy Kmt^ &Co Tliefe Bodies ar^.

"' ' ■■ ' ' ' ' " " 01

Gree7i Vltrioh or EnglJJh Copperas, S7
of a ponderous and compad; Subftance, con-
tain Metal and Sulphur, have a rufly fcr-
rugineous Outlide, but internally appear,
when broken, Ibmetimes of the colour of
Brafs, Silvery fome times, and fometimes like
Iron; the Matter compofing them is dif-
pofed in Stria?, or a linear Dire(5tion di-
verging from a central Point to the Cir-
cumference, if the Stones have any thing
of a circular or cylindric Figure; or lying
parallel and perpendicular to the flat Sides,
if their Form be flattifli. After beinjr
long expofed in Heaps to the Air and
Rain, the Salts begin to ad:, vitriolic Ef-
florefcencies pufh out upon the Surface,
they become brittle, fall to pieces, and
diffolve into a Liquor. This Liquor v^'hen
boiled two or three Days in a leaden Caul-
dron, (Pieces of Iron being thrown in from
Time to Time during the boiling and dif-
folving in the faid Liquor) is difpofed af'-
terwards in convenient Veflels, where it
ftands for about a Fortnight to cryftalize
into Vitriol. A great Work of this Kind
is, or was not long ago, carried on at
Dcptford,

G 4. CHAP.

88 White Vkrioh

CHAP. XIII.

White Vitriol.

THE White Vitriol from Gojlar in
Ger/Jiany, as well as that from Hun-
gary.y contains fome little Copper^ but the
common Sort with us has no other Metal
in it befides Iron, unlefs, as fome fup-
pofe, there is alfo a fmali Quantity of Lead
or Tin. The Iron contained in the Green
and Whltey as well as the Copper in the Bliiey
is not in any conftant Proportion^ but fre-
quently more or lefs in different Pieces of
the fame Parcel, v/hich occafions fome Va-
rity in Experiments made therewith.

A Drop of the Solution of white Vi-
triol begins to fhoot at the Edges^ by a
gentle Degree of Heat, either in fmall an-
gular Figures, or minute curvilinear Spi-
culae, both which are reprefented in Flate
IL at I, I . The former of thefe fpread-
ing coniiderably in Breadth, and protrud-
ing very flowly forwards, produce thofe
lineated Figures fhewn at 2 on one Side
of the Drop, which are formed by two
Planes inclining to one' another in an Angle
of about 1 20 Degrees : the latter, 'vtz,
the Spculcey fpreading likewife and flat-
tening at the Ends, fhew themfelves nearly
as reprefented by 2 on the contrary Side.

' ' 4. Some

T^'

White Vitriol 89

Borne of them however flioot farther into
the Drop, in the Manner fliewn at 3, 4,
and 5: and many fo iLot out have other
fmaller ones protruded from their Sides,
parallel to one another, and forming an
Angle with their main Stem of about 60 De-
grees, as at dy a: when the Procefs is nearly
over, many extremely minute Spiculce arilb
in the Interfpaces; fome uniting in, or ra-
ther fliooting from Centers, and making
a very pretty \ radiated Appearance, like
what was before obferved in the Blue Vi-
triol; whilft others of the fame Spicule are
k^n fcattered and difperfed about the Drop
in all Direftions, as at 8. Thefe Spicules
may be termed a Charadleriftic of the Vi-
triols, being ufually found in all of them,
when examined by the Microfcope with
Care -, but as fometimes the Gree?2 is (ttn
without them, I have taken no Notice of
them there.

The Figure fhewn at 6 is feldom to be
met with, but when the Fluid Part of the
Drop is fufFered to evaporate without any
Heat; and it feems nearly to approach the
regular Cryftals, which are next to be de-
fer i bed.

As a Solution of our prefent Subjedl does
pot fo eafily crytlalize by the common

Methods,

t It is obfervable, that many of the Pyrit^ exhibit
Lines diverging from a Center, exaftly in the fame man-
ner.

9Q White VitrioL

Methods, after trying feveral times to make
it do fo without Succefs, I have contented
myfelf with examining the * Gilla or Sal
Vitrioli made by the Chemifts : two Figures
whereof A B as magnified above a thoufand
times in the Area, are given at the Side
of the Drop. They appear to be qua-
drilateral Columns, the Inclination of whofe
Sides is oblique^ having generally a qua-
drilateral Pyramid at each £nd, formed of
triangular Sides correfponding to thofe of
the Column, as at A j but fometimes thefe
triangular Planes interfed:, in fuch a man-
ner that the Angle at the Apex is com-
prehended under only three of them, as
atB.

Vitriol in confiderable abundance is found
in Subftance and of different Colours,
blue, green^ white, and red, in feveral
Parts of Hungaryy Germany^ and other
Countries : but very little, if any, native
Vitriol is ever found in Maffes or Lumps
in England', all produced here being ob-
tained by Art from the Pyritc^y and of the
white the greateft Part comes to us from
abroad. The Appearance of fuch White
Vitriol is extremely like Loaf Sugar, it has a
fweetifh difagreeable ftiptic Tafte, and when

diffolved

* Thefe Salts or Cryllals are obtained by the Help of
Spirit of Vitriol, or, as Lemery direfts, by dilfolving Wiiit©

Vitriol in the Phlegm of VitrioL

White Vitriol, cji

difToIved in Water, throws to the Bottom a
ferrugincous Sediment Hke the Green.

It would he endlefs to enumerate all
the Ufes of Vitriol. Sir Kcnelme Dighys
fympathetic Powder, fo famous in its Day
for the Cure of Wounds, was nothing elfe
but Vitriol expofed to the Summer's Sun
for feveral Days and powdered. But a-
mongft all the reft, its being an Ingredient
abiblutely neceffary for the making of Ink
is not the leaft to be regarded. Any
Vitriol that contains Iron will ferve to
this Purpofe, of what Colour foever it be :
the Green however is commonly preferred,
^s holding a greater Quantity of that
Metal : but the White fometimes is not
Jefs flocked with it, and then will do full
as well. Galls unripe, or gathered when
they are of a blueifh Colour, before they
come to their full Growth, being beaten
to Powder, and infufed in Water, give the
Vv^ater a ftiptic Tafte, without altering its
Colour much ; but a proportionable Quan-
tity of powdered Vitriol, or a Solution of
Vitriol being mixed therewith, turns it in-
ftantly as black as Ink, and wants only
a little Gum to make it Ink indeed.
A Deception of the dryed Leaves of red
Rofes, of Sage, Oak Leaves, or the Rinds
of PomiCgranates, produces the fame Ap-
pearance therewith. It alfo in like man-
ner blackens an Infufion of Green Tea ;

and

9 2 Colours from Vitriol.

and therefore a few Tea Leaves put to
fteep for fome Minutes in any Mineral
Water made hot, will readily difcover if
it contains Vitriol, by foch its Change of
Colour : the Proportion of the Vitriol may
iikewife be gueffed at by the Deepnefs or
Palenefs of the Tind:ure.

On writing with a Solution of Green
Vitriol, nothing is feen upon the Paper
when dry : but by rubbing it over with
a Decodion of Galls, what was written
becomes black and legible. Spirit of Vi-
triol wiped gently upon this, makes it
vaniih again immediately : Oyl of Tartar
per deliquium reflores the Letters once more,
though not black but yellowifh •f'.

A ftrong Decodtion of red Rofes mixed
with a Solution of Vitroil produces a black
Ink, which on dropping Spirit of Nitre
into it becomes inftantly red, and is far-
ther convertible into a greyifh Liquor, by
adding a little of the volatile Spirit of Sal
Armoniac.

Good Writing Ink being not always or
every where to be procured, it will not
perhaps be unacceptable to give here an
eafy Way of making it, which I can re-
commend from many Years Experience.

To one Quart of Rain Water, or foft
River Water, put four Ounces of blue

Galli

f VId. Lemerys Chemldrv, chap. iS,

iDircBions for making Ink, 9 j

Galls bruifed, two Ounces of green Vitriol
or Copperas, and two Ounces of Gum Ara-
bic grolly powdered. Let the Mixture be
well Ihaken or Air'd about now and then,
and in twenty-tour Hours it will be nt
for Ufe. It is mod conveniently made in
a wide-mouthed Bottle that will hold near
double the Quantity, where it may fome-
times be fliaken together brifkly ; but be
fure you let it fettle again before you pour
any off. When you have ufed all that
can be got off clear, a little more than half
the Quantity of the fame Ingredients will
make you another Quart.

What is written with this Ink looks pale
at firft, but after a few hours becomes of a
fine black, and I believe wdll never change.

C H A P. XIV.

Dijlilled Verdigrease,

VERDIGREASE is a blueiila greea
Efflorefcence ^ or Ruft, produced
on Plates of Copper, by corroding the
Surface thereof with that penetrating
acid Spirit which the Huflcs of Grapes
abound with after they have been prefs'd
and laid together to ferment. This Raft

being

• Vid. Lemerfi Chemiftry, c^ap. vi. Boerhaavi% Qhe-i
iniftr)', by Sha'w, Vol. I), pag. 13 ;.

94 Dijiilled Verdigreafe.

being digefted with diflilled Vinegar iri
a confiderable Degree of Heat, and dif-
Iblving partly therein, affords a Liquor of a
moft beautiful green Colour, which aftef
Evaporation, being fet in a cold Place, pro-
duces tranfparent and elegant green Cryftals,^
that are called ufually by the Name of
Dijiilied V^rdigreafe^ but are really a Vitriol
loaded with the pureft Particles of th^
Copper*

If thefe Cryftals are diffolved in warni
Water, and a Drop of it be apply'd to thd
Microfcope immediately, it ufually produces
abundance of the regular Figures ij 2, 3, 4^
S9(>i Jy (exhibited at the Side of the fourth
Drawing, Plate II.) without forming any
confiderable Configuration: but if the
Solution is fuffered to ftand quiet for a
few Hours, and a Drop of it be heated over
the Fire on a Slip of Glafs, till it begins to
concrete about the Sides, and then examin'd^
iharp- pointed folid Figures (bifed:ed by a
Line through the Middle, from which they
are cut away towards the Edges) Will be feen^
fliooting forwards, as reprefented 1,1, i :
which Figures are oftentimes ftriated very
prettily from the middle Line to the Edges^
obliquely, as 2, 2, may ferve tofhew. They
both arife frequently in Clufters, and fboot"*^
ing from a Center, as at 3, 3. ■ -

The forementit ned Figures are a long
while growing 5 and whilft they are doing

fo.

Dijtilled Vcrdigrcafe. C)^

fo, feveral regular Cryllals appear forming
in different Parts of the Drop, of the moll
lovely Emerald Colour, and reflcdling the
Light from their Sides and Angles, which
are as exadlly dilpoied and finely poliflied as
if they had been cut by the moll Ikilful Jew-
eller. Thefe Cryllals are ihewn in the Drop
at 4, 4, but much better, becaufe magnified
a great deal more, at the Sid^ of it, by the
Figures i, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7.

No Configurations form themfelves in the
Middle of the Drop till the Fluid be nearly
evaporated, but when they begin to form
they proceed fomewhat haftily, and there-
fore mufl: be attended clofeiy. Their com-
mon Figure refembles two long ff^ croffing
each other in an Angle of about fixty De-
grees, and fhooting Branches every Way :
each of which again protrudes other Bran-
ches from one, and fometimes both its Sides,
making together an Appearance like four
Leaves of Fern conjoyned by their Stalks,
as at 5, 5. Separate Clufters of the fame
fharp-pointed Figures, as thofe at the Edges
of the Drop, are formed alfo frequently in
the Middle of it, as 6. Sometimes alio they
put on another Form like the Leaves' of
Dandelion, as at 7. Very beautiful Figures
are likewife produced by a Kind of Combi-
nation of fliarp Points and Branches, in the
Manner reprelented 8 8.

AH

96 t)ijlilted Verdigreafe. '

All the beforementioned appear of a moit
lovely green Colour, but deeper or paler
according to the Time of their Produdlion ;
the iirft produced being conftantly the
deepeft. Towards the End of the Procefs
iome circular Figures are formed, extreme-
ly thin, and fo ilightly ting'd with green
thatt they are almoft colourlefs, but with
Lines radiating from a Center to the Cir-
cumference, like the ftar-like Figures of
Alum hereafter to be defcribed. Thefe are
fhewn 9, 9. When all feems in a manner
over. Bundles of Hair-like Bodies appear fre-
quently, fcattered here and there through-
out the Drop, in the fame Manner as de*
fcribed in the blue and white Vitriols.

CHAP. XV.

Alum.

THE Configurations of this Salt abound
with Beauty and Variety, and prove
more or lefs perfedl according to the Strength
of the Solution, and the Degree of Heat
employed in making the Experiment, to
judge of which a little Experience will be
found needful.

The Solution, however fated with Alum,
will not be found over-ftrong after Handing

fome

IBlew Vitriol .

TJateOl

Green "Vitriol.

"Wliite "Vitriol.

"Verdig-reafe diftilled.

A

V

9).SMaL^ M.^.

jI L U M. gy

fome Days, for in that Time it will have
precipitated many Cryftals to the Bottom,
whereby the Liquor is fometimes left too
weak for our Purpofe i but then by holding
the Phial over or near a Fire, the Cryflals
will again diffolve, and be taken up a-nevv
into the Fluid. *Tis not however advife-
able to make ufe of it as foon as this is done,
unlefs we want to produce nothing elfe
but Cryflals: for if> after this, it be em-
ployed before it has had a little Time to
cool and fettle, it is very apt to form into
Cryflals only : bur when it has flood about
half an Hour, a Drop placed on a Slip of
Glafs and heated properly, exhibits com-
monly at the beginning a dark Cloud, which
appears in Motion fomewhere near the
Edge, and runs pretty fwiftly both to the
Left and Right, until it is either flopped
by the Intervention of fome regular Cryflals,
or elfe proceeds onwards both Ways at once,
and nearly of the fame Height, till having
furrounded the whole Drop the two Ends
rufh together and joyn ; the Progrefs to-
wards which is attempted to be fhewn,
Plate III. '^'^ ha a.

This cloudy Part of the Drop that feems
violently agitated whilfl it is running round,
appears on a flrict Examination to confiil of
Salts, fhot into long and very llehder Lines,
much finer than the fmalleil Hair, which
crofs one another at right Angles, and form

H as

5 8 Configurations of Alum.

as they go along, from their internal Edge^?.
Rows of lolid Cryftals compofed of many'
oblique plain Sides b b, and which have
all a Tendency towards the Figures of
the regular Cryftals to be defcribed pre--
fently.

But it happens frequently, that in fome
Parts of the Drop many minute and circu-^
lar Figures are feen, rifmg at fome little
Diftances from the Edge, whilft the above
mentioned Operations are performing in
other Places thereof; which minute Figures
enlarging themfelves continually, appear at
laft of a ftar-like Form, or with Lines ra-
diating and diverging from a Center, in the
Manner reprefen ted r c.

After the Bulinefs is over about the Edges^
-a good deal of Patience will be requilite to
wait for the Configurations in the Middle
af the Drop, which feldom begin till the
Fluid feems almofl wholly evaporated y
when on a fudden many ftrait Lines appear
puihing forwards, whofe Sides or Edges are
jagged, and from which other fimilar ftrait?"
and jigged Lines fboot out at right Angles
with the firftj thefe again have other fmall
ones of the fame Kind fhooting likewife
from themfelves, and compofe all toge*^
ther a moft beautiful and elegant Configu-*^
ration, the Order of which is attempted ta
be fhewn at D.

Each;

Conjiguraiions ^ Al u m . 99

Each of thele Lines increafing in Breadth
towards its End, appears lomewhat club-
hcadcd, as ^ ^ f .

Sometimes inftcad of fending Branches
from their Sides, many of thele Lines rife
parallel to each other, refembling a kind of
PaJiiadoe, and having numbcrlcfs minute
tranverfe Lines running bctiveen them, as

atF.

But the mcft wonderful tart of all, tho'
not produceable without an e.xadl Degree
of Heat and right Management, is the dark
Ground- work (hewn at G, which confifts of
an almoil Infinity of parallel Lines, having
others crolTing them at right Angles, and
producing a Variety fcarce conceivable iroin
Lines difpofed in no other Manner : the
Direction of the Lines (which are exqui-
fitely ftrait and delicate) being fo frequently
iand differently counter-changed, that one
Would think it the Pvcfult of long Study and
Contrivance.

Durino- the Time this Ground-Work is
forming, certain lucid Points prefent them-
felves to view (on one Side thereof mort
com.monly) which Points grow larger con-
tinually, with Radiations irorti a Center,
and become ftar-like Figures, in the Man-
ner of thofe beforementioned. Several of
them likevvife flioct out long Tails, which
give them the Appearance oi Comets: and
At the End of all, a dark Lineaticn in va-

loo Configurations of Mxxmy

rious Direftions, darts frequently through,
and occupies all or moft of the Spaces be-^
tween them, making thereby no ill Repre^
fen ration 5 when viewed by Candle-Light,
of a Night" Sky illuminated v/ith fhining
Stars, and tailed Comets, and rendering
the whole Scene extremely whimfical and
pretty.

Nor do thefe Configurations break away,
or diffolve, foon after their being form-
ed, as many others do; but may be pre-
fer ved on the Glafs in good Perfection for
Weeks or Months, if Care be taken neither
to exclude the Air wholly from them, nor
put them in a moift Place : for in either
Cafe they will be foon deftroyed.

Being defirous to preferve fome exceeding
fine Star and Comet-like Figures, I fallen-
ed another Glafs of its own Size upon the
Slip where they were formed -, having firft
placed thin Pieces of Cork between, to pre-
vent the Glaffes from touching, and after
all flopped the Ends and Sides with Sealing
Wax, thereby to keep out the Air, which
I imagined would fpoil them: but contrary
to my Expe^ation, in two Days the Figures
w^ere all obliterated; whereas another Con-
figuration, covered with a Slip of Glafs to
preferve it from being touched, but whofe
Sides were open to the Air, continued in.
great Perfedion at leafc tv/o Years, and
then too was ipoiled by Accident,

The

how to produce andpreferve, i o i

The fame Thing likewile happens to Sac^
chanim Satiirniy Ens Ve?ierisy Salt of Amher^
and iome other faline Subftances, whofe
elegant Configurations may be long prefcrv-
ed between Slips of Glafs kept albnder as
above diredled, provided the Air be not pent
up with them, and that the Place you put
them in be dry. I have at this Time feve-
ral Configurations formed fome Years ago ;
and it will fave much Trouble, and be moft
agreeable to People not overftock'd with
Patience, to have always as many kinds as
one can thus ready, to fhew fuch Friends
whofe Curiofity may not be fafficient
to make them attend to the whole Pro-
cefs.

A great deal of Exadcnefs and ^ Nicety is
requiiite as to the Degree of Heat, to make
one and the fame Drop produce all the Con-
figurations prefented in the Plate ; tho' you
will certainly meet with feveral of them in
every Drop you try, unlefs the Heat be too
long continued, in which Cafe the Fluid
becomes hardened by the Fire into a kind
of tranfparent Gluten, which never fhoots
at all, is not eafily dilTolveable, or to be got
off the Glafs without fome Pains. On the
other hand, if the Heat be violent, though
not long, it ihoots too faft, with much Ir-
regularity and Confulion,

H 3 The

1 02 Cryjials of Alum.

The regular Cryftals are often formed \n
the fame Drop with the other Configura-
tions, as at f\ But if not, they may eafily
be produced, either by ufmg a Solution
made with hot Water, before it cools ; or
by placing a Drop of a well-faturated Solu-
tion when cold, on a Shp of Glafs, and
fuffering the Fluid to evaporate without
lanyHeat at all. Cryftals will alfo be form-
ed by Precipitation after the Solution has
flood fome Time.

After numberlefs Obfervations to deter-
piine the Cryftals of Ahim, I find amongft
them the following Variety.

Sorne are exaftly regular Oftaedra, corn-^
pofed of eight equilateral Triangles, as the
Figure A.

But as they lye moft frequently on one
of their triangular Bafes, they appear m the
Manner lliewn at B.

Others appear like the above with their
folid Angles cut off, forming thereby a
Figure of fourteen Sides, eight of which
are Hexagons, and the other fijc Squares,
as C.

The Fip^ure D frequently prefents itfelf,
and feems alfo compofed of fourteen Planes
{^viz. 12 quadrilateral, and two hexagonal)
the Planes underneath being fuppofed to
correfpond in Number and Figure with
|hqfe that appear above.

E repre^

Cryjla/s of A\urc\, 103

E reprefents an eight-Iided Figure, con-
'fifting of two triangular, two hexagonal,
and four quadrilateral Planes, two whereof
ilope downwards from the upper hexangular
Plane, and the other two upwards from the
under one.

The Figure at F is compounded of eight
Planes, the undermoft whereof is a large
equilateral Triangle, from each Side of which
a fioping quadrilateral Plane proceeds. Thefe
Planes are Trapezoids, each of them having
a Side in common with that of the Triangle,
another fhorter one parallel thereto, and two
others Hoping one towards the other, and
towards the Side of the Triangle, in a Di-
rediion of about twenty Degrees,

The Plane which lyes parallel to the
Triangle (which Plane in the prefent Fi-
gure is next the Eye) is hexagonal, three
-of its Sides being made up of the fliorter
parallel Sides of the Trapezia : the other
three (which are lefs than thefe, being cut
down perpendicularly, fo as to meet the
Angles of the large Triangle) form three
other fmaller Triangles, each whereof has
one Side in common with the Hexagon,
and the other two with the neighbouring
Trapezoids.

Our Alufn is obtained from, a blueifli mi-
neral Subltance refembling Slate, which
after being calcined and fteeoed in Water

H 4 ' for

1^4 Ahm how and where produced :
for a due Time, that Water when boiled
fufficieritly in Pans of Lead (the Lees of Sea-
Weed Aihes called Kelp, and the Quantity
of Urine being mixt therewith) produces
Shoots of Alluniy after {landing a few Days.
But as fuch Shoots are feldom clean enough
at firft for Sale, they commonly are wa(h-
ed with or diffolved again in Water, freed
from their Impurities, and fet to concrete
a- new.

Vaft Quantities are made in Xorkjldire
and Lancajhire, moft of the Hills between
Scarborough and the River 'I'eeSy as well as
thofe near Prejion^ abounding with this
Mineral; the Salts of which being diffolved
and put in Action by the Moifture of the
Air, if thereto expofed, without being cal-
cin'd, the Mineral falls in Pieces, and yields
a Liquor whereof Copperas or green Vitriol
may be made '\,

Alum may alio be procured from certain
Earths by pretty much the fame Means.
An Earth of this Kind now lies before me,
which was brought from Africa^ where a
Confiderable Tradt of Land is faid to be of the

fame

f At Altfeitk in Bohemia are Mines of black Schijius,
whence they make great Quantities of Alum and Vitriol ;
and from a Gkba Pyritofa found in the fame Mines, they
obtain much Sulphur. 1 am obliged to Dr. "James Mounfey
for this Information ; and for Speciments of both the Sub-
Hances, which lie cclkftsd upon the Spot andfent me=

nearly a-kin to Vitriol. lor

fame Sort *. It taftes exadlly like Alion*
and in the South Sea Year 1720, a Quan-
tity was imported in Hopes of making it
turn to good Account: but the Mifchiefs
fuffered from other Proje^s at that Time,
difcouraged People from embarking in this,
and wc have heard no more of it fince ;
nor indeed as Alitm can be made fo cheap
from Materials found at Home, does it feem
worth while to fend fo far on the fame Ac-
count.

Alujfi feems fo nearly a-kin to Vitriol, that
the Addition of Copper or Iron is only want-
ing to make it the fame Thing ; as may be
proved by a Diftillation of it into an acid
Spirit with either of them, whereby it be-
comes good Vitriol. On the other hand.
Vitriol when freed from its metallic Particles,
becomes aluminous, and yields on Diftillation
a Spirit undiftinguilLable by the niceft Scru-
tiny from that oi Alum. %

CHAP.

• I have alfo an aluminous Earth brought iiom Maryland^
and given me by Mr. Brook.

X Vid. Phil. Tranf. N*^ 104. p. ()-].

CHAP. XVI.
Borax.

O R A X is a faline Subftance, veiy

difficult in Solution unlefs in boiling

Water, and even then requiring, accord-
ing to Boerhaav£y twenty times its own
Weight.

When a Drop is given to be examined by
the Micro fcope, if it be held too long over
the Fire no Cryllals will fhoof, but it will
harden upon the Slip into a tranfparent Mat-
ter much refembling Glafs. The beft Way
is to give it a brillc Heat for about one Second
of Time, and then applying it, the Cryftals
will quickly be feen forming about its Edges,
as in Plate III. N^ IL v^/here their Begin-
ning and Progrefs are io reprefented as to
need no farther Defcription.

In the middle Parts of the Drop no Cry-
ftals at all arife, but there are feveral tranf-
parent circular Figures, that from mere
Specks grow gradually bigger, till they rer
femble fmall Drops of Oyl floating upon the
Surface of Water : thefe alfo are fhewn in
the Drawing.

This Salt is faid to be found in India^
Ferfiai and Tartary, and to be brought
ironi thofe Countries ropgh and foul,

in

Borax defer i bed, and its life, 107

in Lumps or Cryftals, of a yellowifli and
fometimes of a duty green Colour: but we
really know little thereof with Certainty.
The Venetians made great Profit heretofore
by purifying it for Sale *, but tliat Trado
at prcfent is chiefly carried on by the Dutch ;
though I am told the Secret is become
known, and has lately been pradlifed with
good Succefs in England. It leives the fame
Purpofes of fufing and foldering Gold and
other Metals, as the Chryfocolla of the An-
cients did, for which Reafon it is frequent-
ly called by the fame Name, though theirs
was quite another kind of Subftance, the
Knowledge whereof is probably loft to us.
Its glafly Quality renders it ufeful in dying,
to give a Gloffincfs to Silks ; and Dr. Shaw
proves (in the twentieth of his Chemical Lec-
tures, Experiment 3d.) that by means of
this Salt a Kind of Glafs may be made
of an extraordinary Degree ofHardnefs j and
imagines the Arts of Enamelling, and of imi-
tating precious Stones, may be greatly im-
proved thereby -j-.

Whea

* Vid. Shax'fs Tranjlation of Boerhaave^s Chemijlry^ Vol,
I. p. no, in the Notes.

t Rough Borax is called Tincaly or Ti near. Gecffroy fays^
a jult inucldy grcenilh Water found in fome Copper Mines,
eviiporatcd to 2 certain Degree, then kept for feveral Months
in Pits, whofe Sides and Bottoms are plaiftered with the
Mud of the fame Mines luixt with Animal Fat, the Pits be-
ing alfo covered with the fame Plaifter, produces the Lumps
or Cryilals oi unrefined Borax,

io8 Borax defcribedy anditsVfe.

When refined and pure it is bought in large
cryftahne Shoots clean and white, about the
Clearnefs and Hardnefs of Alum, wherewith
it is fonietimes adulterated : to the Tafte it
is almoft infipid, but fomewhat fmooth and
oily, and the more fo the lefs it has been
purified, for in its foul State 'tis confiderably
fat and greaiy.

A regular Cryflal of fuch purified Borax as
taken by the Microfcope, is fhewn on the
Side of the Drop at A.

Some Years ago my worthy Friend Mr.
Peter Colinfon^ F. R. S. favoured me with a
Subftance faid to be brought from Perjiuy
and called Native Borax : 'tis in fmall irre-
gular flattifh Pieces of a grcyifh white Co-
lour, wherein,- if nicely examined, abun-
dance of ihining Particles may be difcerned :
it is light and porous, of a very brittle
Coniiftence, fomewhat urinous, and more
pungent in Tafte than the Kind before
defcribed. A Solution of this did not ihoot
at all into Cryftals, but in many Exami-
nations filled the whole Drop with figur'd
Bodies like that at B; which from being
barely vifible, enlarged pretty faft, to a
Size (when viewed by the fourth Magni-
fier) as big in Appearance as the Figure
here exhibited.

Thefe quickly fall to Pieces, and become
diffolved by the Air.

CHAR

[ 109 ]
CHAP. XVII.

SjZf Ammoniac, (?rARMONiAC.

WHAT the Ancients called by this
Name, is fuppofed to have been
a Salt generated in the Earth or Sands,
from the Urine and Dung of Camels, (made
ufe of by the Multitudes of Pilgrims that
reforted to the Temple of yupiter AfnmonJ
which, being fublimed by the Sun, pro-
duced this Kind of Salt j and the Difufe of
that Cuflom for many Ages, is imagined to
be the Reafon why none of it is now found.
What we have at prefent is undoubtedly
fadlitious, being made of Urine, Sea-Salt,
and Soot. It is fuppofed to come from Egypt
or Syria, in round Cakes near three Inches
thick, and about half a Foot in Diameter :
in Colour it is greyifh on one Side, and
appearing, for the moft part, black, or ra-
ther footy on the other. When broke, the
Iniide (if good) is white, tranfparent and
cryftaline, and in Appearance much like
Camphire. We are told, that in thofe
Countries they coUedt a Soot from the
burning of Camel's Dung, which they
fprinkle with a Solution of Salt made in
Urine of the fame Animal, and then fub-
lime in Glafs Vefiels, till a Cake is thrown
up to the Top of each, correfpondent to
the Shape of the Glafs, which they ivrJX

' brtr.k

% 1 6 &// Ammoniac,

break in order to get it out. — All this may
perhaps be true, but I am apt to think it is
made much nearer home, and by more eafy
means.

Some of this Salt diflblved in Water, and
a Drop thereof placed on a Slip of Glafs>
to be examined by the Microfcope, will bd
found to flioot with afmall Degree of Heat;
which muft be very carefully obferved^
for if more Heat than juft enough be given
to it, the Configurations will run into one
another, and make the Whole appear in
great Confufion«

It begins with fhooting from the Edges
great Numbers of iharp^ but thick and
broad Spkulce^ from whofe Sides are pro-
truded as they rife many others of the
fame Shape, but very £hort> parallel to each
other, but oerpendicular to their main Stem,
as at J. Plate IIL ^^ III. Thefe Spicule
larrange themfelves in all Directions, but
for the moil part obliquely to the Plane
from v/hence they rife, and many are fre-
quently iQtn parallel to one another : which
Particulars the Figure endeavours to cx-
prefs at I . I .~— As they continue to pufli
forwards (which they do without increaf-
ing much in Breadth) fome (hoot from
them the fmall Spictdce only, as at 2i
Others, after they are nearly come to their
full Grov/th, divide into two Branches iii
a Manner different from all other Kinds

Salt Ammonhc. i\i

of Salt I have ever feen, by the SpHttIng
of the Stem, longitudinally, frcm the Top
almofl: to the Edges of the Drop, but with-
out any Shootings from the Inildc, as is re-
prefcnted at 3.- • -Qihcr Branches, bcfides
the fmall Spicules niencioned abcvc, pr. trude
longer ones of the fame Form, from v hence
others alfo proceed : which others fhoot alfo
fmallcr ones from them, and io on to many
Gradations, as at 4.

Before the Middle of the Drop begins
to flioot, feveral exceedingly minute Bodies
may be difcerned at the Bottom of the
Fluid. Thde rife to the Too in a little
while, and as foon as their Form can b^
dillinguiihed, whilfc yet extremely fmall,
they plainly wear the fame Shape exadlly^
which they aftervv^ards ?ppear in when grown

much larger, as is fhevvn at 5. ^Their

Growth is very quick, and pretty equal
for a Time, but at length fome one Branch
gets as it were the Maftery, and fhooting
farther than the reft, forms the, Figure
6. The other Branches inlarge but little
afterwards, ail the Attraction feeming biaffed
to this alone, from which more Branches
being protruded, and they again protrud-
ing others, the whole appears like Fi--
gure 8.

'Tis not uncommon to fee in the Middle-
of the Drop fome different Configurations,-
where inftead of the ftrait Stems deferibed

a above..

2 12 Salt AmmGniat.

above, there is formed a Kind of Zigzags
with Spicules like thofe in the .other Figures,
as at 7.

To obtain the Cryftals of this Salt, 'tis
neceflary to place a Drop of a frefli Solution
(made in warm Water) before the Micro-
fcope, without giving it any other Heat
than the Warmth of the Water, The re-
gular Cryftals will then appear as reprefent-
ed at the Side of the Drop A, B, C. The
lafl: of which Figures C is produced from
the fecond B, by new Formations at each
Corner of the crofs Branches, when the
whole Procefs is nearly ended : but thefe
Cryflals are rarely feen unlefs the Solution be
examined as foon as made.

Salt Ammojiiac is particularly remarkable
for rendering Water wherein it is diflblved
colder than any other Salt can do, and even
equal in Degree to Water that is near freez-
ing. Monfieur Geoffroy pkced a common
Thermometer of eighteen Inches long in a
Phial Vv^herein he had put a Pint of Water,
and let it remain therein a fuiHeient Time
to adjufl itfelf to the Temperature of the
Water: he then put into the Water fcui-
Ounces of Salt Amfnoniae, and in lefs than a
Quarter of an Hour the Liquor in the
Thermometer defcended two Inches and
nine Lines. He then tryed the fame Expe-
riment with Salt-Petre inftead of Salt Am-
moniac ufing the like Precautions, and the

Liquor

Plate m-^' of Akm

AfX.

M^^""

Chriftals.

Plate DL. ^a,. ua . Alum

ChriRals of Alum.

J.Mt^nde ,/<uf/>-

Suit Anmionlac. 1 1 ■?

Liquor dcfcended one Inch and three Lines.
Vitriol made it dcibend not quite an Inch,
and Sea-faH but two Lines.

Monlieur Homher^ orders a Pound of
Salt A?nmoniac and a Pound of corrouve
Subhmate to be fcparately reduced to Pow-
der; then, after mi.ving thcni well together,
he directs them to be put into a Glafs Bottle,
and a Pint and a half of diflilled Vinegar
to be poured thereon. This done, and the
Compofition being (liaken together brifkly,
it will become fo cold, that a Man can but
ill endure the Veffel in his Hands even in
the Summer-time. Hefavs, that once, as he
was m.aking this Experiment, the Mixture
happened to freeze ; and Monfieur Geoffrey
tells us the like Accident befel him once,
on difTolving a large Quantity of Salt Ammo-
niac in Water, fome Drops on the Outfide
cf the Glafs freezing: the wet Straw where-
on it flood, was Jikewife faftened thereto
by Ice. But though he try'd many times he
could never produce Ice again.

It is not my Purpofe to enumerate the
feveral Ufes of this Salt; I lliall therefore
conclude with obferving, that it is extreme-
ly pungent, converts AQjia Fort is into an
Aqua Regia, caufes Tin to adhere to Iron,
and diflblved in common Water, is, I am
informed, a Secret for the taking avvav ot
Warts.

I CHAP.

[ 114 ]

CHAP. XVIIL

Salt of Lead,

^HIS Salt, which from the Sweetnefs of

of its Tafte is ufually called Sugar of
Lead, is prepared from Cerufe or White Lead
digefted with diftilled Vinegar in a Sand
Heat to a Diffolution : then evaporated till a
Film arifes, and fet in a cold Place to cryfta-
lize. It is therefore Lead reduced into the
Form of a Salt by the Acid of Vinegar, for
Cerufe is itfelf nothing elfe but the Ruft of
Lead corroded by Vinegar.

A little of this Salt diffolved in hot Water,
which it immediately renders milky, after
ftanding a Quarter of an Hour to fubfide, is
in a fit Condition for an Examination by the
Microfcope. A Drop of it then applyed on
a Slip of Glafs, and held over the Fire to
put the Particles in Adlion, will be (ttn
forming round the Edge a pretty even and
regular Border, of a clear and tranfparent
Film or glewy Subftance 5 fSee Plate IV.
l^"" 1, aa a a. J which, if too fudden and
violent Heat be given, runs over the whole
Area of the Drop, and hardens, and fo
|ixes on the Glafs, as not to be got off with-
out much DifBculty. But if a moderate
Warmth be made ufe of (which likewife
muft not be too long continued) this Border

pro»

Salt of Lead, poifonoiis, i 1 5

proceeds a little Way only into the Drop,
with a Kind of radiated Figure compoled
of a Number of fine Lines, or rather
Bundles of Lines, beginniniJ: from Centers
in the interior Edge of the Border, and
fpreading out at nearly equal Diftances from
each other every Way towards the Exterior,
b b I) h. However it is obfervable that
the Diftances between the Lines are filled
up with the glewy Matter, nor do the Lines
themfelves feem detached therefrom, but
are formed tcp^ether with it. From thefe
fame Centers are produced afterwards a
Radiation alfo inwards towards the Middle
of the Drop, compofed of Parallelograms
of different Lengths and Breadths ; from one
and fometimes both the Angles whereof
there are frequently i^ttn Shootings fo ex-
ceedingly (lender, that they are perhaps the
beft Reprefentation poflible of a mathema-
tical Line, which appear like a Prolonga-
tion of one or both the Sides. The Extre-
mities of thefe Parallelo2:rams are moft
commonly cut off at right Angles, but they
are fometimes alfo feen oblique. The whole
of this Defcription is (hewn c c c c.

Centers w'ith the like Radii iffning from
them, and fome of the glutinous Matter
for their Root, are fometimes tormed in
the Drop, intirely detached trom tiie Edges,
and in thefe it is very frequent to find a Si.-i i
of fecondary Radii proceeding from fome one

1 2 oi

1 1 6 Salt of Leady poifonous.

of the primary ones, and others from then}
again to a great Number of Gradations^,
* forming thereby a very pretty Figure, th4
Reprefentation of which is given at D.

Give me Leave now to obferve, that ra-
diated Figures of Spar muchrefembling thefe,
and which probably owe their Form to the
fame Principles, are fometimes found in
Lead-Mines, of which I have at this Time
a Specimen before me.

Notwithftanding it may feem wandering
from my Purpofe, I lliould think mvfelf
greatly wanting in niy Duty towards Man-
kind, if I clofed this Chapter without warn-
ing them of the Milchiefs that may arife
from taking this or any other Preparation
of Lead internally, as the poifonous Quali-
ties of that Metal are not to be fubdued or
cured, and thofe who have much to do with
it feldom fail fadly to experience its bad Ef-
feds. I am fenfible this Salt has frequent-
ly been prefcribed in Quincies, Inflamma-
tions, and other Diforders where great
Cooling has been judged necefiary : But
Dr. Boerhaave. declares he never knew it
given with Succefs, nor durft himfeh^ ever
prefcribe it internally, froni his Knowledge
that there is fcarce a more deceitful and de-
llrudive Poifon than this, which returns to
Cerufe as foon as the Acid is abforbed there-
from by ^\\N thing it may meet with : and
|hat it proves afterwards a moft dangerous

2 and

Sail of Tin. 1 17

and incurable Poilbn. Cerufe, the fine white
Powder of Lead, drawn with the Breath into
the Lungs, occafions a inofl violent and mor-
tal Aflhma j fwallowed with the Spittle it
produces inveterate Diftempers in theVifcera,
intolerable Paintings, Pains, Obflrudlions,
and at laft Death itfelf : which terrible Eftcdls
are feen daily amongft thofe who work in
Lead, but principally amongft the White-
Lead Makers *.

The Fumes of melted Lead are a Secret
Xvith fome for the fixing of Quickfilver, and
rendering it fo folid that it may be caft into
Moulds, and Images may be formed of it,
which when cold, are not only hard, but
fome what brittle, like Re^ulus of Anti-
mony %,

CHAP. XIX.
Salt of Tin.

SALT of lin is obtained in the fame
Manner as Salt of Lead, by digcfting
the calcined Metal in diftilled Vinegar, and
fetting it, when poured off, \\\ a cool Place,
for the Salts to flioot : which they will do
in the Form of Cubes.

I 3 Thi3

■' Bcerhaa've's Chemijlry by Sha^x\ Vol. 11. pag. 286.
X Vid, Sherley on the Origin of Bodies^ pag. iS-

}if -'

1 18 Salt of "fin*

This cubic Salt being diffolved in Water^
and a Drop of the Solution placed under
the Microfcope, in the fvlanner before di-
redled, produces fuch an Appearance at
the Edges of the Drop 2,^ a a reprefent,
confiiling of 0(5laedra, partly tranfparent,
ftanding on long Necks, at fmall Diftances
from each other, with angular Shoots be-
tween them. At the fame time folid and
regular opake Cubes will be feen forming
themfelves in other Parts of the Drop, vid*
b h, Plate IV.

Thefe may be difcerned when their mag-
nified Size is extremely fmall ; and their Bulb
increafes under the Eye, continually, till
the Water is nearly eva.poratcd.

lathe Midft of the fame Drop, and in-
feveral Places thereof, very different Figures
will be likewife formed ; particularly great-
Numbers of flat, thin, tranfparent, hexan-
gular Bodies, c c c, fome amongft which
are thicker, as ^ ; and a few appear more
folid, and with fix Hoping Sides, riling to
a Point as if cut and polifhed, vid, d.

The Figure /'is compofed of two high
Pyramids united at their Bafe Ij. Some, in
this kind of Form, are found truncated at
one of their Ends, and others at both j

but

jl Y!>r.Woodvjard\Vi his Hifi. of FojJiJs, Vol. T. p. 222, fays.
That Grains of Tin, and the Cryilals from it^in the Mines,
are quadrilaterg.! Pyramids : and this feveral of them now
before me prove,"

Ens Veneris, ng

but then they appear like flat Bodies, not
having the four Sides of a Pyramid; as a
few of them in the Drawing flicw. — Seve-
ral of the hexagonal Bodies may be obferved
with Hoping Sides, forming a fmooth trian-
gular rifing Plane, whofe Angles point to
three intermediate Sides of the Hexagon,
njid.g: and fome have a double Triangle,
as another of the Figures fhews. — h repre-
fents one of the folid Cubes.

Thefe Cryftals are prefently deftroyed by
the Air, and converted into a Calx.

The Drawings in this Plate fhew, that
notwithftanding the feeming Affinity of the
two Metals, the Configurations of Salt of
Tin bear not the leafl Refemblance to thofe
of Salt of Lead. In convulfive and epi-
leptic Cafes, Salt of Tin is given internally
with good Succefs.

CHAP. XX.

Ens Veneris.

AS Chemifts give the Name of Venus
to Copper^ one would imagine their
Ens Veneris to be a Preparation of that Metal :
whereas it is in reality a Sublimation of the
Salt of Steel or Iron * with Sal Avmioniac \

I 4 and

• Qre?n Vitriolh ufually employed inftead of Salt o/Stcel*

1^0 "Rns Venerh,

and therefore might be called Ens Mar its
with better Reafon. It muft however be
acknowledged, that blue Vitriol was em-
ployed formerly inftead of Salt of Steel ;
and 7/jat, being impregnated with Copper,
rendered the Name lefs improper: but the
E?7s Veneris our Shops afford at prefent, has
nothing of Copper in it.

It diffolves ealily in Water, and gives to
the Solution fated with it a Colour refem-
bling that of Mountain Wine: which Co-
lour its Cryflals likewife retaining, appear
(as they form before the Microfcope) like
the moft beautiful Chryfolites or T'opazes,
feemingly cut with the greateft Elegance,
in Shape as the Plate fhews; and refledting
an extraordinary Luftre from their polifhed
Surfaces, if the Candle be fo fhifted as to
favour its being feen.

After the Solution has flood an Hour or
Iwo to fettle, (for if ufed immediately ks
Foulnefs will prove inconvenient) a Drop
thereof placed an a Slip of Glafs, and warm-
ed a little over the Candle, begins ihooting
from the Edges with folid transparent An-
gles, as {m the Drav/ing) a a. Plate IV.
Thefe, if only a gentle Heat has been given,
will fometimes form, then diffolve, and
afterwards form a^ain.

The Cryilals b b within the Drop, and
underneath the -fame i, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, are
likewife beft formed by a gentle Heat, and

may

E?2S Veneris, I2.f

ftiny be difcovercd in the Fluid, when their
magnified Appearance is no bigger than a
Pin's Point, gradually increafing every Mo-
ment with regular Sides and Angles, polifli-
ed Surfaces, and the Brightnefs of precious
Stones. If too violent an Heat be given,
inftead of fuch Cryftals, compound Figures
will be formed, very fuddenly, refembling
that at Cy confining of parallel ftrait Lines,
pointed with large folid Spear-like Heads
of Cryftal, along the Sides of which are
placed, at right i\ngles, great Numbers of
fmall Cryrtals of the like Shape as the
Drawing ihews. — If the Heat has been
little, though the fame kind of Forms will
be prefented, they will not appear till the
Moifture be nearly dryed away, when they
will fhoot out with amazing Quicknefs.
Some fmaller Compofitions are alfo not
unufually feen, as at d.

But the Singularity of this Preparation is,
that in fome Part or other of the Drop, you
will feldom fail to find a very regular and
well-fafhioned two-edged Sword of Cryflal,
forming under the Eye, in fuch Shape as
e reprefents, though more exa(ft and well-
proportion'd : for fufpedling fuch a Figure
might be fuppofed imaginary, lefs Regula-
rity has been, defignedh^ given it, than it
will be really found to have. Sometime?^
two, three, or more, fuch cryftaline Swords
are feen in the fame Drop.

The

i 2*2 Flowers of Antimony,

The regular Cryitals of this Subjedl foori
lofe the Sharpnefs and Elegance of their
Form; but its compound Configu ration s^
whofe Beauty and Regularity are not to be
conceived from Defcription, though when
the Fluid is nearly evaporated they feem
blunted and indiftind, yet afterwards^ whert
the Moifture is quite gone, they recover
their former Appearance, and may be pre-
ferved a long while, by the Method before
direded, /^- 36. Salt of Amber, and fome
other Salts, lofe and recover themfelves after
the fame Manner.

CHAP. XXL

V lowers of A n t i m o n Y.

"^IiE Flowers of A?2fmony are coUedled
__ in forrii of a w^hite Powder, from
the Fumes of burning Antimony ^ by means
. of, a Glafs Vefiel placed oyer it ; and are
foppofed to contain the mod active Salts
and Sulphur^^ of that Mineral. The great-
eft Part of thefe" Flowers when they are
-well IHrred about/in Water, fink to the
bottom thereof, leavino' the Salts diffolved
'and fufpended therein 3 and on placing a
T)rop of fuch Water on a Slip of Glafs, and
^giving it a gentle Heatj numbers of flender

and

Antimony the Bujis ^Noflrums. 123

and extremely fharp-pointed Spicule will be
ic^n forming at the Edges of the Drop, as
Plate IV. a a a. At the fame time mi-
nute Particles of the Powder that were alfo
fufpended in the Fluid, will be brought
together by a mutual Attradlion, and unite
a little farther within the Drop, in Confi-
gurations refembling a fine Mofs or Coral-
line, very beautiful and curious to be-
hold : vid. h ^.— The Middle of the Drop
ufually remains clear and void of every
thing.

Antimony (the Stibium of the Ancients)
is found in many Countries : it is compofed
of glittering, brittle Strict like Needles, the
Colour of polifli'd Steel ; fometimes run-
ning parallel to each other, and fometimes
lying in different Direcftions. — If taken as a
Medicine in its native Condition, it is fup-
pofed very harmlefs, occafioning no fenfible
Diforder in the Body : but, after the Che-
mifl has tryed his Art upon it, it becomes
capable of purging or vomiting with great
Violence, even in a very fmall Quantity, and
therefore ihould be adminiftred with much
Caution. Its Operation is however extreme-
ly uncertain; the fame Dofe at fome times
feeming to have no EfFed: at all, which
at other times will operate upwards and
downwards in fuch Manner as to threaten the
Patient's Life. This makes mcft Phyficians
afraid to meddle with the more elaborate

Prep a-

124 Antimony the Ba/is of Noftrums.

Preparations of it ; though 'tis generally .ac*
knowledged, that if the Manner of theit
Operation was certain, or their Violence
could be fufficientiy reftraiiied, great Cures
might be expe6ted from them. Several
Najlrnmsy exhibited in very fmall Dofes,
under different Forms, and cryed up as al-
moft univerfal Remedies, ard believed, not
without Probability, to be Preparations of
this Mineral; from the hke Uncertainty in
their Operation, and the' Vidlence w^here-
with they fometimes adt.

As this Uncertainty is too notorious tb
be denied, the Difpenfers of thefe Medi-
cines plead, that the Manner of their Ope-
ration depends intirely on the Conftitution
and Diflemper of the Patient, but alv^ays
tends to produce a Cure: for, fay they, if
vomiting be moft neceffary, the Medicine
will prove emetic, and that juft fo long
and with fuch a Degree of Force as is
requilite to bring away the morbid Mat-
ter; on the contrary, if purging be more
conducive to a Cure, the morbid Matter
will be carried downwards ; and if the
Difeafe requires neither purging nor vo-
miting, neither will be excited, but the
Diforder will be cured by Perfpiration or
fom.e other infenfible Way. — The Truth
of this I have nothing at all to do with,
but refer the Coii^deration of it to thofe
to whom it more properly belongs : per-
mit^

Corrofroe SubUmatey and Arfciuc. 125

fnlt me only to obfervc, that whatever
Drug can operate as this does, mufl be
capable of producing great Good or Harm
in animal Bodies, according as its Powers
can or cannot be dircded or regulated : and
confequently, whoever can dilcover Means
to corred: its Violence, and render it a per-
fedly fate Medicine, will deferve greatly of
Mankind.

I fliall conclude tin's Head with taking
Notice, that the Star-like Shootings on the
Regiihis of Antimony, about which fome
Chemifts make much ado, are nothing more
than the natural Configuration of its
Salts *o ■

CHAP. XXIL

Corrojive Subli?natey and Arfenlc.

MERCURY, purified Nitre, (or the
_ Spirit of it) calcined Vitriol, and

Sea-falt, are the Ino;r<:fdients from w-hich
(^orrojrce Sublimate, or Mercury Sublimate^ is
prepared ; which is one of the mcfl violent

and

* ^eculus cf Antmony made up in a proper Form and
Size, is called \\v^' Perpetual Pill, becaufe it receives vcr)^
little Diminution, the' carried, through tae Stomach and
Bowels fifty time?, and will purge every time take it
as often as you pLafe. Antimcn'nd Cups ar^" made like-,
v-'ife cf this Regulus, which for a long Time will rend e?
\\'ine put into ihem emetic.

J 26 Configurations of Sublimate.

and deadly Poifons we know, lacerating and
excoriating the Vifcera, by its keen and
active Spiculse, till a Gangrene and Death
, enfue ; unlefs proper Remedies are immedi-
ately ufed to prevent it.

A Drop of the Solution of this Subli-
mate in Water, appears by the Microfcope
to begin fhooting from the Edges, as at
>, Plate IV. immediately after which, diffe-
rent fhaped Bodies are feen pufhing onward
towards the Middle ; fome quite ftrait and
extremely iharp like the Points of Needles,
others widening themfelves towards their
Extremities, and bending in fuch Manner
as to refemble Razors with keen Edges :
amongft thefe many are jagged and in-
dented like Saws, fome on one Side only,
and fome on both Sides ^ all which Par-
ticulars I hope the Drawing will render
intelligible, vid. b b. Thofe that widen
towards^ their Ends, jftop their Progrefs,
when advanced to the Condition reprefented:
but fuch as are ftrait and tapering to a
Point proceed very flowly towards the
Middle of the Drop, and fometimes much
beyond it, forming long Spikes moft ex-
quifitely fharp-pointed, vid, e e, — A few
extraordinary Figures appear fometimes,
ferrated on both Sides, but in a contrary
Dirediion, and ending with a very fharp
Point, as is ihewn at c: Others are like-
wife" feen, now and then, having four Sides,

with

Cotifigurations of Sublimate. 1 27

with IcGen Edges that run tapering to a
Point, and form an Inftrument hke the
long Head of a Spear exceedingly fliarp*-
pointed, as at 4'

When the Water is nearly exhaled^^
another Sort of Configurations are formed
very fuddenly, confiding of innumerable
little Lines difpofed in a very curious and
wonderful Manner, as the two Figures f f
endeavour to repreient. And often ^though
not always) one or two Configurations
flioot out, when one would thin'; all dyer,
refembling what is^'fliewn at g^ but mu'J.i
more elegant and regular, and relleffing
(I fuppofe from the extreme Thinnefs' of
the component Salts) with great Brilliance
and Luftre all the beautiful Colours of the
Rainbow, if the Candle be placed toad-
vantage. Which Circumftance, together
with the Shape of this Configuration, in-
duces me to call it the Peacock's ^aiL
The Configurations ff reflecl Piifm Co-
lours alfo, but in a much lefs Degree of
Perfeffion *.

The Compartment B is intended to
fhew, what happens frequently to this and
many other Solutions, when a Drop is
placed on a Slip of Glafs, for Examina-
tion by the Microfcope : that is to fay,

fome

* All thefe laft mentioned Configurations appear like
delicate Engravings and aftorJ the pretdcft ii^iit iuii-
ginabie. * ^

1 2S Arfenic made from Cohalt,

fome fmall Part of the faid Drop becomes
fo feparated from the reft, as to make ^
fort of fmaller Drop, wherein a more mi-
nute kind of Configurations are formed,
upon the fame Plan as the larger ones iri
the Drop itfelf And this the Reader may
conceive better, by viewing the Picture be-
fore him, than by any Defcription in my
Power to give.

As Corrojive Siiblmate and Arfenic arc
two Poifons nearly alike in their Opera-
tion and fatal Confequences, I think it
beft to treat of thera together in this
Chapter.

The Fumes that rife from * Cobalt^ in
making of Smalt from that Mineral, being
colled:ed under the Appearance of a whitifli
Soot, that Soot, by a farther Procefs, is
converted into the common White Arfenic^
which is what I now am fpeaking of.
It is brought to us in flattifli Pieces of
feveral Pounds Weight, and when newly
troken appears tranfparent like Glafs or

Cryftal,

* Cohalt IS a hard and heavy mineral Subftance, common-
ty o'i a blackifh grey Colour, fomewhat refembling the Ore
of Antimony, but lefs fparkling and more difficult to break.
Some of it has Spots of a Purple or rather crimfon Co-
lour, which are called tlie FJonvers of Cokalt, When
foalled or calcined in a reverberatory Furnace with cer-
tain Proportions of Pot Alhes and common Salt, it pro-
educes a dark blue, glalTy, or cryllaline Matter called
Zaffer or Smalt, and the Fumes coUefted in this Procefs
afford W different Management the JFhlte, Tellc-iv ar.d
t$d Jr/enicu

Y\.a\-

Chryjtals of Ens Veneris.

^

JW

7 \

s

^ E Ji aker der

t/T 2>fjfn(lc J'c

jieiv. /^<i.'i8. Salt of Lead.

llowers oi'Antimony.

Salt of Tin.

Ens Veneris .

Corrofive Sublimate.

^^^^"STk^P^TT.

Chryjtals ofEjis Veneris.

y/, M^nde y>

Arfenic not cafily Sdliiblc, \z^

Cryftal, with a browniOi Hue; but after
a tew Days it becomes opake, acquires a
milky glofly Whitencfs, and looks like
white Enamel. When reduced to Powder it
appears extremely white, and is frequently
fold in the Shops by the Name oi Raf/ha?je,

Notwithftanding this Subflance certainly
abounds with Salts, as its cryftaline Ap-
pearance and its cauftic and corrofive Qua-
lities fufficiently evince, they are fo fheathed
or locked up (as the Chemiflis exprefs
themfelves) in their Sulphurs, that they
are very difficult to be feparated and brought
to view. Dr, Mead fays. White Arfenic
is intirely foluble, if one Part of it be
fufficiently boiled iii fifteen Parts of di-
llilled or Rain Water -f*, wdiich (with what
I fliall mention prefently) gives me reafon
to imagine there may be a Difference in
Arfenic, from perhaps a different Way of
preparing it; for notv^ithftanding I have
boiled fmall Quantities, for a long while
together, in much larger Proportions of
Water, to the Confumption of the greateft
Part, I always found mod of the Arfenic
at the Bottom undiffolved. Nor amongft
the Chemifts could I ever obtain any of
its Salts, which I was greatly defirous to
examine by the Mic-rofcope *.

K Some-

t Mead on Poifons, 3(1 Edit. pag. 217.
* A Phyftcian of great Eminence gave me once a fmall
ftroi-tranfparent brown Mafs, fliot out in Angles, which

a Chemift

J 30 Cry jlah of White Arfenic.

Sometimes^ iiidesd. In a Drop of tlie
Water wh rein Arienic has been boiled, I
have difcovered a very lew lingle Odlaedra,
confifting of eight triangular Planes, or two
Pyramids joined Bafe to Bafe ; which un-
doubtedly is the true Figure of its Cry-
ftals, as I have iince been fully convinced
by the Afliftance of an ingenious Friend,
who found means to diffolve an Ounce
of the white cryjlaline Arfenic in about
three Pints of Water, of which, after eva-
porating a confiderable Part, he brought
a Phial-fall to me. It was then a very
clear and ponderous Liquor, without any
Appearance of Cryflals : but in a few
Days, I found the Sides of the Phial,
even as high as the Surface of the Liquor,
pretty thickly covered with very mi-
nute Cryflals, adhering firmly to the
Glafs, fo as not eafily to be removed, but
diftind: and feparate from one another. On
examining them with Glailes, I found them
to be Od:aedra, uncommonly hard and in-
foluble. After near fix Months I don't per-
ceive their Size to be at all inlarged, or their
Number to be increafed, A Drop of the

Solution,

a Chemlfi: had prefented to him as the true Salt of
Arfenic, and I had great Hopes by this to have gra-
tified my Curiofity : but when I came to try it> I found
it abfolutely infoluble, even in boiling Water, after its
being reduced, to Powder ; and from its Appearance, its
Ifardnefs, and other Circumftances, I am very fufpicious
li was no Qther than gommon Spar.

Mr/chiefs by ArfeniCy ho'-j:) curca. X'i^t
Solution, examined on a Slip of Clafs,
either heated over a Candle, or left to
evaporate of itfclf, notwithflanding its be-
ing lated with the Pa; tides of Arfenic,
produces no Configurations, and hardly any
Cryflals, leaving only a white Powder be-
hind it upon the Glafs : whofe Particles,
whihl the Water gradually evaporates, ap-
pear like minute Globules, even fmaller thaa
thofe of the Blood.

This White Arfenic is much more dan-
gerous than the yellow or red, being a
deadly Poifon to all living Creatures : the
Symptoms it brings o'^i arc much the fame
as thofe of Corrojive Sublimatey viz. Sick-
nef^^ Fainting, Convulfions, cold Sweats,
intolerable Heat and Thirft, Erofion of the
Stomach and Inteitines, Inflammation, Gan-
grene, and Death. But its Action is (low-
er than that of Sublimate, for its Salts are
fo fheathed by its Sulphurs, that they begin
not to operate, till thofe Sulphurs become
rariiied by the Heat of the Body, and (<:t
the Salts at Liberty 3 infomuch that a Pa-
tient may be faved after it has been fw al-
lowed half an R'oiir, bv drinkins: laro-e
Quantities of Olive- Oil, or melted frcili
Butter, or Lard, if Oil be not at hand, till
by Difcharges upwards and downwards, an
Abatement of the Symptons Aews the Poi-
fon to be carried oft. Salt of Tartar dif-
iblved in Broth or Water, is alfo greatly com-

K 2 mended

1 3 2 Cafes of Mf chief by Affenk.

mended in this dangerous Cafe, along witfi
the foregoing Remedies, as a Corrector of
this Poifon, and fo like wife is Milk. The
fame Method is advifeable where Sublimate
has been fwallowed, but then it mud be em-
ployed very fpeedily, or no Relief can be ex-
peded. After either of thefe Poifons has
been difcharged, drinking Milk for a few
Days, and a gentle Purge or two, are very
proper to compleat the Cure *.

The

* Dr. Biair^ in his Letter to Dr. Mead on the EiFedls
of Jrfenic upon human bodies, gives two remarkable
Cafes ; the one of a Woman, who was killed by this Poi-
fon mixed with Flummery ; which fhe eating abaut eleven
o'clock at Night, was feized immediateiy with violent
Purgings and Vomitings, that continued till four o'Clock
in the Morning, when fhe died convuliive. The Poifon
had been fo well wrapt up in the Flummery, that on
her being opened the Oefophagus was no ways altered t
but the Dodor was furprized to find the Stomach fo full
of Liquor, having been informed fhe had eat or drank
very little the Day before the Poifon was given. It
contained a greeniih Subftance, without any Colour or
-Appearance of fuch a digefted Mafs as ufes to be in
the Stomach, with feveral thick Coagula about the big-
nefs of Walnuts, fufpending fome fmall Quantities of a
■whitifh grofs Powder. When this Liquor was emptied,
he found reddilh and blackifh Striae all over the Pilorus,^
being fo many inA^amed Lines refembling the Branchings
of Blood-veiTels, upon which the grofs whitilh hard
Powder lay in fuch Quantitiy, that after being well dried
it weighed between a Scruple and half a Dram. All
along the Inteftines, as he laid them open down to the
Anus, he found fo much of the fame kind of Liquor,
without either Colour, Coniiflence, or Smell of an Ex-
crement, as filled a Quart Bottle : which feemed extra-
ordinary, confidering the great Evacuations before her
Pcath. He infers, that the Glands throughout the whole

Privue

Steams of Ajfen'ic bow ??jiJchievous. 1 3 3

The Fumes or Steams of Arfenic are ex-
ceedingly pernicious, and commonly diflin-
gui/li thcmfelves by an abominable ftinking
Smell like Garlic; tho' Otto T'achenhis fays,
in his Hippocrates Chemicusy that after many
Sublimations of Arfenic, on opening the
VefTel, he fucked in fo grateful and fweet a
Vapour that he greatly admired it, having
never experienced the like before : but in
about half an Hour, his Stomach began to
ake and became contracted, a Convulfion of
all his Limbs fucceeded, he m^ade bloody
Urine with incredible Heat, was fcized v/ith

K 3 Cholic,

Primee Vice mull have been moil; violently comprefs'd, to
fqueeze fuch Quantities of Liquor into the Stomach and
Intellines.

The other Cafe is of a Lady, who on tailing (by
Miftake) only fo fmall a Quantity of White Arfenic as
adhered to the Tip of her Finger, found herfelf with-
in two Hours in great Diforder, grew faint, fell in a
Swoon, and loft her Senfes before fhe could he laid in
Bed. A Phyfician being called, prcfcribed an Emetic,
which made her vomit a large Quantity of fuch Sort of
greenifh Liquor as in the former Cafe ; after which ihe
voided by Stool feveral Globules of greenifh Coagulum,
of the Bignefs, Colour, and nearly the Confiilence of
Pickled Olives. Thefe Difcharges being over, and Alexi-
pharmics given, fhe fvveated plentifully, and flept well
and when fhe awaked her Skin was fpeckled with livid
and purplifh Spots. She recovered in a few Davs, and
becanie psrfeclly well. The Doftor obferves, that'thefe
greenifh Coagula are what ^r/'cWr ufuallv produces, when
internally given ; the Knowledge of which may be cf
ufc to thofe who may have occafion to open Bodies on
Sufpicion of their having been poifoned thereby. See
^/^;r's Mifc, Objeri;c:iQ!:s, pag. ^2.

X34 ^tea?ns of Arfenk kow tn'jikkvous,

Cholic Pains and cramped all over for aq
Hour or twos when thefe ugly Syniptoms
were taken away by his drinking Milk and
Oil, and he became indifferently well 3 they
were followed however by a flow Fever like
an Hedic, which ftuck by him the whole
Winter, and of which he recovered very
flowly by a proper Regimen in Diet -j^.

The extreme Subtilty and Penetrability of
thefe Steams are remarkably manifeil: by
their furprizing Effefc in the Experiment

of

f Glauber tells us, in his Treatlfe ds Salihus, that
Cobalt and Arfsnic, tho' violent Poifons, are yet harmlefs
nnlefs taken in Subftance, but if exalted by a Sublimation
with Salts and rendered volatile, the very Fumes of them
will kill, as is well known to thofe who prepare the
Water called Aqua gradatoria from a Mixture of Vitriol,
Nitre and Arfenic, the leaft Vapour or Fume whereof
inflantly affects the Heart with the moft horrid Tremors,
and exceedingly dif:>rders the Brain itfelf: a Candle
will likewife be nearly extingviifhed in the faline Fumes
|;hereof.

In Dr. Mead^s Mechanical Account cf Pcifons, 3d Edit.
page 225, are thefe Vv^ords, " I had once in my Poilef-
** fion, given me by an ingenious Chemift, a clear Li-
f* quor, which though ponderous, was fo volatile, that it
♦* would all fiy away in the open Air without beino-
" heated ; and fo corrofive, that a G^afs Stopple of the
** Bottle which contained it, v/as in a fhort Time fa
"^^ eroded, that it could never be taken put. The Fume
^* from it was fo thin, that if a Candle v/as fet at fime
" Difl^nce from the Bottle, upon a Table, the Heat would
** direct its Courfe that Way ; fo that it might be poifonous
*< to any one that fat near to the Light, and to nobody;
'' betides. ^' The Do6lnr very humanely conceaie this
CpilipQiitipnj Icil an ill Ufe might be made thereof.

Sympathetic Ink. 135

of the Ink called Sympathetic \. A Grain
of Arfeaic will alio convert a Pound of Cop-

K 4 per

X As fomc of my Readers may pofllbly not know the Ex-
periment here referred to, 1 fiiall give it by Way of
Note, which thofe acquainted with it may if they pleafe
pafs over.

Orpiment half an Ounce, and one Ounce of Quicklime,
being powdered fcparatcly, then mix'd together, and put
into a Matras with five or fix Ounces of Water, ftop the
VefTei clofe, and digcfl in a gentle Sand Heat for ten or
twelve Hours, fhaking the Mixture often. The Liquor,
when fettled, will be very clear.

This being prepared, write, with a ftrcng Solution cf
Saccharum Saturni made in common Water, on a Piece of
clean Paper, and when it is dry nothing wiil be feen at
all. Put the Paper with this invifible Writing betv/een
the very beginning Leaves of a Book ; then with a Brufli
or Piece of Spunge, dipt in the Liquor prepared with Or-
piment, wet another Paper, and place it at the End of
the fame Book, cppofite to the firft Paper. Shut the Book
nimbly, and with your Hand flrike on it tv,'0 or three
fmart Blows; and if it be very thick fqueeze it in a Prefs,
or fit upon it a few Minutes; after wliich, on opening
the Book, you'll find the invifible Writing black and le-
gible, by the fubtile Penetration of the Steams of the
Qrpiment through all the Leaves.

Quench burning Cork in Spirit of Wine, and when 'tis
finely powdered make Ink, by mixing a fufiicient Quan-
tity of it in Water a little thickened with Gum. Write on
a Paper with the Solution of Sacchanim Saturni^ and v/hen
'tis dry and invifible, write again upon the fame Place
with your Cork and Water which wiil appear like com-
mon Ink ; when 'tis dry rub it over with fome Cotton
wetted in the Preparation of Orpiment, and immediately
the Writing that was vifible will difappear, and the in-
vifible Writing will prefent itfelf very legible inflead there-
of. Thc.'e are pretty Experiments, which I feveral times
have tried ; but they fhouid be made in the open Air,
and with great Caution, the Fumes of the Orpiment ftinkr
ing mofc abominably, and being produ^ive of rreat Mif^
chiefs if taken i;ito the l^ungs.

13^ Experiments how to know Arjenic

per into a beautiful Refemblance of Silveri*
but renders it brittle at the fame Timcw

Otto

APvSENIC being the Poifon moll commonly made ufe
of by wicked People to deftroy others, and by defpairing
Wretches to put an End to their own Lives, I fnall I hope
]^e excufed, for adding this Note of Infcru6lion how to make
Tryal of a.^.y Sabftauce fufpefted of being Jr/cnic: and like-
wife how to judge of the Symptoms it produces when taken;
colle(5led from the recent unhappy Cafe of Mr. Blandy.

This Gentleman was poifoned by Arfenic, given him by
Ms own Daughter in Water Gruel ; at the Bottom of a
Pan of which a Servant Maid finding an unufual white
gritty Subllance, and fufpefting Mifchief, from having {^zrx
her Miflrefs flirring fomething into it, flie ihewed it to ant
Apothecary^ who fayed a little Quantity of the Sediment,,
which was dryed, and examined by Dr. Addingtoti.

The Doctor's Account of Whits Arfetik upon the Trial
of Mifs Blandy, was, that v/hen powdered it has a Milky
Whitenefs, is gritty and almoftiniipid. Fart fvvims on the
Surface of cold Water like a pale fulphureous Film, but
the greatell Part links to the Bottom, and remains there
wndifTolved. Thrown on red hot Iron, it does not flame,
but rifes intirely in thick white Fumes, v/hich have the
Stench of Garlic, and coyer cold Iron h^ld over them with
white Flowers. The Powder he examined did exa6lly the fame.

He boiled ten Grains of powdered Arfenic in four Ounces
of clean Water, which he filtered, divided into five equal
Parts, and put into as many GlafTes. — On pouring into the
:^rfl Glafs a few Drops of Spirit of Sal Ammoniac, it threw
down a few Particles of a pale Sediment. Some Lixivium
of Tartar poured into the fecond, produced a white Cloudo
lianging a little above the Middle of the Glafs. Strong
Spirit of Vitriol poured into the third, made a conlider-
^ble Precipitation of a lightifh coloured Subllance, which
};ardened \i\\o glittering Cryllals, flicking to the Sides and
Bottom Qiiii t Glafs. Spirit of Salt poured into the fourth,
precipitated alightilh cploured Subllance. Syrup of Violets
in the fifth, produced a beautiful pale green Colour. —
Ten Grains of the Sediment from the Gruel, fryed in the
fame Manner, afforded the fame Appearances exaftly.

The Symptoms produced by this Poifon in Mr. Blandy^
were burning and pricking in the Tongue, Throat, Stomach,
^Jid Bowels J Sicknefsj Gripings, Vomiting and Purging^
**'■'-"■••■■''-'"'■' ^ ^ ■■ '■■ bloody

Its Syf?:pto7}is andjatal Eff'ccls, i 37

Otto Tachenius fays, that Silver ipay be ob-
tained from Tin by Arfenic.

CHAP,

blcody Stools, Excoriation of the Fundament, Swelling of
the Belly, cxquifite Pains and Prickings in every external as
well as internal Part of the Body, which he compared to an
infinite Number of Needles darting into him all at once.
Uncahncfs in the Mouth, Lips, Nofe and Eyes ; Lips dry
and rough with angry Pimples on theiii, inflde of the Noftrils
in the fome Condition, the Eyes a little BloodQiot; cold
Sweats, Hiccup, extreme Reftlefsnefs and Anxiety, low
trembling intermittiag Pulfe, difficult unequal Refpiration,
Difficulty of Speech, Inability of Swallowing, and (theCon-
fequence of all thefe cruel Symptoms) Death.

Dr. Addington and Dr. Le-ivis on examining the dead Body,
found it in the following Condition, <vi-z. The Back, hinder
par; of the Arms, Legs and Thighs, were livid. The Fat on
the Mufcles of the Belly of a lopfe Texture, inclining to a
State of Fluidity ; the Mufcles themfelves pale and flaccid.
The Cawl yellower than natural, and on the Side next the
Stomach and Inteilines, browniffi. The Heart variegated
with Purple Spots ; and no Water in the Pericardium. The
Lungs like Bladders filled with Air, and blotted as it were
in fome Places with pale, but in mofl with black Ink.
The Liver and Spleen much difcoloured : the Liver look-
ed as if boiled, but that Part which covered the Stomach
particularly black. The Bile fluid, of a dirty yellow in-
clining to red. The Kidneys ftained all over with livid
Spots. The Stomach and Bowels inflated, and appearing
before any Incifion, as if pinched and extravafatcd Blood
had been ftagnated between their Membranes. They
contained nothing, as far they were examined, but a fiimy
bloody Froth : their Coats remarkably fmooth, thi:-! and
fjabby. The Wrinkles of the Stomach totally obliterated :
its internal Coat and the Duodenum prodigioufly inii^.mcd

and excoriated. Vid. M/fs Blandys Tryal, Folio, pag.

12, 13, 14^ 15.

As Arfenic is not ufed in Medicine, it would be well
if the Apothecaries and Chemifls did not keep it in their
Shops. Selling now and then a Pennyworth to kill f ats,
(and even, in doing that many fad Accidents have hap-
pened) can furely induce no jrood Man to rifle the Pofll-
bility of putting this harrid Poifpn into wicked Hands.

[ ^38 ] ,
CHAP. XXIII.

Salt of Amber.

HE pretty Shootings of this extra-
ordinary Salt are exceedingly enter-
taining, though its Progreffions are fo very
flow, that fome Patience is neceflary to wait
for and attend to the whole Courfe of its^
Configurations : but a curious Obferver will
find from it at lail a Pleafure fufficient to
reward his Attention.— Its firft Shootings at
the Edge of the Drop, after it has been held
for a few Seconds over the Flame of a Lamp
or Candle, appear irregular, as at a a, Plate
V. Some Figures puih out foon after, be-
yond the reft, and are curved and tapering
to a Point, as b b. Very elegant Figures will
be feen forming themfelves in other Places
at the fame time, and refembling Sprigs
of Fir or Yew: Numbers of thefe rife to-
gether, each having a main Stem very
thickly befet with little Shootings from Top
to Bottom, in fome on both Sides, but in
others on one Side only ; which Difference
will be underftood by a View of the Figures
cc. The downy Feathers of Birds appear
in the fame Kind of Form when examined
by the Microfcope. As the Progreffion goes
on. Branches will be found iffuing from the
Sides of the former Shootings, vid. d : and
in fome Places of the Drop feveral Grada-
tions

Its Configurations, \ 'xc^

tiorrs of Branchings will be perceived to fuc-
ceed one another, to divide and fubdividc af-
ter a mofl wonderful Order, reprelcnting at
the laft a Winter Scene of Trees v^'ithout
Leaves, a Specimen of which is fhewn at
t\ — The laft Adion of this curious Salt pro-
duces Figures exquifitely delicate, bearing
no Refemblance to any thing that preceded,
but appearing like the Flourifhes or Engrav-
ings of a Mafcerly Hand, in the Manner re-
preiented at j'[/! This Part of the Opera-
tion beo-ins not till the Water is nearly ex-
haled, and whilft it is performing the Scene
appears a good deal confufed -, but after
waiting till the Water is intirely dryed away,
a thoufand Beauties will prefent themfelves
perfectly diftincfl and clear \ for the Confi-
gurations cf this Salt do not break away,
or melt in the Air, as mofl others do, but
may be preferved on the Glafs Slip for a long
while afterwards, iffo be nothing is fuftered
to rub them off.

It would give me great Pleafure, was
it poflible, from the Configurations of
this Salt, to trace out, with any Degree
of Certainty, the Generation or Pro-
duction of Amber ; a Subie(5l about which
Natiiralifts are exceedingly divided and
perplexed : Some fuppofing it an, animal
Subftance, others a reiinous vegetable con-
creted Juice, and others a natural Foilil or
Mineral : but the Shootings of its Salt are
fo very different fromeverj^ other Kind, that

4 they

I ^o ^mher^ uncertain how produced*

they afford little or no Ground on which to
laife a Conjedure : however, the general
Figures round the Edge have I think a Sor^
of mineral Chara6ler, and the Feather-lik^
Bodies tend a little towards the Shootings of
fome of the Vitriols. The curved fingle Lines
ff, which appear like Drawings with a Pen,
are fo peculiar to this Salt, that, for want of
finding them elfewhere, one can form no
Judgment from whence they derive their
Form; and the Cafe is the fame as to thofe
Shootings which refemble naked Trees. I
fhall not pretend therefore to infer any thing
from thefe Figures : but, before I intirely
quit the Subjed:, fliall prefent a few ^eries
to the Confideration of my curious Readers.
^lere i. Does not Amber when ana-
lized, afford a confiderable Quantity of Oily
in Smell, Colour, InflammabHity and Confi-
ftence like the White, or rather Amber-co-
loured Naptba, a Proportion of Acid Salt,
and a Caput Morttmm or Earthy Subftance .^
and if fo, does it not feem probable, that
fuch a bituminous Oil iixt by an acid Salt,
with more or kfs of an Earthy Subftance, is
really the Compoiition of Amber "^^ ?

^ere-

* In the Diftillation of Amber there firft rifes a thin lim-
pid Oil, then an Oil yellow and tranfparent, which is fuc-
ceeded by a volatile acid Salt and a red Oil fomewhat clou-
dy : agrofs fat Oil like Turpentine comes over next, and
h& of all a thick black Matter. At the Bottom remains a
fmall Quantity of a Caput Mortmim. Yi^. Boerhaa've's Ana-
lyfis of Amber, Vol. lid of his Chemifl:ry,Procefs 87. Hart-
man obtained an Ounce of volatile Salt from i £ of whit9
Amber, whereas 5 £ of yellow aiForded fcarce a Diam.

^icrtcs conccrnitJg Amber, 141

S^iicrc 2. If it be inquired, where thefe
Materials are to he found, and how they can
be brought together ? may it not be aiiiwer-
cd, that in Ibnie Countries, and particularly
in Pe?Jiih near the Cafplan Sea, there are
Springs where JSaptba riles cut of the
Bowels of the Earth ; and that the Ground
thereabouts is io laturated therewith^ that, on
fcraping off the Surface, and applying a
Candle near it, a Fume arifing therefrom im-
mediately takes Fire, and continues burn-
ing, with a clear and conftant Flame, until
it becomes extinguiilied by throwing Earth
upon it, or fmothering it by fome other
Means * ? If therefore, fuch bituminous

Oil

* Two Letters now lie before me, with Accounts of thefe
Naptha Springs ; one from Dr. James Mcunjcy, Phyfician to
the Army of ihe Czarina^ the other from Jonas H^inivajjECq;
both Gentlemen, who by their Travels, their Refidence in
Mufco^jy, and their Acquaintance with feveral People who^
have been upon the Spot, have had great Opportunities of
becoming perfedlly informed of every thing relating to this
Suhjeft ; and whofe Judgment and Veracity may be depend-
ed on. Both their Accounts agree, that on the Weflera
Coaft of the Cafpian Sea^xvox. far from the City of ^^/i/^, there
is a large Spot of Ground, where, on taking oft 2 or 3 Inches"
of the Surface of the Earth, and then applying a live Coaf,
the Place uncovered catches Fire, even before the Coal
touches the Ground, and fends forth a lio-ht blue Flame,
which goes not out unlefs it be fmothered by throwing Earth,
or fomething elfe upon it. This Flame makes the Earth
hot, but does notconfume it. If a Tube (even of Paper) or a
Reed be fet about two Inches in the Ground, and made clofe
below with Earth, on touching the Top of it with a live
Coal, and blowing, a Flame immediately iiTues forth, with-
out burning either theReed or Paper,proviied the Edges be_

coverect

J 4^ ^^cries concerning Amber,

Oil be found, and in fufficient Quantity, otir
next Enquiry will be concerning the Acid
Salt : as to which, are not the Chemifts pret-
ty generally agreed, in fuppofing, that what
they call a Vague Acid (whereby they mean^

if

covered with Clay. This Method fupplies the want of Can-
dles in their Houfes. Three or four of thefe- Canes will alfo
boil V/ater in a Potj and they drefs their Vidluals with it.
The Flame may be blowed out like that of a Lamp, but
otherwifs it continues burning; it fmells fomevv'hat fulphure-
ous, or rather like Naptha, bat very little ofFenfive. The
Ground is dry and ftony, and the more ilory the Ground
the ftronger and clearer the Flame. Near this Place they
dig Brimitone, and here are alfo Naptha Springs. But the
chief Place for Naptha h^Svjieten Illand, a fmall Tra£l of
Land on the Weilern Coaft of the Cafpian Sea, and uninhabit-
ed, except at fuch Seafons as they fetch Naptha from thence t
which t^n^ Perfans load in their wretched Embarkations with-
out Barrels or any other VeiTels, fo that fometimes you fee
the Sea covered with it for Leagues together. The Springs
t3oil up higheft in thick and heavy Weather, and the Naptha
fometimes takes Fire on the Surface, and runs lighted or
burning into the Sea in great Quantities, and to great Dif*
tances. In clear Weather it does not bubble up above two or
three Feet. People make Cifterns near the Springs, into which
they convey what overflows by Troughs, taking off the Nap-
tha from the Surface, under which there is a Mixture of
Water or fome heavier Fluid. The greateft part is of a
dark grey Colour, very unpleafant to the Smell, but ufed in
Lamps by the poorer Sort. There are alfo Springs of black
Naptha^ wh'ch is thick, and on Diflillation grows not clear
tout vellow ; but the moll valuable is the white Naptha,
which is naturally clear and yellowifh, and bears a great
Price, The RuJ/ia7is drink it as a Cordial, but it does not
intoxicate : it is ufed alfo for Fains or Aches, and is carried
into India as a great Rarity, where they make with it the
moll beautiful andlaftingy<2//2« that has ever yet been known.
What the Indians call the E'verlafting Fire, lies about ten
Englifh Miles,N.E. by E. from the City o^ Baku, on dry rocky
Ground. There are feveral ancient Temples built with
Stone, fuppofed to have been all dedicated to Fire j moil of them

ars

wineries concerning Amhcr. 14 '5

if I underdand them aright, a volatile
fubtle Vapour,. Fume, or Spirit) exifts in tlic
Bowels of the Earth, and throughout tlie
Atmofphere near the Surface thereof; and
that by pervading, intermixing, or concret-
ing with diiierent Subilances, it corripofes

Vitriol,

are low arched Vaults, from lo to 15 Feet high. AmongH:
the relt there is a Temple in which \\\Q.Indians now worfhip ;
rear the Altar, about three Feet high, there is a large hol-
low Cane, from the End of which ilTues a Flame, in Colour
and Gentlenefs not unlike a Lamp that burns with Spirits.
The Indians affirm, this Flame has continued burning fonie
thoufands of Years, and believe it will lail to the End of the
World, and that if it was refilled or fuppreffed in this Place,
it would rife in fome other. By the Number of Temples it
is probable here were formerly a great Number of Worfhip*
pers of Fire, as well Indians 2.^ Perf.ans : they are called
Gouers, At prefent here are only about twenty Perfons, who
refideconftantly and go almcft naked. In Summer it \n
very hot, and in Winter they dwell within doors, and can
keep what Fire they pleafe in the Manner above defcribd :
they live upon Roots and Herbs for the moll part, and are
fuppofed to attend as Mediators for the Sins of many who are
abfent : and by their Applicntion to this Fire, in which the
Deity is fuppofed to be prefent and vifible, they attone for
the Sins of others. A little way from the Temple juil now
mentioned, near Baku^ is a low Cliff of a Rock, in which
there is an horizontal Gap 2 Feet from the Ground, between
5 and 6 long, and about 3 Feet broad, out of which ilTues-
a conitant Flame, much of the Colour mentioned alreadyvv
being a light blue. It rifes fometimes 8 Feet high, but is'
more low in ftill Weather. They dcn't perceive the Rock
wailes in the Icall. This alfo the hidians worlhip, and fay i:
cannot be put out. About 20 Yards on the Back of this Cliff
is a Wei!, in a Rock i 2 or 14 Fathoms deep, with exceed-
ing good Water.

The curious Particulars contained in this Di^rcfnon will
'tis hoped excufe its being inferted.

I received with thefe Letters fome of the white N<ip:ba,
which in Colour, Smell and Tafte refemble? much th« rir.efl:
kind of Oil of /\mber.

144 ^leries concerning Amber,

Vitriol, Alum, Nitre, and feveral Metallic and
Mineral Bodies? May it not then be imagin-
ed poffible for this fame acid Vapour fo to
mix with and confolidate fuch bituminous
foffil Oil, or Naptha> as thereby to produce
Amber ?

Sltiere 3. Is there any thing in the Ap--
pearance of Amber, or in the Places where it
is found, that may conduce towards forming
fpme probable Conjedrure concerning the
Production of this Body * ?

^ere 4. Do not the feveral Species of
Infe6ts found in Amber, prove, beyond all
Difpute, that it muft have been in a fluid
State at the Time thofe Infects were in-
tangled in it ? Are iiot the Springs or

Oozings

* We are told, that wliere Amber is ftiet vvith in Quan-
tity, there is likewife conftantly an Abundance 6f Vitribl.
No Coantry yet known affords more or better Amber than
PruJJta, where it lies, as Hartman fays, in a Kind of Stra-
tum or Bed, intermixt with a Subllance refembling fofli!
Wood or Bark, bat whofe Origination hfi imputes to i
fat bituminous Earth : Vitriol and Bitumen are alfo here
in Plenty, and he was informed there are Springs of Oil
riiing out of the Ground ; from all which Circumftances
put together, his Conclufion is, that the Exhalations of Bitu-
men (from a fubterraneous Heat) are cbllefted into Drops ;
that the fame Heat pervading the neighbouring Salts, car-
ries their Effluvia along with it, and mixes them with the*
bituminous Drops ; whence he fuppofes, that the faline
Spiculas fix the Bitumen and produce Amber, which is
more tranfparent, better fcented, and firmer, according XcS
the purity and Proportion of the bituminous and faline Ex-
halations. Vid. PhiL Tranf. N^ 248. May not fome of
the fofiil Oil here mentioned be as eafily fuppofed to hate
been fixt by the faline Effluvia or Spiculae }

^/eries concerning Amber, 145

ings of Naptha out of the Earth in Places
where Infers might be likely to fall into
ir ? Suppofing which, might it not perhaps
have been hardened or congealed by the
acid Vapour foon after their being fo in-
tangled ? though that is not abiblutely ne-
ceflary, fmce Naptha will preferve Animal
Bodies a 2;reat Length of I'ime. Is it not
found on Tryal, that the Wings, Horns,
Legs, ^c, of very fmall Creatures fpread and
extend themfelves much better in Naptha,
or tine Oil, than in Water or any watry
Fluid ? and may not this account, in feme
meafure, for the Perfedlion in which fome
very fmall Infed:s appear, when embodied
in this Subftance ?

, ^cre 5. As the Earth affords bitumi-
nous Fluids different in Colour, Confidence
and Purity, may not white Naptha (fo calK
ed, tho' of a pale yellow,) which is the moft
pure of all, be fuppofed capable of being
concreted into the befi and cleareft Amber t
may not a coarfer and browner Naptha
compofe Amber more indifferent ? and may
not a black Kind be converted by the fame
Chaiiiftry of Nature into Jet and Afphal-
turn?

*^i€re 6. Is it wholly improbable that
fome bituminous Juice, or foflil Pitch, mix-
ed and concreted with Earth, or perhaps
fome other Matter, may be the Compo-
fition of Coal ? and fliould it be inquired

L where

146 ^eries concerning Amher*

where an acid Spirit can be found for the
fixing and confohdating thefe Principles ? do
not the Chdak Damps in moil Coal Pits prove
the Exiftence of fuch a Spirit within the
Bowels of the Earth ? do not the Fire
Damps, frequent in the fame Pits, hkewife
'prove the Abundance of a bituminous Va-
pour inflammable like Naptha.

^lere 7. Do not the Brittlenefs and
Lightnefs of Coal, Jet, and Amber, fome-
what countenance the Opinion of their be-
ing of an oily and bituminous Compofition ?
and if fo, what Fluids does the Earth afford
fo likely to conftitute thefe Subftances as ^
foffil Pitch, Petroleuin, Oleum 'Terrcdy and the
different Sorts of Naptha ?

CHAP.

* Captain John Poyntz in his Account of the Ifland of
Tchago^ p. 38, fays, " GreenTar ifTues out of the Earth from.
^^ the Mu^Jack Roch, and is commonly gathered after a
'«« Shower of Rain, by Ikimming it ciF from the Surface of
♦' Water : then putting it into a great Gourd, or fuch
*< like VeiTel, that has an Hole at the Bottom, they feparate
«< the Oil from the Water, by fufFering the Water to Aide
«« gently out, but when the Oil appears, they cautioufly ftop
<« and preferve it for feveral Ufes, as to burn in Lamps, ^t»
«« The Munjack is nothing elfe than a Confirmation or Coa-
"*' gulation of the Tar (we fpoke of) into a more folid
'' Body; 'w\iic\i Mtaijack were it in a frigid, as it is in
*< the torrid Zone, would be abfolute Coal, fuch as we
*< burn in Engl and. ''\

[ H7 ]
CHAP. XXIV.

Cy Scarborough Salt.

WHAT I am now about to treat
of under the Name of Scarborough
Salt, was bought at one of the principal
Water Warehoufes in Londo?2, at a good
Price; and was affirmed by the Seller to bs
a true and genuine Salt prepared from the
Scarborough Well.

Some of this being difTolved in Water, a
Drop of the Solution begins fhooting from
the Edges : firft of all, in Portions of quadri-
lateral Figures, much like thofe of common
Salt ; but their Angles inftead of 90 are of
about 100 Degrees. Thefe Figures fhoot
in great Numbers round the Borders of the
Drop, having their Sides as nearly parallel
to one another as the Figure of the Drop
will allow : fome proceed but a little Way,
others farther before they renew the Shoot,
'vid. a a, Plate V. In fome Places they
appear more pointed and longer, as at b, and
fometimes inftead of the Diagonal, one of
the Sides is feen towards the Edge, and the
other fliootins: into the Middle, as e.

The inward Ccnfieurations feem to owe
their Forms moftly to Vitriol, and are all
produced by the fame Method of Shooting :
though fome proceed from the Figures al-

^ 2 ready

148 Of Scarborough $alt.

ready formed at the Edges, and others from
original Points rifing in the Fluid, and in-
tirely detached from the Sides of the Drop.
The former are produced by the fudden
Elongation of fuch Figures as b, or c, into
one long Spike or Stem, which in its Pro- .
grefs fends forth Spiculce from its Sides,
ranged clofe to one another, fometimes near-
ly at right Angles to the main Stem, as at
Ci and at other times obliquely thereto,
thofe on the one Side fhooting upwards,
and thofe on the other downwards, in re-
gard to the Foot of the Stem, as at d:
the whole Number of the Spicule^ on each
Side of the Stem forming a right angled,
or an oblique angled Triangle. From the
loweft of thefe Spiculce are frequently ktn
others of the fame Kind proceeding, but their
Diredion, in refpc6t to the Branch they rife
from, feems not wholly correfpondent to the
Diredion of the faid Branch in refpe^l to its
main Stem, being fometimes alike and fome-
times unlike thereto, vid. de.

The other Figure which the Middle pro-
duces is of a Uke Kind v/ith thofe laft de-
fcribed, but fhoots from a fingle detached
Point (for the moil part) into four Branches,
which are generally tho' not always oblique
to one another, as zXf.

CHAP.

[ 149 ]
C H A P. XXV,

Cheltenham Salt.

HEN this Salt is prepared for Exa-
mination by Solution, its firfl Shoot-
ings at the Edge of the Drop are Radiations,
(from a Number of very fmall Centers,)
which Ipread till they meet each other,
whereby their Progrefs is for a while im«
peded ; but other Shootings foon begin
from the Extremities of thefe, and proceed
by fmall Steps and Renovations reprefented
at a^ Plate V. Thefe Figures, however, fre-
quently diffolve again and difappear, and in
their Places larger ones of the fame Kind
arife, as from their Ruins, fomewhat in the
Form of Bruflies, fee h» Small Ramifica-
tions like the Branches of fome of the Species
of Mofs fhoot frequently from the Tops of
thefe, as c attempts to fliew.— — But all the
above mentioned Figures, v^hich a fmall
Degree of Heat produces, feldom occupy
more than one fide of the Drop : the more
folid Configurations which generally take
up the other Side, not forming till near the
End of the Operation. In the mean time
great Part of the Middle of the Drop be-
comes filled with many fmall Figures, which
appearing firft as Points, rifing under the
Eye imperceptibly, fiioot every Way after-

L 3 wards

JKO Efjim Salt.

wards into very pellucid and beautiful Ra*
mifications, as ^/ <i. Some Figures owing
their Form to common Salt, like that fhewa
at e, are ufaally the Fore-runners of another
Kind of Configuration arifing from the
fame Principle, v/hich fhoots pretty fud-
denly, and appears not much unlike the Co-
vert V/ay and the Glacis or outward Slope
of a fortified Place, n)id.ff.

This Salt was bought at the fame Place
as the foregoing, and with the fame Affu-
rance of its being genuine. When kept a
little v/hile it crumbled into a white Calx or
Powder, though it was at firft in very fair
Crvftals.

CHAP. X.XVI.

Epsom Salt.

^ Drop of the Solution cf this Salt be-
1^ gins to fhoot fi'om the Edge in jagged
gures like thofe ihewn at a^ Plate V. From
other Parts of the Edge different Configura-
tions extend themfelves towards the Middle,
fome v^faereof have fine Lines proceeding
from both Sides of a main Stem, in an oblique
Direttion^ thofeon one Side fliooting upwards
in an Angle of about 60 Degrees, and thofe
on the other downwards in the fame Obli-
quity^ as at € and/," Others produce Jaggs

from

T?".

Epfom Salt, 151

from their Sides nearly perpendicular to the
main Stem, thereby forming Figures that
refemble the Branches of fome Species of
Polipody : thefe are reprefented at e: but in
others the Jaggs are fliorter, vid, d. Now
and then one of the main Stems continues
fliooting to a confiderable Length, without
any Branchings from the Sides, but at laft
fends out two Branches from its Extremity,
as at g. Sometimes a Figure is produced
having many fine and minute Lines radiat*-
ing from a Center, in the Manner flaevvn at
b. The laft Shootings in the Middle of the
Drop may be feen at k, and are not unlike
the Frame Work for the flooring or roofing
of an Houfe, but with the Angles a little ob-
lique : and fometimes a Form prefents itfelf
like that fhewn at i.

All thefe Figures mufl be produced with
a very fmall Degree of Heat, for if the Drop
be made too hot the Salt will not flioot at
all: but when once the Configurations are
formed, the Salts fix, become fmooth and
hard like Glafs, and may be preferved a long
time.

The Subjedl above defcribed was not the
true Salt of the Etfom Waters, which I knew
not where to get; but it was I believe fome
fort of Preparation like what is commonly
fold under the Name of Epfom Salt, at a
very cheap Rate: though I gave a much

L 4 larger

15-^ ^^l PolyckreJIum,

larger Price for this, on its being recommend'-*

ed as a much better purging Salt *.

ABon Salt, or what I bought for fuch^
appeared on Examination juft like the above^,
but without the Figures /} i g.

CHAP. XXVII.
» ....

Sal Polychrestum.

. ^ Solution of this Salt when heated be-
L Isw g^^s to ihcot near the Edges of the

Dropj> in Ramifications^ as at a, Plate V. or

ill

* Dr, ^incy, in his Enp^Iiih Difpenfatory, remarks
?vvhat w£^,s then fold for the Salt of Epfojn Water, as an
abominable Cheat, {^oid. Edit. 8th pag. 555.) He informs
us, ** that Y)i. Greiv, having found by Experiment, that a
*^ Gallon of Water would, on Evaporation, afford about
"'* two Drams of Salt, endued with the Cathartic Quality of
*■= the Water : gave an Account thereof in Latin to the Royal
f * Socieiy. Upon which a certain Chemiji pretending to m.ak«
^^ large Quantities for Sale, put off a fiftitious Preparation
■"■ for the true Salt of Epfom Purging Waters', ^xA others
*' attempting the fame Thing, the Price was foon brought
^^ fo low, tliat inllead of one Shilling per Ounce, under
^^ which the true Salt could nothoneftly be made, their ficli-
^*^ tious Kind was fold at not much above 30 Shillings
^* per Hundred Weight, which little exceeds three Pence
"■^ per Pound, ^- And Dr. Bro'vonris's: alfures us, in his
e:fceijent Treatlfe on the Art of moAhig common Salt, pag»
b'S, that 7il\ the Salt now vended under the Name of Ep-
J^am Salt, I?, prepared intirely from the marine Bittern^ at
oiC Salt \¥orks nigh Ne--wcajils, and at thofe at Lymington
and other Parts of Hampjhire r, which Bittern is a faline
Liquor, of a fharp and bitter Taile, left at the Bottom of
the Salt Pans after the Salt is made and taken out. Vid^
j)ag. 62. " ^ . '■

Glaubers Salt. 153

jn the Figures fliewn at I? : but if only a
fmall Degree of Heat be employed, it forms
many very tranfparent Parallelograms, fome
having one, and fome more of their Angles
fccanted, as at c.

This Salt is a mixture of Nitre and Sul-
phur in equal Quantities, fet on fire in a
Crucible by a Spoonful at a Time, after-
wards diflblved in warm Water, filtered and
evaporated. It purges by Stool and Urine.

CHAP. XXVIII.

Glauber's Salt.

AFTER the Diftillation of Spirit of
Salt with Oil of Vitrioly (from Oil of
Vitriol, Common Salt and Spring Water in
equal Quantities;) what Salt remains at the
Bottom of the Retort, being diflblved, filter'd,
evaporated and cryftalized, is called Glaubers
wonderful Salt,

A Drop of Water faturated with this Salt,
and gently heated over a Candle, produces
Ramifications from the Side of the Drop,
like the Growth of minute Plants, but ex-
tremely tranfparent and elegant, in the Man-
ner fhevvn at Cy Plate V. Some of them
however begin tofhoot from a Center at fome
Diftance from the Edge, protrude Branches

from

^154 Glaiihers SalL

from tnat Center in a contrary Direflion/ and
appear fomewhat like a Bundle of Grafs or
Twigs tyed together in the Middle, as at b:
' they likewife jQioot fometimes from one and
fometimes from more Sides of the central
Point, in the Varieties (hewn at d.

Other Figures are produced from diffe-
rent Parts of the Edge of the Drop, as at a
and fy as alfo the parallel Shootings at e :
but the moft remarkable and beautiful Con-
figuration forms itfelf laft of all near the
Middle of the Drop : it is compofed of a
Number of Lines, proceeding from one
another at right Angles, with tranfparent
Spaces and Divifions running between them,
appearing all together like Streets, Alleys
and Squares, as reprefented at g ^.— This
Figure plainly owes its Original to Marinq
Salt, and is of the fame Kind with that fhewn
# at f j\ m the Cheltenham Salt. The Figure3

a 3nd e are vitriolic.

When this Configuration begins, it forms
with wonderful Rapidity, affording the Ob-
ferver a very agreeable Entertainment : buj
he muft watch it carefully, for as it is pro-
duced almoft inftantaneoufly, its Beauty is
of a very fhort Duration : in a few Moments^
it diffolves and l^reaks away like melted Ice,
which renders the Drawing of it very difK-
cult. The Figure in the Plate was takea
at feveral Times and with different Drops,

in

PIV.

Clieltenhain Salt

Glaubers Salt

Dj:.jBa^

^.MynAe-yc. .

^ly.^j.iS*- Salt of Amber.

Scarborougli Salt.

CheltenbatQ Salt.

lEpsom Salt .

Sal Tolyclirestum .

Glauber's Salt.

^.Mynj&jc'.

Salt of 'Tartar. I ^j

in order to collcdl together and rcprcfeni
the gener-ril Idea of it.

It the Solution be not heated in the Bot-
tle, to dilTolvc the Sediment it throws down,
little will appear but the Brufii-like Figures.

Glaubers Salt is reckoned to anlwer the
Intention of mofl purging Waters : it pro-
motes Evacuation both by Stool and Urine,
and may be fo made as to be lefs naufeous
than mofl other artificial purging Salts.

CHAP. XXIX.

Salt of Tartar.

AFTER heating a Drop of the Solu-
tion of this Salt, there arife in many
Places, near its Edges, numbers of minute
Bodies, pretty irregular in their Form, but
moftly inclining to be triangular; as may be
feen in the Drawing, at the Side b, (fee Plate
VI.) Several of thefe appear likewife farther
within the Drop, and produce all the Varie-
ty of Figures c c, dd, &:c.— There {hoot at the
fame time, from fome Parts of the Edge,
tranfparent Bcdies with parallel Sides termi-
nating as at as fome whereof are ftrewed
over with the little Triangles before defcrib-
ed. From other Parts of the Edges branch-
ed Figures prefent themfelves, refembling
fmall Shrubs, i^vid.f) whofe Twigs are

nalied

1 56 Salt of Tartar*

Baked at their firft Shooting, but appear
foon after covered with Uttle Leaves or Tufts;
the minute Bodies above mentioned which
^rife near the Twigs being attradted by and
adhering to them.

But the moft odd and Angular Circum-
ftance in the Shooting of this Salt is, that
jftrait Lines appear, two and two, inclining
toward each other from the Edge of the
Drop v/here they begin to fhoot, but never
meeting fo as to form a Point, though fome-
times they extend almoft acrofs the Drop,
n^id. e, — -They may poflibly be cylindric
Tubes, but of that I am not certain.

The Humidity of the Air foon puts an
End to all thefe Configurations.

Crude Tartar, calcined, diffolved in warm
Water, purified by FiltratioUjand evaporated
to a Drynefs, becomes what is ufually called
Salt of Tartar: which Salt tied up in a Cloth,
and hanged in a damp Place, attracts the
Moifture of the Air, and liquifies in fuch
manner, that from one Pound thereof there
will drop down double its Weight of what
is termed Oil of Tartar per deliquiiim : but
inftead of this the Shops frequently fell*
Pearl Afhes liquified by the Air, which they
reckon equally ufeful for the fame Purpofes.

Some likewife imagine there is no Dif-
ference in the medicinal Virtues of the Salt

of

f pearl Aihes are a pure Sort of Pot- Alh.

Salt of Tartar. 157

of Tartar and thole of Pearl Arties, or any
other of the Hxivial Saks of Plants, all which
they fuppofe to receive alike the fame Qua-
lities from the Fire: but the contrary to this
will I believe be manifert, from an Exami-
nation of the Salts I am going to fubmit to
the Reader's Judgment; the Configurations
and Cryrtals whereof are fo widely diflimi-
lar, that one can hardly conceive them to
arife from exaiTtly the fame Principles in the
Salts themfelves, or to produce exactly the
fame Effects when applied to other Bodies.
'Tis indeed probable that the effential Salts
of Plants, collected in the Form of Cryftals,
from the Juices of their refpedive Plants,
without the Help of Fire, may be different
from the Salts of the fame Plants procured by
Incineration, and may have different Vir*
tues; but I think fuch effential Salts can
hardly differ mere from one another, when.
examined by the Microfcope, than the lixi-
vious Salts of different Plants are found to
do; and confequently that thefe lixivious
Salts muft have Virtues very different from
one another.

The making effential Salts being a trouble-
fome as well as tedious Operation, and con-
fidered only as a Matter of Curiolity, none
of the Shops could afford me any of them ;
and even of the lixivious Salts, the Opinion
of their being all alike has fo much reduced
their Number, that had it not been for the

great

I58 "Tartar VltriolateJ.

great Civility of Mrs. Clutfon and Mr. Corb'af.
Chemifts and Partners, in Holborn, (whofe
kind Ailiftance I thankfully acknowledge
in this public Manner,) it would have been
in my Power to procure very few of thofe I
iliall hereafter mention.

CHAP. XXX.

Tartar Vitriolated.

HE reftiiied Oil, or redlified Spirit of

Vitriol, dropt gradually into Oil of

Tartar per deliquium^ till it caufes an Ebulli-
tion, produces (by evaporating the Hu-
midity) a white Subflance called vitriolafed
Tartar -f-i

This diffolves readily in hot Water, and
a Drop of the Solution applied on a Slip of
Glafs before the Micrcfcope, begins fhoot-
ing round the Edge in great Numbers of
very minute and traniparent Spiculce, de^-
tached intirely from one another, and with-
out any of that Balis at th^ Edge of the

Drop

•f- Vitrlolated Tartar is conimonly an Ingredient in Pow-
ders for the Teeth, as on rubbing them with it they be-
come white immediately : but it fhould be uled feldom and
with great Caution, wafhing the Teeth well with feveral
Mouthfuls of Water afterwards ; for it whitens them by
Erojion, and if frequently applyed will deftroy their out-
ward clofe and hard Coat of Enamel, after which the inter-
«al and more fpungy Part can laji but a little while.

Tartar Vhrlohted. j ^g

Drop which molt other Kinds of Salts form
before they (hoot. Thcfc Spiculce proceed
and lengthen in different Diredion.^', and
crofs each other at various Angles, as a a
and b b ihew, Plate VI.

Some ot thefe Spicida: are very deeply
ferrated, or look rather like the Ends of
bearded Darts or Arrows placed over one
another, as reprefented at c.

A Kind of Star-like Figure will be found
here and there aniongfl: the Spicu/a:^ appa-
rently compounded of the above defcribed.
bearded Points, and moil commonlv, like
them, miore opake than the other Shootings :
a few of thcfe appear alone, and others are
formed at the Ends of the Spiciih^y as at d.
Some likewifc of the Spicida, after a while
begin to fpread, and flioot forv/ards, in aa
irregular Manner of branching, towards the
Middle of the Drop, as at g g. Other Fi-
o:ures arife at a Diftance from the Ed2:e of
the Drop, v/ith Branches dividing and fub-
dividing more regularly than the laft defcrib-
ed ', {JeeF.)

During the Procefs, Clufters of hexago-
nal Planes arife in the vacant Spaces, fome
regular, others with unequal Sides, fome
perfedly tranfparent, others w-ith a fmall
Degree of Opacity, as at e. Thefe laft Fi-
gures, which are indeed the proper Cryfta-
lizations of the united Salts, will remain-in-
tire upon the Glafs, after all the other Con-
4 figurations

i6o Flowers of Benjamin,

figurations are broken away and deilroyed
by the Air.

Among the Spicula ihooting from the
Edges there are many ftrait-lined Figures,
whofe Ends are not pointed but flat and
fpreading; ffee a a.) Thefe are chiefly owe-
ing to the Tartar; and the Permanence of
the hexagonal Cryftals implies that they con-
tain a large Proportion of the Vitriol.

N, B. It frequently happens, when a
Drop of this Solution heated over the Can-
dle, is placed under the Microfcope, the
Steams arifing from it fo obfcure the Objedl-
Glafs, that nothing can be ktn through it,
until the Glafs be clear'd with a Piece of
Wafli-Leather, or a foft Linen Cloth.

This is the Cafe likewife in examining fe-
veral other Solutions, as has been before re-
marked.

CHAR XXXI.

Flowers of Benjamin*

THE Flowers of Benjamin are Salts
obtained by Sublimation from a Gum
of the fame Name. Thefe Salts are fo volatile,
that on putting fome of the Gum grofly
powdered into a fubliming Pot, they rife
with a fmall Degree of Heat into a Cover
placed over them; whence they are wiped

out

Plovers of Bcjijamhi, \6t

out from time to time (with a Feather) ia
the Form of long flcnder (hining traniparent
Bodies, and fmell very fragrantly.

They diflblve readily in warm Water ;
and a Drop of the Solution being examined
by the Microfcope, will be found a very en-
tertaining Objedl.— For, firftof all there arife
from the Edges clear colourlefs and fliiarp-
pointed Cryltals {yid. Plate VI. a a.) which
paffing towards the Center, fpread out like
beautiful minute Shrubs, each having two
or three Branches, like what are feen b l? L
Thefe gradually enlai*ge and lengthen, di-
vide and fubdivide into feveral Arms and
Shoots, in the Similitude of Trees [yid.f,^
compofing all together a Reprefentation of
beautiful little Groves or Plantations. Some
however continue fhort, and fpread into a
Sh ort of Leaves, inden ted fome what like thofe
of Dandelion, c c. Little Branches likewife
fhoot out from Points in the Middle of the
Drop, as in the Picflure at g: and fometimes
very elegant Figures of another Kind are
formed in fome Part of the Drop, compofed
of Branches rifing (on a new Bafis) from one
another, all arched alike with an equal Cur-
vature, and having the convex Side of each
Curve adorned with many little Shootings,
at equal Diftances and of equal Lengths,
none of which appear on the concave Side of
the Curves. All this is fhewn at e.

M Thefe

1 62 Salt of Camomile,

Thefe wonderful Configurations decay
immediately after tlie Fluid evaporates.

N, B. When a Solution of this Salt has
been made fome Days, much of it will be
precipitated, and appear in Cryftals at the
Bottom of the Phial : and if you intend
then to examine it by the Microfcope, 'twill
be proper firfl: to hold the Phial to the Fire,
or place it in hot Water, till the Cryftals
become again diffolved and taken up into
the Fluid. And moil other Solutions fhould
be treated in the fame Manner, if they have
been long made and their Salts appear pre-
cipitated : but after being thus heated they
fhould be allowed a few Minutes to fettle,
otherwife the Fluid will appear turbid and
unpleafant before the Glals, and the Con-
figurations will not proceed fo well.

CHAP. XXXII.

Sak of Camomile.

HEN a Solution of this Salt is exa-
mined, if much Heat be given to the
prop, the faline Particles will chiefly dif-
pofe themfelves at the Sides thereof, in fuch
Jpigures as are fhewn a a^ b b y but with a
lefler Degree of Heat they will form more
within the Drop, in a wonderful Variety of
hexangular Planes, many af which are ex-

^alt of Corat, l6j

treineiy thin, ilat, and tranfparent, \yid. c c^,
and other Figures in the Plate.) Some how-
ever have a confiderable Soh'dity, as the
Drawing alfo reprefents. The above Fi-
gures icon diffolve and break away, and to-
wards the End of the Procefs feveral Cry-
ilals appear with fquare Bafes, in the Form
exad:ly of thofe of Sea-falt, vid. d, and
thefe are more permanent than the others
were.

The Tafte of this Infufion is fait at firft,
foon after very acrid.

CHAP. XXXIIL

Salt of Coral.

'"TpHIS Salt begins fhootirig frorii th^
Jl^ Sides, as at a a, {Plate VI.) and pro-
ceeds, forming Bodies fome of whofe Parts
are opake and others tranfparent, of a dark-
ifli brown Colour, with Channels or Hol-
lows running from Top to Bottom, as r^-*
prefented i b. There are likewife other of
the fame Figures, opake at Bottoni, but
tranfparent at their Tops, and having none
of the fame Channels, in the manner iTiewn

€ C.

In fome Places of the Drop the fame Kind
of little Hillocks are feen, adorned with

M 2 fur-

1 64 Salt of CoraL

furprifing Configurations moft exceedingly
minute and delicate, bearing the Refem-
blance of fome Species of the fmalleft
and moft elegant Sea Moffes. It is impof-
fible to exprefs the Beauty of thefe Figures,
which equal any of the fineft Mocha Stones :
But an Attempt to give fome Idea of them
will be found ddd.

After the above Appearances are com-
pleated, and the Procefs feems all over,
there frequently prefents a new and unex-
pedted Radiation of fine Lines, at equal Di-
ftances from each other, and arifing as it
were from a certain Point, in a very regular
Order and Delineation, the Lines fhortening
gradually on either fide, fo as to compofe
all together a femicircular Figure, like that
at e. I have found no regular Cryftals of
this Salt, nor does it ufually give any Fi-
gures at all towards the Middle of the
Drop.

The Solution I made ufe of, after ftand-
ing in a Phial two or three Weeks, had
a Cruft over the Surface, which taken
out and examined by the Microfcope, ap-
peared to be a Congeries of minute Branches,
in Shape exceedingly like fome Kinds of
CoraL

CHAP.

( ^65 )

CHAP. XXXIV.

Salt ^Baum, cr Baulm. Mt

THE firft Shootings from the Edges
of the Drop, when a Solution of this
Salt is examined by the Microfcope, very
much refemble Leaves, vid. Plate VI. dy
on the left Side of the Pidure. But thefe
very foon enlarge and lengthen as at a on
the Top of the Drav^ing^ or elfe like thofe at
a on the right Side, w^hich not only lengthen
but fwell at their Extremities, till they ei-
ther divide into two or more Branches, after
the Manner fhewn at d and elfewhere in
the Drop; or feeming to burft or fplit at
their Tops, pufh forth Bundles of fine Hair-
like Filaments, and compofe fuch Figures
with brufhy Heads as are reprefented at c :,
which indeed are extremely pretty. Some
detached Leaves are ufually formed in the
Middle, together with fuch figur'd Cryflals
as are there fhewn, amongft which a few
bear the Appearance of thofe of common
Salt.

When the watery Part feems nearly ex-
haled, all the forementioned Figures decay
and break away, except the Cryfhals, which
remain fixt: and if a full Drop has been
employed, and a confiderable Degree of

M 3 Heat

J 66 Sdlt of Fennel.

Heat applied, fome curious Configurations
prefent themfelves upon the Glafs, confid-
ing of fl^ort flrait Lines, fo difpofed as to
form hexangular Figures, with delicate little
Branchings therefrom, vid. e e.

This Salt is a very curious Subject for Ex^
amination.

CHAP. XXXV,

Salt j/' Fennel.

H E general Appearance which a
_ Drop of the Solution of this Salt af-
fords when ex^amined by the Microfcope,
may be {t^n Plate VII.

After the Drop has been gently heated^
innumerable Spiail(^ rife about its Edges,.
extremely flender and clofe to one another^
and amongfl: thefe, as well as farther with-
in the Drops many Bodies may be obferved
pretty regularly tapering from the Middle
towards each End, fome what like the Fi-
gure of a Rolling-Pin, vid. a a.- — More in
the Middle of the Drop are formed Cryflals
oddly fhaped, fuch ^^ b b; and likewiie
others ending pointed like a Wedge. Some
again are divided, as Cy and here and there
a Cryftal of marine or common Salt is
founda fometimes in its ufiial Figure, and

lome-

riovv'crs of luMijainui .J-*J- VI yj. /66.

Salt of Bauni .

r> £. iSa-Le ;

J^.M^i/nUc'fc

Siilt of huckthorn, 167

fometimcs having an Opening at each Cor-
ner of the Bafc, as if the An^^Ies had been
artfully taken out. Thcfc Differences will
be nnderftood by examining the Figures
dd.

The Air puts an End to thefe Forms foon
after they are produced.

CHAP. XXXVl.
Salt I?/' Buckthorn.

THIS Salt fhoots from the Edges of
the Drop many fliarp-pointed Spi-
cula, at Httle Diflances from each others
after which the feveral Figures in the
Drawing (Plate VII.) form themfelves un-
der the Obferver's Eye; fome are hexangu-
lar Planes, fomewhat opake, and appear
with a confiderable Degree of Thicknefs
in proportion to their Size, as b; whilft
others of the fame hexanguiar Planes are
exceedingly tranfparent, and have no vi-
fible Depth. Parallelograms are difperfed
here and there, and fome Rhombi: Indeed
the hexanguiar Figures before mentioned
feem like Rhombi, cut otF at each End,
There appear a few of the Figures c and d^
and alfo of the other feveral Forms repre-
(ented in the Picfture.

iM 4 A Syrup

/-

1 68 Salt qf Berberry,

A Syrup made from the Berries of this
Shrub is an ufeful Purgative in Compofi-
tions; but extremely naufeous, and fome-
what too churlifh given alone, unlefs for
Perfons of very robuft Conflitutions.

CHAP. XXXVII.

Salt of the Berberry.

THE Heat neceffary to put this Salt in
Affion mufl be very fmall, but briik;
otherwife it will harden into a tranfparent
Glue, without producing any Figures ;
the Reafon of which probably is, that be-
ing of a viicous Nature, when more Heat is
given than is abfolutely neceffary to put the
Particles of the Salt in motion, the wateiy
Parts evaporating, leave this vifcous Juice
fo ftrong, that the Cryftals are entangled,
,and cannot force their Way through it: but
are prevented from ading as they do v\^hen
the watery Parts remain, and the Fluid is
thereby rendered lefs denfe.

The Figures it produces feem all to de^
rive their Origin from Spicula^ which pro-
trude and expand themfelves in the man-
ner to be defcribed below. Moft of thefe
Spiciilce are thickeft in the Middle, tapering
Xq fharp Points at each Extremity, and are

very

Salt of Berberry, 169

very tranfparent ; but others of them termi-
nate more bluntly, and have their Ends
opake, whiliT: their middle Parts only are
tranfparent, as at a, Flute VII. Sometimes
thelb pointed Bodies are fo difpofed as feem-
jngly to iffue from one central Point, and
form fuch a fort of Star-like or Spur-like Fi-
gure as b at the Top of the Drawing -, or
elfe a Figure fomewhat different, refembling
b in the Middle thereof.

But the moll remarkable of all the Figures
it produces are owing to the lengthening
out of certain of the Spiciilce^ whilfl they
expand at the fame time, and pufli out
again other Spiculce from their Sides, which
likewife expand themfelves into very pretty
tranfparent Forms, not unlike the Leaves of
fome Plants, tho' bearing no Similitude to
thofe of the Berberry ; an Inftance of this
is fhewn at tl. Others of the fame original
Spicult^ flioot not fo far towards the Middle
of the Drop, but divide and expand them-
felves laterally, fpreading out into a broader
Kind of Leaf-like Figures, vid. c c c.

Among the detached Cryftals in the
Drop there are many of a pentagonal Form.,
and fomewhat more opake than the reft,
terminating at one End with an obtufe
Angle. They are not marked with any
Letter in the Drawing, but will eafily be
diftinguiflied in looking over it. — I do not
remember this Figure in any other Salt.

The

J 70 Salt of Cucumber.

The young green Leaves of the Berberry
Tree held in a Sieve over the Steam of boil-
ing hot Water, rolled up between the Fin-
gers and dryed carefully in an Oven not over
hot, may eafily be miftaken for a good Bo-
heaTea; refembling it much in Appear-
ance, and making a Liquor extremely like it
both in Tafte and Colour. — This I have my-
felf experienced.

CHAP, xxxvin.

Salt ^Cucumber,

HE firfl Shootings of this Salt are
for the mofl part Parallelipipids, ra-
diating from a kind of indetermined Center,
as at a, Plate VIL Some fingle ones pro-
trude themfelves forv^ards, widening at the
Extremity, and forming Figures like thofe
at b. Some curvilinear Forms jChoot alfo
from the Sides, with flat Terminations, as
at cy and others ending with {harp Points, as
d. A few hexagonal plane Cryftals, as alfo
fome Shuttle-figured Spicul(2 arife towards
the Middle of the Drop, both which are
ihewn at e,

I knov/ not any Salt w4iofe Shootings are
fo extremely pellucid as thofe we are now
defcribing: For notwithftanding they have

a con-

Salt of Peruvian Bark. 171

a confiderablc Degree of Thicknefs, they
appear more tranfparent than the cleareft
Cilafs, and would ahnofl: evade the Sight,
were it not for the faint Shadows cafi: by '
means of that Thicknefs.

Towards the End of the Operation the
empty Spaces are filled up with Shootings
from fome of the mofh detached Parallelo-
grams, which protrude themfelves forwards,
dividing and fubdividing as aty^ and that
fometimes to fuch a Degree of Thinnefs
and Slendernefs as to have the Termination
of their Extremities loft to the Eye by rea-
fon of their exquifite Tranfparency ; this
may be conceived by confidering the Fi-
gure g.

CHAP. XXXIX.

Salt ^Peruvian Bark,

THE few Shootings which this Salt
produces at the Edge of the Drop
are of no regular Figure, but refemble thofe
.'^t a, Plateau, The whole Area of the
Drop becomes quickly filled w^ith great
Numbers of Rhombi, of different Sizes,
extremely thin and tranfparent, vid. b. Some
of thefe enlarge greatly, and acquire a con-
fiderablc Thicknefs, forming themfelves-in-
to Solids of many Sides, as c c\ Near the

Con-

J 72 Salt ofLiquorice*

Conclulion fameCryftals ofSea-falt are form-
ed, as d d'y and likewife a few odd tri-
angular Figures, fucli as are delineated at e :
Thefe and the Sea-falt remain, but all the
other Figures break away and foon become
deftroyed by the Air.

CHAP. XL.

Salt ^Liquorice

^T^HIS Salt begins fhooting from the
J^ Edge with a Sort of Rhombic Spicu-
IcBy as 2Lt ay Plate VII. Some four-branched
Figures like thofc of the Vitriols do here
fometimes arife, but moulder away before
their Ramifications are compleated, leaving
their Stamina in the Manner reprefented
b b. The Middle of the Drop is ufually over-
fpread with great Numbers of Parallelo-
grams, fome exceedingly tranfparent, being
mere Planes; having fometimes one, fome-
times more of the Angles canted, in fuch
fort as to produce pentagonal, hexagonal,
^c. Figures. Others have much Thicknefs,
and form Parallelipipids, Prifms, &c, as at c.
Some of the plane Figures now and then
protrude an irregular kind of fhooting, ap-
pearing very odd and pretty, vid. d.

4 C H A P,

i

i

t

(^73)
C H A P. XLI.

Salt of Butcher*s-Broom. i

ON giving a fmall Degree of Heat to a
Solution of this Salt, Figures will be
produced from the Edges of the Drop, at
pretty large Diftances from one another,
running on in a ftrait Dire(flion, and becom-
ing gradually larger and more clubbed at the
End towards the Center of the Drop, but
terminating in fharp Points at the End that
is next the Edge: which is a Singularity
peculiar to this Salt. — Thefe Figures are cu-
riouHy jagged or indented on every Side from
End to End, vid. Plate VIII. I? b. Some
few however amongft them llioot out from
their Sides others of the fame Kind, and-
thofe again other ftill fmaller ones; but
both in the primary and fecondary Branch-
ings the Shoots appear always on the fame
Side, as the two Configurations d d may
ferve to fhew.

In the Middle Part of the Drop, and
wherever there are Vacancies, two Sorts of re-
gular Cryftals are formed, differing each from
other both in Size and Shape. The larger
Kind are folid, and feem to be Tetrahedra
having their uppermoft Angle and the Edges
cut off, and of thefe fDme are rectilinear and
others curvilinear. Their Produ(ftion is a

very

1 74 Salt of butcher s-BroGm>

very entertaining Sight : for amidft a violent
Agitation in the Fluid, numberlefs Atoms
being km hurried in all Dired;ions, they rife
on a fudden dired:ly upwards from the Bot-
tom, in the fame Shape exactly as juft now
defcribed, but fo minute as only to be dif-
cernable by the firft Magnifier, and then they
increafe in Bignefs every Inftant> under the
Eye, till they appear as large as in the Pidture;
where 2X c c and in the Middle of the Drop
feveral of them are fhewn. — The other Sort
of Cryftals are vefy minute, being when
viewed through the third Magnifier not
larger than Carra way Seeds; they are moftly
Rhombs or Rhomboids, fome of which have
the two^ppofite acute Angles cut off^; there
are befides fome Squares and Parallelograms^
fee a a.

After every thing feems over, and all we
have been mentioning begins to break away,
it frequently comes to pafs, that the patient
Obferver is prefented with fome moft ele-
gant Configurations, compofed of many lon^
Lines, perfedlly ftrait and parallel to each
other; every fecond or third whereof ha3
at one End a folid Cryflal fhaped like the
Head of a Spear or Javelin. All the Lines
have alfo on one and the fame Side Num-
bers of fhort Lines, iiluing out at right An-^
gles, and at pretty equal Diftances, to about
half as far as the long Lines are feparated
from one another* The long Lines in ge-
neral

Salt of WorjHWOod, ly^

ncral arc bounded at their other End by a
finglc Line, or Bale, that makes a right An-
gle to them all : a little Variation is how-
ever produced, by here and there a fliorter
Line that runs parallel to this Bale. — The
above Deibription will be undcrftood by con-
lidering the Configurations e e.

CHAP. XLIL

Salt of Wormwood,

THE firft Shootings of this Salt from
the Edges of the Drop appear of a
confiderableThicknefs in proportion to their'
Length : their Sides are deeply and fharply
jagged or indented, being made up of many
fomewhat obtufe Angles; and their Ends are
pointed with Angles of the like Kind. Wliat
I now defcribe are the fi ngle Shoots at a^
Plate VIIL But other Slioots frequently
branch out from thefe original ones, and
they again fend forth others, making all to-
gether a very pretty Appearance, *vid. b b. —
Thefe lafl Configurations in their Figure and
Difpofition bear a near Refemblance to thofe
of But c hey- s Broofriy fhewn at dd: but are
larger and more deeply indented.

The Cryftals of this Salt are very different
from one another, confifting of Squares,
Rhombi, Parallelograms, equilateral Hexa-
gons^

I'jG Salt of Tobacco.

gons, fome of the Figures at ^^ in the But^
chers Brooniy a Sort of Shuttle-hke Forms,
and feveral irregular Bodies; all of which will
be heft conceived by a View of them at c.

A fmall Degree of Heat given to the Drop
produces more of the Configurations, a great-
er Heat more of the Cryftals, many of which
are at firft triangular, but foon lofe that
Shape: and indeed the whole is very fpee-
dily deftroyed by the Air. — This and the
Subjedl immediately preceding exhibit no
Cryftals of marine or common Salt.

— ■ — -^ — -^

CHAP. XLIII.

Sah of Tobacco.

IF a moderate Degree of Heat be given to
a Solution of this Salt, its firft Shootings
will be from the Edges of the Drop, in flen-
der tapering Figures ending with very fharp
Points, but at confiderable Diftances from
one another, and confequently not extremely
numerous : along with thefe are likewife
formed other Figures nearly of the fame
Kind, but intirely detached and farther with-
in the Drop, and contrary to the former, in
the Circumftance of having their thicker
Ends towards the Center of the Drop, and
the fharper pointing towards its Edge.
They are compleat Figures, and refemble
Needles, or rather that Sort of Nail called a

Brad,

Sak of Tobdcco. 1 77

ferad> wliich has its Head or larger End flat.
Both thele are (hewn at a, Flate Vlll.

When a little more Heat has been given>
other Spicida are produced froiri the Edge>
whofe Ends fpread on either Side and then
terminate in a Poiht : and which have all
along their Sides triangular pointed Cryftalsi
not oppolite to one another, but placed al-
ternately, lb as to reprefent a Zigzag with a
Line drawn throuo-h its middle, x^icL ^^.—The
regular Cryftals of this Salt are produced in
the middle of the Drop, being either Hex-
agons or Rhombi, as at c.

When the Moifture is nearly exhaled
there are fometimes ittxv to (hoot from, or
rather under the Spiculce, upon the Plane of
the Glafs, a Reprefentation of Leaves, very
fmall at their firft Appearance, but increafing
gradually to what is fhewn at ^\— -Thefe I
have feen but twice.

A violent Agitation may be difcovered in
the Fluid by the firft Magnifier, during the
whole Procefs, but chiefly at the Beginnings
and extremely minute Cryftals riling froni
the Bottom.

Oil of Tobacco is a flrong Poifori to many
Animals: 'tis faid a Thread wetted there-
with, and drawn by a Needle through the
Skin on the Back either of an Eel or Viper^
will make it die immediately. This I have
iiever tried.

N CHAP.

(178)

CHAP. XLIV.-

Salt of Carduus.

"*^HE Cryflals of this Salt (for it fhoot^
out no Configurations) are of diffe-
rent Sizes and Figures difperfed every where
about the Drop. Thofe near the Edges are
very minute tranfparent Parallelograms, ap-
pearing in great Numbers, as a ^, Plate VIII.
In the Middle arife larger Cryftals, fhaped
exaftly like thofe of marine Salt, bb. There
are alfo much larger cryflaline Bodies, form-
ed here and there, having a confiderable
Thicknefs and Solidity, and confifting of
Hexagonal and Rhomboidal Planes, vid. c c.
It produces likewife fome odd figured Bodies^
which may be feen at dd*

CHAP. XLV.

Salt ^Lavender.

O Configurations are produced by this
Salt and the lafl, that feemingly pufb
from the Edges of the Drop, as in mofl of
the preceding Kinds ^ but many regular
Cryflals are formed in every Part of it, after
a moderate Degree of Heat has been given
to it. Thefe Cryftals are of various Figures^
4 viz..

Salt of Mugworf. i jt)

*i'/fe. plain Rhomboids, having one or more
of their Angles very much elongated, (fo a3
to be fometimes twice or thrice the Length
of the Rhomboids from which they iflae,)
Rhombi, Squares, Parallelipipidons, and Hex-
agons with unequal Sides, or rather equila-
teral Triangles with their Angles cut off. In
Ihort, the Figures of this Salt will much bet-
ter be comprehended by applying to the
Pidlure, Plate VIII. than by any Defcrip*
tion can be written.

CHAP, XLVL

Salt g/'MuGwoRTo

AT the Beginning many fine Spkuts
of different Sizes, appear at and about
the Sides of the Drop^ along with other flen^
der Bodies fomewhat fwelling in the Mid-
dle, but fharply pointed at each End, w^*
a a, Plate VIII. Triangular folid Cryftals,
and various other Figures, are alfo formed
here and there as reprefented in the Piclure*
But the moft remarkable Part of this Subjedt,
is a very elegant Sort of Configuration to-
wards the Middle of the Drop, as at b ; and
iikewife Shootings of the fame Kind from
its Edge, that refemble the Branches cffoms
Plant, rifing fingle, with Leaves regularly*

N 2 , difpofed

i8o ^alt of Hartjhorn.

difpofed on both Sides of each Stem, as
fhewn by the other b, — In the Middle of
the Drop at c are Figures of another Form
which are very lingular and pretty. Thefe
all break away and become confufed very,
foon after they are formed.

CHAP. XLVIL

5^// 2/* Hartshorn.

ON the Application of a very fmall De-
gree of Heat, Salt of Hartfhorn fhoots
near the Edges of the Drop, into folid Fi-
gures fomewhat refembling Razors or Lan-
cets where the Blade turns into the Handle
by a Clafp, as at dy Plate IX. This Appear-*
ance is however wholly owing to the Junction
of a fmaller and larger Body at their fmaller
Ends, either a right or an acute Angle, as
will be evident on confidering fome of thefe
Bodies that appear fingle.

The Configurations of this Salt are pro-
duced with great Velocity, and are Figures
fomewhat opake, fhooting from the Edges
of the Drop, on both Sides a main Stem,
and with a kind of Regularity, rugged
Branches like thofe of fome Sort of Coral,
vid, a a. But fometimes inftead of Branches
on both Sides the main Stem, fliarp Bpiculcey
fome plain and others jagged, are protruded

to

<^.

zy

^

Salt of Tobacco .

Salt o£ Mug'wort .

T-^fy-rvtU, ^cn/^.

Saltof Batchers Broom ,

^1

Salt of Thistle.

\£-J^.>l^k,r d^.

Salt ofAVbrmwoocL.

Salt of liaveiider .

Pl.'V]II.;f.i6
Salt of Tobacco .

Salt o£ Mug-wort .

^Mfltdt, ^cuJfl..

Salt of Urine. 1 8 1

to a confiJcrable depth on one Side only, as
at b.

As the Fluid exhales, and the Attradtion
of the Particles becomes more ftronix, fome
one of the branching Figures generally ex-
tends to a great Length, producing on one
Side Shoots that are rugged and irregular
like thofe in the fnialler Figures at a a, and
on the other Side a curious regular and de-
licate Sort of Branches, refembling thofe of
fome Plant, with elegant fmall Leaves in the
Manner Ihewn at c.

CHAP. XLVIIL

Salt of Urine.

A Solution of this Salt fhoots from the
Edges of the Drop long Parallelo-
grams in the Manner of Nitre; but with this
Difference, that Nitre produces folid hexa-
gonal Pillars, cut off obliquely at their Ends,
in the Figure of a Chiffel; whereas thefe arq
only plain fuperficial Parallelograms, whofe
Ends are flat, as a a^ P lately. But in other
Places along the Sides of the Drop folid An-
gles are formed, that are feemingly the Ru-
diments of common Salt, [lud, b.) thougli
neither this nor Salt of Hartfhorn afford any
re^^ular Crvftals of common Salt.

N 3 Some

'jS2 Salt of Urine.

Some of the Parallelograms increafe much
in Size, and fpread themfelves in the Mid-
dle, fo as to change their firil Figure^ and be-
come three or four times bigger than the
reft : and thefe have a dividino- Line that
runs through their whole Length from End
to End, whence iffue other fhort Lines, at
fmall Diftances, oppofite to one another, all
pointing with the fame Degree of Obliquity
towards the Bafe, as may be feen at ^ r.

Among thefe enlarged Figures forne few
fhoot ftill forward and tapering towards 4
toint; but before they form one, fwell again,
^nd begin as it were a-new : and thus they
proceed feveral times before their compleat
Figure is finifhed, which is at laft a kind of
long fharp-pointed Body compofed of rnore
or fewer Joints as at dd.

After the whole Procefs feems at an End,
many fmall Branches form themfelves on
'|he Surface of the Glafs, as in the preced-
ing Salt, (fee the Pidure,) though their
Figure is not juft the fame. — All the
above defcribed appear when a very mode-
rate Degree of Heat is given, and the Drop is
applied to the Microfcope as foon as any of
the Salts cryftalized are feen white about the
Rira. But the Figures i, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, are
the regular folid Cryftals of this Salt, when
it is let diiTolved in the Air, and no Heat at
all is given.

CH Aa

( ^^3 )
CHAP. XLIX.

Salt 2/^ Millepedes; ^r Wood-Lice.

THIS Salt Hioots from the Edges in a
Manner very beautiful, and different
from any other Kind yet obferved. It be-
gins by illuing from the extreme Edge of the
Drop in many Lines parallel to one another,
but in a very oblique Diredlion to the Line
that borders the Di-op ; and other parallel
Lines are produced from thefe, in an Angle
fomewhat more than right to them, the An-
gles of which are not fliarp but rounded, fee
a c dy Plate IX. Many tranfparent Paral-
lelogram.s of various Length and Size are
formed by thefe Lines, foms whereof after-
wards fl:ioot forwards into long Spikes which
fpread at the Sides with irregular Edges, as
at d d. In the mean while other ihort Lines
proceed outwards from the very Edge of
the Drop, in a Direction quite contrary to
thofe we fpoke of firft, making the Border
of the Drop appear very prettily ferrated or
fringed, as mav be feen at the Bottom of the
Configurations a c d. Another Sort cf re-
gular Fif;uresare likewife produced from the
Sides cf the Drop, in the Manner of thofe
h h. When the Operation is nearly ended,
there arife abundance of long Spiadce that
range themfelves fomewhat in the Form of

N ^ plants.

1^4 RHEUM.

Plants, filling up moft of the vacant Places
|n the Drop as the Pi(^ure lliews. Thi$
Salt has but one Sort of regular Cryflals^
which is hexagonal, and appears as at e.

C H A P. L.

R H E U IL

H EN People get what they call a
running Cold, it is not unufual for a
thin clear Humour to be difcharged through
the Noftrils, in fo confiderable Quantity a?
to wet feveral Handkerchiefs, and even to
fall from the Nofe in Drops^ if not prevented
by frequently wiping it away. This Hu-
piour is what \ mean by Rheum.

Being myfelf very fubjedt to this Diforder,
which is comraonly preceded by a Senfa-
tion of Fulnefs and Rigidity in the Mufcles
pf the Head and Face, and attended with
much Heat, Reduefs and Sorenefs of the
Noftrils and Parts imrnediately adjoining, du-
ring the Difcharge, (which continues com-
monly three Days, at the End whereof it be-
gins to thicken and become lefs acrid:) I was
defirous to know whence this linipid Hu-
mour could produce fo muck Irritation an^
Uneafinefs; and as a very little Confideration
piade me iuppofe it muft be owing to its be-
i|ig loaded with pungent Salts of fome fort

or

R H E U M. 185

or other, I took the firft Opportunity of ex-
amining it by the Microfcope, and had the
J^lcafure then, and many times fmce, to find
piy Conjecture confirmed by undeniable
Demonftration.

For this Rheum is fo faturated with Salts,
that a Drop on a Slip of Glafs will fooa
fhoot in a very beautiful and furprizing Man-
ner, either with or without Heat : but if
heated to about the Warmth of Blood, and
then placed under the Eye, many lucid Spots
or rather Points will be feen rifing, and in-
creafing gradually, till their Form fhews it-
felf to be quadrangular, with two tranfparent
Diagonals croffing one another, fee a and ddy
Plate IX. Thefe Diagonals ilioot foon af-
ter far beyond the Square, protruding other
Lines, at right Angles, from their Sides ;
{vid, c c.) which other Lines produce ftill
fmaller ones from their Sides alfo, in theOr^
der of the firft; and thus they go on to form
Configurations, whole Elegance of Beauty
nothing but feeing them can give an ade-
quate Idea of; tho' till the Reader can hini-
felf make the Experiment, a Reprefentation
of their general Figure is fhewn b by and in
other Places of the Drop : where great
Numbers appear, in their feveral Gradations,
and after their ufual Manner, filling up al-
inoft the whole Space.

The fine Branchings in a little while break
^way, but the ceritral Scjuares remain like

d d^

i86 R H E U M.

d ^.•— Some Figures at their firft Beginning
rife in the Shape of Crofles, which Ap-
pearance is owing to the Shootings, from the
Corners of the Uttle Squares, before they arc
}arge enough to be . vifible even by the
deepeft Magnifiers. The Number of main
Branches in each Configuration is mofl com-
monly four, but fome are found with five or
more : the Branches hkewife are fometimes
curved; but thefe two Cafes I take to be ra--
ther accidental than natural.

When a Drop of Rheum is fet to cryila-
lize without any Heat, inilead of branched
Configurations over the whole Area, as in
the above Defcription, fuch are formed only
in the Middle; but about the Edges Plant-
like Figures are produced, fhooting feveral
Stems from one Point, and refembling a
Kind of Sea-Mofs, vid, E. Branchings
fomewhat of this Kind are fliewn in Salt of
Hartfhorn.

Thefe Experiments fhew, that upon tak-
ing Cold the Humours become overcharged
with Salts: how they get there, and by v^^hat
Means they may be difcharged, is a Matter
well worth Enquiry; but fuch Difquifitions
muflbeleft to the Gentlemen whofe im-
mediate Profeffion it is to ftudy the various
Difordersof the human Body and their Qure.
I may however prefume to fay, that as all
Solutions of Salt become gradually weaker,
and may be rendered quite infipid by the
■ ■ AiFufioii

R II E U KT. 187

Affufion of a watry Fluid ; therefore, In Cafes
of this Nature, the frequent drinking of warm
Gruels, Teas, and fuch fmall watry Liquors,
muil in like Manner gradually dilute, feparate
and difperfe the acrid Salts, and he probably
the mod ready Means of carrying them off
either by Urine or Perfpiration.

^icre. May we fuppofe thefe Salts to
have been abforbed from the external Air at
the Time of catching Cold *, or to have ex-
ifted previoufly in the Body, tho* flieathe4
and harmlefs till let Iqofe, put in Motion an4
rendered acrid by the retained Matter of Per-
fpiration : as feems to be the Cafe in moft of
the animal Juices when tending to Putri-
faftion ?

* Mr. Frene fays, in his Effay on the Art of Healings
where he fpeaks of taking Cold ; ** the* every one knowij
*' that Colds proceed from receiving the Air into our Bo-
** dies improperly, yet few confider the State of the Air,
< * as abounding at one Time with all the n^ans of reftoring
*' Health to us and all the reft of the Creation, and at
** another as containing in it the Caufes of Plagues,
*' Peftilence and Famine, by its occafioning Death to
** Cattle, and Blights to all the Fruits of the Earth,'*
Pag. 147, 148.

CHAP.

"* ( i88 )

CHAP. LI.

Of Camphire.

CAMPHIRE is a fort of refinous
white Subftance, either exfuding from
certain Trees in the Iflands of Borneo^ Ja--
^ua^ Japan y and other Parts of the Eaji*
Indies^ or intermixed with the woody Fibres
in the Bodies and Roots of fome Trees
growing in thefe Countries. — It is not fo-
luble in Water, but diffolves readily in Spi-
rit of Wine, from which faturated therewith
my Experiments have been all made.

If any Heat be given it muft be very
gentle, and the Microfcope and Eye ap-
plied as foon as poffible; for the Shootings
form fo quick they will otherwife efcape
the Sight. They radiate from a Center,
cither with fix or four, rarely with five
Branches, whofe Length is nearly equal:
each Branch is feather'd with fine Lines
that diminifh gradually to a Pointy whereby
the Figures have greatly the Appearance of
Flakes of Snow 5 and the Points of fome
filling the Vacancies between thofe of
others, fmall are the Spaces that are left
uncovered. Some few fingle Branches are
produced about the Edges of the Drop. A
pretty good Reprefentation of thefe very de-
licate Configurations may be feen in the; Xlth
Plate, If

Of Camp hire, 1 89

If no Heat at all be applied there will
be more Time to examine the Configura-
tions; nor even then will much Patience
I be required, for the Camphire and Spirit cf
Wine are both fo volatile, that if the Drop
be fpread thin, they will foon begin to
form, and quickly after they vanifli quite
away.

Camphire Is of great Service when by any
Accident too large a Dofe of Opium has
been taken.

CHAP. LIL

Of Manna.

THIS fweet-tafted Salt is the Concre-
tion of a Juice iffuing from a kind
of Afli Tree during the Heat of Summer :
that from Calabria is accounted beft. It
eafily difTolves in Water made fomewhat
hot, and a Drop of the Solution is a very
pretty Objedlforthe Microfcope.

Its firft Shootings are Radiations from
Points at the very Edge of the Drop : The
radiating Lines appear opake, but extreme-
ly llender, vid. a a a, Plate XI. Amongft
thefe arife many minute tranfparent Co-
lumns, whofe Ends grow wider gradually
as thev extend in Length, and terminate at

laft

196 ()f Mmna»

laft with fome degree of Obliquity, if L
All the Figures round the Edges being
formed in Ciufters, and making but half a?
Circle, bear a near Refemblance to Bundles
of fpun Glafs.

Some few Figures radiating from a Cen-
ter every way, and circumfcribed by an Out-
line, are produced within the Drop> in the
manner fhev/n J d.

But the moll furprizing and elegant Con-
figuration is compofed of many Clufters of
Radiations fliooting one from another over
great Fart of the Drop, and making all to-
gether a Figure not unlike a certain very
beautiful Sea-Plant. Fid. C. The regular
Cryftals may be {qcr at e.

The Manna I examined was, I believe^
genuine ; but I am told a great deal is made
abroad, and fome in England, by ah artful
Compofition of Honey> Glaubers Salt, and
perhaps fome other Ingredients. A late
Writer fuppofes they make it abroad of FIo-
ney, Sugar, and the Juice of a Tithymal of
Spurge *. It is worth obferving, that in

the

* Chriftoph, a Cofta fays, that he faw a fiSiitious Mannd
fold at Ormus&f which was alfo carried into feveral Provinces
of Perjiuy in larger Flakes and not fo white as the genuine ;
but it was cheaper, and purged violently. And he was in-
formed of its Compofition by a ZQXX.2i\viBrachman^ <vi%. whit^
Starch, fome true Manna, Seammony^ a Kind of Seed
brought from Bengalhy the Name ofFz/a, the Powder of a
Root called Dante ^ and fome Sugar, mixed together with a
little perfumed Water, and expofed to the Sun. •

J). /;. /<

1

Salto£Milleped.cs^^-^/''H!

^he Vegetation of Metals, 191

the Midft of the largert: Flakes of Manna
httlc Twigs are frequently found, not thick-
er than Straws, round which the Manna
feenis to adhere as Tallow does round a
Wick that is dipped therein.

A^. jB. I fliould here direct an Examina-
tion of Sugar, hut could never find a
way of bringing it to ihoot or cryfta-
lize before the Microfcope. All other
Salts after Evaporation will fhoot their
Cryftals in a cool Place, but Sugar re-
quires a hot Stove to make it cryfta-
lize. The Figure of its Salts candy ed
may be feen in Plate XIV. of the Mi*
crofcope ?nade eajy.

CHAP. LIIL

Concerning the Vegetation g/* Metal s -

AFTER what has been already fliew^a
and defcribed, the confiderate Reader
will be at no great Lofs to judge of what
Writers commonly call the Vegetation of
Metals^ and the Refufcitation of Plants, both
which I fhall treat of brieflv.

When

Mefue likewife mentions the adulterating of Manna with
Sugar and the Leaves of Sena : but adds, that this Fraud
dikovers itfelf by its growing {"oft and li(iuifying.

jgl T^e Ve get at 1071 of Metals.

When any Metal is diffolved in a Meh-^'
ftruum. Multitudes of its feparated and very
minute Particles are fuipended in the Men-
ftruum, as are likewife the Particles of its
Salt or Vitriol. In this Mixture^ when fet
to reft, many of the fah or vitriolic Par-
ticles are brought together, after a while^
by Precipitation and Attraftion, carrying
with them Particles of the Metal; and form
Cryftals, in Figures peculiar to the Metal
diffolved : viz. Lead produces Cubes, T^in
quadrilateral Pyramids; &/>^^r produces ob-
lique-angled Parallelipipidsj and Iron rhom-
boidal Cryftals. This is the Gafe of one.
Metal diffolved fingly in a Menftruurii with-
out any Mixture; and no farther Altera-
tion happens by keeping, than that more
Cryftals will form like the firft, or that the
firft become enlarged, by the Precipitation
and Attradion of more of the vitriolic Salt :
Perhaps too foiiie of the metallic Particles (if
is has been over-charged) will be found at
the Bottom of the Fluid, tholigh great Part
of them will always remain fufpended.

But if different Metals dr metallic Sub-
ftances be diffolved in the fame Menftruum,
or in different Menftrua, and afterwards
mixed together % or if other Fluids bd
poured into any Solution of a Metal or Mi-
neral, the fufpended metalHc and vitriolic
Particles, having different degrees of At-
tradion and Gravity, are precipitated and

attradteci

yh'ber Dkinc^^ o)\ the Silver Tree. 19.3

attra<^cd by one another in a Variety of
complicated Dircdiions, and unite in Confi-
gurations extremely wonderful and pretty.
Some Produdions of this Sort have been
difcovered by Accident, and called the Ve--
getation of Metals, and many more might
undoubtedly be found, were Trials made
with Mixtures of dift'ercnt metalline Bodies
and different Menflrua. I fliall give a few
Examples of fuch metallic Configurations*

Arbor DiAN^, or ^ the Silver l^reei,

DilTolve an Ounce of fine Silver in four
Ounces of Aqua Fort is: diffolve like wife
in one Ounce oi Aqua Fortis as much Quick-
filver as it will bear: mix the two Solutions
in a clear Glafs with a Pint of Water, flop it
clofe, and after a Day it will begin to grow;

Or, dilfolve in Apia Fortis of pure Silver
one Dram; put to the Solution, of diftiird
Vinegar and Water each one Ounce: filter,
and add one Ounce and a half of Quick-
filver; mix, and iLake the whole fome time,
in a round clear Glafs Vefl^el, ftopping the
Mouth clofe with your Finger. Standing
quiet 24 Hours it will flioot into Branches
of various Figures.

Monf. tlomherg tells a way of produc-
ing a metallic Tree much fooner, after the
Preparations are got ready,- — Make fout
Drams of fine Silver into aii Amal<^ama

O without

.«

194 Arhor Martha or, the Iron T^ree.
without H^at, with two Drams of Qmck-
lilver : diffolve this Amalgama in four
Ounces oi Aqua Fo?^tis: pour the Solution
into twelve Paris Pints (about three Gal-
lons) of common V/ater, ftir it well together
and keep it in a Glafs Veffel well flop d.
To about an Ounce of this V/ater, in a fmall
clear Phial, put the Quantity of a fmall Pea
of the common Amalgama of Gold or Sil-
ver, which ihould be as foft as Butter.
Let the Phial ftand a few Minutes, and
you will fee fmall Threads or Filaments
rifing perpendicularly from the littk Bulb of
Amalgama, and thrufling out from their
Sides little Branches in form of a Tree. The
Bulb of Amalgama will grow hard, and be
like a Pellet of white Earth, but the little
Tree will be of a bright Silver Colour.—
The flronger the firfl Water is made, the
fooner formed and fuller of Branches will
the Tree be.

Albertus Magnus is faid to have produced
a metallic Tree before the King of France^
while he fat at Dinner 5 I fuppofe by fome
fuch Method,

Arbor Martxs, qt^ the Iron "Tree,

Diffolve Iron Filings in Spirit of Nitre^
pour on Oil of Tartar per deliquiuniy and a
fort of Branches will be formed and adhere

Arbor teener IS y cr, the Copper Tree, igj

to the Surface of the Glafs, reprefenting
Leaves and Flowers.

ARBdR Vei^eris, or^ the Copper T^ree^

The feeming Vegetation of Silver and
Iron jiift before defcribed, I give from
other Writers ; but this of Copper is I
believe intirely a new Dilcovery: and I
can affirm, from my own Experience, that
it is extremely wonderful and pretty, and
made with little Trouble.

In half an Ounce of A^iua Forfis^ let
a bright Halfpenny, or fome fmall -j- Piece
of clean pure Copper remain for about
twelve Hours, and then take it out. Diffolve
a little ^ick'fiher in as fmall a Quantity
as you can of the fame or ftronger Aqua
Fortis. The Solution will be white, and
like Flour and Water; at which Inftant it
muft be put into the firft Liquor, which will
immediately become of a lovely blue, and
throw down fomething of a white Sediment^
bat have very little Body or Ccnfifl:ence„

O 2 Have

f Tho* Jjan Forth afts on the Filings cf Copper faflei"
than it can on a Lump of that Metal, I have by Experience
found that very fmall Particles of Iron rubbed from the
I^ile, and mixed with the Copper FilingSj do much Pre^
judite to ths Experiment.

As Fumes arifmg from the Solutions of Metals in J^ud
Fortisy &c. are difagreeabie and unwholefome, 'tis advifcable ,
to make them in the open Air, and {o pUccd that the Wind'
2nay blow th« Fumes from y«u<

196 Arbor Veneris^ or, the Copper T^ree*

Have ready fome Salt Ammoniac finely
powdered, whereof put in a very little at a
Time; ftirrlng it about till it diffolves, makes
the Mixture of a blueiili white, and gives it
a Confidence like to Starch ; which Con-
dition {hews it fit for your Purpofe.

File bright any fmall Piece of Iron,
(the pointed End of a Nail about an Inch
in length, or a fmall Nail of that length
called a Brady does as well as any thing)
place it on the Middle of a Piece of clear
Glafs of two or three Inches in width : then
ftirring the Mixture with a Quill, let a
Drop fall from the End of the Quill upon
the Iron, and wet it therewith all over, (or
dip the Iron in the Mixture, before you lay
it on the Glafs, till it appears of a Copper
Colour,) add another Drop or two of the
Mixture, and with your Quill fpread it to
equal Diftances from every fide of the Iron,
an Inch or more, laying it fo thin as to
be tranfparent. Let it remain quiet in an
horizontal Pofition, and in a little while
you will difcern with the naked Eye Rami-
fications of the pureft Copper {hooting from
the Sides of the Iron, refembling the mofl
elegant Branchings feen in Mocha Stones^
(which may perhaps be produced by Mix-
tures in the Earth fomcwhat a-kin to thefe)
or like fome of the mofl minute and deli-
cate Sea-moiTes. They v/ill grow continu-
ally

Arbor Veneris, or^ the Copper Tree, 1 97

ally larger for Hours or Days, in propor-
tion to the Extcniion of the Liquor round
the Iron. For the Copper Particles afloat in
the Fluid, being firft of all attracted to cer-
tain Points in the Iron, and afterwards at-
tracting one another in an orderly SuccelU-
on, arrange themklves, by the Influence
and Co-operation of the Salts wherewith
they are now joined, in fuch manner, as
to compofe hy juxta-poJitioTi a Relemblance
of the moft regular and beautiful Vegetation.
And this Attraction and Formation of new
Branches feems to go on, until all the Cop-
per Pel/ tides in the Fluid are attracted and
difpofed by one another in the fame wonder-
ful Direction and Order.

Left I fliculd not have exprelTed myfeif
with fufiicient Clearnefs to be perfectly un-
derftood, I have given a Drawing, taken
with confiderable Exa6tnefs, of one of thefe
Productions, which now lies before me, and
has been growing four Days : (fee Plate
the laJ}J this will fliew the Manner of plac-
ing the Nail, and fpreading the Liquor round
it, and likewife what may be expedted from
it. The Drav/ing is not magnified, but
the real Size of the Objecfl:, which is large
enough to be feen plainly by the naked
Eye.

The chief Difficulty in this Experiment
arifes from the great Difference in the
Strength and Manner of the Aqua Fortiss
being prepared at difl'erent Shops, a^d even at

O 3 the

XqS Arbor Veneris ^ or^ the Copper Tree.

the lame Shop at different Times -f- : which
is the Reafon I could never exactly afcertairi
by Weight the jufl Proportion of the Mer-
a^7'y and Salt Afnmoniac, that depending
on the Strength and Compofition of the
AquaEortis', and therefore will admit of no
other Rule, than obferving the Colour and
Confidence of the Mixture, which if not
Vv^hite enough wants Mercury, and it too
thin wants Salt Ammoniac, or both. But
as neither of thefe muft be in Quantity to
weaken much the Solution of Copper, 'tis
advifeable to ftir them in by a very little at
a Time, As much of the Solution of Mer-
c:ury as may amount to about /^ part of the
whole, and four or five Grains of Salt Am-
moniac to half an Ounce of Aqua Fcrtis^ is
ufually near the Mark. If right, after ftand-
ing a little, a thick white creamy Matter
rifes to the Top, a white Sediment falls to
the Bottom, and the Middle is a fine tranf-
parent blue Liquor. When ufed it muft be
ftirred together, and employed before it fepa-
rates: and when fpread upon the Glafs it ap-
pears of a blueifli white; v/hich Ground is

f Some Aqua Fortis I bouglit became in diSblving Cor^
oer not of a blue but of a green Colour ; but on putting in
the Mercury it changed to anioft ]ovely blue, and made the
bell Mixture I ever'had ; for it might be feen to vegetate
in a Minute's Time: and produced, in a few Hours, vigorous
Branches of an Inch in Length. But there is fome Nicety re-
quifite in the Management of the Mercury; for the Minute
it is Qiip.>lved by the Aqua fortis^ even before the Fermenta-
tion is quite over, it muil be mixed with the Solution of Cop ^
per, or elfe it will concrete into a white Subftance like Salt^
^ad never mijc intimately with the Copper Solution.

Arbor Veneris, or, the Copper I'm, 1 99

fo fine a Contraft to the Colour of the Cop-
per, that when the Brandies are formed it
looks like the iineft Mocha Stone: and a
Jeweller to whom I Hiewed one of thefe
Productions told me, a Stone like that would
be worth an hundred Guineas.

This Experiment feems of great Impor-
tance; ferving to explain how Ramifications
of a like Appearance are produced, either oa
the Surface or in the Fiffures oi Slate, Flints,
Agates, Mocha Stones, Florentine Mar bles,^Q.
and perhaps even in their very Subftance at
the Time of their Formation, by the Inter-
mixture of faline and metalline Particles; and
alfo how Metals, difiblved by and incorpo-
rated with the faline Juices of the Earth are
formed into Branches zrAfeera to vegetate J.
It was difcovered, accidentally, by the very
ingenious Mrs. Colembine, of the' City oi JSior-

O 4 wich^

X Of this Kind I fuppofe the Ramifications of Silver, Cop,
per, and Iron to be that are met with oftentimes in Mines ;
either incorporated with the Stony Bed of the Metal, as in
the capillary, vegetative, or arborefcent Sih'er Ore from
Poto/i, or in Shootings or Branchings out from the Ores
themfelves : in the Manner of an Iron Ore defcribed by
Doilor Woodxvard, (Vol.1. Clafs IX. Pai't IV. N" 85.)
having very fine Sloofs or EffioreJ and es ; from a perpendicu-
lar FiUure in a vallly high Mountain in Cumberland ; where
he faysi great Numbers of much finer Shoots than that in
his PofTcflion, (but fo brittle and tender he could not pre^
ferve them,) rofe like Vegetables, with a fingle Stem, which
parted afterwards into feveral Branches, of all Sizes, to the
Height of near two Inches. The Stems were round, and
fo were the Branches ; but towards the Extremities they
were fo jigged as to refemblc common Heath. They were
cxa£lly of the Complexion of Ircn, a duflcy red with a
C^ft of blue.

^00 Arbor Veneris^ or, the Copper Tree,

mchy in her fearcli after new Colours^ from^
Copper, for painting in Miniature. The
Scarlet Dyers ufe in their Bufuiefs ^gua
Fortis faturated with Tin, and make no Se-
cret of it ; but one of that Trade, who is
thought to excel in the Richnefs of his Scar-
let, prepares his Aqua Fortis after a Manner
known only to himfelf. In fome of this
Mrs. Colembme diffolved Copper : and hap-
^ pening to leave a Piece of Iron in the Mix-
ture, fhe was furprized with the Branchings
from it, and fEiewed theni to my very inge-
nious Friend and Correfpondent Mr. William
Arderon^ F- R. S. who by her Defire fent an
Account thereof to me, (in yime 1 751) and
with it fome of the fame Aqim Fortis , where-
^nto I put an Halfpenny, and let it remain
four or five Pays according to his, Diredtions;
in which Time the Aqua Fortis acquired the
Confiftence of Starch of a pale blue Colour;
and on applying it to a Nail, in the Manner
defer i bed already, it might, in a very few
Minutes, be feen to fhoot out Branches, that
lA^ouId continue growing five or fix Days, ac-
cording to the Extenfion of the Fluid j and
in numberlefs Trials it never failed cnce.
The Branches were evidently of a pure and
finely coloured Copper, rifmg above theFIuid,,
exadly regular, arid perfectly diftind^ and
feparate; as the Drawing, which was taken
from a Producftion by the fanie Liquor that
Jsad beep growing four Pays, will fhew.
This Aqua Fortis^ which v/as very cleai'

and

Arbor Veneris y or, the Copper Tree, 20 t

and pale, with a flight Tcint of a pearly Co-
lour, was luppofed to be only Hituratcd with
Tin: but on trying Tin with other Aqua For-
tisy and making Experiments with Aqua
Fort is prepared by other Scarlet Dyers, we
found ourlelves difappointed and the Vege-
tation very imperfect.

Aqiui Fort is bought at feveral Shops in
LondGUy corroded, or radier burnt the fliav-
ings diliny with great Fermentation, Heat
and Violence ; reducing them to a white
Pa(te-like Suhflance, that lay at the Bottom
and left the Liquor perfecflly colourlefs : and
when the Copper was afterwards put in,
conduced not at all towards giving the Mix-
ture a Conliftencc, or promoting the Branch-
ings out; whereas the Tin in Mrs. Cokfnbine's
Aqua Fortis was kept fufpended, threw down
no Sediment, and thickened the Mixture,
But as that Aqua Fortis can not be got by
People diftant from Norwich^ many Endea-
vours have been ufed to produce the fame
Effed: by other Means: and we luckily found
it might be done by the Method juft now
defcribed. We difcovered alfo, in making
Experiments without Number on this Oc-
cafion, that different kinds of Branchings
equally furprizing and beautiful may be pro-
duced by different Mixtures. Viz.

Aqua Fortis faturated wMth Copper, and
applied to a Nail, will without any Addi-
tion fhoot forth very pretty Branches, after
(landing quiet a few Hours, if a due Pro-
portion

202 Arbor Veneris^ or^ the Copper 'J ree,

portion of Nitre be in the Compoiition of
the Aqua Fortis.

A hke Solution, with the Addition of Salt
Ammoniac''^, will ihoot fooner and ftroneer.

If feme Nitre and Alura powdered, and in
equal Quantities^ be put to the fame Solution
of Copper, inftead oi Salt Ammoniac , Branches
v/ill be produced, of quite another Fafhion
and Charader.

DifTolve 7 or 8 Grains o^Tin Shavings in
half an Ounce of Spirit of Nitre : this will
be efFeded without great Ebullition, and the
Metal be intirely fufpended. Put into the
Solution a clean Halfpenny, which take out
after 1 2 Hours i then add a few Grains of
Salt Ammoniac^ putting it in by little and
little, and trying the Mixture from time to
time. This fhoots very well.

Aqua Fortis fent me from Norwich ^
(made there by Mr. Finch) fhoots very well
either with or without Hin. It diflblves 7in
without any Precipitation, and afterwards
acquires a Confidence with Copper, like that
of Mrs. CoIembine,~YvJt Grains of ^in were
put into 7 Pennyweight of this Aqua For^
tis : In lefs than an Hour an Halfpenny was
put into the Solution j and two Hours after,
9. Nail being dipped in the Mixture, (which
was then as thick as Starch) and placed upon
the Glafs with fome more of the Mixture
round it, began to vegetate in five Minutes,

An

* Salt AjnmQiilaz with Al^ia Forth makes an 4l^^ •^?'*

Arhor Veneris i or, the Copper Tree, 203

An Halfpenny was put into four Penny
Weight of the fame Aqua Fortjs : fourPiours
after a Nail was dipped therein, and placed
upon the Glafs, and in 1 5 Minutes the Cop-
per ihot itfclf all round. Salt Ammoniac add-
ed to it quickens the Experiment and makes
the Shootings ftronger,

A Solution of Copper \n AquaRegia flioots
out pretty Branchings of Copper, and better
ftill if fome Salt Ammojiiac be put to it after
the Copper is taken out.

*Tin will dilTolve and be fufpended in Aqua
Regia: it blackens the Liquor during the
Ebullition, but leaves it at laft clear without
any Precipitation.— Diflblve 7 or 8 Grains of
7in in half an Ounce oi Aqua Regia, then
put in an Halfpenny, which let remain 24
Hours. This Mixture will have the Con-
fidence of Starch, and will vegetate round
the Nail ; it is of a dark green Colour. 'Twill
be improved by a little Salt Arnmoyjiac.

I could give many other Experiments of
this Nature, but the Curious and Ingenious
will be able from thefe Hints to make Dif-
coveries themfelves of a great Variety of
Branchings, bydifiblving Copper in different
Menftrua, and by adding Mercury,Tin,Nitre^
Alum, blue Vitriol (v/hich contains Copper,)
Corrofive Sublimate, Saccharum Saturni, Bo-
rax, <Sc. This may eafily be done, by
adding which they pleafe to a Drop or two
of the Copper Solution upon a Plate of Glafs,
and trying it with a Nail: and if they

like

0

204 Arbor Veneris ^ or^ the Copper Tree.

like the EfFed:, the fame Mixture may then
be made in a large Quantity and kept in a
Phial to entertain them at any time ; for all
thefe Mixtures may be prefcrved in good
Condition many Months *.

It may be proper to obferve in general,
that thofe Mixtures are the moft agreeable
which have fome Body or Conjijience ; and
that fuch Confiftence is given by adding a
Solution of Mercury to the Copper Solution,
and then putting in Sal Ammoniac ; or by
diflblvinp- ^in in the Menftruum before the

o

Copper is put in. If the Mixture corrodes
the Nail it never does well ; or if it turns
green round the Sides thereof, which it will
do when overcharged Wiili Sal Ammoniac i
but defpair not of any Nail's fliooting till it
has lain twelve Hours.

If you can procure Aqua Fortis that will
diffolve and fufpend Ti;^, (not burn it into a
white Powder) the whole depends on leav-
ing it of fuch due Strength, that it may be
able to diffolve Copper enough, after it has
dilTolved the Tin^ and yet not be fo ftrong
as to corrode and raife Blifters on the Nail
moiftened therewith, thereby difcolouring
- the Copper and fpoiling the Experiment.

On

* 'Tis bell to keep all Mixtures with acid Spirits in a
iittle Box by themfelves, and in Phials (holding an Ounce
at leaft) not more than half filled ; for fome of them will
ferment and fland in need of room : they Ihould alfo have
well £ued Glafs Stopoles.

Arbor Veneris, or^ the Copper Tree, lo^

On the contrary, if too much lin be diflblv-
ed in the Aqua Fort is it becomes whitifli or
milky, dillblves not enough of the Copper,
and is too weak for Vegetation. Dilap-
pointments will alfo happen if Care be not
taken in proportioning the Mercury and Sal
Ammoniacy when they are employed : and
yet the certain Weight and Meafure cannot
be laid down, from the great Difference in
Aqua Fortis.

The Nail or Piece of Iron'fhould be filed
bright at the Time 'tis ufed, and its Surface
made fo even that it may come clofe to the
Glafs its whole Length. 'Tis befl: to hold
the Nail in the Mixture for a Second or two,
till it is of a Copper Colour, before you
place it upon the Glafs : your Shoots will
thereby be made the ftronger, as the Cop-
per Particles floating in the fmali Quantity
you put upon the Glafs, finding the Iron al-
ready covered, will difpofe themfelves more
into Branches. But doing this often will
impoverifh your Mixture by drawing the
Copper out of it : and therefore 'twill be right
to keep fome feparately for fuch an Ufe.

The Branchings pufn out to the Extremity
of the Drop, and then frequently turn along
the Edges, ftill dividing into fmaller Rami-
fications, till at laft they run into one another
and become confufed; or elfe a yellow Tinge
drawn from the Iron difFufes through the
Fluid and renders them obfcure; but neither

of

^o6 Arbor VenhUy or, the Copper ^ree.

of thefe happen till the Vegetation is nearly
at an End, which is not till after feveral
Hours, and in fome Sorts feveral Days. They
may however be preferved in good Condi*
tion, by preventing any farther Ad:ion of the
Salts when the Shootings are advanced to
their uttiioil: Perfection, if at that Time the
Nail be taken away carefully with a pair of
Nippers i then foaking up the Liquor where
the Nail lay with a little Bruili or Rag, dip
the Glafs gently into Water, andhold it there
a few Seconds. Hereby the Shootings are
flopped, the Branches are left upon the
Glafs iti very good Order, and if another
Glafs be put over them, guarded with Slips
of Cork as dire<fled /^^j-. 36, they may be
kept many Years. Sometimes indeed they
tvill turn green (that is, grow rufty) but as
their Forms continue, it takes but little from
their Beauty.

Tho' all thefe Ramifications are larg6
enough to be feen diftindily by the naked Eye^
being frequently above an Inch in length>
'tis very deiireable to examine them by Glaf-'
fes through the different Stages of their jPro-
grefs; for the Microfcope difcovers on fome of
them the Appearance of Flowers and Fruits^
and fhews many curious Particulars not elfe
to be conceived. The 4th or 5th Glafs ar^
beft for thefe Subjefts^ which require no
great Magnifier*

Copper

Arhor Veneris, or, the Copper T'rce. 207

Copper cannot perhaps be brought to ve-
getate io ftrongly any way as by being difiblv-
ttd in acid Spirits ', but having in the Courfe
of my Experiments dilcovcred other Means
of bringing it to produce very elegant Branch-
ings, tho' lo fmall as to require being viewed
with Ghiffcs, I fhall not conceal them from
the Reader.

DilTolve as much of the hhiejl and cicaft*
eft Vitriol in warm Water 'as it can poffibly
fuftain. Put a very little Sal j^?nmoniac in
fine Powder upon the Glafs Plate, to which
add two or three Drops of the Vitriol Solu-
tion. When the Sal Ajnmoniac is dilTolved,
place in the Mixture upon the Glafs a fmall
Brad filed bright, wet it all over with the
Liquor, and fpread the Liquor round it, as
in the foregoing Experiments : It will im-
mediately attrad: the Copper in the Vitriol,
and foon begin to fhoot out Branches, the
Form of which, as the Microfcope w^ill fhew,

very much refembles Heath, Sublimate

inftead of Sal Ammoniac caufes a different
Kind of Shootings, If the Copper Solu-
tion be overcharged with Sal A?nmoniac or
Sublimate it will not fhoot at all, but turns
yellowifh round the Nail. A few Trials
will fettle the Proportion, which is accord-
ing to the Quantity of Copper in the Vitrio],
An exceeding fmall Drop of Spirit of Wine
will raife a Fermentation with the Vitriol,
4 but

20 S Of the Refufcitation of Plants.

but that being over before the Nail is apoii«
ed, it makes the Shootines flronper.

The lirft Principle of Adlion in all thefe
Experiments is the Attraction of Copper by
Iron ; but that only ferves to cover the Jrori
with Copper Particles, in the Manner before
defcribed, pag. 80 and 81. The Branchings
of every Sort are owing to the Agency of Salts i
which Confideration may perhaps lead to
Means of producing Vegetations from other
Metals.

'Tis hoped the dwelling fo long on thofe
Experiments may be excufed : as they are ex-
tremely pretty in themfelves, and feem to
open a Way towards accounting for many of
the moft curious ProducStions in Nature.

CHAP. LIV.

Of the Resuscitation of Plants.

"^ H E Chemifts tell wonderful Things
of the Refufcitation or Refurre6lion of
Plants from their Afhes ; and I make no
Doubt extraordinary Configurations have
iDeen produced in very ftrong Solutions of
vegetable Salts, by the Means of Precipi-
tation and Attraction : but 1 cannot help
believing that Imagination has been greatly
indulged, when they talk of Branches, Leaves
and Flowers, exadily refembling thofe to which
the Salts belong.

Cf the RefufcitatioJi of P/mits. 209

The famous Phyfician Sljiercetamts tells a
ftrange Story of a Polonicni Dodtor, who
fliewed him a dozen Glaffes hermetically
fealed, in each of which was a different
Plant, as a Rofe in one, a Tulip in another, a
Clove July-Flower in a third, G'c. When
thefe Glalles were firft brought to View, you
faw nothing in them but a Heap of Afhes
at the Bottom; but on the Application of
fome gentle Heat under any of them, there
prefently arofe out of the Aflies the Idea of
the Flower and StaLks belonging to thofe
Alhes; and it would fhoot up and fpread
abroad to the due Height and Dimeniions
of fuch a Flower, and had the perfed: Co-
lour, Shape, Magnitude, and all the other
Accidents, as if it were really the Flower.
But whenever the Heat was drawn from it,
as the Glafs and the included Air and Mat-
ter cooled by Degrees, fo would this Flower
fink down by little and little, till it would
bury itfelf in its Bed cf Afhes; and thus it
would do as often as a moderate Heat was
apply ed or withdrawn. Kircher is faid to
have done the fame Thing at Rome:

Dr. Cox gave an Account to the Royal So^
ciety, fPhilof, Tranf. N° 108) ** that having
*' procured a large Quantity of Fern AJhes,
*' from Fer?i burnt when between green and
** dry, he extracted their Salt in the common
*^ Manner v/ith Water, and obtained feveral
*^ Pounds of Salt, after evaporating the Wa-

P '' ter:

46
(C

2IO Of the Refufcitation of Plants. '

ter; the greateftPart of which, being firfl
dryed, he expofed to the Air, that it
might become an Oil per deliqu'mm.
*' The Remainder of the Lixivium which
** continued fluid, being filtered whilfl
" warm, was of a very red Colour, deeper
" than florid Blood and mod Clarets, and
exceeding ponderous. The Colour fhew-
ed it abounded with fulphureous or oily
Parts, and the Weight that it was highly
Saturated with the faline. This ftrong
Solution being put in a capacious Glafs,
in five or iix Weeks depofited a large
Quantity of Salt, at leafl two Inches thick,
*' over the Bottom of the Veffel. The
«^ lowefl: Part of the Salt was of a dark Co-
0 " lour, as if fome Dirt or Dregs were mixt

therewith, but the Surface next the Liquor
was exceeding white ; and there fprung
« out of the whole Mafs of Salt, at fmall
<^ Diftances from each other, about forty
« Branches, which (excepting the Colour)
'« did moft exad:ly relemble that Kind of
" Fern w^hich is fingle Wktpolipody and not
*« branched, fending out feveral Leaves on
" each fide from one Stem. They diff^ered
" in Size, but were all alike in Fip-ure, with-
<' out the leaft Variation : only fome emit-
** ted more Leaves from the Stem than
" others ; wdiich is alfo ufual in the natu-
*^ ral Fern. "

ic

tc
<(

€(
((

i<
t(
(C

e(

C(
S(

Of tie Rcfufatation of Plajits. 2 1 1

Dr. Cox likewilc adds, **that mixing equal
Parts oi Sill y^mmoniac and Pot- Allies, the
latter of which had a very Itrong lul-
phureous Smell, yet fecmed to abound
with Salt conliderably alkalized; the Mix-
ture being put into a tall Glafs Body, im-
mediately upon feeling the Heat a great
deal of volatile Salt was fublimed, and in
the Glafs Head he obferved, to his Sur-
prize, a Foreft in Perfpedlive of FirSy
Pines, 0c. fo adm.irably delineated, as not
to be excelled, if imitated, by the Pencil
** of the greateil: Mafter."

Having left a fmall Quantity of Compound
Syrup of Balfam in a Phial, that was fet by
and forgot, with only a piece of Paper thruft
into the Mouth of it inilead of a Cork; wheri
it came to hand two or three Months after;
I found all the watery Part evaporated and the
Sugar cryftalized at Bottom : and, what
furprized me very agreeably, the faline Par-
ticles of the Gums and Balfams, of which it
was compofed, had fliot themfelves almofl
intirely round the infide of the Glafs Phial,'
in the mofc regular and pretty Confti^u rations
imaginable; and remained fo for a long time
after wairds.

The Adivity and Volatility of Salts are
wonderful, and I make no Doubt many en-
tertaining Experiments might eafily be made
by Intermixtures of vegetable and other
Salts, if any body who jaas Leifure woul^f

P 2 inten-

212 Mifcellaneous Obfervations on Salts ^ Sec.

intentionally fet about it. Ktrc/jer fays, " if
'^ you put into a wooden Tube, Tartar,
" Quick-lime, Salt, andthe Urine ofaWine-
« Drinker, reduced into one Mafs, which
*^ is to be hardened in the Sun and after-
*^ wards fet in a cold Cellar j from the above-
^' mentioned Mafs, by the Help of Salt-
^' petre, you will fee Flowers branch out.
*^ And fuch is the Force of Nitre, that, if
in a Glafs kept clofe jfhuts you pour the
Juices of fome nitrous Herbs on the above
Mafs, the Nitre contained within it being
pregnant with Spirit will force itfexf
through the very Fores of the Glafs/*

CHAP. LV.

Mifcellaneous Obfervations on Salts, &cc.

AVING gone through the Courfe of
my Experiments on faline Subftances,
I propofe from thence to form a few Re-
fie6lions.

As it has been plainly fhewn that the
Particles of Salts, dij/ohed and floatiitg in a
Menftruum, will by Precipitation, or an
Evaporation of the Fluid, be brought toge-
ther, and unite in Figures peculiar to their
refpedive Kinds, by fome certain Law of
Nature, (call we it Attradlion, or what we
pleafe :) it feems reafonable to believe, that
thofe crjftaline, mineral, or metallic foffil
Bodies which have a conftant and regular

Con.-

MifccIIaneons Obfervations on Salts, &c. 213

Configuration, derive their Figyres from
the Intermixture and Operation of ^SV/j- c f
fome Sort or other. For tjiat Salts abound
every where in the Earth, either at Reft
and locked up in Minerals and other Bodies;
or in a State of A6tion. being diflulved and
carried along in Water or fome other Fluid,
is a matter beyond difpute. The finer Par-
ticles of fuch Salts being diffolved in and
rifing with the Particles of Water *, float
like wife in our Atmofphere in great Abun-
dance, where by Heat and Cold, by a greater
or lefler Degree of Rarifadlion, as well as
by other Accidents, they at different Times
are (in the Air) brought together in greater
Quantity, or become more difperled and dif-
fipated : whence confiderable Changes and
Alterations are produced, fuch as Freezing,
Hail, Snow, Lightning, Thunder, Gfr. But I
fhall confine my Obfervations to the Effecfts
that are probably owung to faline Particles
within the Bowels of the Earth, or very
near the Surface thereof.

Since we are acquainted with no Dljjol-
ve?2ts of Metals where Salts are not prin-
cipally concerned, it is reafonable to fup-
pofe, that in the Bowels of the Earth, Salts
may likevvife, when diffolved themfelves,
have a Power of diffjlving metallic Sub-
ftances; and afterwards, on the withdraw-

P 3 i"g

* Vitriol, Alum, andNi.tre, are fo volatile, when diiToIve;',
as to force through the dofell Cork, or between ;he Bottle
and the Cork, tlio' ever lo clofely flopped.

g 14 Mijcellaneons Obfervations on Salts ^ &c.

ing of the Fluid, of uniting with the metallic
Particles, and bringing them together in cer-
tain Figures peculiar to fuch an Admixture,
and more or lefs perfe(5t according to the re-
fpedtive Proportions of metallic, faline, and
Qther Particles. Tbofe curious Ramificatmis
in the arborefcent iilver Ore brought fromP^^-
mma, which run through the Bed of Stone
wherein it lies, may perhaps be owing to the
Panicles of that Metal having been diffolved
by a vitriolic Menftruum, and carried along
with it into the little FifTures of the Stone -,
where as the Water evaporated, the Silver
Particles were {hot out and difpofed by the
vitriolic Salt, into Ramifications io nearly
refembling the Configurations of Vitriol.
The Branchings oi Copper and Iron (by fome
imputed to a vegetative Principle) are pro-
bably produced in a like Manner % and thp
Reafon why Gold is feldom or never found
thus branched, but always in little Lumps or
pranulsj may perhaps be^ that the Salts
which diffolve other Metals are unable to
feparate the Particles of Gold.

Rock Salt, (which differs little or nothing
from the Salt of Springs and of the Sea,)
Vitriol and Jllum-, (of which, and alfo of
Sulphur^ the faline Acid, Chemifts tell us,
is in all the fame) Nitre and Borax, are
I think the only foffil or mineral Salts fpoken
of by Writers; for Salt Ainmoniac can hard-
ly be accounted fuch. But \l is inipoffible

to

MifcellaiieousObfervations on Salts, &c. 215

to fay what others befides the(e the Bowels
of the Earth may contain, or how infinitely
they may be compounded and diverfifi'.'d.
I lliall make no Ditiiculty to luppofe the
component Particles of Spars, Cryftals, and
precious Stones have ho^njeparated 2indJioaf-
ing in fome Fluid, and brought together in
the Shapes we fee them by certain Laws of
Attradion, which in like Circumftances are
conrtant and unalterable. And as uniting
in regular Order, and forming MalTes of
Figures uniform and conflanfy are the diftin-
guilhing Properties of Salts, (as the forego-
ing Experiments fhew) the compojient Par-
ticks of Bodies thus formed muft originally
have been Salts^ notwithftanding the Bodies
fo compofed are indiffolveable : nor is the
prefent lixt Condition of fuch Particles, or
the Hardnefs of fuch Bodies, any ccnclulive
Objeiftion ; for the making of Glafs fliews,
that Salts may be rendered fixt, hard, and
indilTclveable. I therefore apprehend that
all cryjl aline Matter^ or the Particles of
Matter whereof Spar, Cryftals, and precious
Stones are formed, is originally a Salt, ac-
cording to my Meaning of the Word \ and
Linnceiis is I prefume of fome fuch-like Opi-
nion, fince in his Syflema Natiirce he places
all precious Stones, even the Diamond itfelf,
in his ClaiTes of Salts,

Do(3:or IVoodward likewife, tiiough he
fpeaks not of thivS cryftaline Matter as a Salt,

P 4 imputes

2 1 6 Mifcellaneous Obfervations on Salts, &c«

imputes it to the Properties that Saks have,
when he fays, the Pdooting of any Metal pro^
ceeds. generally, merely from Cryjlal, combin-
ing with it in the ConcoBion and Formation of
the Mafs. And again. Metalline Matter y
when pure andfmple, never jhoots into an an-
giilated Figure^ nor is indeed capable of doing
that. The Bodies tjtcorporated with Metalsy
and difpofing them to fhoot into angulated Fi-
giiresy are either Sulphur (by which he aiuft
mean the Sal Acidum of Sulphur) or Cry^
JiaL *' Iron concreting with Cryftal deter-
mines it to a rhomboidal Figure, T!in to a
quadrilateral ¥y\'^vn\iy Lead to a cubic Form,
If Cryjftal be pure it ilioots into Oifix-fided
pyramidal Figure, or into a Pyramid eredlied
upon a Column, each with^£v Sides and An-
gles!' He moreover iuppofes, " the Balis of
all tranfparent Gems to be a cryjialine Mat-
ter different in Hardnefs, and coloured by
metallic Mixtures : head imparts a yellow,
T^'in -f* a black. Copper a blue or green,
Iron a purple, an amethiftine, and various
Sorts of red. The Figures of all angular
opake Foffils are owing to the like cryltaline
Matter, but in them the metallic Matter
fo much exceeds the cryftaline, as to render
the Body opake. "J

That

f And fometimes a yellow, as feveral large Grains of Tin
in my PriTeffion prove.
■ ."t See Wjodvjard s Fofiils, Vol. L p. i88, and 220.

MifcellancQus Obfervations on Salts, &c. 217

That the- Shoots of Cryftals are formed in
a Fluid ftrongly charged with cryftaline
Matter, will readily I believe be granted, and
likewile that their Formation is nearly in
the fame Manner as the Formation of the
Cryftals of difiblved Salts. But perhaps it
may be inquired in what Time this Opera-
tion is brought about; and though that
much depends on the Strength of the Solu-
tion, and the Evaporation of the watery Part
of the Fluid, there muft certainly be a CrJ/is
when the Cryftals begin to form; after
which, little Time perhaps is required to
bring them to Perfedtion: for, when the
fioating Particles come within the Sphere of
each other's Attraction, they rujh together 2Si^
unite, according to their refpecflive Figures,
and that in a fhort Time; as is plain in freez-
ing, and in artificial Cryflalization, which is
brought about in the fame Way.

Great EJifputes have arifen among Natu-
ralijls concerning the Formation of Corals
and Corallines ■^, under which Names Bodies
of very different Contextures, Subflances
and Figures, are I think too indifcriminately
included; their Appearance indicating not
only a Difference in Species, but even in Ge-
nus. Some infift on their being in general

the

• As I think it needlefs to enter into Particulars, by
Ccrals and Corallines I intend, in general, whatfosver the
Naturaliils include under the Names of Cor allium. Mil-
leper a f Madripora, Cor alii na, &c.

2i8 Conjedtiires concerning

the Work o{ little Animals y whilft others main-
tain that they are all Sea-Plants, There
may be found perhaps of both thefe Kinds :
but is there ^ot a Thirdy (I mean the Jiony
Corals J whofe Produffion may be more a-
kin to that of Minerals, and chiefly owing to
the Operation oifaline Particles incorporated
withy/^;^_y Matter ?

The Rocks in the Sea on which thefe
Corals are produced, are undoubtedly replete
with mineral SaltSy fome whereof near their
Surface, being diifolved by the Sea Water,
muft confequently^/2/r^/^ with \ki€vi faliiie
Particles the Water round them to a fmall
Diil:ance, where blending with the ^ Jiony
Matter with which Sea Water always a-
bounds, little Ma/Jes will be conftituted here
and there and affixed to the Rocks. Such
adhering Maffes may be i^vnicARoots : which
Roots attraBing the faline and ftony Parti-
cles, according to certain Lav/s in Nature,

may

* I call thofe Corals _,^<?7^ which have a Hardnefs like

unto Stone; and would be underllood to v:\t2LXv'hy fionyMat-

ier, that Matter which conflitutes the Bafis of fuch Corals ;

without any critical Enquiry whether it is or is not different

from that Kind of Matter whereof fome Stones are made.

Dr. Wood^ivard fays, <-' the true marine Coral is indeed a

Hony Subftance, and of mineral Nature and Origin : the

conftitueut Matter of it is beat off from the Rocks and

Cliffs^ (where the Agitation of the Sea is great) borne

thence, precipitated and affixed to Rocks, Stones, Shells,

' or ether Things, where the Water is more ilili and calm.

' As it is of thefame Conftitution, fo it owes its Solidity

* and the Coheiion of its Parts to the fame Caufe that Stones

<< and other Miiierals do," HijL Fo/ph, QlafsV. Vol. J.

fag. iz<).

the TroduBion of Corals, 2 1 9

may produce branched or other Figures, and
incrcde gradually by an Appofition oF Par-
ticles ; becoming thicker near the Bottom
where the faline Matter is more abounding,
but tapering or diminiping towards the Ex-
tremities, where the mineral Salts muft be
fewer, in proportion to their Diftance from
the Rock whence they originally proceed.
And the different Proportions of mineral
faline Particles, of the fony or other Matter
wherewith they are blended, and of marine
Salty which muft have a confiderable Share
in fuch Formations, may occafion all the
Variety we fee. Nor does it feem more dif-
ficult to imagine that the radiated, ftarry, or
cellular Figures along the Sides of thefe Co-
rals, or at the Extremities of their Branches,
may derive their Produdion from Salts in-
corporated with fony Matter, than that the
purious Delineations and Appearances of mi-
nute Shrubs andMoffes on Slates,^ Stones *,
(3c, are owing to the Shoots of Salts in-
termixt with mineral F articles: and yet thefe
are generally allowed to be the Work of
mineral Steams or Exhalations-, by which
muft, I think, be meant the fineft Particles

of

* Let me not be mifanderftood to mean the Imtrejfior.s of
Plants found frequentlv on Slates, Iron-Stones, ^c. for inch
Imtrefions are undoubtedly owing to the very Plant, then-.-
felves, whofe Figures they bear, having been lodged in the
Matter whereot luch Slates or Stones arc made, whilft :t was
in a Huid or foft State ; which they fervs to prove it ior-
merly has undoubtedly been.

220 Conjeclures concerning

of fome Metal or Mineral incorporated with
and brought into Ad;ion by a volatile pene-
trating Acid, which carrying them along
with it into the Fiffures at leaft, if not into
the folid Subilance of fuch Stones or Slates,
there determines them to fhoot into thefe
elegant Branchings -, after the fame Manner,
and frequently in the fame Figures, as the
Particles of Mercury^ Copper, &c. are dif-
pofed and brought together by the Salts in
Aqua Fortisy of which an Account is before
given pag. 196.

Such as believe thefe Corals to be the
Work of Infects, ground their Opinion,
(againft many feeming Appearances to the
contrary,) on the fole Suppolition that each
of their j/?^rry Cells or Hollows is inhabited by
an InfeB, who therefore was the Maker of it.
I very readily believe InfeSis are frequently
found therein ; for the Works of God are all
fubfervient to one another, fo as to compofe
a perfect Whole; and as on the Earth moft
Kinds of Plants afford an Habitation for In-
fecisy it would be very ftrange if amongft the
innumerable Animals in the great Sea, fome
Species or other w^ere not intended to dwell
in thefe little Cells. But without objed:ing
to the Dijproportion between the Work and
the Workmen, and that Animals fo exqui-
fitely tender and delicate fhould yet be able
to bring together and fiifliion fuch large and
heavy Maiies of Stone-like Matter, fmce Na-
ture

the ProduBion of Corals. 221

ture is every where wonderful; I fliall only
remark, that were all thefe Cells filled with
Animals, and efpecially the very large Cells
in Ibme Corals, to which the Animals mull
be luppofed proportionably large, it could
fcarce have happened but that every Fiflicr
for Coral, or whoever had feen a Branch of
it in the Sea, muft likewife have feen theie
Animals. Befides, at different Times, there
have been fome diligent Otfrvers of Coral,
whofe Notice thefe Animals have efcaped ;
w^hich renders it probable, that tho'y^;;^^' Cells
may be inhabited, the Generality of them
are not. And as to forming Conclulions
from the minute Corallines, whoft Subftance
and Figure bear not the leail Refcinblance
to thefe, and infifting that becaufe the little
Veffels or Cafes found on them are the Nejis
and the Works of Infecfts, therefore Infedts
muft have been the Fabricators of all the
Corals; I fay, to conclude thus, is fome what
over hafty and unphilofophical -f*.

Though,

f The Animals fuppofed to \i2NQ formed QoxiXs^ or to have
made their Njfes upon them, are, for want of knowing their
proper and diftinguifhing Charaaers, called atprefcntby the
general Name of Po/j/TJ-; though perhaps their Species, Size,
and Figure may be as different as the Corals themfelves are:
but thefe Animals are defcribed by all who fpcak of them, as
having Bodies fo extremely tender that a very flight Touch
will lacerate or diforder them. 1 hey are alfo reprefentedas

Jixt to one Spot, with little other Motion than that of ^at/^W-
ing their Arms oc-Bodies out of their Cells, or contracling^
themfelves and retiring therein at theApprehenfion of Danger.

. Creatures thus circumllancedfcem very little capableofcol-
2 lecUng

222 Conjectures concerning^ &c.

Though, living far from the Sea, I have
never been able to examine Corallines juft
taken from thence, I doubt not the Veraci-
ty of thofe v/ho fay, that on placing them
conveniently in Sea Water, they have by
GlafTes difcovered minute Polypes in every
one of the little Veffels : but thefe Veflels or
Cafes are of a membranaceous Texture, tranf*
parent, and in moil Particulars intirely differ-
ent from ihtjlony Corals -, and even allowing
them to be the Work and Neils of Infeds,
I am not yet, I muft confefs, intirely con-*
vinced that the v^hole Coralline is fo too; for
in many of them a tough Stem, feemingly
of like Confiilence with that of other Sea-*
Produd:ions acknowledged to be Plants, rifes
from a Root or what appears to be fo, and
branches out in fuch a Manner, that I be-
lieve the moft accurate Examiner, void of
any Hypothecs, v^ould declare it to be vegeta-
ble.—In ihort, there are wonderful Mix-
tures in the Sea; Stones, Shells^ and Plants,;

are

lefting and carrying ijiony Matter^ 2XidiraiJtng EdifcesXhtrt-
with; and erpecially in fuch large Quantity, that comparing
the Smallnefs of the Cells wherein thefe Creatures are fup-
pofed to dwell, with the Bulk, Solidity, and Weight of the
Roots and Branches of many of the Sto7iy Corah, the greateft
Part of it appears quite unnecefiary. This is direftly con-
trary to the Oeconomy of Nature, (frugal tho'' fufjicient) in
the Shelly Cafes of the feveral Species of VermicuU, in the
Tubult marini, the Pipe Corals, and the Habitations made
by other fmall Infeils ; all which, like the Honey-comb, are
framed of as little Matter as pollible, thin, light and roomy^
and appear to be what they are. I lliall only add, againll the
Suppofing all Corals to be made by Infedls, that feme Sorts
litave no Cells either on th^ir Stems or Branches.

MifccUancous Obfevjatmi on SaltSy Sec. 223

are frequently irxrufled with the flony Mat-
ter that gives the Subiiance to Coral , and
I make no Doubt that Milhons of minute
Animals find or build them Habitations both
on the Corals and the Sea-i''lants.

But to leave a DigrelTion, which is not
perhaps quite foreign to my Subjed, and
wherein I would not be thought to affirm
any thing, but only to point out how the
JlonyCoralsy which are certainly formed by an
Appojition of Particles fome liow or other
brought together, (having no Flires or VefTcls
to convey Juices for Nutrition or Increafe,
and therefore being no Vegetables) may pof-
fibly be produced with all their beautiful
Regularity and Variety, even tho* on a ilri^t-
er Enquiry they fliould not appear to be made
by Infc'ils ;{:.

The Saltsof Minerals and Vegetables float-
ing in the Air produce a thoufand pretty Ap-
pearances, when brought together and con-
creted by Frofl. I have feen, in Winter

Time,

X The Reader is intreated not to hurry over this Subjecl
too haftily, but tc examine with due Attention the feveralSorts
of Cry/}als^ Spars, Sec. and he will find amongft them many
whofeShootincrs are as regular and unifo: m as thoie of Ccrfi/>
and their Variety perhaps as great ; yet all thefe are allowed
by IsatiiraUfts to derive liieir Subilance and Form from^
cryjialine Matter, combined with uifterent Sorts or Propor-
tions of jfjetallic, Jiony, earthy, or other Subftances. Let him
particularly examine and confider the Ludui Helmontii, the

Jiarry njuaxcn Fein, the Erk^r-formis or Heath-like S/r.r, thr.
vegetative Sil'ver, Copper and Iron-ores, and all the regidarlj>

figured C"yftalsy Spurs , MarcaJ^tes and metallic Bcdia.

224 Mtfcellaneous Obfervatiom on Salts^ &cc.

Time, formed in this Way, upon Win-
dows, on wooden Pales, and fometimes
on the Webs of Spiders, very elegant Re-
prefentations in Miniature of Landfcapes,
with Groves of Trees, and a feeming Variety
of Shrubs and Herbs : but the moft charm-
ing of this- Kind I ever beheld ufed to be on
the Glafs Windows of a neceffary Houfe in
the Country, owing I fuppofe to the addi-
tional Intermixture of animal Salts.

Copper Plates are very expenfive, and De-
fcriptions without them hardly intelligible,
or I fhould have added many curious Ob-
fervations made on Mixtures of animal, ve-
getable, and mineral Salts, (fome of which
are in very few -f- Hands) as alfo on the So-
lutions of different Metals and Minerals by
acid Spirits , but thofe who know any thing
of Chemiftry, or will beftow a little Time in
the Study of Nature, will, I am perfuaded,
in Confequence of the Hints here given, fug-
geft to themfelves numberlefs Experiments,
which if purfued may prove both profitable
and pleafant.

In ihort. Salts are the adlive Principles
whereby Nature performs Wonders ,• as is

fufflciently

t Particularly the Matron of Egypt, brought thence and
given me by Dr. Pocock ; an alkaline Salt fermenting violently
with Vinegar (whofe Shootings are very lingular) from 6'z«^
in the Inland Parts oi /ijia, given me by Sir Hans Sloaite; the
genuine Salts of mineral Springs in different Parts of theWorld;
and many ot\iQx J aline Subfiances either in tlieir natural State^
or by human Art extraded or compounded.

MJfccIIijnemis Ohfewations on Salts, 6cc. 225

fufiicitntly cviiic.it trorn that Variety of Fi-
gures tlicy produce, by combination with one
another, or whea incorporated with Sub-
Ahinces of other Kinds. But this has given
occalion for fome to objcdi, that the Figures
of Sah^- cannot be determined, fince the fame
-^a<f/ dilTolving different Bodies afi'umes dif-
ferent Shapes. Spirit of NitrCy fay they,
for Inflance, having diflblved Copper flioots
into hc.Tagonal Cryflials, having dilTolved
Iron into irregiihir Squares, and forms trian-
gular thin Cryflals after diffolving Silver,
But WMving all Difpute, which I fliall ever
carefully avoid, does not this feem a Proof
rather of their Ccnflancy than their Uncer-
tanity ? for the Shootings of pure Nitre ex-
amined alone are conilantly the fame^ and
are not the Cryftals produced iri Spirit of
Nitre when Copper, Iron, or Silver has been
diflblved therein, always conflant to each re-
fpedtive Metal, though different from one
another? What ereater C^a/;'?^;?^' than this
can poiTibly be expevTted? and would it not
occalion much greater Uncertainty and Con^
fufion were rn'ixt and iinniixt Subftances to
put on the fame Forms?— -It is likewife
objed:ed, that their Figures vary if they are
differently prepared : And this indeed is
true. But as with the fame Mixtures or
Management they are found to produce the
fame Crvftals and Confii^urations^ this Ob-
jedion has no Force; unlefs it be to prove,

t}- that

226 Mtfcellaneoiis Ohfervat'ions on Saks, he*
that the Figures they produce are diflinguiJJj-
ing and injallibk Marks of their different
Degrees of Perfedion, and that the Micro-
scope may be of the utmoft Service to dif-
cover Knavery and Impoiition,

End of P A RT the Fir ft.

ADVERTISEMENT.

S many of the Curious, who defire
to keep Solutions of Salts in Readinefs
for Examination, may chufe to fave them-
felves fome Trouble; Mr. Cuff, Optician,
againfl Serjeants-Inn Gate in Fieet-Jireet, can
furnifli them with Boxes of different Sizes,
neatly fitted with Phials and Shps of Glafs
for that Purpofe. This may be an Eafe
to them, and 'tis hoped will prove of >fome
Advantage to him.

EMPLOYMENT

FOR THE

MICROSCOPE:

pT R T II.

CONTAINING

An Account of various Animalcules

never before defcribed ; and of many

other Microfcofical Difcoveries,

With

OBSERVATIONS and REMARKS.

ALSO

A Defcriptio?2 of the Microfcope ufed in
thefe Experiments: and of a new Mi-
crometer ferving to fliew the comparative
Size of magnified Obje(fls.
TOGETHER
With Inflru[JiGns for eafily printing o^ any
Medal or Coin.

Qj2

C 225 3

INTRODUCTION.

THOUGH every Thing is alike eafy to
an Infinite and Almighty Being, yet,
according to human Comprehenfion, it ap-
pears extremely wonderful, that we find, al--
moft without Exception, in thefe Specks of
Life whofe Minutenefs renders them almofl
imperceptible to the Eye of Man, a greater
Number of Members to be put in Motion^,
more Wheels and PuUies to be kept going,
a greater Variety of Machinery, an Appara--
tus more complex and curious, a Plan feem-.
ingly of deeper Contrivance ; in fliort^ more-
Elegance aud V/orkmanfoip (if the Term may
be excufed) in the Compofition, n:kore Beauty
and Ornament in the Finiflxing,. than are
{ztx\ in the enormous Bulk of the Elephant,
the Crocodile,, and the Whale ; compared
with which, one would think them no lefs,
the Effect of a more exquifite and fupe-
rior Art, than the Movements of a Watch-
appear to be, on Comparifon with tliQ
Wheels of a Coach or Waggon.^

0^3- Thcfe-,

^30 INTRODUCTION.

Thefe Truths need no Proof to fuch as are
acquainted with the Microscope, however
incredible they may feem to others : that
valuable Inftrument will fully convince us,
that All the Works oiiht Creator well de-
ferve our mofl diligent Attention ; that Per-
fe<^ion appears every where; that Minutenefs
is no Mark of Meannefs ; and that nothing is
fo little or fo low hut that it can richly repay
our Enquiries. Hereby we are likewife
taught, that an Atom to Omnipotence is as a
World, and a World but as an Atom i in
the fame Manner as to Eternity one Day is
as a thoufand Years, and a thoufand Years
but as one Day. Every Species of thefe Ani-
malcules may alfo ufefully ferve to corred:
our Pride, and prove how inadequate our
Notions are to the real Nature of Things :
by making us fenlible how little of the larger
or fmaller Part of lYit Creation could poffi-
bly be made for us ; who are furnifhed with
Organs capable of difcerning to a certain De-
gree only of the great or little, all beyond
which is as much unknown, as far beyond
the Reach of our Conception, as if it had

never been.

An Examination of the Variety and Beau-
ty of the Works of Nature muft afford the
moft reafonable Satisfadion to a contempla-
tive Mind, as they ftron^ly evince the Agen-
cy and Omnipotence of the Deity. Proofs
of fome all'powerful, wife and good Being

are

INTRODUCTION. 231

are indeed deduciblc from every tiling
around us, but the extremely Great and the
extremely Small Icem to furnilh the clcareft
and moll eonvincing ; and perhaps, ifduely
confidered, the Fabrick of a IVorld, and the
Fabrick of a Mite may be found equally
llriking and conclufive.

Glasses difcover to us numberlefs Kinds
of living Creatures, vvhofc Minutenefs ren-
ders them abfolutely undifcernable by our
naked Eyes, and God alone knows how many
thoufand Kinds there may be, fiill gradually
decreafmg in Size, which it is impoflible for
us to fee by any Help whajtever; to all thefe,
however, we mud believe, from reafoning
on what we know, that Providence has not
only appointed the mod v/ife means for
Propagation, Prefervation, and Happinefs,
but has moreover adorned them with Beauty
equal at lead to any thing our Eyes have ever-

feen.

The fmalleft living Creatures our Indru-
ments can fliew are thofe that inhabit the
Waters: for though poflibly Animalcules
no lefs minute may fly in the Air, or creep
upon the Earth, it i^ fcarce poffible to bring
fuch to our Examination ; but Water being
tranfparent, and confining the Creatures in it,
we are able, by applying a Drop of it to our
Glaffes, to difcover (to a certain Degree of
Smallnefs) all that it contains. My Attention
has been therefore applyed more particular-

tyA INTRODUCTION.

ly to infped: the Waters ; in doing which X
have been kindly allifted by fome ingenious
Friends ; and the following Plates 2,x\di Sheets
exhibit the Figures and Defcr.iptwns of luch
of the minute Inhabitants the'cof as have
fallen in my \¥ayj ana feemed to me the
moft curious and extraordinary. And as
Names are of the utmofl: Service to make
People underftand one another, 1 hope to be
indulged the Liberty of giving fuch to thefe
hitherto unnoticed Animalcules, as corre-
ipond in fome manner to their Appearances ;
^ven though I may not always have chpferi
the moft proper.

EMPLOY^

EMPLOYMENT

FOR THE

Microscope, &c.

PART IL

■n

CHAP, L

Of the Haik-like Infect,

THE wonderful Animalcule I am go-
ing to defcribe, was I believe fir ft
taken Notice of by my curious Friend Mr.
Willi am Arderoji, of the City oi Norwich, be-
fore fpoken of in this Treatife, who kindly
ient me an Account thereof, together with
many thoufands of the Creatures themfelves;
which came to me alive, in a Vefiel of the
fame Water they were found in, and lived
with me feveral Weeks : whereby I had
frequent Opportunities of being convinced
how carefully he had obferved them, and
likewife was enabled to relate many Parti*
culars from my own Knowledge,

This

1^34 Q/* ^^^ Hair 'like lnfe5i.

This little Animal (the Form whereof may
be feen Plafe'XX..^'^ I.) is extremely flender,
and not uncommonly one hundred and fifty
times longer than broad. Its Refembknce
to an Hair has induced us to call it the Hair--
like Infea. The Body, or Middle Part,
which is nearly ftrait, appears in fome com-
pofed of fuch parallel Rings as the Windpipe
of Land Animals confift of, but feems in
others fcaled, or rather made up of Rings
rthat obliquely crofs each other. This Dif-
ference may be ktn in the two Figures F, G.
,"Its two Ends are bent, or hooked, pretty
nearly in the fame Degree, but in a Diredion
contrary each to other 5 and, as no Eyes can,
be difcerned, 'tis difficult to judge which is
the Head or Tail.

Its progreffive Motion differs from that of
all Animals befides hitherto defcribed, for
notwithftanding the Body is compofed of
many Rings and Joints, it feems unable to
bend at all, or move dire (Ttly forwards : but
Vi^hen it is inclinable to change its Quarters,
it can move from Right to Left, or Left to
Rightj and proceed at the fame time back-
wards or forwards obliquely. And this it
performs, by turning one End about, the
Quarter of a Circle, as the Arc <^ ^ fhews ;
then it does the fame with the other End>
and fo alternately : whereby its Progreffion
•is in, a diagonal Line, or from Corner to
Corner 9 as whoever will take the Trouble

to

Of th:. Hair-like InfcB. 235

to fl:iift the Points of a Pair of Cornpafics \\\
that Manner may immediately be iatisficd.

All its Motions are extremely How, and
require much Patience and Attention in the
Obferver. It has neither Feet, nor Fins, nor
Hairs, but appears perfcdly fmooth and tranf-
parent, with the Head bendiug une Way
and the Tail another, fo as to be like a long
Italian y; nor is any internal Motion, or par-
ticularly opake Part to be perceived, which
may determine one to fuppofe it the Stomach
or other of the Inteftines.

Thefe Creatures are fo fmall that Millions
of Millions might be contained in an Inch
Square. When viewed fingly, or feparatedfrom
one another, they are exceedingly tranlpa-
rent, and of a lovely green; but Uke all other
tranfparent Bodies, when Numbers ot them
are brought together they become opake,
and lofe their green Colour, in proportion
as the Quantity increafes, till at lau they ap-
pear intirely black.

They were firft difcovered in a Ditch at
Norwich, one End whereof communicates
with the River there, and the other End
with a fecond Ditch, into whicn feveral
Kennels empty themfelves from different
Parts of the City. The Length of this Ditch
is at leaft an hundred Yards, and its Breadth
nine : the Bottom, for more than a Foot in
Depth, is covered with a blackifb green Suh-
ftance, in Appearance like a Mud, made up

wholly

^3^ Q^ ^^^ Hair-like Injeci'.

wholly of thefe and other Infedls, intemii^i-f
ed with different Sediments from the Water.^
|Ie allures me, he has conflantly found much
the greater Part of this black Matter to be
really Infed:s : but were they only one half
or a quarter Part thereof, what Numbers
beyond all Ccnceptipn piuft thi^ Ditch con-;
tain ?

It was Accident (whereto more Difcove-
ries have perhaps been owing than to Defign),
that fortunately prefented thefe Animalcules.
to Obfervation. — My Friend having got
feme Water from this Ditch, with Intent to
examine by th^ Microfcope other Infe(fls he
|iad taken Notice of therein, fqund hefpre
his Eyes a great Abundance of llender Hair-
like Fibres, which he imagined to be the.
^tems or Roots of fome extremely fmall
Water Plants, fropi their appearing to him.
without any Life or Motion, tho* he won-
dered much at their Uniformity of Figure.
Being however not fatisfied with a fingle
View, but continuhig them under the Mag-
nifier, and looking' at them now and then,^
he perceived that many of thofe feen^ing
Hairs which he had iz^n before feparated
fro^i one another as at d, in. N^ II. were
llov/]y drawing themfelves together in. Com-
panies as at ^ in the fame Number.-r-r-This,
gave him the firfl: Notion of their being liv--
Ing Creatures, and fet him upon watching
them fo narrov/ly, that he was quickly con-
vinced.

of the Hell K' like lnfe8t. 23^

Vinccd, not only of their having Life, but
likcwife of their bcini^ able to change their
Situation, either from Right to Left, or Left
to Right, backwards, or forwards, at Plea-
fure, in the Manner jufl: now dcfcribed.

Being thus far fatisfied, he appHed him-
felf very dih'gently to examine the Strudture^
Motions, and other Properties of thefe mi-
nute Creatures ; and found, by viewing
them feveral times, and through different
Magnifiers, that altho' they are moft com-
monly compofed of little Ringlets, whofe
Joynings appear like parallel tranfverfe Lines
ias at F, N" L many however were {t^n
amongft them, in which great Numbers ot
minute Rings feemed to crofsone another ob-
liquely, and repreferited Scales, {vld. N'*LG.)
but whether thefe are different Species or
not muft ftill remain a Doubt.

After putting a large Spoonful of the be-
forementioned black or rather dark oreeii
thick Matter into a Glafs Jar, he filled it up
with Water, very gently, as high as /;, N'
IIL then leaving the faid Matter to fettle and
lie quietly at the Bottom of the Veflrl, its
whole Appearance prefently afterwards is
fliewn in the fam.e Glafs at /.

The next Day, when he came to examine
what had happened amongfl: thefe Myriads of
little Animals, he found that a Multitude of
them had, as it were by Agreement, placed
themfelves en the Side of'the Jar, and ap-
peared

^3^ ^f ^^^ Hair 'like InfeB.

peared marching upwards in Rows, after the
Manner reprefented N*" IV. L and that fome
of them had travelled to the Diflance of
three or four Inches, which confidering the
Slownefs of their Motion, and their Method
of moving forwards, mufl be looked upon as
a long Journey.

In about two Days great Numbers had
travelled up the fide of the Jar, to above the
Surface of the Water, as at k N*" IV : when
after being expofed to the Air for a little
while, their fine green colour became chang-
ed into a moft beautiful Sky-blue.

This fine dark green Matter or Congeries
of Animalcules, is fo nearly equal to the
Ipecific Gravity of Water, that at firft put-
ting in, it either floats at Top, or continues
at the Bottom, or in the Middle of the Jar,
juft as Accident has difpofed it. But if Part
of thofe that are fwimming at the Top of
the Vv^ater have an Inclination to go down-
wards, they form themfelves into a Sort of
Line or Rope, which defcends extremely
flow, till they arrive as low as they intend :
And they are able to fufpend themfelves in
the Water where they pleafe, and as long as
they have a mind. Their Method of doing
this is fhewn ^"Y.cc c, Thofe however
who happen to be near the Side of the Jar
move themfelves down thereon, and that
commonly in a winding fcrew-like Manner,
as n n N" V. is intended to reprefcnt.-- -Their

Motion

Of the Hair 'like hifeEl. 23^

Motion upwards in the like Order has been
defcribed already, N° IV. /.

A fmall Quantity of this Matter having
one Day been put into a Jar of Water, it fo
happened that one Part thereof went down
immediately to the Bottom, whilft the other
Part continued floating upon the Top. All
Things remained a good while in this Con-
dition, until at laft each of thefe Swarms of
Animalcules grew weary of its Situation, and
had a Mind to change its Quarters. Both
Armies, in fhort, began their March at the
fame Time, againft the Side of the Jar ; and
as one proceeded upwards, and the other
downwards, after fome Hours, they were
near meeting about the Mid-Way -, as the
Rout each of them appeared to take, foon
after they began to move, made it very eafy
to forefee they would. The Deiire of know-
ing in what Manner they would behave on
this Occafion, engaged the Obferver to watch
them with a careful Eye, and as they ap-
proached ftill nearer, he beheld, to his great
Surprize, the Army that was marching up-
\vards, open to the Right and Left, and leave
a convenient Space for the Army that was
marching downwards to pafs between its
Wings. Thus without Confufion or Inter-
mixture each held on its Way : the Army
that was going upwards marching in two
Columns to the Top, and the other pro-
ceeding with great Re^rularitv and Order in

one

24^ Of the Hair -tike Infect.

one Column to the Bottom. N° VI. is a Re-
prefentation of this amufing Accident, which
ferves to fhew, that however mean or con-
temptible thefe Creatures may appear to us>
the Power that created them has not left
them dcftitute of Sagacity^ to aflbciate toge-
ther, and ad: unanimoufly. for the Benefit of
the Community ; both thefe Armies march-
ing as regularly as if under the Direction of
wife Leaders.

When thefe Animalcules are taken from
the Ditchj and any other Water poured up-
on them, it is difficult to make them live
twenty-four Hours -, but when kept in fome
of the fame Ditch- Water, they rnay be pre-
jferved in good Condition for feveral Months,
Though they never are fo vigorous, nor fhew
their Way of moving from Place to Place fo
plainly, as when newly taken up.— -Their
Kind of Motion, as before defcribed, makes
it evident, that if they move along the Side
of a cylindrical Glafs Jar, either upwards or
downwards, it muft be in a Spiral Line^ and
fueh it is always found to be.

It is not yet difcovered whether their Food
be Infedrs exceffively minute, or Particles of
Matter floating in the Water; neither do we,
know any thing concerning the Manner of
their being propagated. They have as yet
been taken notice of only in this Ditch, but
'tis reafonable to believe that other Places of

1 ths

Oj the Oat-A7iimd. 241

ilie like Kind, will, upon Exanninatlon, be
found to produce them alio, and even in ^
great Abundance. w

CHAP. II.

Of the Oat-Animal.

IN the fame Ditch-water from Norwich
came likewife great Numbers of the
little Creatures, whole feveral Appearances,
when examined by the Microfcope, are
fhewn Plate X. N" vil*

My curious Friend pointed it out to my
Obfervation by the Name of the Oat-Ani^
mal', and as, at fir ft View, it much refem*
bles a Grain of that Sort, I fliall here de-
fcribe it under the fame Name.

This Creature is fo very fmall, that no
true Judgment can be made of it, unlefs
it be looked at through the greateft Mag-
nifier, nor even then without confiderable
Attention. I commonly found two or threa
of them in a Drop of the Sediment, amongft
Alultitudes of the Hair-like Infccl, lying
at the Bottom of the Water wherewith the
faid Sediment was diluted, upon the Plate
of Glafs, without any vifible Motion or
Appearance of Life: being inclofed in a
Bivalve- fhell, which the Animal can open
or ihut as it is inclined ; but which it

R con-

242 Of the Oat-AnimaL

conftantly fhuts upon being difturbed, nor
opens again until after having been quiet
for fome Time. Its Appearance when fhut
is pi6lured aty^. i.

The Shell is fo exquifitely thin, and con-
fequently io very transparent, as to be tra-
ced out, when fhut, only by a f-aint Line
on the Back, where the Cardo or Hinge
makes fome additional Thicknefs^ but when
open, the Edges of both its Sides may be
diilinguiflaed plainly. The two Ends of
the Shell can open, whilft the middle Part
remains clofed, and in that Condition it is-
iike the Fholas and fome Species of the
Chama ; but differs from them, in being
able to fhut both Ends and alter the Fi-
gure of its Shell, which they cannot do.
This probably is performed by means of
certain Articulations in the Shell, near its
Extremities, which are too fine to be dif-
cerned. When thefe Ends are open, the
Creature frequently thrufts out, at each, a
^ cylindrical flefhy Part, (as at ^^. 2.) which

may be fuppofed the Head and Tail j but
their Minutenefs renders it hardly pofTible
to difcover any Difference between them.
In this Poflure it is probable the Creature
feeds, on that Provifion the Water brings ;
though it depends not wholly on fuch Ac-
cident, for it can change its Place by Jerks,
or Leaps, which it makes by the Adion
of fbme flrong Mufcles in the two protruded
4. Parts*

Of the Oat'Animat, 243

Parts, whofc Spring throws it to theDiftancd
at leart of its own Shell's Length every Time
they are exerted, llieie Leaps however ^
have long Intervals between, and are never
made till the Animal is perfectly undif-
turbed.

Both the Shell and Body are ufaalty fo
traniparent, that when the Shell is clofed
nothing can be perceived but a Sort of Shade
within it : but, now and then, I have feen
the Body, plainly, through the Shell, in
Sh-ape as at Jig» 3.

Several of them have a Couple of very
dark round Spots, one whereof is feem-
ingly placed within each Side the Shelly
as in fg, 4. Thefe I imagined to be
compact Ligaments, ferving to open and
fliut the Shell, and correfpondent to thofe
that Oyfters, Mufcles, Scallops, ^c. are
furniflied with for the like Purpofe. But" .
when I obferved others of them, having
three, four, or five of the fame round Spots,
I began to think myfelf miftaken \ and
ihculd rather fuppofe them concreted Bo-
dies, fimilar to the Pearls bred in feveral
kinds of Shell-iifh, did not the Regularity
of their Pofition render this likewife a little
improbable.

One, having five Spots, with Its Shell

gaping the whole Length, and both Ends

. thereof fully extended in a flrait Line^

very different irom what precede, is ex-

R 2 hibited

^44 ^f ^^^ Oat- Animal.

hibited^^. 5. — In this Gondition, which
is not uncommon, it much refembles a Grain
of Oats.

I muft not omit to mention another
Variety amongfl thefe Creatures, which the
fg, 6, 7, and 8, are intended to explain.
Here we fee a Couple of tranfverfe Lines,
forming a kind of Zone acrofs the middle
Part of the Shell, and feeming to fepa-
rate the two Ends thereof.

Fig. 6 and 8 have the two round opake
Spots before defcribed.

Fig. 6 and 7 fhew the Cardo of the Shell,
but the fame is not feen in^. 8.

'Tis difficult to determine whether thefe
are another Species, or only fome of the
fame Sort of Animals in a different State
or Condition. I much fufpeft they may
be about cafting their Shells, or perhaps
diftempered, or even dead , for I have
never feen any of them open their Shells,
or make the lead Motion, though I have
fometimes kept my Eye over them for
above a Quarter of an Hour.

CHAP. III.

Eels in Pajle viviparous.

THE Anguilla^Qi little Eel- like Ani-
malculesy which are frequently fo nu-
merous in Jour Pajle that the whole Surface

of

Eds in Pajlc "oroiparous, 245

of It appears alive, and are leemingly of the
fame Kind with thofe fometimes found in
Vinegar, were fomc of the firft minute
Creatures the Microfcope was made ufe of
to examine, and are lliil the mofl com-
mon living Objects it is employed about ;
I fhould not therefore, after ihcir having
been fo long known, and fo often defcrib-
ed, have introduced them here, had not a
very pretty Difcovery made a few Yenrs
ago, by Mr, James Sherwoody an ingenious
young Surgeon, rendered them the Sub-
ject of a curious and entertaining Experi-
ment.

Separating one of thefe fmall Eels from
a Number of others, in order to examine
it by the Microfcope, and wounding it
accidentally in the Belly, he took Notice
that a long flender Tube, doubled like an
Inteftine, proceeded from the Wound :
of which informing Mr. Needham, it ex-
cited their Curiofity to cut in two another
Eel, near its Middle : when they difcovcr^
ed a Number of Iw'mg young ones, c-^ich
inclofed in its proper Membrane, iffuing
from what now plainly (hewed itfelf to Se
the Uterus. This induced him to mal'.e
farther Trials, and finding ufually tne l...'ne
Appearance, he thought proper to commu-
nicate his Obfervations to his Friends, and
afterwards to the Roval Society *.

' R 3 I firft

* Philof. Tranf. N^ 478.

t^6 Eels m Tajle viviparous.

I firft faw the Experinj.nt with Mr,
Sherwood, and having iince made it abun-
dance of Times myfelf, am qu/.lified to
diredi thofe who may delire to be fatiP
fieda how to perform it themfelves, with-
out any ' great Difficuity. -— Having taken
up a verv fmall Quantity of the Pafie
where thefe Eels abound, on the Point uf
a Pin^ or with a fliarpened Quills lay it
on a Slip of Glafs -, and diluting it well
with Water^ many of them will become
vifible to the naked Eye : then with the
uib of a Vtn cut to a very fine Point, and
Ihaved fo thin as to be extremely pliable,
iingle out one of the largefc Eels, and in-
fmuatiDg the Point of the Pen underneath
it, remove it into a very ilnall Drop of
Water, which you mufl have ready prer-
pared on another Shp of Glafs. When
thus confined, it may eafily be cut alun-
derj tranfverfely, by the Help of a good
Eye and fleady Hand, with a Lancet or
fharp Penknife, or if the Eye is deficient,
a Hand-Magnifier will enable almofl: any
body to perform the Operation. As foon
as the Parts are feparated, spply your Ob-
jeci: to the Microfcope, and if the Diviiion
'has been made about the Middle of the
Animal, feveral oval Bodies of different
Sizes will be {ctn to iilue forth. Thefe
are young Anguill^, of different Degrees
pf Maturity, each whereof is coiled up and

included

Eels in Pajle viviparous. 247

included in its proper Membrane, which
is of lb exquilite a Finenefs as to be fcarce
dilcernahle by the greateft Magnifier, while
it inclofes the I^mbrio Animal. The largcft
andmoft forward break immediately through
this delicate Integument, unfold thcmielves^
and wriggle about in the Water nimbly :
others get out, uncoil, and move about
more flowly ; and the leaft mature con-
tinue intirely without Motion. The U-
teriis, or VelTel that contains all thefe
oval Bodies, is compofed of many Annulae
or Ringlets^ not unlike the Afpera Arteria
of Land Animals, and it feems to be con-
fiderably elaftic .; for as foon as the Opera-
tion is performed, the oval Bodies are thruft
out with fome Degree of Violence by the
fpringing back or Adlion of thi-^ Bowel.
An humlred and upwards of the young
ones have been feen to iffue irom one
fingle Eel, whereby the prodigious Incre^fe
of them may be accounted fur ; as pro-
bably feveral fuch numerous Generations
are produced in a iliort Time. Hereby
\ve alfo learn that thefe Creatures are not
only like Eels in Shape, but are likewife
viviparous as Eels are generally fuppofcd

to be.

I fcarce know a more entertaining Ex-
periment; and you'll very feldom be dif-
appointed, for they fecm like Edrih-ivornis
to be all prolific, and unlefs by Accident

R A you

*

34^ Eels in Pajfe viviparous 9

you cut one that has brought forth all it$
Young before, or make your Trials when
the Pafle has been kept a very long Time,
(in which Cafe I have found them fome-
times unfruitful,) you'll not fail of being
diverted after the Manner above defcribed.

One of the Anguillcey greatly magnified,
and through the Body of which, before
cutting, faint Traces of the young ones
iiiay be difcerned, is fhewn, N^ VIII.
Plate X.

The fame, after being cut, with young
Qnes ilTuing from it, and the Uterus as it
ufually appears, is reprefented in a Drop of
Water, N^ IX,

This Difcovery is of more Confequencc
than without due Confideration it may feem
to be \ fqr as thefe Animalcules are plain-
ly viviparous, and bring forth living and
ferfeB young ones, in their Eel-like Form,
it is highly improbable that they ever be?
come Flies, or undergo any other Change ;
fince no Animal has been yet known to
put on a new Shape after it has produced
Its Young, whether in the Egg or other-
wife. Therefore if thefe Anguillce never
change to Flies, or lay Eggs, which this
Experiment renders it very unlikely they
fliould ever do, they can neither convey
themfelves to any Diftance from the Pafte
wherein they firft appear, nor be propa-
gated by Eggs floating in the Air. The

Queilioa

Eels 271 Pcijlc 'Viviparous, 249

Qneftioii tlien will be, by whut Means they
get into the Pajic at all: for luppoling it
polFible they might have been in the Wheat,
and have elcaped unhurt througli the feve-
yal Operations of grinding the Corn, lift-
ing ir, ^c, it is fcarcely credible {^\v\ what-
ever Condition they might remain in the
Flour) that they ihould be able to endure
boiling, without which, and that too for a
conliderable Time, no good Pajle can be
made.

For my own Part, I muft acknowledge,
that before this Difcovery I was ftrongly
of Opinion that thefc Eels change into
Flies ; as many Kinds of Worms found in
Waters are well known to do, and in that
State depofit their Eggs in whatever Places
they find a proper Neil and Provilion for
their future Offspring ; and this my Opi-
nion I thought confirmed, by fometimes
obferving very minute Flies, of a Size a-
greeable to fuch a Suppofition, hovering
about the GlafTes where Pcijie with Eels
w^as kept. But as bringing forth living
young ones, in their Eel-like State, is a
Fadt beyond all Doubt, I muft believe the
Flies I faw about the Pajle are Infetfls of
feme other Kind, and have no Relation to
thefe Eels; unlefs we could imagine them
to have a two-fold Method of Generation ;
that is, to be both viviparous and oviparous,
and to propagate both in the Eel and in

the

■z^o .Eds in blighted Wheat.

the Fly State; which is too extraordinary
a Particukritj/ to be admitted without the
ftrongell" Proof *.

Thefe Difiiculties rnuft be left to future
Enquiry: and 1 hope the Curious will en-
deavour to folve them by careful Experi-
ments and Obfefvations.

C H A R IV.

Eels in blighted Wheat,

C>'

'HE Difcovery of a certain Kind o{\A?2-*
gui/Ic^, or Animalcules refemblingE^Zr,
in blighted Wheat, was made accidentally
by my very ingenous Friend Mr. Tiirberville
Needbam, in the Summer of the Year 1743,
in the Manner defcribed by himfelf in his
curious Book of New Microfcopical Difco-
series ^,

Thefe Animalcules are not ufually lodg-
ed in fuch blighted Grains of Wheat as are
covered externally with a Soot-like Dull:,

(whofe

• * Mentzelius published Obiervatlons made on the Procefs
of the Transformation of ^^/j zVz Vinegar ^ which, he tells the
World, he faw ifTae in Flies ; which Flies did afterwards lay
their Eg?s in the Vinegar, ^c. And he has given Draw-
ings of the faid Flies with his own Hands. On the contrary,
p. Marcus Ant onius Cellius affirmed to the Phyfico-mathema-
tical Society at Rome, Anno 1688, that with very good
Microfcopes of his own making he found the Eels in Fine-
gar to be 'vi-uiparons.
■\yxdi,NevjMicrD/copicalDJjco'verie3 by Mr. Needham, pag. 85 .

Eels in blighted JVIjeat. 2 5 r

(whofc Infide is likewilc frequently convert-
ed into a black Powder :) but abundance of
Ears may be obfervcd in fome Fields of
Corn, having Grains that appear blackilh, as
if fcorched; and fuch when opened are found
to contain 7i fof't nx'Jjit e Svhjlance^ that atten-
tively examined feems tu be nothing elfe
but a Congeries of Threads, or Fibres, lying
as clofe as poflible to each other in a paral-
lel Diredtion, and much refembling the un-
ripe Down of fome Thiilles, on cutting open
theFiower-Heads before they begin to blow.
This fibrous Matter difcovers not the lead
Sign of Life or Motion unlcfs Water be ap-
plied to it i but immeaiately on wetting,
(provided the Grains of Wheat are newly
gathered) the fuppofed Fibres feparate, and
prove themfelves to be living Creatures, by
Motions that at firll: are very languid, but
gradually become more vigorous, twifting or
wriggling themfelves fomewhat in the Man-
ner of the Eels in Pafte, but always much
flower than they, and with a great deal lefs
Regularity ; for in them the Head and Tail
are conftantly moving, contra: yw^ife, and
alternately, with the fame Kind of bending
or Undulation in the Bodies of them all ;
whereas the Animalcules we are now de-
fcribing have no Uniformity in their Motion,
but bend their two Extremities fometimcs
differently and fometimes in the fame Di-
rection.

* If

^5- ^^^^ in blighted Wheat.

If the Grains of Wheat are grown dry by
keeping, and you cut them open in that
Condition, the fibrous Matter is very diftin-
guiiliable, and on putting Water to it will
feparate with great Readinefs, and feem Hke
fin^ Tubes or Threads tapering at both
Ends: but not the lead Motion or Symptom
of Life will be perceived till they have been
in Water for feverai Hours -, nay, frequently
they will never revive or come to move at
all. But if the lame Grains be fteeped in
Water for fome Flours, or buried for three
or four Days in Earth, till they are fully fa--
turated with Moiilure, and then opened
with a Penknife, on taking out a fmali Por-
tion of the White Matter carefully, and
Ip reading it thin upon a Slip of Glafs, the
Animalcules may be feen bundled together,
and extended longitudinally, but v\^ithout
Motion 3 and though upon the Application of
Water, they will not revive fo foon as thofe
taken from frefh Grains, w^hofe Moiflure
has never been exhaled ; yet, after abiding
an Hour or two m Water, 1 have conftantly
found them alive and vigorous ^ and that,
notwithftanding the Grains have been kept
in a dry Condition even for fome Years ; of
which I have a remarkable Inftance now be-
fore me.

In the Month of Auguft 1743, a fmall
Parcel oi blightedW^eat was fent by Mr. ISIeed-
ham to Martin Folkes^ Efq; Prefident of

the

Eels In blighted JVheat. 25-;

x!ti^ Royal Society y (with an Account of his
then new Dilcovcry:) which Piirccl the
Prciidcnt was ptcalcd Xo give nic, deliring
I would examine it carefully. In order lo
to CiOy I cut open ibmc of the Grains that
were become drv, took out the fibrous Mat-
ter, and applied Water to it on a Slip of
Glafs; but could difcern no other Motion
than a Separation of the Fibres or Threads ;
which Separation I imputed wholly to an
Elailicity in the Fibres; and perceiving no
Token of Life, after watching them with
due Care, and repeating the Experiment till
I was weary, an Account thereof was
written to Mr. ISIecdham-y who having by
Trials of his own found out the Caufe of
this bad Succefs, advifed me to fteep the
Grains before 1 fliould attempt to open them ;
on doing which I was very focn convinced
of his Veracity, and entertained with the
pleafmg Sight of this wonderful Phsenome-
non. Since then I have made Experiments
at different Times with Grains of the fame
Parcel, without being diiappointed fo much
as once, and particularly on the fourth Day
oijuly iJ^J, finding fome of the fame Par-
cel left, I foaked a Couple of Grains in Water
for the Space of thirty-fix Hours, when be-
lieving them fufiiciently moiftened, I cut
one open, and applying fome of the fibrous
Subftance to the iVIicrofcope in a Drop of
Water, it feparated immediately, and pre-

fented

§ ^4 ^'^^^ ^^^ blighted Wheat.

fented to my View Multitudes of the An-'
guiilai lying as reprefented N° X, B, with-
out the leall Motion or Sign of Life. But
Experience having taught me by former
Trials, that they might notwithftanding
poffibly revive, I left them for about four
Hours, and then examining them again,
found much the greateft Number moving
their Extremities pretty brifklyj and in an
Hour or two after, they appeared as lively
as thefe Creatures ufually are. Mr. Folkes
and fome other Friends were Witneffes of
this Experiment.

We find an Inftance here^ that Life may
be fufpended and feemingly deflroyed ; that
by an Exhalation of the Fluids neceffary to
a living Animal, the Circulations may ceafe,
all the Organs and Veffels of the Body may
be fhrunk up, dried, and hardened ^ and yet,
after a long while, Life may begin a-new to
actuate the fame Body ; and all the animal
Motions and Faculties may be reftored,
merely by repleniihing the Organs and Vef-
fels with a frefh Supply of Fluid. Here is,
I fay, a Proof, that the Animalcules in the
Grains of blighted Wheat can endure hav-
ing their Bodies quite dried up for the Space
of four Years together, without being there-
by deprived of their living Power: and
lince, after they are become thus perfed:ly
dry and hard, there feems little room for
farther Alteration, unlefs their Organs fliould

be

Confi derations on animal Life, 25^

he broken or torn afunder ; may they not
poll'ibly be reflored to Life again, by the
lame Means, even after twenty, forty, an
hundred, or any other NunU^er of \ ears,
provided their Organs are prelcrved intire ?
This Queflion future Experiments alone can
anfwer.

Some late Difcoveries fervc to fhew our
Ignorance concerning the real Eflcnce and
Properties of what we term Life ; and, if
modeftlv confideied, may contribute fume-
what towards improving and inlarging our
Ideas of it. TlitiK: Anguillcey t\\Q Wheel Ani--
viaU and I doubt not many other Kinds
hitherto unobferved, are able to inflrudt us,
that Life^ or the living Pcii^sry may be fuf-
pended or ceafe to a6l for a Length of Time,
and yet afterwards may be reflored to its
former Vigour. The cutting of the Polype
and Star-Fifi into Pieces, the Continuance
of Life in thofe Piece?, and their reproduc-
ing all the Parts neceilary to make each of
them a perfe6l Polype or Star- Fijhy prove
beyond all Con tradition, I will not fay that
Ltfe itfelf may be divided, (left I fhould give
Offence,) but that an Kv.ivniA pajjeffed of Life
may be cut afunder, and the Parts thereof
live afterwards, quite leparate from and ab-
folutely independent of one another; that all
the Members wanting to each Part may be
reproduced y that, in Time, each Part may
become as large an Animal, and as pcrfcd;

to

^^6 Conjiderattons on animal Life.

to all Appearance, as that of which it was
no more than a maimed and imperfe(5t
Part -f-; and befides all this, that they may
multiply, and produce young ones, in as
great Numbers, and after the fame Manner^
as thofe of that Kind that were never cut. —
Thefe are Truths, the Belief whereof w^ould
have been looked upon fome Years ago as
only fit for Bedlam.

What Life really is, feems as much too
fubtile for our Underftanding to conceive or
define, as for our Senfes to difcern and ex-
amine. We have, I think, no Criterion or
fenfible Proof whereby to diftinguifh Life^
but Motion ; and there certainly are Motions
fo extremely languidy that they can neither
become the Objed: of our Eyes or our I-
deas ; therefore were Motion infeparable
from Lifey (which is a Point we cannot I
think determine) both might poffibly exifl
in many Bodies where we fuppofe theni
not. But whatever be the EJfence of Life ^
it is perhaps not to be deftroyed, or really
injured, by any Accidents that may befall
the Organs wherein it afts, or the Body it
inhabits. Dr. Butler y the late Bifhop oi Dur-
ham, in his ingenious Analogy of Religion fo
the Conjlitution and Courfe of Nature, gives it
as his Opinion, pag, 21, that " We have no

" more

X The Curious may confult on this Subjed Dr. Parfons's
Objer'vations on the Analogy bet^ween the Propagation of Ani^
mah and Vegetahlesy pag. 2©o, &c.

Ec/s in blighted Wheats i^j

*^ more Reafon to think a Being endued
** with /ivi?ig Powers, ever lofes them, dur-
^' ino- its whole Exiftence, than to believe
** that a Stone ever acquires them.'' — " The
** Capacity of exercifmg them for the pre-
*' fent, as well as the adlual Exercife of
them, may be fufpended, (fays he, pag,
22.) and yet the Powers themfelves re-
main undeftroyed.'*
But leaving a Subject of which we
know fo little, to fpeak fomething farther
oi ouv A?iguillce : — It appears plainly from
the foregoing Experiments, that when the
blighted Grains of Wheat have been kept
a long Time, and the Bodies of thefe Ani-
malcules are confequently become extreme-
ly dry, the Rigidity of their minute Vef-
fels requires to be relaxed very gently,
and by exceeding flow Degrees ^ for we
find, that on the Application of Watef
immediately to the Bodies of thefe Ani-
malcules when taken from the dry Grains,
they do not fo certainly revive, as they do
if the Grains themfelves be either buried
in Earth or fleeped in Water for fome
Time before they are taken out. The Rea-
fon of which moft probably is, that too
fudden a Relaxation burfts their delicate
and tender Organs, and thereby renders
them uncapable of being any more em-
ployed to perform the Anions of Life.
And indeed there are alv/ays fome dead

S ones

^5^ -E^^^ in blighted Wheat.

ones amangft the living, whofe Bodies - ap-
pear burften or lacerated, as well as others
that lie extended (in the Manner fliewn be-
fore N* X. B.) and never come to Life,
though v^^'e can't difeover any fenfible Injury
they have received.

Some Difcretion is needful^ to adapt the
Time of continuing the Grains in Water
or Earth to the Age and Drynefs of them ;
for if they are not opened before they have
been too much or too long foftened, the
Animalcules will not only feem dead, but
will really be fo. Of the two Grains I
mentioned to have been four Years old when
put to foak, I opened one after it had lain
thirty-fix Hours, and the Event was as al-
ready related : the other I let lie for above
a Week, and on opening found all the An-
guillce near the Flufk dead, and feemingly
in a decayed Condition ; but great Num-
bers iffued alive from the Middle, and
moved themfelves brifkly. — - — Unlefs the
Huits are opened to let thefe Creatures
out after they have been fteeped, they all
inevitably perifli in them ; and when taken-
out and preferved in Water, if the Hufks
are left with them, they will die in a i^w
Days ; but otherwife they will eontiriue-
alive in Water for feveral Months together,.,
and fhould the Water dry away, may be
revived again by giving them a freih Sup-»
ply.

-^ Since

"Eds in blighted Wheat, 259

Since the Animalcules we find in blighted
tVheaty as well as thofe in four Pajlc, ar^
of an Eel-like Figure, it might be very
eafy (by fuppofing them both the fame)
to form plaufible Conjedures concerning
the Produd:ion oiEcls in Pajie, a Particular
which at prefent feems fo difficult to be ac-
counted for : but as Truth ought to be the
only Objed of our Enquiries, I think myfelf
obliged to jfhew wherein they differ, left
others, who may not have the Opportunities
or take the fame Pains to examine them,
fhould poffibly be mifled into fuch Miftakes
by their being fomewhat alike.

It is evident at firft Sight, on their be-
ing viewed and compared together, that
the Angui/la of blighted Wheat are in gene-
ral longer and a great deal flenderer than
thofe in PaHey that their Motions are alfo
much ilov/er, lefs vigorous, and more di-
verfified : not incefiantly wrigglino- the
Head ^and Tail, as the Pafte-yh^guilfa; do,
but lying fometimes motionlefs, and coiling
themfelves at other Times, more in the
Manner of Serpents than Eels. They are
alfo more tranfparent, and efpecialiy for
fome Length from the two Extremities ;
but the moft diftinguilliing Mark of all,
is a very clear Part about the Middle of
their Bodies, which approaches to an
oval Figure when viewed in fome Diredi-
QnSy tho' it more frequently appears tri-

^^ 2 angular.

26o Of the Proteous.

angular, from its being prefented Side-ways
lo the Eye.

A B {^PlateX. N^X.) reprefent a Couple
of thefc Anguillce, The Figure B fhews
how they lie extended, when they firft
are taken out from the Grain, and feparate
in a Drop of Water, either before they
begin to move, or when they are really
dead.

A reprefents one of them alive and vigo-
rous, and endeavours to fhew the Manner
of its moving. The tranfparent triangular
Spot is pointed out in both o o.

CHAP. V.

Of the Vkot-evs.

ONE, of the many different Animal-
cules I have yet examined by the
Microfcope, has ever afforded me half the
Pleafure, Perplexity, and Surprize, as that
I am going to defcribe at prefent : whole
Ability of affuming different Shapes, and
thofe fo little refembling one another, that
nobody (without a6lually feeing its Transfor-
mation performed under the Eye) would be-
lieve it to be the fame Creature, has given me
reafon to diflinguifli it by the Name of the
Proteus.

When Water, wherein any Sorts of Ve^

getablcs,

Of the Proteus* 26 1

getables have been infufed, or Animals pre-
lerved, has flood quietly for fome Days or
Weeks, in any Glafs, or other Veflel, a
ilimy Subflance will be colledled about the
Sides ; fome whereof being taken up with
the Point of a Penknife, placed on a Hip
of Glafs, in a Drop of Water, and looked
at through the Microfcope, will be found
to harbour feveral Kinds of little Animals
that are feldom feen fwiraming about at
large. The Infedt we are treating of is one
of thefe i and was difcovered in fuch Slime-
like Matter, taken from the Side of a Glafs
Jar, in which fmall Fifhes, Water-fnails,
and other Creatures had been kept alive
two or three Months, by giving them frefh
Water frequently ; though the Sides of
the Jar had feldom or never been wiped or
cleaned.

Having one Evening been ecj^amining a
little of this Slime, which I found plenti-
fully flocked with feveral Kinds and Sizes
of Animalcules that were to me no Stran-
gers, fuch as Bell- Animals, Wheel-An'imahy
Funnel- Anijnalsy and others whereto as
yet no Names are given \ I was diverted
with the fudden Appearance of a little Crea-
ture whofe Figure was intirely new to> me,
moving about with great Agility, and hav-
ing io much feeming Intention in all its
Motions, that my Eyes were immediately
fixed upon it with Admiration, Its Body

S 3 ia

262 Of the Proteus-.

in SubiLance and Colour refembled a SnaiFs %
tl;ie Shape thereof was fomewhat elliptical,
but pointed at one End, whilft from the
other a long, ilender, and finely propor-
toned Neck llretched itfelf out, and was
terminated wifh what I iud^ed to be an.
Head, of a Size perfedly fuitable to the
other Parts of the Animal. In iliort, with-
out the leafc Fancy, which is ever care-
fully to be guarded againft in the Ufe of the
Microfcope, the Head and Neck and indeed
the whole Appearance of the Animal had
no little Refemblance to that of a Swan ;
with this Difference hov/ever, that its Neck
was never raifed above the Water, as the
Neck of a Swan is, but extended forwards,
or moved from Side to Side, either upon the
Surface of the Water, or in a Plane nearly
parallel to the Surface thereof.

N' XI. Plate X. i. is an exad: Reprefen-
tation of this extraordinary Animal the firft
Time I ever faw iX.,

Its Size w^as about equal to that of the
Wheel' Animal -y whofe general Form may
be diilinguiflied v/ell enough by xSit fourth
Glafs of Mr. Cliffs Microfcope^ though the
frj} is necelTary to form a Judgment of
its feveral Parts. It fwam to and fro with
great Vivacity, but itoppcd now and then
ior a Minute or two, durinp- v/hich Time
its long Neck was ufually employed, as far
as it, could reach, for^^'^^ards, and en every
3 • Side,

Of the Prof cm. 26"

Side, with a fomewhat flow but equable
Motion, like that of a Snake, frequently
extending thrice the Length of its Body,
and fcemingly in fearch of Food. Fig. 2.
attempts to fliew it as thus defcribcd, but
is unable to exprefs the curious Turn and
Elegance of its Shape.

I could difcern no Eye?, nor ajiy Opening
like a Mouth i\\ what appears to be the Head;
but its Adlions plainly prove it an Animal
that can fee; for notwithftanding Multi-
tudes of different Animalcules were fwim-
ing about in the fame Water, and its own
progreflive Motion was very fwift, it never
ftruck againft any of them, but directed its
Courfe between them, with a Dexterity
wholly unaccountable, fhould we fuppofe it
deftitute of Sight.

This Creature fcemed to me io extraor-
dinary, I could not forbear calling all my Fa-
mily to fee it. And after having viewed it
by \}[\t fourth Magnfer, that being the Glafs
I was ufmg when I firft difcovered it, we
were very defirous to examine it more (tridl-
ly by enlarging it flill more. Being there-
fore obliged to lliift the Glafs, which took up
fome little Time, I loft my Animal as unac-
countably as I had found it ; all the Search I
could make, for Half an Hour at leafl\ being
unable to difcover any thing bearing the leaft
Refemblance to it : tho' I replaced the Glaft
I had employed before, and carefully travel-

S 4 cd

264 Of the Frofeuf.

ed over the whole Drop a great Number
of Times. All I found remarkable there-
in, but which I regarded very little, was
a pretty large Animalcule, that I remem-
bered to have {ttn before v/hat I was
now feeking for had prefented itfelf to View>
and whofe Appearance was as at Jig, 3.
In a Word, after much Pains to no man-
ner of purpofe, concluding my new Ac-
quaintance irrecoverably loft, though I could
not conceive how, I put the Microfcope
afide, very much difappointed and diffa-
tisfied.

A Fortnight or three Weeks after, exa *
mining feme more of the fame flimy Mat-
ter, I was again furprized and pleafed with
another of thefe Animals, that ftarted up
under my Eye, and fwam about as the for-
mer had done; but the Water it was in be-
ginning to dry away, and being employed a
few Momenta in adding a freih Supply, I
loft it as. ftrangely as I had done before, and
^.ooked for it again to as little purpofe, till
my Patience was wearied out.

Frequently, after this, I examined the
firae Pvlatter, in hopes of finding fome of
thefe little Creatures, but all my Endeavours
proved fruitlefs; and therefore, as I could
give no better Account of them, I determi-
ned not to mention them at all. But one
Night, Ihe wing fome other Aniiiaalcuks in
the bcfprerueationcd Slime, to my ingenious;

Frieixdt

Of the Proteus, 265

Friend Mr. Turhervillc Nccdham, (whofe
long Acquaintance with the Microfcope has
made him equal at leaft to any body in the
Knowledge and Ule thereof,) we fortunately
and unexpe6tedly difcovered one of thefe, and
refolved to watch it carefully by turns, and
fatisfy ourfelves concerning it as far as pof-
fible. Nor indeed were our Precautions need-
lefs; for when it had been fwimming about
a confiderable while (in the Poftures repre-
fented ^y Jig- i and 2.) we beheld it on
a fudden draw in its Neck and Head in the
Manner that a Snail does, fo that both of
them difappeared intirely : its Body became
then moreopake, was fhaped ^s Jig. 3. and
moved about very flowly with the large End
foremoft.

I was now fufSciently convinced how I
had been before deceived by the Animal's
difappearing in one Shape, and appearing in
another fo extremely different. The Dif-
covery we had made rendered us more ea-
ger to difcover farther, and determined us
not to leave it till it fhould re-affume its for-
mer Shape. But we were ftill more fur-
prized, when, inflead of fo doing, we faw a
Kind of Head (though quite unlike what it
had before) thrufling itfelf out a little way ',
which new Head foon appeared furnifhed
with a Wheel-like Piece of Machinery, the
quick Motions whereof drew a Current of
Water to it from a confiderable Diflance.
The Animal in this Poflure is fliewn 7^^. 4.

Having

^66 Of the Wheel AnlmaL

Having often pulled in and thruft out this
fhort Head, fometimes with and fometimes
v/ithout the Wheel-work^ the Creature, as if
weary, remained motionlefs for a while, and
then very flowly protruded its long Neck un-
der its own Body, as at^. 5 ; foon after which
it fvvam backwards and forwards extending its
Neck, and turning it about every way with
wonderful Agility, as if in fearch of Prey.
Twice or thrice it altered the Form of its
Body, and difpofed its long Neck in the
Manner oijig. 6.

Being now without Fear of loiing our Ob-
jed:, we changed our Glaffes feveral times,
and continued our Obfervations till we were
fully fatisfied of its Transformation^ and the
Figures herewith given were taken by my
Son, (who has been much ufed to make
Drawings from the Micrpfcope) during this
Examination.

CHAP. VI.

0/7/5i? Wheeler, or Wheel AnimaL

'TT^HE Royal Society having been pleafed
i to accept very favourably a Defcrip-
tion of this little Creature, addrefTed to
Martin Folkes, Efq; their worthy Preiiden-t;
as I find no Reafon fince that time for alter-
ing any Part thereof, I fliall give it here in
the fame Form and Words.

TO

Plate X. ^a..2eff.
WJII

^.^nyi'/c-

K>f the Wheel Animal ^6j

T O

MARTIN F O L K E S, Efqj

Prefident of the Royal Society.

Lofidoiiy January i6th, i744-5«
SIR,

I Take the Liberty to lay before you the
beft Account my Obfervations can at
prefent furniih out, concerning that won-
derful Water In fedl the Wheel Animal y which
you and feveral other of my curious Friends
belonging to the Royal Society have often
done me the Honour to examine by my
Glaffes, and admire along with me: and as
it is extremely difficult to convey by Words
only any true Idea of a Creature fo very ex-
traordinary, I have added exadt Draiviiigs
of its different Forms, Poftures, and Ap-
pearances; in hope, by that Means, of be-
ing underftcod by thofe who hav^e never
feen the Subjed:, as well as approved of by
thofe that have : in Cafe you fhall judL'e thefe
Lines worthy to appear where you prefide.

This wonderful httle Infe(fl is found in
Rain Water, that has flood fome Davs in
Leaden Gutters, or in Hollows of Lead ovi
the Tops of Houfes, or in the Slime c' Se-
diment

i6S Of the Wheel AnimaK

diment left by fuch Rain Water; and if
carefully fought after may be found alfo in
other Places. Mr. Leeuwenhoek, that di-
ligent Searcher into Nature, wa^ the firft
"Difcoverer of it about fifty Years ago, (viz.
in the Year 1702) foon after which he com-
municated an Account and Drawing thereof -
to the Scyal Society : both which may be ktn
in the 295thNum. oixki^PhilofophicalTranf-
adiions. What Regard was then paid to his
curious Difcovery I am wholly ignorant, but
probably it was looked upon as a Matter of
great Difficulty to find the Animal, and for
that Reafon little or no Enquiry was made
after it, by the few who then amufed them-
felves with Micro/copes : however, from that
Time till within thefe few Years (that Peo-
ple have begun to think the Works of their
Creator, however minute^ not unworthy of
their Notice,) I queftion very much whether
it has ever been ktn by any one in England,

In order, therefore, to gratify the laudahk
Curiofity which at prcfent diitiifes itfelf a-
mongft us, and feems the happy Omen of
great Improvements in the Knowledge of
Nature, I have not only fhewn this amazing
Animal to Numbers of Gentlemen at my
own Home, but having by the Affiftance oi
axQore convenient M/Vr^"^/^ for the Purpofe
than Mr. Leeuwenhaek probably was Mafter of,
examined it with the ftricteft Attention, un-
der

Of the Wheel AnimaL 269

der all its various Appearances, and made fe*
vcral Obfervations thereon more than he has
left us, the fame Motive induces me to give
the bcft Account thereof I can.

I call it a Water- Ajiimaly becaufe its Ap-
pearance as a living Creature is only in that
Element. I give it alfo for Diflindtion fake the
Name oiW heeler ^ Wheel Infe5i or Animal \
from its being furniflied with a pair of In-
ftruments, which in Figure and Motion ap-
pear much to refemble Wheels. It can,
however, continue many Months out of Wa-
ter, and dry as Dufl; in which Condition
its Shape is globular, its Bignefs exceeds not
a Grain of Sand, and no Signs of Life ap-
pear. Notwithftanding, being put into Wa-
ter, in the Space of Half an Hour a languid
Motion begins, the Globule turns itfelf about,
lengthens by flow Degrees, becomes in the
Form of a lively Maggoty and moll common-
ly in a few Minutes afterwards puts out its
Wheels, and fwims vigoroully through the
Water in fearch of Food -, or elfe, fixing by
its Tail, w^orks them in fuch a Manner as to
brinci its Food to it. But fometimes it will
remain a long while in the Maggot Form,

and not fhew its Wheels at all. < The

Drawings reprefent thefe different Changes ;
and I hope to jfliew how they are performed.

If the Water (landing in Gutters of Lead,
or the flimy Sediment it leaves behind, has
r.nv thin 5 of a red Colour, one may be almofl

ccrtaiii

276 Of the Wheel Anlmah

certain of finding them therein*, and, if
in Summer, when all the Water is dried
away, and nothing but Duft remains, that
Duft appears red, or of a dark brown, one
ihall feldom fail, on putting it into Water, to
difcover Multitudes of minute reddifh Glo-
bules, which are indeed the Animals, and
will foon change their Appearance, in the
Manner jufl: now mentioned.

The Minutenefs of thefe Animals makes
it almoft impoffible to know whether you
have them in the Water or not, without ex^
amining it by GlalTes : the fame Minutenefs
renders it alfo impracticable to feparate them
from the Dirt or Slime found along with
them, and on which perhaps they feed: in
ihort, they are intirely microfcopical InfeSfs^
and whatever is faid concerning them muft
be understood to imply, as under InfpeCtion
by the firft or fecond Magnifier of the Dou-
ble Microicope

My Way of difcoverhig them is, by plac*
ing a fmall Drop of the Water, wherein I
know they are, with fome of the Sediment
therein, U4ider the third or fourth Magni-
fier ^

* Wheel Animals^ though found with moft Certainty in
Leaden Gutters, ^c. are often difcovered in the Waters- of -
fome Ditches, and likewife in Water that has Hood a
confiderable Time even in the Houfe : for I have often met
with them, in fufhcient Plenty, in a Sort of llimy Matter,
that is apt to be produced on the Sides of Glaffes and other
VeiTels, that are kept long with the Iv.fufions of Hay or other
Vegetables ; and probably they are wafted thither by the Air^
when in the Condition of little dry Globules.

Of the Wheel AnhnaJ. 2 7 1'

fier; and, when I have thereby found them>
I change the Glafs for one that fhews them
larger, and then watch all their Motions
with great Attention.

This Httle Creature fliews itfelf at firfl
(unlefs it be in its Globule Form) like a,
tranfparent Maggot or Caterpillar, and ap-
pears lengthening out its Body confiderably
at fome times, and at others contrafting it
as much. Its Motion from Place to Place
is likewife then performed in the Manner of
fuch Infedts, fixing firft its Tail and extend-
ing its whole Body, then faftening its Head Ifjjf:
and drawing up its Tail to it : fo that by fix-
ing its Tail and pufliing its Body forwards,
failening its Head and drawing its Tail
thereto, alternately, it works itfelf alone
pretty nimbly. Fid, Jig. 1. 2. P/,^feXL

But one Ihall often behold it changing
this Appearance in an Inftant, and affuming
a Form extremely difterent; for its Snout
being pulled fomewhat inward, the anterior
End becomes clubbed, and immediately di-
viding, exhibits, moft furprizingly, to view,
a Couple of femi-circular Inftruments, before
luifeen, round the Edges whereof many little
Fibrillce move themfelves very brifkly, fome-
times with a kind of Rotat:on, and fome-
times in a trembling or vibrating manner. An
Opening or Mouth alfo appears in the Mid-
dle between thefe two Semi-circles. When in

this

2,7^ Of the Whetl An'imah

this Condition, the Animal is often feen to
unfaften its Tail, and fwim along with a
great deal of Swiftnefs, feemingly in purfuit
of Prey. Vid. jig. 3 .

The Subftancc of this Animal feems to
be chiefly mufcular, every Part thereof be-
ing capable of great Diftention and Con-
tradlion. It has likewife a confiderable De-
gree of Tranfparency, whereby the Syftole
and Diaftole of its Heart, and the periftaltic
Motion of the Inteftines, are rendered plainly
vifible; and a kind of Undulation may be
perceived every where within it. It appears
ftrong and vigorous in proportion to its Size,
and feems almoft continually hunting after
minute Animalcules or other little Bodies
wherewith the Waters abound.

Fig. 1. Ihews the Form of the Infedt
under Examination, when it appears
like a Worm or Maggot, and fully ex-
tends its Body. Sometimes in this
Condition little Spicule appear darted
out at the Head End, with a Sort of
vibrating Motion; the Snout is alfo
fometimes more flat, and fharper at
other Times, than reprefented here.
Fig. 2. defcribes the Manner of its
moving from Place to Place whilfl in
the Maggot Form, by bringing the
Head and Tail nearly together 5 then
ftretching the Body out, fixing the

Head

Of the Wheel AiiimaL 27^

Head down, and drawing up the Tail
to it.

Fig. 3. exhibits the Infect with its two

iemi-circular Parts put out> and ex-

acftly in the Pollure it places itlelf,

when it prepares either to fwim away,

or to faden by the Tail and work its

Wheels about.

The general Account already given, will

'tis hoped render my Tafk the ealier, now I

come to examine the moft diftinguifliing

Parts of this Animal ; 'v'lx. the Hcad^ the

Thorax or Breaji, the Abdomen or Belly, and

the ^ail : each whereof I fhall defcribe with

all the Perfpicuity and Brevity the Subject

will allow.

The Fafl:iion and Conftrudlure of the Head
is w^onderful, and extremely different from
that of any other Creature hitherto defcrib-
td; its fudden Change out of one Form in-
to another is alfo unufual and furprizins: :
for, from being perfetftly tapering, and end-
ing almoll: in a iharp Point, like the Head
of a common Maeeot, it becomes on a iiid-

CO

den as wide as any Part of the whole Infevft,
opens a large Mouth, and is iurnifhed by
Nature with an amazing Piece of Machine-
ry whereby to procure its Food.

One of thefe Animals, with the Head as
here dcfcribed, is reprefented fig. 4, where
a Couple of circular Bodies, armed with
fmall Teeth like thofe of the Ballance-Whecl

T of

^74 Of the Wheel AnimaL

of a Watch, appear projeding forwards be-»
yond the Head, and extending fideways
fomewhat wider than the Diameter thereof^
They have very much the SimiUtude of
Wheels, and feem to turn round with a con-
liderable Degree of Velocity, by which
means a pretty rapid Current of Water is
brought from a great Diftance to the very
Mouth of the Creature, who is thereby fup-
pUed with many Httle Animalcules and
various Particles of Matter that the Waters
are furniihed with.

As thefe Wheels (for io from their Ap-
pearance I ihall beg leave to call them) are
every where exceffively tranfparent, except
about their circular Rim or Edge on which
the Cogs or Teeth appear, it is very diffi-
cult to determine by v/hat Contrivance they-
are turned about, or what their real Figure is,
though they feem exadly to refemble Wheels
moving round upon an Axis.

It is alfo hardly poffible to be certain
whether thefe circular Bodies, round the
Edges of which the Teeth are placed, are
of a flat Form, or hollow and of a conic
Figure. But they appear rather to be the
latter, and if fo they may be likened, not
improperly, to a Couple of fmall Funnels
with Teeth fet round their large Ends.
However, be they fiat or hollow, they feem
plainly to be protruded from a Pair of tubu-
lar Cafes> into which they can be again re-
traded

Of the Wheel Ajiimah 275

traded at the Will and Pleafurc of the Ani-
mal; and their Ui'e undoubtedly is to pro-
cure it Food, by means of that Currc?it or
Vortex which the Motion of them excites.
They turn not always in the fame Manner,
nor with equal Swiftncfj^, neither is the Ap-
pearance of their Teeth or Notches con-
llantly the fame: for one flvall fometimc"-
fee them moving in contrary Diredlit^ns, and
fometimes turning both the fame Way. It
is alfo not unufual, after they have been
moving one Way for a confiderable Time,
to behold them flop on a fudden and turm
directly contrarywife. Their feeming Ro-
tation is fometimes very fad, and at other
times very flow ; increafing or decreaHng
fometimes gradually, and fometimes all at
once.

The Teeth or Cogs of the Wheels feem
to ftand very regularly at equal Diftances:
but the Figure of them varies according
to their Pofition, the Degree of their Pro-
truiion, and perhaps the Will of the Animal.
They appear Ibmetimes like minute oblong
Squares riling at right Angles from the Pe-
riphery of a Circle, like ancient B.ittlements
on a round Tower ; at other Times they
terminate in fliarp Points, and all together
refemble a Kind of Gothic Crov,'n. Tiiey
are often ken in a curvular Dire>^ion, 3II
bending the fame Way, and feeming like fo
many 1 looks: and no v/ and then one ih-dll

T 2 V^^c^i^'^

•I'jt Of the Wheel AnhnaL

perceive the Ends of them to be clubbed, of
in x\ppearance like a Number of httle Mal-
lets. This Figure, and the firft, they how-
ever affume but rarely.

When the Forepart of this Creature firft
appears to open or divide, the Parts above
defcribed, which when fully protruded re-
femble Wheels, and feem to have a quick
Rotation, coming then but a little Way be-
yond their tubular Cafes, (and being in that
Condition like round Pieces of Paper folded
in the Middle, or Funnels whofe Sides are
flatted almoft together,) feem only like a
Couple of femi-circular Parts, about iheEdges
whereof, what are feen afterwards like the
Teeth of the Wheels, apoear only as little
Fibi^illcd or Spiculcef having all a nimble and
continual vibrating Motion upwards and
downwards, whereby the Water becomes
greatly agitated, and brought to the Anima?l
from feveral times the Diftance of its own
Length. Vid.Ji^, 3. *

Before it bep;ins to fliew itfelf Jn this Pof-
tare, it fi'equently faftens its Tail to the flirrry
dirty Matter found with it in the Water, or
t\k to the Glafs whereon it is ploced for
Viev/; and buoying up its Body in the Water,

pufhes

* This Plhraiion commeticirig commonly Tome time be-
fore the Wheel-Work pufhes out cind exerts its rotatory Mo-
tiony feme People, not overilcck'd with Patience, have con-
eluded, that it has no other Motion, than luch a Vibration
oi th^Fibrilla ; but I am. perfuaded a little more At!ientioA
will convince them of their Miilake.

Of the Wheel yimmaL 2^^

puflies its Head forwards, dircdlng it tiiis
Way and that Way with a great deal ot" Agi-
Jity, and feemingly in fcarch of Food, in
the mean while, many minute Animalcules
and other little Bodies are drawn along with
a rapid Current of Water, fome whereof arc
taken in and fwallowed, and others rejeded,
though brought to the Opening of its Mouth,
which appears exadly in the Middle, be-
tween the two above deicribcd Semi-circles.

While the Sides of the Wheels are thus
doubled as it were together, there is little or
no Appearance of any circular Motion, the
Fibrillce about their Edges feemJrPg to have
only a quick Vibration : but moft commonly,
after two or three Minutes, this extraordi-
nary Apparatus becomes protruded firther,
the two Semi-circles pulli out, and open at
the fame Time, each of them immediately
refembles a compleat Circle or Wheel, feems
to turn round very regularly, and its little
FlbriliCB appear changed into Cogs or Teeth,
in the Manner abovementioned.

As the Animal is capable of thrudingthefe
Parts out, or drawing them in, fomewhat
in the Way that Snails do their Horns, the
Figure of them is different in their feveral
Degrees of Extenfion and Ccntra6lion, or ac-
cording to their Pofition to the Eye of the
Obferver, whereby they not only appear in
all the various Forms before reprefented, hut
. ftem at certain Times as if the circular Rim

T3 of

278 Of the Wheel Animal.

of the Wheel or Funnel were of feme
Thicknefs, and had two Rows of Cogs or
Teeth, one above and the other below that
Rim.

When the Wheels appear in Motion,
the Head feems large in proportion to the
Size of the Animal; and tho' it is then
every where tranfparent, a Ring or Circle,
more particularly remarkable for its Clear-
nefs, may commonly he perceived about the.
Middle of the Forehead, a little above the
Mouth. {See figure 5. ^.) I fhall not pre-
tend to call this the Seat of the Brain,
though its Situation and Appearance would
perhaps juftify fuch a Suppoiition; but as I
am fully feniible how very eafy it is for me
to be miftaken, I am extremely fearful of
leading others into Miflakes, Many Veffels
v/hich feem to take their Origin from hence
are difcernable in the Head, wherein fome
tranfparent Fluid appears continually agitat-
ed with a Sort of iluctuating Motion. All.
thefe VeiTcls and every Part of the Head
are capable of great Diftention and Con-
tradiion, and frequently alter their Figure.

The Thorax or Breafl: ^, is joyned to the
Head by the Interpoiition of a (liort an-
nular Circle or Neck c, which is very
plainly diilinguifeed when the Infed: is
llretched out, and is working with its
V/heels. This Thorax is nearly one fixth
^^art of the whole Animal, and deferves the

mofb

Of tlj€ Wheel AnimaL 279

mofl careful Examination; for as the Heart
d may be fcen tlicrcin mere dillinctly, its
Figure and Motions may confcquently be
obfervcd much better '\w this than in any
other fmall Creature I have met with.

The Heart d is placed almoft in the Mid-
dle of the Thorax, where its Syftolc and
Diaftole can't fliil to catch the Eye of every
attentive Ol^ferver; for it is fcen through
the Back of the Infed: very plainly, fliut-
ting and opening, alternately, with great
Regularity and Exadlnefs. Its Size is pro-
portionable to the Creature's Bigncfs, and
its Shape during the Syftole or Time of
Contradlion is nearly circular, being com-
pofed feemingly of two femi-lunar Parts
which then approach each other, laterally,
and form between them a roundiPn orHorfe-
flioe-like Figure, vvhofe upper Side is flat,
but the under one convex. The Diailole
is performed by a feeming Separation or
opening of thefe two femi-lunar Parts, where-
by the tranfverfe Diameter of tlie Heart
is very much enlarged. This Separation
begins exadiy in the Middle of the lower
Part next the Tail, and opens to fuch a
confiderable Width upwards, that the two
Parts when at their utmoll: Dillention feem
only joyned by an arched Vcflel at their
anterior End. The alternate Motions of
Contraction and Dilatation are performed
with great Strength and Vigour, in pretty

T 4 much

2 S o Of the: Wheel AnimaL

much at the fame Time as the Pulfations in
the Arteries of a Man in Heahh -y as I have
often proved by feeling my ovi^n Pulfe whilft
I have been viewing them. In each of the
fe mi- lunar Parts there appears a Cavity,
which feems to clofe when thofe Parts come
together^ and to open itfelf again Vv^hen they
feparate.

The Motions of the Heart are communi-
cated to all the other internal Parts of the
Thorax ; and indeed feem to extend a great
deal farther ; for a flrid; Examination dif-
covers, at the fame Time, throughout the
whole Animal, Contradiions and Dilatations
going on that are apparently correfpondent
thereto.

It is however neceffary to remark, that
thefe Motions of the Heart are, fometimes,
as it were fufpended, or unperceiveable for
^wo or three Minutes, after which they be-
come renev^ed, and go on again with the
fame Vigour and Regularity as before. And
this Sufpenfion of the Syilole and Diaftole,
has made fome Gentlem.en to vv^hom I have
fhewn it, doubtful, whether the Part we
have been defcribing can therefore be the
Heart. But their Doubt arifes wholly from
a SuppOiition that the Hearts of minute In-
ie(fl:s niuft continue beating v/ith the fame
Conftancy, and be fubjed: to the fame Laws
as the Hearts of the larger Kinds of Animals,
Vv'hich probably is not the Cafe,

The

Of the Wheel Annual. 28 \

The Situation, the Size, the Contradlioii
and Dilatation of the Part we fuppoie to be
the Heart, all concur in Support of that
Opinion ; but they can hardly all agree with
any other of the Vifccra : and as to the
Sufpenfion of its Motion, fince in the Tor-
toife, the Viper, the Frog, and perhaps ma-
ny other Creatures who become torpid at
Ibme Seafons, the Motion of the Heart is fuf-
pended or unperceiveable for a conliderable
Length of Time, there is no Abfurdity in
believing that the fame thing may happen
to this Infed;, which is fometimes in a tor-
pid or inactive State as well as they, with-
out doing it any Injury. Nay, that the Mo-
tion of its Heart (whether this Part be it or
no) muft unavoidably be fufpendcd, whilfl
this very Animal is contracted into a Ball,
and as dry as Dull, is I think highly pro-
bable.

The Blood or circulatlno; Fluid is fo abfo-
lutely colourlefs in this Creature, that the
Current of it through the Vefiels is undiftin-
guifhable by GlalTes, however likely it may
feem, from the ftrong Contraftlon of the
Heart, that a Circulation mud be carryed
on, and that too very briikly. One lees
indeed almoft every where a fort of irregu-
lar Agitation of fome Fluid, which may be
perhaps the compound Motion of Currents
running different Ways and forming fuch an

Appear-

^82 Of the Wheel Animal,

Appearance, though no one fmgle Current
is any where diftind;ly vifible.

From the under Part of the Thorax a
fmall tranfparent Horn proceeds, which can
be never feen unlefs the Infe(5l turns on its
Back or Side. I know not whether it be a
Diftindion of Sex, or to w^hat other Pur-
pofe it may ferve; for thefe minute Ani-^
mals cannot pofiibly be fo managed as to
bring it under Examination Vv^hen one pleafes;
and as it is only feen fometimes by Accident,
I cannot pretend to fay whether all or fome
of them only are furniilied therewith. It
is fhewn in \}i\^ Figures i and 2., a a. being
more commonly feen when the Creature is
in the Maggot Shape than at other Times,

Immediately below the Thorax is another
annularCircle or Diviiion b^ joyning upwards
to the Thorax, and downv/ards to the Ab-
domen ; the Entrance whereof it ferves occa-
cafionally to enlarge or diminiih. This is
fhewn^^. 5. at the Letter e.

The Abdomen or Belly / is much the
largeft Part of the Animal, and contains
the Stomach and Guts. When the Infedt
is full of Food thefe Bowels appear opake
and of a Blood-red or Crimfon Colour, ex-
tending in Length from the Thorax quite
through the Belly and great Part of the Tail^
and exhibiting a fine View of the periilaltic
Motion, or fuch gradual Contradions and
tions as feem intended to propel

theiF

Of the Wheel AnimaL 2S3

their Contents downwards. Around the
Bowels are many Ramifications of Veflels,
both longitudinal and tranfverfe; and between
the Bowels and the Skin a Fluid exceedingly
tranfparent flud;uates in a Manner Words
cannot defcribe.

The Belly is capable of ftretching out
greatly in Length, or being fliortencd very
much and widening its Diameter : in fliort
it afliimes many Shapes, and becomes, on
Occafion, a Cafe including the whole Ani-
mal, as will by and by be Ihewn.

From a Joynt at the lower Part of the
Belly to the poflerior Extremity is what I
call the Tail. {J'^id.fig, 5.^.) It has three
other Joynts, to the lowermoft where-
of the Bowels extend themfeves, and ap-
pear contradling and dilating upwards and
downwards, though not fo remarkably when
they are empty as full. This Part runs ta-
pering from the Belly to its End, and is leng-
thened or fhortened at the Creature's Will.
When it is inclined to fix itfelf by the Tail
to any thing, (as commonly is its \Vay when
it intends to work with its Wheels,) two,
four, and fomctimes {\y. little tranfparent
Hooks or Fins may be feen thruft out at
its End, and ferving for that purpofe. They
are placed in Pairs : one Pair is at the very
Extremity, and the other two a little Way
up the Sides : but the three Pair are feldom.

i'^^xi together.

Tho*

284 Of the Wheel Animate

Tho* this Infed: fwims very fwiftly, and
feemiiigly with great Eafe, neither Legs nor
- Fins can be perceived to affifl it in fo doing,
unlefs thofe juft now mentioned about the
Tail, and the Horn under the Breaft may be
imagined fuch. Wherefore iince the Wiieels
in its Head are always fet to v/ork very
brifldy whenever it begins to fwim, one
may reafonably prefijme they are the Inftru-
ments by which it performs this Office.
And, indeed, looking at the Manner of its
fwimming through a Hand Magnifier, when
it is at large in a Phial of Water, will confirm
this Opinion greatly ; for there one fhall
often difcern it rifing m a perpendicular Di-
redion, and by the Rotation of its Wheels
climbing as it were upwards and mounting
through the Water; but finking down a-
gain inilantly upon the ceafing of their Mo-
tion.

As I call thefe Parts Wheels^ I alfo term
the Motion of tlicrxx a Rotation^ becaufe it
has exadly the Appearance of being fuch.
But feme Gentlemen have imagined there
piay be a Deception in the Cafe, and that
they do not really turn round, though
indeed they feem to do io^ The Doubt of
thefe Gentlemen arifes from the Difficulty
they find, in conceiving how, or in what
Manner, a Wheel, or any other Form, as
Part of a living Aninial, can poffibly turn
upon an Axis, fuppofed to be another Part

of

Of the Wheel Animal, 28^

of the fame living Aniina.1 ; fince tlie Wheel
murt be a Part nblokitely diilind: and fepa--
rate from the Axis whereon it turns ; and
then, fay they, how can this living Wheel
be nourilhed, as there cannot be any Veficla
of Communication between that and the
Part it goes round upon, and which it mufb
be feparate and diliindt from ?

To this I can only anfwer, that place thi
Objedl: in whatever Light or Manner you
pleafe, when the Wheels are fully pro-
truded they never fail to fhew all the vifible
Marks imaginable of a regular turning
round, which I think no lefs difficult to ac-
count for, if they do not really do fo. .Nay,
in fome Politions, you may with your Eye
follow the fame Cogs or Teeth whilit they
feem to make a compleat Revolution ; for,
the other Parts of the In fed; being very
tranfparent, they are eafily diflinguifhed
through it. As for the Machinery, I Ihall
only liiy, that no true Judgment can be
formed of the Strudure and Parts of mi-
nute Infers by imaginary Comparifons be-
tween them and larp-er Animals, to which
they bear not the leaft Similitude. How-
ever, as a Man can move his Arms or his
Legs, circularly, as long and as often as
he pleafes, by the Articulation of a Ball
and Sv'jcket, may not there poflibiy be
fonie Sort of Articulation in this Creature

whercrby

3

2 86 "Of the Wheel AnimaL

whereby its Wheels or Funnels are enabled
to turn themfelves quite round * f

Having defcribed the moft remarkable
Parts of this Infed:, I fhall by the four fol-
lowing Figures endeavour to reprefent fome
other of the moft ufual Forms it affumes^
both when its Wheels are fully protruded,
and when the Edges only of them are fhewn
with their little vibrating Fibrillc:e.

Fig. 6. is the Wheel Infe5i raifing itfelf
01^ the Tail, ftooping the Head down-
wards, and working its Wheels about.
This is a common Pofture, in which
the Back is bowed, and the Belly ap-
pears fhortened and diftended, great
Part of the Thorax being taken into it.
The Wheels in this Polition feem to
turn horizontally, with their Backs up-
wards and towards the Eye, in which
Manner they appear very diftindl and
large, with their Teeth bending all the

fame

* It is certain all Apf^earances arefo muchbn this Side the
Queftion, that I never met with any who did not on feeing it
call it a Rotation ; tho' from a Difficulty concerning how it
can be effected, fome have imagined they might be deceived:
Mro Leewwenhoek alfo declared them to be Wheels that turn
round; vid. Phil. Tra^if, N" 295. But I fhall contend with
nobody about this Matter : it is very eafy for me I know to
be miftaken, and f6 far poflible for others to be fo too> that
I am perfuaded fome have miftaken the Animal itfelf y
which perhaps they never faw, whilft inftead thereof they
have been examining one or other of the feveral Water-
Anifnalcuks that are furnifhed with an Apparatus commonly
called Wheels^ the' they turn not round, but excite a Cur-
rent by the men Vibration of Fibrillas about their Edges,

Of the Wheel Animal. 287

fame Way, and refembling as many
Hooks. The different Parts of the
Animal as before defcribed are explain-
ed by this Figure.
Fig, 7. fhcws the Animal turned with its
Side towards the Eye, as it frequently
prefents itfelf The Wheels here have
the lame Appearance as in the preced-
ing Figure : but one of them lies con-
fiderably below the other, the whole
Body being fomewhat twifled, whereby
the Horn under the Thorax is diftindly
brought to V^iew.
Fig. 8. and 9. exhibit two of thefe Crea-
tures in the Poftures they are often feen,
when the Wheels are not thruft out, but
the Fibrillce appear moving up and
down with very quick Vibrations. We fee
particularly in jig, 9. the whole Space
between thefe Parts gaping like a wide
Mouth, and different from any of the
former Fip-ures.
To defcribe the many Poflures I have
feen this Creature in would be a Wafle of
Time; but the Manner of its changing,
when it pleafes, into a round Globule or
Ball, is fo remarkable a Part of its Hiflory,
that I mull: attempt to give the befl Account
of it lean; as I have many times obferved
very attentively every Step in its Metamor-
pholis,

After

§8 Of the Wheel Animal,

After having turn'd about its Wheels, iii
Various Dired:ions, for two or three Hours^
in the Water, and probably fill'd its Belly,
(during which Time its Tail remains faften-
ed to fome Dirt or Slime, or to the Slip of
Glafs it is placed upon :) one fliall perceive
it, by Degrees, moving them with lefs Vi-
gour, and at laft drawing them quite within
the Head. The Head and included Wheels
link down then very flowly into the Thorax,
the Belly fwells, and the v/hole appears like
fig, lO.

Soon after, the Thorax alfo (which now
contains the Head and Wheels) is drawn
within the Belly, and below the annular
Circle at the Top of it, as fig. 1 1 . repre-
fents.

The faid annular Circle then contradis, and
its Sides come together like the Sides of a
Purfe when the Strings are pulled, clofing
over the Head and Thorax, which, nowj
filling the upper Part of the Belly make it
nearly round, like^^. 12,

In the laft Place, the three upper JoyntS
of the Tail come down over the lower Joynt
which becomes fixt ; immediately the Belly
alio links, or is pulled down, and inclofes the
whole Tai). Ail the Parts being now in-
eluded in the Belly, which becomes their
Cafe or Covering, it fwells into a round Ball,
lies without any Motion, and appears conli-
derably opake. (Vid.fig. 13.) It flill adheres
however by the Tail. Some-

'PUi/<'XI.f>,u,.jSS.

iHll,

T^^ja. \|

Ma:

Fr^xa

-^41

T/u W/ieel AninuiL in tti jiei'eral PojUi/red

¥ffi4ft>-

V.F.MakerM.

'•vi.5;>

Fu/X[T

Of the Wheel Animitl. 289

Sometimes, when in tlic Ma-got Fornj, it

rolls its Head and Tail together, without

drawing them into its Body ; in the Man-

ner oifig. 14.

All my Endeavours have been hitherto
unable to dilcover how thefe Creatures pro-
pagate, though for three Years paft I have
never been without them, and am continu-
ally feniible of their Increafe, by obferving
Numbers of extremely fmall ones appearing
from time to time : which undoubtedly are
young Fry. There's however good Reafon
to believe they proceed from Eggs : for I
have often feen, in the Water along with
them. Parcels of Ova, gelatinous like the
Spawn of Frogs, and of a Size proportion-
able to the Wheel Amijal.- -Bui after what-
ever Manner they are propagated, 'tis pretty
certain, from the exceeding Minutentfs of
fome in Comparifon of others, that they
come out at firll in their perfect Shape, and
are not the Nymiphte of any other Infedt, as
many Creatures found in the Waters are.

Mine have conftantly been kept in the
fame Glafs Veffel, fometimes with and fom>e-
times without Water : for as the Sides of the
Glafs were often left dry, I have fuffeied
thofe that had faftened themfelves there to
remain fome Months in that Condition :
neverthelefs, I always found them to become
as lively as ever on giving them frefh Water.
Mr. Leewwenhoek kept fome Dirt, taken out
^f a Leaden Gutterj and dried as hard r;S

U Clay>

2go Of the Wheel Aninmi.

Clay, for twenty-one Months together ; and
yet when it was infuied in Water, Multi-
tudes of thefe Creatures foon appeared un-
folding themfelves, and quickly after began
to put out their Wheels : and I myfelf have
experienced the fame with fome that had
been kept much longer.

All their Aftions feem to imply Sagacity
and Quicknefs of Senfation. At the leafl
Touch or Motion in the Water they inftant-
ly draw in their Wheels. Notwithftanding
their Smallnefs, one fees feveral Species of
Animalcules fwimming in the Water with
them, compared to which themfelves appear
like Whales. Thefe Animalcules are their
Prey : which they take either by Purfuit, or
draw lo them by the Current of Water which
their Wheels excite.

It has conftantly been my Endeavour to
difcover the Eyes of this Creature, but I have
never been able to difcern that it has any.
And yet, when one beholds it fwimming
alonp; with ereat Swiftnefs, turning its Head
on every Side, and feemingly purfuing its
Prey, avoiding any Dirt or other Matters
in the Water that w^ould obflruct its PafTage,
and directing its Courfe w^ith as much feem-
ing Care, Choice, and Condud: as Animals
that have Eyes do, one can hardly think it
deftitute of Sight.

I w^ould induftrioufly avoid giving way
to Fancy in Cafes of this Nature, but muft

acknow-

Of the Wheel Animal, 291

acknowlctli^c my fufpeding that it has Eyes
fomcwheic within its Wheels : and my Ilea-
fons for this Sufpicion are, its hkmdcring, ir-
regular, and llow Motions while it appears
in the Form of a Maggot, before its Wheels
are put out, and the Regularity, Swiftnels,
and fteady Diredion of its Motions after-
wards : whereto I might add, that when It
fwims along its Wheels are always out. Be-
iides, all the Creatures we know that move
themfelves from Place to Place with Swift-
nefs, either by running, flight, or fwimming,
are remarkable for their keennefs of Sight;
and indeed it feems probable that the fame
Rule may hold through all the Animal Crea-
tion : for, as the Gifts of Providence are
ever fuited to the Exigencies of its Creatures,
and contrived in the bed manner for their
Prefervation, we can fcarcely imagine Swlft-
nefs is beflowed on any without the addi-
tional Blefiing of Sight to diredt its Courfe;
fince the former without the latter mud un-
avoidably precipitate the Creature into con*
tinual Danger of Dellrudion. — This makes
me fuppofe it may poflibly have Organs of
Sidit fomcwhere about the Wheels : nor is
there any thing more extraordinary m that
than in the Eyes of Snails, which are gene-
rally allowed to be placed at the Extremities
of their Horns, and confequendy m.uft be
thruft out and drawn in with them.

I cannot conclude this Sul^jedl without
doing all the Honour I am able to the Me-

IT 2 mory

^g2 Different Wheel Animals.

mory of Mr. L^eiiwenhoek^ by repeating,
that we are obliged to his indefatigable In-
duftry for the firft Difcovery of this moft
furprizing Infedl.

CHAP. VII.

Different Kinds ^/^ Wheel Animals.

THERE are found in the Waters feveral
other Kinds of Animalcules, furnifhed
with Inftruments for making an Eddy, and
thereby bringing to themfelves fuch minute
Infedts, or very fmall Particles of Matter, as
ferve them for Food. Among thefe fome
appear to have a rotatory and others a vibra-
ting Motion-, fome alfo feem capable of being
employed both ways.

In the Ditch- Water fent me from Nor-
wich, as before-mentioned^^^. 233. I difco-
vered feveral Wheel Animals with Tails enor-
moufly long, but in all other Refpedts, as far
as I could difcern, differing not at all from
thofe juft now defcribed ; the Motion of the
Wheels, the Pulfation of the Heart, and the
Undulation of the Bowels appearing exadlly
the fame in both : Nothing therefore feems
farther neceffary than to give the Pi(5lure of
them, which fee tig. i. Plate XII.

Fig. 2 and 3 in the fame Plate, repre-
fent two different Sorts of Animalcules, feve-
ral whereof were found fome Years ago, in

Water

Difflrcnt Wheel Animals. 29;^

Water taken out of a Leaden Ciftern that
flood in Somerfet Garden, — The anterior
Part in the iiril: of thefe has a large Opening,
furrounded with fl:iarp Spiculce a, and is evi-
dently cruftaceous, though the Body and
Tail are mufcular. It is not eafy to difcern
the Inftruments within this Mouth or Open-
ing that ferve to form a Current of Water,
as the Creature does not thruft them beyond
the Neck b. When it fwims along it feems
extremely formidable to the minuter Ani-
malcules, Multitudes of which are frequent-
ly fucked in, together with a great deal of
Water, which is fpouted out again immedi-
ately. When the Tail is faftened to fome-
thing, it turns the Body about and dired:s its
wide Mouth to every Side, and brings a Stream
of Water from a confiderable Diftance. The
Motions of the Bowels are diftindlly vifible
in this Animal; and within feveral of them
one may fee an opake oval Body c, which by
its Size and Appearance I imagine to be an
Egg; which if it is, it fignifies their Increafe
to be much lefs than that of moft other mi-
nute Animalcules; for I never obferved more
than a fingle one in any of them ; and in-
deed I never found the Creatures themfelves
in very great Number, They are fomewhat
larger than the common Wheel Animal.

Fig, 3. reprefents an Animalcule found
in the fame Water with the former, and re-
fembling it pretty much in the Ske and

U 3 S/iaps

J2g4 Different Wheel Antmah,

Shape of its Body, though its Head and Tail
are different: for this Creature's Tail is fur- -
niihed with a Couple of Inftruments a a, that
lie flieathed therein, unlefs when they are
made ufe of to faften it to any thing, that
it may the better be enabled- to occaiion an
Eddy of Water and bi-ing its Food to it with
the Stream. During the Time it is fo em-
ployed the Body appears extended (as in the
Figure) and a Number bfF^^r///^, protruded
from two, projeding Parts b b that compofe
the Head, put the Water into a violent Mo-
tion, and excite a Current, by their vigorous
and quick Vibrations, which fets direftly
towards the Mouth c.

This little Creature i§. entirely mufcular,,
^nd frequently changes the Form of its Ap-
pearance by contracting its Body and pulling
in its Head or Tail. The periftalic Motion
©f its Bowels, which are confiderably opake,
is feen working upwards and downwards in
an odd manner, but no Partcan with any Cer-
tainty be known to be either Lungs, Heart,.
or Stomach. In many of them however^
an oval Body, which I guefs to be an Egg, is
very diftinguifliable, contained feemingly in
a Uterus., or Veffel, thatfeparates it from the
Qther Bowels. They lived with me feveral
pays in the Water they were brought in,
but I could never be fo lucky to fee any of
thefe Eggs, (if fuch they are) difcharged
from the Animab

CH A P.

[ 295 ]
CHAP. viir.

Animakuks with Shells and Wheels.

IN the Summer of the Year 1745, I firfl
took notice of three Sorts of IV heel Ani-
?nals'^^ having Shells, which I found heroing
together in the Water of the Ciftern in the
Garden of So'/^ierjct Hoiifcy and have feen
fince in other Wateis. The firft of them is
reprefented by the Figures 4, 5, 6 : the fe-
cond Sort by thofe 7, 8, 9, 10: and the
third Sort are marked 11, 12, 13. Plate
XII.

The firft Sort when extended is in Length
about twice its Breadth. It is contained in a
Shell, whofe Fore-part or End is armed with
four very long Spikes on one Si(ie of its
Rim, the other Side whereof has no Spikes,
but is waved or bent in two Places, much
like the Form of a Turkifh Bow : vid.
fig, 6. The pofterior End has a large cir-
cular Hole through w^hich the Tail is put
out. By this Tail it faftens itfelf to any
thing it meets with, w^hen it intends to fet
the Wheel- w^ork at its Head in Motion 3
but in fwimming, and at all other Times
when it is not fixed by it, it w^ags this Tail
backwards and forwards as a Dog does hi^^,

U 4 and

* Thefe are called Wheel Animals, from their refembling"
the foregoing in fome Particulars.

296 Aiilmatcules with. Shells and Wheel's*

and makes ufe of it on other OccafionSa
which we fhall prefently take notice of.

Its Body feems divided into three Parts,
the Head, Thorax, and Abdomen; each
whereof is capable of great Diflention and
Contraction; the Creature being able by
extending them all three to protrude its
Head beyond the Shell, and on contrary, by
contracting them, to draw its whole Body a
great way within the fame.

The Head when extended divides into
two Branches, between which another Part
(a Kin(i of Probofcis) is pufhed out, at
whofe End are two Fibrils, that appear
when at Rell: like one very broad Spike, but
which it can move very brifkly to and from
each other with a vibrating Motion, bring-
, ing thereby a Strearn of Water to its Mouth,
whofe Situation is juft betwixt them, And
the better to effedt this, feveral of the like
Fibrillce are placed on each Side of the Head,
which vibrate m the fanie Manner, as do
like wife fome very fmall ones at either
Corner. All this may be underflood by
viewing^. 4.

But fometimes it alters the Form of the
two Branches, rounding the Ends thereof,
and changing the vibrating Motion of its
Fibrilla into a Rotation, or at leaft what
jeems to be fo; at which Time the Head
appears as ztfg, 5.

Imme-

Animalcules ^ivkh Shells arid Wheels. 297

Immediately to the lower Part of the
Head the Thorax is joyned, feemingly of
a mulcular Contexture, and containing with-
in it an Inteftine, which by its Motions mufl
be either the Lungs or Heart of the Ani-
mal; f-'e h.fig. 4. and 5.

A Communication between the Thorax
and the Abdomen or Belly is continued by
means of a fliort Veffel r, whofe alternate
Contradlions and Dilatations occafion the
Abdomen to rile and fall alternately, having
at the fame time a Sort of periftaltic Mo-
tion. Through this Velfel or Gut all the
Food the Animal takes in is conveyed diredc-
ly to the Abdomen, where it becomes digeft-
ed, and is then difcharged by the Anus, which
is placed fomewhere near the Tail; but we
have not yet been able to difcover exa(!?tly
where, for the F-xces are thrown out fome-
times at the lower Opening of the Shell,
and fometimes they are carryed upwards
(between the Shell and the Body of the
Animal) and caft out with a confiderable
Force at the other End, by the Motions of
the Fibrilla, which the Animal can employ
to form a Current, not only towards him
but from him.

The Tail has three Joynts, and is cleft or
divided at its Extremity, by which means it
can the better faften to any thing. It is (^Qxi
mofl: commonly ilTuing through the Hole
at the lower End of the Shell, wagging nim-
bly

29 S Animalcules with Shells and Wheels,

bly to and fro, and is made ufe of in fwim-
ming to fleer or diredl its Courfe: but when
the Water wherein the Animal abides is al-
moft dryed away, or when it has a mind to
compofe itfeif to relT:, it contradls the Head
and Fore-part of the Body downwards, and
pulls the Tail upwards, in fuch a Manner
that the whole Animal is brought intirely
within the Shell: and at fuch times only the
anterior Edges of the Shell, and the Spikes
proceeding therefrom, can be fully diftin-
guiflied, and determined to be as repre-
feiited^.6. whofe Defcription wasjuft now
given. For the Shell is fo extremely tranf-
parent that its Terminations cannot be ktn
when the Infed; extends beyond it; but
whatever paiTes w^ithin it is as plainly vifible
as if there was no Shell at all.

Fig, 7, 8, 9, and 10, f]:iew the feveral
Appearances of the fecond Species of thefc
fhelled Animals having Wheels, which dif-
fers from the iirlT: in fome Particulars now to
be defcribed.

The Body of this Species conlifts of three
Parts, in like Manner as the other dees; only
the Thorax and Abdomen are not in this
fcparated by a Gut or intermediate VefTel as
they wxre in that, but are joyned immediately
together; and at that Place in the Thorax,
where, in the other Soecies, I have defcribed
an Intefline, which I fuppofed to be either
the Lungs or Heart, an Heart is plainly per-
ceived

Ajihnalcnks 'with Shells and JF heels. 299

ceived in this, having a regular Syftolc and
Diaftolc, and nearly of the flime Form and
Size with the Heart of the common Wheeler.
as the Figures 7, 8, and 9, are intended to
fhew at the place marked a.

This Species likewife draws its Head and
Tail occafionally within the Shell, as '^'^ ftg^
10; and then its Shell appears terminated
on its Fore-part by fix fliort Spikes on one
Side of the Rim and two on the other, in-
Head of the four long ones wherewith the
firft Sort is armed : but this does not always
protrude its Head like the other, fo far out
as to cover the Edges of the Shell intirely :
fometimes on the contrary, the Spikes of the
Shell are feen beyond the Head, and the
Fibrillce mentioned in the former Defcrip-
tion appear playing between them, as at fi<^,
7. However the Head very commonly is

as at the Figures 8 and 9.' Thefe are the

chief Particulars wherein this Animal differs
from the former.

As to their Propagation, both Species car-
ry their Tou?ig in oval Saccidi or Integu-
ments, faftened, externally, to the lower Part
of their Shells fomewhere about the Tail:
Thefe Sacculi are fometimes opakc only at
one End, and feemingly empty at the other,
ittfg, 5 : Sometimes the Middle Part ap-
pears opake with a Tranfparency all round,
\)k.^fig. 7; and much Variety of Darknefs
?ind Tranfparency may be diflinguifhed, ac-
cording-

^oo Animalcules with Shells and Wheels.

cording to the different Maturity of the Em-
brios in thefe Bags.

It is highly entertaining to fee a young one
burft its Integuments, and gradually force
its Way through them; in doing which the
Parent is greatly affiftant, for by wagging
her Tail to and fro, and ftriking the Shell,
Skin, or Covering, brifkly therewith, the
young one's Head Part becomes as it were
fqueezed forwards into the Water, tho' the
Tail cannot fo foon be difengaged. In this
Condition the young one fets its Wheels
a-going, and exerts all its Endeavours, 'till
at lafl: it frees itfelf from Confinement, and
fwims away, wagging its Tail as the old one
had done before it, and leaving the Integument
adhering to the Shell of the Parent; who
then ufes abundance of Contrivances and
Efforts to get rid of it, ftriking againft it with
her Tail, fixing the End of her Tail thereto
and darting her Body forwards, with feveral
other very odd Motions not eafy to be de-
fcribed.

A young one almoft difengaged from the
Shell, being faftened thereto only by the
Tail, is niewny%, 9. b. The Subject from
whence this Pidlure was exactly taken, dur-
ino; the Performance of all the Particulars
above defcribcd, had alfo another Rmbrio c
adhering to its Shell.

Thefe Animals have one, two, three, nay
fometimes even four or five of thefe young

ones

Aiihnakuks with Shells and Wheels, 301

ones hanging to them; but they are fre-
quently without any at all, like the Figures
4 and 8.

The third Species of cruftaceous Animals
with Wheels, llicwn^^. 11, 12, 13. is re-
markably different from the former two in
the Shape and Falhion of its Shell, which
extends on either Side a curved or hooked
Procefs, that bending towards the Tail, in-
ward, ends in a iliarp Point, and is within a
fourth as long as the Tail itfelf. — The Head-
Part of the Shell differs alfo from thofe be-
fore defcribed, in the Order and Difpofition
of the Spicidce, of which it has four longer
and two Ihorter ones, placed as in fig, 13.
where by the Body's being contradied and
drawn confiderably within the Shell, as fre-
quently is the Cafe, the Top of the Shell
is perfedly dilHnguifliable, and its Spicules
plainly feen.

The Tail of this Creature has the like
Fii^ure, Articulations and Motions wdth that
of the other Species: and its Body may pro-
perly be divided in the fame Manner as
theirs, though in Shape it appears fomewhat
different through the Shell, which the Draw-
ings exprefs fufficiently without any particu-
lar Defcription.

From its Head two Arms or Branches arc
frequently extended, and the circular End
of each is furnifhed with a Border oi Fiiril-
IcCi feeding at fome times to have a vcrv quick

Vibra-

302 ^he Water 'Flea with brajiched Horns ^

Vibration, and at others a rotatory Motion^
OGcafioning a rapid Current in the Water.

Their Ova are carried at the Tail End>
either faftened to the Tail itfelf, or to the
Procefles of the Shell, as at^. 12. One,
two, or three are the Number ufually hang-
ing to them^ but fome, though very few,
have four or five. The Toung burft their
Integuments, and are hatched very probably
like the Species before defcribed; but hav-
ing never had the Pleafure of feeing them
do fo, I can fay nothing more to this Part
of their Natural Hiftory.

C H A P. IX.

^he Water-Flea "with branched Horns.

True Figure and Defcription of this
little Creature having never yet been
published amongft us, what follows I hope
may prove acceptable.

The Name given it by Swa?nmerdam of
Pidex aquaticus arborefcensy I chufe to retain
here, as expreffing aptly enough its Motions
and Appearance.' — It is found in Refervoirs
of Rain Water, in Bafons, Ponds, Ditches,
^c, where the Water is not often renewed;
and that fometimes in fuch Abundance, as

by

The Water-Vka njultk branched Horns. 303

by its red Colour to nvakc the whole Surface
of the Water appear like Blood \,

This Animal is cruftaceous, being covered
with a thin oval Shell in the manner of a
Lobfter or Cray-Filh, but with this Diffe-
rence, that the Shell being open a good part
of its Length, the Animal can thereby put
out and draw in its Legs and part of the
Body when it pleafcs.

The upper Part of the Shell bears a near
Refemblancc to the Head of a Bird, hav-
ing a iLarp-pointed Procefs very much like
a Beak or Bill, but intirely fixt and immove-
able; and the Eye being placed near there-
to, in a Situation much correfponding with
that of a Bird, adds much to the Refem-
blancc. This Eye feems compofed of feveral
fmall Globules, though not pearled as thole
of Land Infecfts, but all contained in one In-
tegument, wherein they appear to be in f me
Dei^ree moveable. The Animal has two of
thefe Eyes; but as he always lies on one
Side when placed in a Drop of Water to be
examined by the Microfcope, no mjre than
one can then be feen; which induced Mr.
Bradley to imagine it had only one Eye, and
from thence to call it Monocidus-y but who-
ever beholds the monftrous Pidure that

Writer

f Some Swarms of them are red, and others green; but
whether tl>is Difference beo.vingtotheir Food,or fome other
AcciJent, or v hethcr they are of different Species, I am
tiniiblc to determiiie.

304 ^he Water-Flea "with branched Horn's*
Writer has given of this Infedl in his Book
on the Works of Nature^ will be little fur-
prized at any of his other Miftakes.

A little below the Eyes, two Horns, which
are moveable, are joined to the fhelly Head;
their Infertion being in the Manner of Ball
and Socket. Each of thefe Horns comes
out in one fingle Trunk at firft, but divides
foon into a Pair of Branches, each Branch
having three Joynts. A fmall Hair Briftle
grows out from either of the two firft Ar-
ticulations, and three pretty long ones from
the Extremity of the laft.

Juft beneath the Infertion of thefe Horns
a long kind of Gut runs down almoft the
Length of the whole Body, where it joyns
to a Part which in Shape very much re-
fembles the Toe of a Bird, having a large
Glaw or Talon at the End thereof. The
Creature can move this part beyond its Shell
with a great deal of Force, and by that
means, as I apprehend, performs its ipring-
ing or leaping Motion,

IthaseightLegsorFins befides this, which,
when the Creature lyes otherwife ftill, are
neverthelefs in a continual and nimble
Motion, forming a brilk Current of Water,
like that of many other Animals. They are
alfo very ferviceable in fwimming, and af-
fift in its circular Motion, of which I fhall
prefently fpeak.

% Behind

The JVater- Flea ninth branched IIor?:s, 305

Behind the abovementioned Gut, and ns
it were detached from the relt of the Body,
the Heart is placed, and may be f^^tn dilat-
ing and contrafting, alternately, with a \t:rY
regular and diilin6l Syftole and Diaftole.

The lower Part of the Shell terminates
in a long Spike or Tail, which is without
Motion, hut thickly fet with fix Rows of
fliort flrong Spines, making its Appearance
like the prickly Horn or Snout between the
Eyes of Lobflers, Cray Filh, Shrimps, Gfr.

S'lvammerdavi has very judiciouily ob-*
ferved *, (what every body who examines
it carefully will difcover to be true) that this
Animal has three dilterent Kinds of Moti-
on. The firfl: is a fmooth and even fwim-
ming, whereby it carries itfelf horizontally
along in the Water. The fecond is a fud-
den lT<:ipping or leaping, much refembling
that of a Flea. And the third x^, when
lying at the Bottom of the Water, it turns
its whole Body round as it were en a Cen-
ter, with a very brisk Rotation, by means of
its fmall Legs or Fins.

As no Creature lives without its Tormen-
tors, this is very much infelled by the Shelled
JVheel Jinlmal already defcribed Page 2()%y
and ihevv in the Plate with xhhyfg. 7, 8, 9.
Both thefe Infects are in <}:reat Abundance fre-
quently in the lame Water , and when that

X is

Illil. Gen. des Infecle?, p. 69, 7

c.

306 T^he Bell-Flower AnimaL

is the Cafe, 'tis not uncommon to difcover
five or fix of the Shelled Wheel Animals faft-
ened by their Tails to the Shell or Horns of
the Water-Flea, and caufing to it feemingly
a vaft deal of Uneafinefs ; nor can they be
driven av^ay, or fhaken off, by all the Mo-
tions and Efforts the Creature makes ufe of
for that Purpofe.

HAP. X.

^he Bell-Flo'Lver Animal, ov Plumed Polype*

I Was firfl: informed of this Creature by
my indufl:rious Friend Mr. Willia7n Ar-
deron^ towards the End of the Year 1 743, as
liis Letters fhew ; and in the Year 1744, it
was taken notice of by Mr. ^rembley, who
gave it, in his Memoir es, the Name of the
Polype a Pannache, or the Plwned Polype-
My Friend, who difcovered it in his Searches
for the Polype, called it th^ Bell-Flower Ani-*
mah, and after favouring me with his own
Obfervations, fent me fome of the Creatures
themfelves, which living with me feveral
Months, I had fufficient Time and Oppor-
tunity to examine and confider them. And
as therp feems fome little Difference be-
tween thofe in my keeping, and what Mr.
T^rembley defcribes, they may poffibly be of
another Species, tho' of the fame Genus.

This

The BcIlFhii'cr AiiimaL ^^07

This is one of the many Kinds of Water
Animals which Uve as it were in Societies ;
of which fome Sorts hang together in Cluf-
ters, but can detach themfelves at Pleaiure ;
whilft others again arc fo intimately joyned
and connevfled together, that no one feems
capable of moving or changing Place with-
out affecfling the Quiet and Situation of all
the reft. But this Creature forms as it were
an intermediate Gradation between the other
two, dwelling in the fame gemral Habita-
tion with others of its own Species, from
whence it cannot intirely feparate itfelf ; and
yet t her em it appears perfedlly at Liberty to
exert its own voluntary Motions, and caa
either retire into the common Receptacle,
or pufh itfelf out from thence and expand
its curious Members, without interfering
with or difturbing its Companions.

They dwell together, from the Number
of ten to fifteen, (feldcm exceeding the lat^
ter or falling fliort of the former Number)
in a filmy Kind of mucilagenous or gelati-
nous Cafe ; which out of the Water has no
determined Form, appearing like a little
Lump of Slime, but when expanded therein,
refembles nearly the Figure of a Bell with
the Mouth upwards ; and is ufually about
the Length of half an Inch, and one Q}.iar* ♦

ter of an Inch in Breadth or Diameter. This
Cafe being very tranfparent, all the Motions
01 its Inhabitants may be difcerned through

X 2 it

308 "The BeH'Flowcr AnimaL

it diftindlly. It leems divided, internally^
into feveral Apartments, or rather to contain
feveral fmaller Sacculi, each of which in-
clofes one of thefe Animals. The Openings
at the Tops of thofe Sacculi are but juft fuffi-
cient to admit the Creature's Head, and a very
fmail Part of its Body, to be thiaift out, be-
yond them, the reft remaining always in the
Cafe. The Animal can however when it
pleafes draw itfelf intirely down within the
Cafe, which is an Afylum to fecure it from
its Enemies, (for 'tis not unlikely many of
the larger aquatic Infeds prey upon it) and
a fafe and agreeable Retirement wherein to
perform the Funffions of Digeftion, Sleep,
and the other neceffary Calls of Nature. This
Cafe it can> I fay, retire into at Pleafure; and
it never fails to do fo when any iudden Mo-
tion of the Water, or of the VefTel it is in
difturbs it : as alfo when it has feized with
its Arms any of the minute Infeds which
ferve for its Food.

The Arms are fet round the Flead to the
Number of forty, having each the Figure
of a long /^ one of whofe hooked Ends is
faftened to the Flead \ and all together when
expanded compofe a Figure fomew^hat of a
Horfe-Jhoe Shape, convex on the Side next
the Body, but gradually opening and turning
outwards, (fee Jig, 19 and 20. Platelill.)
fo as to leave a confiderable Area within the
outer Extremities of the Arms. And when

thus

T^he Bell-rioiicr Animal. 309

thus extended, by giving them a vibrating
Motion, the Creature can produce a Current
in the Water, which brini'^s the Animalcules,
or whatever other minute Bodies are not be-
yond the Sphere of its Adtion, with great
Velocity to its Mouth, whofc Situation is be-
tween the Arms : where they are taken in,
if Hked, or elfe by a contrary Current,
which the Creature can exxite, they are car-
ried away again : vvhilft at the fame time
other minute Animalcules or Subftances,
that by lying without fids the Inclofure
made by the Arms are lefs fubjech to the
Force of the Stream, are frequently feized
by them : for their Senfe of Feeling is fo
exquillte, that on being touched ever fo
flightly by any fuch little Body, it is caught
immediately and conveyed to the Mouth,
However, one may obferve the Creature is
fometimes diiappointed in its Acquifition :
for after drawing down one of the Arms
fuddenly inwards towards the Mouth, it may
be perceived flowly extending itfelf again,
without the Creature's retiring into its Cafe;
which it fails not to do on meeting with any
thing worth its while.

The Food is conveyed immediately from
the Mouth or Opening between the Arms,
through a very narrow Neck, into a Palfage
feemingly correfpondent to the Oefophagus
in Land Animals ; down which it paffes into
the Stomach, where it remains for fome

X 3 Time,

3 1 o The Bell-Flower Animal.

Time, and then is voided upwards, in fmalf
round Pellets, (which at firft 1 imagined to
be Its Eggs) through a Gut, whofe Exit is
near the Neck, where it was firft taken in.

The Body of this Animal confifts of three
Parts or Divifions, in the uppermoft whereof
all the aforementioned Inteftines are con-
tained, though they are not to be diftinguifh-
ed when the Creature is hungry ; but after
it has eaten they become diftended and o-
pake, and may very plainly be difcovered.
The other two Divifions (the lowermoft of
which I take to be fixed to the Bell or out'
ward Cafe) feem of no other Service than to
give the Creature Power of Contraction and
Extenfion.

The Arms feem not able like thofe of
the common Polype to contracft or fhorten
themfelves ; but inftead thereof, when the
Animal retires into his Cafe, they are
brought together in a clofe and curious Or-
der, fo as eafily to be drawn in. Their gene-
ral Figure when expanded is that of a Cup,
whofe Bafe and Top are of an Horfe-fioe
Form y but they prefent fometimes a very
different Appearance, by feparating into four
Parts, and ranging themfelves in fuch Sort
as to reprefent four feparate Plumes of Fea-
thers.— 'See Jig, 22.

I could never difcover any Eyes they
have, and yet find fome Reafon to believe
they fee : tor on being fet in the Light of the

T^he Bell-Floivcr Animal, 311

Sun, or a Candle, or brought out of the Dark
into the Day-hght, though contraifled before
and retired into the Bell, (as indeed they ge-
nerally are when in the Dark) they conllant-
ly extend their Arms for Prey, and fhew
evident Signs of being pleafed.

Bsfides the particular and feparate Motion
each of thcfe Creatures is able to exert with-
in its own Cafe and independent of the reft,
the whole Colony has together a Power of al-
tering the Polition, or even of removing
from one Place to another the Bell or com-
mon Habitation of them all. Hence this
Bell isfeems fometimes {landing perfedtly up-
right, (as/^. 15 and 17.) fometimes bending
the upper Part downwards (as/^. 16.)

It has been mentioned already, that be-
tween ten and fifteen of thefe Animals dwell
together, as it were a little Community, in
one Bell-like Cafe or common Habitation :
but their Number increafing, this Bell niay
be obferved to fplit gradually, beginning
from about the Middle of the upper or an-
terior Extremity, and proceeding downward
towards the Bottom, till they feparate at
lad intirely, and form two compleat Colo-
nies, independent of each other 3 one of
which fometimes removes itfelf to another
Part of the Veflel. The Manner how the
fingle Animals propagate I have never been?
able perfedly to difcover, though there is
fome Reafon to conjedlure it may be by the

X 4 Means-

312 T^he Bell-Flower Animal,

Means of Eggs; as fmall opake Bodies of a
constant and determinate Figure are fome-
times feen lying in their Bells: and unlefs
they are Eggs I know not what to make of
them. Their Shape is nearly that of a
Weaver's Shuttle, being compofed of two
circular Arcs, whofe concave Parts are to-
wards each other. The Breadth is about
two Thirds of the Length, and in the Mid-
dle of each a circular Spot appears more
opake than the reft, which poflibly may be
the Embrio. But as I never faw any of
them come to Perfedlion, I can make no far-^
ther Tudp-ment of them than what their Si-
tuation and Form fuggefts. They are re-
prefentedj%. 15. a.

The Bells, or Colonies of thefe Animals,
are to be found adhering to the large Leaves
of Duckweed and other Water Plants ; and
may eafieft be difcovered, by letting a Quan-
tity of Water, with Duckweed in it, fland
quietly for three or four Hours m Glafs
VeiXels, in fome Window, or other Place
where a ftrong Light comes : for then, if any
are about the Duckweed^ they will be found,
on careful Infped:ion, extending themfelves
out of tlieir Cafes, fpreading their Plumes,,
gnd making an elegant Appearance.

They are extremely tender^ and require
no little Care to'preferve them : their mofl
general Diforder is a Kind of Slirne or ra-
ider Mouldinefs^, which will fometimes en-

velopCj,

The Bell-Flo'iver Animal,

To

velopc them in fuch a Manner as to prove
mortal. The heft Way of curing this is,
by gently pouring a large Quantity of Water
(perhaps two or three Quarts) into the
Vellel where they are kept, and letting it
run off llowly : by which Means the Sliminefs
will gradually be loofcncd and carried away
with the Water.

As to Food, if frefli Water be given them
daily, they will find fufficient for themfelves ;
and it is dangerous to try any other Way
of feeding them, for the fmalleft Worms, or
other vifible Infedls one can think of giving
them, will tear their delicate Frame in Pieces.

Fig. 15. reprefents one compleat Colony
or Bell, /landing eredl, with all the Ani-
mals out of their Cafes, and their Arms ex-
tended for Prey ; exhibiting all together a
very pretty Appearance. Here a fhews the
opake Bodies iuppofed to be Eggs.

Fig, 16. fhews all the Creatures with-
drawn into their Cells, and the End of the
Bell inclining downw^ards.

Fig, ij» the Bell credl, with only one of
the Animals coming out, in order to fliew
its connexion with the Bell.

Fig, 18. reprefents a Colony dividing.

Fig. 19. one compleat Animal, greatly
magnified, to fliew its feveral Parts more
diftindly. Viz.

dy the Horle-lLoe-figured Head.
^, b^ the Arms feen from one Side.

Ly the

^14 7he Satyr]

Cy the narrow Neck.

dy the Oefophagus.

€i the Stomach.

fy the Gut or laft Intefllne, through
"which the Food paffes, after being digefted
in the Stomach.

gy the Anus, where the Faeces are dis-
charged in Httle Pellets.

hy /, that Part of the Bell which fur-
rounds the Body of the Animal, and clofeS
upon it when it retires down.
■ Fig, 20. The Head and Arms i'^tn \\\
Front.

Fig, 2 1 . The Head and Arms clofing to-
gether, and difpofing themfelves in order to
be drawn down into the Bell.

Fig. 22. The Arms arranged in a Fea-
ther-like Appearance.

CHAP. XI.
"The SATYR.

T Frequently have taken notice^ in feveral
__ Infuiions of Vegetables, of a little cruf-
taceous Animalcule, whofe Picture is given
fig. 25th of this fame Plate XIL The Shell
of this Creature is fo exceedingly tranfpa-
rent, that unlefs great Attention be givert
it cannot be difcerned at alL It feems to
cover the Back only of the Animal ; its Bel-

The Satyr. -j \ ^

ly, and under Parts, appearing to have no
Shell. The Middle of the Body, containing
the Bowels, (vvhofe pcriftaltic Motion may
be dilcerned) is fomewhat opake, and in
the Shape of a Botdc with the Mouth down-
wards; the Sides are tranfparent, and fhew
many Veflels running through them. Four
Legs, or Fins, divided near half their Length,
and ferving either to walk or fwim, illue
from the opake Part, and reach beyond the
Edges of the Shell: and two thicker and
fhorter Limbs, pointing diredlly forwards,
each of them armed with a fharp Claw, are
placed at the Head-End, and probably are
the Inftruments wherewith it takes its Prey.
On each Side of the narrow Part of the
opake Body, at fome little Diftance there^
from, one fees a round black Spot, the Ufe
whereof I don't pretend to guefs. — This Ani-
mal is brifk and vigorous, fwimming fomc-
times with great Swiitnefs through the Wa-
ter, at other Times it creeps along at the
Bottom of the Drop, and now rnd then Ikips
nimbly like a Fha. It often fliews itfeli in
Profil, as reprefented^. 23.

Moniieur yoblot (whole Imagination has
frequently exaggerated the Figures of Ani-
malcules to be iound in Water,) tells us, that
he once difcovered, in an Infufion of the
Ajiemonyy an Animalcule having on its Back
a Malic or exad: Reprelentation of a Salyrs
Face-) and he gives a ridure fuitable to that

Idea.

316 Aquatic Animals.

Idea. Butj making a confiderable Allowance
for the Fruitfulnefs of his or his Painter's
Fancy, I think it not unhkcly, that the Sub-
jedl we are treating of might have been the
little Animal he faw : for the two black
Spots, with the Part of the Bowels that comes
between them, have fome Relemblance of
a Nofe and Eyes; the two Points, which
terminate the Shell at the Tail-End, appear
fomething like a piqued Beard; the Dif-
tance between may pafs for a Month, and
the Whole put together, might by a true
Lover of the Wonderfuk be worked up to
the extravagant Likenefs of a Satyr ^ Face^ — •
But this is mentioned only by the by, and
as a Reafon why I give it the Name of l^a^
tyr.

CHAP. XII.

Three aquatic Animals defcribed.

ry^OWARDS the End of September, in
\^ the Year 1743, fome Water taken
from a Ditch at I'ooting in Surry, (wherein
many Polypes of an exceeding fmall Kind
had been difcovered, by my worthy, inqui-
fitive, and obliging Friend the Rev. Dr. Hen^
rj/ Miles., F. R. S.) was fent to me in a PhiaU
in order to be examined. And whilft I was
viewing the Polypes witli the Micrafcope, I

had

Aquatic Animals, 517

had the Plcafure of finding three different
minute aquatic Animals, which I had never
before obferved.

The lirftof thefe feemed to the naked Eye
hke a very fmall and flender Worm, of a-
bout one Third of an Inch in Length : but
the Microfcope foon fliewed its real Form
and the Singularity of its feveral Parts, in
the Manner they are reprefented Plate XII.

From the Fore-part of the Head of this
Animal a long Probofcis, Horn^ or Snout was
extended, moving itfelf every Way with
great Readlnefs, and iffuing from that Part
of the Head where the Mouth fliould be;
which anterior Part changed its Appear-
ance accordine to the Motions of the Inilru-
ment, fometimes extending itfelf and becom-
ing more flender, and at other times fhorten-
ing itfelf and growing thicker. About the
Plead it had fomewhat of a yellowifh Colour,
but all the rell: of it was throughout per-
fectly colourlefs and tranfparent, except the
Inteflines, which were confiderably opake,
and difpofed as in the Pidure. h\ them al-
fo a periilaltic or internal Motion was di-
ftincl:ly vifible. Along its Sides were feveral
Papilla with long Hairs growing from them r
its Tail ended very bluntly : it had two black
Eyes, and was extremely nimble.

I found only this fingle Animal of its
Kind, fiom which I drew up the above Re-
marks

318 Aquatic Animals.

marks at the Time of viewing it, when its
Figure was likewife carefully taken \ but
foon after I had the Favour of a better Ac-
count in a Letter from Dr. Miles^ who had
Plenty of them under his Infpedtion: and
this I fhall lay before the Reader in the
Doctor's own Words.

' '* The Worm found in the Water in which
'* I met with the Polypes in this Neighbour-
** hood is of various Sizes, from about /^ofan
*' Inch to half an Inch, and about the Thick-
*' nefs of the Worms we feed the Polypes
*' with. It is traniparent, excepting in the
** Middle where the Gut runs, which the
*^ Fsces make look of a dirty Colour, but it
** has no Rednefs as the Worms have, and
^* for that reafon might be reckoned a-
mongil the Infedls which fome have
erroneoufly called exanguiousy fince our
Eyes, affifted by Glaffes, ihew them to
have Blood : as I fhall prefently tell you
*^ this has.

" The Form of it (when magnified 1
mean) refemhles in many Particulars fome
of our Caterpillars that feed on Vegeta-
bles. It is infecSted as they are, and it is
hairy : here and there a little Tuft of
Hairs, and in other Places a fingle Hair
regularly growing out of the Sides, as I
have attempted to reprefent in the Fi-
gure. I faw the periftaltic Motion of
" the Gut, and once faw it exclude Faeces,

*' three

<c
ce
<c
ft
«<

€i

<C

Aquatic Anhnah, ^ i a

three or four Cluflers together, which re-
femblcd exadlly thofe of our common
Caterpillars, or of the Silk-worm Cater-
*' pillar. But the moft remarkable thing
** in this Creature is a kind oi Horn or Feeler
" which it feems to carry in its Mouth, and
'' may be juft feen by the naked Eye if
" your Water be clear. 'Tis in the larger
*' ones about /-^ Inch long. This (I know
*' not what to call it) it waves to and again
** as it moves in the Water, or when it
creeps up the Side of the Glafs ; which
it does fomewhat like a young Leech, but
without contradiing its Body fo much, and
rather in the Manner that Caterpillars do.
*' I have not been able to learn, though
" I have viewed it a long Time together,
*' whether it gets any Food with this Horn,
" nor can I find whether it be hollow^: but
** I am certain 'tis not pointed, but rather
** blunt: nor have I ever feen it contracted
** any thing confidcrably. — I mult not omit
" to tell you, that 'tis a very tender Crea-
*' ture ', for in taking up the firft I viewed
*' with a Qmll, as we do the Polypes^ by the
*^ Side of the Glafs, I injured it fo much,
** that it was nearly cut in two, and its
Horn came oit, after it had been a little
while in the Drop of Water upon the
Slip of Glafs. I was glad of this laft Ac-
** cident, as it gave me an Opportunity of
'* obferving the Horn or Feeler in a better

^' Manner

320 Aquatic Animals.

*^ Manner than I could otherwife have done ;
** for hereby it appeared tome to have grov^n
** into the Fore-part of the Head or Mouth,
1^ and to have been placed (as fome Bones
<« are) in a Socket, the End next the Head
** feeming claviculated or clubbed, and con-
** iiderably bigger than the other : the Head
*« alfo in the Place where this Horn had
** been infer ted v^as left with a Hollow fuit-
*^ able to fuch Articulation. I am doubt-
*•* ful whether the Creature can contradt this
^^ Horn or not, nor can I t^ll w^hether there
** be any Communication between it and
«' the Entrails. I took Notice that in or-
^^ der to wave it about confiderably it con-
" traded its Head a little, as if to hold it
** fafter and have more command of it ,• and
^^ indeed the Head refembles a Sort of For-
" ceps grafping this Feeler at the thick
« End.

" The faid Horn or Feeler has no-
** thing remarkable in its Texture, but ap-
pears fmooth and tranfparent, without
any of the Afperities that we find on the
** Arms of the Polype, I fhall only add,
*^ that the Gut runs vifible from the Head
" to about ^^ of an Inch of the Tail, where
it ends infenfibly, for without a good
Magnifier you cannot difcern its JEW, but
it feems to be refolved into the Body of
the Worm. The Tip of the Tail is very
tranfparent, and there I faw with great

** Delight

Aquatic Animals, -^21

Delight the Circulation of the Blood in
the Middle, running to the Gut, as it
feemed, and lofing itfelf thereat, by reafon
of its Opacity. — ^cercjida. What is
'' the Ufe of this Horn or Feeler? What
** Food does the Creature eat? One would
** think nothing taken in by the Horn, if it
** be hollow^ becaufe the Faeces are fo grofs:
** if not, how does it take its Food? And
*' what is it in its mature State ?"

The fecond Sort of Animal I difcovered
in this Water was about a Line in Length,
having a large Head, with two black Eyes in
Sockets confiderably projedling, and pretty
long Antenna. Its Head, Body and Tail,
were divided like thofe of the Bee or Wafp
Kind : from the End of the Tail iffued three
long Branches befet with Hairs, and each ap-
peared fomew^hat like the Stem of a Pea-
cock's Feather: they could feparate more
or lefs, be brought together, or move in any
Direction that fuited the Conveniency of the
Creature. It had fix Legs, Vv^hich ferved
either to fwim or creep, with Claws at the
End of each. The He-ad, Body and Tail
were covered all over with a Sort of Hair
or Down, and under the Tail v/ere a Couple
of moving Parts like Fins, wherewith it
feemed to guide its Courfe in fwimming. It
was extremely agile.

Flate XIV. N» 7. A. reprefents this
Animal as viewed by the Microfcope,

Y The

322 Globe Anhnal.

The Tail Part more enlarged, with \it
under Side turned upwards to £hew the Fins,
and its three Branches difplayed, is fhewn at
the Letter B.

The third Sort of Animal, whofe Figure
may be feen in the fame Plate at M, had an
odd Head, flattifh before, v/ithout any Ap-
pearance of Eyes : a Body fomev/hat opake,
and a Tail that could divide occafionally.
From about the Middle of the Body a very
thin Membrane was extended, on each Side,
as low as the upper Fart of the Cleft in the
Tail; this was moveable, very tranfparent,
and ferved as a Fin in fwimming. It was
very minute, and fwam along with a diredl
progreffive Motion, very fmooth and regu-
lar, but not fafl. Sometimes it would change
its Figure, and appear fomewhat crooked and
triangular, in the Manner ihewn at N.

CHAP. XIII.

m

I'be Globe Animal.

IN the Month oi July 1745, three Phials
fu"!! of Water were fent to me from
Tarmouthy by Mr. Jofeph Greenleafe^ having
in them feveral Kinds of Animalcules un-
known to me before. Some of the larger
Kinds died in their Paflage, occafioned I
fuppofe by the Jolts they received, and a

Deficiency

Globe Ani7?iaL 323

Deficiency of Air; the Phials bting corked
clofc, and too full ol: Water to leave them
Air enough for Refpiration. One kindj how-
ever, fuiFered very little, but v/hen examin-
ed by the Microfcope was perfectly alive
and vigorous, and fo numerous in one of
the Phials, that the Water might be perceiv-
ed to fwaim with them, though their bize
was much too fmall for the naked Eye to
dillinguilli otherwife than as moving Points.
They all died with me in two or three Days,
but in that Time I had Opportunities enough
to examine them, very carefully, and take a
Drawing of them. My Friend Mr. Arderon
oi Norivxh fent me alfo, towards the End of
the fame Summer, fome little Account with
a Drawling of the fame Animalcule, of which
he had accidentally difcovered a fingle one
in a Drop of Water.

Fig. 27. reprefents this very fingular mi-
nute Water Animal, as it is k^w before the
Microfcope. Its Form feems exa<flly globu-
lar, having no Appearance of either Head,
Tail or Fins. It moves in all Directions,
forwards or backwards, up or down, either
rolling over and over like a Bowl, fpinning
liorizontally like a Top, or gliding along
fmoothly without turning itfelf at all. Some-
times its Motions are fiovv^ at other Times
very fwift: and when it pleafes, it can turn
round (as it were upon an Axis) verv nimbly,
without removing out of its Place. Its

y 2 whole

324 Eggs of thefmali Frejh - Water Snml,

whole Body is tranfparent, except where
the circular black Spots are fhewn in the
Pidture^ of which Spots fome had fix or
feven, fome one, two, three, four or five, and
others none at all. Thefe probably are its
Eggs or young ones : but the fliort Time
they were with me, prevented my coming
to a Certainty as to this Particular. The
Surface of the whole Body appeared in fome
as if all over dotted with little Points, and
in others as if granulated like Shagreen : but
their more general Appearance v/as, as if
befet thinly round with fhort moveable Hairs
or Briftles , and 'tis not improbable all
their Motions may be produced by fome
fuch Infliruments, performing the Office of
Fins.

CHAP. XIV,

Eggs of the fmall Frejlj- Wafer E?iail^ and
Animalcules adhering to them.

■^HE Group of Figures, Plate XIII.

N* I. A. reprefents the magnified

Appearance of a Congeries of the Spawn or
Eggs laid by a Water Snail : which Con-
geries of Eggs, as feen by the naked Eye, is
fhewn at the Letter B.

The Parent Snail is exhibited of its natural
BignefsC i; its Back upwards toward the Eye,

and

^ E/y-/vr

J. ^\fj/n^ tfci/fjtf .

J^^Ji'-h^rddm.

J.JifT/ride tfca/jif.

and Animalcules adbtTing to them. 325

and its Body extended beyond the Shell, In
the Acftion of creeping from Place to Place.

The fmall Snail is turned upon its Back
C 2; that the true Form and Opening of
the Shell may the better be underflood.

I have frequently kept Numbers of thefe
Snails, for many Months together, in a large
Glafs Jar, with Polypes and other Water
Animals: and 'tis very common for them to
fallen their Spawn, in little Malies, againft
the Sides of the Glafs, where the Eggs
hatch in about three Weeks or a Months
Time.

The Spawn, when firll: depoiited, ap-
pears to the naked Eye like a tranfparent
Jelly; but if examined by the Microfcope,
one fees in it Numbers of fmall and ex-
ceedingly pellucid oval Bodies, at little Dif-
tances from one another, enveloped in a ge-
latinous Subftance ; having each of them
towards one of its Extremities a very mi-
nute dark Speck, wherein, if carefully exli-
mined by the greatefl Magnifier, a Pulfation
may be difcerned.

This Speck will be found to grow larger
from Day to Day, and to become a perfect
Snail, with its Shell ccmpleat, feveral Days
before it burfts through its Integuments.
When the Eggs are about a Week old, the
E^nbrio S7iaU may be difcerned in its true
Shape, turning itfelf very frequently within
the fine Fluid in which it lie? : and the Heart

Y3 i.

326 Eggs ofthefmallFrefb^TVater Snaih
is then a mofl agreeable and amazing Speda^
de, fliewing itfelf very diftindtly, and re-
fembling a little oblong Bladder, much lefs
at one End than the other: the Sulfation
prpceeds under the Eye with great Exad:nefs
and Regularity, and the Syflole and Diaftole
of this Veflel are nearly equal to thofe of
the human Heart, fornewhat more than Six-
ty Fulfations being performed in a Minute,
as I have found by feveral Trials, keeping
my Finger at the fame Time on my own
Pulfe, which ufually beats two or three
Strokes more. The Heart is larp-e in Pro-
portion, and may be always feen, until the
Animal increaiing in Bulk and becoming
confequently mor"e opake, in fome Pofitions
it hardly can be perceived : but as the Ani-
mal frequently' turns itfelf within the Egg,
a little Patience will brin? the Heart in full

o

View again; and that as long as the Embrio
continues within the Egg. Nay, even after
it is hatched, the Heart may be difcovered
for fome days through the tranfparent
Shell f.

The general Plan of Nature Is fo uniform,
in the Producftion of living Animals, though
with fome little Variations as to the Man-
ner of its Execution, that from what we are
^ble to difcover in the very tranfparent Eggs

of

t The fame Progreffion I have been defcribing, was ob-
ferved at Norwich, by Mr. Arderon, in the Cornu Aminonh
River SnaiL

and Animalcules adhering to them, 327

of this little Creature, fome reafonablc Con-
jedure may be formed of what happens in
thofe of much larger Kinds.

According to the ufual Order of Nature,
every Kmbrio of an Animal is lodged for a
Time within the Uterus of the Parent, in-
clofed in a Cafe or Eee, whofe outer Coat is
either hard and Ihclly, or tough and mem-
branaceous, affording a proper Bed and Co-
vering to preferve it from external Injury,

In Animals that are oviparous, this Egg
is excluded out of the Body of the Parent,
fome confiderable Time before the Embrio
has attained a Size and Strength fufPicient to
endure being expofed to the ppen Air with-
out Prejudice: during which Time, it takes
in Nouriffiment:, and its Limbs acquire a
continual Growth, from proper Juices in
which it floats, and wherewith the Egg is
replete. For the Egg, between the Time of
its beino: laid, and that of its hatching, can
receive no other Benefit from the Parent,
than what the natural Heat of her Body can
afford it: And Experience teaches that the
like Degree of iTeat, fupplyed by any other
Means, with the fame Conftancy, will be cf
equal Service ];.

On the coiitrary, in 'viviparous Jlnimah^
the Egg is retained in the Uterus of the P/-

Y 4 rent,,

\ In the Eegs of numberlefs Specie?, which flicw 'no
Concern for them after they are once laid, no more Heat at
all is neceflary, than what is common to the Air or Water
in which thty are ^X].( led-

jsS Conjiderations on ovtparous

rent, till the Embrio having attained a cer-
tain State of Maturity, endures Confinement
no longer, burfts open the Integument, Cafe,
or Shell that inclofed it, and iffues there-
with from the Body of the Parent : until
which Time the Embrio receives its Nourifh^
ment from the Blood and Juices of the Pa-
rent, which are conveyed into the Body of
the Embrioy by certain Vefiels of the Parent
that inofculate with correfpondent Veffels of
the Embrio, and at the Birth become fepa-
rated therefrom.

Flence it appears probable, that the origi-
nal Principle of Life, the gradual Expanfion
and unfolding of the Members, and the
Progreffion towards Maturity and Birth, are
nearly the fame, whether the Embrio be
hatched within the Body or without the Bo-
dy of its Parent; which feems to be the
chief Difference between viviparous and ovi-
parous Produdlion, But to proceed.

For fome Days after the Water Snail hag
laid its tranfparent Egg, the Microfcopic
Speck of Life, wherein the tender Limbs and
Rudiments of the Animal are mofl wonder-
fully folded up and contained, has no other
Appearance of Life than only a languid
Pidfation, but juft difcernable by the befl
Glaffes and the mofl curious Eye. As this
Speck increafes in Bignefs, it exhibits, gra-
dually, the Figure of a minute Snail, and
acquires an Ability of moving itfelf very

ilowly.

and viviparous Produclion, 329

llowly. After this, its Size and Motion be-
comes every Day more conrpicuous, its Ipi-
ral Revolutions (hew themfelves more di-
ftindly, its Form becomes more perfcc^l:, a
Shell, nnconceivably delicate, is produced
over its tender Body: it now occupies a con-
fiderablc Part of the Egg, turns itielf vigo-
roufly, and even creeps within it, and in due
Time breaks it, and ifiues forth.

'Tis not unlikely this is Nature's conflant
and regjLilar Courfe in the Produdtion of all
Creatures that are oviparous; and that flie
proceeds nearly in the fame Manner to pro-
m.ote the Grov^'th and Bii th of the Embrio
in the Human Race, as well as in all other
Creatures that we term viviparous, feem.s to
me no lefs probable.

After this Di^rellion, which I was infen-
fibly led into, I return to take notice, that
the Eggs which the Drawing exhibits were
about a Fortnight old ; at which Time the
young Snails were of fuch Size, in propor-
tion to the whole Room contained within
the Eggs, as thofe marked c, c, Cy may pret-
ty nearly fliew.

The other aquatic Animalcules reprefent-
ed as hanging about this Parcel of Eggs, are
no other than what were really found adher-
ing to it when it was viewed by the Micro-
fcope: and they were exadlily iituated as in
the Pidlure, which was t;^ken without the
lead: Exaggeration* Their extreme Mniute-

2 nefs

33^ Bell" Animals.

nefs rendered them abfolutely invilible to the
Eye, for which reafon no Attempt is made to
feew them at the Figure B.

A little Colony of Bell-Animals appear at
d: their long Tails arefaflenedto thegelati-
joous Subftance wherein the Eggs are laid 5
they ftretch themfelves out, and play vigo-
roufly in the Water; numberlefs Fibrill^
round the Mouth of each Bell agitating the
Water to a coniiderable Diftance.

More of the fame Bell- Animals are feen
at ey curling their Tails, in the Manner of a
Screw, and pulling themfelves back with a
fudden Jerk, as they conftantly do when dif-
compofed by any thing. But when all h
quiet, they llowly extend again in the Wa-
ter, as far as their Tails permit. Thefe

Bell- Animals are found very frequently ad-
hering to little Bits of Stick, Leaves, Stones,
or other Matter that have lain fome Time in
flagnant Water, either in the Ditches abroad,
or in Glaffes kept in the Ploufe with Infufions
or Water-Animals : and their Motions are
very entertaining^. Many of them are
fometimes i^tn adhering by their Tails to.
one another.

On both Sides this Parcel of Snail's Eggs
are {hewn, in different Attitudes, feveral lit-
tle Creatures, of a Kind which I have been
ufed to call the Funnel- AnimaL They faften
by their Tails to whatever comes in their

Way,

* Vid. Microfcope made eafy, p. 91.

Fu find- Animals, ^ ^ i

Way, and then opening their anterior End,
exhibit a wide Mouth lomevvhat of a Funnel
Form, though not compleatly round, but
having a Sort of SHt or Gap that interrupts
the Circle. The Lips or Edges of this Open-
ing arc furnilhed with Muhitudes of little
Fibrillin, which by their brisk and continual
Motions excite a Current of Water, bring-
ing with it abundance of minute Particles of
Matter and living Animalcules, which they
fwallow greedily. -^One of them in the Pof-
ture above defcribed may be feen at the Let^

tery.'. They can fafnion this Mouth or

Opening into the feveral Appearances fliewn
in the Picture.

If any thing touches or approaches very
near them, they flirink back and contradt,
as at the Letter p-.

Thefe F unn el- Animals never keep toge-
ther in CI afters, but live feparately and in-
dependent of one another, fwimming freely
through the Water, feemingly in fearch of
Prey, and after a while fix themfelves to
^ny thing they meet with.

Mr. De Keaumur and Mr. Trembley dif-
tinguifli the little Creatures I have been de-
fcribing by the Name of* Tunnel- like Polypi^
and the lail mentioned Gentleman, tQ whofe

inde-»

• I have not the leaft Objeflion to this Name, though I
here retain what I had given them myfelf long before cither
of thefe Gentlemen had publifhed theirs : and I am pleafed
tQ find our Ideas of this Creature fo near alike.

3 3 2 Funnel" Animals,

indefatigable Induftry we are fo greatly o-
bliged for many curious Difcoveries of fe-
veral Kinds of what he calls Polypiy has, by
the Help of an ingenious -f- Contrivance to
fix the Magnifiers of his Microfcope clofe
to the Glafs VelTels where he keeps thefe
Creatures, found Means to obferve the very
extraordinary Manner of their Increafe ;
which I fhall take the Liberty to prefent the
Reader, from the Account given by himfelf
to the Royal Society, and printed in the Phi-
lofophical Tranfaciions, "W 474.

Thefe funnel-like Polypi do alfo mul-
tiply by dividing themfelves into two, but
they divide themfelves otherwife than the
ChifteringPolypi : they neither divide lon-
gitudinally, nor traniVerfly, but (loping
** and diagonal- wife. Of two T^unnel-like
^* Polypi, juft produced by the Divifion of
" one, tbe firft has the old Head, and a new
•^^ pofterior End ; and the other the old po-
*' fterior End, with a new Head.

" I fhall call that which has the old Head,
** Superior Polypus ; and that which has
** the new Head, the Inferior one.

'* The firft Particulars obfervable in a
'* funnel-like Polypus that is going to divide,
*'^ are the Lips of the InferiorPolypus ; I mean
^'' thofe tranfparent Edges that are fo con-

" fpicuous

t ADefcriptionof the Apparatus here referred to, is given
by Mr. Trembhy, W 484. of the PhiL Tranf. and a Figure
explanatory of the fame may be feen Tab. L^. 4. belong-
i'cp to that Tranjh^ion.

Funnel- Ayiimah . j ^ 3

fpicuous in the Polypi when entirely
" formed. Thefe new Lips firfl: difcover
themfclvcs upon the Polypus that is go-
ing to divide, from a httlc below the old
Lips, to about two thirds of the Length
of the Polypus, reckoning from the Head :
but thefe new Lips are not difpofed in a
ftrait Line, according to the Length of
" the Polypusy but run floping near half
** way round about. Thefe Lips are known
by the Motion in them, but which Motion
is at firil: very flow. That Portion of the
Body of the Polypus, that is bounded
by thefe new Lips, then gathers up it-
felf : the new Lips infenfibly draw toge-
ther and clofe ; whereby there forms
itfelf, at the Side of the Pip/K/'^/j', a Swell-
*' ing, that is foon found to be the Head
** of the new one, bounded bv the new
Lips firfl difcovered. Before this Swell-
ing is grown very remarkable, one begins
to diftinguifh the tw^o Polypi which are
** forming themfelves; and when that Swell-
ing is confiderably increafed, the two Po-
lypi will be difcovered, no longer joined
but by a fmall Portion to each other. The
Superior Polypus no longer adheres to the
Inferior one, but by its pojfterior Extremi-
ty, which is ftiil fixed on one Side of the
Inferior Polypus : the Superior Polypus
then begins to make Motions that feem-

«c

<(

li

iC

i(
t(
if

€(

iC

i(

(6

tc

<(
<(

u

ingly tend to the feparating of him from

'' the

334 Of Clujlering Polypes.

*' the other; and in a little time he become.s
** quite detached, fwims away, and fixes
'" himfelfelfe where. — I have feen one com«
■*^ arid fix at the Side of the Injmor Polypus^
^^ from which he was jufl before feparated.
*' The Inferior Polypus remains fixed in the
" fame Place, where the Polypus was, that
" is now divided, and of which he was only
^^ the half, before the Divifion took place/*
The little oval Bodies at hy were invelop-
=ed in the flimy Matter of the SnaiFs Eggs :
they appeared fomewhat opake, but without
Motion, and were probably the Aurelicc of
fome Water Infecls.

CHAP. XV.

(y Clustering Polypes.

E F O R E the Reader enters on this
Chapter, let me advife him to caft his
Eye with a little Attention on Plate XIII.
N^ 4, 6, 10 and 1 3, which will prepare him
to underftand more perfedily the Account
of what are here termed the Clujlering Po-
lypesy a Name I call thefe little Creatures by,
in Conformity to Mr. De Reaw?iur and Mr.
Trembley^ who have given that Appellation to
all the different Kinds of Animalcules that
are found hanging together in the Water,
after the like Manner.

During

Of Clufierlng Polypen. yy^

During all the Spring and Summer Sea-
Ions, but efpecially in the Months of yipril
and Mayi great Abundance of thefe, of dif-
ferent Species, are to be found on the Shells
or Eggs of Water Snails, on the Leaves of
Duckweed and other Water-Plants, on little
floating Sticks, Straws, or whatever elfe lie
upon or near the Surface of flagnant Ditches
or Ponds, for they don't chufe to be at any
great Depth in Water. The Reafon they
have been but lately and fo little taken no-
tice of, is, I apprehend, their extreme Mi-
nutenefs, which renders them invifible, un-
lefs by a very good Light, and with Glafles
that magnify confiderably : at the fame Time
an Area, fufficient to take in their whole
Groups or Branches, muft come in View, or
clfe no Idea can be formed of them ; and
we know, 'tis not many Years, that Micro-
fcopes have been fo far improved, as to com-
mand a large and well illuminated Area hy
GlafTes that magnify much, or to have pro-
per Conveniencies for examining ObiedlvS
even in a fingle Drop of Water.

Through all the different Species of this
Kind of Animal, there is an Analoprv or Uni-
formity, as to the general Figure of their
Clufters or Colonies. Each Colony feem.s
conftantly to arife from one Stem or Stalk,
which is always affixt to fome extraneous
Body : This Stem divides into a Couple ci
fmaller ones, each of which fiibdivides in-
to

33^ ^f Cluftering Polypes*

to another Pair, and thofe branch themfelveS
out again, in the fame Manner, till the Cluf^
ter is com pleated. The Extremities or
Heads of the fmall Stalks are the Bodies of
the Animals, in the Differences of whofe
Figure conliils the Variety of the Species.
Being fituated in this Order round the com-
mon Stem at different Heights and Diftances,
they make a very pretty Appearance, when
extended in the Water; not ill refembling a
Nofegay of Cowilips, or fome fuch Kind of
Flowers. And one Vv^ould imagine the feve-
ral Fleads and their Pedicles to proceed from
one common Stem, as the Branches and
Flowers of a Plant do from one common
Trunk ; but a contrary Progreffion takes
place here : for in a Plant the Trunk pro-
duces Branches, and thofe Branches again
produce Flowers ; whereas the Flead here is
prior to the Pedicle, and the Pedicle to the
main Stem, as will by and by be fhewn.

The Heads, or little Animals, (of v^hich
Multitudes fometimes are dependent from
one Stem,) open their anterior Ends, and
play about very briskly in the Water, as far
as their refpedlive Pedicles will permit ; but
every now and then, one or other of them
fprings back with a fudden Contradlion,
which probably may be when it has catched
fomething that it retires to eat : for this
they do when nothing at all offends them ;
but if they are, made uneafy, by fhaking the

Water,

Of Clnjlcnng Polypes. 337

Welter, or touching them with any foreign
Body, both Stem and Branches inflantly con-
tract together, and extend not again till
every thing is perfedlly at reft.

But though they are found thus conjoyned
in Colonies, each Head is a perfecft Annual,
and can detach itfelf from the reft, live fc~
parately, and become the Parent of a new
Colony, as moft of them do after a certain
Time. All of the fame Community ac5t af-
ter one common Law, in contracting or ex-
tending the main Stem as well as their re-
IpeCtive Pedicles at the fame Time, though
each can contract or ftretch itfelf out at
Pleafure, without the Concurrence of the
reft, as far as the Extent of its own Pedicle.
When a whole Colony contracts together,
the main Stem feems to pull back the feve-
ral Pedicles, and thofe Pedicles the little
Animals at their Extremities : but here the
Truth is contrary to the Appearance, for the
Animals themfelves begin the Motion that
pulls them back, by a fudden Endeavour to
draw up their Pedicles to their Bodies, which
Motion the Pedicles communicate to the
main Stem, and thereby contrad: that alfo :
Somewhat in the Manner of a Hair, which
jerked fuddenly (not to break) and then let
go again, flies back with an elaftic Force.
And that the Cafe is thus feems pretty cer-
tain, becaufe after one of thefe Animals
breaks off from its Pedicle, and leaves the

Z Colony,

^38 Of Chijleririg Polypes.

Colony, the deferted Pedicle becomes im-
mediatelv deflitute of Motion ^ and when all
of them are gone, (as often happens) the
Stem and Pedicles, though ftill adhering as
they did before, are unable to move at all.

The main Stem grows large in proportion
to the Number of its Branches, which fome-
times are very numerous; fo that it is pro-
bably a Continuation of all the Tails or Pe-
dicles of the little Animals conjoyned toge-
ther. The Stem and Pedicles look ufually
very tranfparent, and like hollow Tubes.

The feveral Species of thefe Polypes are
nearly alike as to the above Particulars, and
differ chiefly in the Length and Size of their
little Bodies, and the Apparatus wherewith

their Mouths are furniflied. Amongft all

I have any Knowledge of, no Sort is more
common than that reprefented at N° vi.
V/hen the little Animals of this Species
ftretch themfelves out and open their an-
terior Ends, each of them appears of a Bell-
fadiioned Figure, with a Kind of Lip turn-
ing itfelf outwards round the Rim of the
Bell, which Lip is furnifhed with Num-
bers of Ftbrillcs that vibrate nimbly in the
Water, and caufe a Vortex reaching to a
furpriziag Diftance, in proportion to the
Smallnefs of the Animal: which Vortex is
fliewn a a,^ — - When great Plenty of thefe
are lodged together on a Snail, Leafj or
other Body, they feem of a whitifli Colour

to

Of Clujlering Polypes. -539

to the naked Eye, but before the Microjlopc
they appear very tranfparentjtho' with fome-
what of a brownKh Call. Their Tails whea
Contraifted are drawn back and difpofed \x\
fpiral Lines, like thofe of the Eell-An'mal
defcribed ^^/g-. 3'^o.

The Species whofe Figure is [^iven N° iv.
is much more uncommon. — Its main Stem
and Branches rekmble the fore^oine, and
fo does the general Figure of its Body, but
its Mouth is remarkably different, for in-
ftead of the very fmall F/z^r/y/^ of the laft
mentioned Species, the Head of this is fur-
nilhed with two large Arms, by the vigorous
Motions of which backwards and forwards,
a Stream of Water is made to pafs by its
Mouth, whereby the Creature is enabled to
fupply itfelf with Food, which is taken in
between thefe two Arms. And indeed it is
amufing enough to obferve the Behaviour
and Artifice of this little Creature upon the
Occafion ; for as foon as the Prey is fw^al-
lowed down it inflantly retires to the main
Stem, by contrading its Pedicle : and by flat-
tening its Body, and bringing the Sides near-
ly together, it prevents any Poifibility of the
Prey's Efcape. After it has continued thus
contrad:ed for fome time, it extends itfelf
very leifurely, not unhke the Bdl-Anhnal :
but in our prefent Subjeft the Pedicle or
Tail when contraded feems as if it was
fhrivell'd up, whereas in that it falls back in
* Z 2 fpiral

34^ Of CI ujleriiig Polypes',

fpiral Lines. The Figures of thefe Animal'-
cules when playing in the Water are (hewn
2 2 : and it is very common, in this and every
other Kind of the Clujiering Polypes^ for the
little Animals either to detach themfelves -f-,
or be broken off by fome Violence from their
Pedicles -, the Appearance of fuch deferred
Pedicles^ which have no longer any Motion
or Ufe, is feprefented 3 3 ; and their Ap-
pearance is much the fame in every other
Species.

A lingle Animalcule with its two remark-
able Arms is fnewn, greatly enlarged, at N"*
V. The Diameter of its Superficies next the
Eye being magnified about 400 times, and
confeqiiently the v^'hole fuperficial Area of
one of its Sides (which is all the Eye can
command at once) 160000 times; accord-
ing to which Calculation its Bulk would be
magnified 64000000 times.

Thofe Animalcules of the fame Species,,
hanging by their Pedicles, N° vii. are mag-
nified in their Diameter about 40 times,.
1 600 times in their Superficies next the Eye,
and ii\ their Bulk 64000 times. — All the
other Species of Chijleriiig Polypes exprelTed
in this Plate are magnified nearly in the fame

Proportion,

f When an Animaleule is feparated from its Clufter, it
fwims about in the Vi^ater, until it fallens its little Pedicle to
fomewhat ; and it can detach itfelf again and feek fome other
Situation fo long as it continues fingle; but after it begins to*
multiply, the Pedicle never loofens itfelf again, none but
fin-gle Animalcules being ever feen fwimming.

Of C!ujlcn7ig Polypes. - 4 1

Proportion, wlierchy the Reader may form
fome Conception of their Minutenels : and
yet, linall as they are, they are Whales in
proportion to the Animalcules they Ivvallow
down.

N^ X. reprefents a Colony of another
^^QCi^s oi CIiille?'hig PolypeSy two fingle ones
of which magnified in the above Manner
are Ihewn N° xi. and N^ xii.

Thefe when extended in the Water ex-
hibit a Couple of projevfting Parts at their
anterior End, furnilhed with Numbers of
vibrating Fibrilla, that produce a Current of
Water by their quick Motions, and thereby
procure them Food. See N° xii. — There are
fome with three of the Hke Projedlions, &c.
See N° XI.

No XIII. ihews a very extraordinary Spe-
cies of this Kind of Animalcule, the Body
whereof is much longer, its Pedicle fhorter,
and the Connection of the Individuals to each
other in the fame Colony is very different
from all the reft : for here no main Stem is
feen, but all the Pedicles are joyned in one
Center, round which the little Animals ex-
tend themfelves circularly, at nearly equal
Diftances, and make a very pretty Appear-
ance. But nothing relating to them is more
worthy Notice, than the curious and wojider-
Jiil Apparatus v^htvchy they take their Prey,
which the two greatly magnified i/^z^rd^j- at
N° XIV. will affift the Reader to underftand
the following brief Defcription of.

Z 3 The

342 Of Clujlering Polypes*

The Body of this Animal is very tranfpa^
rent, feems to be hollow and fome what ihelly,
and is in Diameter at the broadeft Part, (which
is about the Middle Way between its Mouth
and Tail) nearly one jfifth of its Length : it
leffens fiom thence towards both Extremi-
ties, tapering pretty fuddenly towards the
Tail Eiid, and terminating in a longflender
Tube near a Quarter of the Animal's Length,
Towards the Mouth End it diminifhes more^
gradually, and not fo much, being no where
lels than one half of its greateft Diameter :
It widens again a little about the Mouth,
which is quite open like that of a Jug or
Pitcher, and feems not capable of Contradli-
on,or Dilatation, or furniflied with 2iny Wheels
or Fibrilla, as the Mouths of the other Spe-
cies of the Animalcules are : but to make
amends for fuch Deficiency, it is provided
with a moveable Operculum or Cover, con-
nected to its Body, by a long Ligament
or Mufcle, which extending downwards
(through the Body or Shell) is affixed within-
lide of it near the Tail. See a ^>' " This
Ligament is fufficiently long to permit the
Operculum to be lifted up to fome Difiance
from the Mouth, in which Situation fix F/-
brillce appear placed round the Border of the
Operculumy atDiftances nearly equal. (Z^/^./^.)
Thefe Fibnilde have a vibrating Motion like
thofe at the Mouths of the other Clujlering
-Polypes y and ferve by the Current they ex-
2 cite

Of Clujlcrlng Polypes. g^^

cite in tlie Water to hurry the Prey into the
Mouth of the Animal which ftands open to
receive it; then by fliutting \\\c Operculum
down immediately all Elbape is prevented.
After a little while the Operculum Ir lifted up
again leifurely, and in readinefs for another
Capture.

When the Opcrcnliim is drawn down the
Fibrilh^ are no longer difcoverable, and the
Ligament w^hereby the opening and fliutting
is performed appears in a flaccid relaxed
State, as at a.

One of the two magnified Figures in the
Plate reprefents the Animal with its Mouth
open and the Cover up> as it appears when
hungry ; the other fliews the Cover drawn
down after it has feized its Prey -f*.

Having defcribed thefe feveral Sorts of
Clujlering Polypes, (and I make no Doubt .
there are manv other Species and Varieties
of them unknown to us at prefent) I proceed
to confider their prodigious and fpeedy Pro-
pagation and Increafe, the Manner whereof
is no lefs furprizing than all the other Par-
ticulars relating to them: and as to this Af-
fair (though I have ohferved them many
times myfelf with much Attention) I fliall
chufe to lay before the Reader what Difco-

Z 4 veries

\ I never had been fo lucky myfelf as to meet with this
Species of Water Animals, but am obliged to Mr. Anieron^
(on whofe Judgment and Fidelity I can depend intirely)
for the Figures and Account thereof.

344 ^f Clujlermg Polypes.

veries the uncommon Diligence and Sagaci^
ty of Mr. Trembley, who has applied himfelf
more thaii any body to this Enquiry, has
been able to produce : for in fuch extraor^
dinary Cafes 'tis necejSary to make ufe of all
fhe Evidence one can,

" A iingle Polypus (fays he) detached
f' from the Clufter, fwims about the Water,
*^ till it meets with fome proper Body to
fix itfelf upon. It then has a Pedicle, but
which is not longer than the Polypus it-
felf. In the Space of 24 Hours this Stem
^^ becomes eight or nine times as long as
" it was at firft; and it is this Pedicle which
*^ is to become tl:^e rnairi Stem of the new
f' Clufler.

After this the Polypus multiplies, that
is to fay, it divides and fplits itfelf in-
to two lengthwife. — One firft obferves
the Lips to be drawn into the Body, whofe
*^ anterior Part clofes and becomes round :
the anterior Part of the Polypus ^2X% itfelf
afterwards by Degrees, and fpreads in pro-
portion^ becoming broader as it fhortens ;
f' it then gradually fplits down through the
f* Middle^ that is, from the Middle of the
Head to the Place where the pofterior
Ends join tq the Pedicle : fp that in a little
while, there appear two feparate round
Bodies joyned to the Extremity of the Pe-
dicle that juft before fupported but one.
The anterior Part of each of thefe Bo-

^^ dies

ft

t(

Of Cliijlcring Tolypcs. ^^^

dies then opens by Degrees, and as they
open, the Lips of the new Polypi fliew
themfeh'es more and more ; and, foon
after the Separation is compleated, each
begins to (hew a Pedicle of its own.— -
Ten or twelve Hours after, thefe two
Polspi again divide themfelvcs each into
two more ; they foon after put out
Branches, and thus retire to a greater
Dirtance from each other. — When two
Poly pi zx^ thus formed by the Divifion of
one, the one is ordinarily much larger
than the other: this larger one remains
at the Extremity of the Branch where it
was, but which Branch lengthens itfelf
more, whilll the other puts out a new
Branch which feems to proceed from the
firft. The larger of thefe Polypi again
divides itfelf generally before the other :
and all I have been defcribing is reiterated
feveral times. Thus a principal Branch
is^ formed, provided with feveral lateral
ones : thefe lateral Branches become
principal, with regard to thofe which in
their turn feem to fpring from them, when
the polypi at their Extremities come to
divide. — All the Polypi of a Clufter do
not detach themfelves from it at the fame
Time : thofe which are neareft to the
Origin of the Branches ufually detach
themfelves iirft. And every Polypus io
detached, goes and fixes itfelf elfe where ;
every one thus becoming at lad, it not

** pre-

346 Of Cluftering Polypes,

** not prevented, the Principal of a new
** Cluften

is
<s

Mr. TremMey tells us farther, " that he
followed the Progrefs of a Clufter in the
Month oi September 1744.— It confifted,
on the 9th Day of that Month, but of one
fingle Polypus: this Polypus divided itfelf
that Evenings and at Half an Hour after
Eight of the Clock, there were to be difco-
vered two perfed; Polypi^ whofe Pedicles
** cr Branches continued lengthening till
the Morning of the next Day, being the
Tenth of the fame Month of September,
At about a Quarter after Nine that Morn-
ing, thefe two Polypi began alfo each to
divide, fo that after a Quarter paft Eleven
there were four compleat Polypi ^ whofe
** feveral Pedicles formed themfelves foon
*^ after. On the Eleventh of the fame Sep-
*^* tember^ about Half an Hour after Seven in
** the Morninor, he found that thefe four laft
** Polypi had already again divided them-
** felves, that is to fay, there were Eight
^' diftind Polypi."- And he has taken No-
^^ tice of Clufcers, the Numbers of whofe
*^ Polypi have conftantly gone on doubling,
^^ from 2 to 4, from 4 to 8, from 8 to 16,
^* frooi 16 to 32 : after which he has been
•^ no longer able to count exadly the Num-
*' \-^T of the Polypir — But their Multipli-
cation is 10 prodigious, that he fays, '^ on
November \\x, 1744, there was in one of
his Glaffe.s, a duller compoied of feveral

'' Iclier

a

Of CI up ring Polypes. 347

'* IcfTer united Cluftcrs, which was above
** an Inch over every Way/

Thefe Quotatiions are taken partly from
N"* 474 of the Pbil. Tranf, and partly from
the Appendix to the 44th Vol. of the faid
T[ranJattio7is. The Polypes here particularly
intended, are thofe I have called Rell-Ani-
vials in the former Part of this Work, and
that Species whofe Figure is given in this
Plate N° VI. and its Defcription pag, 338.
There is however Reafon to believe, that
all the other Cluftering Polypes already taken
notice of in this Platen may be pnopagated
after the fame Manner.

N° VI I. VI n . IX. fliew different Appearances
of the fame Animalcule, which is another
Species of the Funnel- AiiimaU vid. N" j, f g.
They are found together fometimes in vafl
Abundance on the Shells of Water Snails,
&c» feeming to the naked Eve like a green
flimy Matter. When firft applyed to the
Microfcope they are ulually feen contraftcd,
as N" VIII. but being left at quiet for a little
while, they change their Figure to that of
N"* VII. and fwim about very brifkly with
their large Ends forward. At other Times
they appear like N*" ix. having then a tooth-
ed Wheel at the Head or largeil End, that
moves round with prodigious Velocity, in
the Manner of the Wheels of the V/hecl^
Animal f already defcri bed />^^. 269, but ha-
ving a much larger Wijed than either of

thofe

-^48 Mulberry InfeSf.

thofe the Wheel Animal is furnifhed with.
Its Gyrations are fo fwift, that without great
Attention they can not be feen. The Teeth
are moft confpicuous when it begins or ends
its whirhng, or when it becomes iick by
Confinement in a Drop of Water. On be-
ing difturbed by any thing, they contrad
themfelves as at N° vtii.

CHAP. XVL

The Mulberry Insect.

HE Figures and Defcription of N° XV.
I, 2, 3, were fent me by Mr. Arde^
ron, in March 1745-6. — He fays, that on
the firft Day of the faid Month he found in
the Water of a Ditch, at Norwich^ fome ex-
ceeding ftrange Animalcules, which from
their bearing fome Refemblance to the Fa-
fhion of that Fruit, he calls Mulberry InfeBs:
though the little Protuberances th^t iland out
round them, equally on every Side, make
them rather more globular. Their Bowl-like
Motions are much the fame as thofe of the
Globe AnimaU defcribed/^^. 322^ but they
did not move fo readily from Place to Place,
and their Protuberances appeared fo loofely
conneded top-ether, he fhould rather take,
them for a Coneeries of Animalcules than
one fingls Animal.— As to tliis Particular

he

Pipe Animal. -j^o

he fcems however in Ibmc Kind of Doubt :
and in a Letter received from him afterwards,
he imagines i\\c Mulberry InfcB n\2iy poffibly
be the laft mentioned Clujlering Polypes with
Opercular (N" xi 1 1.) not yet come to their per-
^ {c:(^ State. He met with feveral of thefe In-

Jfedts, or Congeries of Infeds, of different Si-
zes, and with different Numbers of Knobs or
Protuberances, fome having 50 or 60, others
more or lefs even down to 4 or 5, but the
Manner of moving was the fame in all.

CHAP. XVII.

I'be Pipe Animal.

UPON the Sea-lhore, on the Coaft of
Norfolk, and without Doubt in other
Places, Heaps of fandy Matter are to be (ten.
at Low Water, two or three Feet fometimes
in length, compoiing Multitudes of fmall
Tubes or Pipes, which are the Cafes or Ha-
bitations of living Creatures* My Norwich
Correfpondent, to whom I ftand obliged for
this Information, wrote me Word, that a
Friend of his broke off and brought to him
a fmall Piece of fuch a Congeries of Tubes
or Pipes, in Shape :md Size as at N° 11.
in which a a aa fliew ::ie Mouths or C*pen-
ings of the Pipes wherein the little Creatures
make their abode.

He

2^0 Pipe Animal,

He carefully feparated one fingle Pipe
from the reft, and placed it in a Glafs of
Water, to give the little Inhabitant an Op-
portunity of coming to the Mouth of its
Cell, which it did accordingly very foon,
and then appeared as at N'^ in. where the
Figures both of the Animal and its Cafe are
magnified nine or ten times in Diameter.—.
The Pipe or Cafe b is made of Sand, inter-
mixed here and there with minute Shells
and Sand, all cemented together by a gluti-
nous Slime iffuing I fuppofe from the Ani-
mal's own Body c, which is compofed of
mufcular Ringlets, (Uke thofe of a Worm,)
capable of great Extenfion or Contradion.
The anterior End or Head d is exceedingly
beautiful, having round it a double Row of
little Arms, difpofed in very regular Order,
and able I fuppofe to extend themfelves for
the catching oi its Prey, and conveying it to
the Mouth that appears in the Middle of this
anterior End, But the Animal being fick
for Want of Salt Water did not extend its
Arms at all, and expiring foon after, no Way
was left of coming at its true Figure when
ftretched out.

I am fenfible that the Account here given
is:^ery imperfeiSt; but it may I hope induce
fome curious Body, y/ho lives near the Sea-
Shore, and has an Opportanity of fo doing,
to furniih-us with a better.

Pipes

Tia.

.4^

. Sf' I\^. ^^

• vr V.

=1 im'i

J

I

\

4^Tnr.^^^,

. vrc.'

.^'f^jxiv: v^"^

\

\

\fx\r.

11 ,^

*y.%yiCu4tcltJc

riate xnr -jm.jjo.

/(/ /.■

i - if ^

^'fXI .

ty\'^xir. ^'vf'xm:

-m^

tX^l^dt/c.

Water Hog-Loufe or Sew. 351

Pipes or Tubes of this Size and Figure
are fometimes found petrified, and conftitute
one Species of the Syringoides.

CHAP. XVIII.

TZ'^ Water Hog-Louse or Sow.

THE Animal figured Pto^ XIV. N- k
although an Aquatic, bears fo near a
Refemblance in its general Appearance to
the Millepedes, Sow or Hog-Loufe, elpeci-
ally when creeping at the Bottom of any
Veflfel wherein it is kept, that it may proper-
ly enough be called a Water Sow, or Wa-
ter Hog-Loufe.

Its whole Length is made up of nine Di-
vifions, the anterior and pofterior whereof
are the Head and Tail. To the Head, which
is almoft round, and about the ^\ Part of the
Animal's Length, are affix'd two very long
Antenna^ each conhfting, next the Head, of
four diftin6t Joynts, and then fhooting out
a Part extremely flender and tapering, and
but little ihorter than the whole Body of the
Animal; which on a clofe Examination ap-
pears compofed of many Articulations, ha-
ving an exceeding fine Briftle iffuing from
each, as the larger Joynts near the Head
have ', from the Infertion of the fecond of
which larger Joynts a Branch arifes, ccn-

fiftine

352 Water Hog-Loufe or Sow,

lifting of one Joynt, and a {lender tapering
Part articulated and briftled as the above de-
fcribed, but of no great Length. This is
fhewn in the Figures, i, ii, iii. In the
Middle of the anterior Part of the Head are
placed two Very fmall and ftiort Feelers.
Its Eyes, if it has any (which I think its Ac-
tions leave no room to doubt) are not difco-
verable; either from their Smallnefs or the
Opakenefs of the Animal.

The Body (not reckoning the Head and
Tail) is compofed of feven Divifions, which
increafe in their Breadth, but not much in
their Length as they approach towards the'
Tail, the Body being about three times as
broad at the laft of thefe Divifions as it is at
the firft. From the firft Divifion next the
Head arife two fliort Claws, terminated by a
Hook that can bend down like a Clafp-Knife,
and from every one of the other Divifions
proceed two long Legs, each compofed of
five Articulations, and alfo a fingle Claw at
its End. In thefe Legs two Blood- Vefi^els
may be difcovered, even by a Glafs that does
not magnify very greatly : one carrying the
^XooAjrom and the other returning it to the
Body. The Globules of this Blood, or ani-
mal Fluid, appear about ten times as large as
thofe of the human Blood, and their progref-
five Motion is very flow and languid, where-
by they become more diilinguifhable than
thp Globules are in the Blood of Animals -

Vvhofe

Water Hog-Loufe or Sow, 350

whofe Circulation is fwifter. The Legs are
very hairy, efpecially at the Joynts, and fo
is the whole Body of the Animal, which oc-
cafions it to be frequently fo covered and en-
tangled with the Dirt and Scurf of the Wa-
ter, as to prevent its Figure from being true-
ly ken.

The Divifions of the Body are each of
them covered on their upper or back Part
with a Scale or Cruft, extending beyond and
hiding the Infertions of the Legs, which
however are fhewn in N^ 1 1, where the Ani-
mal is turned on its Back. To the hinder-
moft of thefe Divifions the Tail is fixed,
which is perhaps the moft remarkable Part
of the Animal. Its Length is about three
times as much as that of the largeft Divifion
of the Body ; its Breadth nearly equal to its
Lengthf but tapering fuddenly towards the
End, like the Tails of fome of the Beetle
Kinds. From the back Part thereof, which
is coverrd with a Shell or Cruft, arife two
joyned Branches, ftanding out at an Angle
of about 45 Degrees to the Plane they rife
from, each dividing again into two, and hav-
ing Briftles like the Legs. The Ufe of thefe
Branches is not yet difcovered.

On the under or Belly Part are placed two
Sets of Valves, rifing up and falling down,
alternately, in a perpendicular Direction; thefe
may probably ferve for the Purpofe of Lungs,
or as the moveable Coverings of the Gills of

A a Fifnes,

354 Water Hog-Loufe or Sew.
Fifhes, to breathe through, or regulate fome
of the other animal Fundlions. And what
feems to confirm this Opinion is, that on de-
priving the Animal of them, the Circulation
in the Legs ceafed inftantly, though the
Creatures lived for fome time afterwards.
The Motion of the Valves, however uniform
at any one time, is not always of the fame
Quicknefs, being now and then fo flow as
nearly to beat Seconds, (when it is vlfible,
even by the naked Eye, in certain Pofitions
of the Animal,) whereas they move at other
times with above twice that Velocity. And
this feems to be nearly in proportion to the
Temperature of the Weather, their Motions
being always floweft in the coldeft Seafons.
At ^ N^ III, which is a Profile View of this
Creature, the Valves are ihewn as they ap-
pear when moving. Their working up and
down continually, renders it difficult to be
fure of the true Figure, or indeed the true
Number of them; but there feems to be
four Pair, which move not all together but
alternately. The external Pair feems ftrength-
ened and fupported by a Couple of ftrong
joynted Tendons, as is fhewn at N^ ii. if.

The natural Size of this Animal when at
its full Growth is about three Tenths of an
Inch in Length. Its Motion, notwithfiand-
ing the great Number of its Legs, is very
flow, auk ward and unwieldy : and indeed the
Length and Slendernefs of the Legs feem to

render

Water Hdg-Loufe or Sow. 355

tender them incapable of fupporting the Bo-
dy in the fame Manner as thofe of other Ani-
mals' do : fo that it more properly may
be faid to be dragged along by than to be
carried on them. This Kind of Motion
makes him a very difagreeable Companion
to other aquatic Animals that happen to in-
habit the lame Veflel with him, which he
rather chiifes to trample on and overturn
than to move out of his Way for them. lie
is however as much tormented in his Turn
by Funnel Animals, Bell Animals, Wheel
Animals, &c. which frequently faflen them-
felves upon him, in fuch a Manner as not to
be difengaged by his utmoft Efforts.

He fwims fometimes, or rather climbs to
the Top of the Water, by the Help of his
Feet, but cannot remain there for any Length
of Time, his Weight immediately finking
him down again : and indeed he generally
chufes to continue at the Bottom, where he
frequently is found covered and overwhelm-
ed by the flimy Sediment of the'Water. He
fometimes alfo brings his Head and Tail to-
gether, and forms himfelf into a Ball in the
Manner of the Land Hog Loufe.

As to the Way of their Generation, no-
thing farther is yet difcovered than that they
are viviparous : for they are fometimes found
having a large Bag hanging down from
their Bellies, as fliewn at j, N*^ 1 1 1 . On cut-
ing this open the young ones have been feeri

A a J. ^^

356 Frejh Water Squilla.

to come out alive, to the Number of feventy
or eighty: yet on examining the Animal
the Day following the Operation, there ftill
appeared fome remaining in the Bag; but
whether they came not all out at firft, or
that fome of them returned in again, was un-;
certain, tho' the latter feem'd moft probable.
An old one is fometimes feen holding one
of its Young, (when grown even to a con-
fiderable Size,) under its Belly between its
Legs, which it will not part with unlefs
compelled to do fo by fome confiderable
Force.

CHAP. XIX.

Of the FreJh Water Squills.

THEAnimalwhofeFigure is exhibited N*'
iv.P/.XIV.wasbroughttome,amongft
a Variety of other Infecfls, in fome Water
taken out of a Pond communicating with a
Ditch at Kentijh Town, near Loiidon, The
Head and Breaft were cruftaceous : the Tail
and Belly Part were foft, and except the In-
teftines extremely tranfparent; by which
means, the periftaltic Motion of the Bowels
could be i^zn with great Diftinftnefs. The
Head was armed with a pair of ftrong For-
ceps, ferrated or toothed near their Bafe like
thofe of fome Spiders, whereby they are the

better

Trejl: Wafer SquiIIa. ^f/

better enabled to hold their Prey. A pai r
of hooked Claws were likewife placed nea r
the Infertion of the Forceps, and became
alTifting to them. A Snout projecting be-
tween the Forceps, having two very iliort
Feelers, and between them a fharp (lender
Probofcis, could be thruft out or drawn back
at Pleafure. Under the Breaft and Belly
were fix Legs, ferving either to fwim or
craw^l. It had two pretty large black Eyes :
from the Breaft to the Extremity of the Tail
the Sides were thinly befet with Briftles, and
a few Briftles were upon the Legs. The
Bowels were feen moving, as plainly as if
they had been in a tranfparent Cafe, widen-
ing their Diameters and rifing upwards to-
wards the Breaft, and then presently con-
trading in width and extending downwards :
thefe Motions were alternate; and fometimes
the Bowels were ftretched almoft to the End
of the Tail, where the Anus was placed, and
there difcharged the Faeces. It was exceed-
ingly voracious, killing and devouring mofr
of the other Creatures that were in the Wa-
ter with it.

I take this Animal to be a Frefh Water
Sqtiillay of which there are many Species^
It was about twelve times left than the
Drawing, and therefore muft cither be of a
much fmaller Species than I have ever met
with, or elfe a very young one, not yet per-
haps come to its perfe<fl State ; the Tail be-

A a 3 ing

3 5 S Vrejh Water Bquill^e.

iog neither joynted nor fcaly as the largei*
are, fome of which I have feen bigger than
the Figure before the Reader. I know the
Squillce change their Coats feveral times, and
perhaps they may alfo change their Form.

As, the natural Hiftory of the Squilla i$
known to very/ew, I fhall here infert fome
curious Obfervations made thereon by Mr.
Jofe^h Sparjhall, of Wells _ in , Norfolk ; in a
Letter dat^d ^^r// 6th 1749.

^The Following Qbfenvations ( fays he )
were made lafl: Summmer, whilft I Mved at
Wymondhajn, on an Infe(^, yery com;m.on in
the ftahding Waters thereabouts > X think it^$
the fame defcfibed by MQiiffet in his 'Theatre
of InfeSlsy by the Name of the Squilla Jiqua^
tica, — Xxi, fcarching for other Water In-
fects, I have frequently found thefeamongft
Wee^ds in Ponds and Ditches, full t^Q In-
ches aad a half in Length. . , . ■'

The, Head of this Animal is broad, flat-
tifh^ and, pretty tranfparent, being very thin
in the fore. Parts. It has no Mouth, nor
does it ftem to need any^. for it takes in all
its Nouriiliment through a large and: ftrong
pair of Forceps, one Limb of v/hich- is. plac-
ed on each Side its Head. Tliefe Forceps are
hollow alm^ofl their whole Length, with a ve-
ry fmall Aperture on their Infide ; and when
the Creature hasfeized its Prey, the Juices are
conveyed through the Forceps, by two Chan-
mh, to about the Middle of the lieadj where

both

Vrcjlj Water ZquUlit, 359

both Branches unite and are thence continued
to the Stomach. I am the more certain of their
receiving no Nourifliment but what paflcs
through the Forceps, as I have often by the
Alliftance of a finale convex Glafs, and fome-
times by the naked Eye only, when the In-
fed: has been fucking its Prey, i^zn the
Juices thereof pafs in a fine Stream through
the Forceps and Head. This is more parti-
cularly vifible juft after the Squilla has caft
its Skin ; at which Time the Forceps and
Head are moft of all tranfparent. Six very
fmall black Eyes are difcernable on each Side
of the Head, very near the Origin of the
Forceps.

Its Body IS compofed of eleven Joynts or
annular Divifions -, the Edges whereof Aide
eafily over one another : the lafl Divifion is
long, tapering and hollow, ferving to buoy
up the Animal to the Surface of the Water :
its Back is hard and of a dark brown Colour,
having a paler Streak down the Middle : its
Belly is foft and yellowifh : it hath fix Legs
finely befet on each Side with a fingle Row
of Hairs ; its Tail is alfo hairy and divided
at the End.

In the Water it generally hangs, fufpend-
ed by the Tail, from the Surfice ; the Body
arching backwards, fo as to make the Bel-
ly the convex Part, and the Head inclining
upwards towards the Back. In this Pofture
it waits, like its Fellow-deftroyer the Croco-
A a 4 dile.

360 Frejh Water Squillce.

dile, quite motionlefs, till its Prey is fairly
within its Reach ; when by a fudden Spring
of the Head it feizes it in an Inflant, and
feldom quits it till it has got its Belly full,

I kept feveral of thefe Squilla in Jars dur-
ing the greateft Part of laft Summer, to
make Obfervations on their Manner of feed-
ing ; in order to which, I began with giving
them the larger Sort of Earth- Worms, which
they feized with the greateft Eagernefs ; and
notwithftanding the wreathing and twifting
of the Worms for a long Time, they very
feldom quitted their Hold, till the inward
Contents were quite exhaufled, and nothing
left but the Skin.

I ufed frequently, for Want of more pro-
per Food, to give them Iraall Pieces of raw
Veal or Mutton, which at firft they were
very greedy of, but would not eat for above
a Day or two together : hut whilft I have
been giving them a Bit of Meat, they would
ftrike at my Fingers with great Fury, though
they were not able to penetrate the Skin*.

One Day I offered one of them a very
jjarge Tadpole, aad quickly difcover'd it was
its natural Food by the Greedinefs wi,th which

it

* One of thefe, which I kept fome time, was ib bold ancjl
furious as to attack any thing that was put into the Water :
infomuch that I ufed frequently to divert my Friends with
holding a Quill near it, which it would fly at and feize with
great Violence, and hanging faft thereto by its Foroeps, would
fufc itfclf to be polled up (juite out of the Water by it.

F;v/7^ Water ^uilke. 56 f

It feizcd it : and by giving them in large
Quantities, I found it would Ibmctimes dc-
ftroy near twenty of thcin in a Day, fucking
them till all the Inwards were exhaufted.
Another Time I put a Tench of about three
Inches long into a Glafs of Water where one
of thcfe Creatures was, fcarce believing it
durft make an Attempt on an Animal fo fu-
periorin Size: but no fooner did the Tench
come near the Sqiiilla than he ll:ruck at it
with all his might, and fixed his Foreceps in
its Side; tho' the ftruggling of the Tench
made him quit his hold. A Drop or two of
Blood ilTued from the Wound, and the Fifl:i
died in about a Minute: which makes it
not improbable, the Bite of this Creature
may be poifonous to the Inhabitants of the
Waters.

The Banfticle itfelf, which is fo great a
Dcftroyer of the fmall Fry of Fifli, and fo
well armed for Defence, is notwithftanding a
Prey to this Devourer; as I found by putting
a very large one into the Jar where I kept
a Squilla, This Banfticle had lived about
a Month in a Jar amongft fome Tench, moft
of which h^d felt the Effedis of his Fury,
though three times larger than himfelf.
He was always very lively, and would leldom
fufFer the Tench to meddle with the Worms
I gave them, till his own Belly was full. But
on putting him to the Squilla he was change
^d iqimediately from the moll: daring to

the

365- Frejh Water Squillce.

the moft fearful Animal; lurking at the Bot-
tom of the Glafs, and continuing there for
feveral Hours together ; neither would he
touch the Worms I offered him, fseming
perfectly fenfibic of the Power of his Ene-
my. However at laft, coming within the
Reach of the Squilluy it feized him furioufly
by the Back, entering its Forceps on each
Side, and after a few faint Struggles he yield-
ed to the Conqueror.

Some time after, I put into the fame Jar
two fmall Water Newts, of about an Inch and
half in Length; which were both devoured
in a verry little while. I alfo put into the
lame Jar a Water Newt near four Inches in
length, imagining the Squilla would not
venture to attack one of fo large a Size ; and
indeed at firft he feemed afraid of it, but in
a few Hours ventured to ftrike at it : though
the Skin of its Back being too thick for his
Forceps to enter, he made feveral unfuccef-
ful Attacks, till feizing it by the Belly he
quickly killed it.

Thefe Creatures certainly deftroy great
Numbers of Fifli, and may poffibly occafion
the Death of many of thofe that are fre-
quently {^tn lying dead by the Sides of
Ponds, (Sc, yet they feem more fond of
Tadpoles, and are found very large and
plump where there is Plenty of them; but in
other Places are generally very fmalL

^ I have

BnJlJcd InfcEl. 363

I have obfcrved another Species of the
Squil/a Ibmewhat different from the former :
they are conftantly hunting about in qucft of
Prey, fwimming by the Affiftance of their
Legs in an Horizontal Pofition. I put fc-
veral of both Sorts into a Jar of Water to-
gether, but the firft dcfcribed quickly de-
voured all the lafl:, though fome of them
were nearly of an equal Size -f*.

C H A P. XX.

Tbe Bristled Insect.

NUMB. V. Plate XIV. reprefents a fmall
cruftaceous Infecfl which was found
crawling on a Brick Wall, yune 30th 1746.
Its general Appearance was lomtwhat like
that of the MillepeSy Sow or JVood-Loi^fe-, but
befides its being covered withBriiUes, where-
as

f The chief Difference between thefe two Sorts of
Squills, both of which I am acquainted with, confifts in
the arming of the Head ; which in the voracious Species
is furnilhed with only a ftrong hooked Pair of plain fmootii
Forceps, like thofeof a third Sort fhewn in this fame Plate
N*^ xvi, and again more magnified c^sjig. S : but having no
Snout between the Forceps as there is at S. — The Head of
the more geiitle Sort is like N'-* iv, juft now defcribed,
having ferrated Forceps, and an additional Pair of Claws,
(nay in fome Species even two Pair of Claws) abont the
Head to aflill: the Forceps : Thefe feed on Pulices aquatic':^
and other fuch fmall Infecls, whereas the firfl mentioned
Species prey on Worms, Tadpoles, Newts, Fifhcs, l3c.

^Sj^ InfeSi with Fijh^like Fins,

as the Milkpes is fmooth, and its having a
pretty long briftly Tail, it infinitely furpaffed
any of that Kind in Beauty. The Coat or
Ground was brown, and on that a great
Number of indented Briftles or Spines were
fet, which on its Sides were difpofed in Tufts,
but on its Back in Rows. They were of a
fnowy Whitenefs, and made fo fine a Con-
traft to the brown Coat whereon they ftood>
that the whole, when magnified, refembled
a curious Piece of Carving in Lignum Vitae
fet oif with Decorations of Ivory.

This is a rare Infed:, of which I don't re-
member ever to have met with any Defcrip-
tion.

C H A P. XXL

An Infedl with Fifli-like Fins.

MONGST fome Water and Weeds
brought from a Ditch that commu-
nicates with the River Tary a beautiful little
Animal was difcovered, (Afej/ 9th 1746,)
whofe Singularity feems well worth defcrib-
ing : and it is hoped that the Figure N^ vr.
will give a pretty good Idea of it. The Head
was remarkable for two very large pearled
Eyes and a Pair of long Antennae. The
anterior Part of its Body had much the Re-
lemblance of fome of the Beetle Tribe, and

waar

Infect "with Fipj-llkc Fins, 365

was farnifhed like them with fix (lender
Legs. Immediately below this Part, the
Body leffened, and was connedlcd together
by jeven Articulations, the Part between
each Joynt fpreading wider at the lower
than at the upper End. They appeared all
together like the Spinal Vertebrae; and from
the Procels of each Joynt iffued a Pair of
Fins, making feven Pair, or fourteen in
the whole. Three other Joynts below the
Fins terminated the Tail, the End whereof
was ornamented with three long and very
elegant Briftles, befet on every Side with
lliort Hairs, and appearing like Plumes of
Feathers. The whole Animal was of a faint
green Colour, except the Fins, which were
as tranfparent as Cryftal. Under each Fin
flood out a fmall Spine; ferving either to
fupport the Fin, or as a Weapon of Defence,

Its Motion in the Water was extremely
fwift, darting itfelf along at a furprizing
Rate: with one Stroke only of its Fins it
would fwim acrofs a Glafs Jar it was kept
in; but out of the Water it creeped as
Land Infedis ufually do. Its Legs were never
employed whilft in the Water, and on the
Land it makes no ufe at all of its Fins.

This Animal is in its Nympha State, out
of which it changes into a fmall Species of
the Libella -.

CHAP.

♦ No. VII, of dils Plate was defcrlbeJ pag. 32;.

[ 366 ]

CHAP. xxir.

An Iiifedl: with Net-like Arms.

N inquifitive Mind will be inexpreffi-
bly delighted with confidering the
different Forms of living Creatures: the
Changes they undergo; their feveral Parts,
Members and Organs i the manner of their
Produdion; their various Motions, Difpofiti-
ons and Ways of Life ; the different Kinds of
Food they eat; their Sagacity, Cunning and
Dexterity in procuring it, and the Inftru-
ments they are furnifhed with for that and
every other needful purpofe. Thefe are Sub-
jects that open the Underflanding, and unite
every Faculty of a well difpofed mind to adore
the Almighty Author of fuch amazing Con-
trivance, Order and Beauty. Every thing
that lives can furnifh out an Entertainment
of thia Sort: but the larger Animals with
which we are daily converfant and familiar,
though of a more noble Nature, and imme-
diately necelTary to Man: thefe, I fay, as
to the Particulars abovementioned, have not
the fame Charms of Novelty to gratify Cu~
riofity and recommend them to a ilrid: Exa-
mination, as thofe very minute and almofl
imperceptible Creatures, difcoverable by Glaf-
fes only : with any whereof we are hitherto
but flenderly acquainted, and of which there

may

InfeSl -ivitfj Net -like Arms. 367

may be probably thoufands of Species never
leen by an human Eye.

Amon^rfl: the- fmaller Animals, the little
Creature I am abcJut giving an Account of
has I believe hitherto efcaped Obfervation;
and might perhaps have ftill continued long
unknown, had it not been difcovercd accident-
ally, by the lame ingenious Searcher into Na-
ture, to whom the Reader is obliged for
many curious Articles in this Volume, and
"whole Defcription of it I can depend upon,
though I have not met with it myfelf.

In a Letter now lying before me, dated
yuly loth 1746, he writes me word, that
on the 25th of the Month oi May preceding,
going to the Seat of Be72Janiin NuthaU Efq-,
at Fra772inghamy in Norfolk, he had the
Pleafure there of feeing feveral Cafcades,
fupplyed with Water from the Side of an
adjacent Hill, and affording a mod charm-
ing Profpedt: and that as he was there at-
tentively obferving one of the Conveyances
belonging to the Cafcades, through which
the Water ran extremely fwift, he difcerned
at its Bottom feveral fmall Inlecfls, {landing
eredl upon their Tails, and refembling when
all together the Combs of Bees, at the Time

o ...

they are filled with their AurelidE; but on
touching them, they immediately feparated
and difperfed. However he took up many
of th^m in a Bottle with fome Water, in or-
der to examine them at Leifure ; and lookl ng at

thea\

^6$ InfeB with Net 'like Arms,

them next Morning, he found they had
formed a great many threads in the Water,
much refembling the Webs of Spiders : one
of them being taken out of the Bottle with
a Quill, it dropped therefrom, and fpun a
Thread by which it hung, exadlly like the
common Garden Spider.

He then examined one of thefe Creatures
by a Micro/cope y and was much furprized at
the Oddnefs of its Shape, and the very ex-
traordinary Method whereby it takes its

Prey.' The Body appeared as if it had been

elegantly turned with a Lather being curi-
oufly rounded, and gradually fwelling and
diminifliing in feveral Places; and at the Tail
End were three Spines whereon to raife it-
felf and ftand upright in the Water; but the
moft amazing Circumftance of all was the
Apparatus about its Head, where there was
placed on each lide a Kind of Fan or Net-
like Machine, ferving to provide its Food.
F/^. N^ VIII. Pto^ XIV.

Thefe Nets ( if it may be allowed to call
them fo) the little Animal frequently fpread
out and drew in again: and when drawn up
they folded together with the utmoft Nicety
and Exadlnefs, and could be brought fo clofe
to the Body as not to be difcernable. At the
Bottom of thefe Nets or Fans a Couple of
Claws were fattened to the lower Part of the
Head; which Claws, every time the Nets
were drawn in, conduced to the Mouth of

the

hi ft 51 with Net "like Arnn. 369

the Animal whatever was taken In them
proper for its Food. When the Creature
did not employ its Nets, it thruft out a pair
of Iharp-pointed Horns for its defence, as
is (hewn at N"" ix, where a larger Figure of
the Head and Claws is given, the Diameter
being there magnified twenty times, and the
Area 400.

Thefe curious Animals were all dead in
48 Hours, notwithflanding frefh Water was
given them feveral times; which then pre-
vented any Opportunity of learning more
concerning them, and made my Friend ima-
gine they might be amphibious Creatures,
tho' he found them in Water; or might pof-
libly undergo fome Change in Form, or Way
of living, the Dilcovery whereof he hoped
for at fome other Seafon.

He fearched for them after this in the
fame Place feveral times, but without be-
ing able to find any of them, which occa-
iioned him to conclude, they had either put
on another Form, or removed themfelves to
fome other Parts of the Water. However
he had met with no Opportunity of looking
there for them, at or about the Seafon when
he had firfl obfervcd them, 'till the Year
1749, when happening to be near the Caf-
cades on the 21ft of May^ he determined to
try his Luck once more, and then found,
with little Trouble, many of the very fame
Animals, in the moll: rapid Part of the Caf-
. B b cade

370 Infedt with Net-Uke Arms*.

cade where he had feen them firft. He
carried feveral of them home very carefully
in a Phial, but in two Days moft of them
were dead, and the reft having fpun them-
felves thin tranfparent Cafes, (which were
faftened either to the Sides of the Glafs, or
to Pieces of Grafs put into the Phial with
the Water,) became changed into what he
fuppofes a Kind of Chryfalis, of which a
Front- View is given N° xi, and a Side- View
N°xii. But before their taking this Form,
he perceived them fometimes in another
Shape, different from the firft defcribed, and
fucb as is ftiewn N** x ; which, he fays, was
the Figure they appeared in, when they
were weary with cathing their Prey, or lay
in w^ait for it.

None of them lived more than three Days :
and 'tis remarkable, that notwithftanding
frefh Water was give them two or three
times a Day, yet in a few Hours it would
ilink to a Degree fcarce conceivable, and
that too at feveral Yards Diftance, tho' in
proportion to the Water all the included In-
fe<ftswere not more than as i to 1,150,000.

How exquifitely fubtile and minute

muft the Effluvia from the Bodies of thefe
little Animals be, that can fo foon and fo
ftrongly infed: fuch Quantities of Water and
Air? This perhaps makes it neceflary for
them to live in a rapid Stream, kft they
ihould be poifoned with their own Perfpi-

ration,.

infers on the Bark of the Afl), 371

t-ation, as perhaps they were in the Glafs
Phial.

The largefl: of them exceeds not ,-^ of
an Inch in Length and /^ of an Inch in Dia-
meter : they feemed rather foft and flefhy
than cruftaceous, and their Colour was a
Kind of yellowifli gi'cy*

CHAP. XXIII.

InfcOis/ound on the Bark of the Aih.

AT the beginning oi February 1748-9^
I received from the fame curious Perfon
two Pieces of the Twigs of an Afh Tree,
(juft cut when they were fent) of about half
an Inch in Diameter. Each of thefe had one
of its Sides covered thickly from End to End
with Numbers of little Spots, not larger than
very fmall Pins Heads, and rather long than
round. Their Colour was fomewhat diffe-
rent from the Bark on which they were placed,
and an attentive Eye could perceive they
rofe a little about it. On cruihing them, a
Liquor red as Blood iffued out ; and each
Spot, when examined by the Microfcope, was
found to be of a filky Subftance, adhering
clofely to the Bark, and ferving as a Covering
or Neft to 30 or 40 Ova, which on remov-
ing this Covering with the Point of a Lancet
prefented themfdves to View 5 much re-
B b 2 fembling

372 Infects on the Bark of the AJh*

fembling the Aurelitz of Ants in Shape, but
a thoufand times more minute, and of a
beautiful fcarlet Colour.

This Difcovery excited a ftrong Defire of
learning what kind of Animalcules thefe lit-
tle Ova would produce; but thofe in my Pof-
feffion never came to any thing, being I fup-
pofe deprived of a due Degree of Moifture
by the Drying of the Twigs. My Friend's
Diligence however fupplied this Defeft : for
flicking a Bough covered with them into the
Ground, in his Garden, in a warm Corner
where the Sun could fhine freely upon it,
prodigious Swarms were hatched of beauti-
ful Httle Infedis of a fine Scarlet Colour,
whofe Figure is given N'' xiii.—- • O.— Their
Back is fomething like that of the Wood-kufe
or SoWy and in other Refpeds they differ
not greatly from that Animal in Form: but
are armed with a large flrong pair of For*
ceps, which the Wood-loufe has not.

'Tis a pieafing Entertainment to fee them
creep out of their filken Cafes or Coverings,
at an Opening in the Cafes at one End,
left there probably for that purpofe by the
Parent Infed, w^hen fhe wove this Integu-
ment over her little Brood to preferve them
from Jnjury; in like Manner as many Sorts
of Caterpillars leave Openings, or a much
loofer Spinning at one End of their Pods,
through which after their Change they may
be able to come forth. aS^'^ N° xiii. /
4 And

InfeBs on the Bark of the yljh, ^77

And it is worth remarking, that every fingle
Infeft, bcfides being incloied in this Covering
of Silk, wliich is common to 30 or 40 of
them, has a pure white tranfparent Cafe or
Shell, which being left by the In fed: nearly
refembles the Shape of an Hen's Egg; and if
they are not difturbcd at the Time of hatch-
ing, mod of their Egg-fliells will be found
empty under the common Coverture. And by
attending to them ahttle, one fliall fee, at the
fame time, feveral of thefe infects hatched,
fome juft breaking out of their Shells, and
others creeping about with their Shells hang^-
ing to their Tails, as at N^ xiii.

My Friend's Account fays, that the largeft
of thefe Animalcules meafured little more
than the 1 14th Part of an Inch in Length,
and the 200th Part of an Inch in Breadth ,
and confequently the Number of them re-
quired to cover a fuperficial Square Inch
would be fomething more than 22800 "*.

His Method of finding their Magnitude
was as follows. — In order (fays he) to be
certain of the magnifying Power of the Glafs
I made ufe of, (which was the third Magni-
fier) I divided a Line, drawn exactly an Inch
in Length on a Slip of round Glafs, into 20
equal Parts. Then placing this Slip of Gkfs
under the Microfcope, I threw the magni-
fied Image of one of thefe 2Qth Parts upon

B b 3 a Scale

* This is the l^aft Infed I have obferveJ produced cut
of the Water.

m

^74 Loufe of the Carp.

a Scale of Inches feen by the naked Eye, ae-*
cording to Dr. Hooke's Method -f) and found
\i coincide exadtly with 4 Inches : and confe-
quently that the Glafs magnified §0 Times,

Then taking my divided Inch from under
the Magnifier, in order to make ufe of it in
the fame Manner as I before had done of
the Scale of Inches, I caft the magnified
Image of one of thefe Animalcules on my
Scale of Twentieths of an Inch feen only by
the naked Eye, and found its Length to
cover 14 and its Breadth 8 of thofe 20th
Parts of an Inch.-^ — But the Meafures of
IJths and /o^hs being only the- apparent
Dimenfions, they mufl be divided by 80,
the magnifying Power of the Glafs, to give
the real Size of the Animalcule, which will
then be found to be ^ ^ t ^ in Length, and
, A o in Breadth : which Fraftions reduced to
their fmalleft Denominators will be 8~o »
(nearly , \ ^ th) and ^ ^ o • ^^ taken decimally,
J oVo\ o th* and , /^ ^ th Parts of an Inch.

CHAP. XXIV.

The Louse of the Carp,

HE Animal fhewn at N° xiv. Plate
XIV, was found, with feveral others
of the fame Kind, flicking to a large Carp,

juft

t See this Method explained in The Microf^ope made eafy^

Loufe of the Carp. 375

juft taken out of the Canal in St. "james^
Park. I was about one Tenth of an Inch
long, and nearly as much in Breadth at the
broadeft Place. Its Back was covered with
a Shell, (or rather pliable Scale) of the Fi-
gure reprefented in the Drawing : this Shell
was fo extremely tranljwent, that the finny
Legs, of which it has four Pair, befides two
fliorter Claws, might be feen almoft as
clearly through it as if they had no Covering ;
and on each Side the Body of the Animal,
at equal Diftances therefrom, were many cu-
rious and beautiful Ramifications, fomewhat
opake, extending a confiderable Length, and
feeming either to be Blood-veffels, or muf-
cular Proceffes connecting the Body with the

Shell. , ,, T..

The Tail was a Kind of fcaly double Fin,
not unlike thofe at the Extremity of a Lob-
fter's Tail, but exceedingly tranfparent, and
each Half or Fin was marked with one fingle
black Spot, as in the Plate.

The Eyes (which for the Sake of flawing
them to more advantage are greatly magni-
fied at/^. K. I. I.) were very fingular in
their Strudure, being neither fmooth fingle
Balls, like thofe of moil Quadrupeds, Birds
and Fifhes; nor pearled Balls like the Eyes
of many Infers; but in this Animal each
Eye was compcfed of a globular Body, almolt
incircled round with fmaller Globules, as the

Prawincr reprefents.

B b 4 Between

♦•

J 76 Loufe of the Carp,

Between the Eyes appeared two pair of
fhort ftrong Spines, pne pair whereof points
led forwards and the other backwards : I
Icnow not whether thefe ferved as Feelers,
or were Weapons of Defence or OiFence.
At a httle Diflance below the Eyes were
placed two large cylindrical or rather fome-
what conic Suckers, compofed of feveral
Annuliy feemingly like thoie that form the
Windpipe in Birds and Beafts. The Animal,
by means of thefe, adheres and fixes itfelf fo
ftrongly to the Fifh it preys upon, that all
the Motions apd Efforts it can ufe are in-
futhcient to fhake off the little Tormentor,
who is continually feeding on and making it
uneafy. See the Suckers 7^. K. 2, 2. Juft
below them at 3, and above the grand in-
tefcinal Duel, lay the Heart, compofed of two
Lobes, which might Jdc it^n to contradl and
dilate alternately, as the Hearts of many
other minute aquatic Infeds do.

One of the fhort Fore-claws, which is co-
vered witi;i a flrong Shell, and armed with
three Hooks at its largeil Joynt, is fhewn

fig' L.

This little Creature makes a very pretty
Appearance in the Water, where it is con-
tinually playing up and down, with a Kind
of hovering Motion, like that of the May.-
Fly in the Air, Sometirnes it leaves the
Firti to divert itfelf for a while in fuch

banner, and then fettles on it and fixes itfelf

agam^

Loufc of the Banjlickky or Prkklcback. 37^

3gain. The internal Motions of the Bowels,
Qc, are prelented (b finely to Obfervation,
by the uncommon Tranlparency of its Shell
and Skin, that it is a moft agreeable Objed
for the Microfcope \ and the Carp is often
peftered with fuch Numbers of them, that
they are not very difficult to procure. They
may be kept a long while with the Carp m
Water, but unlefs the Fifli be with them
they die in a Day or two.

The natural Size of this Infed, as its full
Growth, is fomething lefs than one of its
Eyes appears in the magnifiedy^. K.

CHAP. XXV-
T^he Loufe of the Banftickle, or Prickleback.

NUMB. XV. is the Figure of the little
Vermin that infefts the Banfikkle or
Pricklebacki whereto it adheres fo firmly
that it is hardly poflible for the Fiih to get
rid of it, unlefs it pleafes to unfix itfelf. It is
furnifhed with a pair of fucking Inftruments
like the Carp-loufey has the fame Number of
Legs or Fins which are continually in Motion
whether it be fwimming or faftened upon the
Fifti : and in moft other Particulars it lb near-
ly refembles the faid Animal, that after
taking notice of fome Difference in Shape,

which

37^ Long'fnouted Squtllai &c.

which the Pidlure may ferve to fhew, no-
thing more need be laid about it.

CHAP. XXVI.

7 he Long- fn Oil ted Squill a, &c.

SEVERAL ofthelnfedsfliewnN^xvi.
were fent to me ixoxnTarmouthy in a Bot-
tle of very clear Water. Some were about a
Sixth Part as big as the Picfture, and others a
great deal lefs, but none of them alive; having
either been fuffocated by corking the Bottle
too clofe, or fhaken to Death in bringing.
They feem to be of the Squilla Kind, tho* a
Species 1 have never feen before or fince^ but
the Numbers that were fent make me imagine
they are frequent in thofe Parts.

The Back is cruftaceous, and joynted like
a Lobfter's Tail^ having ten Articulations,
which divide it into eleven Parts, the mid-
dlemoft of which are widefti for they leflen
from thence to the joyning on of the Head
one Way, and grow tapering the other Way
to the Extremity of the Tail, which ends
almoft in a Point, with a Sort of a Horn on
each fide, that extends beyond the Tail. The
Scales of the Back reach down the Sides, and
meet the upper Part of the Belly, beyond
which they ftretch out and overhang a
little. The Belly is fofter than the Back,

and

JMfn^yc.

Liong-fnoutcd SqiiilLi, &c. ^j()

and from its anterior Part proceed fix Legs,
on each fide three, joynted in an odd Man-
ner, and fcemingly but aukward for walking
with. But the moft extraordinary Part of
this Animal is the Head : a Draught whereof,
magnified a great dealmore, is giveny^.S.—
This Head is armed with a Pair of very (harp
hooked Forceps 5 between which it is leng-
thened out into a Sort of Probofcis, whofe
Shape refembles a Duck's Bill, and under
that the Forceps can occafionally be brought
together, or even crofs each other, in order
to fecure its Prey. However, this Probofcis
did not divide nor open like a Bill or Mouth,
neither could I difcover that it had any Per-
foration : which makes it probable, that the
Creature fucks in its Nourilhment intirely
through the arched Limbs of the Forceps,
in the fame manner as the Sauilla defcribed
pag, 358. And indeed our prelentSubjedl dif-
fers little from that voracious Squiila (which
I take it to be another Species of) except
in having a Probofcis ; whereas in that the
Forepart of the Head between the Forceps
is remarkably fhort and flat J.

The Figures M and N, in this fame Plate,
are two Views of an Animalcule, many of
which were difcovered in Water that had
been kept in a Glafs Jar for fome Months. — •

It

t Suppofing the Probofcis away, the Drawing N° xvi,
will give a pretty good Idea of the Squilla pag. 338.

380 A Letter from a Friend y &c.

It is ihewn at M in the Pofture of fwimming,
at which Time it moves pretty fwiftly with
its iiat Head foremoPc : its Tail appears di-
vided, and on each Side it extends a fpread-
ing Fin. At N it is fhewn in Profil, and
with its Fins drawn in, as ufually is the Cafe
when it appears at reft.

'Tis about the Size of thelargeft Animal-
cules found in the Infufions of Hay in Water.

CHAP. XXVII.

A Letter from a Friend, containing many
curious Microfcopical Obfervations, &c.

ANY of the Drawings in PlateXY.
together with the Defcriptions of
them, were fent me by a Gentleman, whofe
true Judgment in the Ufe of the Micro-*
fcope, and the Accuracy of whofe Pencil in
delineating therefrom, I have been long ac-
quainted with : and whofe Name, had I
leave to mention it, would do great Honour
to this Work, as his Friendship does to the
Author of it. As it is therefore neceffary
to give his Defcription of thefe curious Sub-
jecfls in his own Words, I hope it may he
excufable to publifh the whole Letter where-
in they are inferted, though written with the
feind Partiality of a Friend,

A Letter from a Friendy &c. 381

SIR,

I Am glad you are determined to publlfli
your Microfcopical Obfervations, There
are few who have been able like you, to
gain Accefs to the Sacrai'iu?n in quo reduBa
et claufa funt arcana Naturce ; fewer ftill
who have Capacity to fmooth the Path for
others, and render the Examination of Na-
ture by the Microfcopc eafy, fliort and plea-
fant: This you have done, and thereby have
acquired a Title to the Obfervations which
by your Book others have been enabled to
make. What I fend you are therefore of
right your own. They have fufFered indeed
by not being under your Eye ; their Defeats
are mine 5 what Worth they may have muft
be afcribed to the Affiftance of your printed
Directions for the Ufe of the Microfcope.

You defire to add to your proper Obfer-
fervations, fuch as have been occafionally
made by your Friends : and as I am fo happy
as to be one of that Number, I fhall here
communicate what has occurred tome; per-
haps of very little Confequence, but as rerum
Natiira facra fua no7i Jimul tradit, 7iec 07nni-
bus ilia patent, the following Obfervations
may have the Recommendation of 'Novelty
in feme Degree : and thofe that are not in-
tirely new 1 fend to you, becaufe they tend
to corred: the imperfedt or incompleat Ob-
fervations already publiflied.

The

^Sa Pediculus dqudticm.

The Drawings I made myfelf, when th«
Objed:s were under Examination, with Mr.
Cuff^ Microfcopes, and as exaffly as I could :
and his Glafles are fo excellent, that if there
ihould be found any Defedls in the Figures^
they muft be attributed to my Inaccuracy
and Difufe of Drawing. However, fuch as
they are> they are at your Service*

If thefe Things ihall appear infignificantj,
yet as in complying with your Defire to have
them, they afford me an Opportunity of
jfhewing my Regard and Friendifhip for you,
they are grateful and valuable to me*

I fhall firft give you an Account of what
I have met with in Refped: to Water-In-
fedts, which have, formerly, in many Inftan-
ces, been thought imperfed: in their Pro-
dudtion, from the Imbecility of the Element
to which their Creation was attributed : for
aquatic Infedts may certainly be compre-
hended under Animalia aquatka, which &-
neca calls, tarda et informia, ut in aere cceco
pinguique concept o» But Attention to the
Works of God makes manifeft, that the
Heavens do not only declare his Glory ;**«
Jupiter eji quodcunque 'uides. And indeed
whoever fearches the Waters will not find
his Curiofity difappointed -, there he will fee.
the Works of God difplayed to thofe who
delight in them ; and perhaps with greater
Variety aad more Profulion than any other
Element,

Pediciilus aquaticus, jSl

Fig, I. Plate XV. is an aquatic Infcd: of
which we have two Drawings and Accounts,
both very lliort; one in the Phil. 'Tranf, 288,
the other in the Letters of Mr. Leeuwenhoeky
Epijl, 121 : and as this Infecft has no Name,
I will venture to call it the Pediculus aquati-
ciis y for the Infedl to which Goedart gives
that Name, is now allowed to be the Pulex
arhorefcens, or arbor ens of Svcammerdafn. This
Infed: is a common one, and of the crufta-
ceous Kind, but being pretty tranfparent it
is a beautiful Objed: in the Microfcope,
When it is fwimming It appears as^. i. It
has five Pair of Legs ; the firft Pair on the
Side of the Head are the longefl it has, the
four other Pair are fliort and upon its Belly :
the firft and fecond Pair are only vifible as it
fwims. The Back is guarded with large
Scales which proceed all the Way to the TaiU
but from the eighth Scale they are frequently
covered fo thick with Hair, that only the
Joynts or Divifions are difcernable -, but in
other Poflures, as in N'3. the Scales arc
vifible all the Way to the Tail. — The
Tail is divided into two, with Hairs iflAjing
from the Extremities of each Divifion, which
in fwimming are kept extended as in^.
1. The Colour of this Infecfl is a pale
brown.

Fig. 4. fliews the Infedt upon its Back,
when all the Legs were vifible ; only the

three

384 Fedkulus aquaikiisl

three lowefl: Pair were laid back upon ItsBo^
dy, and kept in a conftant Motion among the'
Hairs which cover its Belly, as if brufhing
itfelf. Nearer the Tail, appear two Bags ot
Paps, hanging down; with a round Part at the
Extremities, fet with a few Hairs. I at firft
imagined thefe were the Receptacles of its
Spawn, but have fince found the Spawn plac-
ed much lower under the Tail : fo that if
this be the Place of the Spawn in the parti-
cular Infed: thefe Drawings were taken from^
there may be differentSpecies of thefe Infedts,

Fig. 3. is the fame Infedi reclined on
one lide, when the Scales are moft canfpicu-
ous as they unite : eight of its ten Legs are
vifible, and only one of the Paps appears
hanging down.

It is faid in the T^ranfadiions that this In-*
feft is monoculous ; and indeed it is not eafy
to difcover its Eyes ; they are placed in the
Middle of the Head between the firft Pair of
Arms, and appear as inj%. 2. But it has
two Eyes joined at the Bottom, both coni-
cal, and apparently feparated towards the
Vertices as at^^. X. which Ihews thefe Eyes
greatly magnified. When the Head of the
Infedt is bent down, they may cafily be mif-
taken for one Eye, as is evident from their
Appearance inj%. 3.

Mr. Leeuwenhoek's Painter has given us a
very bad Figure of this Infeft ; his Account

mentions

Pcdkiilus aquaticus, o S r

hientions the Manner of its carrying the
Spawn. In fig, 2. towards tlic Tail, the
Spawn Bags (at lead what I bcheved llicli)
were more extended than in any of the
other Figures, but no Spawn was difcovered
in them ; and lince thefe Drawings 1 have
examined more of the Pcdiculi aquatici, and
find the Spawn fixed to the Tail much low-
er than thofe Bags, and adhering to the Tail
by two fine Ligaments, which are eafily broke
by the Infecl's llirring itfelf in the Water ^
and fometimes all the Spawn comes away-
flicking together, but oftener feparated and
difperfed among the Water. But though I
have kept the Spawn fome time, I never
could find the young Infecfts in the Water,
which Leeuwcnhoek fpeaks of; but perhaps
I have not had mine when the Spawn was
come to an equal State of Maturity. I have
lent you this Account, becaufe the former
Figures of this Infedt have been extremely
imperfed: in all refpedls, except the Spawn,
which in IS/h.Leeuu- en hock's Drawing: is exa^^l
enough J, and alfo as I found the Opinion
received that this Infect varied from all others
in being monociikus.

C c The

\ From finding this little Creature very frequently with
Its two Bags of Spawn adhering to its Tail, (as may be^feen
Plate IX. Ji^. U. of the Micrcfcope made cafy\ in the Draw-
ing there, taken from Mr. Lteuxvcnhoek^) I have been ac-
cifltomed to call it t\it Ba^-Anlmiil.

386 Animalcules found in Water.

The two Figures 5 and 6 are I believe
only different Appearances of the fame In-
fed:, altho' there is fome Variation in the
Make of the Shells, but in all other refpecls
they agree. I at firft took this Infedi for
the Fulex arborefcensy Ind certainly it may be
claffed with it: but comparing it with Swam-*
merdam^ Figure, it by no Means agrees
therewith, nor with that which you {hewed
me -f* ; for in this there are four Brachia
ramofay in the other only two; thefe here
are lower, and proceed from the Infedt un-
der the Shell, the others are on each Side
the Head and from the Shell. This Infeft
has two AntenncBy and that has none, but a
Bill like a Bird's. — I have drawn thefe as
they appeared fwimming with their Backs to
the Eye, where the joyning of the Shells is
vifible, which feemed ridged or marked with
black Streaks as in the Figures: the Colour
was a deep brown.

In fome Pond Water with the Lens pa^
lufiris I found the Infedls of which I fent
J^ou \ht Drawings Jig, 7. and 8. The firft
of thefe, y?^. 7. was contained in four very
thin tranfparent Shells. The two upper
Shells united on the Back, and declined down
the Sides till they met with two under Shells,
making at the joyning of the Sides acute

Angles,

t The Figure here mentioned may be fcea Plate XII.

jiramalcides found in IVater, 387

Angles, and at their joyning on the Back
and Belly ohtufc Angles; but the upper
Shells projedled beyond the lower, which
appeared beyond the upper towards the Tail,
and probably by this means thcfe upper Shells
ferved the InfcLt Inftead of Fins, and to keep
it up in the Water. All the Shells were
elliptical.

The Figure reprefents the Infed; fwim-
ming, when the Head appeared beyond the
Shells without any Antennae or Feelers: the
Tail was divided and extended : the Body
was very apparent, and that Part which is
on the Back in the Middle was in a con-
ftant Motion, alternately contracting and di-
lating. From each fide below this Part there
appeared a Ligament, terminating at the
Circumference of the upper Shells, and may
perhaps ferve to keep the Shells fteady, or
to move them, if they be moveable, which
I could not difcover, for the Motion of the
Infcift is very equable and fmooth.

Fig. 8. is an Infedl which I am apt to be-
lieve is the fame 2.% fig, 5. in another Pcfture,
as it (lands feeding in the Water : for it a-
grees in Colour and in the Shell exadly : the
AntennjE and Arms have as near a Refem-»
hlance as can be expeded in fucli differing
Pofitions. It has indeed two Legs behind,
wherewith it fixes itlelf to the Glafs, which
do not appear in the other; but if thev are
only to fix itfclf, they may be covered urider
C c 2 the

388 Animalcules found in Water,

the Shell when fwiniming : however there
is fome difrerence in the Appearances. This
Infedl fwims well and nimbly, and by a ra-
pid Motion of its Arms makes a ftrong Cur-
rent to bring it Food : (which Manner of
feeding by a Current or an Eddy is common
to many other Water Animals :) indeed, the
Swiftnefs with which it moves not only
the two Arms that are extended to draw
Things to it, but alfothofe that are bent back,
to drive along each fide what is not fit for
its Food, and the Way they co-operate all
together to make a flrong Stream, is incon-
ceiveably curious, as well as its Conftancy
and unwearied Application. When it is dis-
turbed it draws itfelf intirely into the Shell,
and then appears not unlike a fmall Freili
Water Mufcle.

The Infedl jig. 9. is very uncommon : I
never met with any more of the Kind, nor
with any Account of it. At firft, when I
found it among fome Water in a leaden
Ciftern flocked with the Nytnpba VermictiU
of the Gnat, I fancied it might be the Ver-
miculus of that Infed;^ efpecially as the Head
was not very unlike it, and it had pulmona-
ry Tubes towards the Tail, 2i^ xh^ Nyjnpha
Vermiculus has one. But as it never chang-
ed its State during three Weeks that I kept
it alive, though the Gnats changed much
fooner, and it has many different Parts from

thofe.

An'wialcuks found In Water, 3 S9

thofe, I mufl: own I know not what Inledt
it is, or what State it is in.

The natural Length of this Infcdl was
}-Jki of an Inch, and its Breadth at the
Shoulders or broadcft Parti^jo of an Inch,
according to the mofl: exadc Dimcnfions I
was able to take. Its Colour was a pale red
or pink, which appeared deeper at the joy n-
ing of the Rings, but tranlparent. The Head
was covered with a Shell, of a light brown,
with two fmall Eyes fet round with Han*, as
was alfo the Mouth, or at lead that Forepart
of the Head on each Side of which it had
the Antennae bending inwards ; but without
Hair or any Joynts between the Shell of the
Head and the firft Ring of the Body ; the
Neck Part which appeared being a Continu-
ation from the Head. Its Body confifted of
eleven Rings, tapering fomething all the
Way to the Tail, hut the two firft and three
laft Rings not fo wide as thofe in the Mid-
dle. Under the iirfl and fecond Ring it had
two Legs, (of which one only could be re-
prefented in the Figure) and their Extremi-
ties were fet round with Hairs : between the
tenth and eleventh Ring two fmall Tubes
arofe, making an obtufe Angle with the
Forepart of the Infedl's Body, but an acute
Angle with each other : the Encs of thefe
Tubes were fet round with Hairs and fe'emed
to be open : I take thefe to be pulmonary :
not that the Infedt always kept them upon

C: ; the

2go Animalcules found in Water,

the Surface of the Water, though It often
brought itfelf up till they were there, but
becaufe in other Infedls fuch like Inftru-
ments of breathing have been obferved.

From the eleventh Ring the Tail begins;
which is reprefented as it appears when the
Infect ufes it fojt fwimming, and the whole
of it is mod viilble. It does not however
keep it in this Polture when fwimming, but
alternately extends it on each fide and brings
it together again as Men do their Arms in
fwimming. The Ends of each Branch of
the Tail are fet round with Hairs, and there
feems to be a Joynt in each ; but the Draw-
ing will give you a better Idea of it than any
Words. — - I muft not however omit faying
fomething of its Inteftines. On each fide
there is a fmall Veflel running from the Head
to the Tail, in which a conftant Circulation
of a pellucid Fluid was difcernable : from
the fecond Ring to the fourth a dark-colour--
cd Veflel appeared, with the End next the
Head feemingly open, or if covered, it was
with a light-coloured circular Tegument.
This Veifel terminated in a fine Canal that
feemed to enter another Bag of a clear white
Colour, at whofe End was a Gut or Canal
that went quite down to the Tail. This Bag
orV^effel I conjediured might be its Stomach.
Above this Gut, and at the feventh Ring, be-^
iran another Veifel or Ligament, I can't tell
vvhich; reaching (after crofling itfelf twice)
■X ta

Animakuks found in Water, 3 9 1

to half the tenth Ring, and there ending
abruptly, without communicating with any
other Part; fo that unlefs it be an Inftru-
mentfor conrrad:Ing the Body of the Iniedt
in walking along the Bottom of the VeiTel
it is in, it feems only a Provifion for fome
other State it is to affume. — I forgot to ob-
ferve, that when the Infedl fwims it ufes al-
fo its Fore-legs, bringing them up clofe un-
der its Head, and moving them back clofe
under its Belly.

If I couid have found any more of this
Kind, fo as to have ventured killing it, by
viewing it in the Solar Microfcope I might
have given you a fuller Account of it, efpe-
cially of the Inteftines : but as I was curious
to difcover what Changes it might undergo,
I was very tender of it ; however I was dif-
appointed, for it died after I had kept it
three Weeks from the 5th 0^ September ^ and
in a Week after it was gone to pieces, fo
that I could not bring it to Town to fhew it
you as I intended.

Fig, 10. the only one of its Kind I have
ever feen, is an Infedl called by Monficitr de
Reaumur le Vers a queue de Rat, the Worin
liuith a Rat's I'aily of which he has given an
accurate Account, Mem. ii. Vol. 4. of his ex-
cellent Memoires, It is it feems the Vermi-
culus of a Fly with two Wings :}; ; and if I

C c 4 had

X It changes to a fort o^ Gad-FIy or Breeze, about theSize"
and Colour of the common Bee^ having only two Wings :
the Tail Part broad and fiat, and without any iJting.

39^ Animalcules found in Water.
had had his Book when this Infedl was
iound, I fliould have made freer with it than
I did, and not have preferved it to obferve
its Change of State. The Drawing of it I
fend you, and for an Account of it refer you
to Monjieur de 'Reaumur,

This Infedb was found in aCiftern of Rain-
Water in Augufi, The Length of its Body
was I of an Inch, but its Tail was four times
the Length of the Body, though not extended
pear fo far as it was capable of being. Above
Half of the Tail was covered with a fine
Down, in fmall circular Diviiions, as the
whole Body w^as : this Down or foft Sub-
ftance is of a fine reticular Make, and at the
Head there appeared two Antennas within
the outward Coat, which the Lifedtby means
of thefe Antenna fpread out or dilated at
Pleafure : fo that the downy Covering feem-
ed not fo properly Part of the Infe6t as to
contain the InfecSi:. There v/ere Fibres vi-
iibly crofling upon the Back, and running
down to the Tail : And near the Tail, be-
tween thefe, a Vefiel of a black Colour ap-
peared, growing gradually lefs to the Extre-
niitv. The Colour of the Infed was a pal^
Aili, the Tail and Antennae black, the Extre-
mity of the Tail fet with Hair.

I take this Infed to be the fame with the
Rat-tail'd Infed oi Monjieur deReau?nur, but
by the Figure you will fee it does not in all
Refpe6ls agree with \yhat he has defcribed :•

perhaps

The TIarvcJl Bug. jq^'

perhaps the Flies of which thefc are the

Worms, or the Nymph oe, may vary in E?jg-
/ami t} cm thofe in France, where certainly,
they are more common than here. The
principal Difference is in the Legs, of which
this had only fix Pair, his feven : the Ends
of them were fct round with Hairs, and jufl
under the Tail was a Angular Fin, double,
joyned at the lowed Part in an acute Angle,
and from thence growing fmaller 'till it came
to the Body. By means of this Fin, as a
Rudder, it fteered itfelf in the Water, on the
Surface of which it kept the Extremity of
its Tail : and when Water was added, it
lengthened its Tail as much as it could : and
if that did not reach the Surface, it raifed
itfelf higher, exactly as Mojifieur de Reaumur
obferves, and about the fame Length, (near
five Inches,) before the In fed: was obliged to
leave the Bottom of the Glafs.

I fliall now defcribe an Infecfl not found
in Water, and very common in Time of
Harvefl:, but of which I have never feen any
Drawing or Account. It is called the Har-
I'eji Bug : is of a bright red Colour : fo vtry
fmall as to be imperceptible to the naked
Eye, and on the Point of a fine Needle re-
fembles a Drop of Blood. A Drawing taken
from the Infe^fl preferved in a Slider, and
greatly magnified, is given^yf^. ii.

I had often heard of thefe Infedls, but did
not give intire Credit to what I heard, 'till a

Lady

394 ^^^ Harvejl Bug*

Lady taking this out of her Neck convinced
me of their Exiftence and Tafte. They are
extremely troublefome to thofe that walk in
the Fields in Time of Harvefl, efpecially to
the Ladies, for they know what Skins are
fineft and eafieft to pierce. They have at the
HeadaProbofcisneari of their own Length;
by which they firft make way through the
Skin, and then bury themfelves under it,
(leaving no Mark but afmall red Spot) and
by their fucking the Blood create a violent
Itching; a good Remedy for which is a little
Hungary Water ; though perhaps Spirit of
Wine with Camphire might be more de-
ilrudive to thefe little troublefome Attend-
ants of Summer Walks. They are I believe
frequently carried in the Winds at their Sea-
fon, for I have fince known them attack
Ladies in a Garden, which was defended
from a Corn Field by a Wall, too high for
thefe Infefe to get over any other Way.

They have three Legs on each Side, with
four Joynts fet with Hair, as the Body is all
round. The firll: Pair of Legs arife from the
Back, juft below the Eyes: the other two
Pair from the Bellv : it has alfo two fhort
Antenna, one from each Side of the Head,
which appears with a Diviiion In the Mid-
dle. I have fometimes fufpedted this little
Creature might be a young Sheep-Tick>
from its Figure and Way of burying itfelf :
but then it Ihould be found rather where

Sheep

Seed of the Lime Tree. ^rp^

Sheep feed than in Fields of Corn, growing,
and before Sheep arc fuffcred to come into
thofe Fields : and it is never got as I have
heard in Grafs Fields, unlefs bordering upon
Corn; but amonglT: Wheat it never fails. If
any one has a mind to make Trial upon this
Infect, how it comes to be amongfl: Corn
only, and yet lives by fucking of Blood, he
may eafily find Abundance of them : for
though they prefer the Ladies, yet they are
fo voracious, that they will certainly lay hold
of any Man's Legs that combes in their Way.

1 intended to have fent you an Account
and the Figure of the young Plant found in
the Kidney Bean, but as that has been already
accurately obferved by Dr. Grew in the Ana-^
tomy of PlafitSy I need not trouble you with
it : I fhall therefore only take Notice of the
Seeds of two other Plants which have not
hitherto been obferved, as far as I know.

In the Seed of the Lime Tree, which a-
rifes from a Stalk in the Middle of the Leaf,
(as reprefented N° I. fg. i.) there is a young
Plant to be found, when the Seed is ripe, to-
wards the Beginning of Otiober,

The Seed of the Lime Tree is covered
with a rough Skin, within v^hich there is a
Shell, but not hard; if this Shell be carefully
opened there will appear a thin white Juice,
inclofing fix Pods or Bags, all tyed together,
and adhering to that End of the Seed which
is joyned to the Stalk, with very fine Fibres

running

505 Seed of the Lime T'ree.

running up the Infide of the Shell, and ap-
pearing as/^. 2. Thefe Pods when taken
out of the Shell appear as 7^. 3.

As the Seed advances in Maturity this
white Juice grows harder, 'till it is quite ripe,
and fome one of thefe Pods has robbed the
reftof Nouriihment, by taking place within
the Kernel, where it expands and excludes
the reft, which v/ill now be found flicking
to the outward Cover of the Kernel dried to a
brown Colour, with their Fibres embracing
the Kernel, ferving only as Cords to keep the
Nouriihment of their more fortunate Brother
together, and appearing as^. 5. So that if
we follow the Opinion of Swammerdam and
Voltaire in his Metaphyjics of Sir Ifaac New-
ton, pag. 54. of the Englifh Tranflation, that
ivefee in Things a Dijenvellopement only, here
the x^uthor of Nature has provided in one
Seed fix Vermiculi, one of which alone is to
become a Nympha Plant : for I never met
with any Seed which contained more than
one young Plant, in that State, which under
Voltaire s, Authority, I may venture to call
the Nympha State.

When the Seed is come to a fufficient
Confidence, and ready to drop from the Tree,
if it be opened it will appear as^. 4: the
infide filled with a white {hinina: Subftance
inclofing a deep green Plant like a Flower,
which arifes by a fmall Fibre from that Part
of the Seed to which the Stalk adhered,, and

per-

Seed of Afparagus, 397

perpendicular to it. The Plant when taken
out, and viewed in the Microfcope, appears
as at//^. 6. All the Fibres of the Leaves are
difcernable, altho' the Leaves are themfelves
thicker in proportion than thofe of the Tree,
and fecmingly turgid with Juice. Thefs
Ltaves are double, and fo tender and foft
that I could only with the fineft Needle fe-
parate them a little towards the Top, as I
have endeavoured to reprefent in the Draw-
ing.

N°n. is the Seed oi A/par agus. — Ftg, i.

is the red Berry as it grows from the Stalk,

which contains, in a foft watry Pulp, fix

black fhining Seeds, formed as I have tried

to reprefent at 7%. 2. Their Appearance,

which ever way you view them, reprefents

that Shape which Bellini calls Pelecoides.

Each of thefe Seeds contains a hard white

ihining Subftance with bright fmall Specks

all over it ; and, lying horizontally, a fmall

Plant, white indeed but with a yellow Caft,

plainly different from the Parenchyma in

which it is fituated. This Plant examined

in the Microfcope appears as fg, 4. with

bright Spots like Papillae all over it, and the

bending Leaf at the Top tending to a faint

green. When the Plant is taken out the

Section of the Seed appears as^^. 3. in which

the Bed of the young Plant runs quite

through the Parenchyma, from one Side of

the

3 9 S ' Seed of Afparagus.

the Covering or outward black Film to the
other.

Altho' I fliall endeavour to follow the
learned Mr. Hook!^ Advice to thofe who
fliould correfpond with the Royal Society :
** to fend the Kernel of Fad: ftript from the
*^ Shell of Impertinencies," yet you will
give me leave to obferve two Singularities in
this young Plant of the Afparagus. Firjly
that its Poiition in the Seed is very different
from moil others : this lies horizontally, and
not perpendicular to the Jundlure of the
Stalk, as others generally do ; and indeed
though I have iztVL many Seedling or Nym-
pha Plants, I never met with one pofited as
the Afparagus is. Secondly^ it has no Fibres
or Liguments communicating with the Seed
in which it is inclofed^ but lies in it as a Ni-
dus, adhering only by filling the hollow Bed
exaftly.

I have now given you an Account, and
I fear a tedious one, of fome things unob-
ferved before, I believe, which have occurred
to me : from your Friendihip I am perfuad-
ed I need make no Excufe for it ; if I was
to make one, Fliny the elder (et ilk etiam
Caiifas a^itavit) fhall tell you my Sentiments
as well as his own, ijiter cri?nina ingrati ani-*
mi St hoc ducOi Natuf-am ignorare.

I am. Sir,

Your iincere Friend and moft

humble Servant.

[ 399 ]
CHAP. XXVIII.

QT luminous Water Insects,

IN my former Trcatife on the Microfcope,
I took Notice of the flmihig Light fre-
quently found on the Shells of Oylters, as
beng produced by three Sorts of Animal-
cules, which are there defcribed, according
to the Account given of them by Monfieur
Auxaut *. I had then no Opportunity of
adding any Figure to that Account : but hav-
ing not long ago been favoured (by a Friend
whom I can depend on) with the Defcrip-
tion and Drawing of one Sort of Animal-
cule, which he had obferved to occafion fuch
Light, I (hall infert it here.

Having (he fays) been fometimes fur-
prifed at the Sparks of Light to be {t^x\ on
the Shells ofOyfters, on removing them, or
ftriking on them, when newly taken from
the Sea; he beftowed fome Pains to find
out the Caufe ; and after many Examina-
tions became perfedly convinced, that thefe
fhining Sparks are lucid Emanations from
a minute \vi{^di^ differing in its general Form
but little from the common Sco!opcndra.T\xi'^
Infe6l he carefully made a Drawing of from
the Microfcope, an exad: Copy of which is

driven

Microfcope made eafy, ihirJ Edit, tcg^ 24.r.

400 Lummous Water InfeSis.

given at Letter A. Its Length was about

the 4th and its Breadth rather more than the
loo^h Part of an Inch.

The Body conlifts of twenty-eight Joynts
or Divifions, exclufive of the Head and Tail
Parts : each of thefc Divifions has a Pair of
Feet belonging to it, (viz. one on each fide)
making the whole Number of its Feet 56,
or twenty-eight Pair : they are all fhort and
h^kt with Hairs.

The Tail Part is larger than any of the
other Divifions, and has three pretty long
Spines or Briffles proceeding therefrom. The
Head is remarkable, on Account of its being
armed with a Pair of Forceps uncommonly
long and large in proportion to the other
Parts: beginning much farther backwards
than is ufual in other Animals, and reach*
ing beyond the anterior Part of the Head, in
a Manner very convenient for feizing its
Prcy and carrying to the Mouth any thing
it takes hold of. It is furniihed with a Pair
of Horns, and has befides at the Snout two
iliort Antenns or Feelers.

This little Infe6l can emit or conceal its
Light: and fometimes its Luftre is fo bright
as to be difcoverable even in open Day-light,
elpecially on being touched or difturbed -f-.

its

t The Rev. Mr. Thomas Harmer of Wattlefield in BuffoJt:,
fenta Sealnfedl to a Friend, who gave it me, preferved im
Spirit of Wine. The Account Mr. Harmer wrote with it

Luminous Water Infccls, 40 1

Its Light is blueilh like that of the Glow-
worm, or a Spark ot hurning Brinifionc. —
My Friend obferves, that our fmall Land
Scolopemlra has likewife the Property of fliin-
ing in the Dark, which indeed has bcea
taken notice of long ago *.

It

fays, that opening Oyfters he found this Animal between two
Shells which ftuck together. It was alive, but faint. Perceiving
it emitted Light in the Shade, he carried it to a dark Place,
where by irritating it on the Back with a Pin it Ihone pretty
ftrongly more than once. The Light appeared on its Back to-
wards theTail, chiefly in two Spots; but, when more violently
hritated, itwasfometimes feen darting along the Back; and,
particularly once, it was illuminated in llreaks up toitsvery
Head. The Infefl growing more languid, he putit between the
Shellswhereitwas found, in fome Water wherein Salt was dif-
folved, hoping it might revive ; but in an Hour it was quite
dead. — 'Tis about ^^ of an Inch long, and -i-of an Inch in
Breadth ; in Figure flat, with many Fins along its Sides from
End to End.

* Moiiffet^nitSj that his Friend Mr. Breujer found twice
by Night in the Summer Seafon, amongft Heath and Mofs,
the Jhi7iing Scolopendra, lucid and fiery ; its v/hole Body
emitted Light, but fomcwhat fainter than the Glow-worm.
Mr. Breu.er farther fays, — '* Happening to come home one
Night in a Sweat, and in the Dark wiping my Head with a
Linen Handkerchief, the whole Handkerchief appeared to
me fhining, and as it were on Fire ; and whilfi I viewed this
feeming Miracle with Surprize, the Light was all coilecled
in one Spot : whereupon folding the Handkerchief together,
Icalled for a Candle, and on opening it difcoveredoneofthefe
Scolopendray which by being rubbed about my Head, had
fpread over the whole Handkerchief I know not what kind
of flaming Vapour." — He affirms it was like the '^cohpendra
found in Gardens under Stones and Flower Pots. Vid. Thea-
irum Infeil. Cap. XV. De Cicindda.

I take this to be the Kind o^Scoloprndra Mr. Willoughhx de-
fcribes, lying rolled up amongll Earth and Dung: Its Colour
a biowhor whitifh yellow, the Head of a pale Chefnuu, hav-
ing two Antennae^j its Length half an Inch, its Tail forked :

Dd it!

402 Luminous Water Infers,

It feems not improper to fay fomewhat
iti this Place concerning the fhining of Sea
Wat^r, fi nee not without the Appearance of
Reafon, it has heen fuppofed owing to vaft
Numbers of luminous Infedls, of which pof-
fibly in the Waters there may be various
Kinds as well as upon the Land.

A curious Enquirer into Nature -f-, dwell-
ing at Wells^ upon the CozQl oi Norfolk^ af-
iirms^ from his own Obfervations, that the
Sparkling of Sea Water is occalioned by In-
fed:s. His Anfwer to a Letter wrote to him
on that Subjedl: runs thus : *' In the Glafs of
*[ Sea Water I fend with this are fome of the
Animalcules which caufe the Sparkling
Light in Sea Water ; they may be feen by
holding the Phial up againft the Light,
refembling very fmall Bladders or Air
** Bubbles, and are in all Places of it from
Top to Bottom, but moftly towards the
Top, where they affemble when the Wa-
ter has flood ftill fome Time, unlefs they
have been killed by keeping them too
long in the Phial.

Placing one of thefe Animalcules before
a good Microfcope> an exceeding minute

** Worm

Its Feet 96,(withoiit including the Forceps attheTail) that
is 48 Pair.

One Evening after Rain, {^.y s Mr. Ray j I found a fmall
Scolopendra of this Sort fhining like a GlonAj-iuorm ; 'twas
covered with a flimy Matter, which being wiped away, it
ceafed not to fhine. Vid. Raj Hiji. Iv/^^orum^ pag. 45.

\MY.JofephSparJhalL

te

(C

i€
iC

it
te

Luminous Water Infe6ls. 403

'* Worm may be difcovered, hanging with
its Tail hxed to an opake Spot in a kind
of Bladder \y which it has certainly a
Power of contradling or diftending, and
thereby of being fufpended at the Surface,
or at any Depth it pleafes in the including
" Water/^

The abovementloned Phial of Sea Water
came fafe, and fome of the Animalcules
were difcovered in it, but they did not emit
any Light, as my Friend fays they do upon
the leaft Motion of the Phial when the Wa-
ter is newly taken up. He likewife adds> .
that at certain Times, if a Stone be thrown
into the Sea, near the Shore, the Water will
become luminous as far as the Motion reach-
eth : this chiefly happens when the Sea hath
been greatly agitated, or after a Storm.

Jaf. Vianelli, M. D. of Chioggta in Italy ^ vci
his Enquiry into the fliining of Sea Water in
the Night Time, (which, he fays, is {^^.vi
with Wonder in theLakes oiChioggia, from
the beginning: of Summer until Autumn, ef-
pecially where Sea Weeds abound,) relates,
that he brought from thence, one Summer's ^
Night, a large Veffel of this Sea Water, |
which being ftirred about by his Hands in
a dark Clofet, fparkled very much; but after
it was filtered through a clofe Piece of Lin-
nen it afforded no Light at all, notwithftand-

D d 2 ing

X A Drawing of this came with the Accpunt, but it wa*
too late for the Engraver.

404 Luminous Water Infers.
\ng all the Motion that could be given It,
whilft the Linen appeared covered with
numberlefs lucid Particles, thereby proving
the Light to be fome thing diftind: intirely
from the Water.

Then examining fome of the Sea Weeds,
he perceived thirty at leaft of the like fhin-
ing Particles upon every little Leaf, and fhak-
ing them over a Sheet of Paper one of the
fhining Bodies w^as thrown upon it, which
being wrapped up in the Paper emitted
Light quite through it. Unfolding the Pa-
per, and viewing this luminous Body atten-
tively, he found it far lefs than a fmall Hair,
extremely delicate and tender, and of a deep
yellow Colour : and by the Helpof aMi-
crofcope he difcovered it to be a living Ani-
malcule, of a curious and lingular Strudlure,
and could not enough admire the Splendour
of its Light. It was fomewhat like a Ca-
terpillar, and confifted of eleven Segments
or Ringlets, along which near the Belly were
a kind of Fins or Inftruments of its feveral
Motions. From its Head iflfued two Horns,
and the Tail appeared twifted.

He obferves, that thefe glittering Sea Wa-
ter Infe(5ls are intirely luminous, whereas
the Glow-worm emits Light only from a
Part about the Taib and, moreover, that
when at reft they do not fhine at all, though
they fend forth a prodigious Brightnefs as
foon as their little Bodies become agitated.

Hence

Luminous Water Infers, 405

Hence he accounts for the Filhermens fore-
telling a Tempefl from an extraordinary
ghttering of the Sea and Lakes: thefe Ani-
malcules as he fuppofes being difturbed and
put in Motion at the Approach of fuch a
Change.

Thefe Animalcules are found, he fays, at
the beginning of Summer, more plentifully
amongfl the Weeds than in any other Part
of the Water : but they increafe furprizing-
ly in a fhort Time, and difperfe themfelves
in the Waters every where -f-.

In Plate XV, b, d d, reprefent a very fmall
Infedl found in fome Ditch Water, b and c
fliew it in the Action of moving from Place
to Place, which is performed by faftening
the Tail-End upon the Plate of Glafs, bend-
ing the Body, extending and directing the
Head downwards, then fixing the Head and
drawing the Tail to it, whereby is made
what may be termed one Step : and by re-?
peating ^thefe Steps its Progreffion was pret-
ty nimble, and much refembled that of the
Species of Caterpillars called hoopers. Its
Pofture when at reft after being tired with
Motion, or juft before it began to fet for-
wards, is feen at d.

I could not by the ftridteft Obfervation
difcover any fuitable Apparatus about the

D d 3 Head,

f A large Account of this may be feen tranflated from the
It all an i in \.\i&Uni'V£rfal Magazine y ^ox December, 175 i.

40 5 Loufe of the Bat.

Head, or elfe from its Appearance fliould have
judged this little Creature to be a Species of
the Wheel- Animal, which it imitates in othep
Refpedls very nearly.

ttHtt^h^^Uggg/gt,

CHAP. XXIX.

• The Louse of the Bat.

OST living Creatures are fuppofed
to have their Lice, Fleas, or little
Tormentors, of Kinds and Forms peculiar to
themfelves : fuch have been found m great
Numbers on many Sorts of Beafts, Birds ancj
Fifhes, at forne particular Seafonss Flies, Bees^
Earv^igs, Spiders,* and many other Infedls are
fometimes in like manner peftered with
them: nay, even the nimble Flea which
teazes us and fucks our Blood, is not free
Itfelf from Blood- fuckers, which harbour
very conveniently under the Scales of its
Neck, and about its Legs and Belly, cling-
ing too faft to be fhaken off We are obliged
to Seignior Redi for the Figures of the Pedi^
culi peculiar to feveral Kinds of Beafts and
Birds j but I fuppofe he had no Opportunity
of obferving that of the Bat, which 1 am now
.going to defcribe.

The little Animal which the Reader is
direded to take notice of, at the Letters E^,
F, G, Plate XV. was found adhering firmly

V to

Loufe of a Bat, 407

to the filmy Wing of a Bat then hut newly
dead, and is undouhtedly the Vermin of that
Creature : many others were probably con-
cealed under its fliort thick Hair, but being
intent on examining this with the Microfcope
and making Drawings of it, I omitted fearch-
ing after more.

Its Body is nearly circular, and about the
30th Part of an Inch in Diameter. It is fur-
niflied with eight Legs, each having fix
Joints : the laft Joint terminates in a tranf-
parent Tuft or Ball, like thofe at the Feet of
fome Flics, but much larger and more fpread-
ing in proportion to its Size, whereby it is
enabled to faften itfelf ftrongly to whatever
it ftands upon. Two fmall Antennae or
Feelers are placed at the Anterior and a fmall
Procefs or Tail at the Pofterior Part of this
Animal. A periftaltic Motion, or rather a
ContracSlion and Dilatation, are alternately
carried on through the Inteftines, which ap-
pear more opake than the Parts about them,
and fomewhat in the Shape of the Letter
X.

This Animal is fhewn in its natural walk-
ing Pofture with its Back uppermoft at E,
and again at F with its Back downwards and
its Belly next the Eye. It lived more than
twenty-four Hours between two Talcs, and
died nearly in the Pofture iliewn at E, F, as
it ftill continues in the Slider now before me.

Pd 4 As

40 8 houfe of the Bat

As the Bat is extremely fwift in its Flights
and Returns, it was requifite the Vermin
living on it fhould have fome extraordi-
nary Power of preventing its being thrown
off; and accordingly this little Infed is not
only provided with larger Tufts or Balls than
iifual at the Extremities of its Feet, but has
alfo another very remarkable and uncom-
rnon Means of preferving its Situation : for
on any fudden Emergency, inftead of walk-
ing on its eight Legs, as it ufually does, it
can, in an Inilant, turn four, fix, or all of
them occafionally, fo far backwards as to
(catch hold of any thing, and walk on them
with its Back as eafily as with its Belly down-
wards ^ and I often obferved it with four Legs
in their right Pofition, and the other four
ereded over its Back and ready to lay hold
as at G. Hereby it is enabled to fhift its
Pofture inftantly, yetftill maintain its Ground
notwithftanding the fwifteft Motions, as I
had the Pieafure of experiencing in feveral
Attempts to jerk it oif from a Quill, from
my Finger, and frorn other Things it fixed
itfelf upon, which all my Endeavours could
liot efFed.

H A P,

[ 409 I
CHAP. XXX.

Obfervations o?i a large Spider.

HAVING received a Spider from the
Ifland o{ Nevis of a larger Size than
I had ever feen, I pleafed myfelf with the
Hope of obtaining thereby a better Know-
ledge of Spiders in general, than I poflibly
could by the niceft Examination of the
fmaller Kinds.

On meafuring it pretty exaftly, the Length
of its Body and Tail was found to beat Inches:
the Breadth of the Body and the wideft Part
of the Tail very near an Inch. It had ten
Legs, of which the foremoft two were fliort-
cr than the reft, but the other eight were
each three Inches long atleaft, and in their
thickeft Parts a Quarter of an Inch Diame-
ter. Such were the Dimenfions when dry-
ed, and confequently much ihrunk and lef-
fened : when alive it probably appeared
nearly twice as big. The whole Body and
Limbs were thickly covered with long Hair.
The Body was of a brown Colour ; the Tail
was alfo brown, except one longitudinal in-
dented Stripe of white, which paffed along
its Middle from where it joyns the Body to
the Arms. The Termination of each Leg
was a curious Tuft of long foft Hairs, under
>vhich lay concealed a Couple of exceeding

fharp

41 o On a large Spider s Fangs.

fharp hooked Claws, which muft be greatly
ferviceable in clambering, to cling to any
thing, or to feize the Prey.'
, The Body was cruflaceous, having a Shell
as hard as that of a fmall Crab, the Tail Part
was foft and downy ^ on the Back both of
the Body and Tail the Hairs were fhorter
than elfewhere. The two Fangs were ftrong,
black, hard and harny, terminating and be-f
ing Parts of two fhort thick Limbs to which
they were articulated, projecting from the
Body diredly before the Mouth. One of
thefe Fangs magnified about three times is
ihewn at Letter L They were not placed
horizontally like a Pair of Forceps, fitted to
catch and hold Things by bringing their
Points to meet, as in moil of our Englifh Spi-
ders, but they lay Side by Side with their
Points bending do wnwards;^ and inReadinefs
to ftrike either fingly or together, after the
Manner of the T!a7"antula, Thefe deadly
Weapons of the Spider I was very induftri-
ous to examine, and by my GlaiTes could
difcern very diflindly a minute Opening or
Slit near the Extremity of each Fang juft in
the Front thereof, through which one can
hardly doubt a poifonous Juice was ready
(when the Creature was alive) to be ejected
into the Wounds it made. This Aperture is
defcribed by Mr, Leeuwenhoeky in the 2y2d

Number

On a large SpiJtrs Fiwgs, 41 1

Number of the Phil. Tranf. pag. 868 + :
but Dr. ikftW having examined the Weapons
of feveral Spiders, and particularly of one
very large, without finding it, v/as inclinable
to believe, when he publiihecj his curious
Account of Poyfons, that Mr. Leeuwenhoek
had been mirtaken, and that the Fangs were
capable of inflifting a Wound only -, into
which a poifonous Liquor was inflilled af-
terwards by a fliort white Probofcis thruft
out q{ the Spider's Mouth -f-. Having alfo
never feen it myfelf at the Time I wrote my
^Treatife on the Microfcope, I was then of the
fame Opinion. But as foon as I made the
above Difcover}^ which was in April 1746^
I fhewed the Fangs I have been defcribing
to Dr. Meady who was much plea fed with a
Sight of this Aperture, and with his ufual
Candor gave it as his Opinion, thatasamongft
Serpents feme Kinds only are poifonous, and
have Teeth that are perforated for the Emif-
fion of their Poyfon, viz, the Rattle Snakey
the Viper, &c. whereas the Generality are
harmlefs and have no hollow Teeth ; fo
likewife feme Kinds only of Spiders are poi-^
fonous, or have any PerKration in t!ieir
Fangs : but fjch whofe Fangs are perforat-
ed may be fuppofed uncommonly danger-
ous.

It

X See alfo Arc. Natur. Tom. IV. Pars IT. pag. 39.

f Fid. Mechanical Account of Poyfons, third Edit. ^^/g-. 88,

412 071 a large spiders "Eyes.

It would not be ftridlly honeft to pafs over
this Subject, without declaring in. Juftice to
the Memory of Mr. Leeuwenhoek^ that not-
withftanding I have fometimes thought him
miftaken in his Defcriptions of Things exa-
mined by the Microfcope, it has feldom hap-
pened, but that afterwards I have found fuch
his Defcriptions true, and that the Objedls I
had formerly judged from were not exadlly
of the fame Sort, or in the fame Perfecftion
as his : And this I hope will make others
cautious, not immediately to determine in
Matters of this Nature from a fingle and per-
haps a flight Examination ; which I believe
too often has been the Cafe,

Having fatisfied myfelf concerning the
Fangs of this Spider, I proceeded to an Ex-
amination of its Eyes, which I found to be
eight, iituated on the Summit of the anterior
Part of the Body: for I think a Spider can-
not properly be faid to have any Head. I
cut out a Portion of the Shell or Cruft in
which the Eyes were placed, that I might
bring them with more Convenience to my
Glaffes. And I foon faw that the two Mid-
dle Eyes were much larger and more re-
markable than the reft, and feemed exadlly
round, and that the three fmall ones on ei-
ther Side were oval. The Difpolition, pro-
portionable Size and Appearance of them all
together may be feen at H.

After

0;; a large Spider s Eyes. 4 1 3

After clearing away from the inner Part
of the Shell the Blood Vellels and other In-
teguments of the Retina, or perhaps the
Brain, the two larger Eyes (which were each
as big as a middling Pin's Head) appeared to
be tranfparent fpherical Bodies cf an Amber
Colour. Part of each Sphere projedted ex-
ternally beyond its Socket, but the largeft
Part was funk internally within it, and there
was round each a circular tranfparent Mem-
brane by which it feemed to be faftened*.

The Figure and Tranfparency of thefe
Eyes raifed in me a Defire to fee with the
Eye of a Spider; and therefore cutting them
out very carefully, (for in their natural Si-
tuation they could not anfwer my Purpofe)
I took the Pains to fet each cf them in 2,

Pin-

• spiders Eyes are not pearled or compofed of fmaller Eyes
like thofe o^Flies^ Beetles^ and moll: Kinds of Infects : they
refemble more the Eyes of Quadrupeds, but are not moveable,
which is probably the Reafon why Providence has furnifhed
the Spider with more Eyes than Infe(5ls that have Eyes pearl-
ed, or Animals whofe Eyes can turn : for as Safety requires
that Creatures fhould be able to difcover Danger, or even
their Food, on whatever Side itlies, feme have pearled Eyes,
or more properly Clufters of Eyes, which (tho' not move-
able) are diredled every Way : the Eyes of others are as it
were multiplyed by Motion ; but Eyes like thofe of the Spi-
der, and immoveable, would be unable to anfwer thefe Pur-
pofes, unlefs there were more than two.

Indeed the Shepherd Spider has two Eyes and no more :
but then its Legs are fo very long, its Body fo fmall, and
thofe Eyes are placed in the Middle of its Back on fuch an
Eminenc'e, and in fuch a Diredlion, that they take in nearly
a whole Circle. A fuller Account of this Spider and Figure
of its Eyes may be feen in Dr. Hook's MUr agraphia.

414 On a large Spider s Eyes,

Pin-Hole made through a Piece of Card,
whereby I could employ them to view Ob-
je(5ts with. Their magnifying Power was
very great, and had they been taken from a
Spider newly dead, I have Reafon to believe
they would have given me much Pleafure :
but having been drying for fome Years, they
had contraded a Cloudinefs that prevented
Objed;s being ktu. through them with any
tolerable Diftindnefs. I am not however
without Hopes of bringing this Experiment
fdme Time or other to fucceed, even with
our Englifi Spiders.

The wounding Inflruments of moft Ani-
mals, whofe Bite or Sting is poifonous, re-
femble in their Contrivance the Fangs of
the Spider juft now defcribed ; as will be ea-
fily comprehended by viewing the Tooth of
a Viper, pidtured in this fame Plate at L ;
wherein a fimilar Opening is fhewn, through
which, on biting, a poifonous Juice is thrown
into the Wound I and alfo bytheFapgof
an Indian Scolopendra or Millepes, near whofc
Point there appears a like Opening, ferving
to the famePurpofe, at the End of a long Slit
or Fiffure, as may be feen at K. The
Weapon with which the Scorpion ftrikes has
likcwife fuch an Aperture.

C H A ?•

[ 415 ]
CHAP. XXXI.

Mifcelhmeous Obfevcations.

HAVING defcribed all the Figures given
in the preceding Plates, 1 ihall add
a few Oblervations in a milcellaneous Man-
ner.

In the Waters of fome Ditches there is
found a very Imall Sort of Leech, of a pale
brown Colour, whofc Length is about half an
Inch when extended fully. Several Months
in the Year its young ones are carried about
with it where-ever it goes, flicking fail un-
derneath its Belly. Their Number is ufually
8, ID, or 12; and if feparated from the Pa-
rent, even to fome Diilance, they immedi-
ately replace themfelves, and that fo regu-
larly they might eafily be miftaken for Legs,
whilft they are ftretching themfelves out
beyond its Body, with their Pleads waving to
and fro, which is their conllant Pofture
when the Parent Animal is in Motion. This
Subject deferves farther Examination.

Curious Cafes are made by a fmall Worm
or Maggot, with admirable Dexterity, of the
Stalks of Duckweedy v/hich the little Crea-
ture bites afunder with its Pincers, places
with great Order and Exadtnefs like the
Threads of a Linen Cloth, and glews toge-
ther. 'Tis diverting to fee the bi-ifk Inhabi-
tant come a little Way out of its Door, ei-
ther for Food or Pleafure, and immedi-
ately

41 6 Mifcellaneous Obfervations.

ately on the Apprehenfion of Danger pop in
again, leaving nothing to be feen but a few
green Stalks.

In the Spring of the Year I have feveral
times obferved great Numbers of Httle Cafes,
on a Rov^ of Pales by the Side of the New
River at Erifieldy made in the prettieft man-
ner imaginable of the green microfcopic Mofs
growing on the fame Pales* They were
open at both Ends, and about a quarter of an
Inch in Length : each contained a little
black Maggot, that put out its Head or Tail
occaiionally, and became at laft a fmall black
Fly.

Amongft the Eels in Vinegar one fhall
fometimes find accidentally a pretty and fur-
prizing Phenomenon, /. e» a Chain or Series
of minute Globules feemingly ftrung toge-
ther like a Necklace of Beads. Thefe are
nothing more than a Row of Air Bubbles ly^
ing one behind another in the dead Body of
one of the Anguillce ; which Body from its
great Tranfparency is not vifible, unlefs by
the greateft Magnifier.

My good Friend Dr. Miles happening to
take Notice of a bright green Moiildinefs on
the Bark of fome Fire- wood: and, by a Lens
of an Inch Focus, finding it to beNumbers of
minute Fungi of a regular Appearance, he
employed a large Magnifier, through which
their fpherical Heads feemed as if they were
nothing elfe but Globules cf Seeds. He

obferved

Mifcelhineous O/^fervufions, 4.1 y

cbfervcd, at the fame time, ieVeral Seeds ad-
hering to the tranlparent Foot-ftalks which
liipportcd the Heads, and many fcattcrcd on
the G/a/i Plate whereon the Subftance was
placed for view ; whereby he had an Op-
portunity of feeing many dillincft Seeds, near-
ly of an oval Form, but feveral times larger
than the Seeds of common Mujlorooms, even
when feen with the fecond Magnifier, and
the latter with the firfl. — He Hiys, he has of-
ten viewed the Heads of a fmall Kind of
coriaceous Fungus of about ^ Inch Diame-
ter, and always found the Seeds on their
Gills much larger than thofe of any other
Mufliroom he had examined, tho' rather
lefs than thole this unregarded Plant pro-
duces.

He fent with this Account a Piece of Wood
with the Moiddinefs thereon, and alfo fome
of it on a Slip of Glafs : both which I exa-
mined carefully to determine the Bignefs of
the Heads and their Seeds: and viewing the
Spherical Heads of the middle Size, (ibme
being larger and others fmaller) I found,
(according to my Micrometer) that 3 of them
took up the Side of a Square, 70 of which
Squares made an Inch in Length : confe-
quently thrice 70, or 210 of thefe Fungiy
make a Line of one Inch : or, in other
Words, the Diameter of xkitk fungous Bodies
is, at a Medium, the 2 loth Part of an Inch.

E e The

41 8 Mifcellaneous Ohfer^vations.

The Seeds are oval ; and I find, by the
{zxxi^ Micrometer^ that lo of them laid by one
another the fliortell Way of their Diameter,
or 8 of them the longefl Way, fill up the Side
of a Square, 270 of which Squares make an
Inch in length. — Taking therefore 9 as the
Medium, 270 times 9, or 2430 of thefeSeeds
will be required to make a Line of an Inch
in length; or in other Words, each Seed is
the 2430th Part of an Inch in Diameter. —
And according to thefe Calculations 44100
of the Spherical Heads, or 5,904,900 of
their Seeds, may lye by one another in the
Surface of an Inch fquare.

Yet minute as the Seeds of this little F//;?-
^z/j" are, the Dodor obferves veryjuftly, that
they are bigger than thofe of fome others
of the fame Genus which exceed it Thou-
fands of Times in Bulk. For the Seeds of a
very large edible Mufhroom being examined,
by a Glafs magnifying 320 times in Diame-
ter, and their Figure being elliptical, 7 of
their longeft and 8 of their fhorteil Diame-
ters were found equal to the Length of a
Line known to be the 500th Part of an Inch.
So that the longeft Diameter of each Seed
was the 3 500th, and the fhorteft the 4000th
Part of one Inch in length,and 14,000,000 of
fuch Seeds would be required to covei'
a Surface of one Inch fquare *. The

* All the Species o£ Fungi -were formerly fuppofed to bear
no Seeds: Ray fays of ther t% kuIIo 7tec Seminenec Flore \ but
good Glafles now convince us of their producing Seeds in
vaft abundance, growing commonly between the Gills*

Mifcellaneous Ohfervaticns. 419

Tht proporf ion able Size of Fruits and Seeds
to the Trees and Plants that hear them, comes
under no Rules that correlpond with our
Conceptions. The Beech and jij};) are pro-'
diiced from Seeds fmaller than the Garden
Bean, The Ocik has for its Fruit only a
fmall Acorn -, whereas the Pumpkin, whofe
Weight fometimes exceeds loolb.is the Pro-
dudlion of a feeble creeping Plant, unable
to fupport itfelf, much lels its enormous
Fruit. The Vanilla, (climbing to the Height
of feveral Feet) produces in long Pods Seeds
fo fmall, their Diameter is not more than
the looth Part of an Inch. Then fuppofing
the Cavity of its Pod equal to a cylindrical
Tube of ,\ Inch Diameter, and its Length
to be fix Inches, (which Dimenfions are
taken with great Moderation) the Number
of Seeds in one findG Pod will be more

than 47000. Thefe Seeds ground with

Chocolate give it a rich Perfume.

I could add many moreObfervations, which
perhaps fome of my Readers might be pleafed
with; but finding this Work has grown under
my Hands, much beyond the Size I intend-
ed, I fhall haden to conclude this Part with
recommending x^'x^Stiidy of Nature to all who
have Leifure and Opportunity for it, as af-
fording the moft rcafonable Pleafure the
Mind of Man is capable of enjoying.

The World around us is the mighty Vo-
lume, wherein the Great Creator with his

E e 2 owa

I

42 o Mifceltaneous Ohfervations^

own Finger has defcribed himfelf. Human
Writings con lift oi Lines and Figures intend-
ed to denote the Sounds or ^{?r<if of Language;
which being at firft arbitrarily apply'd, were
afterwards by common Confent and Cuftom
allowed to reprefent certain Icleas, tho' with-
out any Refemblance to them. And as very
different Sounds and Marks have been em-
ployed, by Nations Strangers to each other,
to exprefs and denote the fame ObjeBs of the
Senfes, or Conceptions of the Mindyhtnce, arofe
different Languages and CharaBerSy which
muft therefore be unintelligible to all who
have not previoufly been inftruded in their
Signification and Ufe ; nor can be attained
without a great deal of Pai72s and At tent ion >
But the Book of Nature is written in an
i^niverfal and real CharaBery which every
Man may read in his own Language ; for it
tonfifts not of Words but Things, which pic-
ture out the Perfections of the Deity. The
ftarry Firmament every where expanded, with
its numberlefsSyftems of Suns, and their fur-
rounding Planets, the Regularity, Harmony,
OrderandConltancy of their Motions, declare
the Immenfity and Magnificence, the Power
and Wifdom of their Creator. Thunder,
Lightening, Tempefls, Hurricanes, Earth-
quakes, and Volcano's, fhew the Terror and
Deftrud:ion of his Wrath. Seafonable Rains,
Sunfhinc, and plenteous Harvefts, denote his
Bounty andGcodnefs, and his Regard for the

Hap-

Mifccllancoiis Obfervatiom. 421

Happinefs of all his Creatures ; and dcmon-
ftrate how, when his Hand is open, he fills
all things living with Plentcoufnefs. The
conftant Succefiion of Generations in Plants
and Animals, implies the Eternity of their
firfl Caufe. Life every where fubfifting in
Millions of different Forms, fliews the bound-
lefs Diffufion of his Animating Power; and
Death the infinite Difproportion between him
and every living Thing. — Even the Adtionsof
Animals are an eloquent 2X\^pathetk La?2guage ;
thofe that want the Help of Man, have a
thoufand engaging Ways, which like the
Voice of God Ipeaking to his Heart, com-
mand him to preferve and cherifh them ;
whilft the Looks and Motions of fuch as would
do him harm, ftrike him with Terror, and
warn him to fly from or arm himfelf againft
them. Li iTiort, every part of Nature dire<5ls
us to Nature's GOD ; for according to Lucan
in that fine Speech he makes for CatOy

Jupiter £/?, quodcmi que' vide s, quocunque moveris ;

which I fliall tranflate with (^reat Liberty,
and by the Way of Paraphrafe,

Range where you pleafe, through Water^^

Earth and Air,
GOD is in every Thing, and everj^ where,

E e 3 Some

[ 4^2 ]

Some Account of a new conJiruBed Microfcope,
ujed in the foregoing Experiments.

H E cumberfome and inconvenient

Double Microscopes (diT>x,lIooh
and Mr. MaifoaU v/ere many Years ago re-
duced to a manageable Size, improved in their
Strodiare, Applied with an eafy Way of en-
lightening Objeds by a Speculum under-
neath ^, and in many other Refpedts render-
ed agreeable to the Curious ^ by Mr. Culfep-'
per and Mr. Scarlet. Some farther Altera-
tions were hov/ever wanted to make this In-
ftrument of more general Ufe, as I fully ex-^
perienced in the Year 1743? when examin-
ing daily the Configurations of Saline Sub-
ftances, the Legs v^ere continual Impedi-
ments to my turning about the Slips of Glafs;
and indeed I had found them frequently fo
on other Occaiions. Pulling the Body of
the Inftrument up and down was like wife
fubjeft to Jerks^ which caufcd a Difficulty in
iixinp- it exad;lv at the Focus : there was al»
fo no good Contrivance for viewing opake
-Obje^fts. Complaining of thefe Inconvenien-
cies, Mr. Ciiff\ the Optician, applyed his
Thoughts to faihion a Micrcfcope in another
Manner, leaving the Stage entirely free and
open by taking away the Legs, applying a

fine-

* Sst Mi cr of cope made eafy i Pl^te III. p^g. !^^

IKivuffii^i.

-/le J?ii'^ntc^' John Curr^/a 'i^/:£et/fy^t^^^n^^?t.

Some Account of n new Mlcrofcope. 423

fiiie- threaded Screw to regulate and adjufl
its Motions, and adding a concave Speculum
for Objects that are opake.

The foregoing Examinations having been
all made by an Inllrument thus improved, I
fhall give a Plate and Defcription of it, (as
an Addition to my former Book on the Mi-
crolcope) by the Name of Mr. Cuff's new-
C07ijiriicied Double Microfcope.

All Parts of this Inftrument are Brafs. —
The Body A, being firmly fupportcd in a
broad circular Collar at the End of the Arm
a Uy which projedls from the Top of the
Pillar C, may be taken out or put in at Plea-
fure.

A fquare Box h b, fcrewed dov/n to the
wooden Pedeftal 1 1 fupports the whole Ma-
chine, bythe AlTiftanceof the long flat-fquare
Pillar B, which is fixt within the faid Box.

The moveable Pillar C, which is fhorter
than the Pjliar u tho' of the lane Shape, t)y
Aiding up or down against the broad fiat
Side of the faid Pillar, raifes or lowers the
Body of the Microfcope as occafion m?y re-
quire.— Both Pillars (land in the Box b b.

The fquare Collar D holds the two Pillars
B and C together, and Aides up or down
upon them, carrying with it the Body of the
Microfcope. The Screw-Button 3 is in-
tended to fix the Pillar C, when the upper
Edf!:e of the Collar D beins: fct at the fame

E e 4 Number

%

424- So^^ Account of a new Micro/cope.

Number as that of the Magnifier employed,
its focal Diftance is brought nearly right.

When the Pillar C is faftened, the Mi*
crofcope (by the fine- threaded adjufting
Screw E) may be moved fo gently up or
down, without Jerks or Slips^ that the true
Focus may be found with great Readinefs
and Exad:nefs.

The horizontal Plate or Stage F, having
in the Middle thereof a circular Hole 4, di-
redly over which the Body of the Micro-'
fcops is fufpended, is exceedingly convenient
to place Qbjedls on for Obfervation, being
freed in tirely from the Legs which incumber
other Double Microfcopes.

The concave Looking Glafs G, turning
on two fmall Screws in the Arch d (at the
Bottom of which a Pin goes down into the
Hole e in the Pedeftal) refledls the Light of
a Candle or the Sky direcSly upwards on the
Objedl, by moving the Looking Glafs hori-
zontally or vertically.

A double convex Lens H, turns on two
Screws, for tranfmitting Light to afiift in il-
luminating opake Objeds, when the long
rpund Wire f is placed in the Spring-Tube
g, at the Corner of the Stage F.

I — • is a hollow Cylinder whofe Sides are
open> and at whofe End a concave Silver
Speculum h, having a round Hole in the
Midil thereof, is fere wed. This Cylinder
flips Qver the Snout / of |he Microfcope, and

whea

Some Account of a new Micro/cope. 425

^^'hen fct to the Figure there marked, and
correfpondent to the Number of the Mag-
nifier made ufe of, the Silver Speculum re-
flects Light on the opake Objedl to be exa-
mined; which Objedl: muft either be held
in the Spring-Tongs at one End of the Wire
O, placed in the Slit ;/; on the Stage F ; or be
put on the Ivory Block P, ftuck on the point-
ed End of the faid Wire. The third or
fourdi Magnifiers are fitted to be ufed with
the Silver Speculum.

K. L. M. N. QCi, R. S. T. V. W. X. Y.
Z. are different Parts of the Apparatus which
I think needlefs to defcribe, as all who are
acquainted \\i\h Micro/copes will know thern
at firft Sight, and others may inform them-
felves either in my former Treatife on thefc
Subjed:s, or in the Book which Mr. Cuff'
gives to thofe who buy this Microfcope of
him.

In the Year 1747 a Micrometer for this
Inftrument was alfo contrived by Mr. Cuffy
being a Lattice of fine Wires, placed (when
made ufe of) in the Focus of the Eye-Glafs,
by unfcrewing the Body of the Inftrument.
As the Readinefs wherewith the real Size of
Objed:smaybe calculated by this Microme-
ter muft render it valuable to the Curious,
there needs no Apology for laying feme
Account of it before them, drawn up and
given to me by my much honoured Friend
Martin Folkesy Elq; Prefident of the Royal

Society.

i

426 Remarks on a Micrometer ^ See,

Society, and firfl Prefident, (under the Royal
Charter, of the Society of ^ Antiquaries of
London -^j".

Remarks on a Micrometer to be applied to
Double compound Microfcopes. By Mar-
tin FoLKES, Efq; P. R. S.

^TT^ HIS Micrometer only confifts of a
Jl^ Lattice of fine Silver Wire diftant
from each other one fiftieth Part of an Inch,
interfed:ing at right AngleS;. and fo placed
in the Focus of the Eye Glafs, as to divide
the who]e vifible x^rea of the Microfcope
into Squares, whole Sides are each the ^^ th
of an Inch.

Now as the Image of any Objed: to be ex-
amined is formed in this Place, it is plain that
by this Lattice ¥/ork fuch Image may readi-
ly be meafiircd^ either by comparing its
Length or Breadth with the Diftance of

the

f This Gentleman, whofe amiable Charafler for Ability
in Science and Goodnefs of Heart is known and refpefled by-
all the World, being unhappily difabled by a paralytic Dif-
order from attending the Meetings of the ^^^^^/^^^^^{y, where
for eleven Years he hadpreiided with great Honour, thought
proper on the laft annual Day of Eleftion, viz. No'vemb&r
^oth 1752, to decline being again elefted Prelident. Where-
fore the Gentlemen of the faid Society, after returning their
moll grateful Acknowledgments to Mr. Folkes for his many
and ufeful Services, elefted unanimoufly the Right Honour-
able ^Q. Earl oi Macclesfield to be their President in his
Stead.

Remarks on a Micrometer y 6cc» ^.27

the Wires : or by comparing its wh.^lc via-
ble Superficies with one or more of the lit-
tle Squares formed by the Intcrlcdlion of
die fame Wires.

And the true Size of the magnified Image
being thus known, the true Magnitude of
the Objed: itfclf will be known alio, it the
magnifying Power of the Objecfl Glafs is but
given : and this will eafily be found in the
following prad;ical Manner.
. Let. a minute Objedl of a known Size, be
carefully viewed in the Microfcope : as for
example; Part of a fine diagonal Scale divid-
ed into the I\iillcfiina]s of an Inch; and let it
be examined how many of thofe Pvliliefimals
anfwer to the Dillance of two of the Wires
abovementioned, remembering to eftimate
that Diftance from the Outfide of one of
the Wires to the In fide of the other. For
as 20 are to that Number of Millefimals juft
found, fo is the Length or Breadth of any
Image meafured by the Micrometer to the
Length or Breadth of the Objed: itfelf : or as
400 are to the Squai-e of the fame Number
of Millefimals, fo is the magnified Superfi-
cies of any Im^ge, to the true fimilar Super-'
ficies of the 0W\q6:,

And again, as that Number of Millefimals
cf an Inch juil found is to 20, fo is Unity to
a Number expielhng how ma.ny times the
Length or Breadth of any Image efini^ated
by the Micrometer, is greater than the true

4 Length

1

428 "Remarks on a Micrometer y ixjc.

Length or Breadth of the Objed itfelf : and
this laft Number I call the magnifying Power
of the Objea Glafs.

This Trial is to be made with Care once
for all, for every different Object Glafs to be
ufed with the Micrometer : and their dif-
ferent refulting magnifying Powers, once re-
giftered in a Table, will be ready upon all
Occafions, For thus the Length or Breadth
of any Image eftimated by the Micrometer,
will when divided by the magnifying Power
of the Objedt Glafs, exprefs the true Length
or Breadth of the Objed: itfelf: or the Su-
perficies of any Image eftimated by the Mi-
crometer, in fquare Millefimals of an Inch,
will in like Manner exprefs the true fimilar
Superficies of the Objed: itfelf; if it is divided
by the Square of the magnifying Power of
the Object Glafs ufed. i\nd for this Purpofe
it may be of ufe to fet down m another Co-
lumn of the Table, the refpedtive Squares
of the Numbers exprefling the magnify-
ing Powers of the feveral different Object
Glaffes.

As fome Difficulty may be found, in ap-
plying the diagonal Scale abovementioned to
the larger Magnifiers : chiefly thro' want of
Light when the Objedl is to be brought very
nearto the Glafs; that Defed may be fup-
plyed by the ufe of fome minute natural Ob-
jedl, whofe true Size has already been care-
fully determined by one of the leffer Magni-
fiers,

Remarks on a Micrc7nctcry &c. 429

ficrs, and whole Image is again viewed with
one of the greater : for as the Number ot
Millefimals of an Inch contained in its true
Length or Breadth, are to thofe now found
in the Length or Breadth of its Image, fo
will Unity he to the magnifying Power of
the Obje(fl Glafs now made ufc of, Gfc.

I (hould now farther take Notice, that

the Numbers here called the magnifying

Powers of the feveral Obje(fr Glafles, do not

exprefs the whole magnifying Power of the

Microfcope. For the Image formed in the

Focus of the Eye Glafs is again magnified

to the Eye, by the Operation of the Eye Glafs

itfelf. And the Focus of this Eye Glafs be-

ing, in the Double compound Microfcope

made by Mr. Cuff, and which he calls (tho*

fomewhat improperly) his new double refieui-

ing Microfcope, at the DIftance of one Inch

and a quarter nearly; the Eye, placed on the

other Side, views the Image of any Objed:

formed in that Focus under an An^le about

feven times as great as that under which it

would fee it with Diftindlnels if naked, and

at the Diftance of fomewhat lefs than nine

Inches. We mav therefore then confider all

Images viewed with this Microfcope as mag-

nifyed {^m^w times in Length or Breadth,

or 49 times in Superficies by the Intervention

of the Eye Glafs : and we may confequently

exprefs the whole magnifjv'ing Powers of the

Microfcope, if we refpe(flively multiply the

Numbers

«

I

43 o Re772arks on a Micrometer^ &:c.

Numbers already placed in two Columns of
the Table, by 7 and 49.

I would juft obferve, that fome Double
Microfcopcshave a Drawer between theGlaf-
fes, and by means of which they magnify
differently with the fame Glafs : in thefe Mi-
crofcopes therefore one Pofition of the Drawer
lliould be pitch'd upon as the moft conveni-
ent, and the fame fhould ccnftantly be ufed
whenever any Magnitude is to be determined
by the Micrometer applyed to the fame.

The Lattice abovementioned, whofe Wires
are only diftant a fiftieth of an Inch, may up-
on fome Occaiions be found inconvenient in
viewing of Objedts. But it may very eafily
be taken out and put m occaiionally, or have
its Place fapplyed by another whofe Wires
may bethe2oth5 or the i oth of an Inch a-
funder ; and this laft elpecially will give no
hindrance lo^ common Obfervations^ and will
belides be very ufeful to fuch as would draw
with fome Exadnefs any of the Objed:5
they examine with their Microfcope.

I am told that Silver Wire may be had to
make thefe Lattices of, whofe Diameter is
rather lefs than the feven hundredth Part of
an Inch.

The mention Mr. Foikes makes of a Lat-
tice whofe Divifions are /^ of an Inch, was
owing to his having experienced the Utility
of fuch an one in my Microfcope, made by
myfelf of human Hairs, and fallened exaftly

in

Rcj)]arks on a Micrometa-y &c. 43 1

in the Focus of the Eye Gliifs, whofe Dif-
tance being i \ Inch, or ^^.^ths of nine Inches,
(the Standard of Sight he computes by *,)
the Diameter of an Objc(fl ic^n through that
Glafs is magnified 7 times, and the Side of
each Square whofe real Length is ,-^. , appears
(magnified through the faid Glafs) to be
/-^ths of an Inch.

Employing different Ohjecfl Glaffes or
Magnifiers in viewing Objects, makes no Dif-
ference in the Lattice or Micrometer, whofe
Squares are magnified by the Eye Glafs only,
and alw^ays appear of the fame Diameter,
that is, j-^thsof an Inch. But the Object
being more or lefs magnified according to
the Power of the Objedl Glafs, the Image
thereof thrown upon the Lattice extends over
more or fewer of its Squares : w^hence the
magnifying Power of all the Glafl^es belong-
ing to my Micrcfccpe, and the real Size of
Objedis examined by them, are fhewn in

the following Table.

A Table

* The ufual Standard of Sight is 8 Inches, but as Mr.
Ftlkes has thought proper to make it almofl 9 Inches, all
thefc CaIcal*tions are conformable therejo.

43 2 Remarks 6n the Micrometer y hct^

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Remarks on a Micromctcry &c. 4^^

For Example. ^^— An Objcd, or P:\rt of
tin Obje(fl, w'hofe Diameter when viewed
through the Mngnilier N'^ 1. appears the
cxa^^l: Length of one Square of the Hair
Micrometer, is really no more than the 2^cth
Part of an Inch in Length.

And if, when viewed through the fame
Glafs, it appears to fill up the whole Space
of one of the faid Squares, its real Area is
no more than the 72900th Part of a Square
Inch, &c\

In order to render this Inftrument ftill
more ufeful, Squares may be drawn on Paper
(with very black Lines) correfpondent to
thofe of the Micrometer magnified by the
Eye Glafs, ^7'2;. j^^thsof aninch diameter^ by
the Means whereof, (if placed under fo thin
a Paper as they can plainly be ktn through,)
an Objedt may be drawn exadlly of the
Size it appears when magnified by any Glafs

whatever. Nine Squares fo drawn are

fliewn PlateXVU.fg. 6.

In the fame Plate, Jig, 4, fliews a Micro-
meter whofe Divifions are the Fiftieths, and
Jig. 5, another whofe Divifions are theTenths
of an Inch : And this laft may remain ia
the Body of the Microfcope, without being
any Hindrance, whatever Glafs is ufed.

'Twere well if the Workmen ground

their Glaffes fo exactly to a Standard, that

the fame Table might ferve for the Micro-

"meter to every Set of them ; but as that is

F f not

434 ^^* Leeuwenhoek's Microfcopes.

not the Cafe, a particular Table muft be

made for every Set of Glaffes.

OfM-V. Leeuwenhoek*s Micro/copes.

A" I ""^ Hough Mr. Leeuwenhoek's Microfcopes
J^ are much talked of, very few People
are acquainted with their Structure and Ap-
paratus, no Figure of them that I remember
having ever been made publick : 'tis there-
fore hoped the Curious will be pleafed to fee
a Drawing of them, taken with great Ex-
adnefs from thofe in the Repoiitory of the
Royal Society, which are all alike in Form,
and differ very little in Size from this Draw-
ing, or from one another *.

The two Sides of one of thefe Microfcopes
are fliewn Plate XVII. fg. 7 and 8. The
Eye muft be applyed to the Side^. 7.—
The flat Part A is compofed of two thin
Silver Plates faftened together by little Ri-
vets b b bbbb. Between thefe Plates a very
fmall double-convex Glafs is let into a Socket,

and

* An accurate Defcriptlon of the 26 Microfcopes, and
Objefts belonging then^^ contained in a. fmall Cabinet
which Mr. Leeu^venhoek at his Deceafe bequeathed to the
Royal Society, was prefented many Years ago to that Society
by Martin Folkesy Efq; and may be feen N* 380 of the Phi'
lofophicalTranJaBions, And a farther Account, fetting forth
xSit magnifying Ponjoers, and other Particulars concerning the
fame Microfcopes, (which were three Months under my Exa-
mination for that Purpofe) was prefented by me to the Royal
^oaV/y in the Year 1740, and publifhed Phil. Tra^/.N^ 41;^,
But neither of thefe Accounts has any Diavying of the Mi-
crofcopes.

Mr. L'^€ini:tnhb2%\ Microfcopcs. 43^

and a Hole drilled in each Plate for the
Eye to look through at c, A Limb of Silver
d is faftcncd to the Plates on this Side by a
Screw e which goes through them botli.
Another Part of this Limb, joined to it
at 'right Angles, pafTes under the Plates,
and comes out on the other Side ; (ivV.
Jig, 8) at /*; through this runs, direft-
ly upwards, a long fine- threaded Screw
gy which turns in and raifcs or lowers the
Sta^e by whereon a coarfe rue^ed Pin / for
the Objedl: to be faflened to, is turned about
by a little Handle /^; and this Stage with the
Pin upon it is removed farther from the
magnir/ing Lens, or admitted nearer to it,
by a little Screw /, that pafiing through the
Stage horizontally, and bearing againft the
Back of the Liftrument, thrufts it farther oiF
when there is occafion. The End of the
long Screwy comes out thro' the Stage at
?;;, where it turns rounds but a(fls not there
as a Screw, having no Threads that reach
fo high.

Thefe Microfcopes are plain and fimple
in their Contrivance. All the Parts are Sil-
ver, fafliioncd bv Mr. Leeu^venhcck's own
Hand, and the Glaffes, which are excel-
lent, were all ground and fet by himfelf. He
glewed one ofatmoiltwoObjeclsonthePoint
of the Pin belonging to each M!crofcope,and
carefully preferved them there ; fo that e^ch.
Inftrument being devoted to one or tv/o Ob-

F f 2 jeds

434 DireB ions for takiiig oj^

jecfls only, could be applyed to nothing elfe.
This Method induced him to make a Mi-
crofcope with a Glafs adapted to almoft eve-
ry Objed:, 'tiii he had got fome hundreds of
them, as he fays himfelf, in the 2d Vol. of his
Works, pag, 290, Mihi quidemfunt centum
cenfuffzque Microfcopia^ &c. All this Trouble
and Expence is now faved, by a Set of Glaf-
fes to be fhifted with great Eafe, as the Sub-
jedt to be examined may require.

The magnifying Powers of thefe Glafles
come ihort of fome now made, but are fully
fufficient for moil Purpofes. Of the 26
Microfcopes I examined, one magnifies the
Diameter of an Objecft 160, one 133, one
114, three 100, three 89, eight 80, two 72,
three 66, two ^j^ one 53, and one 40 times.

Dif'eBioJisfor cbtainlng an exaB 'Reprefenta-
tion 07- Figure of any Coin or Medal.

AVING taken a perfedl and fharp
Imprellion of the Coin or Medal
in the fineft Sealing Wax, cut the Wax
away round the Edges of the Impreffion,
with the Point of a Penknife, or a Pair of
fharp Sciflars.

The P^olling-Prefs Printers have an Ink for
printing oft Copper Plates, very different
from what other Printers employ in print-
ing Books : work fome of this with an Hair-
4 Pencil

Rcprcfentattons of Coins or Medals, 437

Pencil into all the Lettering; and hollow
Places of the Wax Impreffion, which are
the rifing or projecting Parts of the Medal.
This done, pafs your bare Finger, or a Cloth
ftrained upon it, gently but nimbly over the
Surface, 'till you perceive the Ink perfe(ftly
cleared away, unlefs where the Letters are,
and in the finking Parts -, and after this,
rubbing your Finger on a Piece of foft Whit-
ing, pafs it lightly over the Surface 'till you
are fure it is dry and clean.

Have ready, foaked in Water, but the
Water fqueezed a little out of them, fome
Pieces of Writing Paper fomcwhat larger
than the Medal. Place one of thefe on the
Wax Impreilion ; and on the Back of the
Paper lay three or four Pieces of thick Flan-
nel about the Size thereof.

I fhould premife, that you mufi: have a
Couple of flat fmooth Iron Plates, about two
Inches Square, and of a Thicknefs not to
bend. The Wax Imprcfiion mufh be placed,
with its Face upwards, on the Middle of one
of thefe Plates, before you fpread the Paper
and Flannels on it; and the other Plate muft
immediately be laid over them. Tlien, hold-
ing them ail tight together, put them care-
fully and evenly into a little Prefs, made of
two Iron Planks about {i'^:^ Inches and a half
long, one Inch and half wide, and half an
Inch in Thicknefs : having a Couple of male

F f 3 Sccews

43^ Div^^'^ons for taking off

Screws that run through them, with a turn-
ing female Screw o\\ each to force the Planks
topxther. And thefe female Screws muft
have ftrong well-tempered Shoulders, where-
by to work them. A Figure of this Prefs is
ihewn Flate, XVII. y%. -9.

Things being thus adjufled, holding
the Prefs in your Left-Hand, ftrike with a
little Hammer, firft on the Shoulders of one
Screw, and then on the Shoulders of the
other, to bring the Planks together parallel
and render the PreiTure every- where alike :
iinlefs you find it requiiite to give more
Force to one Side than the other, which
thefe two Screws will put in your own
Power.

The Prefs opens again, by a Stroke or two
of thePIamnier, the contrary Way,, on the
Shouldersof the Screws: and then you will
find a true and fair Pkture neady printed
off; which (if any Deiiciencies appear there-
in) may be eafily repaired, when dry, with
a Pen and Ink, or, what is better, a Pencil
and Indian ink.

This Method is very eafy and ready for
taking the Picture of a Medal either in Black
or Red ; proper Ink of both which Colours
may be liad of the Copper -T late Printers :
but your Wax Impreilion muft be different
in Colour to that of the Ink you ufe, other-
wife you cannot fee when the Ink is well
cleared away i and as the whole Succefs de-
pends

Reprrfentations of Coins or Medals, 439

pcnds on theGoodnefs of the Wax Impref-
lion or Mould, the following Rules, taught
by Experience, are recommended to be ob-
ferved.

1. Let the Wax be fine, or it wants a
proper Hardnefs, and the Impreflioii
will not be Iharp.

2. Spread it wider than the Medal, and
of a Thicknefs in proportion to the
Relievo of it.

3. Clap on the Medal when the Wax has
a moderate Degree of Heat : for, if it
be too hot, the Medal is apt to ftick :
and, if too cold, no good Imprefiion
can be taken. The right Time feems
to be, juft after the Wax ceafes to work
up with little Bubbles in it.

4. Make not the ImprefTion en a Table
or any hard Body, without fevcral Folds
of Paper, or, what is better, a Woollen-
Cloth, or fome foft Leather underneath ;
for foft Things give Way to the Prcf-
fure and Form of the Medal, which
hard Bodies will not do.

5. Squeeze the Medal down equally hard
on every Side, and continue the Pref-
fure'till the Wax is near cold : for if
the Medal be taken off while the Wax
remains hot, the riSng Parts being ftill
foft, will fmk down, and the Impreffioii
be much lefs fliarp.

F f A 6. White

44P Directions for taking off

6. White Pafteboard, Card-Paper, op,
fome other thick Paper, is beft to take
Wax Impreflions on.

In Places where Copper-Plate Printer's
Ink cannot be had, Water-Colours may be
n^ade ufe of. Lake and Vermillion mixt
ni^ke the moft proper Red, Indian Ink the
beft Black. Direftions for other Colours
may be feen, PML Tranf. N«> 472, p. 82 ;
in an Account of this Invention laid by me
before the Royal Society Anno 1744, from
whence this is partly taken.

There are indeed many other ingenious
Contrivances for taking off Medals, in Sul-
phur, Plaifter of Paris, Paper, £fc. But fince a
Mould muft be formed for each of thefe,
either of Clay, Horn, Plaifler of Paris, or
fome other Materials, w^hich requires a great
deal of Trouble and Time to form, this Me-
thod I believe will be judged abundantly
jnore convenient, efpecially as fome of thofe
ways do really a great dealof Injury to Medals,
by im.pairing the Sharpnefs of their moil de-
licate and expreffive Strokes.

For V/ax is always ready, and hurts not
the iineft Medal : and however brittle it
may be thought, the Moulds made thereof
refift the Force of dov/nright Preflure, al-
moft as effedually as if they were made of
Steel ; and might ferve to take off a thou-
fand Impreflions, were they not apt to crack,
and the Marks of thofe Cracks' to render

what

/. . 'W//u/<r . fr/f^ .

T.JMynJt.imf^.

Reprcfcntatkns of Coins or Medals, 441

what arc taken from tlicm afterwards not
quite fo elegant. But each Mould will ufual-
ly afford three or four good Imprefhons, ei-
ther coloured or plain -, and if the Ink he
got off clean, the fame Wax may be melted
and employed feveral Times.

It is evident, that Impreirions taken thus,
muft he exadly what the Medals are from
whence we take them, and that any Perfon
who can procure the Wax Impreffions of
Medals, may, by a little Pains, be furnifli-
ed with a noble Colle(flion of the genuine
Prints of Medals 3 which may be placed in
Books, in orderly Series, and moved from
one Leaf to another at Pleafure ; if a little
Margin be left about them, and only the
Edges be pafted down. I flatter myfelf
therefore, that the Ufefulnefs of this Con-
trivance will not be flighted, on account of
its being fo plain and obvious, that every
Gentleman will wonder he did not hit on it
himfelf ; fince Difcovcries that are mofi: ealy,
and confequently may be pradlifed by every
body, however Ample and void of Inven-
tion they may appear, are really in them-
felves mofl: valuable. I need only inflance
the A;t oi Printing, (from which this in
fome fort is borrowed) the moft happy
Difcovery that perhaps was ever made by
Man; yet feemingly fo eafy, and what the
Ancients came fo near to in their Seals, that

it

44 2i Concerning Coins or Medals*

it is extremely furprifing they did not find
it out.

In this Manner I have taken ofF many
thoufands of Coins and Medals for myfelf
and Friends : and as any Gentleman may
divert himfelf by doing it, I hope this Ac-
count of it may prove acceptable.

As the laft Plate vi^as not finifhed till the
whole Book vi^as nearly printed off, whereby
fome Figures in it are not defcribed in their
proper Places : It may be needful to inform
the Reader, that N° 1, II, III, are different
Branchings of Copper, produced by the fe-
veral Mixtures mentioned CHAP. LIII.
Part I. — That N' X, XI, are two Species
oi CoralUna nmrindi and N" XII a Species
oiFuciis mar inns ^ all magnified by the Mi-
•crofcope.

:t

JN-

INDEX.

A.

ACID (volatile Spirit,) what
its Effeas
^.7/c/u of Animals, an expreflive Language

J^lum examined — — — —

its Cor.f.gurations when excited by Heat
its Cryfials when at Reft

produces Comet-like Figures > . q^

how to preferve ■ , «. j^^

how produced . . , j^.

Earth from Africa ... . y^

-■^//j^^r (Salt of) examined • ■ j^g

its Gen-raiion uncertain - -Mq

where found ■ _ j^q

Queries concerning it — — . j.g

InlCifls how fappofed to get inrc it - , ,-

>/w/«o«i<7r (Salt) defcribed — — ..— ^^^

examined by he Microfcope ■ uq

renders Water cold .

Jinguilla., vid. Eels.

Aitimalcuksy fmalleft feen in Water ■

their wonderful Machinery — — . ^20

with Shells and Wheels - , 20c

with a Probofcis _ 217

Antimony (Flowers of) described and examined « 12 t

the Bafis of A'6/?r//^«j - 123

its Operarion defcribed — — — 124,

Antimonial Cup and perpetual Pill . ,25

Arbor Dianar, or Silver Tree ^^ _^

Mariisy or Iron Tree ,

112
-231

^9 +

Veneris^ or Copper Tree _ „ ig^

A'^fenicy produced from Cobalt .^..—^ . 128

not eafiJy foluble -_.,—. 120

its C.yftals j.q

a deadly Poyfon, its Symptoms ■ 1-6

aivi Remedies , 131

Cafes

INDEX.

Cafes of People poyfoned by it
Experiments to know it
Fumes how pernicious
^ives a Silver Colour to Copper
AJh Tree, Infefts on the Bark of

juration and Repulfion fuppofed greatly inftrumental in the
Configurations and Cryftals of Salts, &c. 27, 48
Alternate Fits of each '^ 27, 29

Queries concerning , 26, &c.

B.

IB ag' Animal, or, Fediculiis Aquatkus y ■ 383

Bavflkklc, or Prkkk-back, Loufe of ■ ■>, ,. 377

Bark (Peruvian) examined -— ^ 171

Bat, the Loufe of »....» n 406

Baulvt, Salt of ,Lii .1 '■ « «»>■ - 1 I uia 16^

Bell- F/o'wer Animal, ^r plumed Polype *"" "' 306

Animals ■>.«i— •«>>— 330

Benjamin, Flowers of —»— .^ — — . i6o

Barbery t Salt of — . 168

Blandy, Mr. poyfoned by Arjenk, his Cafe . 136

Borax examined — — — 106

its Defcription and Ufe w— — 107

native from Perjta _ 1 08

Boxes and Phials for Solutions of Salts —52, zzS

Branchings of Copper refembling thofe on Mocha Stones,

Dendrite, &c, how to produce — »- 19510208

Brijlled InJeSi — - ■ 363

c.

Camomile, Salt of ' •— ~-» >■■ .1 ■ 162

Camphire examined — — 188

Candle-light beft to examine Salts by the Microfcope 14

Carduus (Salt of) examined l. 1 78

Carp^ Loufe of «^»»« i 1 u ■■ 374

Cafes made of Duckweed by a Maggot 415

Mofs by a Maggot 416

Cheltenham Salt '- ' ' 149

Cobalt, what ■ ■ 128

Arfenic and Smalt made fronj it — — ihid,

CsUeSiion of Solutions hov/ to make and preferve 32, Sec.
6V(?Jir^ of precious Stones whence derived 43,82,216

Con-

I N D E X.

ConJTSIures concerning Amber i^O to 146

Configurations and Cr^J}aliz,ations how different — q

luppolcd owing 10 Aitradion and Rcpulfioti

29. 46

not to X'^egetation 41

Gems formed in the fame Manner 43

Copper ParliclcG how attracted by Iron 78, 82, 196 to 208

obtained pu:e by iuch Attradion 80

gives Colour to Gems ■ * 8z

Experiments on its Colours 83

its Colour how diflufible ■ 84.

Branchings of it to produce 195

to preferve 20^

Copperas., fee Vitriol (green)

Corals and Corallines^ Conjedlures about their Formation 217,

&c.
by an Appofition of Particles
by Infers improbable
Salt of examined
Corroji've Sublimate, a violent Foyfon

Cryji alligation how performed

according to Sir Ifaac Neivton
how 10 preferve -

CryJIalsj their very minute Figures the fame as when large

24

and Configurations confidered together — 41

how formed — 217

Cucumber, Salt of ■ i/O

D.

D^/Tg'w of this Work ■ ■ 1,9

Direclions how to make Solutions of Salts — — 10

to examine them by the Microfcope — — 12
to take off Medals or Coins -_-. ^^5

DiJJoliition how effefled ' ■ 1 9

according to Sir Ifaac Nenxton, as explained by Dr.

Friend — — ■ ihid»

"Dranuings how neceffary to thefe Subjefts ■ 7

in this Work no faociful Reprefentations 3

Duck-ijceedy curious Cafes made of it by a Maggot 'i 415

INDEX,

E.

Eels in Pafte viviparous ^ » ^ "•'■' ' 245

Experiment to (hew it by Mr. James

Sherivood » 24.6

Refleflions on this Produdion *■ 248

in Vinegar ■ " 250

their dead Bodies curious - ■ 41^

in blighted Wheat _ *- 250

Experiments on them — 253
their recovering Life — — 257

Eggs of the Water Snail examined ■ ^ 3 24

their Progreffipn towards Perfection ib.

Ens Veneris defcribed and examined 1 19

Effom Salt Si ChQd.t " ■ ■ •■ *5°

F.

Femiel, Salt of ■ ' '■ — - ^(>S

jFVr^'everlafting, where, and what fo called — -142

worfhipped by the Perjians and Indians 143

Flea (Water) with branched Horns 302

Pediculus Jquaticus,, or Bag- Animal — 383"
JZ-jw^rj of Benjamin —— ■ - ■ 160

Antimony ■■■ ■* ■ 121

Frojiy its pretty Configurations *■ ■■' ■ m ~m 223

Funnel- Animals y or Tannel-Hke Polypi — 331

their Manner of Multiplying 332

G.

Genky how probably formed, and whence their Colours 43,

216

Generation oviparous and viviparous how different 327, &c,

GlaJJesy their great Utility — -_fji

Glauher''-^ wonderful Salt ■■. .m ■

Glohe Animal ■■-■-~ •—

Gody all things alike eafy to him

Refieftions on his Works

has defcribed himfelf every where

his Perfeftions taught as by every thing

Gtilielminushh Obfervations on the Figures of Salts

INDEX
H.

Hfiir like h\^f^ . ^

hturtporn, Sail of . ^ ^

Har-veft-Eug :!''^

/f^ftf/ affiftiflg in moft Operations of Nature 4^^,^

how employed in thtjfe Experiments — . ' ,^

I.

If/i (good Writing) how to make — 02

Sympathetic • — — ,^^

Imprejffions of Medals to take oft' in Wax 416

to print ofFin Colours . 43S

JnJ'e^ with 4 branched Arms . . „ 2g5

4 tranfparent Shells . . ibid.

with the Rat's Tail ■ . . , ^o,

on the Bark of the Afh Tree ■ . 771

in Sea Water luminous ■ ■ ^q^

JniroduSiion to the Account of Animalcules • 220

L.

Lavendary Salt of I^y

Lead (^cAi of) defcrlbed and examined 114

how poyfonuos 116

Fumes of it fix Qnickfilver. . 117

Letch carrying its Young under its Kelly 41 r

Letur to Martin FqUls, Efq; concerning the Wheel Ani-
mal 267

from a Friend .with microfcopical Obfervations 381

Lecu~Meubo£k his Microii:opes defcribed 431

JuXlice done to his Character .4 1 2

Life feemingly fufpended 254

divided- ■ ■ ■ — ^rr

Reflexion? and Confiderationa on it ■ 2c6

Light of a Candle bell to examine Saks ■ — • 14

on Oyflers ^-__— , , . ^^^

on the Scoiopendra 401

in Sea Water __— _-^ ^q2

Luminous Water Infcds. ■ 339, Scc.

M,

INDEX.

M.

M^«72^3! examined — • — - ig^

fome fuppoied fidlitious — —— jgo

Mea/uring of Ohjeds by Dr, Hooh^s Method ■ 373

by a new Micrometer 427

MeJal of Gold beftowed by the Royal Society on the Author

for his Experiments on Salts, &c. — < 3

Medals, how to take Impreffions and Pidlures of- • 436

Metals^ Vegetation of, what ' • 192

Micrometer contrived by Mr. Cuff — 425

Remarks on it by Mr. Folkes ■ 426

in the Author's Microfcope ■ 430

Table belonging to it * — 432

Microfcope, which fitteft to examine Salts — i^

made ufe of in thefe Experiments— —422

New Double Compound defcribed ibid.

Mr. LeeuHxienhoek!^ defcribed • ' ^j 34

Millepedes, Salt of — ^ ' 183

Mouldinejs on the Bark of Wood * 41 6

minute Fungi, of what Size 417

their Seeds- 418

Mug'doort, Salt of __ _ ijg

Mulberry Infe£i « 348

Muproom, edible, its Seeds — ■ 1 418

Naptha Springs near the Cafpian Sea defcribed 141

Steams take Fire on fcraping the Ground, and apply-
ing a Candle • — — ihid»
how managed, and its Ufe ' 142
white like Oil of Amber ■ 143
iVWar^ regular and conftant — — — — _ 6, 8

feen at Work by Glaffes — 7

her Plan in the Produdion of living Animals — 326
the Language of —

Net-like Arms, an In fed having fuch
Nitre or Salt-Petre examined — —

its Cryftals ■ — . —

how produced •— —

Obfervations on — —

Diffolvent of Silver —

Nojirums from Antimony ^ their Operation defcribed

INDEX.

O.

Oat- Animal • ■ ■ ■■ 24. t

Oyjierst Light on them what — - 39^

P.

Particles (original of Matter undifcernable by the Microfcope

2, 23
. reunite after Di/Tolution with furprifing Conftancy

3,6

float at equal Diftances in a Menflruum 22

Conjedures concerning their Fi'gures 23, 26

of Cryllals, what Properties fappofed to have 27

indued with a kind of Polarity ibid,

of Salts give Figure to the regular fofljl Bodies 2 1 3

Pedi cuius Aquatic us ^ or Bag animal 383

PetrifaSlion how efFedled ■ 79

/'///perpetual — — 1 25

P/))^ Animal 1 34^

Plants, Refufcitation of, what — 208

from Fern Afhes " '■ ■* 209

Sal Ammoniac and Pot- Afhes 21 1

Polychrejlum Sal «. 1 ■ I52

Polypest Funnel-like . 332

their Way of Increafe ■ ibid.

Plume Polypes — 306

Cluilering — 335

their feveral Species defcribed 337*8

with Opercula • 342

their way of Increafe defcribed by Mr. Trembley 344.

/'ro/fa/, an Animalcule fo called — 260

Polex aquaticus arbor e/cens — — 302

its Vermin «» 305

Pyr^z/^/z^j' hollow of Salt how formed ■ sj

Pyrita produce Vitriol ^d, 90

Queries concerning the Formation of Cryllals and Configura-
tions ' 26, &c.

concerning the ProduiElion of Amber 140, 146

G g R,

INDEX,

R. .

Ramifcaiions of Metals how probably produced 199

' of Copper how to produce • - 195, &cj
^afjbane. See Arfenic,

Rat- tail' d In{e8i of Mr. ^^ Reaumur 391

!Refu/citationoi'?\zhi^w\\2Lt — 208

i^i?^«z^ on catching cold " *. 1 iaS

loaded with Salts ' '" ibid.

S.

Satchm'um Saturnit Sugar or Salt of Lead 114

^^r/// in general what - • ■■■ x6

a£l not but when diflblved l3, 232

their Ufe and Excellence in the Oeconomy of Nature

17, 59'6i,2i3
fupply Matter and Form to Getns and figurM Fofllls 1 8,

,44» 213, 215

incorporated with Metals caufe Ramifications 214
Ohjed. that their Figures cannot be determined, an/iuer^d

their Soktions how £0 prepare and preferve ic, 14
hovv to examine by the Microfcope j 1
$ ALTS defr-Tibed and examined in this Work are.

Salt Gem or Rock Salt — 5°* 54-

pf the Sea . 55

Springs " t>i— . 56

Scarborough ■ ■ ■ 147

Cheltenham .■ 149

Epfom "— - 150

%'- P-olychreftum — 152

Glauber's — 153

pfTartar ■■ 155

vitriolated - •— 158

Camamile ■ ■ 162

Coral ' — • 163

Baulm '— 16 J

Fennel "j '>' 166

Buckthoi;n — r * 1 67

Berbeny *— 163^

« Cucumber •— 170

i Peruvian Bark ■ 171

Liquorice *— • 172

St3tcher'3 Broom *— » '^73

tv.. Worsnit

INDEX.

Wormwood ■ 175

Tobacco 176

Carduus 178

Lavendar . ibid,

Mugwort ■ 179

Hartfhorn - 180

Urine — ■ . 181

Millipedes ' 183

^atjr (Animalcule) fo called — 31,^.

firft noticed by Monf. Joblot ■ 3I5

Sea Water luminous by Infefts ■ 402

^tfti/of Afparagus « 397

Fungi or Mcfhrooms ■ 418

the Lime-Tiee ■ 395

Vanilla 419

ScckpenJra luminous ..« 4O1
^herivood (Air. James) his Difcovery as to Eels in Pafte 245

$i/'V£r- Tj-ee, or Arbor DinQcc — 193

Solutions how to prepare i 10, II

colleft and f^ferve 32

Spider, Cbfervationj on a large one — 409

its Fangs ■ 410

its Eyes 41*

Spri::g Salt « — 56

Sprtngs from Copper Mines in Hungary faid to convert Iron

into Copper ■ — — 79

at Wickloiu in Irtland 80

Squilla, frcfli Water . 356

Account of ...... 358

how voracious — 36ja

long fnouted - 378

Sublimate CQYxo^iwCy defcribed and examined 126

a violent Poifon — ibid,

Sympat luetic Jnks . 1 35

Powder, what — 9 1

T.

Tartar Szh of 15 5

vitriolated ■ ■ ■ 15^
fincal, or Tircar, /. e. rough Borax, "j. Borax.

Tin, Salt of . 1 1 7

Tobacco, Salt of ■ ■ ■ , ■ 17^

Oyl of, how poifonous * 177
Tranfmutation of Iron into Copper, what, and how cfTefled 79

V.

INDEX.

V.

Vanilla^ its Seeds, how numerous 419

Vegetation, Terms of, how to be underftood in this Work 42

of Metals what ■ 192

Silver — ■"■ ■■■ 193

Iron ■ ■ 194.
Copper, very curious Experiments 195 to 208

Verdigrea/e ^i^iVCd, what g%

its Configurations and Cryllals 94

Vitriol in general — — . 7^

blue II 76

contains Copper — ^%

green contains Iron — 84

whence produced ■— 87

how to prepare for the Microfcope 85

while contains Iron, Lead, or Tin 88

Experiments with — 91

Urine y Salt of — — 181

W.

Warts t to take away — . 113

Wafer Flea^ with branched Horns — 302

Water Hog-Loufe, or Sow — ^^i

Wax, Imprefiions to take ofF from Medals 43

WhelJnimals, or Wheelers — 266

of other Kinds ■ *92

with Shells »■ ■* 295

Z.

%imera Springs in Hungary "•■"" •'" •— — 79

FINIS.

To the Bookbinder.
^'k Plate of the Microfcope, (njchich is not mmhered) muft
put fronting Pag. 422.

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