u f / DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY FRANK BAKER COLLECTION OF WESLEYANA AND BRITISH METHODISM I /P^ w B fur EMPLOYMENT F O R T H E MICROSCOPE. In T W O P A R T S. I. An Examination of Salts and Sali?ie Sub-' jiances^ their amazing Configuratiom and Cryjtahy as tormed under the Eye of the Obferver : WITH Plain Direclions how to prepare fuch Subftances, and prcfcrvc them in conftant Rcadincfs for Infpedionj whereby the Curious may always be furnilhed with numberlefs Objects hithertu little known. ALSO Occafional Confiderations on Gems, Poifom, the fegftation of Metals, the Refufcitatlon of Plants, the Formation of Amber, Corals, and many other Subje£b. 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 ufed in thsfe Experiments, and of a new Micrometer ferving to (hew the Size of magnified ObjeQ 6 Configurations and Cryjlah be true or falfe, Cryflalization is like the retiring of the Sap into the Roots of Trees at the Approach of Winter, where during the cold Seafon it remains dormant and unadiive : Configuration refembles what re- fults from the Expaniion of the fame Sap at the Return of Spring, when excited to A(ftion by the Sun's genialWarmth,it puflies every Way, exerts its vegetative Force, and becomes productive of Buds, Leaves, Branches, BloiToms and Fruits. But the Drawings of one and the other compared together and confider'd, will 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 j where the invifible Particles of Matter, though difuni- ted by a Menftruum, and removed to Dif- tances from each other, are no fooner ex- cited to Acflion than they mutually affift one another to compofe Figures peculiar to 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- iition of their Branches, Leaves or Flowers, but in the general Growth and Fafhion, and thofe other Particularities whereby ^ach Species is diflinguifhed. Our of Salts and Sali?ie Siibjlanccs. j Our Eyes are continually accuftomed to fee the Productions of Nature when finiili- cd, 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 AlTiftancc ofGlalTes, to view her actually at Work, forming under our Eyes, and in a few Minutes, Bodies fo ex- quifitely beautiful that nothing but Seeing can give any juft Idea of them j and that too with fuch a Variety, as to the Plan and Falhion of each Kind, as is abfolutely unconceiveable. Defcriptions of the Subjecfts here treated of would be unintelligible without the Af- fiftance of Drawings. Drawings therefore have been made, and Copper Plates en- graven, at no fmall Expencc, 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 dilliinguilli each Kind from other, will 'tis hoped prove fa- tisfacftory to thofe who Ihall pleafe to re- peat the Experiments after me : for how- ever ftrange they may appear, they are no fanciful Reprefentations produced by the Strength of Imagination, nor are they taken haflily from one or two Trials, but truely lliew what generally prefcntcd in B 4. great 8 Ccnfiguratiom and Cryjlah great Numbers of repeated Obfervatlons^ Their Figures are indeed fo extraordina- ry, that I fliould not dare to have laid them before any body, much lefs to have pub- lifhed them, w^ere there not many Gen- tlemen of unexceptionable Credit who are living WjtneiTes of their Truth, and was \ not alfo able, almoft at any Time, to pro- duce Configurations like thofe they were taken from. Thefe conflant and regular Workings of Nature, which the Microfcope difcovers, may pofTibly conduct us a Step farther in- to her RecelTes, and affift us to judge of Caufes and Effects in man)'- Cafes where at prefent wx are greatly at a Lofs, lince according XfC^Yyx.WGod^joard-^y " the Stea- " dinefs and Conflancy of Nature in all it^ < • Produ(5tiQns, and in the Formation of all " Bodies, happens from the Conflancy of the " Procedure of the Agents that are inflru- " mental to the Formation of thofe Bodies, " and from the Unalterablenefs of the Cor- *' pufcles which ferve for conftituting and *' compofmg of thofe Bodies " And we are told by the Rt. Rev, Author of Syris J, that the " Analogy, Conflancy and Uni- " formity in the Phenomena or Appear- <' ances of Nature are aFoundation forgene- *' ral Rules : and thefe are a Grammar for *' theUnderftanding of Nature, or the Series of f Vid U'oodi'jai'd\ Nat. Ilift, of Foflils, E^'g. Idit. Vol. I. p. \9.( . % Seft. 123. t( of Salts and Saline Siibfiances. 9 of Efiedis in the vifible World, whereny " we are inabled taforelee what will come " to pais in the natural Courfe of Things." As there is good Reafon therefore to exped;, that the following Experin:ents may conduce fomething towards account- ing for many Caufes and Eifecfts in Nature, when dueiy confidered by People of true Judgment, to fuch I freely fubmit them ; without pretending any thing more my- felf than barely to relate Fa6ts : but Aiould they ferve no other Purpofe than to pre- fent a new Set of Objeds for the Micro- fcope , full as wonderful and entertaining as any that have ever been yet examiued, affording by Mixture a Variety almoll: in- finite, eafily procured, and always ready for Obfervation, there are many I flatter myfelf to whom they will prove acceptable. And I fliall endeavour to alTift as much as pof- fible the Curiofity of thofe who may be inclined to repeat thefe Experiments after me, by defcribing in the plainefl Terms each Circumfiance neceffary to be known, either previous to, or during the Time of Obfervation by the Microfcope, and dare afllire them for their Encoura<^ement, that the Trouble is very little, though the Plea- fure and Information rclultinG; therefrom is great. To begin tlicn with the Manner of pre- paring thefe Subjects for Obfervation. CHAP. 10 • Method of preparing CHAP. II. ^e Method of^preparijig Salts jW Saline Substances, for the viewing their Con- figurations. IDifTolvc theSubjefl to be examined in no larger a Qnantity of River or Rain Water than I am certain it is fufficient to faturate. If it is a Body eafily diilblvable I make ufe of cold Water, otherwife I make tUe Water warm, or hot, or even boiling, according as I find it neceflary. After it is perfedily diflblved I let it reft for fome Hours, till, if overcharged, the redundant Saline Particles may be precipitated, and fettle at theBottomj or {hoot into Cryflals ; by which means I am mofl: 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 j and by thefe Precautions the Configurations appear alike, how often fo ever tryed : whereas if the Water be lefs faturated, the Proportions at different Times will be fub- je(f}: to more Uncertainty ; and if it be exa- mined before fuch Separation and Precipita- tion of the redundant Salts, little more will be feen than a confufed Mafs of Cryftals. The Solution being thus prepared, I take up a Drop of it with a Goofe Quill, cut in Fafliion Salts and Saline Si^h/Iances. 1 1 Faflilon of a Scoop, and place it on a flat Slip of Glafs of about three Quarters of an Inch inWidth, and between three 'and four Inches long, fpreadlng it on the Glafs wii^h the Qiull, in either a round or oval Figure, till it appears a Quarter of an Inch or moi e 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 can 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 diredl,) and watch it very carefully, till I difcover the Saline Particles bep-inninn; to gather and look white, or of fome other Co- lour, at the Extremities of the Edges. Then (having adjufted the Microicopc beforehand for its Reception, armed with the fourth Glafs, which is the fitteft for moll: of thefe Experiments,) I place it under my Eye, and bring it exacTtly to the Focus of the Magni- fier, and after running over the whole Drop, I fix my Attention on tliat Side where I obferve any Increafe or pulhing 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 * uncon-. 12 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 exacfteft Pencil in the World guided by the Ruler and CompalTes can ever equal, or the mofi: luxuriant Imagination fancy. When A(5tion once begins, the Eye can- not be taken off, even for a Moment, with- out lofing fomething worth Obfervation : for the Figures alter every Infbant till the whole Procefs is over ; and in many Sorts, after all feems at an End, new Forms arife, different intirely 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 Subjed:s three or four different 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 A(ftion 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 Glaffes, as I fhall dired: hereafter, may be preferved Months, or even Years, entertaining Objeds for the Microfcope, S^Ifs and Salhie Sub fiances. 13 ' N. 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 Smoothnefsj but breaks into little Globules, as it would do were the Surface 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 ^s to leave the Glafs fmear'd with it ; on which fmear- ed Place when dry, another Drop of the Solution 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 Objecfl Glafs, and therefore muft immediately be wiped away v/ith a foft Cloth or Leather. 'Tis I think an allowed Maxim, that Salts a(5t not unlefs in a State of DiflMution, for which Reafon I dilTolved them in order to obferve their Manner of adiins:. A certain Degree of Heat is likewife mofl: commonly employ'd by Nature in all her various Pro- dud:ions : 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 aft, which I apprehend is the Cafe when they are 14 Method of preparhig are formed into Ciyirals, but even whilfl: they are acting : and this what I call their Configuration does moft wonderfully (hew. My Intention was to difcover as far as might be, the natural Inclination, Progreffi- on and Figure of each reipedlive Salt under Examination j it was confequently necellary to avoid making ufe of anyDiflblvent, w^hich by containing other Salts might create Con- fuiion, and produce Forms not conilant or efrcn«"ial to tlie Subjedl of Inquiry. River or Rain Water has therefore moft common- ly been my DiiTolvent, 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 perfecftly 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 j as for the Compounds I was obliged to rely on the Chemift. In all Examinations by the Microfcope of Saline Solutions, even though rtiade 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 diftinguifliable by the brown Light a Candle affords, than by the more white and tranfparent Day-light ; and be- fides, either by moving the Candle or turn- ing Salts and Saline Suhftances. i^ ing the Microfcope, fuch Light may be varied or dired:ed juft as the Subjedl re- quires. It may be alfo proper to take notice, that no Kinds of Microfcope are fit for tlxfe Obfervations, but fuch as have an open Stage, whereon the SHpsofGlafs with the Liquor upon them may be placed readily, and in a perfec't horizontal Pofition -, and jnorcover where they can be turned about freely, and without difordering the Fluid. Thofe Microfcopes where Sliders or Slips of Glafs are thruft in between two Plates, as in WilfofiSy &c. be they in whatever Di- red:ion, cannot therefore properly be em- ployed here. — The following Obfervations were all made by a double Microfcope, conftruded by Mr. Cuff, m Fleet-Jlrcety with fome Regard to thefe Experiments, Its Figure refembles what is called com- monly the Double Reflc5ii?jg Microfcope, and like that it receives Light from a Speculum underneath : but befides an Liiprovement hi the Pofition of the Glafi^es, its Stage is difencumbered with Legs, and quite open for the Reception of Objects without Trou- ble ; its Motion is not by Jerks, as in the Microfcope jufl now mentioned, but re- gulated by a fine-threaded Skrew, whereby it is adjufted to the Eye with great Eafe and Exadnefs : and all that try it will I believe judge it not only the moft convenient Micro- fcope 1 6 Of Salts m general. fcope for thisPurpofe, but likewife for gene- ral Ufe. Wherefore as this Inflrument, which has been conftructed fince the Publica- tion of the Microfcope ?nade eafy, could not be given there amongft the other Micro* fcopes then in ufe, I intend at the End of this Treatife to infert a Drawing and fhort Defcription of it. CHAP. III. Of Salts in general* IT feems necelTary, in order to make the Miitter in Hand underfcood the bet- ter, that fome Account be given of what is meant by Salts and Saline StibJlanceSy to- gether w^jth fome fhort Explanation of the DifTolution of fuch Subftances, and their Cryilalization 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 Tafle ; for Salts are of all Taftes, and Sugar itfelf is no other than a Salt extradled from the Sugar Cane, But we underfland by Salts, all Subftances what- foever that are diflblvable in Water, or 'whofe Parts become fo feparated thereby as to difappear therein ; which, notwith- Handing Of Salts hi gejieraL i y ihg the Water being evaporated, fliew them- felves as^ain combined in fome fort of an- gular Forms, with a Degree of Tranfpa- rency, and to the Tafle are more or lefs pungent. To this may be added, that they are fufible by Fire* Salt, thus underflood, 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 where, 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, Bread, &c. deprived of their Salts, can neither fuftain, nouriih, or increafe the Bodies of Animals j and the Earth when diverted of it becomes abfolutely barren* Vegetables dnd Animals, whilrt flourish- ing and alive, difcharge by Perfpiration and other more fenfible Evacuations the Excefs and Recrements only of the Salts whereby they are preferved : but when they perifli, the Chain whereby the Parts were kept to- gether becomes broken, the Salts regain their Liberty by Putrefa(ftion, fome fly away into the Air, and the reft remain in 51 Condition to enrich and render fertile^ C that* 1 8 Of Baits in general. that lean and hungry Earth which is dc- ftitute of fuch Salt. Taftes, Smells, and moft other EfFecfls of Bodies on one another, feem occafioned by the Adion of Salts, which by flriking on our Organs produce Senfations corre- fpondent to their Figures, and by the fame means affed: all other Bodies. Being tranfparentj and having a ftrong attradive Power, they probably fupply both Matter, Confiftence and Form to Spars, Cry- Hals, Diamonds, and all other Gems and pel- lucid angularly figured Foffils. When com- bined and at Reft they are perhaps the Bafis of Cohelion 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 their attrac- tive Power) becomes exerted, they are the mofl: adtive Principles inNature, 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 Produdiions j and, that he who knows not Salts, will never perform any thing in Art. The Diflindion of Salts into acid and alkaline, into volatile, fixt, and effential, I flilU leave the Reader to confult chemical Writers about* CHAP, [ 19] CHAP. IV. Of Dissolution. THE Dlllblutlon of Salts or fallne Bo- dies is effected by an Intrulion orln- terpofition of the Particles of Water, or fonle other DifTolvent, between the Parti- cles that compound fuch Bodies ; where- by their Combination is deftroyed, and they become feparated from each other* Sir Ifdac Newton accounts for the Diflb- lution of fuch Subflances from the great Principle of Attradlion, and the Manner thereof is explained by Dr. Friend in his Prale^iones Cbejnica, pag. 6i, where he gives a rriechanical 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, and folid for their Bulk, are con- fequently indued with a ftrong attra(flive Power: (Attraction being, ceteris paribus^ always in proportion to the Quantity of Matter ;) the Particles of Water are there- fore attracfled more vigoroufly by the fa- lifie Particles than by one another : for the watery Particles cohering but (lightly, and moving readily, when they approach the Particles of Salt, rufh as it were into their Embraces J and opening a PaiTage into their C 2 " Pores, ^ Vid. Newtonh Opticks. p. 351. to Of Dijfolutwt. " Pores, which are very numerous, theTe^^- " ture and Cohefion of their Parts become " intirely broken and deftroyed, the Corpu- " fcles are leparated,and float here and there ^' in the Water." Water (or fome other Liquor) having thus infinuated betv^een the component Particles of faline Bodies, deflroyed their Cohefion, and removed them from each other -J if the minute difunited Particles are fewer than what the Interflices of the Water can contain, they remain fufpended in the Fluid, though being extremely fmall and tranfparent the Eye cannot difcern them : for notwidiflanding Salts are fpecifically heavier 'than Water, their minute Particles, when feparated, having their Surfaces increafed in proportion as their Bulk is diminished, 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 eaiily contain, the Refidue attrad: each other, form little MafTes hea- vier than the Fluid, and either fall to the Bottom, or adhere to the Sides of the VefTel, and that moft commonly in the Form of regular Cryftals* CHAP. [ 21 ] CHAP. V. Of Crystalization. THE ufual Way of procuring CryAals from any Salt or faline Subl1:ance isjto diifolve the fame in warm Water ; to fil- ter the Mixture if there be any Foulnefs; to evaporate till a Film is feen at Top ; and then to fet it in a cool Place to ilioot. 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 affifts its forming into Cryllals. The Cryftals thus formed, whether more or lefs in Quantity, will always have fuch Figure as is peculiar and conftant to the Kind of Salt they are procured from ; 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 imply, that fuch component Particles, v/hatever 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 fca* on Sir Jfaac Newtoti\ Princi- ples, by the attracflive Force with whicli all Bodies, and Salts more cfpecially, by reafon of their Solidity, are indued j where- by, when the Water wherein they flosit C 3 'is 22 Of Cryftalizafion, is evaporated, to fuch -a Degree that the faline Particles come within the Reach of each other's attractive Power, and do ac- tually attract one another more vigorous- ly than the Fli^id attracfls them, they form themfelves into Cryftals. And as to the Re- gularity of their Figures, " that argues (accordirig to the fame great Man) that the Particles of the Salt before they con^ creted, floated in the Liquor at equal Diftances in Rank and File ; and by con- fequence that they ad:ed upon one another by fome Power which at equal Diftances is equal, at unequal Dirfan- ces unequal. For by fach a Power they will range themfelves uniformly, and without it they will float irregularly, and corre together as irregularly." He alfo fuppofes, *' that the Particles not only range themfelves in Rank and File for con- creting in regularFigures,but alfo byfomc kind of polar Virtue turn their homo- ^' geneal Sides the fame Way -f. As that Confl:ancy of Figure, obfervablc in the Produ6tion of Cryftals 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 different Salts, in- duces one to believe, that the component Particles of each Kind difter no lefs in Shape I 'N^vio-:'s. Opticks, -d Fulit. Page \6^. Component Particles of Salts. 23 Shape from the Particles of every other Kind than the Cryflals they compofe do. The Particles of them all are indeed fo exquifitely minute, that no human Eye or Inrtrument can poilibly 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. Conjectures have notw^ithftanding been made concern- ing their Figures j fome fuppofing them exactly of the fame Shape in little, as the Cryfi:als they conltitute by their Combi- nation are in a larger Size j whilfl others infift, that their Shape is intirely different from what appears in the Cryilals j the Figures whereof arife, as they imagine, from a ftronger AttratTiion on fome Sides of the fame Particles than on others, whereby the Concretions on thofe more attractive Sides are greater : for, fay they, if the Particles of Salt that fwim in a Fluid attract each other mutually, and by their Figure have a greater attractive Power in fome Parts than in others, and if their Contact 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 Profefibr and Phyfician of Eomiiia * , Do-mini ens C 4 Gnliel- * "\'id. Difcorfo fopra U Tigurt dc" Snii. Printed at Bologna 4*°. i688. 24 Component Particles of Salts', Qullelminus obferves, that the fenfibic Cryftals of any Salt, however large or mi- nute they may be, have al\yays the fame Figures : the Co-ordination cf the Parts not depending on the Quantity of the com-! ponent Matter : that Nitre, for E::cample, in its Efflorefcencies from Walls, difpofes; itfelf into very flender Bodies of the like Figure exacflly as its larger Cryflals ; and that net only Cryflals too fmall for our Eyes, to fee, but even the minutefl: Particles of their Salt, that were dilTolved in the Water before their Cryflalization, have the fame Figure as the larger Cryflals have. Whence he fuppofes the firfl Principles of Matter whereof the Salt is compofed, and which on Account of their Smallnefs no Force can poflibly divide, to have fuch deter- mined Figures, as they can never change, impofed on them at their Creation. And for this he quotes Mr. Leeu%venhoek, who aflerts, 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 Hair, were exacftly figured like their larger Cry- flals ; and thofe Figures in two or three Minutes increafcd to an hundred times their former Bulk, flill retaining their Fi- gure, however they v/ere enlarged in Length and Breadth. Nor does he imagine any other Caufe in Component "Particles of Salts, 2^ for the Separation of a Salt from theFroid wherein it is'dilTolved, but an Inclination of the Planes of the fmalleft Particles to unite ; which Inclination being alike in all, they join one after another on every Side : 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 Crvilals are themfelves produced by an appolite Union of fuch-like figur'd Particles, whofe Figures cannot be destroyed unlefs by Annihilation. That the mofl: 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 vinderftand the other Properties concerned in their Combination. After all my Expe- riments, I am too fenfible of my own Ig- norance to fet up any Hypothcfis : that I leave to abler Judges on future Tryals ; begging Leave inilead thereof to fubmit the ^oUovvinir Queries to beconfidered atLeifure. g>UERIES. [ 26 ] ^U E R I E S. DO not Attradion and Repulfion feem to be the principal adlive Powers whereby the natural Changes in Bodies are produced ? Are not thefe Powers inherent, proba- bly, in all Matter, however their Agency may be fufpended, diminifhed, augmented, or otherwife diverlifyed ? May we not fuppofe, that by the firfl of thefe Powers the original Particles of Matter are brought together and conjoyned, in the Formation of moft compounded Bo- dies ? and does not the Deftrucftion 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 conftitutingGold, Stone, Wood, Flefh, &c, are different from each other ad Origine -, and, confequently, that there are different Kinds of fimple mate- rial Particles ? Mufl 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- tra(ftive or repulfive Force : and may not the Difference in Bodies as to Coherence, . Soli. QUERIES. 27 Solidity, Duration, &c. be owing to the various Intermixture and Combination of Particles either ^//^, or u?2likc in Size and Figure -f- ? May there not be a Kind of Polarity in the original Particles ? or, may they not attract at fome Points and repel at others, and that in various Proportions, according to their Inclination towards each other, their Diflances, their Points of Contad:, or other Circumftances ? May not fuch Attrat^ion or Repulfion be excited, or fufpended, by Heat, Cold, Motion, Rcfl:, C^c .^ And as Light has alternate Fits of eafy Reflexion and eafy Tranfmiffion J, occafioned by the different original Properties of the different Sides of its Rays *, (as Sir Ifhac Nr,vfc7i has + '* All the Phacnomena in Nature are produced by- Motion. There appears an uniform working in things great and fmall by attrading and repelling Forces. But the particular Laws of Attraftion and Repulfion are various. The minute Corpufcles are impelled and direded, that is to fay, moved to and from each otiier, according to various Rules or Laws of Motion. Some Bodies approach together, others fiy afunder, and perhaps fome others do neither. When Salt of Tartar flows per deliquiuin , it is vifible that the Particles of Water floating in the Air are move4 towards the Particles of Salt, and joyne4 with them. And when we behold vulgar Salt not to flow per ricliijuium^ 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 aflTumes a round Figure, becaufe its Parts are moved towards e ich other : but the Particles of Oil and Vinegar Jiave no fuch DifpQ- fition to Unite." ViJe Bifliop of Cloyne's Syrls, Page 1 10. I Newton's Opticks, Page 339. Again, 347. * Jbid. Quere z6. S8 ^U E R I E S, has fhewn : ) may there not alfo be alter- nate Fits of eafy Attracftion and eafy Re- pulfion, occafioned by the Conjundlion, or Oppolition, of the attractive or repulfive 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, propaga- ted, or communicated, with almoft infi- nite Variety (as to the Modification) ac- cording to the Conftitution of the Bodies wherein they are excited, and the Aptnefs or Unaptnefs of other Bodies near them ? May we fuppofe the Attraction and Re- pulfion of Magnetifm, Gravity and Elec^ tricity, to be different Powers, or different Modifications only of the general attradlive and repulfive Power fuppofqd refident in all Matter ? Do not Heat and Motion feem moil like- ly to excite Repulfion j and are not Cold and Refl mofl favourable to Attraction ? When the Particles of Subftances eva- porate, become volatile, or fly away, is not iuch Volatility owing to the repulfive Force of the Particles, fome how or other put into Action ? 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 ? Sup-=' ^,U E R I E ^, 2p Supporing that Salts are dilTolved, or their Parts feparated, ( according to Sir Ifaac Newto?is Theory, and the beforemen-^ tioned Explanation of Dr. Friend^ ) becaufe the Particles of Water are more ftrongly attradl:ed by the Particles of Salt than by one another, and rufli between and dis- unite 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 Repulfion inftantly fuc- ceed the former Fit of Attradion * ? And, if the repuliive Power be of equal Force in each of the Particles, will they not be repelled to equal Dillances from each other, and confequently be difpofed in Rank and File : and when their next Fit of Attradi- on takes place, will they not unite accord- ing to their Arrangement and conftitute regular Figures ? Without fuppoUng fuch Fits of Repul* fion and Attrad:ion, will it not be very difficult to conceive, how the Particles of Salt, which, notw^ithftanding their mutual Attracflion and Contad:, became feparated each from other by their ftronger Attrad:i- on • Unlefs by fome fach Means, it is not eafy to imagine that the Particles of Water (hould be able to enter the Interftices between the conftituent Particles of Saks : for the firft Particles of Salt= are found to be fmaller even than thofe of Air, by their pafling through Cork,, Glafs, and bther Bodies, which ir cannot pals through, and confe- quently their Interftices mull be flill much fmaller. 36 ^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 Attraction mufl be rendered m.uch weaker, forfake the Par- ticles of Water (which they had attraded and joyned themfelves to fo flrongly) come together again, and combine more firmly than they did before * j for Cryflals are not near fo eafy to diffolve as Salts before they are cryftalized ? Does not the Power of Attradlioh in- creafe as the Difta^ces between the Par- ticles decreafe ? Is it not of great Strength, when they are brought in Contad; ? and would not moft Bodies be abfolutely folid, and their Parts almofl infeparable, was not tiardnefs an eifential Property in Matter^ which (by rendering the Particles incom- preffible) prevents their Contadt otherwife than in Points, and occafions numberlefs Pores or Interftices between them ? May not the attradlive and repulfive Power 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 Attradion and Repullion ? ♦When a Glafs Tube, made Eleftrical hy rubbing, attrafts a downy Feather, foon afterwards repels it, and drives it continually away until the Feather has touched fotne othcf Body ; after which it immediately attrafts, and then repels it; have we not a plain ocular Demonftration of alternate Fits of Attraftion and Repulfion i §iU E R I E S. ^t 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 conneAed by their Angles ? And if the Surfaces of fuch Bodies are fmooth and pohflied, will not their Jundlion 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 fliaped 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- bably of homogeneous Particles, or Parti- cles of the like Size and Figure, arrang- ed in fome uniform Direction, whereby their Interfaces being rendered regular, are fitly adapted for tranfmitting the Rays of Light ? And is not the Tranfparency of all falineCryftals and Configurations moil likely to be owing to the fame Caufe ? Do 32 'DireBlom for colkBing Do not the Colours of Bodies alfo depend on the Arrangement of their Particles, for the more or lefs ready Reflexion, Refrac- tion, TranfmifTion, or Retention of the Rays of Light ? C H A P. VI. Dirediions for making a ColleBion of the Sohi^ tionsof Salts and Saline Substances, and -preferiJiJig them always in Rcadi72efs to be examined by the Microfcope. AS the Curious may be delirous to collefl 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 thisPurpofe^ 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 : at aboiit an Inch and a quarter from its Bottorii place a thin Board of the exaft Length and Width of your Drawer, horizontally, on four little Pillars faftened in the Corners j this Board having firfl of all round Holes cut through it, in Rows, of a Size to re- ceive Glafs Phials that hold one Quarter of Solutions of Salts. 33 of an Ounce, and fufficiently large for them to go eaiily in and out. Such a Board will conveniently admit of twelve Rows, each Rov/ having eight Holes. Being thus furnilhed with a Repofitory for your Colledlion, and provided with ninety-fix Phials of clear Glafs to place in thefe Holes, where they will ftand in order without Danger of tumbling down or be- ing othcrwife 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 fo well. Then with a Tea-fpoon, half fill your Phials with boiling Water, immerging them all the while up to the Neck in a Balbn of Water, likewife boiling hot-^-, and hold them there till the Salt is all dilTolved, or you are fure the Water will diflblve no more. This done, faften with ftiff Pafle a fmall Piece of Paper on the Side of each Phial near the Neck, that it may eafily be feen ; having previoufly marked the Papers 1,2, 3, 4, 5, ^c. in a numerical Order. Fit D the \ Cold Water or warm Water will do for rome fr^rts, but hot Water does no Harm to any, and is beft for nioll. 2 4- DireBiom for colkdim^ the Phials with good found Corks, on which you mull hkewife mark the fame Numbers, that you may not miftake 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 exa(5l 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 j and when any Phial is almofb out it may eafily be replenhhed, fo as to preferve your Colledlion always compleat. You muft not expe(ft to fill all your Bottles immediately j forty or fifty forts will be perhaps as many as you will foon be able to procure j and therefore, if you fhall be fatisfied with them, 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 from Tiiiie to Time, and would not willingly be limited in his Refearches. Suppofe hovy- ever Soluficfis of Salts, 35 ever you have only forty Sorts ; by diffe- rent Mixtures and Compofitions of them with one another, you may produce many thoufands of Subjecfts 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 fignificd. 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 fliew the Configurations and Cryftals of Salts fimply and fmgly ; I re- commend to thofe who have more Leifure, to examine them all differently combined. Solutions thus prepared will be always ready to fliew the Configurations forming under the Obferver's Eye ; a Sight no one can behold without Admiration and De- light. It would likewife be very defirable to preferve the Configurations thcmfelves, after they are compleat and pcrfed:, or in their different 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 mav be kept a D 2 long ^6 l)ireBiom for colkBing long while in good Perfe6lion, if another SHp 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, ftrong Gum, or flicking Pafte, applyed to each Side of the Slices of Cork, will faften the GlalTes fo well together as to make of them a fort of Boxes or Cafes, including the Configu- rations and defending them from any In- jury, if the open Sides be fhut up, by pafl- ing a narrow Slip of Paper over them : but then Pin-holes muft be made through the Paper ; for if the Air be intirely ex- cluded, the Configurations will foon decay. I have now by me feveral of thefe little Cafes of Glafs, containing Configu- rations and Cryftals that appear nothing at all the worfe for keeping, though they have been prepared at leafl 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 Objedls. The Glafies for them are all cut by the Glazier of the fame Size exadlly, ijiz. one Inch and three Quarters long, and almofl an Inch broad. They muft be free from Scratches, Flaws, or Air Bubbles. Solutions of Saks. 37 The Salts whofe Configurations or Cry- ilals may be thus kept, are common Salt of fome kinds, not of all : Ahrni^ fomc of the Vitriols^ Saccharum Saturni, Ens Vejieris, Salt cf Ambci\ and fome others, which are eafily known by their not breaking or difTolving away foon after they are pro- duced. CHAP. VII. A general Explanation of the Plates, lantk fome farther Thoughts on the Cryftals and ConfiguratioJis of Salts, HAVING declared already what I mean by Configurations, and given a full Account how to prepare faline Sub- fiances for that Purpofe, and to make a, proper CoUecftion of them, little more is requifite at prefent than to explain briefly what the following Plates defisrn. Each Figure reprefents a Drop of the Solution of that Subftance whofe Name it bears ; and is calculated to fliew the Procefs of its Appearances, from the firfl: beginning to cryflalize about the Edges, to the full and compleat Conclufion of all its feveral Changes. As Heat excites Acftion, and fets the faline Particles in Motion, thofe Particles, whiilt D 1; i'ioat- 38 thoughts on Cojifgurafions and Cryjlah. floating in a heated Fluid, may be fuppofed to have a coniidcrable Liberty of exerting their attractive and repullive Properties, as they approach each other in their Fits of Re- puifion or Attraction j or according to the fortuitous Appofition or Approach of their attracftlve or repulfive Points each to other ; v/hence a Commotion mufl necelTarily a rife, feme attractine: and others repelling, till fuch time as the Particles can difpofe ■ them- felves in the Order and Figure that mufl: necefiarily refult from their original Forms and Properties : v;^hich Forms and Proper- ties being fuppofed unalterable, hov/ often foever they are diffolved or feparated, they will conf^antly unite again in the very fame Manner *. And accordingly, in many of the following Solutions innumerable little Maffes may be difcovered, hurrying about mojft violently, and in all Directions, before there appears the leaft Tendency tov/ards ihooting into re&-ular Figures. The Solution being more fliallow, and the Attra(5tion greater, about the Edges of the Drop than near its Middle, the floating Particles of Salt tend towards the Edges in great A^bundance, and begin there, mofl: com- * Should the Particles wear away or break in Pieces, the Nature of Things depending on them would be chang- ed. "VVat^r and Earth compofed of old worn Particles and Fiagmcnts of Particles, would not be of the fame Nature and Texture nnw, with V»^^ter and Earth compofed of intiro Pi^rucles in the Beginning. AVau'o/;'s Opticks, p. 376, Thoughts on Conjigiiratiojis andCryftals. 39 commonly, to combine in fuch Cryflals as are peculiar to the Subjed: j the Sides and Angles of which Cryftals formed with- in the furrounding Fluid are regular, po- liflied, and tranfparent : and their oppo- iite Sides would be the fame alfo, were they not terminated by the Edges of the Drop, and unable to form thcmfelvcs upon the dry Glafs. This ufually is the Beginning of the Procefs 'j and thus far the Power of Attrac- tion feems almoil \N'holly to prevail : a Power whereto Cryftalization appears al- moft intirely owing ; Repulfion, on the . contrary, may be deemed the firfl Agent in producing Configurations : or to fpcak more plainly, Attrasftion, 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 obiecfled, that our Configu- rations may alfo be produced by Attrac- tion only, I muft prefume to think that is fcarcely pofiible : for tlie Shoots that firll: appear do not only pufli forwards vigoroufly in the Procefs, but divide and fubdivide into imiunierable Lines and Branches ; which D 4 Pivifioa 40 Thcii^hts on Confgurations and Cryjlah. Divifion and Subdivifion feem diredtly con- trary to the EffeA of an attradive Power ; fmce Attra(5i:ion can hardly be fuppofed to make Particles of the fame homogeneous Matter feparate. I am however incUnable to believe, that the Fits of Repulfion, which pufh out the aforefaid Lines and Branches, may be attended or immediately fucceeded by Fits of Attra(flion, laterally, in the Particles compofing them ; whereby the interme- diate faline Particles difperfed in the Fluid between the faid Lines and Branches are at- tracted to the Sides, combine with, and become a Part thereof. For Vv^as 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- tradiion fideways, at, or nearly at the fame Inflant of Time, may eafily be imagined, if we fuppofe two oppofite Sides of the faline Particles indued with an attractive, and two other oppodte Sides of the fame Particles indued with a repulfive Property, in forne fuch Sort, as every Ray of Light is confider'd hy Sk If7ac Newton y inhisObfervations on the double Refraction of Ifland Cryftal, as hav- ing ■* four Sides or Quarters, two whereof oppofite to one another incline the Ray to be refracted after one Manner, and the other two oppolite Sides incline the Ray to be refracted after a different Manner. Cryflals * Kii'.-iofi's Opticks, p. 33^. thoughts on Coiifguratiom andCryJlah. 4 1 Cryllals and Configurations are frequently feen together in the fame Drop, and form- ing at the fame Inflant. As foon 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 Bigncfs foevcr they may become inlarged, they lliew, from their very firft Appearance, the fame Sides and Angles that are feen afterwards when at their utmoft Size, no Alteration of Figure attending their Increafe in Bulk. But the Configurations change their Forms every Moment, pufliing forwards in new Shapes continually, and leaving no Refemblance of the Forms that prefented firil: : infomuch, that no better guefs can be made ( in a Subjed: never before examined) what Configuration will be form'd thereby, from feeing its firft beginning Shoots, than from feeing the Germen or feminal Leaves of an unknown Seed one can pafs a Judgment what other Leaves, Flowers and Fruit fuch unknown Seed fliall produce. From the firil pufliing forward of the Salt there is a continual feeming progref- five Motion and Change of Figure * : but as * Notwithftandlng this Manner of ExprefTion, in C6n- formity to the Appearances of Things, I fuppofe the Con- figurations of Salts arc produced according to certain Laws ot Rcpulfion and Attradion, whereby the floating Parti- cles ^2 TImights on Configurations andCryftals. as Motion can not be pi^ truding, and fach like Terms, are frequently made ufe of ii\ the Courfe of this I reatife, in order to avoid Circumlocu- tion, and to render the Subjed more familiar ; the Reader is defired to take Notice and remember, that fuch like Expreffions are not to be underftood literally in the ftridl Senfe of the Words, as fuppofing any thing fimilar to Ve- getation ; any more than among People well fkill'd in Aftro- nomy the Sun is fuppcfcd aftually to move from Eaft to Weft, to rife in a i\lorning and to go down at Night, though they frequently fpeak of its moving fo, of its rifing, and its going down, in conformity tp common Appearance. Gctns iheir ProduSfion and Colours. 43 fparency and poliilied Sides and Angles, bear a near Refemblance, when enlarged by the Microfcope, to the Shootings (in the Fiflures of Rocks and Mines ) of Spars, Cryftals, and fcvcral Kinds of angular and figur'd Gems, and ferve moreover to point out after what Manner fuch Bodies are alfo probably form'din a furroundingFluid *, and poffibly too of fimilar Materials : for there feems nothing unreafonable in fup- pofing, that different mineral Salts, diffolv- ed in fome Fluid exfuding from Rocks or Mines, and tinged with metalline Mat- ter, may, through the wonderful Chemi- ftry of Nature, fupply 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 ^. Nor are the Hardnefs of precious Stones, their being void of any faline Taffe, and their * Cryftals and all angular Bodies concrete in the Midil of a refolvent Fluid or Menllruum. The Fluid wherein Cryftal is concreted, is to Cryftal as common Water is to Salt. ( Stcno's ProJrcmus, Eng. Edit. Page 64. ) Thst is, the Cryftal Particles arc fcparated and float iniuch Fluid, as the Particles of Salt do, when diflblved, in common Water. •\ Mines, or Beds of Metal, are met with conftantly, if fought after, near the Places where precious Stones are found. The Ruby is fuppofed by fome to take its Teint from Gold, by others from Iron; the Emerald and Sapphyre from Copper, but by difTcrent Monitrua ; the Topaz from Lead or Iron, Granates from Iron, ^r. and a Pvlixture of two or more Teints from diftcrcrt \:ctals may pofli- bly give Colour to the Amethyft, the Hyacinth, the Opal, bf. A greater or lefs Proportion of metalline Matter j^ dy alfo render the Gem deeper or paler, harder or fnft. r. Whea 44 Thoughts on Ctvns, their IndilTolubility, fiifficient Objed:ions againft Salts being the Bafis of Diamonds, Rubies, Emeralds, Granates, &c. fince 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 aft unlefs difTolv- ed) is confequently infipidj or rather ab- folutely taftelefs. Whoever fhall pleafe to repeat thefe Ex- periments after me, will I believe be fa- tisfied, that the Cryflals fhooting from a Solution of diftilled Verdigreafe, which is a Vitriol loaded with Copper ; 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 flioot- ings of Emeralds both in Figure and Co- lour : that the Cryflals of E?is Veneris^ a Preparation of Iron, wonderfully emulate the Topaz, &c. 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 and Purity 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 efpecialiy about Rocks and Mines, they frequently ap^ pear in Shoots or iVlaftes, blended more or lefs with talcky or other Matter, and probably conftitute our Cryftals, Spars, ^V. iheir PrediiBton^ and Colours. 45 No Kinds of Matter that we know of, except Salts, have a Tendency to fuch-hke Figures : but Salts when at Liberty always appear in them. The Tranfparency of Salts is alfo another Property almofl: pecu- liar to themfelvcs and the Bodies we are fuppofing them to compofe : and therefore, notwithflanding in thcle our hafty and im- perfecft Experiments the Shoots are fo mi- nute as to require a Microfcope to difcern them, and fo tender that the Air in a fliort Time deflroys them, may not Nature, who proceeds furely though flowly, pro- duce Bodies from a better Combination of the fame Kinds of Materials, of Size proportionable to the Quantity of fuch Ma- terials, fimilar in Figure and Colour, hard- ly feparable and of long Duration ? I have dwelt the longer on this firfl Part of the Procefs (which the Drawings point out in the Shootings of di/iilledVcrdi- greafc, Plate II. 1,1: in t\io(t oi Alu?n, Plate III. ^ b : and of Em FenenSy Plate IV. a a) fmce every Obferver muft be highly pleafed, to behold the beautiful Appearances of Eme- ralds, Diamonds, &c\ rifmg 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. Wliat has been hitherto defcribed re- gards the Figures only that proceed from and 46 Thoughts on Configiir attorn and Cryftah. 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 iirft becoming difcernable, being en- compafTcd on every Side by a Fluid re- plete with faline Particles, (which, fwim- ming at Liberty, are attracfted or repelled from every Quarter, till the Points of greatefl mutual ilttraction meeting in Contad:, com- bine according to their refpe(flive Figures"^- : ) Thefe, I fay, have all their Sides moll commonly regular and compleat, with fuch Number and Difpolition 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 Workmanfhip of the moft expert Jeweller. Thefe are intended to be reprefented in the Alum Solution at f, and in that of Bjm Veneris at b b. They are alfo Ihewn again by themfelves, and in a larger Size, under thofe and fome of the other Drawings. After f All fofiil Cryfials, 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 form- ed in the fame Manner. thoughts on Configuratlom and Cryjlah. 47 After the Cryftals about the Edges are grown large, and thofe farther within the Drop have likewife pretty nearly attained their full Size j 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 ftioot, proceeding fome what flow- ly at the firft : but they quicken by De- grees, and dart at laft, in many Subje(5ls, quite over the whole Drop, as fv/ift as Lightning \ and that efpecially if the Drop has been too much or over fuddenly heat- ed. Therefore when the Confi2:urations once begin, the Eye fliould never be taken off, till they are intirely finiftied. Some Defcription of them is given under each particular Subjedl, and they are reprefented in the Drawings, as the third Stage of the Procefs, fignified by c, D, ^, F, G, in the Alum Drop, and by c and d in the Drop of FjUS Veneris. Thefe Configurations are no lefs con- ftant in their Forms than the Cryftals are, infomuch that each Subject is eafily di- ftinguiftied by them. They fcem compofed likewife of the fame tranfparent ftiining Particles : but the Figure^ they produce are 48 Hufnati K?iO'wledge z\Ty imperfcSi, are fo extremely different, that every con- liderate Obferver mufh judge them owing to fome very different Property in Nature.— I have ventured to mention Attra(flion and Repulfion, as two Principles that w^e may fuppofe concerned in producing thefe different Appearances, but am very far from being obftinate in this Opinion, or un- willing to recede from it, whenever any more probable Caufe can be affigned. I am fufficiently fenfible how liable we are to be miftaken, and how very little we know even of the mofl 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 perfecflly, I am afraid we flatter and de- ceive ourfelves very grofly. It is our Hap- pinefs, however, and our Duty, to beftow fome Time and Pains in making ourfelves acquainted with the Productions andChanges that Providence continually brings about in a regular and conftant Manner. We are able to fee Effedts, though their Caufe s are beyond our Knov/ledge : but as no Effedl can be produced without fome Caufe, when we behold Order, Plarmony, and Beauty arife out of Confufion, by means of certain acftive and unalterable Properties, where- Thoughts on Confgwations a?idCryflah. 4 9 wherewith the Author of Nature has in- dued the original Particles of Matter j though we cannot underftand the mechanical Operation of thefe Properties, or know really what they are or can perform, we fhould raife our Contemplations and Ado- ration to that Eternal, Omnipotent, Supreme Firfl 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 Cryilals of fallne Sub- fiances are wonderful, their Configurations are infinitely more fo : their Variety and Beauty no Words or Language can pofiibly exprefs j and trying to give the Pidiures of them is like endeavouring to paint the Luflre of a Diamond, or the Bright- nefs of the Sun-fliine. It happens in fome Kinds of Solutions, that after the firil Cryftals are formed, the Configurations perfected, and when 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 owino: to Salt of another Kind that was latent in the Mixture. E CHAP. f5o1 CHAP. VIII. Of Gem-Salt J Sea-Salf, and Spring- Salt, GEM-Salt dilTolved in warm Water, and a Drop applyed to the Microfcope on a Slip of Glafs, either holding it over the Fire for a little while to haften the Ex- periment, or leaving the Water to evapo- rate at leifure, affords the feveral Figures that appear in the firft Plate N° I. Sea-Salt treated in the like Manner pro- duces Cryftals as at N<* II. The Figures of Spn?ig-Salty or * Bajket^ Salty obtained by the fame Method, are fhewn 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 Bafes that are either exaft Squares, or Redangles, and whofe Hoping Sides dimi- nifli 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 in equal Plenty, for Gem-Salt affords moft Variety j Sea-Salt abounds chiefly with thofe ... — «ia • This does not mean that all Salt made from Springs is Bojket-Sah, but only that Q\xt Bajket-Salt is one kind of Salt made from Spruigs. iR^ock, Spring, and Sea-Salf. 51 thofe two Figures at N° II. and Sprwg-Sak with thofe at N" III. Moft Writers reprelent the Cryftals of thefe Salts as Cubes ; and fuch in Truth they feem originally to be : I mean when fo minute as jult to become diilinguifliable by the greateft Magnifier : large MafTes of Sal-Gem, and fometimes of Sea and Springs Salt are feen in cubical or recflangular Figures, made up without doubt of innu- merable minute Cubes. But in all Exami- nations by the Microfcope of the Solutions of thefe Salts, the Bodies that form and grow under the. Eye are, in. the general, not Cubes, but hollow Pyramids : though a PrepofTeffion that the Cryftals of fuch Salts are Cubes, makes thefe Figures, even under Infpeclion, 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 ditfcrent Ranges or Steps, which by a gradual Diminution upwards compofe the Hoping Sides of the Pyramid, are eafily mifliaken, from their great Tran- fparency, to be no other than Lines upon the Surface of the Cube. Indeed a few 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 fom.e Pofitions have E 2 like wife ^^ Rock^ Springy and Sea-Salt. likewife the Appearance of regular Hexa- gons, as in Plate I. N° I. /. I have examined various Species of thefe Salts from different Parts of the World, and particularly fcveral brought from Egypt^ , Hungary^ Germany^ &c. by my w^orthy and ingenious Friend Dr. Richard Pococki Archdeacon of Didli?i^ ^nd F. R. S. which tho' red) brov^n, white, &c. and feemingly of very different Contexture, fome appear* ing fibrous, others fparry, talky, &c. yet when diffolved and examined, much the greatefl 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 {harper 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 Fqffi], Sea and Spring-Salts^ when after being diffolved, and a fmall Degree of Heat given,' their Particles are brought together, and unite again according to the Order and Difpofition of Nature : which hollow Pyramid is compofed of minute Cubes moil regularly and wonderfully com- bined *. And this has been demonflrated even * Dr. Browiirigg obferves, in his very curious Treatife of the Jrt of 7finki)7g Co?>:mon Salt, p. 67. That when by a vc-ry grntl* Exhalation of Water from common Salt, it i:- Rock, Springy and Sea-Salt, 53 even to the naked Eye by the Salt made after Mr. 'Thomas Lowndes s new Method, where Multitudes 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 fquar? 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 applv'd, beino; nothino; elfe but a Con2;eries of faline Particles hurried together with very little Regularity, and producing no new Forms ; for which Reafon thefe Combinations arc not reprefentcd in a Drop, as all that ilioot into Figures more different arc. But not- withflanding the general Shape of thefe Bodies is nearly the fame, there are parti- cular Differencies very well worth obfervi ng, which the Drawings endeavour to expreis. E 3 PLATE is fufiered to fhoot into its true Form, iti Cryf^als are founi of a cubical Figure of various Sizes : and many of thefe fmaller Cryllals are united together into hollow Pyramids with a fquare Bafe. Thefe Pyramids are truncated, bcin^ not finifhed at the Top, but having there fixed a Cube of Salt of a more than ordinary Bignefs. -f- Mr. I-oivn^rs hys, " in the Salt made by the Sun, as *f well as by my Way, vQu will never fail of feeing vcrv " many little Pyramids, which are compofed of a Parcel oP ♦* fmall cubical Grains, piled up in a moll exadl Ordir, and " cemented together with wonderful Nicety : apd the «' Crowns of thefe Pyramids are always Cubes of a muc}\ " larger Size than any of the Rell." Vid. Biinc Salt im.' pov d, p. 16. '54 Figures of Gem-SRlt, PLATE I. N" I. Figures o/'Sal-Gemm^, crRocK-SALT. a - A fquare pyramidal hollow Body, fomev, what opake, whofe four Sides are floping Triangles, and meet in a Point at Top. h - h Body with four equal floping Sides, terminated by a Plane at about half the Height of the former : not much tranfparent, but hollow. (T - A Body rifmg about the Height of the laft, in the Manner here fliewn, and very tranfparent, except as the Lines imply. ^ - A fquare thin Plate, exceedingly tran^ fparent. e - An hollow Pyramid, whofe Bafe is a Re(5langle, and whofe Sides are flop.- ing and terminate in a Point ; the whole femi-tranfparent. f ^ A. narrower hollow Rediangle, with floping Sides not much tranfparent, rifmg about half as high as the pre- ceding, and then ending in a flat Sur-^ face that is veiy tranfparent, g - Another hollow Figure, having a rediangular Bafe, very tranfparent, with floping Sides as in the Pidure. i?— 'Aa Figures of Sea-Sah, . ^e h - An hollow Body, whofe Top Is a large tranfparent Square, and \vhofe Sides are darkifli in the Middle, but very tranfparent at the Ends, whereby the four Corners become alfo tranfparent. / - A very pretty tranfparent truncated pyra- midal Figure, whofe Top is alfo a tran- fparent Square, and whofe four Corners appear to open and feparate. ^ - A folid Cube, femi-tranfparcnt. / - Another Cube, which by its Poiitlon, if careleily examined, will probably be miftaken for an Hexagon. m - A fquare Plate of fome Thicknefs, but tranfparent : its Situation makes it feem a Rhombus. nn - Two oblong Plates, extremely thin and tranfparent, with a Spot in the Midit of each. PLATE I. N° II. Figures of Sea-Salt, e - A fquare Pyramid, hollow, and, pretty tranfparent, wherein a Kind of Steps appear gradually leflenlng 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 confidcrably tranfparent. E 4 PLATE 56 Hollow Pyramids a7id Cubes, PLATE I. N^ III. Figures of Spring-Salt. After the Defcriptions already given, 'tis needlefs to fay more of the four following Figures q^ r, j, t^ than that they alfo are hollow pyramidal tranfparent Bodies, wdth fuch different Graduations as themfelves pretty tolerably reprefent. ' V, w — Two of the large hollow Pyramids of Mr. L.Givndes\ Salt, drawn in fuch a perfpe(5live Viev/ as may befl exprefs their real Figure j each having a fquare Bafe, and four triangular Sides that are nearly equal. Many fine Lines appear run- ning acrofs thefe Sides parallel to the Bafe, which on a flrid: Infpeftion, are found to be a regular Graduation of Steps, leffen- ing from the Bottom upwards. Thefe Py- ramids do not commonly end in Points, but are terminated by a cubic Figure : each Cor- ner of their Bafe is alfo frequently fupport- ed by a Cube, but of a fmaller Size; and ftill leffer Figures of the fame Shape appear along the linear Edges, in number equal to the Steps, and doling the Angles where they join. There are Graduations within fide thefe Pyramids correfpondent to thofe without, like the Underwork of a Pair of Stairs. The Size here exhibited is tut A Deception by the Mi cr of cope 57 js but little larger than that of the real jBodies they were drawn from. It is very well worth remarking, that amongft the many pyramidal Figures pre- fenting 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 Infped;ion by the Micro- fcope, exacftly in the fame Manner repre- fented in the Plate : but this is a Deception; for in double Microfcopes compounded of three convex Glailes after the ufual Manner, all the Parts of an Objecft are feen invert- ed; that is, the Top appears at Bottom, the left Side on the rioht, &c. The Liohts and Shades being alfo inverted, the finking Places appear to rife, and the rifmg Places to fmk in : fo that in Truth the hollow Bafe of the Pyramid is really uppermofl and next the Eye, tho' it feems to be quite otherwife. And in Confirmation of this, I was afilired by Mr. Loivndes^ 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 of the Royal Aca '"Tiy of Sciences for the Year 1 700, that Monfieur Homberg fhewed a little Pyramid of Salt, formed in a Cryftalization. It was but low in Proportion to its Bafe, hollow within, and its Bafe was uppermoil during the Time of its Formation ; which Monfieur Homhero thus accounts for. There was formed, fp.ys he, at firft," a little Cube of Salt ;thc Figure td\i naturally affctli.) on the Surface of the faltcd Water. This r8 Salt whence derived y and how diffufed. We begin our Experiments with that native foffile Salt, ufualiy called Rock-Salt^ from its Place of Growth, and from its Clearnefs Sal-Gem -^ as it is probably the principle or Balis of feveral other Salts. Sea Water owes its Saltnefs moft likely to vail Quantities of this Salt dilTolved there- in j which, being extracted by different Methods, becomes either Bay-Salt^ or what we commonly call Kitche/i-Salt : and Springs running through or over Beds thereof, and becoming faturated therewith, afford by Boiling and Evaporation all our Inland or Bafket^ This Cube did not fink, though heavier than the fait Watcr^ 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 follow is made about it, filled wiih y\ir 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 en- tered a little into the V/ater v/ithout fmking ; its upper Surface was dry, and rofe above the Surface in the Hollow, though not fo high as the general Surface of the Water round it. Other Cubes of Salt cryftalizing along the four Sides of this rjry Surface began to form a fmall hollow Square, of which the firfl Cube compofed the Bafe.Thefe little Cubes when joyned together, becoming heavier than the lirft iingle one, and being enconipafTed with lefs Air in Propor- tion, from their Junction to the firft by their inner Sides, funk flill deeper in the Water, that is, to the upper Sur- face of the little Cubes which adhered to the firft Cube. New Cubes of Salt adding themfelves to thefe funk the Body yet lower down, and others continually joyning them after the fame Manner, by enlarging the hollow Square, ftill plunged it more and more, and formed the inverted Pyra- mid ; which growing at laft too heavy, funk to the Botto^v ©f the Watei-, and then increafed no more. Salt whence derhed, and how diffufed. 59 Bajkct-Salt ; fo that, In Reality, Rock-Salt, Sea-Salt^ and Spn?ig-Sak are derived from one and the fame Original in the Bowels of Rocks and Mountains ; and upon the ftrict-. eft Examination, they feem to differ no otherwife than by fome adventitious Mix- tures, as our Experiments evince, by lliew- ing that neither of them form any branch- ed Configurations ; but when their Particles combine again after Dilfolution, they con-^ ftantly compofe the fame Kinds of pyra- midal Cryftal Bodies, with Bafes that are either exad: Squares v/ith four equal Sides, or elfe having two oppofite Sides longer than the other two, but always m.aking a right- angled Figure. This Salt is conveyed by Springs and Rivers vvhere-ever their Waters can find a Paifage. Its finefl Particle^ 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 Roots 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 Tafles, Smells, ?ind other Qualities. Some of this may be recovered in its original Form by Art from moil Kinds of Vegetables, while the refl becomes fo changed by being blended with Other Subftances, as to appear in the Shoots or 6o The Nature and ujefiil Properties of Salt, or Cryftals peculiar to each Sort of Plants and probably conftitutes its ejfential Salt. It is alfo taken continually into the Sto-r 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 Adlion 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 found unaltered in the Blood, Urine, &c. And the Fertility which Dung produces in barren Soils is owing to tho 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 Faeces, that it caufes them to thrive exceedingly. No Menftruum is yet found to diflblve Gold, unlefs one of the Salts we are treat- ing of be an Ingredient therein j they be- ing the only known Diffolvents of Gold, as Nitre is of Silver : but on the contrary, Common Salt, Rock-Salt, or Spring-Salt, mixed with Jlqua Fortis or Spirit of Nitre^ will prevent its diffolving Silver, though fuch Mixture proves the readiell Dillolvent of Gold. The Hoe Nature and ufeful Properties of Salt. 6t -* The peculiar Excellence of thefe Salts for the Prefervation of Flelh, Fifli, &c. 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 moft ufeful and moft excellent of all the reft, being the Prin- ciple whence all other Salts, either known 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 or Vitriol ; by Fire, Air, and Sulphur, into Salt-Petre; by the Help of a fiercer Fire, into an alkalious Salt, and by deftroving its Acridity, into a Salt fit for inriching Land, and extreamly ferviceable to fandy and barren Soils -j-. Comn.on Salt diffolved in fliarp Vinegar, and a Drop thereof a little heated, flioots fome pretty Configurations from the Edges, and affords Cryftals of the Figures juft now defcribcd, extreamly clear and beautiful, thougjh fmaller than ufual. Thefe fre- quently arc joyned together with a curious Variety of Compofition, which the Cryftals of the fame Salt diffolved in Water never exhibit, for they commonly form feparate and difpofed at Diflances each from other. Diffolved t Vid.- Be Kat. Solium^ Amftcl. p. 49, 62 CryJlahofNitre, DlfTolved in Spirit of Wine it likewife produces Configurations, but very different from thofc in Vinegar, with Cryflals fmaller than ordinary, and having Httle or no Tranfparency. Dr. Bocrhaave fays, thefe three Species of Salt diflblve aUke in three Times and a Quarter of their own Weight of Water * : but I have found a conliderable Difference in different Waters, and in different Portions of the fame Sah. CHAP. IX. Nitre, or Salt-Petre* rTpH I S Salt being diffolved in Water, J a Drop of the Solution fhoots from Its Edges, with very little Heat, into flatti/h Figures of various Lengths,exceedingly tran- fparent, and with Sides that are flrait and parallel. Thefe are fliewn in their differ rent Degrees of ProgrefTion, at the Letters a, b, c, d, e, Plate I. N° IV. where a reprefents how they firfl begin. Many of them appear cut floping at the Ends down to a Hiarp Edge, in the Man- ner of a Chiffel, and are fome wider and others narrower. Several alfo are found with Shaw's Bserh Cbewi.p. io6. Vol. I. k and its Conjigurations. 6^' with one Corner taken off obliquely, and that in different Angles, leaving the other Corner fometimes quite a Point, and ibme- times havins; a little Breadth. After Numbers of thefe are formed, they will often diffolve again under the Eye and intirely difappear ; but if one waits a little, new Shoots will pufli out, and the Procefa go on afrefh. 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 rtioot haftily into nu- merous Ramifications, very regular and beautiful, but which we have not attempted to draw, from the great Difficulty of doing it. There feems all the while a violent Agitation in the Fluid, and moft commonly towards the Conclulion, a few Odtaedra (compofed of eight triangular Planes, or two quadrangular Pyramids joined Bafe to Bafe) appear j which belong probably to fome other Kind of Salt intermixed with the Nitre : Pyramidal Figures of common Salt are likewife fometimes feen j and of thefe J have now and then found the greateftPienty when the Nitre has feemed mofl: white and pure, which I pretend not to account for, unlefs common Salt has been employed to make it fo. The regular Cryftals of Nitre are repre- fented underneath the Drop, greatly mag- nified 64 Cryjlah of Nit re ^ hoiv chtmfied. nified according to my Method of Exami* tion, though indeed lefs than what may be found when large Quantities are prepared in the common Way 3 and confift of fix parallel Sides or Planes, which compofe Bodies of different Lengths, and differently terminated at the Ends. There is alfo a conliderable Variety as to the Equality and Inequality of thefe fix Sides. The moft common Cryftals are fomewhat flat, and have two broad parallel Planes oppofite to one another, and four that are much nar^ ■rower ; two of which {yiz. one that goes floping from the upper and the other from the under Plane) rPxCet on each Side, and conftitute a pretty fliarp Edge. One End of thefe is commonly cut off floping on both Sides along its whole Breadth, but feldom in the fame Angle. Vid.Y'ig. i. Sometimes however there are four broader Planes, and only two narrower j 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 rarefl as well as the prettieft is that at Fig. 6. The befl: Way to obtain thefe Cryfl:als for the Microfcope, is by faturating fome warm Water in a Spoon with Nitre j (not with more however than It can perfectly diffolve) when in a few Minutes little Concretions will O-yflah of Nttrei- 6§ j Viflll be feen forming at the Bottom, which being taken up on the Point of a Penknife, 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 amongfl them fome or all of the Figures fliewn in the Drop, and again reprefented in a larger Manner underneath the fame. And though, the Cryftals thus obtained are exceeding fmall, they are much more intire, diilind:, and tfue, than what by concreting in vafl Quan- tities become Millions of Times bigger, as they are frequently feen in the Shops* Amongft thefe too may be found many Cryilals perfect at both Ends, by having been formed wholly detached in the fur- rounding Fluid, whereas thofe we get by any other Method are almofl conftantly broken at one End, from their having been fixed thereby to the Side or Bottom of the Vellel they were formed in, or elfe to one another. P L A T E I. N° IV. [The Cryjiah of Nitre, 1. The moft common Figure of Nitre-^^ Cryjiah^ with one End broken off. 2. A Cryftal with both Ends perfed: : one in the ufual Form as above, the other F cut (,6 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 confifted of two broader and four narrower. 3. Another Cryflal, having one End a great deal Hoping and graduated, and the other cut off at different Angles. 4* A Cryftal inclofed feemingly within another, and forcing its Way out, by burfting through the other's Side. 5. A Column with fix equal or nearly equal Sides : one End broken, and the other forming an hexangular Pyramid, whofe Sides are correfpondent to thofe of the Column. 6. A lliort hexangular equilateral Column, both whofe Ends are Pyramids, hav- ing Sides that correfpond with thofe of the Column. One Particularity in Nitre is, that its Cry Ms are perforated from End to End ^% all along, jufl within the Corners where the Planes interfed: y as may be proved in the larger Shoots, by the Breath's paffmg thro' them eafily on blowing. Thefe Channels are pointed out in Figure 2, by the fix Dots at its End ; they are like wife fhewn more perfedly at Fig. 7, which reprefents part * Guglid. D'lfc.fopra le Tig. d/Sali, p. 12. "Nitre what y and hoiJD ohtahied. 67 part of a Column with Hairs pafTing thro* its Perforations. This Salt is found jufl: under the Turf about Patncfs in the Northern Parts of the Kingdom of Bengal and probably in other Places thereabouts, whence it is brought to us in great Abundance by the Eaji^ India Company* : but all produced in Europe appears either like a kind of Efflorefcence adhering to Rocks and Walls, being what the Ancients called Aph7'o?iitrumy and what is called by us Natural Salt^PetrCy of which the Quantity collected is but fmall j or is elfe extrad:ed 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 Chemifl's Terms) it appears compounded of a volatile acid Spirit, and a fixt 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 ac^live Principle that produces Salt-Petrc. It is alfo very likely owing to the fame Principle, that Salt- F 2 Pctre ^y\Ljroodr.vcrd's Method cf T.Jfih, p. 36, ^■6 8 Nitre what, and hoii) ohtainid, Petre may conftantly be obtained from the Mortar and Rubbifli of old Walls, which have been long expofed to the Air ; and that the fame Materials, after being diveiled 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 becomes in a mamier 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 conftitute Salt-Petre. Some have under- taken to make it likewife from Lime, Pot- Alhes, &c. but howfoever it be produced, -i t may always be diilinguiflied by its hex- agonal Shoots. Let us now confider what other Pro- duftions of Nature appear in this hexago- nal Figure 3 and we fliall find that all .Cryllal, unlefs either ftraitened for Room or •f- May not what we call a volatile Spirit confift of Parti- cles exceedingly minute, and of fome determinate Figure ; whofe Property it is to repel each other, from certain Points, in certain Directions, and to certain Diftances ; whereby the/ 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 reputfive Power i?e incrcafcd by Heat or Motion ? Confidcratiom on Nitre". 6g '^ br overcharged with foreign Matter, is con- ftantly formed into Pyramids of fix Sides, or into hexagonal Columns terminated with fuch Pyramids, and refembling the Nitre Shoot 5. And as thefeCrydals fhoot moll commonly from Rocks of calcarious Stone, may not their Form be owing to the fime volatile Spirit, more flrongly fixed and embodied, and compoUng a more hard and tranfparent Subftance, by an Admixture with fome Matter different from that where- with it compofes Nitre ? And if, inflead of exfuding from Stones, and adhering thereto by one End, ufually called a Root, , thefe Principles happen to concrete in fome Fluid, or other foft Bed, where both Ends are equally at Liberty to fafliion themfelves according to the Inclination of their compo- nent Particles, may we not fuppofe they may then produce * thofe fparry or cry- ftaline Pyramids, joyncd Bafe towards Bafe by thelntervention of an hexagonal Column^ which are known by the Name of Buxton Diamo?ids, from the Place where found moil plentifully ; and which in Figure re- femble exadily the Shoot of Nitre 6 ? The next moft remarkable Bodies of this Kind of Figure are thofe of Snow, which F 3 are * Vid. Wooiiivard'^ Hi/lory of FoJJlh, vol. I. p. i6i. Thefe Bodies are called hides by Aldrovand. See his Mufruvi^ p. 941,942. 70 An univerfal volatile acid Spirit, 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 offtranfverfly : and as freezing is ufually imputed to the Redundance of Nitrous Particles in the Air, thofe v/ho 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 mifbaken in fuch a Suppofition, though there is fome Reafon to believe they may be fo as to the Abundance of tht Par- ticles of Nitre they imagine exifting in the Air. The continual Perfpiration of growing Vegetables, the Putrefaftion and Diflblution of thofe that periih over the Face of the whole Earth, aii 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 wherewith the Air is filled, and which probably is the acftive Principle that gives the Figure, and fupplies Part of the Matter to Cryftals, Snow, and Nitre, But * The Flakes found now and then with twelve Points, are probably two Flakes, wliofe flat Surfaces are fluck toge- ther, with their Rays alternately difpofed. its wonderful EffcBs. 7 1 But the Particles of this acid Spirit arc no more the Particles of Nitre, than Nitre is the Gunpowder which it compofcs by the Addition of Sulphur and Charcoal. And the Truth of this feems confirmed by the ImpofTibility 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 be 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 bcrd^ 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 ; but being extremely volatile, and eafily driven away by Heat, they foon become diflipated in thofe hot Regions, under, or nearly under the Sun's direct 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, ji;ore or lefs, in proportion to the Ability or F 4 Inabi* y^ An iiniverfal "colatile acid Spinf, Inability of the Sun's Rays to drive them again from thence : and thefe extremely minute and a(ftive Particles, being continu- ally in Motion, llrike 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 Cryflal : filling up the Interfhices of Water, and becoming therewith embodied, they com- pofe that hard Subftance we call Ice -f j which differs nothing from Cryflal in Clear*- nefs, and perhaps would have the like Form, did not the Quantity and Situation of the Fluid prevent it j fince we find that Water, falling in fmall Drops, is concreted with the fame Particles into an hexangular Fi- gure. Thefe Particles ftriking into the Bodies of living Animals occafion the Senfation of Cold : if their Quantity be great, they pro- duce firfl a fevere Pain, and then a Numb- jiefs, by impeding the Circulation of the Ani- mal Fluids J and if they are not driven away by Heat from Motion or otherwife, or their Quantity be much increafed, they fhop the Circulations intirely, and bring on certain Death: * The freezing or fudden Change of Water into Iqe,' gives the beft Idea, how Cryftal, Gems, &c. may b? form'd, ^nd that tpo perhaps in a vety fudden Manner. its 'ivondcrful Effects. jf 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 ad:ive and penetrating material Prin- ciples, which by mixing with other Bodies become thereby fixt : and the Exiflencc of fuch Principles in the Air is farther appa- rent from the rufling of Metals, the Ero- fion of Stone, Glafs, ^c. The Suppolition that SaJt-Pefj-e is com- pounded in great meafure of this fame vola- tile acidSpirit exilling in the Air, is ftrength- ned, not only by the manner of its Pro- ducflion, but alfo from its ftriking the Tongue, when tailed, with a pungent Sen- 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 ad:ive and powerful, that they penetrate, disjoin, and feparate the component Particles of all Metals except Gold, as well as Stones and moft other Bodies. Suppoling fuch Spirit one of the chief Principles of Scdt-Pctre^ may not its exceed- ing Volatility, when fuddcnly and violent- ly excited to Acftion, by the Fire contained in Sulphur kindled by Charcoal, produce all (he prodigious Effeds of Gunpowder * ? and ^4 Troperties of Nitre, and alfo by certain Mixtures in the Air, be-^ come the Caufe of Thunder, Lightning, and other wonderful Phaenomena ? The foregoing Conje<5lures, into which I fear I have been led too far by my Sub- ject, may 'tis hoped be forgiven, as they are fubmitted intirely to the Confideration of better Judges, without the leaft Delign of impofing them on any one. — But to return to the known Properties of Salt- Fetre. It is faid to be the onlyDifTolvent of Silver, as Sea-Salt is of Gold : for Silver is diffolve- able in no Menflruum yet known, unlefs there be Nitre in it^ and yet if Salt be added thereto, the Mixture will no longer diflblve Silver but Gold. It preferves the Flefh of Animals from Putrefaftion as well as Sea- Salt, and has the fingular 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 Animals tinges their Bones of a curious Red. Vid. Philofopb. IranJ. N" 442, and 443, where Experiments in Proof thereof, are given i y \Ax.Belcher, j?.R.S. The fame is likewife confirmed N^ 457, by farther Experiments made by Monf. Dh Hamd du Momeau. M -r tAT I xScd Ormma, or Jiock Salt. - - rszz. JA^'jr.r i/).i^. Uhi/^^r' .i'^m- >**>u/h \fm. Synitg Salt: Jzs. n H^^l ,1B:: ^' meror SciU Teter. ^^'"^^ V7-^ .V^^IV. 1 [75] CHAP. X. Of Vitriol hi general, THE moil celebrated of our modern Chemifts fuppofe an acid Spirit exift- ing univerfally in the Air, and pervading the whole terraqueous Globe. This, they tell us, is an uniform Matter, or iirft Prin- ciple, diflributed every where throughout the Earth and Atmcfpliere ; though of a Nature fj extremely fubtile, that it never becomes fenfible, unlefs compounded with other Subftances j but, incorporating rea- dily with different kinds of Matter, it com- pofes, they fay, therewith all the Variety of Salts, Cryfcals, Gems, Metals and Mi- nerals ; the Colour, Figure, Solidity, and other Properties whereof are owing to ths Difference of fuch Admixture. This is fometimes called *' the Sal Acidiim FoJJile^ at other times the Vague Acid. Compounded with Earth, and an oily Matter, it is thought to be the Bafis of Sulphur ; of Alum with a cretaceous, and of Vitriol with a metalline Subftance. It is alfo fuppofed to be the faline Part or Principle of all Salts, which Monf. Hom-^ berg reduces to three Kinds only, I'lz, Nitre, Sea-Salt, and Vitriol, The » Vid. ftocJwar^\' Mithod of fojjih^ p. 37. y6 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 different 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 j and Lead, Tin, or hapis Calaminaris mixed with Iron is ima- gined to render the Vitriol white. There is fliil farther Variety -, but Iron appears to be a conftant and principal Ingredient in the green and white, as Copper is in the blue. V^hat occur'd in the Examination of each comes next to be defcribed. CHAP. XL Blue Vitriol, ALL Vitriol of this Colour Is fuppofed to receive its Teint from Copper j the beff is produced in Huitgary and the Ifland of Cyprus. A Drop of the Solution heated a little, and examined as beforementioned, pro- duces Cryftals round the Edges, very fhort Blue ' ViirioL "^ 77 at the Beginning, but increafing gradually as reprefentcd Plate II, (in the Drawing called Blue Pltriol) at the Figures i, 2, 3, which denote tjieir Difference of Form, and the Progreis of their Growth. Thefe cry- ftaline Shoots are folid, tranfparent, and regular, and reflei^l: the Light very beauti- fully from their poliihed Sides and Angles. As the watery Part evaporates, numbers of long flender 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 fuch manner as to feem all radiating from a Center, and compofnig ftar-like FigureSj^ which fee at 5, 5. This Salt proceeds but llowly, and requires fome Patience before the Configurations begin to Ihoot : which they do at laft, and that towards the Middle of the Drop mofl commonly, after a very pretty Fafliion, as at 6 j and it is to be ob- ferved, that here alfo the principal Lines iffue from a Center. Any farther Defcrip- tion of the Drawing feems unneceffary : but ■it is remarkable, that none of the regular Cryflals are found in this Way of Exami- nation, though they are to be obtained in good Plenty by the ufual Method of Eva- poration, &c. One of thefe regular Cryftals, of the Size they are commoly found in the Shops, is reprefentcd by the two Figures A and B, which *?? Copper obtained from Irotty which fhew exacftly the different Sides thereof. It confifts 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 attra(fted by the Iron, to which they firmly adhere, and whofe Pores they feem to fill. This may ferve to fhew, after what Manner fome Springs of Water are able to perform what is ufually called a Tranfmutation of Iron into Copper j which indeed is nothing more than a gradual DifiLlution of the Iron, whofe Place becomes as gradually fupplyed, and its Figure afifumed 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 Fad: feems only to imply, that the minute Particles of Copper wherewith the Water is ftored, be- ing much fmaller than the Pores or Inter- ftices 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 av/ay by the Water (the mineral acid Salts it contains rendering it a Menftruum there- to) their Places are immediately occupied by no Tranff nutation* 7^ by Particles of Copper, which the Water brings along with it continually j and a Body of Copper at length is fubflituted in the room of the Iron that was corroded and wafhed away. The Petrifadion of all Bodies that were originally of fome other Subftance than what they now appear to be, was probably produced after a like Manner; for it feems highly improbable that any Subftance whatever can firicflly fpeaking be converted into a Subftance of fome other Kind, however Appearances may happen ta impofe upon us. Dr. BroTvn informs us in his Travels, of two vitriolic Springs, called the old and the new Zifuent^ rifing from a Copper Mine in Himgnry, which in fourteen Days turn Iron left in their Waters into Copper, and that too more pure, dud:ile, and malleable, than any Copper extracted 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 iVv-^elvc Days before, and found it as per- fect Copper as it had been Iron when put in. Some, he adds, will not allow fliis to be a Tranfmutation, but argue, that the Waters being faturated with a Vitriol of Copper, and finding a Body fo eafy to receive it as Iron is, it mfinuateth thereinto fo far as to divide and precipitate the Iron, leaving 8o^ Copper obtained from Iron, leaving its own Subftance inftead thereof*/ And this moft certainly is the Fad:, though the Doctor feems' to doubt it 5 the Purity of the Copper may be brought in Proof, and is not to be wondered at, for the mi- nute Particles thereof, that floated in the Water, and were depolited in the Pores of the Iron, muft necelTarily be lefs blend- ed with foreign Matter than any Copper in its Ore can be. There are Copper Mines in the County of JVicklow in Ireland^ called the Mines of Cro7ie Bawm^ or Corona 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 Profit : for by placing Iron Bars on Beams of Timber fixed for that pur- pofe acrofs large Pits or Ciflerns, (floored with fmooth Flags and lined on the Sides with Stone and Lime) through which the Water runs, the Iron becomes incrufted 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 collected, taken thence, in a fine brown Powder confifl:ing of Copper and the Ruft of Iron 3 which affords, when fmelted * Vid. Broivns Travels \* pageiQ<^, 970 T^7-avfmiifaficn'. Si frtlelted and purified, a rich Copper, lOjT per Ton more valuable than what is ob- tained from the Ore of the fame Mine. — • This was difcovered, 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 I o Feet in Length, 4 in Width, and 8 in Depth : and as many more may be funk as People pleafe, there being a continual Supply of Water to run through them all. They make ufe of foft Iron, which at- tra(5ts the Copper Particles beft, difiblves, mixes, and precipitates with them in formi of a brown Duft. A Ton of Iron in Bars produces one Ton, nineteen Hundred, and two Quarters of brown DufI: ; and each Ton of Duft, fmelted, affords 16 Hun- dred Weight of pure Copper. There are at prefent about 500 Tons of Iron in the Pits. A large Bar of foft Iron will be dif- folved in about 1 2 Months \. N. B. Whilfl the minute and invifible Particles of Copper are floating at Liberty in any Menftruum, they are ilrongly at- G traced •f The above Account is the Subflance of a Letter to Sir Hans SIcane, which he favoured me with the ufe of} and alfo of another Letter communicated to the Rcyal Society by Lord Cadogan ; both thefe Letters were Written by the Reverend Mr WilUcm Henry, who was himfelf upon the Spot. I have alfo n Lump of Metal, wherein moll of the Iron has been diflblved in the Water, and its place fupplied by Panicle* of Copper. $2 Colours obtained from Copper, tra6led 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 fenfible EiFedt on Copper. Copper affords a blue or a green Tinc- ture, according to the Menflruum wherein it is diflolved j and therefore is fuppofexl to fupply Colour to the Emerald^ Sapphire, 'Turquoife^ Lapis Lazuli, Lapis Ar?ne77us, and moll: other Stones and Minerals that are either green or blue, as well as to the Subiecfl we are at prefent treating of. The amazing Variety oi 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 him^felf about by a Train of eafy Experiments ; the Way of making which may be found in Boyle ^ Treatife of Colours, in Boerhaave's Chemiftry, as tranilated by Dr. Sha-w, Vol. II. page 342, &'c. -jiwdmHiirs Letter, printed at the End of his Theopbrajhis, on tbe Lffedis of different Menfriiums on Copper ; where we are informed, that> how changeable one info another. §j that, of the Mineral Acids, Spirit of Sea-Salt, Spirit ofNitre, and Aqua Regia, produce with this Metal different Kinds of Green : Oyl of Vitriol, Oyl of Sulphur, and Aqua Fortis, dif- ferent Degrees oi Blue : that, amongft the Vegitahle Acids, dillilled Vinegar, Juice of Le- mon, and Spirit ofVerdigreafe (which is a Vi- negar abforbed by Copper) afford different Greem : that, of the fix'd Alkalies, the Salt of Wormwood, Pot Aflies, and Oyl of Tartar per deliquium, give all a deep and delightful Blue j as do alfo, among the volatile Alkalies, Spirit of Sal Armoniac, Spirit of Urine, and Spirit of Hartlhorn : that, of the neutral Salts, crude Sal Armoniac produces a fine Blue -, native Borax a deep, and Sea-Salt a IFIntijh Green. " A Solution of Copper in any of the beforementioned Acids, fo weak as to leave the Menflruum colourlefs like Water, may in an Inftant, by the Af- fufion of a few Drops of Oyl of Tar^ tar per deliquium, be converted into a glorious Blue ; or by a like Quantity of Spirit of Nitre, into a beautiful Green i nay, by this means made Blue, may be yet changed into Green by a larger Quan- tity of the Acid : and even when thus made Green^ again converted into its for- mer Bhie^ by a yet larger Quantity of the Alkali. " The blue Tincftures of Copper made in the fix'd Alkalies, may alfo be di- . G a ' " vefled- 84 TlnSture from Copper how dlffufible', " vefted of their Colour, and rendered *' colourlefs 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 ; and the pellucid Li- " quor thus produced, will exhibit all " the Phaenomena before defcribed in that *' originally colourlefs. To this it may be ** added, that even the ftrong blue and " green Solutions are eafily 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 divilible) may be learned from Mr. Boyle, 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 Tincture to above 385200, and a faint yet diftinguifh- able one, to more than 530620 times its own Bulk -f-. CHAP. XIL Green Vitriol, or Englifi Copperas* OU R Green Vitriol contains a great deal of Iron, but appears not to hold any Copper, which makes its Colour dif- ficult * Hlll't Theophrajius, pag. 1 88, igg." . f Yid. BojU Abridged, Vol. I. pag. 408, Gref?t Vitriol^ or Efjglijh Copperas. 9>^ ficult to account for : fince all mineral Subftances, whofe Colour is blue or green, have been generally fuppofed to derive their Colour from Copper. When diiTolved 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 Cryftals much clearer and of a finer Green than the Vitriol was at firft. Thefe being diiTolved again throw down another yellowiih 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 perfecftly tranf- parent and of a delightful Green ; tho* after all fome Iron will ftill be left, which fubjeds them to contrad a Ruft, if expofed to the open Air. A Drop of the Solution, moderately heat* ed, and applyed to the Microfcope, be- gins to cryftalize about the Edges, and proceeds gradually, as the Figures i, 2, 3. Plate II. N**. 2. reprefent, under the Name ofGreefi Vitriol, After waiting fome Time, the Configurations pufli out, fuddenlyand haftily, towards the Middle, in the Man- ner reprefented by Figure 4, which begins at ^, and thrufts forwards and fidewavs at the fame Inftant, with wonderful Order and Regularity, to the other Extremity b^ G 3 where S6 Gf'een VttrioU or Englijh Copperas'. where the whole Procefs is at an End. Its regular Cryftals are rarely found in this Examination, but a Couple of them as ob- tained by difTolving a Lump of our Sub- je(ft in builing Water, and leaving it at Reft for a Day or two, are placed at the Side of the Drop, The firft of them A, is one oui of ci great many tniit were form- ed on the Side of the Glafs v/herein the Solution flood, and adhered thereto. Thefe being produced in the clear Part of the Liquor, above the ferrugineous thick Sedi- ment which had been precipitated but was not taken away, vv^ere much greener and more tranfpaient than the Vitriol firft dillblved. Excepting fome Irregularities they v/ere all of the fame Shape^ with Sides nearly correfponding. The Figure B reprefents an Octaedron, that being the general Shape of many Cry-, jftals formed in the yellow thick Sediment at the Bottom, a Fortnight or three Weeks after, the clearer Part of the Liquor having been poured away : and confequently the Difference of Figure between this and the former muft be imputed to the much greater Proportion of Iron in this than that. Our green Vitriol, or Englifh Copperas, is made from the Fyritce^ that are found in great abundance on the Shores oiSuf- ffx^f Kenti EJ/exj &c. Thefe Bodies are of Grce?i Fkrioly or Ejiglifi^ Copperas. 5 7 of a ponderous and compad: Sub fiance, con- tain Metal and Sulphur, have a rufty fer- rugineous Outfide, but internally appear, when broken, fometimes of the colour of Brafs, Silvery fometimes, and fometimes like Iron ; the Matter compoling them is dif- pofed in Strix, or a linear Diredlion 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 flattilh. After being long expofed in Heaps to the Air and Rain, the Salts begin to a(ft, vitriolic Ef-^ florefcencies pulh out upon the Surface, tliey become brittle, fall to pieces, and dilfolvc into a Liquor. This Liquor when 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 VeiTels, 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 Deptford. G 4 CHAP, 88- TFbite Vitrioh C H A f'. XIII. WJoite Vitriol. THE White Vitriol from GoJJar in Germany^ as well as that from Hiin" gary^ contains fome little Copper, but the common Sort with us has no other Metal in it beiides Iron-, unlefs, as fome fup^ pofe, there is alfo a fmall Quantity of Lead or Tin. The Iron contained in the Green and White ^ as well as the Copper in the Blue, is not in any conftant Proportion, but fre- quently more or lefs in different Pieces of the fame Parcel, which occafions fome Variety 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-^ cul^, both which are reprefented in Plate II, at I , I , The former of thefe fpread-r ing confiderably in Breadth, and protrud- ing very flov/ly 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 J 20 Degrees ♦. the latter, viz, the Spictdce^ fpreading likewife and flat.^ tening at the Ends, ihew themfelves nearly gs reprefented by z on the contrary Side, Some White Vitriol. S9 Some of them however flioot farther into the Drop, in the Manner fhewn at 3, 4, and 5 : and many fo fliot out have other fmaller ones protruded from their Sides, parallel to one another, and forming an Angle w^ith their main Stem of about 60 De- grees, as at tf, tf : when the Procefs is nearly over, many extremely minute Spiculce arife in the Interfpaces ; fome uniting in, or ra- ther fhooting from Centers, and making a very pretty -f* radiated Appearance, like what was before obferved in the blue Vi- triol ; whilft others of the fame Spiculce are feen fcattered and difperfed about the Drop in all Direcftions, as at 8. Thefe Spicules may be termed a Characfteriftic of the Vi^ triols, being ufuajly found in all of them, when examined by the Microfcope with Care ; but as fometimes the Green is {^t.xY 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 J and it feems nearly to approach the regular Cryflals, which are next to be de-» fcribed. As a Solution of our prefent Subje(fl does jiot fo eafily cryflalize by the common Methods, •f- It is obfervablc, that many of the Vyrita; exhib-'t, Lines diverging from a Center, exactly in the fame man- ueri ^o 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 Chemifls : 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 End, formed of triangular Sides correfponding to thofe of the Column, as at A j but fometimes thefe triangular Planes interfedl, in fuch a man- ner that the Angle at the Apex is com- prehended under only three of them, as alB. Vitriol in confiderable abundance is found in Subilance and of different Colours, blue, green, white, and red, in feveral Parts of Hungary^ 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 Pyrttcr^ 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 fweeti/h difagreeable ftiptic Tafte, and when difiblved - * Thefe Salts or Cryftals are obtained by the Help of Spirit of Vitriol, or, as Lemery direds, by dilTolving Whit? Vitriol in the Phlegm of Vitriol. JVIjite Vitriol. 91' diflblved in Water, throws to the Bottom a ferrugineous Sediment Hke the Green. It would be endlefs to enumerate all the Ufes of Vitriol. Sir Kendme 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 jx)wdered. But a- mongll: all the reft, its being an Ingredient abfolutely necellary 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, as holding a greater Quantity of that Metal : but the White fometimes is not lefs ftocked with it, and then will do full as well. Galls unripe, or gathered when they are of a blueifli Colour, before they come to their full Growth, being beaten to Powder, and infufed in Water, give the Water 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 Decodlion of the dryed Leaves of red Rofes, of Sage, Oak Leaves, or the Rinds of Pomegranates, produces the fame Appear- ance therewith. It alfo in like man- ner blackens an Infufion of Green Tea ; and ^2 Colours from Vitriol, and therefore a few Tea Leaves put to ileep for fome Minutes ia any Mineral Water made hot, will readily difcover if it contains Vitriol, by fuch its Change of Colour : the Proportion of the Vitriol may likewife be guefled at by the Deepnefs or Palenefs of the Tindlure. On writing with a Solution of Green Vitriol, nothing is feen upon the Paper when dry : but by rubbing it over with a Decocflion of Galls, what was written becomes black and legible. Spirit of Vi- triol wiped gently upon this, makes it vanifli again immediately : Oyl of Tartar fer deliquin?nyti\.ovts the Letters once more, though not black but yellowiili "f*. A ilrong Decod;ic«i of red Rofes mixed with a Solution of Vitriol produces a black Ink, which on dropping Spirit of Nitre into it ^ becom.es inftantly red, and is far^ ther convertible into agreyifli 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 J can re- commend from many Years Experience. . To one Quart of Rain Water, or foft ■ River Water, put four Ounces of blue Galls ^ Vid. Lemerfi Chemiftry. chap. i8. DlrcBio7is for snaking Ink. 9^ Trails brulfed, two Ounces of green Vitriol or Copperas, and two Ounces of Gum Ara- bic grofly powdered. Let the Mixture be well fliaken or flir'd about now and then, and in twenty-four Hours it will be fit for Ufe. It is moft 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 In^ looks pale at firft, but after a few Hours becomes of a fine black, and I believe will never change. CHAP. XIV. Difiilled Verdigrkase. VERDIGREASE is a blueifh green Efflorefcence * or Ruff, produced on Plates of Copper, by corroding the Surface thereof with that penetrating acid Spirit which the Hufks of Grapes abound with after they have been prefs'd and laid together to ferment. This Ruft being ^ • Vid. temiry% Chemiftry chap. vl. Boerhaa'vc\ Che- jniftr)', by Shew, Vol 11, pag. 137. ^4 Diflilled Verdigreajc. being digefted with diftilled Vinegar rrt a conliderable Degree of Heat, and dif- folving partly therein, affords a Liquor of a moft beautifid green Colour, which after Evaporation, being fet in a cold Place, pro- duces tranfparent and elegant green Cryftals, that are called ufually by the Name of jDiJlillcd Va^digreafe, but are really a Vitriol loaded with the purefl Particles of the Copper. If thefe Cryftals are diifolved in warm Water, and a Drop of it be apply'd to the Microfcope immediately, it ufually produces abundance of the regular Figures i, 2, 3, 4, 5) 6, 7, (exhibited at the Side of the fourth Drawing, Plate II.) without forming any confiderable Configuration : but if the Solution is fuffered to fland 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, fliarp-polnted folid Figures (bifedled by a Line through the Middle, from which they are cut away towards the Edges) will be feeii, fliooting forwards, as reprefented i, i, i : which Figures are oftentimes ftriated very prettily from the middle Line to the Edges, obliquely, as 2, 2, may ferve to fliew. They both arife frequently in Clufters, and fliooting from a Center, as at 3, 3. The forementioned Figures are a long while growing j and whilft they are doing fo^ Diflilled Verdi gr cafe. 95 foj feveral regular Cryftals appear forming in different Parts of the Drop, of the moft lovely Emerald Colour, and refled:ing the Light from their Sides and Angles, which are as exartly difpofed and finely poliflied as if they had been cut by the moft Ikilful Jew- eller. Theie Cryftals are ihewn in the Drop at 4, 4, but much better, becaufe magnified a great deal more, at the Side of it, by the iMgures 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 muft be attended clofely. Their com- mon Figure refembles two long ff, crofling each other in an Angle of about fixty De- grees, and iliooting 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 Iharp-pointed Figures, as thofe at the Edges of the Drop, are formed alfo frequently in the Middle of it, as 6. Sometimes alfo they pi't on another Form like the Leaves of Dandelion, as at 7. Very beautiful Figures are likewife produced by a Kind of Combi- nation of Iharp Points and Branches, in the Manner reprefented 8 8, All ^6 l)iJliUed Verdtgrcaje, All the beforementioned appear of 1 moft lovely green Colour, but deeper or paler according to the Time of their Produ(fl:ion ; the lirfl produced being conftantly the deepeft. Towards the End of the Procefs fome circular Figures are formed, extream- ly thin, and fo (lightly ting'd with green that 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. ^T^HE Configurations of this Salt abound J with Beauty and Variety, and prove moreorlefs perfecft 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-flrong after flanding fome I^leA\r Yitriol Green Vitriol. Tlate ll.A>.p6. Wlute Yitriol. Verclig'reare diltilled. A B i-^.r^.(:6aie^ M.i^.cf^ having firft placed thin Pieces of Cork between, to pre- vent the Glafles 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 Expecftation, in two Days the Figures were 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 Perfection at leafl two Years, and then too was fpoiled by Accident. The "How to produce and pi'efer'-ce. loi The fame Thing likewife happens to Sac- charum Saturni, Ens Veneris^ Salt of Amber ^ and fome other faline Subftances, whole elegant Configurations may be long preferv- cd between Slips of Glafs kept afunder as above direcfled, 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 (hew fuch Friends whofe Curiofity may not be fufficient to make them attend to the whole Pro- cefs. A great deal of Exadinefs and Nicety is requifite 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 tranfpareut Gluten, which never flioots at all, is not eafily diffolveable, or to be got off the Glafs without fome Pains. On the other hand, if the Heat be violent, though not long, it flioots too faft, with much Ir- regularity and Confufion. H 3 The I02 Cryjiah cf Alum. The regular Cryflals are often formed In the fame Drop with the other Configura- tions, as aty^. 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 Slip of Glafs, and fuffeiing the Fluid to evaporate without any Heat at all. Cryflals will alfo be form- ed by Precipitation after the Solution has flood fome Time. After numberlefs Obfervations to deter- mine the Cryflals of Alum^ I find amongfl them the following Variety. Some are exacftly regular Oclaedra, com- pofed of eight ec^uilateral Triangles, as the Figure A. But as they lye moil frequently on one of their triangular Bafes, they appear in the Manner fliewn at B. Others appear like the above with their folid Angles cut ofl-^, forming thereby a Figure of fourteen Sides, eight of which are Hexagons, and the other fix Squares, as C. The Figure D frequently prefents Itfelf, and feems alfo compofed of fourteen Planes {yvz, 12 quadrilateral, and two hexagonal) the Planes underneath being fuppofed to corrcfpond in Number and Figure with thofe that appear above. E repre-r Cry II ah of Alum. lo^ E reprefents an eight-fided Figure, con- fifliing of two triangular, two hexagonal, and four quadrilateral Planes, two whereof Hope 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 lar2;e equilateral Triangle, from each Side of which a floping quadrilateral Plane proceeds. Thefe Planes are Trapezoids, each of them having a Side in common with that of theTriangle, another fhorterone parallel thereto, and two others Hoping one towards the other, and towards the Side of the Triangle, in a Di- red:ion of about twenty Degrees. The Plane which lyes parallel to the Triangle (which Plane in the prefcnt Fi- gure is next the Eye) is hexagonal, three of its Sides being made up of the iliorter 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 w^ith the Hexagon, and the other two with the neighbouring Trapezoids. Our Ahim is obtained from a blueifh mi- neral Subftance refembling Slate, which after being calcined and ftccpcd in Water H 4 for I04 Alum how and ivhere produced : for a due Time, that Water when boiled fufficiently in Pans of Lead (the Lees of Sea- Weed Afhes called Kelp, and a Quantity of Urine being mixt therewith) produces Shoots of Alum^ after standing a few Days. But as fuch Shoots are feldom clean enough at firft for Sale, they commonly are wafli- ed with or dilTolved again in Water, freed from their Impurities, and fet to concrete a-new, Vafl Quantities are made in Torkjhire and LancafiirCy mofl of the Hills between Scarborough and the River Tees^ as well as thofe near Pre/Ion, abounding with this Mineral; the Salts of which being dilTolved and put in A6tion by the Moifture of the V Air, if thereto expofed, without being cal- cin'd, the Mineral falls in Pieces, and yields a Liquor whereof Copperas or green Vi- triol may be made, -f- Alum may alfo 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 eonfiderable Trad: of Lajid is faid to be of the fame , f At Ahfettle in Bohemia are Mines of black Schijiui, >vhence they make great Quantities of Alum andVitriol; and from a Gleba Pyritofa found in the fame Mines, they obtain much Sulphur. I am obliged to Dr. James ^'ounfey for this Information ; and for Specimens of both the SublUnceS;, which he colledted upon the Spot and fent me, nearly a-kin to Vitriol. 105 fame Sort. * It taftes exadly like Alum^ and in the South Sra Year 1720, a Quan- tity was imported in Hopes of making it turn to good Account : but the Milchiefs fuffered from other Projecfts at that Time, difcouraged People from embarking in this, and we have heard no more of it fmce j nor indeed as A/ii;/i can be made fo cheap from Materials found at Home, does it feem worth while to fend fo far on the fame Account. AIu??i feems fo nearly a-kin to Vitriol, that the Addition of Copper or Iron is only wanting to make it the fame Thing ; as may be proved by a Dillillation of it into an acid Spirit with either of them, where- by it becomes good Vitriol. On the other hand, Vitriol when freed from its metallic Particles, becomes aluminous, and yields on Diliillation a Spirit undiftinguilhable by the niceft Scrutiny from that of ^/w//'/.•f• C H A P. * I have alfo an .iluminous Earth, brought from Maryland, and given mc by Mr. Brook. t Vid. Phil, Trar,/. No 104. p. 67. [ io6 ] CHAP. XVI. Borax. BORAX is a faline Subftance, very difficult of Solution unlefs in boiling Water, and even then requiring, accord- ing to BoerhaavCy twenty Times its own Weight. When a Drop is given to be examined by the Microfcope, if it be held too long over the Fire no Cryftals will fhoot, but it will harden upon the Slip into a tranfparent Matter much refembling Glafs. The befl Way is to give it a briik 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^ II. where their Beginning and Progrefs are fo 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 refemble 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 ludia^ Terjia, and Tartary^ and to be brought from thofe Countries rough and foul, in Borax defer ibed, and Its Ufe. 107 in Lumps or Cryftals, of a yellowifh and fomctimes of a dirty green Colour : but we really know little thereof with Certainty. The Venetians made great Profit heretofor« by purifying it for Sale *, but that Trade at prefent is chiefly carried on by the Diitch\ though I am told the Secret is become known, and has lately been pracftifed with good Succefs in England. It ferves the fame Purpofes of fufmg and foldering Gold and other Metals, as the ChryfocoUa of the An- cients did, for which Reafon it is frequent- ly called by the fame Name, though theirs was quite another kind of Subflance, the Knowledge whereof is probably loft to us. Its glaily Quality renders it ufeful in dying, to give a GlolTinefs to Silksj and Dr. i^haiD proves (in the twentieth of his Che- niical LeBureSj Experiment 3d. ) that by means of this Salt a Kind of Glafs may be made of an extraordinary Degree of Hardnefs; and imagines the Arts of Enamel- ling, and of imitating precious Stones, may be greatly improved thereby-f-. When •Vid.S^rtic's Travfiation of Boerhaave" i Chemiflry, \q\ I, p. I 10, in the Notes. f Rough Borax is called Tlncal, or Tincar. Geoffrey fays, a fait muddy greenifh Water found in fome Copper Mines, evaporated to a ceitain Degree, then kept for feveral Months in Pits, whofe Sides and Bottoms are plaillered with the Mud of the fame Mines mixt with Animal Fat, the Pits being alfo covered with the fame Plaifter, produces the X Vitriol made it defcend not quite an Inch* and Sea- fait but .two Lines. Monfieur Hofjibcrg orders a Pound of Salt Ammo7iiac and a Pound of corrofive Subhmate to be feparately reduced to Pow- der ; then, after mixing them well together, he direds them to be put into a Glafs Bottle, and a Pint and a lialf of diftilled Vinegar to be poured thereon. This done, and the Compofition being fliaken together brifkly, it will become fo cold, that a Man can but ill endure the Veflel in his Hands even in. the Summer-tirtie. He fays, that once, as he was making this Experiment, the Mixture happened to freeze ; and Monfieur Geoffroy tells us the like Accident befel him once, on diifolving a krge Quantity of Salt Am?7io^ niac in Water, fome Drops on the Outiide of the Glafs freezino: : the wet Straw where- on it ilood, was likewife 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 Saltj I fhall therefore ' conclude with obferving, that it is extreme- ly pungent, converts Aqua Fortis into an Aqua Regia, caufes Tin to adhere to Iron, and dilTolved in common Water, is, I am informed, a Secret for the taking away of Warts, I CHAP. ( iH ) CHAP. XVIII. Salt of Lead. THIS Salt which from the Sweetnefs of its Tafle, is ufually called Sugar cf Leady is prepared from Cerufe or White Lead digefted with diftilled Vinegar in a Sand Heat to a DiiTolution : then evaporated till a Film arifes, and fet in a cold Place to cryilalize. It is therefore Lead reduced into the Form of a Salt by the Acid of Vi- negar, for Cerufe is itfelf nothing elfe but the Ruft of Lead corroded by Vinegar. A little of this Salt dilTolved 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 Ad:ion, will be {cen forming round the Edge a pretty even and regular Border, of a clear and tranfparent Film or glewy Subilance j {See Plate IV. N° l.aaaa.) which, if too fudden and violent Heat be given, runs over the whole Area of the Drop, and hardens, and fo fixes on the Glafs, as not be got off with- -out much Difficulty. But if a moderate Warmth be made ufe of (which likewife mufl not be too long continued) this Border pro- Salt of Leady poifonons, \\^ proceeds a little Way only into the Drop, with a Kind of radiated Figure compofed of a Number of fine Lines, or rather Bundles of Lines, beginning 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 b b. 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 together 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 feen Shootings fo ex- ceedingly flender, that they are perhaps the beft Reprefentation polTible of a mathema- tical Line, which appear like a Prolonga- tion of one or both the Sides. The Extre- mities of thefe Parallelograms are moft commonly cut off at right Angles, but they are fometimes alfo feen oblique. The whole of this Defcription is iliewn c c cc. Centers v/ith the like Radii iffuing from them, and ibme of the glutinous Matter for their Root, are fometimes formed in the Drop, intirely detached from the Edges, and in thefe it is very frequent to find a Sort of fecondary Radii proceeding from fomeone 1 2 ^ of 1 1 6 Salt of Lead, polfonms, of the primary ones, and others from them again to a great Number of Gradations, forming thereby a very pretty Figure, the Reprefentation of which is given at D. Give me Leave now to obferve, that ra- diated Figures of Spar much refembling 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. Notwithflanding it may feem wandring from my Purpofe, I fhould think myfelf greatly wanting in my Duty towards Man- kind, if I clofed this Chapter without warn- ing them of the Mifchiefs 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 EfFedts. I am fenfible this Salt has frequent- ly been prefcribed in Quincies, Inflamma- tions, and other Diforders where great Cooling has been judged necefl^ary : But Dr. Boerhaave declares he never knew it given with Succefs, nor durft himfelf ever prefcribe it internally, from his Knowledge that there is fcarce a more deceitful and de- ftruftive Poifon than this, which returns to Cerufe as foon as the Acid is abforbed there- from by any Thing it may meet with : and that it proves afterwards a moil dangerous and Salt of Tin, 117 and incurable Poifon. Cerufe, the fine white Powder of Lead, drawn with the Breath into the Lungs, occafions a moil violent and mortal Afthmaj fwallowed with the Spittle it produces inveterate Diflempers in the Vifcera, intolerable Paintings, Pains, Obftrucftions, and at laft Death itfelf : which terrible Effefts are feen daily amongft thofc who work in Lead, but principally amongft the White-Lead Makers.* The Fumes of melted Lead are a Secret with fome for the fixing of Quickfilver, and rendering it fo folid that it may be calt into Moulds, and Images may be formed of it, which when cold, are not only hard, but fomewhat brittle, like Regulus of A?Jti^ viony -f-. CHAP. XIX. Salt of Tin. SALT of Tin is obtained in the fame Manner as Salt of Lcad^ by digefting the calcined Metal in diflilled Vinegar, and fetting it, when poured off, in a cool Place, for the Salts to Ihoot : which they will do in the Form of Cubes. I 3 This * Boerbacve'z Cbemijiryhy Shanv, Vol. IT. p. 286. •f- Vid. Sberlcy on the Origin of Bodies.^ pjig. I 8» 3ri8 Salt of Tin, This cubic Salt being diflblved in Water, and a Drop of the Solution placed under the Microfcope, in the Manner before di- red:edj produces fuch an Appearance at the Edges of the Drop 2i% a a reprefent, conlifting of Odtaedra, partly tranfparent, ilanding on long Necks, at fmall Dirtancesi from each other, with angular Shoots be- tween them. At the fame time folid and regular opake Cubes Xvill be feen forming themfelves in other Parts of the Drop, njid. b b. Plate IV. Thefe may be difcerned when their mag- niiiea Size is extrem.ely fmall -, and their Bulk increafes under the Eye, continually, till the Water is nearly evaporated. In the Midft of the fame Drop, and in feveral Places thereof, very different Figures will be likewife formed j particularly great Numbers of flat, thin, tranfparent, hexan- gular Bodies, c c c -, fome amongfl which are thicker, as e ; and a few appear more folid, and with fix floping Sides, rifing to a Point as if cut and polifhed, vid. d. The Figure y* is compofed of tw^o high Pyramids united at their Bafe \. Some, in this kind of Form, are found truncated at one of their Ends, and others at both 5 but ^Xyx.Wood^mrd'vci his Hift. ofFoJJjls, Vol. I. p. 222, fays. That Grains of Tin, and the Cryfrals from it, in the Mines, are quadrilateral Pyramids : and this feveral of them now before me prove. I Ens Veneris, 119 but then they appear like flat Bodies, not having the four Sides of a Pyramid ; as a few of them in the Drawing fliew. — Seve- ral of the hexagonal Bodies may be ohferved with floping Sides, forming a fmooth trian- gular riflng Plane, whole Angles point to three intermediate Sides of the Hexagon, *vid. g : and fome have a double Triangle, as another of the Figures fhews.— ^^ 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 ihew, that notwithftanding the feeming Affinity of the two Metals, the Configurations of Sak of Tin bear not the lea ft Refemblance to thofe of Salt of Lead. In convulfive and epileptic Cafes, Salt of Tin is given inter- nally with good Succefs. CHAP. XX. Ens Veneris. AS Chemifts give the Name of Vcjius to Copper, one would imagine their Ejis Veneris to be a Preparation of that Metal : whereas it is in reality a Sublimation of the Salt of Steel or Iron * with Sal Ammo7jiac -, I 4 and * Green Vitriolic ufually employed inftead Q^Sah ofSteef^^ 120 Ens Vcfierh. and therefore might be called Ens Marfti with better Reafon. It muft however be acknowledged, that blue Vitriol was em- ployed formerly inftead of Salt of Steel ; and Thaty being impregnated with Copper, rendered the Name lefs improper : but the Ens Veneris our Shops afford at prefent, has nothing of Copper in it. It diffolves eafily in Water, and gives to the Solution fated with it a Colour refem- bling that of Mountain Wine : which Co- lour its Cryilals likewife retaining, appear (as they form before the Microfcope) like the moil beautiful ChryfoUtes or Topazes^ feemingly cut with the greatefl: Elegance, in Shape as the Flate fhews ; and reflecfting an extraordinary Luflre from their polifhed Surfaces, if the Candle be fp ihifted as to favour its being feen. After the Solution has jflood an Hour or two to fettle, (for if ufed immediately its Foulnefs will prove inconvenient) a Drop thereof placed on a Slip of Glafs, and warm- ed a little over the Candle, begins {hooting from the Edg;es with folid tranfparent An- gles, as (in the Drawing) a a. Elate IV. Thefe, if only a gentle Heat has been given, will fometimes form, then diffolve, and afterwards form again. The Cryflals b b within the Drop, and underneath the fame i, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, are like\yife befl formed by a gentle Heat, and may Em Veneris. I2I may be dlfcovered 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 Cryflals, compound Figures will be formed, very fuddenly, refembling that at Cy confifting of parallel flrait Lines, pointed with large folid Spear-like Heads of Cryflal, along the Sides of which are placed, at right Angles, great numbers of fmall Cryftals of the like Shape as the Drawing fhews. — 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 Qujcknefs. Some fmaller Compofitions are alio 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-fafliioned two-edged Sword of Cryftal, forming under the Eye, in fuch Shape as c reprefents, though more exadl; and well- proportion'd : for fufpefting fuch a Figure might be fuppofed imaginary, lefs Regula- rity has been, defignedly, given it, than it will be really found to have. Sometimes two, three, or more, fuch cryflaline Swords are feen in the fame Drop. The i 2 2 Flowers of Antimony. ■ The regular Cryftals of this Subjedl foon lofe the Sharpnefs and Elegance of their Form } but its compound Configurations, whofe Beauty and Regularity are not to be conceived from Defcription, though when the Fluid is nearly evaporated they feem blunted and indiflind:, yet afterwards, when the Moifture is quite gone, they recover their former Appearance, and may be pre- ferved a long while, by the Method before diredled, />. 36. Salt of Amber ^ and fome other Salts, lofe and recover themfelves after the fame Manner. CHAP. XXI. Flowers of Antimony, THE Flowers of Antimony are colle(fted in form of a white Powder, from the Fumes of burning Antimony^ by means of a Glafs VefTel placed over it ; and are fuppofed to contain the moil acflive Salts and Sulphurs of that Mineral. The great- eft Part of thefe Flowers when they are well ftirred about in Water, link to the Bottom thereof, leaving the Salts difTolved and fufpended therein j and on placing a Drop of fuch Water on a Slip of Glafs, and giving it a gentle Heat, numbers of flender and Antimony the Bajis of Noftrums. 1 25 and extremely {harp-pointed Spicules will be feen forming at the Edges of the Drop, as Plate V^ . 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 Attradiion, and unite a little farther within the Drop, in Confi- gurations refembling a fineMofs or Coralline, very beautiful and curious to behold : 'vid, I) /^.— The Middle of the Drop ufually remains clear and void of every thing. Antimojiy (the Stibium of the Ancients) is found in many Countries : it is compofed of glittering, brittle Strice like Needles, the Colour of polifli'd Steel j fometimes run- ning parallel to each other, and fometimes lying in different Dire(5tions. — 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 fhould be adminilired 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 moll Phyficians afraid to meddle with the more elaborate Prepa- 124 Antimony the Bajjs of Noftrums.' Preparations of it ; though 'tis generally ac- knowledged, that if the Manner of their Operation was certain, or their Violence could be fufficiently reftrained, great Cures might be expelled from them. Several Nqftrums, exhibited in very fmall Dofes, under different Forms, and cryed up as almoft univerfal Remedies, are believed, not without Probability, to be Preparations of this Mineral ; from the like Uncertainty in their Operation, and the Violence where- with they fometimes a(ft. As this Uncertainty is too notorious to be denied, the Difpenfers of thefe Medi- cines plead, that the Manner of their Ope- ration depends intirely on the Conilitution and Diftemper of the Patient, but always tends to produce a Cure : for, fay they, if vomiting be mofl necelTary, the Medicine will prove emetic, and that juft fo long and with fuch a Degree of Force as is requifite 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 fome other infenfible Way. — The Truth of this I have nothing at all to do with, but refer the Confideration of it to thofe to whom it more properly belongs : per- mit Corrofrce Sublimate ^ and Ar feme. 125 mit me only to obferve, that whatever Drug can operate as this does, muft be capable of producing great Good or Harm in animal Bodies, according as its Powers can or cannot be direiHied or regulated : and confequently, whoever can difcover Means to correft its Violence, and ren- der it a perfectly fafe Medicine, will deferve greatly of Mankind. I fliall conclude this Head with taking Notice, that the Star-like Shootings on the Regulus of Antimony y about which fome Chemifts make much ado, are nothing more than the natural Configuration of its Salts *. CHAP. XXIL Corrofroe Sublimate^ and Arfenic. MERCURY, purified Nitre, (or the Spirit of it) calcined Vitriol, and Sea-falt, are the Ingredients from which Corrofrce SubVunate, or Mercury Sublimate^ is prepared 3 which is one of moft violent and * I^egulus of Aht'imony made up in a proper Form and Size, is called the Perpetual Pill, bccaufe it receives very little Diminution, the" carried through the Stomach and Bowels fifty times, and will purge every time take it as often as you pleafe. j^niimonial Cfps are made like- wife of this Regulus, which for a long Time will ren- tier Wine put into them emetic. 126 Conjigurat'iom of Sublimate. and deadly Poifons we know, laceratint/ and excoriating the Vifcera, by its keen and adlive Spiculas, till a Gangrene and Death enfue -, unlefs proper Remedies are immediately ufed to prevent it. A Drop of the Solution of this Subli- mate in Water, appears by the Microfcope to begin fliooting from the Edges, as at (ij Plate W . immediately after which, diffe- rent fhaped Bodies are feen pufhing onward towards the Middle ; fome quite ftrait and extremely fliarp like the Points of Needles, others widening themfelves towards their Extremities, and bending in fuch Man- ner as to refemble Razors with keen Edges : amongfl: 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, ftop their Progrefs, when advanced to the Condition reprefented : but fuch as are llrait and tapering to a Point proceed very llowly towards the Middle of the Drop, and fometimes much beyond it, forming long Spikes moft ex- quifitely fliarp pointed, njid. e e. — A few extraordinary Figures appear fometimes, ferrated on both Sides, but in a contrary Direction, and ending with a very fharp Point, as is fhewn at c : Others are like- wife feen, now and then, having four Sides, with Configurations of Sublimate » 127 with keen Edges that run tapering to a Point, and form an Inftrument like the long Head of a Spear exceedingly fliarp- pointed, as at d. When the Water is nearly exhaled, a- nother Sort of Configurations are formed very fuddenly, confiiling of innumerable little Lines difpofed in a very curious and wonderful Manner, as the two Figures yy* endeavour to reprefent. And often (though not always ) one or two Configurations /lioot out, when one would think all over, refembling what is fhewn at g^ but much more elegant and regular, and reflediing (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 to ad- vantage. Which Circumllance, together with the Shape of this Configuration, induces me to call it the Peacock'^ Tail. The Configurations T"/' refleft Prifin Colours alfo, but in a much lefs Degree of Perfedlion *. The Compartment B is intended to fliew, 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 afford the prettieft Sight ima- ginable. 128 Arfenic made from Cobalt. fome fmall Part of the faid Drop becomes fo feparated from the reft, as to make a fort of fmaller Drop, wherein a more mi- nute kind of Configurations are formed, upon the fame Plan as the larger ones in 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 Corrojhe Sublimate and Arfe7iic are two Poifons nearly alike in their Operation and fatal Confequences, I think it beft to treat of them together in this Chapter. The Fumes that rife from * Cobalt, in making of Smalt from that Mineral, being collected 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 flattifti Pieces of feveral Pounds Weight, and when newly broken appears tranfparent like Glafs or Cryftal, * Cohalt is a hard and heavy mineral Subflance, commonly of a blackifli 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 the Flowers of Cobalt. When roalled or calcined in a reverberatory Furnace with cer- tain Proportions of Pot Aflies and common Salt, it pro- duces a dark blue, glalTy, or chryftaline Matter called Zaffer or Smalt, and the Fumes coUefted in this Procefs afford by different Management the White t Tellow and . red Jrjniics, Bate IV. /^^.i28. Salt of Lead. riowers of Antimonv. Salt of Tin. EiHs Veneris . Corrofive Sublmiate Chryjtals of Ens Tmeris. s ^E Baker J el. t/T Mjfftde yc If Arfenic not eafily Soluble, il() Cryrtal, with a brownifli Hue ; but after a few Days it becomes opake, acquires a milky glofTy Whitenefs, and looks like white Enamel. When reduced to Powder it appears extremely white, and is frequently fold in the Shops by the Name of Ratjhane, Notwithftanding this Subftance 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 Chemifls 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 in fifteen Parts of di- ftilled or Rain Water -f-, which (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 notwithflanding 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 moft: of the hxitviiz 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 Microfcope *, K Some- f Vf«d on Poifons, 3cl Edit pag. 217. * A Phyfician of great Eminence gave me once a fmall ^cmi-tranfparer.t browa Mafs, fhot out in Angles, which a Chcmiit 130 Cryjlats of White Arfenic. Sometimes, indeed, in a Drop of th6 Water wherein Arfenic has been boiled, I have difcovered a very few lingle Odtaedra, confifting of eight triangular Planes, or two Pyramids joined Bafe to Bafe 5 which un- doubtedly is the true Figure of its Cry- flals, as I have fince been fully convinced by the Affiflance of an ingenious Friend, who found means to diflblve an Ounce of the white cryflaline Arfenic in about three Pints of Water, of which, after eva- porating a confiderable Part, he brought a Phial- full to me. It was then a very clear and ponderous Liquor, without any Appearance of Cryftals : 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 Cryftals, adhering firmly to the ;Glafs, fo as not eafily to be removed, but diftinft and feparate from one another. On examining them with Glaffes, I found them to be 06taedra, uncommonly hard and in- foluble. After near fix Months I don't perceive theirSize to beat all inlarged, or their Number to be increafed. A Drop of the Solution, a Chemift 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 abfoiirely inloluble, even in boiling Water, after its being reduced to Powder ; and from its Appearance, its Hardnefs, and other Circumftances, I am very fufpicious it was no other than common Spar. Mtfchiefs by Arfaiivy how cured. 1 3 1 Solution, examined on a Slip of Glafs, either heated over a Candle, or left to evaporate of itfelf, notwithftanding its h^-^ ing fated with the Particles of Arfenic, produces no Configurations, and hardly any Cryftals, leaving only a white Powder behind it upon the Glafs : whofe Parti- cles, whilfl: the Water gradually evaporates, appear like minute Globules, even fmaller than thofe of the Blood. This Wloite Arfenic is much rilore daii-* gerous than the yellow or red, being a deadly Poifon to all living Creatures : the Symptoms it brings on are much the fame as thofe of Corrqfi've Sublimate^ 'Viz. Sick- nefs. Fainting, Convulfions, cold Sweats^ intolerable Heat and Thirft, Erofionof the Stomach and Inteftines, Inflammation, Gan- grene, and Death. But its Acflion is flow- er than that of Sublimate, for its Salts are fo flieathed by its Sulphurs, that they begin not to operate, till thofe Sulphurs become rarified by the Heat of the Body, and fet the Salts at Liberty •, infomuch that a Pa- tient may be faved after it has been fwal- lowed half an Hour, by drinking large Quiintities of Olive-Oil, or melted frefli Butter, or Lard, if Oil be not at hand, till by Difcharges upwards and downwards, an Abatement of the Symptoms fliews the Poi- fon to be carried off\ Salt of Tartar dif- folvcd in Broth or Water, is alfo greatly com- K 2 mended 1 32 Cafes of Mifchief by Arfcnk. mended in this dangerous Cafe, along with the foregoing Remedies, as a Correftor of this Poifon, and fo likewife is Milk. The fame Method is advifeable where Sublimate has been fwallowed, but then it mufl be em- ployed very fpeedily, or no Relief can be ex- pected. 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. Blcnr^ in his Letter to Dr. il/,f^i on the EfFeflg of Arfmic upon human Bodies, gives two feniarlcable Cafes ; the one of a Woman, who was killed by this Poifon mixed with Flummery ; which (he eating about eleven o'clock at Night, was feized immediately with violent Purgings and Vomitings, that continued till four o'Clock in the Morning, when fhe died convulfive. The Poifon had been fo well wrapt up in the Flummery, that on her being opened the Oefophagus was no ways altered: but the Doftor 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 greenifti Subftance, without any Colour or Appearance of fuch a digefted Mafs as ufes to be in the Stomach, with fcveral thick Coagula about the big- nefs of Walnuts, fufpending fome fmall quantities of a whitifli grofs Powder. When this Liquor was emptied, he found reddifii and blackiOi Stria? all over the Pilorus^ being fo many inflamed Lines refembling the Branchings of Blood-veii'eis, upon which the grofs whitifh hard Powder lay in fuch quantity, that after being well dried it weighed between a Scruple and half a Dram. All along the Inteilines, as he laid them open down to th>; A'uis, he found fo much of the fiime kind of Liquor, Without either Colour, Confidence, or Smell of an F,\- crement, as filled a Quart Bottle : which feemed extra- ordiiviry, confideiing the great Evacuations before her Dt;atii. He infers, that the Glands througliout the whol^ Steams of Arfenic how m'ifchie^com. 133 The Fumes or Steams of Arfenic are ex- ceedingly pernicious, and commonly diftin- guifh themfelves by an abominable linking Smell like Garlic ; tho' Otto Tachcjuus fays, in his Hippocrates ChemicuSy that after many Sublimations of Arfenic, on opening the Veflel, 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 beijan to ake and became contracted, aConvulfion of all his Limbs fucceeded, he made bloody Urine with incredible Heat, was feized with Cholic Pains and cramped all over for aa K 3 Hour Prim^ J'hc muft have been mod 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 H'hite Arjinic as adhered to the Tip of her Finger, found herfelf with- in two Hours in great Diforder, grew faint, fell in a Swoon, and loll her Senfes before fhe could be laid in Bed. A Phyfician being called, prefcribed an Emetic, which made her vomit a large Quantity of fuch Sort of grecnifh Liquor as in the former Cafe ; after which fhe voided by Stool feveral Globules of grcenilh Caagulum, of the Bignefs, Colour, and nearly the Confidence of Pickled Olives. Thefe Difcharges being over, and Ale.vi- pharmics given, (he fweated plentifully, and flept well, and when fhe awaked her Skin was I'peckled with liv.d and purplifh Spots. She recovered in a few Days, and became perfeftly well. The Doftor obfervcs, that thele grcenilh Coagula are what rirfcnic ufually produces, when internally given ; the Knowledge of which may be of ufe to thofe who may have occafion to orCii Bodies, on Sufpicion of their having been poifoncd thereby. Se^ Blair ^ Mtjc. Ohfer'uatiin!^ pag. 6j, 134 Steams ef Arfenic hciv mifchievous. Hour or two; when thefe ugly Symptoms were taken away by his drinking Milk and Oil, and he became indifferently well : they were followed however by a flow Fever like an Hedic, which iluck by him the whole Winter, and of which he recovered very ilowly by a proper Regimen in Diet -f-. The extreme Subtilty and Penetrability of thefe Steams are remarkably manifeft by their furprizing Effe 's Tryal, Folio, pag. 12, 13, 14, 15. As Arfenic is not ufed in Medicine, it would be well if the Apothecaries and Chemills did not keep it in their Shops. Selling now and then a Pennyworth to kill Rats, (and even in doing that many fad Accidents have hrp. pened) can furcly induce no good Man to rifk the PoUi- bility of putting this horrid Poil'on into wicked Hands, . 138 ] C H A P. XXIIL Salt of . A.MBER. THE pretty Shootings of this extras 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 iind from it at lafl aPleafure fufficient to reward his Attention. — Its firft Shootings at the Edge of th^e 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 pufh 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 c c. 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 Gradati- ons^ Its Configurations. 13^ ons of Branchings will be perceived to fuc- ceed one another, to divide and fubdivide af- ter a mofl wonderful Order, reprefenting at the laft a Winter Scene of Trees without Leaves, a Specimen of which is fhewn at e. — The laft Acftion of this curious Salt pro- duces Figures exquifitely delicate, bearing no Refemblance to any thing that preceded, but appearing like theFlouriihes or Engrav- ings of a Mafterly Hand, in the Manner re- prefented ^^ff. This Part of the Opera- tion begins not till the Water is nearly ex- haled, and whilft it is performing the Scene appears a good deal confufed 3 but after waiting till theWater is intirely dryed away, a thoufand Beauties will prefent themfelves perfecftly diftin;lt and clear ; for the Confi- gurations of this Salt do not break away, or melt in the Air, as moft others do, but may be preferved on the Glafs Slip for a long while afterwards, if fo be nothing is fuffered to rub them off. It would give me great Pleafure, was It poftible, from the Configurations of this Salt, to trace out, with any Peg^rec of Certainty, the Generation or Pro- duction of Amber ; a Subjed: about which Naturalifts are exceedingly divided and perplex'd : Some fuppofing it an animal Subftance, others a refinous vegetable con- creted Juice, and others a natural Fcfiil or Mineral : but the Shootings of its Salt are io very different from every other Kind, rha: the/ 140 Amber J uncertain how produced. they afford little or no Ground on which to raife a Conjecflure : however, the general Figures round the Edge have I think a Sort of mineral Chara(5ler, and the Feather-like Bodies tend a little towards the Shootings of fome of the Vitriols. The curved fingle Lines ff^ which appear likeDrawings 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 /hall not pretend therefore to infer any thing from thefe Figures : but, before I intirely quit the Subjecft, fliall prefent a few ^leries to the Confideration of my curious Readers. ^icre I ft. Does not Amber when ana- lized, afford a confiderable Quantity of Oil, in Smell, Colour, Inflammability and Confi- flence like the White or rather Amber-co- loured Naptha, a Proportion of Acid Salty and a Caput Mortuum or Earthy Subflance ? and, if fo, does it not feem probable, that fuch a bituminous Oil fixt by an acid Salt, with more or lefs of an Earthy Subflance, is really the Compofition of Amber * ? ^ere * In the Diflillation of Amber there firll 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 cloudy: a grofs fat Oil like Turpentine comes over next, and laft of all a thick black Matter. At the Botcom remains a fmall Quantity of a Caput Mortuutn. Vid. Boerhaa've\ Analyfis of Amber, Vol. lid of his Chemiftry, Procefs 87. Hartmnn obtained an Ounce of Volatile Salt from 1 £ of white Am- ber, whereas i £ of yellow afforded fcarcc a Dram. fern's coj2cerm?ig Amber. 141 ^lere 2d. If it be inquired, where thefe Materials are to be found, and how they can be brought together ? may it not be anfwer- ed, that in fome Countries, and particularly in Perfia^ near the Cafpian Sea, there are Springs where Naptha rifes out of the Bowels of the Earth ; and that the Ground thereabouts is fo faturated therewith, that, 011 fcraping off the Surface, and applying a Candle near it, a Fume arilinjj therefrom im- mediately takes Fire, and continues burn- ing, with a clear and conftant Flame, until It becomes extinguilhed by throwing Earth upon it, or fmotherlng it by fome other Means \ ? If therefore, fuch bituminous Oil •f- Two Letters now He before me, with Accounts of thefe Naptha Springs ; one from Dr. "Jatrns Mout:fc the Bitumen and produce Amber, which is more tranfparent, better fcented, and firmer, according to the Purity and Proportion of the bituminous and faline Exhalation?. Vid. Phil. Trarf. No. 248. Maynotfome of the foiTil Oil here mentioned be as eafily fuppofed to have been fi^it by the faline Effluvia or Spiculae ? ^ien^s concerning Amber, 14^ ings of Naptha out of the Earth in Places where Infed:s might be likely to fall into it ? Suppoling 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 abfolutely ne- cefTary, fihce Naptha will preferve Animal Bodies a great Length of Time. Is it not found on Tryal, that the Wings, Horns, Legs, ^c. of very fmall Creatures fpread and extend themfelves much better in Nap- tha, or fine Oyl, than in Water or any watry Fluid ? and may not this account, in fome meafure for the Perfeot the Choak Damps in mofi: Coal Pits prove the Exiftence of fuch a Spirit within the Bowels of the Earth ? do not the Fire DampSj frequent in the fame Pits, likewifc prove the Abundance of a bituminous Va- pour inflammable like Naptha ? ^ere 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 {^ likely to conftitute thefe Subftances, as % fo/Jil Pitch, 'Petroleum, Oleum Terra^ and the different Sorts of Naptha ? CHAP, ^ Captain John Ptyntx in his Account of the Mand of Tobago, pag. 38. fays, " Green Tar iffues oat of the Eartlk •' from the Munjack Rocks, and is commonly gathered after ♦* a fhower of Rain, by Ikimming it off from the Surface ot •' the Water : then putting it into a great Gourd, or fuCh •' like Veffel, that has an Hole at the Bottom, they feparate •* the Oil from the Water, by fuffering the Water to flide •' gently outj but when the Oil appears, they cautioufly flop •' and preferve it for feveral Ufes, as to burn in Lamps, (^f, •* The Mufijack is nothing elfe than a Confirmation or Coa- *' gulation of the Tar ( we fpoke of) into a more foJi4 *■* Body ; which Munjack were it in a frigid, as it is in " the torrid Zone, would be abfolute Cwl,, fach a« w» *.*, burn im England** [ H7 ] ^ CHAP. XXlV. Of Scarborough Salt. WHAT I am now about to treat of under the Name of ScaT-borcugh Salt, was bought at one of the principal WaterWarehoufes mLondon, at a goodPricej and was affirmed by the Seller to be a true and genuine Salt prepared from the Scarho-* rough Well. Some of this being dlflblved in Water, % 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 flioot 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, 'Did. a ay Plate V. In fome Places they appear more pointed and longer, as at ^, and fometimes inftead of the Diagonal, one of the Sides is feen towards the Edge and the other fhooting into the Middle, as e. The Inward Configurations feem to owe their Forms moflly to Vitriol, and are all produced by the fame Method of Shooting : though fome proceed from the Figures al- L 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 r, 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 €i 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 lowefb of thefe Spiada are frequently {ttn others of the fame Kind proceeding, but their Direction, in refped: to the Branch they rife from, feems not wholly correfpon- dcnt to the Dired:ion of the faid Branch in refpe, and are not unhkc the Frame Work for the flooring or roofing of an Houfe, but with the Angles a little ob- lique : and fometimes a Form prefents it- felf like that fliewn at /. 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 E/^owWaters, 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 Saify at a very cheap Rate : though I gave a much L 4 larger 152 "S*^/ PolychreJIum. ^ largerPricefor this, on its being recommend- ed as a much better purging Salt. * j^5lon Salt, or what I bought for fuch, appeared on Examination jufl like tlie above, but without the Figures h i g. .^• C H A P. XXVII. Sal Polychrestum. A Solution of this Salt when heated be- gins to fhoot near the Edges of the Drop, in Ramifications as at ^, Plate V, or in • Dr. ^iney, m his Englifh Difpenfatory, remarks what was then fold for the Salt of Epfom Water, as an abominable Cheat. ( I'/V. Edit. 8th pag. 355.I He informs ** us, that Dr. Grew, having found by Experiment, that a *' Gallon of Water would, on Evaporation, afford about f ** two Drams of Salt, endued with the Cathartic Quality of ^' the Water: gave an Account thereof in Latin to the Royal ^' Society. Upon which a certain C^f»;//? pretending to maka ** large Quantities for Sale, put off a fidtitious Preparation •* for the true Salt of Epfom Purging Waters; and others ^' attempting the fame Thing, the Price was foon brought ** fo low, that inftead of one Shilling per Ounce, under *' which the true Salt could not honeftly be made, their fifti- ** tious Kind was fold at not much above 30 Shillings *' per Hundred Weight, which little exceeds three Pencf *' per Pound. " And Dr. Brownrigg affures us, in his excellent Treatife on the Jrt of making common Salt, pag. 88. that all the Salt now vended under the Name of Ep- fom Salt, is prepared intirely from the marine Bittern, at the Salt Works nigh Nenvcafle, and at thofe at Lymington and other Parts of Hampjhire ; which Bittern is a faline Liquor, of a {harp and bitter Tafte, left at the Bottom ■ of -the Salt Pans after the Salt is made and taken out. Vid. pag. 6a. Glaubers Salt, 15I ' in the Figures fhewn at b : 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 canted, 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 diffolved in warm Water, filtered and evaporated. It purges by Stool and Urine. CHAP. XXVIII. Glauber's Salt. ,^oia AFTER the Diftillation of Spirit of Salt with Oil of Vitriol, (from Oil of Vitriol, Common Salt and Spring Water, in equal Quantities ;) what Salt remains at the Bottom of theRetort, being diffolved, filter'd, evaporated and cryflalized, 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 fhewn at f, Plate V. Some of them however begin to flioot from a Center at fome Diftance from the Edge, protrude Branches from 1^4 Glaubers Salt, from thatCenter in a contrary DIredllon, and appear fomewhat like a Bundle of Grafs or Twigs tyed together in the Middle, as at ^ ; they likewife flioot fometimes from one and fometimes from more Sides of the central point, in the Varieties fhewn at d. Other Figures are produced from difFc* rent Parts of the Edge of the Drop, as at a and y, as alfo the parallel Shootings at e: but the mofl: 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 Diviilons running between them, appearing all together like Streets, Alleys and Squares, as reprefented at g g. — This Figure plainly owes its Original to Marine Salt, and is of the fame Kind with that fhewn at f fj in the Cheltenham Salt. The Figures a and e are vitriolic. When this Configuration begins, it forms with wonderful Rapidity, affording the Ob- ferver a very agreeable Entertainment : bq.t he mufi: watch it carefully, for as it is pro- duced almoil infiantaneoufly, its Beajaty \% of a very fhort Duration : in a few Moments it diffolves and breaks away like melted Ice, which renders the drawing of it very diffi- cult. The Figure in the Plate was taken gt feveral Times and with different Drops, is m^Tyj.Js-^. Salt of Amber. Scarboroug-li Salt Cheltenham Salt lEpsoni Salt Sal Tolyclirestuni . n.r./AuAcrd^L Glauber s S alt Salt of Tartar, i^^ in order to colled: together and reprefent the general Idea of it. If the Solution be not heated in the Bot- tle, to diflblve the Sediment it throws down, little will appear but the Brufli-like Figures, Glauber s Salt is reckoned to anfwcr 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 moft 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 j as may be feen in theDrawing, at the Side b. (fee Plate VI.) Several of thefe appear likewiie farther within the Drop, and produce all the Varie- ty of Figures c c, ^^,&c. —There ihoot at the fame time, from fome Parts of the Edge, tranfparent Bodies with parallel Sides termi- nating as at ^, fome whereof are ftrewcd over with the little Triangles before defcrib- ed. From other Parts of the Edges branch-r ed Figures prefent themfelves, refembling fipall Shrubs, ( vld.f) whofe Twigs are naked -f 5^ ^alt of Tartar. ■ naked at their firft Shooting, but appear foon after covered with little Leaves or Tufts; the minute Bodies above mentioned which rife near the Twigs being attracted by and adhering to them. ci But the mofl: odd and lingular Circum- ftance in the Shooting of this Salt is, that ftrait Lines appear, two and two, inclining toward each other from the Edge of the Drop where they begin to fhoot, but never ftieeting fo as to form a Point, though fome- times they extend almoft acrofs the Drop, *vid, e. — They may pofTibly 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, difTolved in warm Water, purified by Filtration, and 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, attrad:s 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 deliquium : but inflead of this the Shops frequently fell * Pearl Aihes liquified by the Air, which they reckon equally ufeful for the famePurpofes* Some likewife imagine there is no Dif- ference in the medicinal Virtues of the Salt :\dJ To"^ ■ -..J iHDI^ Pearl Afhes are a purer Sort of Pot^Aflu Salt of Tartar » i^j of Tartar and thofe of Pearl Aflies, or any other of the lixivial Salts 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 manifell, from an Exami- nation of the Salts I am going to fubmit to the Reader's Judgment ; the Configurations •and Cryftals whereof are fo widely diffimi- lar, that one can hardly conceive them to arife from exad:ly the fame Principles in the Salts themfelves, or to produce exad:ly the fame Effects when applied to other Bodies, ''Tis indeed probable that the eflential Salts of Plants, collected in the Form of Cryftals, from the Juices of their refpeclive Plants, Vvithout the Help of Fire, may be different from the Salts of the famePlants procured by Incineration, and may have different Vir- tues : but I think fuch eflential Salts can hardly differ more from one another, when examined by the Microfcope, than the lixi- viousSalts 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-, fomc as well as tedious Operation, and con- fidered only as a Matter of Curiofity, 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 1^8 Tartar Plfriotafed. great Civility of Mvs. Glutton and Mr. Corbtn^ Chemifts and Partners, in Holborn^ (whofe kind Affiftance I thankfully acknowledge in this public Manner,) it would have been in my Power to procure very few of thofe I fhall hereafter mention. CHAP. XXX. Tartar Vitriolated. TH E redlified Oil, or redified Spirit of Vitriol, dropt gradually into Oil of Tartar per deliqtimm^ till it caufcs an Ebulli- tion, produces (by evaporating the Hu- midity) a white Subilance called 'vitriolated ^Tartar '\-, This diflblves readily in hot Water, and a Drop of the Solution applied on a Slip of Glafs before the Microfcope, begins fhoot- ing round the Edge in great Numbers of very minute and tranfparent Spicidce, de- tached intirely from one another, and with- out any of that Bafis at the Edge of the Drop •f Vitriolated Tartar is commonly an Ingredient in Pow- ders for the Teeth, as on rubbing them with it they be- come white immediately : but it fhould be ufed feldom and with gi^at Caution, wafhing the Teeth well with feveral Mouthfuls of Water afterwards ; for it whitens them by Ercfion, and if frequently applyed will dellroy their out- ward clofe and hard Coat of enamel, after which the inter* nal and more fpungyPart can lail but a little while. Tartar Vitrloldted, t^g Drop which mod other Kinds of Salts form before they fhoot. Thefe »S/'/V:^/t? proceed and lengthen in different Dired:ions, and crofs each other at various Angles, as ^ a and /^ /j fliew, P/afe VI. Some of thefe Spicula are very deeply ferrated, or look rather like the Ends of bearded Darts or Arrows placed over ona another, as reprefented at c. A Kind of Star-like Figure will be found here and there anion gil the Spiculce, appa- rently compounded of the above defcribed bearded Points, and moft commonly, like them, more opake than the other Shootings : a few of thefe appear alone, and others are formed at the Ends of the Spicul^e, as at d* Some likewife of the Spicul<^, after a while begin to fpread, and flioot forwards, in an irregular Manner of branching, towards the Middle of the Drop, as at^^. Other Fi- gures arife at a Dillance from the Edge of the Drop, with Branches dividing and fub- dividing more regularlythan the iafl defcrib- cd ; {fee F.) During the Procefs, Cluflers of hexago- nal Planes arife in the vacant Spaces, fome regular, others with unequal Sides, fome perfecflly tranfparent, others with a fmall Degree of Opacity, as at e. Thefe lail 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- figurations l6o Flowers of Benjamin. figurations are broken away and dcftroyed by the Air. Among the SpicuJee fliooting from the Edges there are many ftrait-Hned Figures, whofe Ends are not pointed but flat and fpreading , (Jee a a.) Thefe are chiefly owe- ing to the Tartar ; and the Permanence of the hexagoftalCryftals 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 Objed:- Glafs, that nothing can be feen 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. CHAP. XXXL Flowers of Benjamin. THE Flowers of Benjamin are Salti obtained by Sublimation from a Gum of the fameName. 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 j whence they are wiped out Flowers of Benjamm, 1 6 1 cut from time to time (with a Feather) in the Form of long flender fhining tranfparent Bodies, and fmell very fragrantly. They difTolve readily in warm Water*; and a Drop of the Solution being examined by the Microfcope, will be found a very en- tertaining Objedt.~For, iirft of all there arife from the Edges clear cclourlefs and fharp- pointed Cryftals {yid. PlatcYh a a.) which pafling towards the Center, fpread out like beautiful minute Shrubs, each having two or three Branches, like what are {Qtn b b b. Thefe gradually enlarge 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 fliort, and fpread into a Sort of Leaves, indented fomewhat like thofe of Dandalion, c c. Little Branches like wife flioot out from Points in the Middle of the Drop, as in the Fi Salt o£ Camomile . Salt of Coral D EJScLUr- Ml. Salt o£ Bauni J^. ^u/ncLifc ■ Salt of Buckthorn. 167 fometimes having an Opening at each Cor- ner of the Bafe, as if the Angles had been artfully taken out. Thefe Differences will be underflood by examining the Figures dd. The Air puts an End to thefe Forms foon after they are produced. CHAP. XXXVI. Salt of Buckthorn. THIS Salt flioots from the Edges of the Drop many fharp pointed Spi- culce^ at little Dijftances from each other ; after which the feveral Figures in the Drawing [Plate VII.) form themfelves un- der the Obferver's Eye j 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 hexangular Planes are exceedingly tranfparent, and have no vi- fible Depth. Parallelograms are difperfed here and there, and fome Rhombi : Indeed the hexangular Figures before mentioned feem like Rhombi cut off at each End. There appear a few of the Figures c and d, and alfo of the other feveral Forms repre- fented in the Pi if not prevent- ed by frequently wiping it away. This Humour is what I mean by Rheum. Being myfs^lf very fubjed: to this Diforder, which is commonly preceded by a Senfa- tion of Fulnefs and Rigidity in the Mufcles of the Head and Face, and attended with much Heat, Rednefs and Sorenefs of the Noftrils andParts immediately 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 limpid Hu-: mour could produce fo much Irritation and Uneafmefs j and as a very little Confideration made me fuppofe it muft be owing to its be- ing loaded with pungent Salts of fome fort . : or R H E U M, 185 !t)r other, I took the firft Opportunity of ex- Jtmining it by the Microfcope, and had the Pleafure then, and many times lince, to find my Conjedure confirmed by undeniable De- monftration. For this Rheum is fo faturated with Salts, that a Drop on Slip of a Glafs will fooii ihoot 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 fliews it- felftobe quadrangular, with two tranfparent Diagonals crofiing one another, fee ^ and d d^ Plate IX. Thefe Diagonals flioot foon af- ter far beyond the Square, protruding other Lines, at right Angles, from their Sides ; (vid. c c.) which other Lines produce ftill imaller ones from their Sides alfo, in the Or- der of the firft ; and thus they go on to form Configurations, whofe Elegance of Beauty nothing but feeing them can give an ade- quate Idea of: tho' till the Reader can him- felf make the Experiment, a Reprefentation of their general Figure is ihewn b b^ and in other Places of the Drop: where great Num- bers appear, in their feveral Gradations, and aftertheir ufualManner, filling upalmoft the whole Space. The fine Branchings in a little while break fiway, but the central Squares rcmciin like dd. i86 R H E UM. J //.-r Some Figures at their firft Beginning rife in the Shape of CroiTes, which Ap- pearance is owing to the Shootings from the Corners of the httle Squares, before they are large enough to be vifible even by thg 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 raT ther accidental than natural. When a Drop of Rheum is fet to cryfta-* lize without any Heat, inftead of branched Configurations over the whole Area, as in the above Defcription, fuch aje formed only in the Middle j but about the Edges Plantr like Figures are produced, fhooting feveral Stems from one Point, and refembling a Kind of Sea-Mofs, vi^, E. Branchings fomewhat of this Kiryd are fhewn in Salt of Hartfhorn. Thefe Experiments {hew, that upon takr ing Cold the Humovirs become overcharge^ with Salts : how they get there, and by what Means they may be difcharged, is a Matter well worth Enquiry j but fuch Difquifitions, muil be left to the Gentlemen whofe im- mediate Profefilon it is to ftudy the various Diforders of the human Body and their Cure. I may however prefume to fay, that as all Solutions of Salt become gradually weaker, fnd may be rendered quite infipid by the AfFufiO!;i^ RHEUM. 187 Affufion of a watry Fluid j therefore, inCafes of thisNature,the frequent drinking of warm Gruels, Teas, and fuch fmall watry Liquors, muft in likeManner gradually dilute, feparate, ^nd difperfe the acrid Sal ts, and be probably the moll ready Means of carrying them off either by Urine or Perfpiration. ^lere. May we fuppole thefe Salts tQ have been abforbed from the external Air at ^he Time of catching Cold *, or to have ex- jfled previoully in the Body, tho' Iheathed and harmlefs till let loofe, put in Motion and rendered acrid by the retaincdMatter of Per- fpiration : as feems to be the cafe in moft of the animal Juices when tending to Putri- fa(ftion ? * Mr. Frekc fays, in his Ejfay on the Art of Heali}:g\ where he fpeaks of taking Cold ; " tho' every one knows that *' Colds proceed from receiving the Air into our Bodies im- ** properly, yet few confider the State of the Air, as abound- ** ing at one Time with all the means of rcHoring Health to *' us and all the refl: of the Creation, and at another as con- ** taining in it the Caufes of Plagues, Peftilence and Famine, ** by its occafioning Deafh to Cattle, and Blights to all the { Fruits of the Earth. " Pag. 1^7, 148. CHAP. ^"- ( i88 ) C H A P. LI. Of Camphire. CAMPHIRE is a fort of refinous white Subftance, either exfuding from certain Trees in the Iflands of Borneo^ 'Ja- 17^, Japan, and other Parts of the Eajl^ 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 Spir lit of Wine, from which faturated there- with 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 poflible j for the Shootings form fo quick they will otherwife efcape the Sight, They radiate from a Center, either with fix or four, rarely with five Branches, whofe Length is nearly equal: each Branch is feather'd with fin^ J^ines that diminifh gradually to a Point, whereby the Figures have greatly the Appearance of Flakes of Snow j 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 Camphire. 1 89 If no Heat at all be applied there will be more Time to examine the Configura- tions J nor even then will much Patience be required, for the Camphire and Spirit of Wine are both fo volatile, that if the Drop be fpread thin, they will foon begin to form, and quickly after they vanilh quit* away. Camphire is of great Service when by any Accident too large a Dofe of Opium has been taken. CHAP. LII. Cy Manna. THIS fweet-tafled Sah is the Concre- tion of a Juice ifTuing from a kind of Afli Tree during the Heat of Summer: that from Calabria is accounted heft. It cafily diflblves in Water made fomewhat hot, and a Drop of the Solution is a very pretty Objedt for the Microfcope. Its firft Shootings are Radiations from Points at the very Edge of the Drop : The radiating Lines appear opake, but extreme- Ily flender, ivW. a a a^ Plate XL Amongft thefe arife many minute tranfparent Co- lumns, whofe Ends grow wider gradually , as they extend in Length, and terminate at laft I 1^6 Pf Uannd, laft with fome degree of Obliquity, h h-. All the Figures round the Edges being form- ed inClufters, and making but half a Circle, bear a near Refembknce to Bundles of fpun Glafsi Some few Figures radiating frorh a Cen- ter every way, and circumfcribed by ani Out-line, are produced within the Drop, in the manner fliewn d di But the moft furprizing and elegant Con- figuration is compofed of many Clufters of Radiations fliooting one from another over great Part of the Drop, and making all to- gether a Figure not unlike a certain very beautiful Sea-Plant. Vid. C. The regular Cryflals may be feen at e. The Manna I examined was, I believe^ genuine > but I am told a great deal is made abroad, and fome in Englmid, by an artful Compofition of Honey, Glaubet-'s Salt, and perhaps fome other Ingredients. A late Writer fuppofes they make it abroad of Ho- ney, Sugar, and the Juice of a Tithymal or Spurge.* It is worth obferving, th^t in the • Chrtpph. a Ccfia fays, tliat he faw a fSlltlout Manna fold ac Orniuz, which was alfo carried into fcveral Provinces <>i Pcrfia, 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 certain Brachman, nfiz. whitt Starch, fon:ie true Manna, Scammony, a Kind of Seed brought from Bengal by the Nanr.e oi Vifa, the Powder of a Root called Davtp, and fome Sugar, mixed together with a little perfumed Water, and e.xpofed to the Sun. — — Me/ue ^he Vegetation of Metals » 191 Ae Mldft of the largeft Flakes of Manna little Twigs are frequently found, not thick- er than Straws, round which the Manna feems to adhere as Tallow does round a Wick that is dipped therein. N. B. I fhould here dire<5l an Examina* tion of Sugary but could never find a way of bringing it to flioot or cryfta- lize before the Microfcope. All other Salts after Evaporation will fhoot their Cryftals in a cool Pkce, but Sugar re* quires a hot Stove to make it cryfla- lize. The Figure of its Salts candycd may be feen in Plate XIV. of the Mi-' crofcope made eafy. CHAP. LIII. Concerning the Vegetation o/* Metals.' AFTER what has been already (hewn and defcribed,theconfiderate Reader will be at no great Lofs to judge of what Writers commonly call the Vegetation of Metals, and the Rcfufcifation of Plant s^ 1x)th which I fhall treat of briefly. When Mffut ilkewifc mentions the adulterating of Mrrjra with Su* gar and the Leaves oi Sena • but adds, that thi; Fraud difco* fCrs itfelf by it; growing foft and liquifying. i()i. 7he Vegetation of Met ah 1 When any Metal is diflblved in a Men-^^ ftruum, Multitudes of its feparated and very minute Particles are fulpended in the Men- ftruum, as are likewife the Particles of its Salt or Vitriol. In this Mixture, when fet to reft, many of the fait or vitrioHc Par- tricles are brought together, after a while> by Precipitation and Attracftion, carrying with them Particles of the Metal j and form Cryftals, in Figures peculiar to the Metal diffolved : viz. Lead produces Cubes, Tin quadrilateral Pyramids, Copper produces ob- li(|ue^angled Paralklipipids, and Iron rhom- boidal Cryftals. This is the Cafe of one Metal diftblved ftngly in a Menftruum with- out any Mixture j and no farther Altera- tion happens by keeping, than that mare Cryftals will form like the iirft, or that the firft become enlarged, by the Precipitation and Attraction of more of the vitriolic Salt : Perhaps too fome of the metallic Particles (if it has been over-charged) will be found at the Bottom of the Fluid, though great Part of them will always remain fufpended. But if difterent Metals or metallic Sub- ftances be diitolved in the fame Menftruum, or in different Menftrua, and afterwards mixed together : or if other Fluids be poured into any Solution of a Metal or Mi- neral, the fufpended metallic and vitriolic Particles, having different degrees of At-* tra(^ion and Gravity, are precipitated and - ■ - ■ - attraifted I Arbor Dianay or, the Silver Tree, ig^ attrafted by one another in a Vajriety of complicated Dired:ions, and unite in Confi- gurations extremely wonderful and pretty. Some Producftions 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 different metalline Bodies and different Menffrua. I iliall give a few Examples of fuch metallic Configurations, Arbor Dian/E, cr, the Silver Tree* Diffolye an Ounce of fine Silver in four Ounces of Aqua Fortis : diffolve likewife 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, ffop it clofe, and after a Day it will begin to grow. Or, diffolve in Aqua For f is of pure Silver one Dram ; put to the Solution, of difiill'^ Vinegar and Water each one Ounce : filter, and add one Ounce and a half of Quiclv- filverj mix, and ihake the whole ic me time, in a round clear Glafs Veffel, flopping tlie Mouth clofe with your Finger. Standing quiet 24 Hours it will fhoot into Branches of various Figures. Monf. Homhcrg tells a way of produc- ing a metallic Tree much fooner, after the Preparations are got ready. — Make four Drams of fine Silver into an AmalgMina O without '194 Arbor Mart is, or^thelrotiT^ree. without Heat, with two Drams of Qaick- filver : dilTolve this Amalgama in four Ounces of Aqua Fortis : pour the SoKition into twelve Paris Pints (about three Gal- lons) of common Water ; ftir it well together and keep it in a Glafs VefTel well flop'd. To about an Ounce of this Water, 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 frnall Threads or Filaments rifing perpendicularly from the little Bulb of Amalgama, and thrufting 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 ftronger the firft Water is made, the fooner formed and fuller of Branches will the Tree be. Alberiiis Magnus is faid to have produc- ed a metallic Tree before the King of France^ while he fat at Dinner ; I fuppofc by fome fuch Method. j *H Arbor Martis, or, the Iron Tree, Diflblve Iron Filings in Spirit of Nitre, pour on Oil of Tartar per deliquiuniy and a fort of Branches will be formed and adhere to Arbor Veneris , cr^ the Copper Tree. 195 to the Surface of the Glafs, reprefenting Leaves and Flowers, Arbor Veneris, or, the Copper Tree, The feeming Vegetation of Silver and Jron juft before defcribed, I give from other Writers ; but this of Copper is I believe intirely a new Difcovery : 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 Aqua Fortis, let a bright Halfpenny, or fome fmall -^ Piece of clean pure Copper remain for about twelve Hours, and then take it out. Diflblve a little ^iick-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, but have very little Body or Conlifbence. Have ready fome Salt Ammoniac finely O 2 powdered, •j- Tho' Aqua Fortis afts on the Filings of Copper fafter than it can on a Lump of that Metal, I have by Experience found that very fmall Particles of Iron rubbed from tne File, and mixed with the Copper filings, do much Prejudice to the Experiment. As Fumes arifing from the Solut-ons of Metals in ^^ua Fortis, Sec. are difagreeable and unwholefome, 'tis advif< able to make them in the open Air, and fo placed that ihe Wind may blow the Fumes from /on. I g6 Arbor Veneris, or, the Copper Tree, powdered, whereof put in a very little at a Time j ftirring it about till it diflblves, makes the Mixture of a blueifli white, and giv.es it a Confiflence like to Starch ; which Condition iliews 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 Brad, 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 prop 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 ^qual Diftances from every fide of the Iron, ah 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 purefh Copper ihooting from the Sides of the Iron, refemblin^ the moft ^legant Branchings feen in Mccha Stones, (which may perhaps be produced by Mix- tures in the Earth fomewhat a-kin to thefe) or like fome of the moil minute and deli- cate Sea-mofi^es. They will grow continu- ally larger for Hours or Days, in propor- tion to the Extenfion of the Liquor round the 'Arbor Veneris, or, the Copper Tree, igy the Iron. For the Copper ParticTcs afloat in the Fluid, being firft of all attra(5led to cer- tain Points in the Iron, and afterwards at- tracting one another in an orderly Succeffi- on, arrange themfelves, by the Infiuence and Co-operation of the Salts wherewith they are now joined, in fuch manner, as to compofe by juxfa-po/ition a Refemblance of the niofl: regular and beautiful Vegetation . And this Attrad:ion and Formation of new Branches feems to go on, until all the Cop^ per Particles in the Fluid are attra the Copper Tree. 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 A(ftion of the Salts, when the Shootings are advanced to their utmofl Perfection, if at that Time the Nail be taken away carefully with a pair of Nippers ; then foaking up the Liquor where the Nail lay with a little Brufh or Rag, dip the Glafs gently into Water, and hold it there a few Seconds. Hereby the Shootings are flopped, the Branches are left upon the Glafs in very good Order, and if another Glafs be put over them, guarded with Slips of Cork as directed pag. 36, they maybe kept many Years. Sometimes indeed they will turn green (that is, grow rufty) but as their Forms continue, it takes but little from their Beauty. ^ Tho* all thefe Ramifications are large enoughto be feendiftintllyby the nakedEye, being frequently above an Inch in length, 'tis very defireable to examine them by Glaf- fes through the different Stages of their Pro- grefsifor theMicrofcope difcovers on fome of them the Appearance of Flowers and Fruits, and fhews many curious Particulars not elfc to be conceived. The 4th or 5th Glafs are beft for thefe Subjedis, which require no great Magnifier. Copper Arbor Veneris, or, the Copper Tree, 207 Copper cannot perhaps be brought to ve- getate fo ftronglyany wayas by being diflblv- ed in acid Spirits ; but having in the Courfe of my Experiments difcovered other Means of bringing it to produce very elegant Branch^ ings, tho' fo fmall as to require being viewed with Glafles, I fliall not conceal them from the Reader. DifTolve as much of the hlueft and clean- eft Vitriol in warm Water as it can poffibly iuftain. Put a very little Sal Ammoniac in fine Powder upon the Glafs Plate, to which add two or three Drops of the Vitriol Solu- tion. When the Sal Ammoniac \% diflblved, 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 attradt the Copper in the Vitriol, and foon be2;in to ihoot out Branches, the form of which, as the Microfcope will (hew, very much refembles Heath. Sublimate inftead oi Sal Ammo?iiac caufes a different Kind of Shootings. — If the Copper Solu- tion be overcharged with Sal Ammoniac or Sublimate it will not Ihoot at all, but turns yellowifli round the Nail. A few Trials will fettle the Proportion, which is accord- ing to the Quantity of Copper in the Vitriol. An exceeding fmall Drop of Spirit of Wine will raife a Fermentation with the Vitriol, but 2 O 8 • Of the Kefiij citation of Plants, but that being' over before the Nail is ap- plied, it makes the Shootings ftronger. The firfl: Principle of Acftion in all thefe Experiments is the AttraBion of Copper by Iron y but that only ferves to cover the Iron with Copper Particles, in the Manner before defcribed, pag, 80 and 8 1 . The Branchings. of every Sort are owing to th.&Age?icy of Salts -, which Consideration may perhaps lead to Means of producing Vegetations from other Metals. 'Tis hoped the dwelling fo long on thefe 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 Produdions in Nature. CHAP. LIV. Of the Resuscitation i?/' Plants. THE Chemiils tell wonderful Things of the Ref if citation or RefurreSlion of Plants from their Afhes j and I make no Doubt extraordinary Configurations have t)een produced in very ftrong Solutions of vegetable Salts, by the Means of Preci- pitation and Attraftion : but I cannot help believing that Imagination has been greatly indulged, when they talk of Branches,Leaves andFlowers,^:5(r^<^/y refemhling thofe to which the Salts belong. The Of the RefafcltatiOfi of FJdnfs. 209 The famous Phyfician ^uercefa?iu5 tells a ftrange Story of a Folonian Docfbor, wha (liewed him a dozen GlalTes 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, ^c. When thefe Glalfes 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 Allies the Idea of the Flower and Stalks belonging to thofe Aflies ; and it would fhoot up and fpread abroad to the due Height and Dimenfions of fuch a Flower, and had the perfect 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 of Aflies ; 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 Rosal So* ciety, {Philof. T^ranf N°. 108) " that having " procured a large Quantity o^ Fern AjheSy " from Feni burnt when between green and *' dry, he extracfled their Salt in the common *' Manner with Water, and obtained feveral J^ Pounds of Salt, after evaporating the Wa- P '' ter ; 210 Of the Refufcitation of Plants, " ter J the greateft Part of which, being firfl *' dryed, he expofed to the Air, that it *' might become an Oil per deliquium. ** The Remainder of the Lixivhim which *' continued fluid, being filtered whilfl ** warm, was of a very red Colour, deeper *' than florid Blood and mofl: Clarets, and " exceeding ponderous. The Colour {hew- *' ed it abounded with fulphureous or oily ** Parts, and the Weight that it was highly " faturated with the faline. This fl:rong *' Solution being put in a capacious Glafs, " in five or fix Weeks depofited a large " Quantity of Salt, at leafl: two Inches thick, " over the Bottom of the Vefi^el. The " lowefl: Part of the Salt was of a dark Co- " lour, as if fome Dirt or Dregs were mixt " therewith, but the Surface next the Liquor " was exceeding white ; and there iprung " out of the v/hole Mafs of Salt, at fmall " Diftances from each other, about forty " Branches, which (excepting the Colour) " did moll exacftly refemble that Kind of *' Fern which is fingle like Polipody and not *' branched, fending out feveral Leaves on *' each fide from one Stem. They differed *' in Size, but were all alike in Figure, with- <* out the leafl; Variation : only fome emit- " ted more Leaves from the Stem than " others ; which is alfo ufual in the natu- " ral Fmi, " 4 ' Dr, Of the Refufcitdtlon of Plants. ' 2rt Dr,C5.v likewife adds," that mixing equal " Parts of Sal Ammoniac and Pot-Aflies, the *' latter of which had a very ilrong ful- '• phureous Smell, yet feenied to abound *' with Salt coniiderabiy alkalized j theMix- " 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 Perfpedtivc of FirSy ** Phics, &c. fo admirably delineated, as not *' to be excelled, if imitated, by the Pencil y of the grcateft Moflcr. " Having left a fmall Quantity of Compound Syrup of Balfam in a Phial, that was fct by and forgot, with only a piece of Paper thruft into the Mouth of it inftead of a Cork ; when it came to hand two or three Months after, I found all the watery Part evaporated and the Sugar cryflalized at Bottom : and, what forprized me very agreeably, the faline Par- ticles of the Gums and Balfams, of which it was compofed, had Ihot themfelves almofl intireiy round the Infide of the Glafs Phial, in the moft regular and pretty Configurations imaginable ; and remained fo for a long time afterwards. The A(f>ivity 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 has Leifure would P 2 intentionally 2 1 2 MifcellancOtis Obfeycations on Salfs, Sec. intentionally fet about it. Kircher fays, *' if " you put into a wooden Tube, Tartar, " Quick-lime, Salt, and the Urine of aWine- " Drinker, reduced into one Mafs, which " is to be hardened in the Sun and after- ** wards fet in a cold Cellar ; 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 Ihut, you pour the " Juices of fome nitrous Herbs on the above *' Mafs, the Nitre contained within it being *' pregnant with Spirit will force itfelf *' through the very Pores of the Glafs. '* CHAP. LV. ~" Mifcellancotis Obfewations on SaJfs^ &c. H AVI NO gone through the Courfe of my Experiments on falineSubftances, I propiafe from thence to form a few Re- lied:ions. As it has been plainly {hewn that the Particles of Salts, difohed and floating in a Menflruum, will by Precipitation, or an Evaporation of the Fluid, be brought toge- ther, and unite in Figures peculiar to their rcfpediive Kinds, by fome certain Law of Nature, (call we it AttraBion^ or what we pleafe :) it feems reafonable to believe, that thofc cryftaline, mineral, or metallic foflii Bodies which have a conflant and regular . ., Con- M{fce/la?2eo?is Obfcrvatious o?i Salts, &c. 2\^ Configuration, derive their Figures from the Intermixture and Operation of Salts of fome Sort or other. For that Salts abound every where in the Earth, either at Reft and locked up in Minerals and other Bodies j or in a State of A(ftion, being diilolved and carried along in Water or fome other Fluid, is a matter beyond difpute. The finer Par^ tides of fuch Salts being diflblved in and riling with the Particles of Water, * float likewife in our Atinofphere in great Abun-t- 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 difperfed anddif- fipated : whence coniiderable Changes and Alterations are produced, fuch as Freezing, Hail, Snow, Lightning, Thunder, &c. But I iliall confine my Obfervations to the Effe61:s that are probably owing to faline Particles within the Bowels of the Earth, or very near the Surface thereof. Since we are acquainted with no DiflhU vents of Metals where Salts are not prin- cipally concerned, it is reafonable to fup- pofe, that in the Bowels of the Earth, Salts may likewife, when diifolved thcmfelves, have a Power of dilTolving metallic Sub^ Aances ; and afterwards, on the withdraw-r P 3 '^^-^^ * Vitriol, Alum, and Nitre, arefo volatile, when ^i-T^N'^'U 3s to force through the clofcft Cork, or between the ljultlcan4 the Cofk, the' ever fo clofel^ ftopped. 214 Mifcelhincotis Ohfer'vatiGns on Salts, Sec. ing of theFluid, of uniting with the metaUic Particles, and bringing them together in cer- tain Figures peculiar to fuch an Admixture, and more or lefs perfecft according to the re- fpective Proportions of metallic, faline, and other Particles. Thofe curious Ramif^cations in the arborcfccnt filverOre brought fromP^- nama, which run through the Bed of Stone wherein it lies, may perhaps be owing to the Particles of thatMetal having been diffoived by a vitriolic Menllruum, and carried along with it into the little FifTures of the Stone ; where, as the V/ater evaporated, the Silver Particles v/ere fhot out and difpofed by the vitriolic Salt, into Rajnifications fo nearly refembling the Configurations of Vitriol. The Branchings o^ Copper and Iro?i (by fome imputed to a vegetative Principle) are pro- bably produced in a like Manner : and the Reafon why Gold is feldom or never found thus branched, but always in little Lumps or GranuljE, may perhaps be, that the Salts which dilTolve 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 Alum, (of which, and alfo of Sulphur, the faline Acid, Chemiifts tells us, is in all the fame) Nitre and Borax, are I think the only foffil or mineral Salts fpoken ef by Writers ; for Salt Ammoniac can hard- ly be accQunted fuch. But it is impoflible to Mifcelld?icous Ohfervatlons on Salts ^ Sec. 21 ^ to fay what others belides thefe the Bowels of the Earth may contain, or how infinitely they may be compounded and diverfified. I fliall make no Difficulty to fuppofe the component Particles of Spars, Cryflals, and precious Stones have h^cn J ep ar at cd2indiJioat' ing in fome Fluid, and brought together in the Shapes we fee them by certain Laws of Attraction, which in like Circumftances are conftant and unalterable. And as uniting in regular Order, and forming Mafles of Figures unifoDn and co?:ftant^ are the diftin- guifliing Properties of Salts, (as the forego- ing Experiments fliew) the component Far- tides of Bodies thus formed muft originally have been Salts^ notwithstanding the Bodies fo compofed are indilTolveable : nor is the prefent fixt Condition of fuch Particles, or the Hardnefs of fuch Bodies, any conclufive Ohjeiltion ; for the making of Glafs iliews, that Salts may be rendered fixt, hard, and indiflblveable. I therefore apprehend that all chryjlaline Matter^ or the Particles of Matter v/hereof Spar, Cryftals, and precious Stones are formed, is originally a Salt^ ac- cording to my Meaning of the Word ; and Linncuus is I prefume of fome fuch-likc Opi- nion, fince in his SylJetna Natures he places all precious Stones, even the Diamond itfelf, in his Clalles of Salts. Do6tor Woodii-ard likewife, though he fpealis not of this cryflaline Matter as a Salt, P 4 imputes ^ 1 6 Mifcdlanecus Obfcrvafions on Salts, 6cc,' imputes to it the Properties that Salts have, when he fays, the pooting of any 'Metal pro- ceeds generally^ merely fro7n Cryfial, combin- ing ixith it in the ConccBion and Foi'mation of the Mafs. And again, Metalline Matter, ivhen pure andfjnple^ never Jhoots into an an- gulated Figure, nor is indeed capable cj doing that. The Bodies incorporated u-ith Metals, and difpofing them , to Jl:odt into angiilated Figures y are either Sulphur (by which he muft mean the Sal Acidum of Sulphur) or Cry- /lal. '' F'on concreting with Cryft2.1 deter- mines it to a rhomboidal Figure, Tin to a quadrilateral Pyramid, Lead to a cubic Form. If Cryftal be pure it ihoots into 2ifx-fided pyramidal Figure, or into a Pyramid erected upon a Column, each with fx Sides and An- gles. " He morecrver fuppofes, " the Bafis of ail tranfparent Gems to be a cryjlaline Mat- ter different in Hardncf?, and coloured by metallic Mixtures : Lead imparts a yellow, Ti7i \ a black, Copper a blue or green. Iron a purple, ah amcthiiline, and various Sorts of red. The Figures of all angular opake FofTils are owing to the like cryfta- line Matter, hut in them the metallic Mat- ter fo much exceeds the cryilalinc, as to render the Body opake " \. That f Ardfometimes a yellow, as fevcral Urge Grains of Tiu' jn my pofftiTion prove. % Ste \VQockuar(r% Foflils. Vql.I. pag. 1 88, an(^ 220. Mifcelhineous Obfcrvations tn Salts ^ &c. 2 17 That the Shoots of Cryftals are formed in a FKiid ilrongly charged with cryftaline Matter, will readily I believe be granted, and likewife that their Formation is' nearly in the fame Manner as the Formation of the Cryftals of diffolved Salts. But perhaps it may be inquired in what Time this Opera- tion is brought about ; and th-ough that much depends on the Strength of the Solu- tion, and the Evaporation of the watery Part of the Fluid, there muft certainly beaCr//£f when the Crvftals be2:in to form ; after which, little Time perhaps is required to bring them to Perfedion : for, when the Jioating Particles come within the Sphere of each other's A ttracftion, they riij}? together and unite^ according to their refpe(flive Figures, and that in a HiortTime •, as is plain v[\.freeZ' ing^ and in artificial Cryftalization, which is brought about in the fame Way. Great Difputes have arifen among Natu- ralifis concerning the Formation of Corals dXi^ Corallines^ * under which Names-Bodies of very different Contextures, Subilances and Figures, are I think too indifcriminately included ; their Appearance indicating not only a Difference in Species, but even inGe- nus. Sorr^e infiit on their being in general the * As Ithiqkit needlefs to enter ir.to Particulars, by Corals and Corallines 1 intend, ill general, wharfoever tiie Naturahl's include under trie Names Qi Cor allium, MilUpi^rd, Mi dnpira, Cera/l.na, See, 21 8 Conjcciures concerning ^htWork of little y^nimais fWhiia others main- tain that they are all Sea-P/a?its. There may be found perhaps of i^oth thefe Kinds : but is there not a Third, (I mean the /lo?iy Corals) whofe Produdion may be more a- kin to that of Minerals, and chiefly owing to the Operation of faline Particles incorporated with Jlch-y Matter F The Rocks in the Sea on which thefe Corals are produced, are undoubtedly replete with mifzeral Salts, fome whereof near their Surface, being difTolved by the Sea Water, mufl confequentlyy^///r^/f with their filine Particles the Water round them to a fmall Piftance, where blending with the '\ fiony Matter with which Sea Water always abounds, little Majjes will be conftituted here and there and affixed to the Rocks. Such adhering MafTes may be termed i^oo/i : which Roots attraBing the faline and flony Parti- cles, according to certain Laws in Nature, may f I call thbfe Corals flony which have a Hardnefs like unto Stone ; and would be underftood to mean by fiony Mat- ter, that Matter which conftitutes 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. IVoodivard {zy^, " the true marine Coral is indeed a *' ftony Subftance, and of mineral Nature and Origin : the ** conlHtuent 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 other Things, where the Water is more ilill and calm. " As it is of the fame Conftitution, fo it owes its Solidity and *' the Cohefion of its Parts to the fame Caufe that Stones and «' and other Minerals do. [[ Hiji. FoJJils Clajs V. VqI. h peg. 129. the FrodiiBlon cf Corah ^ 219 may produce branched or other Figures^ and increafe gradually by an Appofition of Par- ticles ; becoming thicker near the Bottom where the faline Matter is more aboundinjr, but tapering or di?ninijhi?:g toward the Ex- tremities, where the mineral Salts muft be fewer, in proportion to their Diflance from the Rock whence they originally proceed. And the different Proportions of tnincral Jalijie ParticleSy of the Jio?iy or ether Matter wherewith they are blended, and of jnai-ine Salty which mufl have a conlklerablc Share in fuch Formations, may occafion all the Variety we fee. Nor docs it fceni m.ore dif- ficult to imagine that xhc radiated^ Jiar?')\ or cellular Figi/res along the Sides of thcfc Co- rals, or at the Extremities of their Branches, may derive their Produ(flion from Salts in-" corporatedioith flo?iy Matter y than that the curious Deli?ieations and Appearances of mi- nute Shrubs and Mofies on Slates, Stones, * Of. are owing to the Shootings cf Salts in- termixt with tnincral Particles : and yet thefe are generally allowed to be the Work of mijieral Steams or Exhalations ; by which muft, I think, be meant the lineft Particles of * Let me not be mifunderftood to mean the hnprrj/icn of Plants found frequently on Slates, Iron-Stonc5,ti:V. tor fucK JmpreJJiohs are undoubtedly owing to the very Plants them- felves, whofe figures they bear, having been Jodgrd in the Matter whereof fuch Slates or Stones Hre made, whilft it was in a fluid or fo ft State ; which they fcive to prove it for- merly has undoubtedly been. 220 Co7ijeBurcs concerning of iome Metal or Mineral incorporated with and brought into Aftion by a volatile pene- trating AcidjWhich carrying them along with it into the FilTures at leail, if not into the fohdSubllance of fuch Stones or Slates, there determines them to flioot into \\\&(& elegant Branchings ; after the fame Manner, and frequently in the fame Figures, as the Par- ticles of Mercii?-\\ Copper, &cc. are difpofed and brought together by the Salts in ^gua Fortisy of which an Account is before given pag. 196. ^ Such as believe thcfe Corals to be the TFork of Injeclsj ground their Opinion, (againfl: many feeming Appearances to the contrary,) on the fole Suppofition that each of their ftarry Cells or Hollows is inhabited by an Infect, who therefore was the Maker of it. J very readily believe InfeBs are freqiiently fouiid therein 3 for the Works of God are all fubfer\ lent to one another, fo as to compofe a perfed Whole ; and as on the Earth moil Kinds of Plants afford an Habitation for /«- fe^Sy it would be verv ftrange if amongfl: the innumerable Animals in the great Sea, fome Species or other were not intended to dwell in thefe little Cells. But without objecting to the Dijpropci'tion between the W^ork and the Workmen, and that Animals fo exqui-r fitely tender and delicate fhould yet be able to bring together and failiion fuch large and heavy MafTes of Stone-like ^Jatter, fince Na- ture the ProduBion of Corah. 221 ture Is every where wonderful ; I fhall only remark, that were all thefe Cells filled with Animals, and efpecially the very large Cells in fome Corals, to which the Animals muft be fuppofed proportionably large, it could fcarce have happened but that every Fifher for Coral, or v/hoever had feen a Branch of it in the Sea, muft likewife have feen thefe Animals. Belides, at different Times, there ha\'e been fome diUgciit Obfervers of Coral, whofc Notice thefe Animals have efcaped ; which renders it probable, that tho' fojne Cells maybe inhabited, the Generality of them are not. And as to forming Conclufions from the miiiute Corallines , whofe Subftance and Figure bear not the leaft Refemblance to thefe, and infifting that becaufe the little VeiTels or Cafes found on them are the Nefti and the Works of Infeifts, therefore Infed:s muft have been the Fabricators of all the Corals i I fay, to conclude thus, is fomewhat over-hafty and unphilofophical -j-. Though \ The Anim.-Is fuppofed to ]\ixc fo> meJ Corals, or to have maac their A'tjis upon them, are, for want of knowing their proper anJ diiling i.hing Characters, called at prefent by the general Name of roiypes ; though perhaps their Species, Size, and Figure may be as different as the Corals themfclves are : but thefe Anim;ds are defcribcd by all who fpeak of thera, as Laving Eodijs fo e-vtreme!y tender that a very flight Touch will lacerate or diforder them. They are alfo reprefentcd as fxt to one Spot, with little other Morion than that of e tetid- iHi their y\.ms or Ijodics out of their Cells, or c'crtrccrlng themi'clvos z-wi retiring tlicrcin attheApprehenfion of Danger. Creatures thus circumilauced feem ver^ litcle capable of col- Icding 222 ConjeSlures CG7iC£rning^ l^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 who fay, that on placing them conveniently in Sea Water, they have by Glafles difcovcred minute Polypes in every one of the little Veilels : but thefe Vefiels or Cafes a.re of a membranaceousTexture,tranf- parent, and in moil Particulars intirely differ- ent from i\\Q.jtony Corals; and even allowing them to be the Work and Nefls of Infcds^ I* am not yet, I mufl confefs, intirely con- vinced that the whole Coralline is fo too ; for in many of them a tough Stem, feemingly of like Confluence with that of other Sea- Produdtions acknowledged to be Plants, rifes from a Root or what appears to be fo, and branches out in fuch a Manner, th^it I be- lieve the moil accurate Examinei , void of any Hypothejisy would declare it to be vegeta- ble.—In ihort, there are wonderful Mix- tures in the Sea j Stones, Shells, and Plants, are letting and carrying a fiony Matter, and ralfing TJiJices there- with ; and efpecially in fuch large Quantity, that comparing the ^7nallnefi of the Cells wherein thcfe Creatures are fup- pofed to dwell, with the Bulk, Solidity, and H'ehht of the Koots and Branches of many of the Stony Corals, the greateft Part of it appears quite unneceflary. This is direftly contrary to the Oeconomy of Nature, (frugal tho' fvjicinn) in the Shelly Cafes of the feveral Species of V,rvnculi, >in the TubuU marin'i, the Pipe Corals, and the Habitations made by Other fmall Infetts ; all which, like the Hoiuy-comh, arc framed of as little Matter as pcllible, thin, light and roomy, and appear to be what they are. I fhall only add, againft the Suppofmg all Corals to be made by Infefts, that fome Sorts h^^vc no Cells gither on thvir Stents or Branches. Mifcellancom Obfercation cjis Saks, &c. 223 are frequently incrufted with the ftony Mat- ter that gives the Subftance to Coral -y and I make no Doubt that Millions of minute Animals find or build them Habitations both on the Corals and the Sea-PlantSv But to leave a Digreflion, which is not perhaps quite foreign to my Subjedt, and wherein I would not be thought to affirm any thing, but only to point out how the (iony Corals, which are certainly formed by an Appofitioii of Particles fome how or other brought together, (having noF/^rt'jorVeflels 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 Itridl- erEnquiry they fliould notappear tobe made by Infects. %. The Salts of IVIinerals and Vegetables float- ing in the Air produce a thoufand prett)- Ap- pearances, when brou2;ht together and con- creted by Froft. I nave feen, in Winter Time, X The Reader is intrenfed rot to hurry over this Subjeft too haftily, but to examine with due Attention the leveral Sorts of Cryfials, Spars, &c. and hc will find ainongit them mafiy whofe Shootings arc as regular and uniform as thofe of Coral, and their Variety perhaps as great ; yet all thele are allowed by l^aturahfts to derive their Subllance and Form from cryflalme Matter, combined with diiTerent Sorts or Propor- tions of metaliicfiofiy, earthy, or other Subftances. Let him particularly examine and confidcr the l.udus Helnsxtii, the Jiarry ivaxen Vein, the Eric more Wheels and Pullies to be kept goings a greater Variety of Machinery, an Appara- tus more complex and curious, a Plan feem- ingly of deeper Contrivance ; in fliort, more Elegance 2x\^WorkmanJl:ip (if the Term may be excufed) in the Compofition, more Beauty and Ornament in^ the Finifhing, than are feen in the enormous Bulk of the Elephant, the CroGodilcj and the Whale ; compared with which, one would think them no lefs the Effed: of a more exquifite and fupe- rior Art, than the Movements of a Watch appear to be, on Comparifon with the Wheels of a Coach or Waggon. Qv3 Thefe 230 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 of the Creator well de- ferve our moft diligent Attention ; that Per- fecflion appears every where jthatMinutenefs is no Mark of Meannefs ; and that nothing is fo little or fo low but 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 s 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 correct our Pride, and prove how inadequate our Notions are to the real Nature of Things : by making us fenfible how little of the larger or fraaller Parts of the Creation could pofli- 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 be- yond 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 rcafonable Satisfadlion to a contempla- tive Mind, as they ftrongly evince the Agen- cy and Omnipotence of the Deity. Proofs of fome all-powerful, wife and good ^eing .;--^- are INTRODUCTION. 231 appears in fome com-, pofed of fuch parallel Rings as the Windpipe of Land Animals confifts of, but feems in others fcaled, or rather made up of Rings that obliquely crofs each other. This Dif- ference may be feen in the two Figures F, G. Its two Ends are bent, or hooked, pretty nearly in the fame Degree, but in aDireftion contrary each to other ; and, as no Eyes can be difcerned, 'tis difficult to judge which h the Head or Tail. Its progreffive Motion differs from that of all Animals befides hitherto defcribed, for notwithstanding the Body is compofed of many Rings and Joints, it feems unable to bend at .all, or move directly forwards : but when it is inclinable to change its Quarters, k can move from Right to Left, or Left to Right, and proceed at tlie fame time back- wards or forwards obliquely. And this it performs, by turning one End about, the Quarter of a Circle, as the Arc a b fhews ; then it dees the fame with the other End, and fo alternately : whereby its Progreffion is in a diagonal Line, or from Corner to Corner ; as whoever will take the Trouble v^ofivv tQ Of the Hair-like IttfiHt^ 235 to iliift the Points of a Pair of Compares in that Manner may immediately be fatisfied. All its Motions are extremely flow, and require much Patience and Attention in the Obferver. It has neither Feet, nor Fins, nor Hairs, but appears perfectly fmooth and tran- fparent, with the Head bending one Way and the Tail another, fo as to be like a long Italiany.* 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 (ingly,or feparatedfrom one another, they are exceedingly tranfpa- rent, and of a lovely green; but like all other tranfparent Bodies, when Nupibers of them are brought together they become opake, and lofe their green Colour, in proportion as the Quantity increafes, till at laft they ap- pear intirely black. They were firfl: difcovered In a Ditch at Norivic/j, one End whereof communicates with the River there, and the other End with a fccond Ditch, into which feveral Kennels empty themlelves from different Parts of the City. The length of this Ditch js at lead an hundred Yards, and its Breadth nine : the Bottom, for more than a Foot in Pepth, is covered with a blackifli green Sub- ftance, in Appearance like a Mud, made up wholly ^& Of de Hair-like InfeEl-. wholly of thefeand other Infedts, intermix^ ed with different Sediments from the Waters He afTure-s me, he has conflantly found much the greater Part of this black Matter to bd really Infeifts : but were they only one half or a quartei* Part thereof, what Numbers beyond all Conception mufl this Ditch con-* tain ? It Was Accident (whereto more Difcove-» r'les have perhaps been owing than toDefign) that fortunately prefented thefe Animalcules to Obfervation. — My Friend having got fome Water from this Ditch, With Intent to examine by the Microfcope other Infedis he' had taken Notice of therein, found before his Eyes a great Abundance of flender Hair- like Fibres, which he imagined to be the Stems or Roots of fome extremely fmall Water Plants, from their appearing to hint without any Life or Motion, tho* he won-* dered much at their uniformity of Figure* Being however not fatisfied with a iingle View, but continuing them under the Mag- nifier, and looking at them now and then^ he perceived that many of thofe feeming Hairs which he had feen before feparated from one another as at d^ in N°. II. were flowly drawing themfelves together in Com-» panics asat^ in the fame Number. This gave him the firil Notion of their being liv- ing Creatures, and fet him upon watching them fo narrowly, that he was quickly con- vinced^ Of the Hair-Uke I?ift5t,\ 237 vinced, not only of their having Life, but likewife of their being able to change their Situation, either from Right to Left, or Lefc to Right, backwards, or forwards, at Plea- fure, in the Manner juft now deifcribed. Being thus far fatisfied, he applied him-f ftlf very diligently to excmine the Structure, Motions, and other Properties of thefe mi- nute Creatures j 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 tranfverfeLines as atF,N"I. many however were fcen amongll them, in which great Numbers of minutQ Rings fecmed to crofs one another oblique- ly, and reprefented Scales, {yid. N^ I. G,) but whether thefe are different Species or not muff ff ill remain a Doubt. . After putting a large Spoonful of the be-j forementioned black or rather dark green thick Matter into a Glafs Jar, he filled it up with Water, very gently, as high as h, N* III. then leaving the faid Matter to fettle an4 lie quietly at the Bottom of the Veffel, its whole Appearance prefently afterwards is fliewn in the fame Glafs at /. The next Day, when he came to examine "what had happened amongff thefeMyriads of little Animals, he found that a Multitude of them had, as it were by Agreement, placed themfelves on the Side of the Jar, and ap- 4 " peared "^i^ Of ^^^ Hair-like InfeSi. peared marching upwards in Rows, after the Manner reprefented N° IV. /. and that fome of them had travelled to the Diftance of three or four Inches, which confidering the Slownefs of their Motion, and their Method of moving forwards, muft 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 ^ N* IV : when after being expofed to the Air for a little while, their fine green colour became chang- ed into a moil beautiful Sky-blue. This fine dark green Matter or Congeries of Animalcules, is fo nearly equal to the fpecific 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, jufl as Accident has difpofed it. But if Pari of thofe that are fwimming at the Top of the Water have an Inclination to go down- wards, they form themfelves into a Sort of Line or Rope, which defcends extremely (low, 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 N" V. c f r . Thofe however who happen to be near the fide of the Jar move themfelves down thereon, and that commonly in a winding fcrew-like Manner, as K K N° V. is intended to reprefent.—Their • Motion Of the Bair-ltke lyifeSf}''' 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, whilil 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 Ihort, began their March at the fame Time, againft the fide of the Jar j and as one proceeded upwards, and the other downwards, after fome Hours, they were near meeting about the Mid- Way j as the Rout each of them appeared to take, foon after they began to move, made it very eafy to forefee they would. The Defire of know- ing in what Manner they would behave on thisOccafion, engaged theObferver 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^ wards, 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, an-d the other pro- ceeding with great Regularity and Order in one 24© ^f i^^ Hair-like InfeSf^ 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 diflitute of Sagacity, to afTociate toge- ther, and act unanimoufly for the Benefit of the Community j both thefe Armies march- ing as regularkrly as if under the Diredtiou of wife Leaders. When thefe Animalcules are taken from the Ditch, 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 m^Ly be pre-r ferved 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. Theif Kind of Motion, as before defcribed, makes it evident, that if they xnove along the Sidq of a cylindrical Glafs Jar, either upwards or downwards, it mull be in a Spiral Line ) and fuch it is always found to be. It is not yet difcovcred v\^hether their Food be Infedts excelTively 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 th% Of the Oat-AiihndJ. ^41 the like Kind, will, upon Examination, be found to produce them alio, and even in great Abundance; CHAP. II. Of the Oat- Animal. IN the fame Ditch-water from Norivich came likewife great Numbers of the little Creatures, v/hofe feveral Appearances, when examined by the Microfeope, are Ihewn Plate X. N" vii. My curious Friend pointed it out to my Obfervation by the Name of the Oat- Ani- mal ; and as, at iirft 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 ^e made of' it, unlefs it be looked at throuoh the G^rfeateft Mae- nifier, nor even then without conliderable Attention. I commonly found two or three of them in a Drop of the Sediment, amongft Multitudes of the Hair-like JrfeSi, 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 Liffe : being inclofed in a Bivalve-Hiell, which the Animal can open or ihttt as it is inclined 3 but which it R con- 242 Of the Oat-Animal. conftantly lliuts upon being difturbed, nor opens again until after having been quiet for fome Time. Its Appearance when fhut is pi(fl:ured at^^. i. The Shell is fo exquilitely thin, and con- fequently fo very tranfparent, as to be tra- ced out, when fhut, only by a faint Line on the Back, where the Cardo or Hinge makes fome additionalThicknefs j but when open, the Edges of both its Sides may be diftinguifhed plainly. The two Ends of the Shell can open, whilft the middle Part remains clofed, and in that Condition it is like the Pholas 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 thrufls out, at each, a cylindrical fiefhy Part, (as 2X fg. 2.) which may be fuppofed the Plead 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 Proviiion 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 Action of fome f.rong Mufcles in the two protruded Parts, Of the Oat^ Animal. ^43 Parts,whofe Spring throws it to the Diftance at leaft of its own Shell's Length every Time they are exerted. Thefe Leaps however have long Intervals hetween, and are never made till the Animal is perfevftly undif- turbed. Both the Shell and Body are ufually fo tranlparent, 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 Shape as at fig. 3. Several of them have a couple of very dark round Spots, one whereof is feem- ingly placed within each Side the Shell, as in fig. 4. Thefe I imagined to be compacft Ligaments, ferving to open and fliut the Shell, and correfpondent to thofe that Oyfters, Mufcles, Scallops, ^c. are furniflied with for the like Furpofe. But when I obferved others of them, having three, four, or five of the fame round Spots, I began to think myfelf miftaken ; and fhould rather fuppofe them concreted Bo- dies, fimilar to the Pearls bred in feveral kinds of Shell-fil'h, 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, A^ery different from what precede, is ex-» R 2 hibited 244 Q^ ^^^ Oat-Atii?naL hibitedj?^. 5. — In this Condition, which is not uncommon, it muchrefembles a Grain of Oats. I muft not omit to mention another Variety amongft thefe Creatures, which the fig. 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 ihew 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 fufped: they may be about calfing their Shells, or perhaps dilrempered, or even dead j for I have never feen any of them open their Shells, or make the leaft Motion, though I have fometimes kept my Eye over them for above a Quarter of an Hour. C H A P. III. Eels in Fafte viviparous. TH E Angiiillce, or little Eel-like Ani- 77ialciiks^ which are frequently fo nu- merous mfour Fajie that the whole Surface 4. of Eels in Pajle vivipa?'ous. 2 4 if of it appears alive, and are feemingly of the fame Kind with thofe fometimes found in Vinegar, were fome of the firft minute Creatures the Microfcope was made ufe of to examine, and are flill the moft com- mon living Objed:s it is employed about ; I fliould not therefore, after their having: been fo long known, and fo often defcrib- ed, have introduced them here, had not a very pretty Difcovery made a few Years ago, by Mr. 'James Shericood^ an ingenious young Surgeon, rendered them the Sub- jedl 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 {lender Tube, doubled like an Inteftine, proceeded from the Wound : of which informing Mr. Necdbam, it ex- cited their Curiofity to cut in two another Eel, near its Middle : when they difcover- ed a Number of living yowig o?ies^ each inclofed in its proper Membrane, illuing from what now plainly iliewed itfclftobe the Uterus. This induced him to make farther Trials, and finding ufually the fame Appearance, he thought proper to commu- nicate his Obfervations to his Friends, and afterwards to the Royal Society *. R 3 I * rhilof. Tranf. Nc. 478. 246 Eels in Faf^e vhiparous. I firfl faw the Experiment with Mr, Sherwood^ and having iince made it abun- dance of Times myfelf, am qualified to direcft thofe who may deiire to be fatif- fied, how to perform it themielves, with- out any great Difficulty,-:— Having taken' up a very fmall Quantity of the Pajh where thefe Eels abound, on the Point of a Pin, or with a lliarpened Quill, lay it on a flip of Glafs ; and diluting it well with Water, many of them will become vifible to the naked Eve : then with the nib of a Pen cut to a very fine Point, and fhaved fo thin as to be extremely pliable, fmgle out one of the largeft Eels, and in- iinuating the Point of the Pen underneath it, remove it into a very fmall Drop of Water, which you mull: have ready pre- pared on another flip of Glafs. When thus confined, it may eafily be cut afun- der, tranfverfely, by the Help of a good Eye and fteady 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, apply your Ob- jedl to the Microfcope, and if the Divifion has been made about the Middle of the Animal, feveral oval Bodies of different Sizes will be {ttn to iffue forth. Thefe are young AngziiUce, of diiterent Degrees pf Maturity, each whereof is coiled up and included Rels in Pq/ie "ohiparous, 247 included in its proper Membrane, which is of fo exquiiite a Finenefs as to be fcarce difcernable by the greateft Magnifier, while it inclofes the Embrio Animal. The largeft and mod forward break immediately through this delicate Integument, unfold themfelves, and wriggle about in the Water nimbly : others get out, uncoil, and move about more flowly ; and the Icaft mature con- tinue intirely without Motion. The U- tcrusj or Vefiel that contains all thefc oval Bodies, is compofed of many Annulas or Ringlets, not unlike the Afpera Artcria of Land Animals, and it feems to be con- fiderably elaftic ; for as fc>on as the Opera- tion is performed, the oval Bodies are thruft out with fome Degree of Violence by the fprin2:in2: back or Adlion of this Bowel. An hundred and upwards of the young ones have been feen to illue from one fingle Eel, whereby the prodigious Increafe of them m/ay be accounted for ; as pro- bablv feveral fuch numerous Generations are produced in a fliort Time. Hereby we alfo learn that thefe Creatures are not only like Eels in Shape, but are likewife viviparous as Eels are generally fuppofed to be. I fcarce know a more entertaining Ex- periment ; and you'll very feldom be dif- appointed, for they feem like Ea7'ib-ii'07'ms to be all prolific, and unlefs by Accident I R 4 you $t4S -E^^-f ^^^ ^^^ 'viviparous. you cut one that has brought forth all its Young before, or make your Trials when - the Pafte has been kept a very long Time, « (in which Cafe J havp found them fome-r times unfruitful,) you'll not fail of being diverted after the Manner above defcribed, One of the Anguilla^ greatly magnified, and through the Body of which, before cutting, faint Traces of the young ones - may be difcerned, is fliewn, N° VIII, The fame, after being cut, with young ones iiTuing from it, and the Uterus as it ufu- - ally appears, is reprefcnted in a Drop of- Water, W IX. This Difcovery is of more Confequence than without due Confideration it may feeri^ to be ; for as thefe Animalcules are plain- ly viviparous, and bring forth living and perftSi young ones in their Eel-like Form, it is highly improbable that they ever become Flies, qr undergo any other Change; iince no Animal has been yet known to put on a new Shape after it has produced its Young, whether in the Egg or other- Vv'ife. Therefore if thefe Anguillce never change to Flies, or lay Eggs, which this Experiment renders it very unlikely they f[)0Lild ever do, they can neither convey themfelves to any Diflance from the Pajie wherein they firft appear, nor be propa- gated by Eggs floating in the Air. The Queftion Eels in Pajle inviparons. 24^ Queflion then will be, by what Means they get into the Tafle at all : for fuppofing it pofTible they might have been in the Wheat, and have efcaped unhurt through the fcve- ral Operations of grinding the Corn, fift- ing it, ^c, it is fcarcely credible (in what- ever Condition they might remain in the Flour) that they Ihould be able to endure boiling, without which, and that too for a confiderable Time, no good Fajle can be made. For my own Part, I muft acknowledge, that before this Difcovery I was ftrongly of Opinion that thefe Eels change into Fhes ; 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 Neft 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 Suppolition, hovering about the Glafies where Fajle with Eels was kept. But as bringing forth living young ones, in their Eel-like State, is a Fad: beyond all Doubt, I mull believe the Flies I faw about the Pajic are Infcdls of fome other Kind, and have no Relation to thefe Eels ; unlefs wc could imagine them to have a two-fold Method of Generation ; that is, to be both viviparous and oviparous, &nd to propagate both in the Eel and in the 25a Eels in blighted Wheat. the Fly State ; which is too extraordinary a Particularity to be admitted without the llrongeft Proof*. Thefe Difficulties muft be left to future Enquiry -, and I hope the Curious will en- deavour to folve them by careful Experi- ments and Obfervations. CHAP. IV, Eels in hUghicd liloeat. THE Difcovery of a certain Kind ofAji- giiillce^ox Animalcules refemblingEt'/jj in blighted Wheat, was made accidentally by my very ingenious Friend Mr. 7z^r/^£'r'u//Z? Needhmn^ in the Summer of the Year 1743, in the Manner defcribed by himfelf in his' curious Book of New Microfccpical Dijco- veries -j-. Thefe Animalcules are not ufually lodg- ed in fuch blighted Grains of Wheat as are -O covered externally with a foot-1'ike Duft, (whofe * Mf7itzelius publin-.ed Cbfervations made on the Procefs of the Trans-formation o^ Eels in Vinegar., which, he tells the World, he faw ifTue in Flies; which Flies did afterwards lay their Eggs in the Vinegar, l^c. And he has given Draw- ings of the faid Flies with his own Hands. On the contrary, b. Marrus Jtitoiius Cellius affirmed to the Phyfico mathema- tics! Society at7?o/;;'. Anno, i683, tl:at with very good Mi-f crolcopes of his own making he found the Eels in Vine- gar to he I'i'uiparou!, \ Vid Nc'v:MicroJcopicalDifcovcneshyMr.'Keedham,Y3i%. 85. Eels in blighted TVhcat. 251 (whofe Infide is likewife frequently convert- ed Into a bliick Powder:) but abundance of Ears may be obferved in fome Fields of Corn, having Grains that appear blackifh, as if fcorched; and fuch when opened are found to contain a foft 'white Subfnrice, that atten- tively examined feems to be nothing elfe but a Congeries of Threads, or Fibres, lying as clofe as poflible to each other in a paral- lel Direction, and much refembling the un- ripe Down of fome Thirties, on cutting open the Flower-Heads before they begin to blow. This fibrous Matter difcovers not the leaft Sign of Life or Motion unlefs Water be ap- plied to it ; but immediately on wxtting, (provided the Grains of Wheat are newly gathered) the fuppofed Fibres feparate, and prove thcmfelves to be living Creatures, by Motions that at firft are very languid, but gradually become more vigorous, twilling or wriggling thcmfelves fomewhat in the Man- ner of the Eels in Parte, but always much (lower than they, and with a great deal lefs Regularity j for in them the Head and Tail are conftantly moving, contrarywife, 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 fometimes differently and fometimes in the fame Di- l'e(5tion. If Z£2 Eels iti 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 diflin- guiihable, and on putting Water to it will feparate with great Readinefs, and feem Uke fine Tubes or Threads tapering at both Ends : but not the leafh Motion or Symptom of Life will be perceived till they have been in Water for feveral Hours ; nay, frequently they will never revive or come to move at all. But if the fame Grains be fleeped in Water for fome Hours, or buried for three or four Days in Earth, till they are fully fa- turated with Moifl:ure, and then opened with a Penknife, on taking out a fmall Por- tion of the White Matter carefully, and fpreading it thin upon a Slip of Glafs, the Animalcules may be feen bundled together, and extended longitudinally, but without Motion J and tho' upon the Application of Water, they will not revive fo foon as thofe taken from frefh Grains, whofe Moillure has never been exhaled j yet, after abiding an Hour or two in Water, I have constantly found them alive and vigorous ; and that, notwithflanding the Grains have been kept in a dry Condition even for fome Years j of which I have a remarkable Inflance now before me. In the Month of Augiifi i j\'i^ , a fmall Vzxz^oi blightedWhcat was fent byMr.A^f^^- kifn to Martin Folkes^ Efqj Prcfident of the Eels in blighted Uljcat, 253 the Royal Society ^ (with an Account of his then new Difcovery : ) which Parcel the Prelident was pleafed to give to me, defiring I would examine it carefully. In order fo to do, I cut open fome of the Grains tJiat were become dry, took out the fibrous Mat^ ter, and applied Water to it on a Slip of Glafs J but could difcern no other Mo- tion than a Separation of the Fibres or Threads ; which Separation I imputed wholly to an Elailicity in tiie Fibres ; and perceiv- ing no Token of Life, after watching them with due Care, and repeating the Experi- ment till I was weary, an Account thereof wa3 written to Mr. Necdham ; who having by Trials of his own found out the Caufe of this bad Succefs, advifed me to ileep the Grains before I fliould attempt to open them; on doing which I was very foon convinced of his Veracity, and entertained with the pleafing Sight of this wonderful Phacnome- non. Since then I have made Experiments at different Times with Grains of the fame Parcel, without being difappointed fo much as once, and particularly on the fourth Day of 'Jidy in\'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 fufficiently moiftcned, I cut one open, and applying fome of the fibrous Subllance to the Microfcope in a Drop of Water, it feparated immediately, and pre- fented 254 -^^^-^ ^'^ blighted Wheat. fented to my View Multitudes of the An^ guilla, lying as reprefented N° X, B, with- out the leafl Motion or Sign of Life. But Experience having taught me by former Trials, that they might notwithftanding poflibly revive, I left them for about four Hours, and then examining them again, found much the greateft Number moving their Extremities pretty brilkly, and in an Hour or two after, they appeared as lively as thefe Creatures ufually are. Mr. Folkes and fome other Friends were WitnelTes of this Experiment. We find an Inftance here, that Life may be fufpended and feemingly deftroyed j that by an Exhalation of the Fluids neccffary to a living Animal, the Circulations may ceafe, all the Organs and Vellels of the Body may be flirunk up, dried, and hardened ; and yet, after a long while. Life may begin a new to aftuate tlie fame Body ; and all the animal Motions and Faculties may he reilored, merely by replenifliing the Organs and Vef- fels with a frefh fupply of Fluid. Flere is, i fiy, a Provof, that the Animalcules in the Grains of bliffhted 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 fince, after they are become thus perfe(5lly dry and hard, there feems little room for farther Alteration, unlcfs their Organs fhould be' Confiderations on tinimal Lifr. 255 be broken or torn afunder ; may they not pollibly be reftorcd to Life again, by the fame Means, even after twenty, forty, an hundred, or any other Number of Years, provided their Organs are preferved intire ? This Qucflion future Experiments alone can anfwer. Some late Difcoveries ferve to fliew our Ignorance concerning the real EfTence and Properties of what we termX//?; and5if mo- deftly confidered, may contribute fome- what towards improving and inlarging our Ideas of it. Thefe Anguilla, the JVhcel Afii- maU and I doubt not many other Kinds hitherto unobfervcd, are able to inrtrud: us, that hifc-, or the living Power, may be fuf- pended or ccafe to act for a Length of Time, and yet afterwards may be reftored to its former Vigour, The cutting of the Polype and Star-Fjfo into Pieces, the Continuance of Life in thofe Pieces, and their reproduc- ing all the Parts neceffary to make each of them a perfctft Polype or Star-Fifi, prove beyond all Contradi<5tion, I will not fay that Life itfclf may be divided, (left I (hould give Offence,) but that an Animal poJfcfedofLife may be cut afunder, and the Parts thereof live afterwards, quite feparate from and ab- folutcly independent of one another ^ that all the Members wanting to each Part may be reproduced j that, in Time, each Part may become as large an Animal, and as perfe<5t to 256 ConJiderafio?is bn animal Life. to all Appearance, as that of which it was no more than a maimed and imperfed: Part -f- ; and belides all this, that they may multiply, and produce young ones, in as great Numbers, and after the fame Mannefj as thofe of their Kind that were never cut.-- Thefe areTruths, the Belief whereof would have been looked upon fome Years ago as only fit for Bedlatn. What Life really Is^ feems as much too fubtile for our Underilanding to conceive or define, as for our Senfes to difcern and ex- amine. We have, I think, no Criterion or fenlible Proof whereby to diftinguifh Ltfey but Motion ; and there certainly are Motions fo extremely lafiguid^ that they can neithet become the Objefts of our Eyes or our I- deas J therefore were Motion infeparable from Life^ (which is a Point we cannot I think determine) both might poffibly exift in many Bodies where we fuppofe them not. But whatever be the E/fe?2ce of Lije, it is perhaps not to be deflroyed, or really injured, by any Accidents that may befall the Organs wherein it ad:s, or the Body it inhabits. Dr. Butler, the late Bifhop of JDwr- haf?!j In his ingenious Analogy of Religion to the Conftitution and Cou?'fe of Nature y gives it as his Opinion, pag. 21, that " We have no " more •j- The Curious may confult on this Sabjedt Dr. Parfons'i Ohferiaiions on the Jimlogy het'usecn tin P,o^agatio7i of Jni- ttiuls ujid P''egctablc!,'g2io^ 200, &e. Eels in blighted PFljcaL 257 '* more Reafon to think a Being endued ^^ with Ircing PowerSy ever lofes them, dur- " ing its whole Exiftence, than to believe " that a Stone ever acquires them."— "The ■" Capacity of exerciiing them for the pre- " fent, as well as the av^l:ual Exercife of *• them, may be fufpended, (fays he, pag. " 22.) and yet the Powers themfelves re- " main undeftroyed." But leaving a Subjecft, of which wc know fo little, to fpeak fomcthing farther of our Afigiiillce i-^lt 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 arc 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 Water, 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 fteeped 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 Ai^ions of Life. And indeed there are always fome dead 25S Beh in blighted Ifheaf* ones amongft the living, whofe Bodies appear burften or lacerated, as well as o- thers that lie extended (in the Manner {hewn before, N" X. B.) and never come to Life, though we can't difcover any fen- fible Injury they have received. Some Difcretion is needful, to adapt the trlme 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-Hx Hours, and the Event was as al- ready related : the other I let lie for above a Week, and on opening found all the ^n- guillce near the Hufk dead, and feemingly in a decayed Condition ; but great Num- bers ilTued alive from the Middle, and moved themfelves briskly.—- Unlefs the Huflcs are opened to let thefe Creatures out after they have been fleeped, they all inevitably perifh in them ; and when taken out and preferved in Water, if the Husks are left with them, they will die in a few Days 'j but otherwife they will continue alive in Water for feveral Months together, and, (hould the Water dry away, may be revived again by giving them a frefh Sup- ply. Smcc ^els in blighted Wheat, 2^9 Since the Animalcules we find in blighted Wheats as well as thofe in four Pajie, arc of an Eel-like Figure, it might be very cafy (by fuppoiing them both the fame) to form plaufible Conjediures concerning the Produdlion of Reh in Pajlc, a Particu- lar which at prefent feems fo difficult to be accounted for : but as Truth ought to be the only Object of our Enquiries, I think tnyfelf obliged to fliew wherein they differ, left others, who may not have the Oppor- tunities or take the fame Pains to examine them, fhould poffibly be mifled into fuch Miflakes by their being fomewhat alike. It is evident at firfl Sight, on their be- ing viewed and compared together, that the Anguillce of blighted Wheat are in gene- ral longer and a great deal flenderer than thofe in Fafte^ that their Motions are alfo much flower, lefs vigorous, and more di- verfified : not inceflantly wriggling the Head and Tail, as the Fajle-Anguillce 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 efpecially 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 Dire(5Vi- ons, tho' it more frequently appears tri- S 2 angular. ."26o ■ Of the Proteus. angular, from its being prefented Side- ways to the Eye. A B {Plate X. N° X.) reprefent a couple of thefe Anguilla, The Figure B fliews 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 vigorous, and endeavours to fhew the Man- ner of its moving. Tlie tranfparent trian- gular Spot is pointed out in both o o. CHAP. V. Of the Proteus. ONE, of the many different Animal- cules I have yet examined by the Microfcope, has ever afforded me half the ■Pieafure, Perplexity, and Surprize, as that I am going to defcribe at prefent : whofe Ability of affuming different Shapes, and thofe fo little rcfembling one another, that nobody (without adlually feeing itsTransfor- mation performed under the Eye) woul4 believe it to be the fame Creature, has given me reafon to diftinguilh it by the Name of the Proteus. . When Water, wherein any Sorts of Ve- getables Of tJie Proteus. 261 getables have been infufed, or Animals pre- ferved, has ftood quietly for fome Days or Weeks, in any Glafs, or other Vefiel, a flimy Subflance will be collected about the Sides J fome whereof being taken up with the Point of a Penknife, placed on a flip of Glafs, in a Drop of Water, and look- ed at through the Microfcope, will be found to harbour feveral Kinds of little Animals that are feldom feen fwimming about at large. The Infed: we are treating of is one of thefe ; and was difcovered in fuch Slime-like Matter, taken from the Side of a Glafs Jar, in which fmall Fiflies, Wa- ter-fnails, and other Creatures had been kept alive two or three Months, by giving them fredi Water frequently ; though the Sides of the Jar had feldom or never been wiped or cleaned. Having one Evening been examining a a little of this Slime, v/hich I found plen- tifully rtocked with feveral Kinds and Sizes of Animalcules that were to me no Strangers, fuch as Bell-Anijnais, TJ'l:ecl-Am' mals^ Funnel- Anhnah^ and others whereto as yet no Names are given ; I was diverted with the fudden Appearance of a little Crea- ture whofe Fig-ure was intirelv new to me, moving about with great Agility, and hav- ing fo much feeming Intention in all its Motionr., that my Eyes were immediately fixed upon it with Admiration. Its Bod)r S3 ill 262 Of the Trot em, in Subilance and Colour refembled a Snail's : the fhape thereof was fomewhat elliptical, but pointed at one End, whilft from the other a long, flender, and finely propor- tioned Neck flretched itfelf out, and was terminated with what I judged to be an Head, of a Size perfectly fuitable to the other Parts of the Animal. In fliort, with-: out the leail of Fancy, which is ever care- fully to be guarded againft in the Ufe of the Microicope, the Head and Neck and indeed the whole Appearance of the Animal had no little refemblance to that of a Swan ; with this Difference however, 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' XL Vlate X. i. is an exaft Repre- fentation of this extraordinary Animal the firft Time I ever faw it. Its Size was about equal to that of the Wheel- Animal J whofe general Form may be diilinguiflied well enough by xht fourth Glafs of Mr. Cuff's Micro/cope^ though the firfi is neceiTary to form a Judgment of its feveral Parts. It fwam to and fro with great Vivacity, but ftopped now and then for a Minute or two, during which Time its long Neck was ufually employed, as far ^s it could reach, forwards, and on every Side* Of the Proteus. 263 Side, with a fomewhat flow but equable Motion, like that of a Snake, frequently extending thrice the Length of its Body, and feemingly in fearch of Food. Fig. 2, attempts to fliew it as thus defcribed, but is unable to exprefs the curious Turn and Elegance of its Shape, I could difcern no Eyes, nor any Opening like a Mouth in what appears to be the Head ; but its Acftions 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 fvvift, it never ftruck againfl: any of them, but directed its Courfe between them, with a Dexterity wholly unaccountable, fhould we fuppofe it deftitute of Sight. This Creature feemed to me fo extraor- dinary, I could not forbear calling all my Fa- mily to fee it. And after having viewed it by the fourth Magnifier^ that being the Glafs I was ufmg when I firit difcovered it, we were very defirous to examine it more ftrid:- ly by enlarging it ftill more. Being there- fore obliged to iliift the Glafs, which" took up fome little Time, I loft my Animal as unac- countably as I had found it ; all the Search \ could make, for Half an Hour at leaft, being unable to difcover any thing bearing the leaft Kefemblance to it : tho' I replaced the Glafs S 4 \ 264 Of the Trot em', I had employed before, and carefully travel- ed over the whole Drop a great Number of Times. All I found remarkable therein, but which I regarded very little, was a pret- ty large Animalcule, that I remembered to have feen before what I was now feeking for had prefentcd itfelf to View, and whofe Appearance was as at y?^. 3. In a Word, after much Pains to no manner of purpofe, concluding my new Acquaintance irrecove- rably lofl:, though I could not conceive how, J put the Microfcope afide, very much dif- appointed and difTatisfied. A Fortnight or three Weeks after, exa- mining fome more of the fame flimy Mat- ter, I was again furprized and pleafed with another of thefe Animals, that flarted 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 b^ing employed a few Moments in adding a frelh Supply, I loft it as flrangely as I had done before, and looked for it again to as little purpofe, till rny Patience was wearied out. Frequently, after this, I examined the fame Matter, 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 iNight, fliewing fome other Animalcules in ^^be beforementioned Siim.e, to my ingenious Friend Of the Proteus. c6_f Friend Mr. Turbeycille Needham^ ( whofe long Acquaintance v/ith the Mlcrofcope has made him equal at leaft to any body in the Knowledge andUfe thereof,) we fortunately and unexpe when in the Condition of little dry Globules. Of the Wheel AntmaL tyt fier ; and, when I have thereby found them, I change the Glafs for one that (hews them larger, and then watch all their Motions with great Attention. This little Creature fliews itfelf at firft (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 contradling it as much. Its Motion from Place to Place is likewife then performed in the Manner of fuch Infe<5ls, fixing iirft its Tail and extend- ing its whole Body, then fallening its Head and drawing up itsTail to it : lb that by fix- ing its Tail and pufliing its Body forwards, faftening its Head and drawing its Tail thereto, alternately, it works itfelf along pretty nimbly. Vid.Jig. i, 2. Plate XI. But one fliall often behold it changing this Appearance in an Inftant, and aiTuming a Form extremely different j for its Snout being pulled fomewhat inward, the anterior End becomes clubbed, and immediately di- viding, exhibits, moil furprizingly, to view, aCouple of femi-circularlnfliruments, before unfeen, round theEdges whereof many little Fibrillce move themfelves very briikly, fome- times with a kind of Rotation, 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 4 this Z'jz Of the JVJ)eel Animal this Condition, the Animal is often feen t9 unfaften its Tail, and fwim along with a. great deal of Swiftnefs, feemingly in purfuit of Prey. Vid.Jig. 3. The Subftance of this Animal feems to be chiefly mufcular, every Part thereof be* ing capable of great Diftention and Con- tradion. It has likewife a confiderable De- gree of Tranfparency, whereby the Syftole and Diaftole of its Heart, and the periflaltic Motion of thelnteflines,are rendered plainly vifible : and a kind of Undulation may be perceived every where within it. It appears flrong and vigorous in proportion to its Size, and feems almoft continually hunting after minute Animalcules or other little Bodies wherewith the Waters abound. Fig, I . fl:iews 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 Spicules appear darted out at the Head End, with a Sort of vibrating Motion ; the Snout is alfo fometimes more flat, and fharper at otlier 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 , then ftretching the Body out, fixing the Head Of the JVheel Animal. ly^ Head down, and drawing up the Tail to it. Fig. 3 . exhibits the Infed: with its two femi-circular Parts put out, and ex- adly in the Porture it places' itfelf, when it prepares either to fwim away, or to faften by the Tail and work its Wheels about. The general Account already given, will 'tis hoped render my Tafk the eafier, now I come to examine the moil diftinguifhing Parts of this Animal ; '^ciz, the Hcad^ the Thorax or Bj-caji^ the Abdomen or Belly ^ and the Tail : each whereof I fhall defcribe with all the Perfpicuity and Brevity the Subjed: will allow. TheFadiion andConftru(flure of the Head is wonderful, and extremely different from that of any other Creature hitherto defcrib- ed ; its fudden Change out of one Form in- to another is alfo unufual and furprizing : for, from being perfedly tapering, and end- ing almoft in a fliarp Point, like the Head of a common Maggot, it becomes on a fud- den as wide as any Part of the whole Infedl:, opens a large Mouth, and is furniflied by Nature with an amazing Piece of Machine- ry whereby to procure its Food. One of thefe Animals, with the Head as here defcribed, is reprefented ^. 4, where a couple of circular Bodies, armed with fmall Teeth Hke thofeof the Balance- Wheel T cf 2/4 Of the Wheel AnimaL of a Watch, appear projeding forwards be- yond the Head, and extending fideways ibmewhat wider than the Diameter thereof. They have very much the Simihtude of Wheels, and feem to turn round with a con- fiderable 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- plied with many little Animalcules and various Particles of Matter that the Waters are furniflied with. As thefe Wheels ^(for fo from their Ap- pearance I fhall 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 what Contrivance they are turned about, or what their real Figure is, though they feem exa(flly 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 flat or hollow, they feem plainly to be protruded from a Pair of tubu- kr Cafes, into which they can be again re- I traded Of the Jf^jcel Anhnal. 275 tradled at the Will and Pleafure of the Ani- mal J and their Ufe undoubtedly is to pro- cure it Food, by means of that Cun-ent or Vortex which the Motion of them excites. They turn not always in the fame Manner, ' nor with equal Swiftnefs, neither is the Ap- pearance of their Teeth or Notches ccn- ftantly the fame : for one iliall fometimes fee them moving in contrary Direftions, and fometimes turning both the fame Way. It is alfo not unufual, after they have been moving one Way for a coniiderable Time, to behold them flop on a fudden and turn diretflly contrarywife. Their feeming Ro- tation is fometimes very faft, and at other times very How ; increafmg or decrealing 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 Poiition, the Degree of their Pro- trufion, and perhaps the Will of the Animal. They appear fometimes like minute oblong Squares rifnig at right Angles from the Pe- riphery of a Circle, like ancient Battlements on a round Tower ; at other Times they terminate in fharp Points, and all together refemble a Kind of Gothic Crown. They are often feen in a curvular Direction, all bending the fame Way, and feeming like fo many Hooks : and now and then one fliall T 2 perceive ty6 Of the Wheel Anhnal. the Ends of them to be clubbed, or in Ap- pearance like a Number of little Mallets. This Figure, and the firft, they however aflume but rarely. When the Forepart of this Creature iirft appears to open or divide, the Parts above defcribed, which when fully protruded re- ferable 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 almofh together,) feem only like a couple offemi-circular Parts, about the Edges whereof, what are feen afterwards like the Teeth of the Wheels, appear only as little Fibrilla or Spicuke, having all a nimble and continual vibrating Motion upwards and downwards, whereby the Water becomes greatly agitated, and brought to the Animal from feveral times the Diftance of its own Length. Vid.jig..i. * Before it begins to Ihew itfelf in this Pof- ture, it frequently faftens its Tail to the ilimy dirty Matter found with it in the Water, or elfe to the Glafs whereon it is placed for View ', and buoying up its Body in the Water, pufhes • This Vlhration commencing commonly fome time be- fore the ^^/^/-//V/(- pufhes out and exerts if s rotatory Mo^ tiou, fome I'eople. not overllock'd with Patience, have con- cluded, that it has no other tViotion, than fuch a (''ibration of the Fibrill^ ; but I am perfuaded a litlle more Attention will convince l^era of their Miitake. Of the Wheel Animal, 277 piiflies its Head forwards, direcfling it this Way and that Way with a great deal of Agi- lity, and feemingly in fearch of Food. In the mean while, many minute Animalcules and other little Bodies are drawn along with a rapid Current of Water, fome whereof are taken in and fwallowed, and others rejedied, though brought to the Opening of its Mouth, which appears exadHy in the Middle, be- tween the two above defcribed Semi-circles. Wliile the Sides of the Wheels are thus doubled as it were together, there is little or no Appearance of 'any circular Motion, the Fibrillcc fibout their Edges fecming to have only a quick Vibration : but mofl commonly, after two or three Minutes, this extraordi- nary Apparatus becomes protruded farther, the two femicircles pufh out, and open at the fame Time, each of them immediately refembles a compleat Circle or Wlieel, feems to turn round very regularly, and its little Fibrilke appear changed into Cogs or Teeth, in the Manner abovementioned. As the Animal is capable of thrufling thefe 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 Contradion,or ac- cording to their Pofition to the Eye of the Obferver, whereby they not only appear in all the various Forms before reprefented, but feem at certain Times as if the circular Rim T 3 of 278 Of the Wloeel Animal. of the Wheel or Funnel were of fome Thicknefsj 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 j and tlio' it is then every where tranfparent, a Ring or Circle, more particularly remarkable for its Clear- nefsj may commonly be perceived about the Middle of the Forehead, a little above the Mouth. (See Figure 5. a.) I fhall not pre- tend to call this the Seat of the Brain, thought its Situation and Appearance would perhaps juflify fuch a Suppofition j but as I am fully fenfible how very eafy it is for me to be miilaken, I am extremely fearful of leading others into Miftakes. Many VelTels which feem to take, their Origin from hence are difcernable in the Head, wherein fome tranfparent Fluid appears continually agitatr ed with a Sort of fluduating Motion. All thefe VefTels and every Part of the Head are capable of great Diflenfion and Con- tra(5tion, and frequently alter their Figure. The Thorax or BreafI: ^, is joyned to the Head by the Interpofition of a Ihort an- nular Circle or Neck c^ which is veiy plainly diflinguiflied when the Infecfk is ftretched out, and is working with its Wheels. This Thorax is nearly one iixth Part of the whole Animal, and deferves the mofl Of the Wheel Afiimal, 279 moft careful Examination ; for as the Heart d may be feen therein more diftindlly, its Figure and Motions may confequently be obferved much better in this than in any other fmall Creature I have met with. The Heart d is placed almofl in the Mid- dle of the Thorax, where its Syftole and Diaftole can't fail to catch the Eye of every attentive Obferver 3 for it is feen through the Back of the Infed: very plainly, iliut- ting and opening, alternately, with great Regularity and Exacflnefs. Its Size is pro- portionable to the Creature's Bignefs, and its Shape during the Syftole or Time of Contraction is nearly circular, being com- pofed feemingly of two femi-lunar Parts which then approach each other, laterally, and form between them a roundifli or Horfe- llioe-like Figure, whofe upper Side is flat, but the under one convex. The Diaftole is performed by a feeming Separation or opening of thefe two femi-lunar Parts, where- by the tranfverfe Diameter of the Heart is very much enlarged. This Separation begins exadly in the Middle of the lower Part next the Tail, and opens to fuch a coniiderable Width upwards, that the two Parts when at their utmoft Diftenlion feem only joyned by an arched VefTel at their anterior End. The alternate Motions of Contradion and Dilatation are performed Tvith great Strength and Vigour, in pretty T ^ much 28 o Of the Wheel Animal much the fame Time as the Pulfations in the Arteries of a Man in Health ; as I have often proved by feeling my own Pulfe whilfl I have been viev^ing them. " In each of the femi-lunar Parts there appears a Cavity, which feems to clofe when thofe Parts come together, and to open itfelf again when they feparate. The Motions of the Heart are communi- cated to all the other internal Parts of the Thorax i and indeed feem to extend a great deal farther ; for a ftri6t Examination dif- covers, at the fame Time, throughout the whole Animal, Contractions 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 two or three Minutes, after which they be- come renewed, and go on again with the fame Vigour and Regularity as before. And this Sufpeniion of the Syflole and Diaftole, has made fome Gentlemen to whom I have fliewn it, doubtful, whether the Part we have been defcribing can therefore be the Heart. But their Doubt arifes wholly from a Suppolition that the Hearts of minute Jnfed:s muft continue beating with the fame Conftancy, and be fubject to the fame Laws as the Plearts of the larger Kinds of Ani- mals, which probably is not the Cafe, The Of the Wheel Animal. 281 The Situation, the Size, the Contracftion and Dilatation of the Part we fuppofe to be the Heart, all concur in Support of that Opinion ; but they can hardly all agree with any other of the Vifcera : 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 fomeSeafons, the Motion of the Heart is fuf- pended or unperceiveable for a confiderable Length of Time, there is no Abfurdity in believing that the fime thing may happen to this Infed:, which is fome times 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 unvoidahly be fufpended, whilft this very Animal is contracfted into a Ball, and as dry as Duft, is I think highly pro- bable. The Blood or circulating Fluid is fo abfo- lutely colourlefs in this Creature, that the Current of it throuo:h theVeflels is undiftin- guilliable by Glafles, however likely it may feem, from the ftrong Contracftion of the Heart, that a Circulation muft be carryed on, and that too very brifkly. One fees 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 diftincftly vifible. From the under Part of the Thorax a fmall tranfparent Horn proceeds, which can be never feen unlcfs the Infed: turns on its Back or Side. I know not whether it be a Diftindlion of Sex, or to what other Pur- pofe it may ferve ; for thefe minute Ani- mals cannot poffibly be fo managed as to bring it under Examination when one pleafes j and as it is only feen fometimes by Accident, I cannot pretend to fay whether all ^r fome of them only are furnifhed therewith. It is fhewn in the 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 annular Circle or Divifion/^, joyning upwards to the Thorax, and downwards to the Ab- domen ; the Entrance whereof it ferves oc- caiionally to enlarge or diminilli. This is fhewn^^. 5. at the Letter e. The Abdomen or Belly f 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 Contraftions and Dilatations as feem intended to propel their Of the Wheel Atiimal, 283 their Contents downwards. Around the Bowels are many Ramifications of Veflels both longitudinal andtranfverfe j and between the }3owels and the Skin a Fluid exceeding- ly tranfparent fludtuates in a Manner Words cannot defcribe. The Belly is capable of flretchlng out greatly in Length, or being fliortened very much and widening its Diameter : in fliort it alfumes many Shapes, and becomes, on Occafion, a Cafe including the whole Ani- mal, as will by and by be fhewn. From a Joynt at the lower Part of the Belly IP the pofterior Extremity is what I call the Tail. (Vid. jig. ^. g.J It has three other Joynts, to the lowermoft where- of the Bowels extend themfelves, and ap- pear contra<5ting and dilating upwards and downwards, though notfo remarkably wheil they are empty as full. This Part runs ta- pering from the Belly to its End, and is leng- thened or fliortened at the Creature's Will. When it is inclined to fix itfelf by the Tail to any thing, (as commonly is its Way when it intends to work with its Wheels,) two, four, and fometimes fix little tranfparent Hooks or Fins may be feen thrufl: 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 arc feldom {^cen together. Tho' 2^4 Q/" ^^^ J^eel Animal. Tho' this Infedl fwims very fwiftly, and» feemingly with great Eafe, neither Legs nor Fins can be perceived to aflift it in fo doing, unlefs thofe jufi: now mentioned about the Tail, and the Horn under the Breaft may be imagin'd fuch. Wherefore lince the Wheels in its Head are always fct to work very brifkly whenever it begins to fwim, one may reafonably prefume 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 iliall often difcern it riling in a perpendicular Di- rection, and by the Rotation of its Wheels climbing as it were upwards and mounting through the Water ; but finking down a- gain inftantly upon the ceafing of their Mo- tion. As I call thefe Parts V/loeeh^ I alfo term the Motion of them a 'Rotation^ becaufe it 'has exaftly the Appearance of being fuch. But fome Gentlemen have imagined there may be a Deception in the Cafe, and that they do not really turn round, though indeed they feem to do fo. 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 Fart of a living Animxal, can poffibly turn upon an Axir, fimpofed to be another Part of Of the TVfjeel AnUnal 285 of the fame living Animal ; fince the Wheel piuftbe a Part abfolutely diftincl and fepa- rate from the Axis whereon it turns ; and then, fay they, how can this living Wheel be nouriflicd, as there cannot be any VeiTels of Communication between that and the Part it goes round upon, and which it mufl be feparate and diftincft from ? To this I can only anfwer, that place the Objedt in whatever Light or Manner you pleafe, when the Wheels are fully pro- truded they never fail to fhew all the vifible Marks imaj^inable of a reo:ular turnino: round, which I think no lefs difficult to ac- count for, if they do not really do fo. Nay, in fome Pofitions, you may with your Eye follow the fame Cogs or Teeth whilfl they feem to make a complcat Revolution ; for, th e other Parts of the Infecl being very tranfparent, they are eafily diilinguiflied through it. As for the Machinery, I Ihall only lay, that no true Judgment can be formed of the Strudlure and Parts of mi- nute Infedts by imaginary Comparifons be- tween them and larger 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 Socket, may there not poffibly be fome Sort of Articulation in this Creature whereby 286 Of the Wloeel Animal whereby its Wheels or Funnels are enabled to turn themfelves quite round r * Having delcribed the mofl remarkable Parts of this Infedl, I ihall by the four fol- lowing Figures endeavour to reprefent fome other of the moil ufual Forms it aflumes, both when its Wheels are fully protruded, and when the Edges only of them are fhewn with their little vibrating Fibrillce. Fig, 6. is the ' Wheel hife£i raifing it- felf on the Tail, ftooping the Head downwards, and working its Wheels about. This is a common Pofture, in which the Back is bowed, and the Bel- ly appears fhortened and diftended, great Part of the Thorax being taken in- to it. The Wheels in this Polition feem to turn horizontally, with their Backs upwards and to wards the Eye, in which Manner they appear very diftin(5t and large, with their Teeth bending all the fame •It is certain all Appearances are fo much on 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 effeded, fome have imagined they might be deceived : Mr. Leeu^:enhoek alfo declared them to be Wheels that turn round', vid. Phil. Tnuif. N'J 295. But I (hall contend with nobody about this Matter: it is very eafy for me 1 know to be miilaken, and fo far poffible for others to be fo too> that I am perfwaded fome have miftaken the A7iimal itfelf, which perhaps they never faw, whilll inflead thereof they have been examining one or other of the feveral Water. Animalcules that are furnifhed with an Apparatus commonly called Wheels, cho' they turn not round, but excite a Cur- rent by the mere Vihration of Fibrilla about their Edges, Of the JFbeel A?]imaL 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. (hews the Animal turned with its Side towards the Eye, as it frequently prefents itfelf. The Wheels here have the fame Appearance as in the preced- ing Figure -j but one of them Ues con- liderably below the other, the whole Body being fomewhattwifted, whereby the Horn under the Thorax is diilindly brought to View. Fig, 8, and 9. exhibit two of thefc Creatures in thePoftures they are often, feen, when the Wheels are not thruft out, but the Fibrillce appear moving up and down with very quick Vibra- tions. We fee particularly in fg. 9. the whole Space between thefe Parts gaping like a wide Mouth, and different from any of the former Figures. To defcribe the many Poftures I have feen this Creature in would be a Waffe of Time j but the Manner of its changing, when it pleafes, into a round Globule or Ball, is fo remarkable a Part of its Hiftory, that I muff attempt to give the beft Account pf it I can ; as I have many times obferved very attentively every Step in its Metamor- phofis» After 288 Of the Wheel Animal. After having turn'd about its Wheels, in various Diredlions, 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 fhall perceive it, by Degrees, moving them with lefs Vi- gour, and at lafl drawing them quite within the Head. The Head and included Wheels iink down then very flowly into the Thorax, the Belly fwells, and the whole appears like fig' 10- 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^. ii.repre- fents. The faid annular Circle then contradls, and its Sides come together like the Sides of a Purfe when the Strings are pulled, cloiing over the Head and Thorax, which, now, filling the upper Part of the Belly make it nearly round, like Jig. 12. In the lail: Place, the three upper Joynts of the Tail come down over the lower Joynt which remains fixt ; immediately the Belly alfo links, or is pulled down, and inclofes the whole Tail. AH the Parts being now in- cluded in the Belly, which becomes their Cafe or Covering, it fwells into a round Ball, lies without any Motion, and appears con- liderably opake. {Vid. fig. 13.) It ftill adheres however by the Tail. All Tke Wheel AniyTnal tyn lU Aei^m-al Padtzi/reA ~PlafeXL.pcu,:288. Fiq.m. SEk%^ F.^y. Fi^VI. Ft^XI. Fi^YIT, W.EJia ^Jiak^r: del. ':Vific'*«V-,- ^^^ FcfJOVr U^ Ft^XH \ I Oj the Wheel Animal. 2S9 Sometimes, when in the Maggot Form^it rolls its Head and Tail together, without drawing them into its Body ; in the Man- ner of Jig. 14. All my Endeavours have been hitherto unable to dilcover how thefe Creatures pro- pagate, though for three Years pafl I have never been without them, and am continu- ally fenfible 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 fFieel Animal. — But after what- ever Manner they are propagated, 'tis pretty certain, from the exceeding Minutcnefs of fome in Comparifon of others, that they come out at firft in their perfecll Shape, and are not the Nsmphce of any other Infe^:!:, as many Creatures found in the Waters are. Mine have conftantly been kept in the tame Glafs VelTel, fometimes with and fome- times without Water : for as the Sides of the Glafs were often left dry, I have fuffcred thofe that had faitened themfelves there to remain fome Months in that Condition : neverthelefs,! always found them to become as livelv as ever on f^ivino; them frelli Water. Mr Leeuivefihoek kept fome Dirt, taken out of a Leaden Gutter, and dried as hard as y Clay 290 Of the Wloeel Animal. Clay, for twenty-one Months together ; and yet when it was inf ufed 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 Adions feem to imply Sagacity and Quicknefs of Senfation. At the leaft Touch or Motion in the Water they inftant- ly draw in their Wheels. Notwithlianding their Srnallnefs, one fees feveral Species of Animalcules fv/imming in the Water with them, compared to w^hich themfelves appear like Whales. Thefe Animalcules are their Prey : which they take either by Purfuit, or draw to them by the Current of Water which their Wheels excites. It has confrantly been my Endeavour to difcover the Eyes of this Creature, but I have never been able to difcern that it has any. And yet, w^ien one beholds it fwimming along v/ith great Swiftnefs, turning its Head on every Side, and feemingly purfuing its Prey, avoiding any Dirt or other Matters in the Water that would obftruft its Paffage, and dire6ting its Courfe with as much feem- ing Care, Choice, and Condud: as Animals that have Eyes do, one can hardly think it deflitute of Sight. I would induftrioufly avoid giving Way to Fancy in Cafes of this Nature, but muft acknow- Of the Wheel Animal, 2gl acknowledge my fufpecling that it has Eyes fomevvhere within its Wheels : and my Rea- fons for this Sulpicion are, its blundering, ir- regular, and flow Motions while it appears in the Form of a Maggot, before its Wheels are put out, and the Regularity, Swiftnefs, and fteady Direcftlon 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 fulted to the Exigencies of its Creatures, and contrived in the bcft manner for their Prefervation, we can fcarcely imagine Swift- nefs is beftowed on any without the additi- onal Blelhng of Sight to dired: its Courfe ; fince the former without the latter mujft un- avoidably precipitate the Creature into con- tinual Danger of Deftrudion. — This makes me fuppofe it may pollibly have Organs of Sight fomewhere about the Wheels : nor is there any thing more extraordinary in that than in the Eyes of Snails, which are gene- rally allowed to be placed at the Extremities of their Horns, and confequently mull be thruft out and drawn in with them. I cannot conclude this Subjed: without doing all the Honour I am able to the Me- U 2 mory [ 292 J tnory of Mr. Leeuivenhoek^ by repeating", that we are obliged to bis indefatigable In- duftry for the firft Difcovery of this moft furprizing Infert. CHAP. VII. Differejit KhidsofWiizv.'L 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 Infed:s, or very fmall Particles of Matter, as ferve them for Food. Among thefe fome appear to have a rotatory and others a vibra- ting Motio?i y 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 (cMtr-AlFheel Afiifnah with Tails enor- moully long, but in all other Refpe(fls, as far as I could difcern^ diifering 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 exactly the fame in both : Nothing therefore feems farther neceifary than to give the Pidure of them, which fee Fig. i . Plate XII. Fig, 2 and 3 in the fame Plate^ repre- fent two different Sorts of Animalcules, feve- j-al whereof were foun A feme Years ago, in '* Water I Different WJjeel Anhnah, ii:^7^ Water taken out of a Leaden Clftern that ilood in Somerjet Garden. — Tlie anterior Part in the firft of thefe has a large Opening, furrounded with lliarp Spicule? a^ and is evi- dently cruftaceouSj though the Body and Tail are mufcular. It is not eafy to difccra the Inftruments within this Mouth or Open- ing that ferve to form a Current of Water, as the Creature does not thrull 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 fallened to fome- thing, it turns the Body about and direcfls its wide Mouth to evei'ySide,and brings a Stream of Water from aconfiderableDiftance. The Motions of the Bowels are diftinftly vifible in this Animal; and within feveral of them one may fee an opake oval Body r, 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 ; fori never obferved more than a fingle one in any of them -, and inr- deed I never found th£ Creatures themfelve? 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 Size and U 3 Shape 294 Different Wheel Animals, Shape of its Body, though its Head and Tail are different : for this Creature's Tail is fur- niflied with a Couple of Inftruments a a^ that lie flieathed therein, unlefs when they are made ufe of to faflen it to any thing, that it may the better be inabled to occafion an Eddy of Water and bring 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 of F/^r///^, protruded from two projed:ing Parts bb that compofe the Head, put the Water into a violent Mo^ tion, and excite a Current, by their vigorous and quick Vibrations, which fets direcflly towards the Mouth c. This little Creature is intireiy mufcular, and frequently changes the Form of its Ap- pearance by contracfting its Body and pulling in its Head or Tail. The periflaltic Motion of its Bowels, which are confiderably opake, is feen working upwards and downwards in an odd Manner, but noPart can with any Cer- tainty be knov/n to be either Lungs, Heart, or Stomach. In many of them however, an oval Body, v/hich I guefs to be an Egg, is very diftinguifliable, contained feemingly in a Uterus^ or Veffel, that feparates it from the other Bowels. They lived with me feveral Days 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 AnimaL CHAP, [ 295 J CHAP. VIII. Animalcules with Shells and IVloeels. N the Summer of the Year 1745, I firfl took notice of three Sorts of Wheel Ani- mals * having Shells, which I found herding together in the Water of the Ciflern in the Garden of Somerfet Houfe^ and have feen fince in other Waters. The firft of them is rcprcfented by the Figures 4, 5, 6 : thefe- cond Sort by thofe 7, 8, 9, 10: and the third Sort are marked 11, 12, 13. Plate XII. The firfl: Sort when extended is in Length about twice its Breadth. It is contained in-a Shelljwhofc Fore-part or End is armed with four very long Spikes on one Side of its Rim, the ether Side v/hereof has no Spikes, but is waved or bent in two Places, much hke the Form of a Turkiili Bow : I'id. Jig. 6. The polcerior End has a large cir- cular Hole through which the Tail is put out. By this Tail it failens itfelf to any thing it meets with, wlien it intends to fet the Wheel-work at its Flead in Motion ; but in fwimming, and at all other Times when it is not fixed by it, it wags tliis Tail backwards and forwards as a Dog does his, U 4 and * Thefe are called Jfl'fl .Inhnals, from their refemblij'.g the foregoing in fomc Particubrs. 2c)6' Animalcules with Shells and Wheels, and makes ufe of it on other Occafions which we fhall preiently take notice of. Its Body feems divided into three Parts, the Head, Thorax, and Abdomen : each whereof is capable of great jDiitenfion and Contra(^ion ; 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 v\diich another Part (a Kind of Probofcis) is puflied out, at whofe End are two Fibrils, tJiat appear v/hen at Refc like one very broad Spike, but which it can move very briik:ly to and from each other v/ith a ^uihrating Motion^ bring- ing thereby a Stream of Water to its Mouth, whofe Situation is jufl betwixt them. And the better to effect this, feverai of the like Fibrillar are placed on each Side of the Head, which '~Qih?-afe in the fame Manner, as do likewife fonie very fmall ones at either Corner. All this may be underftood by viewing fig. 4. But fometimes it alters the Form of the two Branchec, rounding the Ends thereof, and changing the vibrating Motion of its Fibrillce into a Rotation, or at leafh what feems to be fo ; at which Time the Head ■{ippears as at y-%. 5, Immedir. Animalcules with Shells ajid Wheels, 297 Immediately to the lower Part of the Head the Thorax is joyned, leemingly of a mufcular Contexture, and containing with- in it an Inteftine, which by its Motions mud be either the Lungs or Heart of the Ani- mal ; fee b.Jig. 4. and 5. A Communication between the Thorax and the Abdomen or Belly is continued by means of a ihort Vefl'el r, whofe alternate Contracftions and Dilatations occafion the Abdomen to rife and fall alternately, having at the fame time a Sort of perifhaltic Mo- tion. Through this Vellel or Gut all the Food the Animal takes in is conveyed direct- ly to the Abdomen, where it becomes digeft- ed, and is then difchargedby the Anus, which is placed fomewhere near the Tail j but we have not yet been able to difcover exadtly where, for the Fsces 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 A- nimal) and caft out with a confiderable Force at the other End, by the Motions of the Fi~ br ilia, wYiich 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 feeii mofl: commonly ilTuing through the Hole at the lower End of the Shell, wagging nim- bly 298 Animalcules tvkh Shells and Wloeels. bly to and fro, and is made ufe of in fwim- ming to fleer or dired: its Coiirfe : but when the Water wherein the Animal abides is al- moft dryed away, or when it has a mind to compofe itfelf to reft, it contradis 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- guifhed, and determined to be as repre- fented^^'".6, whofe Defcription was juft now given. For the Shell is fo extremely tranf- parent that its Terminations cannot be feen when the Infedl extends beyond it ; but whatever palTes within it is as plainly vifible as if there was no Shell at all. Fig. 7, 8, 9, and 10, fliew the feveral Appearances of the fecond Species of thefe il:ieiled Animals havino; V/heels, which dif- fers from the firft in fome Particulars now to be defcribed. The Body of this Species coniifts of three Parts, in like Manner as the other does ; only the Thorax and Abdomen are not in this feparated by a Gut or intermediate Veftel as they were in that,but are joyned immediately together ; and at that Place in the Thorax, where, in the other Species, I have defcribed an Inteftine, which I fuppofed to be either the Lungs or- Heart, an Heart is plainly per- ceived Animalcules with Shells and Wheels. 299 ceived in this, having a regular Syftole and Diaftolc, and nearly of the fame Form and Size with the Heart of the common Wheeler^ as the Figures 7, 8, and 9, are intended to [hew at the Place marked a. This Species likewife draws its Head and Tail occafionally within the Shell, as at^^. 1 o ; 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- ftead of the four long ones wherewith the firfl 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^V. 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 Touiig in oval Scicculi or Integu- ments, faftened, externally, to the lower Part of their Shells fomewhere about the Tail : Thefe Sacculi are fometimes opake only at one End and feemingly empty at the other, fee Jig. 5 : Sometimes the Middle Part ap- pears opake with a Tranfparency all round, like^^. 7 J and much Variety of Darknefs and Tranfparency may be diftinguifhed, ac- cording 300 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 affifcant, 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 int9 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 laft it frees itfelffrom Confinement, and fwims av/ay, 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, flriking 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 faflened thereto only by the Tail, is fhewn fig. 9, b. The Subjed from whence this Picture was exadily taken, dur- ing the Performance of all the Particulars above defcribed, had alio another Embrio c adhering to its Shell. Thefe Animals have one, two, three, nay Sometimes even four or five of thefe young ones Animalcules 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, fliewn Jig. 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 fliarp Point, and is within a fourth as long as the Tail itfelf— The Head- Part of the Shell differs alfo from thole be- fore defcribed, in the Order and Difpofitlon of the Spiculce, of which it has four longer and two lliorter ones, placed as in /^. 13. where by the Body's being contrac'Tied and drawn confiderably within the Shell, as fre- quently is the Cafe, the Top of the Shell is perfectly diftinguifliable, and its Spicules plainly (fttn. The Tail of this Creature has the like Figure, Articulations and Motions with 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 theDraw- ings exprefs fufficiently without any particu- lar Defcription. From its Head two Arms or Branches are frequently extended, and the circular End of each is furniflied with a Border of Fibril- d^^jfeeming at fome times to have a very quick Vibra. 302 The Water^Vlea with hrancbed Horns, Vibration, and at others a rotatory Motion, occalioning a rapid Current in the Water. Their Ova are carried at the Tail End, either faftened to the Tail itfelf, or to the ProcefTes of the Shell, as 2Xjig.\2. One^ two, or three are the Number ufually hang- ing to them \ but fome, though very few, have four or five. The Toimg burfl 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. CHAP. IX. The Water-Flea with branched Horns, A True Figure and Defcription of this little Creature having never yet been publiflied amongft us, what follows I hope may prove acceptable. The Name given it by Swammerdam of Pulex aquaticiis arbor efcens^ 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 WdUr-Flea with branched Horns. 3 0;j by its red Colour to make the whole Surface of the Water appear like Blood -f-. This Animal is cruflaceous, being covered with a thin oval Shell in the Manner of a Lobfter or Cray-Filh, bat 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 pleafes. The upper Part of the Shell bears a near Refemblance to the Head of a Bird, hav- ing a rtiarp-pointed Procefs very much like a Beak or Bill, but intirely iixt 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- blance. This Eye feems compofed of feveral fmall Globules, though not pearled as thofe of Land Infed:s, but all contained in one In- tegument, wherein they appear to be in fome Degree 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 more than one can then be feen ; which induced Mr. Bradley to imagine it had only one Eye, and from thence to call it Moiioculus ; but who- ever beholds the monftrous Pidlure that Writer f Some Swarms of tliem are red, and others green ; but whether this Difrerence be owing to their Food, or fome other Accident, or whether they are of different Species, I am unable to determine. 304 'T^he Water-Flea with branched Horns, Writer has given of this Infe refembles nearly the Figure of a Bell with the Mouth upwards j and is ufually about the Length of half an Inch, and one Quar- ter of an Inch in Breadth or Diameter. This Cafe being very tranfparent, all the Motions of its Inhabitants may be difcerned through X 2 it 3o8 'The Bell-Flower- Animal it diftlndly. It feems divided, internally, into feveral Apartments, or rather to contain feveral Imaller Sacculi^ each of which in- ciofes one of thefe Animals. The Openings at the Tops of thefe Sacciili are but juft fufli- cient to admit the Creature'sHead, and a very fmall Part of its Body, to be thrufl 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 Infects prey upon it) and a fafe and agreeable Retirement wherein to perform the Fundlions of Digeftion, Sleep, and the other neceffary Calls of Nature.This Cafe it can, I fay, retire into at Pleafure j and it never fails to do fo when any fudden Mo- tion of the Water, or of the VelTel it is in difturbs it : as alfo v/hen it has feized with its Arms any of the minute Infed:s which ferve for its Food. The Arms are fet round the Head to the Number of forty, having each the Figure of a long f] one of whofe hooked Ends is faftened to the Head ; and all together when expanded compofe a Figure fomewhat of a Horfe-^hoe flmpe, convex on the Side next the Body, but gradually opening and turn- ing outwards, (y^'f^. 19 and 20. Flate XII.) fo as to leave a conlidcrable Area within the outer Extremities of the Arms. And when thus ^he Be/I-FIoicer-Am'wal. 309 thus extended, by giving them a vibrating Motion, the Creature can produce a Current in the Water, which brings the Animalcu- les, or whatever other minute Bodies are not beyond the Sphere of its Acftion, with great Velocity to its Mouth, whole Situation is be- tween the Arms : where they are taken in, if liked, or elfe by a contrary Current, which the Creature can excite, they are car- ried away again : whilft at the fame time other minute Animalcules or Subftances, that by lying without fuic the Inclofure made by the Arms are lefs fubject to the Force of the Stream, are frequently feized by them : for their Senfe of Feeling is fo exquilite, 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 dilappointed in its Acquifition: for after drawing down one of the Arms fuddcnly inwards towards the ]VIouth, it may be perceived flowly extending itfelf a- gain, without the Creature's retiring into its Cafe ; v/hich it fails not to do on meeting with any thirg Vv'orth the while. The Food is conveyed immediately from the Mouth or Opening between the y\rms, throu gli a very narrow Neck, into a Paffige feeminglv correfpondent to the Oefophagus in Land Animals ; down which it pallcsinto the Stomach, where ir remains for fotne X ' I'imc. -5 10 ^hc Bell-FloiDer-Animal. Time, and then is voided upwards, in fmall round Pellets, (which at firft I imagined to be its Eggs) through a Gut, whofe Exit is near the Neck, Avhere it was firft taken in. The Body of this Animal confifts of three Parts or Divifions, in the uppermofl whereof all the aforementioned Inteftines are con- tained, though they are not to be diilinguiili- 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 lov/ermojfi: 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 contrad: or fhorten themfelves ; but inftead thereof, when the Animal retires into his Cafe, they are brought together in a clofe and curious Order, fo as eafily to be drawn in. Their general Figure when expanded is that of a Cup, whofe Bafe and Top are of an Horfe- Shoe Form ; but they prefent fometimes a very different Appearance, by feparating in- to four Parts, and ranging themfelves in fucli Sort as to reprefent four feparate Plumes of Feathers. — fi^ fg- 22. I could never difcover any Eyes they have, and yet find fome Reafon to believe they fee: for on being fet in the Light of the Sun» The Bell-Floiioer- Animal. 311 Sun,or a Candle, or brought out of the Dark into the Day-hght, though contradled before and retired into the Bell, (as indeed they ge- nerally are when in theDark)they conlhint- ly extend their Arms for Prey, and Ihew evident Signs of being pleafed. Befides the particular and feparate Motion each of thefe Creatures is able to exert with- in its own Cafe and independent of the reft> the whole Colo?iy 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 is feen fometimes ftanding perfcd:ly up- right, {^sfg. 1 5 and 17.) fometimes bending the upper Part downwards {^sjig. 16.) It has been mentioned already, that be- tween ten and fifteen of tliefe Animals dwell together, as it were a little Community, in one Bell-like Cafe or common Habitation : but their Number increafuig, this Bell may be obfervcd 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 laft intirely, and form two complcat Colo- nies, inticpcndent of each other ; one of which fometimes removes itfelf to another Part of the VelTel. The Manner how the fmgle Animals propagate I have never been able pcrfedly to difcover, though there is fome Reafon to conjedlurc it may be by the X 4. Mcan>, 3 1 2 Th^ Bell-Flower- Animal. Means of Eggs ; as fmall opake Bodies of a conilant 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 rell:, which poffibly may be the Embrio. But as I never faw any of them com.e to Perfedtion, I can make no far- ther Judgment of them than what their Si- tuation and Form fuggefts. They are re- prefentedyz^. 15.^. 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 Duckv/eed in it, ftand quietly for three or four Hours in Glafs VelTels, in fome Window, or other Place where a flrong Light comes: for then, if any are about the Duckweed, they will be found, on careful Infpesflion, extending themfelves out of their Cafes, fpreading their Plumes, and making an elegant Appearance. They are extremely tender, and require no little Care to preferve them : their moft "general Diforder is a Kind of Slime or ra- dier Mouldinefs, which will fometimes en- velope ^he Bell-Floiver- Animal. 3 1 3 velope them in fuch a Manner as to prove mortal. The beft Way of curing this is, by gently pouring a large Quantity of Water (perhaps two or three Quarts) into the VefTel where they are kept, and letting it run off flowly: by which Means the SI iminefs will gradually be loofened and carried away with the Water. As to Food, if frefh Water be given them daily, they will find fufficient for themfelvesj and it is dangerous to try any other Way of feeding them, for the fmallcll Worms, or other vifible Infedlsone can think of jrivin^; them, will tear their delicate Frame inPieces. Fig. 15. reprefents one compleat Colony or Bell, ftanding ered:, 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 fliews the opake Bodies fuppofed to be Eggs. Fig 16. Ihews all the Creatures with- drawn into their Cells, and the End of the Bell inclining downwards. Fig. 17. the Bell ercd:, with only one of the Animals coming out, in order to lliew its connection with the Bell. Fig. 18. reprefents a Colony dividing. Fig. 19. one compleat Animal, greatly magnified, to fliew its feveral Parts more aillirnftlv. Viz. ^7, the Horfe-Shoc-figured Head. b. h^ the Arms fcen from one Side. 314 ^'^'^ Satyr. r, the narrow Neck. dj the Oefophagus. e^ the Stomach. f] the Gut or laft Intcftlne, through which the Food pafles, after being digefted in the Stomach. g^ the Anus, w^here the Faeces are dif- charged in Uttle Pellets. h^ /, that Part of the Bell which fur- rounds the Body of the Animal, and clofes upon it when it retires down. F/e. 20. The Head and Arms feen in Front. Fig. 2 1 . The Head and Arms doling to- gether, and difpoling 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. Frequently have taken notice, in feveral Infufions of Vegetables, of a little cruf- taceous Animalcule, whofe Picture is given Jig. 25th. of this ('imQ Plate XII. The Shell of this Creature is fo exceedingly tranfpa- rent, that unlefs great Attention be given it cannot be difcerned at all. It feems to cover the Back only of the Animal : its BeU The Satyr. 315 ly, and under Parts, appearing to have no Shell. The Middle of the Body, containing the Bowels, (whofe periftaltic Motion may be difcerned) is fomewhat opake, and in the Shape of a Bottle with the Mouth down- wards ; the Sides are tranfparcnt, and (hew many Veflels running through them. Four Legs, or Fins, divided near half their Length, and ferving either to walk or fwim, ifiue from the opake Part, and reach beyond the Edges of the Shell : and two thicker and fhorter Limbs, pointing dircdtly forwards, each of them armed with a (liarp Claw, are placed at the Head-End, and probably are the Liftruments 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 dont pretend to guefs. — This Ani- mal is brifk and vigorous, fwimming fome- times with 2:reat Swiftnefs throu2;h the Wa • t^r, at other Times it creeps along at the Bottom of the Drop, and now and then il^lps nimbly like a Flea. It often Ihcws itfelf in Pr-ofil, as reprefentcd fg. 2^. Monfieur 'Johlot (whofe Imagination has frequently exaggerated the Figures of Ani- malcules to be found in Water,) tells us, that he once difcovcred, in an Infuhon of the Anemcn\\ an Animalcule having on its Back a Mafk or exadl Reprefentation of a Safsr% Face \ and lie eivcs a Pi(fture fuitable to that Idea. <^i6 Aquatic Animah. Idea. But, making a confiderable allowance for the Fruitful nefs of his or his Painter's Fancy, I think it not unlikely, that the Sub- ject 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 Refemblance of a Noie 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 Mouth, and the Whole put togethei, might by a true Lover of the V/ondcrfuly 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 Sa-i tyr. CHAP. XII. Three aquatic AxN'imals defer i bed. *'~r^OWi\RDS the End o{ September, in \ the Year 1743, fome Water taken from a Ditch at 'Tooting in Surry, (wherein many Pohpes of an exceeding fmall Kind had been difcovered, by my worthy, inqui- fitivc, and obliging Friend the Rev. Dr. Hen- ry Miles, F. R. S.) was fent to me in a Phial, in order to be examined. And whilft I was viewing the Polypes with the Microfcope, I had Aquatic Anhnah. -^17 had the Pleafure of finding three different minute aquatic Animals, which I had never before obferved. The iirft of thefe feemed to th'e naked Eye like a very fmall and (lender 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. fig' 24- From the Fore-part of the Head of this Animal a long Frobofcis^ Honi^ or Snout was extended, moving itfelf every Way with great Readinefs, and ifiuing from that Part of the Head where the Mouth fliould be ; which anterior Part changed its Appear- ance according to the Motions of thelnllru- ment,fometimes extending itfelf and becom- ing more llender, and at other times Ihorten- ing itfelf and growing thicker. About the Head it had fomewhat of a yellowifh Colour/ but all the reft of it was throughout per- fe(ftly colourlefs and tranfparent, except the Inteftines, which were confiderably opake, and difpofed as in the Pifture. In them al- fo a periftaltic or internal Motion was dif- tindtly vifible. Along its Sides were feveral Pnpillce with long Hairs growing from them: its Tail ended very bluntly : it had two black Eyes, and was extremely nimble. I found only this fmgle Animal of its Kind, from which I drew ud the above Re- 2 marks 318 Aquatic Animals. marks at the Time of viewing it, when its Figure was hkewife carefully taken j 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 Infpeclion : and this I fhall lay before the Reader in the Dod:or's own Words. " TheWorm found in the Water in which " I met with the Polypes in this Neighbour- " hood is ofvarious Sizes, from about ,- of an -' 4.-1 " Inch to half an Inch, and about theThick- *' nefs of the Worms we feed the Polypes " with. It is tranfparent, excepting in the *' Middle where the Gut runs, which the *' Faeces make look of a dirty colour, but it *' has no Rednefs as the Worms have, and *' for that reafon might be reckoned a- *' mongft the Infects which fome have *' erroneouily called exanguious^ fince our *' Eyes, affifted by GlafTes, fliew them to *' have Blood : as I fhall prefently tell you " this has. " The Form of it ( when magnified I " mean) refembles in many Particulars fome " of our Catterpillars that feed on Vegeta- " bles. It is infeded 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 repTefent in the Fi- ■*' gure. I faw the periftaltic Motion of ** the Gut, and once faw it exclude F23ces, - ** three- Aquatic A?iifnah. 310 three or fourCluflers together, which re- fembled exa(5tly thofe of our common Catterpillars, or of the Silk-worm Catter- pillar. But the moft remarkable thing in this Creature is a Kind of Horn or Feeler which it feems to carry in its Mouth, and may be juft (tew 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 Glals ; vv^hich it does fomewhat like a young Leech, but without contrafting its Body fo much, and rather in theManner that Catterpillars 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 Icen it contrad:ed any thing confiderably. — I mufl not omit to tell you, that 'tis a very tender Crea- ture ; for in taking up the firll I viewed wnth a Quill, as we do the Polypes^ by the Side of the Glafs, I injured it fc> much, that it was nearly cut in two, and its Horn came off, 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 326 Aquatic Animals, " Manner than I could other wife have done ^ " for hereby it appeared to me to have grown " into the Fore-part of the Head or Mouth, *' and to have been placed (as fome Bones " are) in a Socket, the End next the Head " feeming claviculated or clubbed, and con- " fiderably bigger than the other : the Head " alfo in the Place where this Horn had " been inferted was left with a Hollow fui- " table to fuch Articulation. I am doubt- " ful whether the Creature can contract this " Horn or not, nor can I tell whether there " be any Communication between it and " the Entrails. I took Notice that in or- " der to wave it about confiderably it con- " tradted 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 iaid 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 J-, of an Inch of the Tail, where *' it ends infenfibly, for without a good " Magnifier you cannot difcern its Knd^ but " it feems to be refolved into the Body of the Worm. The Tip of the Tail is very mfparent, and there I faw with great \ " Delight Aquatic Animals. 321 '^ Delight the Circulation of the Blood in " the Middle, running to the Gut, as it " feemcd, and loling itklf thereat, by reafon " of its Opacity. — ^lartiida. What is " the life of this Horn or Feeler ? What " Food does the Creature eat ? One would " think nothing taken in by the Horn, if it " be hollow^ becaufc the Faeces are fo grofs : ** if not, how does it take its Food ? And ** what is it in its mature State ? The fccond 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 projedting, and pretty long Aiitemnr. Its Head, Body and Tail, were divided like thofe of the Bee or Wafp Kind : from the End of the Tail iiTued three long Branches befet with Hairs, and each ap- peared fomewhat like the Stem of a Pea- cock's Feather : they could feparate more or lefs, be brought together, or move in any Dire6tion that fuitcd the Conveniency of the Creature. It had fix Legs, which ferved either to fwim or creep, with Claws at the End of each. The Head, Body and Tail were covered all over with a Sort of Hair or Down, and under th'. Tail were a Couple of moving Parts like Fins, wherewith it feemed to guide its Courfe in fwimming. It was extremely agile. Plate XIV. No 7. A. reprefents this Animal as viewed by the Microfcope. y The ^221 Globe Ammal. The Tail Part more enlarged, witli itS under Side turned upwards to fhew the Fins, and its three Branches difplayed, is lliewn 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, without any Ap- pearance of Eyes : a Body fomewhat opake, and a Tail that could divide occalionally. From about the Middle of the Body a very thin Membrane was extended, on each Side, as low as the upper Part 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 faft. Sometimes it v^^ould change its Figure, and appear fomewhat crooked and triangular, in the Manner fliewn at N. CHAP, XIIL Tbe Globe Animal. IN the Month of July 1.745, three Phials; full of Water were fent to me from Tar mouth:, by Mr. 'Jofeph Greenleafe^ having in them feveral Kinds of Animalcules un- known to me before. Some of the larger Kinds died in their PafTage, occafioned I fuppofe by the Jolts they received, and a Deficiency Globe Animal. 323 Deficiency of Air -, the Phials being corked clofe, and too full of Water to leave them Air enough for Refpiration. One kind, how- ever, fuftercd very little, but when examin- ed by the Microfcope was perfedly alive and vigorous, and fo numerous in one of the Phials, that the Water might be perceiv- ed to fwarm with them, though their Size was much too fmall for the naked Eye to difiinguiih otherwife than as moving Points. They all died with me in two or three Days, but in thatTime I had Opportunities enough to examine them, very carefully, and take a Drawing of them. My Friend Mr. Arderon of Norwich fent me alfo, towards the End of the fame Summer, fome little Account with a Drawing of the fame Animalcule, of which he had accidentally difcovered a fmgle one in a Drop of Water. Fig. 27. reprefents this very fmgular mi- nute Water Animal, as it is feen before the Microfcope. Its Form feems exactly globu- lar, having no Appearance of either Head, Tail, or Fins. It moves in all Direftions, forwards or backwards, up or down, either rolling over and over like a Bowl, fpinning horizontally like a Top, or gliding along fmoothly without turning itfelf at all. Some- times its Motions are ilow, at other Times very fwift : and when it pleafes, it can turn round (as it were upon an Axis) very nimbly, without removing out of its Place. Its Y 2 whole 324 Eggs of the fniall FreJJj-JVatcr Snail, whole Body is tranfparent, except where the circular black Spots are Ihewn in the Pidiure ; 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 ihort 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 was, as if befet thinly round with Ihort moveable Hairs or Briftles ; and 'tis not improbable all their Motions may be produced by fome fuch In- ilruments, performing the Office of Fins. CHAP. XIV. Eggs of the fmall FreJJj-Water Sjiaily and Animalcules adhering to them, THE 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 ihewn at the Letter B. The Parent Snail is exhibited of its natural BignefsC i j its Back upwards toward theEye, and JCJ^yfui* J^cu/jo. and Animalcules adhcrhig to them. 325 and its Body extended beyond the Shell, in the A(5lion of creeping from Place to Place. The fame Snail is turned upon its Back C 2 ; that the true Form and Opening of the Shell may the better be underftood. 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 faflen their Spawn, in little MafTes, againft the Sides of the Glafs, where the Eggs hatch in about three Weeks or a Month's Time. The Spawn, when firft 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- tanccs from one another, inveloped in a ge- latinous Subftance ; having each of them towards one of its Extremities a very mi- nute dark Speck, wherein, if carefully exa- mined by the greatefl: Magnifier, a Fidfation may be difcerned. This Speck will be found to grow larger from Day to Day, and to become a perfect Snail, with its Shell compleat, fevcral Days before it burfts through its Integuments. When thcEggs are about aWeekold,the£w- brio Snail may be difcerned in its true Shape, turning itfelf very frequently within the fine Fluid in Vv^hich it lies : and the Heart is Y 3 theu 3^26 Eggs ofthefmall Frejh-Water Snail, then a moil: agreeable and amazing Speda- cle, (hewing itfelf very diilindly, and re- fembhng a little oblong Bladder, much lefs at one End than the other : the Fulfation proceeds under the Eye with great Exadinefs and Regularity, and the Syflole and Diaftole of this Veflel are nearly equal to thofe of the human Heart, fomewhat more than Six- ty Pulfatio?is 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 large in Pro- portion, and may be always feen, until the Animal increafing in Bulk and becoming confequently more opake, in fome Pofitions it hardly can be perceived : but as the Ani- mal frequently turns itfelf within the Egg, a little Patience will bring the Heart in full 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 Produ6lion of living Animals, though with fome little Variations as to the Man- ner of its Execution, that from what we are able to difcover in the very tranfparent Eggs of •j- The fame Progreffion I have been defcribing, was oh- fervcd at N-jr-njich, by Mr. j^rderon, in the Cornu Ammonis River Snail. and Animalcules cdher'mg to them, 327 of this little Creature, fome reafonable Con- jedlure may be formed of what happens in thofe of much larger Kinds. According to the ufual Order of Nature, every Effibrio of an Animal is lodged for a Time within the Uterus of the Parent, in- clofed in a Cafe or Egg, whofe outer Coat is either hard and flielly, 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 coniiderable Time before the Embrio has attained a Size and Strength fufficient to endure being expofed to the open Air with- out Prejudice : during which Time, it takes in Nourifliment, and its Limbs acquire a continual Growth, from proper Juices in which it floats, and wherewith the EeiT is replete. For the Egg, between the Time of its being 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 Pleat, fupplyed by any other Means, witli the fame Conftancy, will be of equal Service J. On the contrary, in viviparous Animals, the Egg is retained in the Uterus of the Pa- Y 4 rent, X In the Eggs of numberlefs Species, which {hew no Con- cern for them after they are once laid, no more Heat at all is neceflary, than whac is common to the Air or Water irt which they are expofed. 328 Confideraticns on oviparous rent, till the 'Embrio having attained a cer- tain State of Maturity, endures Confinement no longer, burfls open the Integument, Cafe, or Shell that inclofed it, and i flues there- with from the Body of the Parent : until which Time the Enibrio receives its Nourifh- ment from the Blood and Juices of the Pa- rent, which are conveyed into the Body of the Embrioy by certain Veffels of the Parent that inofculate with correfpondent Veflels of the Emhrio^ and at the Birth become fepa- rated therefrom. Hence it appears probable, that the origi- nal Principle of Life, the gradual Expanfion and unfolding of the Members, and the Progreflion towards Maturity and Birth, are nearly the fame, whether the Enibrio 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 Production. But to proceed. For fome Days after the Water Snail has laid its tranfparent Egg, the Microfcopic Speck of Life, wherein the tender Limbs and Rudiments of the Animal are moil wonder- fully folded up and contained, has no other Appearance of Life than only a languid Piiljationy but jufl difcernable by the befl; Glalfes and the moft curious Eye. As this Speck increafes in Bignefs, it exhibits, gra- dually, the Figure of a minute Snail, and cu:q[uires :ia Ability of moving itfelf very ilowly. afid 'Viviparous Prodiiciion. 329 flowly. After this, its Size and Motion be- comes every Day more confpicuous, its Spi- ral Revolutions {licvvr themfelves more dif- tindtly, its Form becomes more perfecfl, a Shell, unconceivably delicate, is produced over its tender Body : it now occupies a con- fiderable Part of the Egg, turns itfelf vigo- rouily, and even creeps within it, and Li due Time breaks it, and i flues forth. 'Tis not unlikely this is Nature's conftant and regular Courfe in the Production of all Creatures that are oviparous ; and that flic proceeds nearly in the fame Manner to pro- mote the Grov/th and Birth of the Embrio in the Human Race, as well as in all other Creatures tliLt we term viviparous, feems to me no lefs probable. After this Digreffion, which I was infen- fibly led nito, 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 r, f, f, may pret- ty nearly fhew. 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 exadly fituated as in the Pi; ■ v, (on whofe Judgment and Fidelity I can depend intirdy} ior the Figures and Account thereof. 2 4-4 ^f Chijlering Polypes. veries the uncommon Diligence and Sagaci- ty of Mr. Tr^';;//^/^^', who has applied himfelf more than any body to this Enquiry, has been .able to produce : for in fuch extraor- dinary Cafes 'tis neceflary to make ufe of all the Evidence one can. " A fingle Polypus (fays he) detached *' 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- *' feif. In the Space of 24 Hours this Stem *' becomes eight or nine times as long as " it was at iirfl: ; and it is this Pedicle which " is to become the main Stem of the new " Clufter. " After this the Polypus multiplies, that *^ is to fay, it divides and fpiits itfelf in- *' to two length wife. — One firft obferves " the Lips to be drawn into the Body, whofe " anterior Part clofes and becomes round : " the anterior Part of the P(5/)'/'/^j fiats itfelf *' afterwards byDegrees, and fpreads in pro- " pOition, becoming broader as it fhortens ; ** it hen gradually iplits down through the " M'ddie, that is, from the Middle of the *' Head to the Place where the poflerior *■ End j :ins to the Pedicle: fo that in a little wdiiie, there appear two feparate round Bodies joyned to the Extremity of thePe- dJcle that juft before fupported but one. I'he anterior Part of each of thefe Bo- " dies << Of Chjlering Polypes. 345 dies then opens by Degrees, and as they open, the Lips of the new Polypi (hew themfelves more and more ; and, foon after the Separation is compleated, each begins to Ihew a Pedicle of its own. Ten or twelve Hours after, thefe two Polypi again divide themfelves each into two more : they foon after put out Branches, and thus retire to a greater Dif- tance from each other. — When two Po- lypi are thus formed by the Divifion of one, the one is ordinarily m.uch larger than the other : this larger one remains at the Extremity of the Branch where it was, but which Branch lengthens itfelf more, whilfl 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 neareil to the Origin of the Branches ufually detach themfelves firft. AwA every Polypus fo detached, goes and fixes itfelf elfewhere ; " every 34^ Of Cluftcrmg Polypes. '' every one thus becoming at laft, if not " prevented, the Principal of a new Clufter. Mr. Trembley tells us farther, " that he " followed the Progrefs of a Clufter in the " Month oiSepte-mber 1744. — It confifted, " on the 9th Day of that Month, but of one " fingie Polypus : this Polypus divided itfelf " that Evening, and at Half an Hour after " Eight of the Clock, there were to be difco- ** vered two perfedt Polypi^ whofe Pedicles ^ or 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, thfefe two Polypi began alfo each to ** divide, fo that after a Quarter pafi: Eleven ** there were four compleat Polypi, whofe " feveral Pedicles formed themfelves foon " after. On the Eleventh of the fame aS^/?- " tember, about Half an Hour after Seven in " the Morning, he found that thefe four laft " Polypi had already again divided them- " felves,that is to fay, that there were Eight " diilindt Polypi. — And he has taken No- " tice of Cluflers, the Numbers of whofe " Polypi have conflantly gone on doubling, " from 2 to 4, from 4 to 8, from 8 to 16, " from 16 to 32 : after which he has been " no longer able to count exa(ftly theNum- " ber o^tht Polypi. — But their Multiplica-- tion is fo prodigious, that he fays, " on " November ift. 1744, there was in one of " his Glafles, a Clufler compofed of feveral lefTer Of Clujicring Polypes. 347 " leiTer united Clufters, which was above " an Inch over every Way. Thefe Quotations are taken partly from N'^ 474 of tlie Phil. 'TrafiJ. and partly from the Appendix to the 44th Vol. of the faid TranJaSiions. The Polypes here particularly intended, are thofe I have called Bell-Ani~ ?nals in the former Part of this Work, and that Species whofe Figure is given in this P/^i'^N® VI. and its Defcription Z'^^. 338. There is however Reafon to believe, that all the other Clufiering Polypes already taken notice of in this Plate, may be propagated after the fame Manner. N° tii. VIII. IX. {hew different Appearances of the fame Animalcule, which is another Species oi t\\^Fimnel- Animal, vicl.N° ijjg. They are found together fcmetimes in vaft Abundance on the Shells of Water Snails, &c. fecming to the naked Eye like a green flimy Matter. When lirfl applyed to the Microfcope they are ufually feen contracfted, as N° VIII. but being left at quiet for a little while, thev chancre their Fio^ure 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 largeft End, that moves round with prodigious Velocity, in the Manner of the Wheels of the IFheeU Anitnal, already defcribed pag. 269, but ha- ving a much larger Wheel than either of thofe the Wheel Animal is furnifhed with. Its 34^ Mulberry hifeB. 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 whirling, or when it becomes fick by Confinement in a Drop of Water. On be- ing difturbed by any thing, they contra(ft themfeh''es as at N° viii. 1 CHAP. XVI. T^he Mulberry Insect. "^HE Figures andDefcription of N° XV, I, 2, 3, were fent me by Mr. Arde- roUi in March 1745-6. — He fays, that or^ the nrft Day of the faid Month he found in the Water of a Ditch, at Norwich^ fome ex^ ceeding flrange Animalcules, which from their bearing fome Refemblance to the Fa- fliion of that Fruit, he calls Mulberry InfeSls: thouc£h the littleProtuberances that Hand out o round them, equally on every Side, make them rather more globular. Their Bowl- like Motions are much the fame as thofe ©f the G/(?^^^;z/w^/,defcribed/>^^.322; but they did not move fo readily from Place to Place, and their Protuberances appeared fo loofely connected together, he fhould rather take .them for a Congeries of Animalcules than one fingle Animal. — As to this Particular he feems however in fome Kind of Doubt : and in a Letter received from him after- wards^ Pipe Animal. 349 wards, he imagines the Mulberry InfeB may poUibly be the lafl mentioned Cluftering Po- lypes with Opercular (N° xiii.) not yet come to their perfed: State. He met with ieveral of thefe Infedis, or Congeries of Infeifts, of different Sizes, 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. T^be Pipe Animal. UPON the Sea-fliore, on the Coaff of Norfolk, and without Doubt in other Places, Heaps of Sandy Matter arc to be feen at low Water, two or three Feet fomctimes in length, compofing Multitudes of fmall Tubes or Pipes, which are the Cafes or Ha- bitations of living Creatures. My Norwich Correfpondcnt, to whom I ftand obliged for this Information, wrote mc 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 and Size as at N° 11. in which a a a a ihew the Mouths or Open- ings of the Pipes wherein the little Creatures make their abode. • He 35©' P^p^ 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 atN^ 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 ifTuing I fuppofe from the Ani- mal's own Body <:, which is compofed of mufcular Ringlets, (like thofe of a Worm,) capable of great Exteniion 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 of ii:s Prey, and conveying it to the Mouth that appears in the Middle of this anterior End. But the Animal being iick 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 very imperfect j but it: may I hope induce fome curious Body, who lives near the Sea- Shore, and has an Opportunity of fo doing, to furnifh us with a better. Pipes l^late XIIL Mil. 3 J o. Animalcules. ^A^-Sl .y^rxL \?'*m. ^^ .M" Vf. vr ^. ^^AOIE. c^/pxLv; ^^ A/^ TV" *^^M» ^M*^xsr. rX^iUti Uttfidejc Water Hog-Loufe or Sow. 351 Pipes or Tubes of this Size and Figure are fometimes found petrified, and conflitutc one Species of the Syringoides, CHAP. XVIII. ^he Water Hog-Louse or Sow. ry-^HE Animal figured PA?/'^ XIV. N« i. J although an Aquatic, bears fo near a Refemblance in its general Appearance to the Millepedes, Sow or Hog-Loufe, efpeci- ally when creeping at the Bottom of any VelTel 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- vilions, the anterior and poflierior whereof are the Head and Tail. To the Head which is almoft round, and about the ^\ Part of theAnimarsLength, are affix'd two very long AntaiJKV^ each confifting, next the Head, of four diftind; Jbynts, and then iliooting out a Part extremely flender and tapering, and but little fhorter than the whole Body of the Animal ; which on a clofe Examination ap- pears compofed of many Articulations, ha- ving an exceeding fine Briftlc ifiuing from each, as the larger Joynts near the Head have ; from the Infertion of the fecond of which larger Joynts a Branch arifes, con- fifting 3 5^ Wafer Hog-Loufe or Soiif^ iifting of one Joynt, and a llender 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 Mid- dle of the anterior Part of the Head are placed two very fmall and fliort Feelers. Its Eyes, if it has any (w^hich I think its Ac- tions leave no room to doubt) are not difco- verable j either from their Smallnefs or the Opakenefsof the Animal. The Body (not reckoning the Head and Tail) is compofed of feven Divilions, 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 fhort Claws, terminated by a Hook that can bend down like aClafp-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-VelTels may be difcovered, even by aGlafs that does not magnify very greatly ; one carrying the Blood from 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, v/here- by they become more diftinguifhable than the Globules are in the Blood of Animals whole Water Hog-Loufe or Sow. 3 53 whofe Circulation is fwifter. The Legs are very hairy, efpecially at the Joynts, andfo is the whole Body of the Animal, which oc- cafions it to be frequently ib covered and en- tangled with the Dirt and Scurf of the Wa- ter, as to prevent its Figure from being true- ly feen. The Divifions of the Body are each of them covered on their upper or back Part with a Scale orCruft, extending beyond and hiding the Infertions of the Legs, which however are fliewn in N° 11, where theAni- mal is turned on its Back. To the hinder- mofl: of thefe Divifions the Tail is fixed, which is perhaps the mofl remarkable Part of the Animal. Its Length is about three times as much as that of the largeflDivifion of the Body ; its Breadth nearly equal to its Length, but tapering fuddenly towards the End, like the Tails of fome of the Beetle Kinds. From the back Part thereof, which is covered 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 Brillles like the Legs. The Ufe of thefe Branches is not yet dlfcovered. On the under or Belly Part are placed two Sets of Valves, riling up and falling down, alternately,ina perpendicularDirecftion: thefe may probably fcrvc for thePurpofe of Lungs, or as the moveable Coverings of the Gills of A a Fillies* 354 Water Hog-Loufe or Sow, Fiflies, to breathe through, or regulate fome of the other animal Fun, fcoth of which I am acquainted with.confilh in the arming of theHead ; which in the voracious Species is furnifhcd wi:h only a rtrong hooked Pair of plain fmooth Forceps, like thofe of 3 third Sort fhewn in this fame Plate N° xvi. and again more magnified at fg. S : but having no Snout between the For. ceps as there is at 5. — The Head of the more gentle Sort is like N° iv, juft now defcribed, having lerrated Forceps, and an additional Pair of Claws, (nay in fome Species even two Pair of Claws) about the Head to alTill the Forceps : Thefc feed on Pulices aquatict, and other foch fmall Inllds, where- a-^thcfirft mentioned Species prey on Worms, 'iadpolt*. Newts, Fiihc', i^c. 364 Infe5i with Fijh'like Fins. the Millepes is fmoothj and its having a pretc ty 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 inTufts, but on its Back in Rows. They were of a fnowy Whitcnefs, and made fo fine a Con- traft to the brown Coat whereon they flood, that the whole, when magnified, re- fembled a curious Piece of Carving in Lig- num Vitse fet off with Decorations of Ivory. This is a rare Infedl, of which I don't re- member ever to have met with any Defcrip- tion. CHAP. XXI. An Infed with Fifh-like Fins. AMONGST fome Water and Weeds brought from a Ditch that commu- nicates with the River Tar^ a beautiful little Animal was difcovered, [May 9th 1746,) whofe Singularity feems well worth defcrib- ing : and it is hoped that the Figure N° vi. will give a pretty good Idea of it. The Head was remarkable for two very large pearled Eyes and a Pair of long Antennas. The anterior Part of its Body had much the Re- femblance of fome of the Beetle Tribe, and was InfeB with Fijl^like Fins, 36^ was furniflied like them with fix llender Legs. Immediately below this Part, the Body lelTened, and was connected together by feven Articulations, the Part between each Joynt fpreading wider at the lower than at the upper End. They appeared all together like the SpinalVertebrae j and from the Procefs 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 fhort 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 ftood out a fmall Spine ; ferving either to fupport the Fin, or as aWeapon of Defence. Its Motion in the Water was extremely fwift, darting itfelf along at a furprizing Rate : with one ftroke only of its Fins it would fwim acrofs a Glafs Jar it was kept in ; but out of the Water it crecped as Land Infects ufually do. Its Legs were never employed whilft in the Water, and on the Land it made no ufe at all of its Fins. This Animal is in its Nympha State, out of which it changes into a fmall Species ot the Libella *. CHAP. * No. VII. of this Plate was defcribed pag. 321. 1 366 ] CHAP. XXIL An Infe<5l iioith Net-like Arms. AN inqulfitive Mind will be Inexprefli- bly delighted with coniidering the different Forms of living Creatures ; the Changes they undergo ; their feveral Parts, Members and Organs j the Manner of their Produ6lion ; their various Motions, Difpofiti- ons andWays of Life 5 the different Kinds of Food they eat j 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 Underftanding, and unite everyFaculty of a well difpofedMind to adore the Almighty Author of fuch amazing Con- trivance, Order and Beauty. Every thing that lives can furnifh out an Entertainment of this Sort : but the larger Animals with which we are daily converfant and familiar, though of a more noble Nature, and imme- diately neceffary 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 ftri ^^ Hariejl 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 Harveft, efpecially to the Ladies, for they know what Skins are fineft and eafieft to pierce. They have at the Head aProbofcis near f of their own Length; by which they firft make way through the Skin, and then bury themfelves under it, (leaving no mark but a fmall 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- ftru«^ive 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 fmce known them attack Ladies in a Garden, which was defended from a Corn Field by a Wall, too high for thefe Infers 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 lirft pair of Legs arife from the Back, juft below the Eyes : the other two pair from the Belly : it has alfo two fhort Antennae, one from each Side of the Head, which appears with a Divifion in the Mid- dle. I have fometimes fufpecfled 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 I Sheep Seed of the Lime Tree. 395 Sheep feed than in Fields of Corn, growing, and before Sheep are fuffered to come into thofe Fields : and it is never got as I have heard in Grafs Fields, nnlefs bordering upon Corn 5 but amongft Wheat it never fails. If any one has a mind to make Trial upon this Infed:, how it comes to be amongft Corn only, and yet lives by fucking of Blood, he may eafily find Abundance of them : for though they prefer the Ladies, yet they arc fo voracious, that they will certainly lay hold of any Man's Legs fhat comes in their Way. I 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^;?^- tofjiy of Plants^ I need not trouble you with it : I fliall 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 reprefentedN°I.^^. i.) there is a young Plant to be found, when the Seed is ripe, to- wards the Bemnnino- oiOBobcr. The Seed of the Lime Tree is covered with a rough Skin, within which there is a Shell, but not hard ; if this Shell be carefully opened there will appear a thin white Juice, inclofmg fix Pods or Bags, all tyed t'^gp her, and adhering to that End of the Se jd v, 'lich is joyned to the Stalk, with very finei bics running 39^ Seed of the Lime Tree. running up the Infide of the Shell, and ap pearing ^sjig. 2. Thefe Pods whentaken' out of the Shell appear as^. 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 reft of Nourishment, by taking place within the Kernel, where it expands and excludes the reft, which will now be found flicking to the outward Cover of the Kernel dried to a brown Colour,with theirFibres embracing the Kernel, ferving only us Cords to keep the Nourishment of their more fortunateBrother together, and appearing ^s Jig. 5. So that if we follow the Opinion of Swattimerdam and Voltaire in his Metaphyjics of Sir Ifaac New^ touy pag. 54 of the Englifh Tranflation, that we fee in 'Things al^ifemoellopement only, here the Author of Nature has provided in one Seed fix Vermiculi, one of which alone is to become a Nympha Flant : 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 Nytfipha State. When the Seed is come to a fufficient Confiflence,and ready to drop from theTree, if it be opened it will appear as fig. 4 : the ini^ide filled with a white lliining Subflance inclofmg a deep green Plant hke a Flower, which arifes by a fmall Fibre from that Part ^f the Seed to which the Stalk adhered, and perpendicular Seed of Afpa?'agus. 39^ perpendicular to it. The Plant wlien taken out, and viewed in the Microfcope, appears as ^tfig. 6. All the Fihres of the Leaves are dilcernable, altho' the Leaves are themfelvei thicker in proportion than thofe of the Tree, and feemingly turgid with Juice. Thefe Leaves 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 Drawl- ing. N"* n. is the Seed of Jfparagm. — FigiX, is the red Berry as it grows from the Stalk, which contains, in a foft watry Pulp, fix" black Ihining Seeds, formed as I have tried to reprefent at ^^. 2. Their Appearance, which ever way you view them, reprefents that Shape which Bellini calls Pelecoides. Each of thefe Seeds contains a hard white (hining Subflance with bright fmall Specks all over it : and, Ivin^ horizontallv, a fmall Plant, white indeed but with a yellow Caft, plainly different from the Parenchyma in which it is lituated. This Plant examined in the Microfcope appears as Jig. 4, with bright Spots like Papilla3 all over it, and the bending Leaf at the Top tending to a faint green. When the Plant is taken out the Se<5lion of the Seed appears asy5r^.3, in which the Bed of the young Plant runs quite through the Parenchyma, from one Side of the 39^ Seed of ^ffparagUi. the Covering or outward black Film to the other. Altho* I fliall endeavour to follow the learned Mr. Hook's Advice to thofe who fhould correfpond with the Royal Society : *' to fend the Kernel of Faft ftriptfrom the " Shell of Impertinencies, " yet you will give me leave toobferve two Singularities in this young Plant of the Afparagus, Firji, that its Pofition in the Seed is very different from moft others : this lies horizontally, and not perpendicular to the Juncture of the Stalk, as others generally do j and indeed though I have it^n many Seedling or Nym- pha Plants, I never met with one pofited a$ the A/par agiis 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 exadlly. 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 Friendfliip I am perfuad- ded I need make no Excufe for it j if I was to make one, Pli?iy the elder [et ille etiam Caufas aBitavit) fliall tell you my Sentiments as well as his own, inter criinmaingrati ani-^ mi et hoc duco^ Naturam ignorare. I am. Sir, Your fincere Friend and moil '-2 fcfi humble Servant, [ 399 ] ^^t CHAP. XXIX. .V Of luminous Water Insects. .j IN my former Treatife on the Microfcopc, I took Notice of the JJ,n?iing Light fre- quently found on the Shells of Oyllers, a5 being 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 occalion fuch Light, I ihall infer t it here. Having (he fays) been fometimes fur- priied at the Sparks of Light to be feen on the Shells of Oyfters, on removing them, or flriking on them, when newly taken from the Sea ; he beftowed fome Pains to find out the Caufe ; and after many Examinati- ons became perfed:ly convinced, that thefe (hining Sparks are lucid Emanations from a minute Infed:, differing in its general Fomi but little from the CQn\n\QnScolop€fjdra. This Infed he carefully made a Drawing of froia the Microfcope, an exact Copy of which is givea f Microfcopc made eafy, third Edit. pag. 241 . 400 LuTTiinous Water InfcBi. given at Letter A. — Its Length was about the |th and itsBreadth rather more than the looth Part of an Inch. The Body confifts of twenty-eight Joynts or Divifions, exclufive of the Head and Tail Parts: each ofthefe 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 fliort and befet with Hairs. The Tail Part is larger than any of the other Divifions, and has three pretty long Spines orBriftles 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 ulual in other Animals, and reach- ing beyond the anterior Part of the Head, in a Manner very convenient for feizing its Prey and carrying to the Mouth any thing It takes hold of. It is furnilhed with a pair of Horns, and has befides at the Snout two iliort Antennae or Feelers. This little Inieft can emit or conceal its Light: and fometimes its Luflre is fo bright tis to be difcoverable even in openDay-light, efpecially on being touched or dliiurbed *. Its * The Rev. Mr. Thomas Barnur o^JFatthfeldm Suffolk, r-nt a Sea Infeft to a Friend, who gave it me, prcferved in Spifk of VVijie. The Account Mr. Uarmer wrote with it Luminous Water InfeSts. 40 1 Its Light is blewirti like that of the Glow- worm, or a Spark of burning Brimftone.— My Friend obferves, that our fmall Land Scolope?idra has likewife the Property of fliin- ing in the Dark, which indeed has been taken notice of long ago. * Dd It fays, that opening Oyfters he found this Animal between two Shells which ftuck together. Icwas 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 (hone pretty ftrongly more than once The Light appeared on its Back to- wards theTail, chiefly in two Spots ; but, wlien more violently irritated, it was fometimes feen daring along the Back ; and, particularly once, it was illuminated in Streaks up to its ver/ Head. The Infedl growing more languid, he put it,betweenthc Shells where it was found, in lome Water wherein Salt was dif- folved, hoping it miglit revive ; but in an Hour it was quite dead. — 'Tis about \ of an Inch long, and j- of an Inch in Breadth ; in Figure flat, with many Fins along its Sides from End to End. * Mouffet writes, that his Friend Mr. Brenver, found twice, by Night in the Summer Seafon, amongrt Heath and Mofs, the fliining Scohfendra, lucid and fiery : its whole Body emitted Light, but fomewhat fainter than the Glow-worm. Mr. .^rfit'fr farther fays, — " Happening to come home ohe Night in a Sweat, and in the Dark wiping my Head with a Linnen Handkerchief, the whole Handkerchief appeared to jne fhining and as it were on Fire ; and whilll I viewed this feeming Miracle with Surprize, the Light was all coUeded in one Spot : whereupon folding the Handkerchief together, I called for a Candle, and on opening itdifcovered one of thefc ScclopcndreF, which, by being rubbed aoout my Head, had fpread over the whole Handkerchief 1 know not what kind of flaming Vapour. " — He affirms it was like the Scolopendfa found in Gardens under Stones and Flower Pots. Vid. 'Thea^ trum Inftil. Cap. XV. De Cicindcla. I take this to be the YmAo^ Scolotendra Mr. Willoughhy diC- fcribes, lying rolled up amongll Earth and Dung : Its Colour a brown or whitilh yellow, the Head of a pale Chefnut, hav- ing two Autennie ; its Length half an Inch, its Tail forked : its 'A 02 Luminous Wafer InfeSfs. It feems not improper to fay fomewhat in this Place concerning the Ihining of Sea Water, fmce not without the Appearance of Reafon, it has been fuppofed owing to vaft Numbers of luminous Infeds, 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 JVelh, upon the Coaft of Norfolky af- firms, from his own Obfervations, that the Sparkling of Sea Water is occafioned by In- fe But the Book of Nature is written in an univerfal and real CharaBer, which every Man may read in his own Language j for it conlifts not ofJVords but 'Things^ which pic- ture out the Perfedions of the Deity. The ftarry Firmament every where expanded, with its numberlefs Syflems of Suns and their fur- rounding Planets, the Regularity,Harmony, Order andConllancy of theirMotions, declare the Immeniity and Magnificence, thePower and Wifdom of their Creator. Thunder, Lightening, Tern pells. Hurricanes, Earth- quakes, and Volcano's, fliew the Terror and Deftruciliion of his Wrath. Seafonable Rains, Sunfliine, and plenteous Harvefcs, denote his Bounty anclGuodnefs, and his Regard for the Happinefs M/fcellaneous Obfervaticns. 421 Happ.inefs of all hisCreatures j and demon- ftrate how, when his Hand is open, he fills all things living with Plenteoufnefs. The conftant SuccefTion of Generations in Plants and Animals, implies the Eternity of their firft Caufe. Life every where fubfifting in Millions of differcntForms, fliews the tound- lefs Diliufion of his Animating Power ; and Death the inhniteDifproportion between him and every livingThing. -Even the Adtions of Animals TkrcinekquaitTix^dipathetic Language-, thofc that want the Help of Man, have a thoufand engaging Ways, which like the Voice of God fpeaking to his Heart, com- mand him to preferve and cherifli them ; whilfl theLooksandMotior.s of fuchaswould do him harm, ftrike him with Terror, and warn him to fly from or arm himfelf againft them. In fliort, every part of Nature dired:s . us to Nature's GOD ; for according to Lucan in that fine Speech he makes for Cato^ Jupiter ^, quodcunque 'nides, quocunque moveris-^ which I fliall tranflate with great Liberty, and by tlie Way of Paraphrafe, Range where you pleafe, through Water, Earth and Air, GOD is in every Thing, and every where. E e 3 Some [ 422 ] Some Account of a new co?2j}ri{5fedls/l\c^o(co^ty ufcd in the foregoing Experiments. TH E cumberfome and inconvenient Double Microscopes of Dr. Hook and Mr. MarfiaU were many Years ago re- duced to a manageableSize, improved in their Strudlure, fupplied Vvdth an eaiy Way of en- lightening Obje(fts by a Specukmi under- neath *', and in many other Refpedis render- ed agreeable to the Curious^ by Mr. Culpep- per, and Mr. Scarlet. Some farther Altera-* tions were however wanted to make this In- flrument 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 were continual Impedi- ments to my turning about the Slips of Glafs; and indeed I had found them frequently fo on other Occafions. Fulling the Body of the Inftrument up and down was likewife fubject to Jerks, which caufcd aDifBculty in fixing it exactly at the Focus : there was ai- fo no good Contrivance for viewing opake Obje(fLS. Complaining of thefe Inconvenien- cies, Mr. Cuff, the Optician, applyed his Thoughts to falhion aMicrofcope in another Manner, leaving the Stage intirely free and open by taking away the Legs, applying a fine * See Micre/cope made eofy.^ Plate III. pag. i6^ ^/^' J^^/^/^^5^ J OHN CUFF on '^i^e€t/h-€€t,J/£7i^mC. Sojjie Account of a new Mi cr of cope. 423 fine threaded Screw to regulate and adjuft its Motions, and adding a concave Speculum for Objects that are opake. The foregoing Examinations having been all made by an Inftrument thus improved, I (hall give a Plate and Defcription of it, (as an Addition to my former Book on the Mi- crofcope) by the Name of Mr. Cuffs new- C07ijlru5ied 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 a, which projects from the Top of the Pillar C, may be taken out or put in at Plea- fure. A fquare Box b b, fcrewed down to the wooden Pedeftal 1 1 fupports the whole Ma- chinejbytheAfiiliance of the long flat-fquare Pillar B, which is fixt within the faid Box. The moveable Pillar C, which is fhorter than the Pillar B tho' of the fame Shape, by Aiding up or down againfl the broad flat Side of the faid Pillar, raifes or lowers the Body of the Microfcope as occafion may re- quire.— Both Pillars ftand in the Box b b. The fquare Collar D holds the two Pillars B and C together, and Hides up or down upon them, carrying with it the Body of the Microfcope. — The Screw-Button 3 is in- t<::;nded to fix the Pillar C, when the upper Edge of the Collar D being fet at the fame E e 4 Number 424 ^ome 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 faflened, 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 Exactnefs. The horizontal Plate or Stage F, having in the Middle thereof a circular Hole 4, di- reftly over which the Body of the Micro- fcope is fufpendedjis exceedingly convenient to place Objecfts on for Obfervation, being freed intirely from the Legs which incumber other Double Microfcopes. The concave Looking Glafs G, turning on two fmall Screws in the Arch ^(at the Bottom of v/hich a Pin goes down into the Hole e in the Pedeftal) reflecfts the Lis;ht of a Candle or the Sky directly upwards on the Objeft, by moving the Looking Glafs hori- zontally or vertically. A double convex Lens PI, turns on two Screws, for tranfmitting Light to affift in il- luminating opake Objedis, when the long round Wire y'is placed in the Spring-Tube g^ at the Corner of the Stage F. I— is a hollow Cylinder whofe fides are open, and at Vv'hofe End a concave Silver Speculum h, having a round Hole in the Midil thereof, is fcrewed. This Cylinder flips over the Snout i of the Microfcope, and when Some Account of a new Microfccpe. 425 when fet to the Figure there marked, and /correfpondent to the Number of the Mag- nifier made ufe of, the Silver Speculum re- fie(5ts Light on the opake Obje^ to be exa- mined ; which Objed: mull either be held in the Spring-Tongs at one End of theWire O, placed in the Slit ;;; on the Stage F ; or be put on the IvoiTBlock P, lluck on the point- ed End of the faid Wire. The third or fourth Magnifiers are fitteft to be ufed with the Silver Speculum. K. L. M. N. Q^JR. S. T. V. W. X. Y. Z. are different Parts of the Apparatus which I think needlefs to defcribe, as all who are acquainted with. Mi Cfofcopes will know them at firfi: Sight, and others may inform them- felves either in my former Treatife on thefe Subjecfls, or in the Book which Mr. Cuf gives to thofe who buy this Microfcope of him. In the Year 1747 a Micrometer for this Inftrument was alfo contrived by Mr. Q/ffy being a Lattice of fine Wires, placed (when made ufe of) in the Focus of the Eye-Glafs, by unfcrewingthe Body of the Inftrument. As the Readinefs wherewith the real Size of Ohjedts may be calculated by this Microme- ter mufl render it valuable to the Curious, there needs no Apology for laying fome Account of it before them, drawn up and given to me by my much honoured Friend Martin Folkcs^ Efq; Prefident of the Rcyal SccictVj 426 Remarks on a Micrometer y 5ce. Society, and firft Prefident, (under the Royal Charter,) of the Society of Antiquaries oj London -f-. Remarks on a Micrometer to be applyed to Double compound Microfcopes. By Mar- tin FoLKES, Efqj P.R.S. ■^ H I S Micrometer only confifts of a Lattice of fine Silver Wire diftant from each other one fiftieth part of aninch, interfe(fling at right Angles, and fo placed in the Focus of the Eye Glafs, as to divide the whole vifible Area of the Microfcope into Squares, v^hofe Sides are each the ^^ '^ of an Inch. Now as the Image of anyObje<5l to be ex- amined is formed in this Place, it is plain that by this Lattice Work fuch Image may readi- ly be meafured, either by comparing its Length or Breadth with the Diflance of the •f- This Gentleman, whofe amiable Charafler for Ability in Science and Goodnefs of Hea;t is known and refpefted by all the World, being unhappily disabled by a paralytic Dif- order from attending the IVleetings of the Royal Society, where for eleven Years he had prefided with great Honour, thought proper on the laft annual Day of Election, viz. No'vcmber 30th 1752, to decline being again elected Prefident. Where- fore the Gentlemen of the faid Society, after returning their moft grateful Acknowledgments to Mr. Folkcs for his many and ufeful Services, eledled unanimoufiy the Right Honoura- ble the Earl of Macclesjiild to be their President in his Stead. Remarks on a Microjncter^ &c. 427 the Wires : or by comparing its whole vifi- ble Superficies with one or more of the Ht- tle Squares formed by the Interfedion of the fame Wires. And the true Size of the magnifiedlmage being thus known, the true Magnitude of the Obied itfclf will be known alfo, if the magnifying Power of the Objed: Glafs is but given : and this will eafily be found in the following pracftical Manner. Let a minute Objed: of a known Size, be carefully viewed in the Microfcope : as for example ; Part of a fine diagonal Scale divid- ed into the Millefimals of an Inch j and let it be examined how many of thofe Millefimals anfwer to the Diftance of two of the Wires abovementioned, remembering to eflimate that Difhance from the Outfide of one of the Wires to the Infide of the other. For as 20 are to that Number of Millefimals jufl found, fo is the Length or Breadth of any Image meafured by the Micrometer to the Length or Breadth of theObjed: itfelf : or as 400 are to the Square of the fame Number of Millefimals, fo is the magnified Superfi- cies of any Image, to the true fimilar Super- ficies of the Objed. And again, as thatNumber of Millefimals of an Inch jufl found is to 20, fo is Unity to a Number exprefTing how many times the Length or Breadth of any Image eflimated by the Micrometer, is greater than the true Length 428 Remarks on a Micrometer^ &c. Leny:th or Breadth of the Object itfelf : and this faft Number I call the magnifying Power oftheObjeftGlafs. This Trial is to be made with Care once for all, for every different Objed; Glafs to be ufed with the Micrometer : and their dif- ferent refulting magnifying Powers, once re- giflered 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 ObjedlGlafs, exprefs the true Length or Breadth of the Obje(^l: 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 Objed Glafs ufed. And for this purpofe it may be of ufe to fet down in another Co- lumn of theTable, the refpecflive Squares of the Numbers expreffing the magnifying Powers of the feveral different Object Glaf- fes. As fome Difficulty may be found, in ap- plying the diagonal Scale abovementioned to the larger Magnifiers : chiefly thro' want of Lioht when the Objed is to be brought very near to the Glafs ; that Defed may be fup- plyed by the ufe of fome minute natural Ob- ied, whofe true Size has already been care- fully determined by one of the lefler Magni- fiers, Remarks on a Micrometer^ &c. 429 iierSj and whofe Image is again viewed with one of the greater : for as the Number of 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 be to the magnifying Power of the Objed: Glafs now made ufe of, ^c. I fhould now farther take Notice, that the Numbers here called the magnifying Powers of the feveral Objed: Glalles, 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. Cuf-\ and which he calls (tho' fomewhatimproperly)his new double reJleB- vig Microfcope, at the Dillance of one Inch and a quarter nearly ; the Eye, placed on the other Side, views the Image of any Object formed in that Focus, under an Angle about {t,\&\-\ times as great as that under which it would fee it with Diftindnefs if naked, and at the Diftance of fomewhat lefs than nine Inches. We may therefore then confider all Images viewed with this Microfcope as mag- nifyed feven times in Length or Breadth, or 49 times in Superficies by thelntervention of the Eye Glafs : and we may confequently exprefs the whole magnifying Powers of the Microfcope, if we refpedively multiply the Numbers 430 Remarks 072 a Micrometer ^hiC. Numbers already placed in two Columns of the Table, by 7 and 49. I would juft obferve, that fome Double Microfcopes have aDrawer between theGlaf- fes, and by means of which they magnify differently with the fame Glafs : in thefe Mi- crofcopes therefore onePofition of the Drawer jfhould be pitch'd upon as the moft conveni- ent, and the fame Ihould conftantly be ufed whenever anvMagrnitude is to be determined by the Micrometer applyed to the fame. The Lattice abovementioned, whofe Wires are only diflant a fiftieth of aninch, may up- on fome Occafions be found inconvenient in viewing of Objeds. But it may very-eafily be taken out and put in occafionally, or have its place fupplyed by another whofe Wires may be the 20th, or the loth of an Inch a- funder 5 and this lafl efpecially will give no hindrance to common Obfervations, and will befides be very ufeful to fuch as would draw with fome Exacftnefs any of the Objecfts 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. Folkes makes of a Lat- tice whofe Divilions are ,\ of aninch, was owing to his having experienced the Utility of fuch an one in m^y Microfcope, made by myfeif of human Hairs, and fiilened exa«flly in Remarks on a Mict'omcter^ Sec. 43 1 in the Focus of the Eye Glafs, whofe Dif- tance being i ^ Inch, or ^^^^^^ of nine Inches, {the Standard of Sight he computes by *,) the Diameter of an Objed: feen through that Glafs is magnified 7 times, and the Side of eachSquare whofe real Length is /^ , appears (magnified through the faid Glafs) to be Employing different Objed: Glaffes or Magnifiers in viewing Objecfts, makes noDif- ference in the Lattice or Micrometer, whofe Squares are magnified by the Eye Glafs only, and always appear of the fame Diameter, that is, ,^oths of an Inch. But the Obje, xj.a -qDuiaaBnbjpa "S fe ^ £;^ 000000 i^ rtSw ■"O OOOOOON u,5-;r> ^ «> o N N ^ r^ „ ^ ° S O 0^ ^ TS ^ - - I c ^ a -§ ^ -tuSbui b jo 3JBJ fc ° I 2 ° ^ O O O O O O i'> H ,5^ bJO ?'Ph "S 'u, -p io 3jn sp^m sr g ^ ^ ,° f ^ s ^S ^ U r- « r-, •5 "o^ r-^ £~ H H H o 5 O -H3UI a339lUOJDTl^ 'S <^ I ^ J j: 3 St ' $ »*- ' ^- * i^ r\ CL. ^ "-I ^« 3M5S3inj 'r^^'-^^f-S^I' J g g -'B3UI J?13UI0JDipY '^ M -S _Q £ •-- u 'H W)0 l|DB3J0 3PIS31(X o S)^ .Si. g^'r "o t? •§>:?§ < — ^ — > , tig'o-^'^s " ^ " -^ ">^-p oort-t-tr, 5r:OoOQ;r c2 •r ^ -S .Tig m pagiu^LTAi ^ " ^ ^ I ^ K ^ M«^ / "-' , i:st"«"'r "^ 2U- C S3l«FX , .SSrt^^-O o (^ (U ?n O ON - «*- 000 f-- TJ>a«'T3^_^ fe ■« a O A>_ ■2'^oc'U'Jo ^ •~ ty«C; I — ) 3 'x ts -r c ^ j^ 5^'^ ^ J9331U c'j'^Sc'S^ ^ ^-S) o -^?a "I . pay;^' '5 ^ ^ "^ -5 r« :a S^ ^ -3EUIsji?3fqouV ^ g c c ^'^^ ^ Remarks en a Micrometer^ &c. 43^ For Example. — An Objed:, cr Part of an Objed:, whofe Diameter when viewed through the Magnifier N' i. appears the exacfl Length of one Square oi the Hair Micrometer, is realy no more than the 270th 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 Indrument fliij more ufeful, Squares maybe drawn on Paper (with very black Lines) correfpondent try thofe of the Micrometer magnified by the EyeGlafs, ''oiz. ;\th5 of an Inch diameter j by the Means whereof, (if placed under fo thin a Paper as they can plainly be feen through,) an Objeft may be drawn exacHy of the Size it appears when magnified by any Glafs whatever. — Nine Squares fo drawn are (hewn P/^/^ XVII. /^. 6. In the fame Plate, ^^. 4, (hews a Micro- meter v/hofe Dlviiionsare the Fiftieths, and jig. 5, another whofe Diviiions are theTenths of an Inch : And this laft may remain in the Body of the Microfcopc, without being anyHindrance, Vv^hatever Glafs is ufed. 'Twere well if the Workmen ground their GlafTes fo exacftly 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 Mv.JLecuwe/tboek's Microfcopes. not the Cafe, a particular Table muft be -made for every Set ofGlafTes. 0/ Mr. Leeuwenhoek's Mici'ofcopes. ^ I '' Hough yh .LeewwenhoeJi % Microfcopes Jl^ 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 Exaftnefs from thofe in the Repofitory of \h^ Royal Society^ which are all alike inForm, 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.7%. 7 and 8. The Eye muO: be applyed to the Side^^. 7. — The flat Part A is compofed of tv/o thin Silver Plates fallened together by little Ri- vets b b b b b b. Between thefe Plates a very - fmall double-convexGlafs is let into a Socket, and • Aa accurate Defcription of the 2^ Microfcopes, and Objeds belonging to them, contained in a i'mtll Cabinet which Mr. Lecun.venhoek at his Deceafe bequeathed to the. Rcyal Society, was prefented many Ye^rs ago to that Societjr by Martin polices, Efq; and may be ken N '' 380 of the Phi- lofcphiccd Tratifa^ions. Ai d a farther nccoutit, fetting forth the W'''?'^///)/';^ Pcwers, and othcir Particulars concerning the fame Microfcopes, (which werethreeMonths under myExami- iiation for that Purpofe) was prefenteu by me to the Royal Sicttfy in theVcar 1740, and pablifhcd Pkil. Irani. H 45^. Y>\xt neither of thefe Accounts has uny Drawing of the Mi- croicoj;e.. Mr. L^euwenhock's Microfcopes. 455 ^ and a Hole is drilled in each Plate for the Eye to look through at c. A Limb of Silver d is faftened to the Plates on this Side by a Screw e which o-ocs throuo;h them both. Another Part of this Limb, joined to ' it at right Angles, pafles under the Plat«F, • and comes out on the other tiJe ; (/^W. Jig, 8) at f : thiough this runs, tlireA- ly upwards, a long fine-threaded Screw g, which turns in and raifcs or lowers xhe> , Stage hy whereon a coarfe ruGra;ed Pin i for the Object to be failcned to, is turned ab >ut by a little Handle k-, and this Stage with die Pin upon it is removed farther from the magnifying Lens, or admitted nearer to it, by a little Screw /, that paifnig tliiough die Stage horizontally, and bearing agsinfl the Back of thelnilruinent, thruils it tartiicr off when there is occalion. The End of the Ions Screw q; comes out thro' the Star-e at ?n, where it tarns round, but a<5ts 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 by Mr. Lceui^jenhotli % own Hand, and the Glaffes, which are excel- lent, were all ground and fet by himfclf. He glewcdoneorat mofltwoObje(ll:scn thePoint of the Pin belcngiiigto eachMicrofcope,and carefully prefervea them there j fo that each Inlb'ument, being devoted to one or tvv'oOb- F f 2 jcifts 43 6 DircBlom fir takhig off jecfts only., could be applyed to nothing elfe. This Method induced him to make a Mi- crofcope with a Glafs adapted to almofl eve- ry Object, 'till he had gotfome hundreds of them: as he fays himfelf,in the 2dVol. of his Works, pag. 290, Mihi quideni Junt centum centumque Microfcopia^ &;c. All this Trouble andExpence is now faved, by a Set of Glaf- fes to be fliifted with great Eafe, as theSub- \^Qi to be examined may require. The magnifying Powers of thefe GlafTes- come fhort of fome now made, but are fully fufficient for moil Purpofes. Of the 26 Microfcopes I examined, one magnifies the Diameter of an Objed: j6o, one 133, one 1 14, three 100, three 89, eight 80, two 72, three 66, two 57,one 53, and one 40 timeg. Dire5tions for obtaining an exa£i Heprefenta^ tion or Figure of any Coin or Medal. 'AVING taken a perfed: and fharp Impreffion of the Coin or Medal the fineft Sealing Wax, cut the Wax away round the Edges of the Impreflion, with the Point of a Penknife, or a pair of fharp ScifTars. The Roliing-Prefs Printers havean Ink for printing off Copper Plates, very different from what other Printers employ in print- ing Books : work fome of this with an Hair-, Pencil Reprefentatiom of Coins or Medals. 437 Pencil into "all the Letterino- and hollow Places of the Wax Impreflion, which are the riling or projeding Parts of the Medal. This done, pais your bare Finger, or a cloth ftrained upon it, gently but nimbly over the Surface, 'till you perceive the Ink perfectly cleared away, unlefs where the Letters arc, 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 W~ater fqueezed a little out of them, fome Pieces of writing Paper fomev^ hat larger than the Medal. Place one of thcfe on the W^ax Impreffion ; 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 mufl have a Couple of flat fmooth Iron Plates, about two Inches Square, and of a Thickncfs not to bend. The Wax Impreilion mull: be placed, with its Face upwards, on the Middle of one of thefe Plates, before you fpread the Paper andFlannels on it ; and the other Plate muft immediately be laid over them. Then, hold- ing them all tight together, put them care- fully and evenly into a little Prefs, made of two Iron Planks about five Inches and a half long, one Inch and half wide, and half an Inch in thicknefs : having a Couple of male Ff 'J Screws 43 S DireBkn^ for taking off Screws that run through them, with a turn- ing female Screw on each to force thePlanks too;ether. And thefe female Screws muft have ftron 2; weli-tempcred shoulders, where- by to work them. A Figure of this Prefs is flifewn Flate XVII,/^. 9. Things -being thus adjufted, holding the Prefs in your Left-Hand, ftrike with a little Hammer, firlt on the Shoulders of one Screw, and then on the Shoulders of the other, to bring the Planks together parallel and render the Prefiure every-where alike ; unlefs you find it requilite to give more Force to one Side than the other, which thefe two Screws will put in your own Pov/er. The Prefs opens again, by a Stroke or two of the Hammer, the contrary Way, on the Shoulders of the Screws : and then you will find a true and fair Pidlure neatly printed off ; which (if anyDef^ciencies appear there- in) may cafily be 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 aMedal either in Black or Red ; proper Ink of both which Colours niay be had of the Copper-Plate Printers : but your Wax Imprefiion muft be different m Colour to that of the Ink you ufe, other^ wife you cannot fee when the Ink is well cleared av/ay 5 and as tjie whole Succefs de- pend? Reprcfenfations of Coins or Medals. 43^ pends on the Goodnefs of the Wax Imprel- iion or Mould, the following Rules, taught by Experience, arc commended to be ob- ferved. 1 . Let the Wax be fine, or it wants a proper Hardnefs, and the ImprefTion will not be Hiarp. 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 flick : and, if too cold, no good ImprciTion can be taken. The right Time feems to be, jufl after the Wax ceafes to work up with little Bubbles in it. 4. Make not the ImprefTion on a Tabic, or any hard Body, without feveral Folds of Paper, or, what is better, a woolen- Cloth, or fome foftLeather underneath ; for foft Things give Way to the Pref- 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 rifmg Parts being dill foft, will link down, and the Imprelliou be much lefs fliarp. Ji4f. . ^. Whiu 44<^ lyiy^csions jor taking off 6. White Pafteboard, Card-Paper, or feme other thick Paperj is beil to take Wax ImprefTions on. , In Places v/here Copper-Plate Printer s Ink cannot be had, Water-Colours may be made ufe of. Lake and Vermilion mixt make the moft proper Red, Indian Ink the befl Black. Diredlions for other Colours may be feen, Pbil. 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, Pialiter of Paris, Paper,ei?r. But fincea Mould m.uft be formed for each of thefe, either of Clay, Horn, Plaifter of Paris, or I'bme other Materials, which requires a great deal ofTrouhleandTime to form, thisMethod I believe will be judged abundantly more convenient, efpecially as fome of thofe ways do really a great deal of Injury to Medals, by impairing the Sharpnefs of their moil deli- cate and expreffive Strokes. For Wax is always ready, and hurts not the finell: Medal : and however brittle it may be thought, the Moulds made thereof refill the Force of downright Preffure, al- mofl as effeduaily as if they were made of Steel ; and might ferve to take off a thou- fand Impreffions, were they not apt to crack, snd the Marks of thofe Ciacks to render what I. 3t Tir XK. TBI 0 0 • (?) m " Z 0 0 £.J j . XT yi. sff nd r'! a n t^n XK :d.j-:.J{. ./^//„ . ^ T. sSifi/rtt/c . ff/f//j . t D005J liJ'- RcpreJ'entations of Coins or Medals. 44 1 what are taken from them afterwards not quite lb elegant. But each Mould will ufual- ly afford three or four good Impreffions, ei- ther coloured or plain 3 and if the Ink be got off clean, the fame Wax may be melted and employed feveral Times. It is evident, that Impreffions taken thus, muft be cxadtly 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- cd with a noble Colledion of the genuine Prints of Medals ; which m.ay 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 parted down. I llatter 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 Difcoveries that are moff eafy, and confequently may be pradifed by every body, however fimple and void of Inven- tion they may appear, are really in them- felves moff valuable. I need only inftance the Art of Printing, (from which this in fome fort is borrowed ) the mofl happy Difcovcry that perhaps was ever made' by Man ; yet feemingly fo eafy, and what the Ancients came fo near to in their Seals, that its 442 Concerning Coins or Medals. it is extremely furpriling they did not find it out. In this Manner I have taken off many thoulands 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 v^as not finiflied till the whole Book was nearly printed off, where- by fome Figures in it are not defcribed in their proper Places : It may be needful to inform the Reader, that N° I,II,III, are dif- ferent Branchings of Copper , produced by the i^veral Mixtures mentioned CHAP. LIII. Part I. That N° X, XI, are two Species of Corallina marina^ and N° XII a Species of Fucus marinuSy all magnified by the Mi- crofcope. IN- INDEX. A. A C/D (volatile Spirit.) what 7» itsEfFeaj 71,75 JStjons of "nimals, an expreffive Language ■ 421 jilum examined 97 its Covfi^urat':om when exxited by Heat 4, 97 its Cry'h'ls when at Reft — .- . . 4, 102 produces Comet-like Figures - — 99 how to prefervc — 100 how produced ■ 104. Earth from Africa — - ib. ^w^fr (Salt of) examined 138 its Generation uncertain — — . 139 where found 144 Queriv.s concerning it • l^o Infefts how fuppoied to get into it — . 145 jimmoniac (Salt) defcribed — • 109 examined by the Microfcopc 110 renders Water cold ■ 1 1 z Avguillte, vid. Erh. JnimalcuUs, fmalleft feen in Water — — 231 their wonderful Machinery 229 with Shells iiud Wheels 295 with a Piobofcis — 217 Antimony (Flowers of) defcribed and examined 121 the Bafis of A'o/?ri/wj ■ 122 * its Operation defcribed — . 1 24, Antimonial Cup and perpetual Pill i 25 Arhor D:ar.^^ or Silver Tree -■ ■ 195 Martis, or Iron Tree ■ 1 94 Vtneris, or Copper Tree - ■ • 19;^ Arfcnicy produced from Cobalt • 128 not eafily foluble • — i ?9 its Cryilals ' ■■ 1 30 a deadly Poyfon, its Symptoms i 36 and Remedies 1 3 1 Caies I N D E X. 3^1 Cafes of People poyfoned by it » 3 -» » $6-y Ejcperiments to know it I 56 Fumes how pernicious — — 133 gives a Silver Colour to Copper — 135 ,^^-7V^f, Infefts on the Bark of — ^ 371 -jittrailion and Rrfulfton fuppofed greatly inftrumental in the Configurations and Chriftals of Salts, &c. 27, 48 Alternate Fits of each — 27, 29 Queries concerning ■ 26, &c, B. Hag Animal, or, Pedicuhs Aquaticus — — 3 S3 BanJiickUi OT Prickle-back^ Loufe of 377 Bark (Peruvian) examined ■ . .. . - 171 Bat, the Loufe of — 406 Baulm, Salt of — — 165 Bell- F loiv er AnimzX, ox plumed Polype • »■ 306 Animals ' - ■ ■ . 330 Benjamin, Flowers of — 160 Berbery, Salt of 1 68 Bland), Mr. poyfoned by Arfenic, his Cafe 1 36 Borax examined — 106 its Defcription and Ufe ' 107 native from Perfia 108 Boxes and Phials for Solutions of Salts 32, 226 Brar.chings of Copper refembling thofe on Mocha Stones, Dendrite, &G. how to produce J 95 to 208 Br i filed Infea — 363 c. Camomile^ Salt of ■ -r- 162 C«w/>,6/r^ examined • < 188 Candle-light beft to examine Salts by the Microfcop^ 1 4 Carduus (Salt of) examined - 178 Carp, Loufe of . 374 Cfl/^^ made of Duckweed by a VTaggot 415 Mofs by a Maggot 4 1 6 Cheltenham Salt .. ■ 1 49 Cobalt, what • 128 Arfenic and Smalt made from it — — ibid. Qtlle£lion of Solutions how to make and preferve 32, &c, Cahun of precious Stones whence derived 43, %i, 216 Coii' INDEX. Conje^ura cancemir^ Jnler ■ ' 14010146 Configuration! and CryftalUzations how difFerent c fuppofed owing to Attraftion and Repulfion 29, 46 not to Vegetation 4.1 Gems formed in the fame Manner 4.5 Copper Particles liow attraded by Iron yi, 82, 196 to 208 obtained pure by fuch Attrafiion 80 gives Colour to Gems > 82 Experiments on its Coloura — • gi its Colour how difFufible • ■ 84 Branchings of it to produce — 1 nr to prefcrve 208 Copperas, fee fifr-h/ (green) Corals and CorallintSy Conjedurcs about their Formation 2 1 7, &c. by an Appofition of Particle* 21Q by Infeds improbable 220 Salt of examined j6z r#rr»/?if5:/^//»7^/^, a violent Poyfon ■ 126 Crjjfallization how performed . 21 according to Sit Ifaac Nt-wtr,n 22 how to preferve -. 26 Cryjfals, their very minute Figures the fame as when large, 24. and Configurations confidered together 41 how formed 217 Cucumber ^ Salt of • j -q I>. Drfign of this Work '• ■ ■ ■• i , 9 Dire£lions how to make Solutions of Salts 10 to examine them by the Microfcope 12 to take off Medals or Coins 436 Dijfoluthn how cffeded — — j^ according to Sir I/aac Ncwien, as explained by Dr. Friend ' • tbiJ. Drawings how neceflary to thefe Subjeds — — 7 in this Work no fanciful Reprefeatations g Muciwetd, curious Cafes made of ic by a Maggot 4.1 ^ INDEX. £p/j in Pafte viviparous — — — 24J Experiment to (hew it by Mr. James Shef-L':6cd ■ 246 Refle£tions on this Produftion ' 248 in Vinegar ■ 250 their dead Bodies curious 4 16 in blighted Wheat . 250 Experiments on them 253 the:r recovering Life 257 Eggs of the \^'ater Snail examined — 324 their Progreffion towards Perfedion ib. Ens Veneris defcribed and examined i 19 E^Jom Sah a Cheat »■ ■ 150 Ff;.W, Saltof . 166 /"/Vf everlailing, where, and what fo called 142 worftiipped by the Ferfians and hidlavs 1 43 Tlea (Water) with branched Horns 302 Pediculus Aquaticus^ or Bag Animal 383 i7(?^-frj of Benjamin . 160 Antimony '1-. 121 Froji, its pretty Configurations ■ . 223 Funnel Jiumali, or I unnel-likc Polypi ■■■ 351 their Manner of Multiplying 332 G^wj, how probably formed, and whence their Colours 43, 216 Gereration oviparous and viviparous how different 327, &:c, G/i»/7^, their great Utility . 231 Glauber i wonderful Salt . i ^ 3 Globe Jni?nal ■ ■ 322 God, all things alike eafy to him - ■ - 229 Reflections on his Works • 2jO, 420 has defcribed himftlf every where 420 his I'erfedions taught us by every thing — ibid. Culh'm/ius his *.- bfervutions on the l-'igares of Salts 24 H. I N D E X. H. Halr-Uke Infe6l -m 2^, Bnrtporii , Salt of . »-. — i go Hayjcji Bug .^>22.''' ,95 Heat aflifting in moft Operations of Nature ■ 4, i - how employed in thcfe Experiments .. ij Hcg-Lcufe, QX JVater S01.0 — — ^ gri 7?.i (good Writing) how to make .. g^ Sympathetic ■ . j^J ImfrcjJio7is of Medals to take off in Wax 45^ to print off in Colours 438 hfcci with 4 branched Arms — . 386 4 tranfparent Shells (bid. with the Rat's Tail 391 on the Bark of the Afh Tree — 371 ill Sea Water lumincus ■ 4c 3 hitrodudion to the Account of Animalcules 229 Lavendar^ZzX oi • I-J Ltad (Salt ofj defcribed and examined 1 1 4 how poyfonous ■— ii6 • Fumes of it fix Quick filver 117 Zif^cZ' carrying its Young under its Belly 415 Letter to Martin Folkes, Efq; concerning the Wheel Animal from a Friend with microfcopical Obfervations 381 Leewj.-c hoik his Microfcopes defcribed 4^4 Juftice done to his CharaJler 412. Iry^ feemingfy fufpended — ■ ■ 254 divided — — - 2 ^ 5 Redeftions and Ccnfidcrations on It 256 Light of a Candle bell to examine Salts — — 14 on Oyrters ■ 399 on the Scolopendra — - 401 in Sea Water 402 Luminous Water Infers 399, &c. u INDEX. M. Tyfatnia examined — — ig^ fome luppofed fiftitiotis ■ i^o Meafurvig of Objcfls by Dr.' Hooie's Metlwd 3 - 3 by a new Micrometer ,^27 Medai of Gold beftovved by the Royal Society on the Author for his i.xperiments on Salts, Sec. 3 Medals^ how to take Imprefiions and Pidurcs of 436 Metfds, Vegetation of, what __— 192 Micromter QOviX.x\vtd by Mr. Cujf — _ ^25 Remarks on it by Mr Folf-.es — ■ .- 426 in the Author's Microfcope -— 430 Table belonging to it — 431 Microfcope, which fittefl to examine Salts 15 madeufcofin thefe Experiments 422 New Double Compound defcribed ibid. Mr. Leewwenhoek^ 6z{cnht^ 434. Mil/cpeJes, Sidt of 183 I^Iculdinefs on the Bark of Wood i~- 41 6 minute Fungi, of what Size 41 7 their Seeds ■ '•" ^ig Muzivort, Salt of ~— — __ I yg Mulberry Infe£f — 3^g JVfa/i&rwOT, edible, its Seeds — — ' ^ig N. Nsptha Springs near the Cajpian Sea dercribed 14! Sceams take hire on fcraping the Ground, and applying a Candle — i^J. how managed, and its Ufe ■- ». 142 white like Oil of Amber — . 143 Nature regular and confiant — 6, 8 feen at Work by Glafies — 7 her Plan in the Produdion of living Animal* 326 the Language of — 420 Net-Iiie Arms, an Infed; having fuch 366 Kitre or Sa/tPif re examined - ■■- 65 its Cryftajs ■ 65 how produced . . ... 67 Oblervations on ■ 70 Diirolvent of . ilver — — 7^ i^ojlrumi from Antimony ^ their Operation defcribed 1 24 O. I N p E X. o. dat'AtAmal • 241 Oyjers, Li^ht on them what «— — 399 Particles (original) of Matter undifcernable by the Microfcope 2, 23 reunite after Difiblution with furprifing Conflancy .?> 6 float at equal Diftanccs in a Menftruum 22 Conjei^ures concerning their Figures 2^^ 26 of Lryftals, what Properties fuppofed to have 27 indued with a kind of Po'arity ibiii. of Salts give Figure to the regular foflil Bodies 2 1 5 Fedlculus Aquatiius, OX BagAnimal 383 'Pf/r7/i7^/(7« how effected - 79 Pill perpetual ■■ - ' i 2 5 Pipe Afiimal « ■ — 3^9 Plants, Refufcitation of, what ■ 208 from Fern Afhes — 209 Sal Ammoniac and Pot-Aflies 2 1 1 Polychrefium Sal j ^ z Polype^, Funnel-like 332 their Way of Increafe • ibid. Plume Polypes ■ '- 306 Cluftering 33- their feveral Species defcribcd 337-S with Cpercula 342 their way of Increafe defcribed by Mr. Tritnhlcy 344 Proteus, an Animalcule fo called — 260 Pulex uquaticus arborefccns • 3^2 its A'ermin 30r Pyrazn/./ hollow of Salt liow formed <;7 Pyrita produce Vitriol S6, 90 ^erirs concerning the Formation of Cryflals and ConSgura- tion9 — 26, &c. concerning the Produdion of Araber i.jc, 14O G g R. INDEX. R. Ra^nfcatioKS of Metals how probably produced 1 99 of Copper how to produce 195, &c. Rctjkanc. See JrCtnic. Rat-taird Infefl of Mr. de Reauviur 391 i?'/«/a/^//^« of Plants what — — 208 Rheum on c.itching cold — — 184 leaded with Sahs ibid, S. Saccharum Saturm, Sugar or Salt of Lead 1 14 Salts in general what 1 6 act net but when diflblved 13, 232 their Ufe and Excellence in the Oeconomy of Nature 17, 59, 61, 213 fupply Matter an4 Form to Gems and figur'd FofLls 1 8, 44, 213, 215 incorporated with Metals caufe Ramifications 214 Ohjeii, that their Figures cannot be determined, answer' d 225 their Solutions how to prepare and preferve 10, 14 how to examine by the Microfcope 1 1 SALTS defcribcd and examined in this Work are, Salt Gem or Rock Salt 50, 54 of the Sea — 55 Spring9 — 56 ^icarborough — 147 Cheltenham 149 Epfom ■ — — 150 Polychreflum ■. 1 5 2 Glauber's 153 of Tartar — — — — 155 vitriolated — 158 Camomilg — — 162 Coral — — 163 Baulm - — 165 Fennel 166 JBuckthorn ^ 167 Berberry ■■ - 168 Cucumber «— 170 Peruvian Bark ■. 171 Liquorice • ■ ■ 172 Butcher's Broom • 173 y/orm- INDEX. Wormwood 175 Tobacco 1 76 Carduus 1 78 Lavendar — — ibid. Mugwort ■ 179 Hartfliorn — — 1 80 Urine 181 Millepedes • 183 5^/yr (Animalcule) fo called • — 314 firft noticed by Monf. Johlot — 315 Sea Wntcr luminous by Infeds . 402 Seeii of Afparagus 397 fungi or Muflirooms 418 the Lime-Tree — — 395 Vanilla - 419 Scolopcndra luminous — 401 Shervjood (Mr. James) his Difcovery as to Eels in Pafte 245 Sihcr-Trce, or Jrbor Diana — 193 Solutions how to prepare — 10,11 colled^ and preferve 3 2 Spider, Obfervations on a large one — 409 its Fangs ■ 410 its Eyes 412 Spring-Salt 56 Springs from Copper Mines in Huniary laid to convert Iron into Copper 79 at H'icilow in Ireland 80 5f«///(7, frelk Water — 356 Account of — 3 53- how voracious — 360 long fnouted — 378 Sublimate corrofive, delcribed and examined i 26 a violent Poyfon ibid. Sympathetic Inks •■ • 3 5 Powder, what — <:, i T. Tartar Salt of . 15:; vitiiolated — 158 Tinea I, or Tincar, /. e. rough Borax, nj. Borax ^ ' Tin, Salt of — 117 Tobacco, Salt of — 176 Oyl of, how poyfofious 177 TranJ mutation of Iron into Copper, what, andhoweffc6led*79 \. INDEX. Vanilla, its Seeds, how numerous ■■ . ^ig Vegetation, Terms of, how to be underllood in this Work 42 of Metals what — 192 Silver ■ 1^2 Iron 194 Copper, very curious Experiments 191J to 208 Verdtgreafe diftilPd, what . . 9j its Configurations and Cryftals 94. Vitriol in general 75 blue ■ - ■ 76 contains Copper 78 green contains Iron *— 84 whence produced ■ 87 how to prepare for the Microfcope 85 white contains Iron, Lead, or Tin 83 Experiments with — 91 Urine t Salt of — 181 W. Warts, to take away — — 1 1 ^ Water Flea with branched Horns — 302 Water Bog Loufe, or Sow 351 Wax Impreffions to take ofF from Medals ^ 43 Wheel jinimals, or Wheelers — — 266 of other Kinds — 292 with Shells — 295 z. Ziment Springs In Hungary 79 FINIS. To the Bookbinder. Th lajl Leaf of the Sheet A miift be placed injlead of a te^f cancelled in Letter P. The Plate of the Microfcope, (ivhicb is not numbered,) mud be put fronting Pag. 422. t iii'y^i^^ji\!Mk^i/t.i:ii