Nature's cabinet unlock'd wherein is discovered the natural causes of metals, stones, precious earths, juyces, humors, and spirits, the nature of plants in general, their affections, parts, and kinds in particular : together with a description of the individual parts and species of all animate bodies ... : with a compendious anatomy of the body of man, as also the manner of his formation in the womb / by Tho. Browne ...

CHAP. I. Of Stones.

1. MEtals being explicated, Stones do follow; which neither the heat of the sun, or the blows of the hammer, can extend.

2. Stones are (A) Bodies per∣fectly mixed, inanimate, hard, of a dry exhalation, mingled with a certain watry unctuosity, by the continuance of time, the strength of heat and cold, and so conglu∣tinated by a mineral vertue.

3. These like as other friable Bodies, of which a little after, because they have in them Sul∣phure and Quicksilver, of a weak nature, are not accounted by some for Metals.

4. Stones (B) are both vul∣gar •…•…nd precious.

5. The Vulgar do congeal of a gross and impure matter.

6. And they are either Po∣rous, or solid.

7. They are porous, which do consist of a matter not well com∣pacted; and therefore they have rare or thin parts, as the To∣phas and Pumice.

8. The Tophas is a stone thin, easily to be crummed, or friable, rough, and not equal.

9. Here it is disputed, whe∣ther it be cold or hot: This Car∣dan affirms; which Scaliger re∣•…•…, saying, Who told thee that the Tophas must be hot? It can∣not be discovered, by the touch, or the taste; or medicinal experi∣ence, such a quality was never found out, or experimented, Exer. 57.

10. The Pumice (C) is a Stone rare and cavernous, or spungie, very fit to be rubbed to powder;

of which there are three sorts, ac∣cording to Scaliger, Exer. 133.

11. Solid stones are those, which have continuated parts, and strongly coacted.

12. And these either do want Nitre, or endeavor it: those that want Nitre, are these; the Flint, the Whetstone, a Rock, the Em∣rod, the Marchasite.

13. The Flint is a solid and hard stone; whence if it be smit∣ten upon with Steel, fire will ap∣pear, Scal. Exer. 108.

14. The Whetstone is a solid stone, wanting Nitre, consisting of little grains; whose use is to sharpen iron.

15. The Lydian stone is a Spe∣cies of the same, which if any me∣tal be rubbed thereupon, it will discover the true from the coun∣terfeit.

16. The Rock is a stone large and hard, consisting of a great

quantity of matter strongly con∣creted.

17. Khe Emrod is a hard stone, which doth cut glass.

18. The Marchasite is a stone, upon which if any hard body, as Steel, be struck, sparks of fire will erupt.

19. Solid stones, which incline to Nitre, are these:

20. Marble is a solid stone, precious and clear, bespangled with various colours and spots.

21. And according to the co∣lour of it, various species and dif∣ferences do arise; but especially the Alabaster, the Ophite, and Porphirite.

22. The Alabaster is clear Mar∣ble, and white; of which boxes for odoriferous spices are made.

23. The Ophite, is a Marble with spots like to serpents.

24. The Porphirite is a Mar∣ble, distinguished with reddish

spots, garnished therewith like stars.

25. Precious stones are con∣gealed of a subtil and tenuious matter, by the onely influx of heaven; and they are called (D) gemms.

26. Yet in other places, for the diversity of the suns beams, other precious stones are produced.

27. Hence Precious stones are ge∣nerated in Ethiopia, and India, by reason of the vicinity of the ori∣ental and meridional Sun; be∣cause there the matter is better cocted. See Scal. Exer. 99.

28. A Gem therefore is a pre∣cious stone, of famous and noble vertues, engendred of a most sub∣til and elegant matter.

29. Pliny reckons up many oc∣cult vertues, that it is endowed withal, lib. 37. c. 10.

30. The Adamant is (E) a translucid Gem, of a shining co∣lour,

not unlike to iron; of a great hardness, and greater price.

31. And it is either begotten without Gold or in Gold.

32. That which is gotten with∣out Gold, is in bigness of the In∣dian hazle nut, but that of Ara∣bia is lesser.

33. That which is gotten in Gold, is, First the Adamant, cal∣led Cenchros, answering the grains of Gromwel-seed; Se∣condly, the Macedonian, propor∣tionable to the seed of Cucum∣ber; Thirdly the Cyprian, which is of the colour of Brass; Fourth∣ly, the starry Adamant, called Syderites, shining in colour like Iron: and of this latter, there are two kinds to be had.

34. But so great is their hard∣ness, that they will resist the blows of Iron hammers; neither will they give place to the furious flames of the fire, but are onely

broken with the blood of a Goat; especially, if the Goat before his blood be shed, eat Parsly, and Silermountain, with a little wine: and the reason why it should do thus, Scaliger professes he knows not, Exer. 344.

35. The Saphire is a (F) tran∣sparent Gem, of great hardness, endowed with a blue and celesti∣al colour; preserving chastity, and corroborating the heart.

36. The Smaragd is a tran∣sparent Gem, fragil, though hard; of a green colour, but clear, and sometimes of an earthly co∣lour.

37. They call this the chafte Stone, because it is believed to break in the act of copulation, and resists venery, Scal. Exer. 33. sect. 2.

38. The Hyacinth is a Gemm of a small magnitude, shining like unto a violet-colour; comfort∣ing

the heart, and exciting chear∣fulness.

39 The Amethyst is a Gem, obtaining the same colour with the Hyacinth; onely, that it gli∣sters more with purpureous ful∣gor.

40. According to the opinion of Aristotle, if it be applied to the Navel, it draws to it the va∣pour of winde, and so discus∣ses it.

41. The Carbuncle or Pyro∣pus, is a Gem, representing the flame of clear fire; it is a great enemy to poyson.

42. The Chalcedony is a Gem also clear and beautiful, shining like unto stars; whose vertue is to resist fear and sadness.

43. The Ruby is a red Gemm, shining in the dark, like a Spe∣cies of a spark.

44. The Chrysolite is a shi∣ning Gem, of a golden colour,

glistering with variety of light; and resists melancholy.

45. The Asterite is a hard Gemm, and splended; which if it be turned, will shew the sun and moon shining within it.

46. The Achates is a Gemm (H) excellent in the variety of colours; which one, may be op∣posed to all the colours in other Gems; and it is a great preser∣vative against pestilent poysons, and it is believed to help the me∣mory much, and increase pru∣dence, Scal. Exer. 117.

47. The Sardis is of a deep yel∣low colour, making men joyful, sharpning wit, and stenches blood flowing from the nostrils.

48. The Jasper is a green Gem, bespangled as it were with spots, representing drops of blood; which if hung upon the ventricle, doth strengthen it.

49. The Onix (I) is a pellucid

Gem, like unto the nail of a mans finger in colour.

50. The Turcois is an obscure Gem, of bluish colour, yet somewhat inclining to a green; it recreats the heart and sight.

51. And these are the noblest of Gems; those that are less no∣ble, are the Chrystal, Coral, Blood-stone, and Load-stone.

52. The Chrystal (K) is a pel∣lucid stone, clear, and concreted of Ice vehemently congealed; as much of it is found to be gene∣rated under the earth, where winter-storms and snow is fre∣quent, as about the Alpes.

53. The Coral (L) is a Ra∣moustone, begotten of a plant of the sea, hardned by the air.

54. And it is white, black, and red; the last whereof, is the no∣blest and best.

55. Gagates or Amber, is a stone, begotten of liquid Bitu∣is

men, flowing on the sea-shore, and condensated with cold.

56. And there are three sorts reckoned up; the yellow, which is of the colour of Honey; the se∣cond is of the colour of Muska∣dine; the third is candid, which is judged the best.

57. The stone Hematites, is externally of the colour of blood, inwardly like to iron; and of so great hardness, that it can scarce be pierced: it stenches blood.

58. The Loadstone (M) is en∣dowed with bluish green co∣lour, attracting iron by a natural faculty. Aristot. lib. 7. Phys.

57. Those Stones are reckoned amongst Gems, which are gene∣rated in the Bodies of Animals, by a peculiar glutinous seed, and is concocted by native heat in a little progress, and so by cold congealed.

60. The most noble of them,

are those which are found in ter∣restrial Animals; the Chelido∣ny, which is a slender stone, found in the ventricle of yong swallows, mingled with a black but reddish colour.

61. The Alectory is a Stone, more obscure then crystal, gene∣rated in the ventricle of a goat, about the ninth year of its age, and about the bigness of a bean.

62. Aetites is a Stone with a hard cortex, scabrous and light, found in the nest of an Eagle.

63. Borax, otherwise Che∣loutites, is a Stone found in the head of an old and great Toad.

64. Quadrus is a Stone found in the brain of a vulture; Quiris, in the nest of the bird Upupa; Saurites, in the belly of a Lizard; Limarius, in the head of a Snail not covered with a house.

65. These Stones are found in water-Animals; Gem•…•… percarum,

found in the head of a little fish, called a Pearch; Lapis Carpious, found in the jaws of a Carp; O∣culi Cancrorum, are stones clear and white, found in the eyes of Crabs, especially in the females.

66. The Margarite is (N) a Stone, begotten of sea-shell-fi∣shes, being of a globular form.

The Commentary.

(A) THe matter of Stones is a watrish humor, and an unctuous and gross earth: Stones are not procreated of the earth alone, because its parts are dry, and easily dissipable into powder, but also of a certain humid un∣ctuosity, which as glue doth con∣nect the earthy parts together▪ nor can this simple humor alone, flowing by it self, and of its own nature, constitute stones, but earth is necessary to the composi∣tion,

which doth afford matter for the unctuosity to astringe; therefore stones are gotten of gross earth, by the coalition of this humour: which must be so understood, not that the two o∣ther elements, to wit, the fire and the aire must be separated from their mixtion, if so be the opinion of Philosophers be true, that every mixed thing doth con∣sist of four Elements.

The efficient causes of Metals or Minerals, are two; heat and cold: heat persisting in the mat∣ter, doth diduce moisture, and unctuosity of •…•…errene sub∣stance, by certain tender parts, and so doth coct and digest, and perfectly mingle the portions of the several elements, but especi∣cially of water and earth, and so purge them from all the excre∣mentitious parts, and at last doth prepare that matter rightly to

produce the form of a stone; and so cold at length doth condensate it with its astrictiveness, & expel all its superabundant humor, and so indurate it into a stone.

But some may say, that cold ra∣ther is the cause of corruption, then generation: I answer, it is true in Animate bodies, but in Inanimates, to wit, in meteors and metals, coldness is the cause of generation. Yet it may further be objected, If stones do coalesce from coldness; it follows by the same rule, that they must melt by heat, and so be resolved; but that cannot be, a•…•… •…•…erefore nor the former. I an•…•…wer, Stones cannot be melted by heat alone, without the affusion of some other humor, because there is in them such an exquisite & natural commixture of moisture and dryness, that they refuse liquation by their contra∣ries; neither are they to be re∣duced

to the action of their exter∣nal faculty, without the sym∣pathy of some familiar qua∣lity.

(B) According to the divers and various subtilty of the mat∣ter, whether pure or impure, crass, viscous, or the like; Stones, both pure and impure, noble and ignoble, are ingendred; whence it is that there is so great variety of Stones and Gemms: and here an objection will arise, whether precious Stones may change the matter of the earths generation? Gems, because of their noble ful∣gor and transparency, do not seem to persist of earth, which is dusky and blackish, an enemy to such pulchritude; whence many are of this opinion, that Gems are partakers equally of celestial fire and water, and from them to receive their fulgor and christal∣line clearness. But we must know

that Gems, also, do consist of cer∣tain earthly matter; but not ob∣scure, but subtil, mixed with a watrish humidity, well cocted and tempered: for the matter, ac∣cording to Logicians, doth vary the dignity of things; but the pro∣pinquity of the sun, cocts better and stronger the matter of stone in Oriental regions, makes the Gems and Stones, both more ex∣cellent, and precious. Another question will here arise, whether Stones do differ in forms and spe∣cies? We maintain the affirma∣tive, with this one undeniable reason; divers actions and ver∣tues do arise from divers Forms; but there are divers actions in di∣vers Stones; therefore, &c. The assumption is proved, because one stone resists poyson; another di∣scusses swellings, another draws iron; which are indeed divers effects.

(C) Pliny relates of the genera∣tion of the Pumice, that it is got∣ten of Fruits, some of Bays, some of Thyme, beyond the Columns of Hereules, which are transform∣ed into the Pumice: which if it be true, it is not strang•…•…, why the Pumice, cast into the water, doth swim, when it is made of po∣rous and rare matter, and there∣fore it hath its levity from its matter, and will not sink to the bottom of water: but that for use is accounted the best, which is candid, light and very spungious. The flower of it, according to Theophrastus, doth take away drun∣kenne•…•…s.

(D) A Gemm properly is the sprouting or bud of a Tree, fair, and round, bunching out at the first out of bun•…•…s, and chiefly of Vines; and so those precious Stones which re•…•…mble this form, are wont to be called Gems, be∣cause

they respond thereunto in figure and form. But the vertues and the effects of Gems are won∣derful, if we may believe Cardan. Some, says he, are effectual in prolonging life; others available in love, in obtaining riches; some for divination, others for consola∣tion; some for wisdom, others for good fortune: some work ef∣fects to make men dull, others joyful; some sad, others fearful: some do resist poyson, others help the concoction of the ventricle and liver. But concerning the vertues of Gems, read Scaliger, Exer. 106.

But Heaven no doubt hath in∣fused into Gems, many admira∣ble properties and vertues; con∣cerning which, Hermes Trisme∣gistus hath sufficiently treated.

(E) But why doth the Ada∣mant preserve its substance whole against the weighty stroaks of the

hammer, and furious flames of of the fire, yet suffer it self to be dissolved with the blood of a goat? There are some of our later writers, who will admit of no occult property at all, but go a∣bout to manifest every thing by plain reason; therefore they judge goats blood, by reason of its analogy, which is in the be∣ginning common, to pierce the Adamant. But says Scaliger, what other thing is that anology of its common principle, then an occult property? No doubt but it is a great miracle of nature; and why it should pierce so hard a body, no man well can demon∣strate.

(F) The Carbuncle comes from the Eastern regions, shining like to white clouds; but because it hath golden spots, it is reckon∣ed by some amongst Gems.

(G) Of which there are three

sorts: First, that which shines in the dark, they call Pyropus; secondly, that which is put in a black vessel, shining, water being powred upon it: thirdly, that is the basest, which glisters onely when the light shines.

(H) Achates is of so many va∣rious kindes, that it will scarce be credited to be one stone; for it is clear, red, yellowish, cineri∣tious, green, dark, blue; inso∣much, that this one answers to all the colours of other Gems.

(I) Albertus Magnus relates, that he hath tryed this, that if this stone be hung about the neck, it roborates the strength of the whole body: which is incredible; for by its frigidity it constringes the spirits: By the same reason it is related, that if it be hung about the belly, it hinders venery; whereupon the Indians every∣where preserve themselves.

(K) Whether chrystal be glass, is a subtil controversie, between Cardan and Scaliger. He denies it, upon this reason, because glass is dissolved by the fire, but chrystal not, unless for several days it lie in the midst of a vehement fire, and be continually blown: there∣fore Chrystal can never be glass. Scaliger answers, glass that hath never obtained the hardness of a stone, is as yet water; and therefore easily dissolvable by fire, because it is but congealed with a little cold: but when it is concreted and congealed by a diuturnal cold, -insomuch that it hath obtained the perfect form and hardness of a stone; it will not easily melt, or not at all: but it is generated oftentimes under the earth, and sometimes upon the tops of high mountains, where there is perpetual snow; therefore it must needs be congealed into

a hard substance, for much of it is brought from the Alpes, Hel∣vetia, and Italy.

(L) Coral is called by the Greeks 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as it were a shrubby stone; for it is called frutex marinus, because being ex∣tracted from the sea by the air, it is hardned into a stone, under the water: the Coral is green and soft; but assoon as it is taken out and reposed to the air, it grows hard and red, because of the tenu∣ity and subtilty of the air, which compels and hardens its parts.

(M) The Loadstone is called Magnes, as is supposed, from its first finder out: by some it is cal∣led the Herculean stone: it hath a wonderful vertue in attraction; it doth not onely strongly draw iron to it self, but also infuse an attractive vertue into the iron drawn; insomuch that it will attract other iron to it: which

thing can hardly be demonstra∣ted with reason. If any say that iron is drawn by the similitude of substance, he errs not; for si∣militude and the flight of the va∣cuum are the two causes of attra∣ction: heat draws by the flight of the vacuum; every part doth draw its proper aliment, accord∣ing to the similitude of the sub∣stance: whence iron is as it were the aliment of the Loadstone, and therefore it is drawn by it; for in the flakes of iron, the Load∣stone is preserved; although Sca∣liger by no means will assent to this: But we say that iron is the proper aliment of the Load∣stone, not so as to say that it lives, as Scaliger well infers, but as it were nourished by it: But as the Elements move spontane∣ously to their places, as to their end and perfection; so the Load∣stone, because it is kept in the fi∣lings

of iron, and as it were nou∣rished by them, moves to the iron; therefore we may well rest in the opinion of the antient, that iron is drawn by the Loadstone, by the similitude of substance; and therefore it is that this stone is of the colour of iron. Yet some say, that the Loadstone doth not always draw iron: I answer, That happens by accident; for when the Adamant is near, it hinders and impedes its attracti∣on. Cardan yet denies that the Adamant can hinder the attra∣ction of iron, or can be hindred by Leeks and Onyons; but main∣tains, that it will always attract iron; as he hath proved by ex∣perience.

(N) The manner of the gene∣ration of Pearl, is this; Shell-fi∣shes in the spring time, being in∣cited to the desire of copulation, or conception, whereupon they

come out to the shore, and dilate themselves, attracting the hea∣venly dew; return, as it were, burdened, and so bring forth Margaries: Hence it is that there is so much difference in the good∣ness of the Pearl; which happens according to their age or mag∣nitude, and also the quality of the dew received: of round shell-fi∣shes, the best Pearls are gotten. Those are the best Pearls, which are found in the bottom of the sea; and sometimes found float∣ing upon the shore.