Physiologia Epicuro-Gassendo-Charltoniana, or, A fabrick of science natural, upon the hypothesis of atoms founded by Epicurus repaired [by] Petrus Gassendus ; augmented [by] Walter Charleton ...

CHAP. V. A Vacuum praeternatural. p. 35.

SECT. I.

ARTIC.

1 WHat is conceived by a Coacervate Va∣cuity: and who was the Inventer of the famous Experiment of Quick-silver in a Glass Tube, upon which many modern Physi∣ologists

have erected their perswasion of the possibility of introducing it.

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2 A faithful description of the Experiment, and all its rare Phaenomena.

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3 The Authors reason, for his selection of onely six of the most considerable Phaenomena to ex∣plore the Causes of them.

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SECT. II.

ARTIC.

1 THe First Cardinal Difficulty.

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2 The Desert space in the Tube argued to be an absolute Vacuum coacervate, from the im∣possibility of its repl••tion with Aer.

ibid.

3 The Experiment praesented in Iconism

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4 The Vacuity in the Desert Space, not praevent∣ed by the insinuation of Aether.

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5 A Paradox, that Nature doth not abhor all vacuity, per se; but onely ex Accidenti, or in respect to Fluxility.

ibid.

6 A second Argument against the repletion of the Desert space by Aether.

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7 The Vacuity of the Desert space, not praevent∣ed by an Halitus, or Spiritual E••••lux from the Mercury: for three convincing reasons.

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8 The Authors Apostacy from the opinion of an absolute Coacervate Vacuity in the desert space: in regard of

ibid.

9 The possibility of the subingression of light.

ibid.

10 Of the Atoms or insensible bodies of Heat and Cold: which are much more exile and pene∣trative then common Aer.

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11 Of the Magnetical E••••lux of the Earth: to which opinion the Author resigns his Assent.

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12 No absolute plenitude, nor absolute Vacuity, in the Desert Space: but onely a Disseminate Vacuity.

ibid.

SECT. III.

ARTIC.

1 THe second Difficulty stated.

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2 Two things necessary to the creation of an excessive, or praeternatural Vacuity.

ibid.

3 The occasion of Galilaeos invention of a Brass Cylindre charged with a wooden Embol, or Sucker: and of Torricellius invention of the praesent Experiment.

ibid.

4 The marrow of the Difficulty, viz. How the Aer can be impelled upward, by the Restagnant Quick silver, when there externally wants a fit space for it to ci••culate into.

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5 The solution of the same, by the Laxity of the Contexture of the Aer.

ibid.

6 The same illustrated, by the adaequate simile of Corn infused into a Bushel.

ibid.

7 A subordinate scruple, why most bodies are mo∣ved through the Aer▪ with so little resistence, as is imperceptible by sense?

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8 The same Expeded.

ibid.

9 A second dependent scruple concerning the Cause of the sensible resistence of the Aer, in this case of the Experiment: together with the satisfaction thereof, by the Gravity of Aer.

ibid.

SECT. IV.

ARTIC.

1 THe State of the Third Difficulty.

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2 The Solution thereof in a Word.

ibid.

3 Three praecedent positions briefly recognized, in order to the worthy profounding of the myste∣ry, of the Aers resisting Compression beyond a certain rate, or determinate proportion

ibid.

4 The Aequiponderancy of the External Aer, pendent upon the surface of the Restagnant Mercury, in the vessel to the Cylindre of Mer∣cury residuous in the Tube, at the altitude of 27 digits: the cause of the Mercuries constant subsistence at that point.

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5 A convenient simile, illustrating and enforcing the same.

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6 The Remainder of the Difficulty; viz. Why the Aequilibrium of these two opposite weights, the Mercury and the Aer, is constant to the praecise altitude of 27 digits: removed.

ibid.

7 Humane Perspicacity terminated in the exte∣rior parts of Nature, or simple Apparitions: which eluding our Cognition, frequently fall under no other comprehension, but that of rati∣onal Conjecture.

ibid.

8 The constant subsistence of the Mercury at 27 digits, adscriptive rather to the Resistence of the Aer, then to any occult Quality in the Mer∣cury.

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9 The Analogy betwixt the Absolute and Respe∣ctive Aequality of weights, of Quick-silver and Water, in the different altitudes of 27 digits and 32 feet.

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10 The definite weights of the Mercury at 27 digits, and Water at 32 feet, in a Tube of the third part of a digit in diametre; found to be neer upon two pound, Paris weight.

ibid.

11 Quaere, Why the Aequilibrium is constant to the same point of altitude in a Tube of a large concave, as well as in one of a small; when the force of the Depriment must be greater in the one, then the other.

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12 The solution thereof by the appropriation of the same Cause, which makes the descent of two bodies, of different weights, aequivelox.

ibid.

SECT. V.

ARTIC.

1 THe Fourth Capital Difficulty proposed.

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2 The full solution thereof, by demonstrati∣on.

ibid.

3 The same confirmed by the theory of the Cause

of the Mercuries frequent Reciprocations, be∣fore it acquiesce at the point of Aequipondium.

ibid.

SECT. VI.

ARTIC.

1 THe Fifth Principal Difficulty.

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2 Solved, by the Motion of Restauration na∣tural to each ins••nsible particle of Aer.

ibid.

3 The incumbent Aer, in this case, equally di∣stressed, by two contrary Forces.

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4 The motion of Restauration in the Aer••exten∣ded to the satisfaction of another consimilar Doubt, concerning the subintrusion of Water into the Tube; if superaffused upon the restag∣nant Mercury.

ibid.

5 A Third most important Doubt, concerning the nonapparence of any Tensity, or Rigidity in the region of Aer incumbent upon the Restag∣nant Liquors.

ibid.

6 The solution thereof, by the necessary relicti∣on of a space in the vic•••••• region of Lax aer, equal to that, which the Hand commoved pos∣sesseth in the region of the Comprest.

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7 A confirmation of the same Reason, by the adae∣quate Example of the Flame of a Tapour.

ibid.

8 2 By the Experiment of Urination.

ibid.

9 3 By the Beams of th•• Sun, entring a room, through some slender crany, in the appearance of a White shining Wand, and constantly main∣taining that Figure, notwithstanding the agi∣tation of the aer by wind, &c.

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10 4 By the constancy of the Rainbow, to its Fi∣gure, notwithstanding the change of position and place of the cloud and contiguous aer.

ibid.

11 Helmonts D••lirium, that the Rainbow is a supernatural Meteor: observed.

ibid.

SECT. VII.

ARTIC.

1 THe sixth and last considerable Difficul∣ty.

ibid.

2 The cleer solution there••••, by the great dispro∣portion of weight betwi••t Quick-silver and Water.

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3 A Corollary; the Altitude of the Atmo∣sphere conjectured.

ibid.

4 A second Corollary; the desperate Difficulty of conciliating Physiology to the Mathema∣ticks: instanced in the much discrepant opini∣ons of Galilaeo and Mersennus, concerning the proportion of Gravity that Aer and Water hold each to other.

ibid.

5 The Conclusion of the Digression: and the reasons, why the Author ••••••cribes a Cylin∣drical Figure to the portion of Aer impendent on the Restagnant Liquors, in the Experiment.

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