Naturall philosophie reformed by divine light, or, A synopsis of physicks by J.A. Comenius ... ; with a briefe appendix touching the diseases of the body, mind, and soul, with their generall remedies, by the same author.

Of winds.

XI Wind is a fluxe of the air, ordained in na∣ture for most profitable ends

For winds are 1 the besomes of the world; cleansing the elements, and keeping them from putrefying. 2 the fan of the spirit of life, causing it to vegetate in plants and all growing things. 3 the charriots of clouds rains, smels, yea, & of heat & cold, whether soever there is need that they should be con∣veyed. 4 Lastly, they bestow strong moti∣ons for the uses of men (as grinding, sailing)

XII The ordinary cause of wind is store of exhalations one where, enforcing the air to flow elsewhere.

We may in our hand raise a kind of wind four manner of ways; namely by forcing or compressing, rarifying and densifying air, (which shall be shewed by examples

by and by) and so many wayes are winds raised in the world, yet they are all referred to that first cause, vapours, as shall be seen by and by. I said that wind may be raised by us by forcing, compressing, rarifying, or densifying; that may be shewn to children by ocular experiments, for if you drive the air with a fan, doth it not give a blast? if you presse it when it is drawn into the bel∣lows, doth it not breath through the pipe? if you lay an apple or an egge into the fire, doth not the rarified humour break forth with a blast? but this last will be better seen in a bowle of brasse (which hath but one hole) put to the fire: especially if you drop in some drops of water. For the air shut in with the water, when they feel the heat, will presently evaporate, and thrust them∣selves out with a violent blast. Which may be also seen, if you put a burning wax can∣dle into a pot well stopped (having a small hole left at the side) &c. The fourth way is by condensation of air: if for example, you lay the foresaid bowle of brasse very hot up∣on ice, and force the thin air included to be condensed again with cold, you shall per∣ceive it to draw it again from without, to fill up the hollownesse of the bowle. There∣fore

so many ways winds are made under heaven; either because the air is rarified with the heat of the Sun, and spreads it self; or because it contracts it self with be∣ing cold, and attracts from elsewhere to fill up the spaces; or because a cloud scattered, or falling downward; or else blasts some∣where breaking out of the earth compresse the air, and make it diffuse: or lastly, be∣cause one part of the air being moved, drives others before it, (for here you must remem∣ber what was said before. 1 that a drop of water turned into air, requires an hundred times more space. 2 that the air is a very li∣quid and moveable element: and therefore being but lightly pushed, gives back a long way▪) but yet it is plain that all those moti∣ons of the air take their first rise from va∣pours. Now because the world is a great globe, it affordeth great store of blasts also, both the heat of the sun above, and the par∣ching of the fire under ground, begetting various vapours.

Hence it is understood, why after a great fire there arises a wind presently, (even in the still air?) namely, because much solid matter, (wood and stone, &c.) is resolved into vapours, and the air round about is at∣tenuated

by the heat of the fire, that it must of necessity spread it self, and seek a larger room.

XIII Winds in some countreys are certain, comming at a certain time of the year, and from a certain coast; others are free, comming from any place.

Note they call these 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which is as much to say as annuall: which are caused either by the mountainousnesse of the tract neer adjoyning, wherein the snows are then dissolved; or to be sure some other causes, by reason of which vapours are then proge∣nerated there in great abundance. But you must note, that those etesian winds are for the most part weak and gentle, and yield to the free winds.

Note 2 There is also another kind of set wind, common to the whole world; name∣ly a perpetuall fluxe of the whole air, from the east to the west. For that there is such a wind. 1 they that sail about the aequator testifie. 2 in the seas of Europe, when a par∣ticular wind ceaseth; they say also that a certain gentle gale is perceived from the east 3 and therefore Marriners are constantly of opinion, that the navigation from east to west is speediliest performed. 4 lastly, with

us in a clear and still skie, the highest clouds are seene for the most part to be carried from East to West. therefore wee need not doubt of this generall wind, if so be a∣ny one will call it a wind. For it proceeds not from exhalations, but from the heaven, which by its wheeling round, carries the air perpetually about, swiftly above, here nigh the earth (where the clouds are) almost in∣sensibly, yet under the aequator (as being in a greater Circle) very notably. Whence this Probleme may be profitably noted, why the East wind dries, but the West moistens? namely, because that being carried along with the air attenuates it the more; but this striving against the air condenseth it.

XIV A gentle wind is called aura, a gale; a vehement wind overthrowing all it meets with procella, a tempest; if winded into it self tur∣bo a whirlewind.

It is plain that sundry vvinds may arise in sundry places together, according as matter of exhalations is afforded here and there, and occasion to turn it self hither or thither. Therefore if they flovv both one vvay, the wind doubled is the stronger; if sideways, or obliquely, the stronger carries away the weaker with it, and there is a change of the

wind which we see done often, yea daily, but when they come opposite to one ano∣ther, and fall one against another, they make a storme or tempest; vvhich is a fight of the vvinds till the strongest overcome, and is carried vvith a horrible violence bearing dovvn all before it. But contrary vvinds of aequall strength make a vvhirlvvind, vvhen neither vvill give sidevvay, but both vvhirl upvvards, vvith a violent gyration.