The curious distillatory, or, The art of distilling coloured liquors, spirits, oyls, &c. from vegitables, animals, minerals and metals ... containing many experiments ... relating to the production of colours, consistence and heat ... : together with several experiments upon the blood (and its serum) of diseased persons, with divers other collateral experiments / written originally in Latin by Jo. Sigis. Elsholt ; put into English by T.S. ...

CHAP. II.

Of Colour, and of the Appearances of various Colours.

EXactly to teach the Nature of Colour, is as hard as to explain the true reason of Light, of it self most clear: Iul. C. Sca∣liger, Exert. 325. Sect. 1. Rightly says, The Causes, and Essence of Colours are as full of controversy, and obscurity to the Intellect as they are manifest to the sight. Aristotle Lib. de sens. & sensit. cap. 3. Defines Colour, that it is perfiicui terminante extremitas: The ex∣tremity of a terminated body that may be seen, or seen through. Neither more clear is the description of others, That it is a quality of a coloured Body. Also that it is modifyed Light. Many of the Chymists do attribute all Colours to their principle of Sulphur, others of them to Mercury: of which opi∣nion what is to be thought, it is very well worth the reading of Dan. Sennertus, lib. de consensu, Cap. 11. Excellent also is what hath been delivered upon this Argument by Antonius Scarmilionius Fulginas, and

Mr. Boyle in his Book of Colours. See also upon this subject, Petrus Maria Capenarius lib. de Atrimentis, and Iohan. Christoph. Kolhansius Tract. Optic. and others.

But these controversies not properly be∣longing to our design, leaving them, we will rather note the differences of Colours; yet not all of them, since they are many; (and already amongst others) they have been sufficiently and subtilly explained by Scaliger. Exercit. 325. Sect. 6. and in the following: we will only touch upon and handle slightly such of them now, as will lead us the shortest way to our pre∣fixed end.

For the material subject of Colours we distinguish them into those which are real, or true, and into such as are Emphatick, and Apparent, or seeming. A Specimen, or example of these is afforded by the Rain∣bow, a Prismatick or Triangular Glass, the redness of Wine spilt upon a Napkin. These we divide again into Penetrative Co∣lours, such as Obryz, or pure Gold, and Sealing Wax: and into such as are Super∣ficial, of which sort are Apples appearing outwardly red, and yet are inwardly white.

Moreover Colours considered in the ab∣stract

are either Primitive, or Simple; to wit, White, Yellow, Green, Blew, Red, Black; I say considered in Abstracto, or as they are to be distributed into certain, and distinct Clauses: for otherways Green seems rather to be composed of Yellow and Blew, whe∣ther it be made of Vegetables, or Minerals. So Auripigmentum, or Orpiment if mixed with Indigo; or Gum of Peru cemented with Cobalt, or Bergblau, as the Germans call it, supposed to be the Native Cadmia, or Copper-Stone: or mix Vltra Marine with Saffron and you shall see a Green Co∣lour will proceed from these mixtures.

Or else they are divided into compound Colours made from the mixture of simple ones: or else they are decompositi, or doubly compounded, which are made again in infinite variety by the mixture of com∣pounded ones among themselves, as may be seen upon the Palates of Painters: but if you go to the Laboratories of Chymists, there you will be supplyed with a reason very different from these, by which Co∣lours may be so changed, (and that with a most delightful variety to behold) that adding what is necessary to be added, there will suddenly result, and appear new Colours.

1. As Spirit of Turpentine, though of it self it be clear, if it be poured upon Sae∣charum Saturni, (or Sugar of Lead) which is also of it self exceeding White, if it be digested upon it, will in a small time be∣come a Tincture intercely or extremely Red.

2. Also Spirit of Turpentine, if it be mixed with Water, and strongly shook together, will look like Milk; although this milkiness is not lasting, but this oyly Spi∣rit, ascending to the superficies is dimi∣nished, or plainly vanisheth again. The like of which happens if Oyl of Olives be mixed with the Lixivium, or Lees of Vine Ashes.

3. Distilled Oyl of Aniseeds, (which is wont to coagulate, and grow thick with the cold Air,) if a Leaf of white Paper be anointed with it, and a few drops of Oyl of Vitriol be poured upon it, it will presently grow Red; I say the Oyl of Vi∣triol, not the Spirit.

4. Syrup of Violets, which is of its self of an obscure Purple Colour, is changed into a vivid and brisk red, if you mix by drops with it Spirit of Vitriol: (which knack is now known to all the Apothecaries Shops) if you shall add Oyl of Tartar to this,

a Green Colour will emerge from thence: which will perish and be lost again, If you add Spirit of Vitriol to it again.

5. Syrup of Piony Flowers, if you mix Salt of Vitriol with it, will become wholly Black: the same happens to Syrup of Clove Iuly-Flowers, if in the time of boyling it be stirred with an Iron Spatula.

6. Tincture of Coral, prepared with distilled Vinegar, mixed with the Tincture of Dasey Flowers, there will result from thence a Liquor of an obscure Blew.

7. If you mix Silvius's Sal volatile, or the like Vrinous Spirit in small quantity, with the same Tincture of Dasyes, or Roses, there will arise an obsure Blew Colour; but if you drop in a little more, it will be made an obscure Red: Neither can you make that Red Colour clear, although you should add more (Spirit or Volatile Salt) to it. It therefore follows that acid, or sour Spirits, do strike a red Colour with clear∣ness, but urinous ones with obscureness.

8. A Solution of Lead made with distilled Vinegar, appeareth clear like common Wa∣ter: If you shall add to this Oyl of Tartar, (per deliquium) which is also clear as Water, the mixture will presently grow White as Milk.

9. If Antimony which is calcin'd with Nitre be boyl'd in Fountain Water, the straining will be clear, and almost with∣out smell, which nevertheless by pouring any Acid upon it, will acquire a Saffron Colour, with a stinking scent.

10. Common Water in which Mercury Sublimate hath been infused, doth pre∣sently grow Yellow by dropping into it Oyl of Tartar.

The solution of calcin'd Tin, mixed with dissolved Salt of Tartar becomes Blew. Dr. Willis lib. de Ferment. cap. 11.

11. Quicksilver and Sal Armoniack ground together, and sublimed in a bolt Head with a heat of Sand, will become a white Powder, which suffer'd to dissolve (by it self in the Air) will produce a clear Liquor like Spring Water, which for all its clearness, if Copper or Brass be moist∣ned with it, they will appear silver'd; and if Copper Vessels be slightly rub'd with it, it will render them as if they were per∣fectly silver'd: although this be rather an incrustation, (or coating of them over.)

12. But a Powder to gild with, is made thus. Dip fine Lint, made of Lin∣ne-Cloath, in Aqua Regis, in which Gold is dissolved, and having cast it into

a Crucible, make a Circular Fire about it, at a distance; and so by degrees reduce it into a Powder: But towards the end in∣crease the heat by bringing the Fire nearer to the Crucible, and at last if you please, take out the Powder and free it from durt by pouring Water upon it, it will be without splendor, or shining, and is of a Violet colour; but if you rub it upon Sil∣ver, the genuine splendor of Gold will appear, which afterwards will be made more splendid, and shining by polishing.

13. Lignum Acanthinum, or the Wood which is brought from Brazil, infused in common water, will communicate a plea∣sant redness to it, like that of red Wine: If you pour upon this a little distill'd Vine∣gar, the Liquor will appear clear like white Wine, but a few drops of Oyl of Tartar reduces the Colour to a deep Pur∣ple, after which, if you drop in Spirit of Vitriol, it will be yellow like Sack: if you cast on it Salt of Lead dissolved per deli∣quium (or in the Aire) the mixture will be whitish like Milk. Dr. Willis (lib. de Ferment. cap. 11.) proposeth this Expe∣riment, every Branch of which will an∣swer the Trial but the fourth, for we by adding Spirit of Vitriol could not produce

a pale Yellow, but made a certain obscure Blew Colour.

14. Have in a readiness a solution of Vitriol, and likewise by it self an infusion of Galls. If you pour both of them toge∣ther, you will make Writing Ink. Add Spirit of Vitriol to this, and the Blackness will clear up; then cast in Oyl of Tartar, and after a little working, and heat, there will appear a light Red, or bright Bay Co∣lour: which by mixing Spirit of Vitriol again will be taken away, all clearing up again: And you may reiterate this Circle as often as you do by turns put in Oyl of Tartar, or Spirit of Vitriol: So that as often as you please you may render the Liquor of a light Red or Bay Colour, or else clear again.

15. It is also a pleasant Metamorpho∣sis, which is proposed by the excellent Mr. Daniel Major, the Famous Professor of the Vniversity of Denmark. Lib. de Chirurg. Infusar. Dub. 9. to this purpose. Pour into a good transparent Glass the Saphire colour'd Water, made by the help of Spirit of Sal Armoniack being put into a Brass Bason: Afterwards add the common Clys∣sus of Antimony, and the mixture being shook, it will become clear: but if you

add to it Oyl of Tartar it will be restor'd to its former Blewness.

16. Take one Ounce of the solution of Crabs eyes, made with distilled Vinegar: drop into it of the Salt Spirit of Sal Ar∣moniack 120 drops, and you shall perceive the matter to grow Milky, and a white Powder will fall to the bottom, if by turns you pour upon this Liquor as many drops of Ioac. Polemanus his Tincture of the Blood∣stone, after some bubling, the Powder which lay in the bottom will be dissolved again, and the whole will be changed in∣to an exceeding Red transparent Liquor, indowed with a grateful Saline taste.

17. The change of light doth also cause a new Colour to appear. So we have observed, the Flowers of Convolvu∣lus or Bird-weed (that sort with the Blew Flower and Ivy-shaped Leaves, with sharp points,) which Lobelius calls Asu∣reum, in the day time is of a delicate Blew, but at night by Candlelight it appears of of a Violet Colour. Wooden Tables, and such like Utensils, if they be painted Blew, by day shew their own Colour, but by night they appear Greenish.

18. Let there be taken two parts of Oyl of Tartar, and one of Cows Milk: this

mixture in a heat of Sand will grow Red, a part of the Cheesy, or Curddy part of the Milk swimming at the top, if you strain this through a Cloath, the Red Li∣quor will be more transparent. Being led by the Analogy, or resemblance of this Experiment, I have thought (that I may add this by the by) whether or no the whitishness of Chyle in an Humane Body, be∣ing mingled every day with the red Blood, doth not perhaps grow red upon the like account also. Although the common People wrongfully suppose, this redness is induced upon the Chyle by the Circular motion of the Blood: but motion of it self doth hardly appear sufficient for to change the Colour, unless there be hid also in the Blood it self a Saline Principle, which may continue this Tincture so many years, even to old Age, which is perfected by the assistance of the Heart, its Vessels and Heat.

These and the like Phaenomina, or appea∣rances and their causes, perhaps might be conveniently demonstrated, by the smallest Particulars of which these Liquors consists. A Battel composed of some thousands of thousands which may be di∣lated, and contracted at the will of the

Commander; nay being disordered by the Enemy, may again be rallied, and re∣duced into order. After the same man∣ner, from the small Particles of Liquors dilated ariseth perspicuity and whiteness: but from their contraction obscurity and blackness. Again, according as the dila∣tation and contraction is more or less, there will arise intermediate Colours; Yellow, Red, Green, Blew. Whether those that study the Opticks can render a more exact account let them try.