The anatomy of plants with an idea of a philosophical history of plants, and several other lectures, read before the royal society / by Nehemjah Grew ...

CHAP. III. Of the NATURE of Mixture.

AND first of all, from the Premisses, we arrive at this Conclusion; sc. That the Formation and Transformati∣on of all Bodies, can be nothing else, but the Mixture of Bodies. For all Principles are immutable; as we have above proved: and therefore not generable, formable, or transformable. And the Forms of Prin∣ciples, being but their Modes, are also immutable. So that the whole Business of the Material World, is nothing else, but Mixture.

2. §. Again, as Nature worketh every where only by Mixture; so is this Mixture every where but one thing, and can be but one. For whether it be the Mixture of great Bodies, or of small; of Compounds, or of Atomes; it is every where Mixture, and the Mixture of Bodies. Wherefore, Mixture is either an intelligible Affection of all Bodies, or of none; which later, no man will say. As many ways therefore, as we can see, or conceive the Mixture of any gross Bodies, which we hold in our hand; so many ways, we may, of the subtilest Mixtures which Nature maketh, or of Atomes themselves; and no other ways.

3. §. Now all the ways we can distinguish Mixture by, are, in ge∣neral, these Two; either in respect of the Bodies Mixed, or else of the Modes of the Mixture it self.

4. §. In respect of the Bodies Mixed, Mixture is distinguished al∣so two ways; viz. by Conjugation, and by Proportion.

5. §. By Conjugation, I mean, a Mixture of some certain Princi∣ples, and not of others. Which is threefold. First, As to Number: as when one Body may be compounded of two Principles, another of three, a third of four, a fourth of five, and so on. Secondly, As to Kind: where, though there be a conjunction of the same Number, yet not of the same Kind. Thirdly, When they differ from one ano∣ther both in Number and Kind. So many ways the Principles of Bodies may be conceived to be Conjugated; and therefore are: for here, that which may be, is. The Consequence is clear. For first, Nature hath various Materials wherewith to make these Mix∣tures; as we have shewed. Secondly, By these Mixtures she may, and without the concurrence of any imaginary Forms, must produce all the varieties in the material World; as likewise hath been said. Where∣fore, since all imaginable Mixtures may be made, and that to some pur∣pose; if they should not be so, Nature would be Imperfect: because we our selves can think, how she might put her Materials to further use, then so she would do. To think therefore, that all Kinds of Prin∣ciples, or all Elements go to make up every Compounded Body, as by the Peripatetick Philosophy we are taught; is a conceit, no more to be credited, than one that should tell us, all Kind of Wheels and other

parts of a Watch, were put into a Clock; or that there were no other Materials wherewith to build an House, then for a Tent or a Ship. For why should Nature, the great Artificer by which all perfect Works are made, be feigned to cram and ram all things into one, which we our selves look upon as absurd?

6. §. Secondly, The Mixture of Principles is diversifi'd, as by Con∣jugation, so also by Proportion. That is, by the divers Quantities, of the several Principles or Parts mixed together. As if the Quantity of one, were as five to ten; of a second, as five to fifteen; of a third, as five to twenty, &c. Or if that of one, be as five to six; of a second, as six to seven; of a third, as seven to eight. By which, and by other Proportions, Mixture may be varied innumerable ways.

7. §. Again, As Mixture is varied with respect to the Bodies Mix∣ed; so likewise in respect of the Mixture it self, which I call the Loca∣tion of Principles, or the Modes of their Conjunction. Which may be various, as well as their Conjugation and Proportion. Yet are they all reduceable unto two general Modes: all Bodies, and therefore all Prin∣ciples, being mixed either by Mediation, or by Contact.

8. §. Now all Contact, whether of Compounds, or of Atomes, can be no other way, than such as is answerable to their Figures. Where∣of, therefore, we can conceive but three general ways, viz.

First, by Contract in a Point, or some smaller part: as when two A∣tomes meet, which are globular or otherwise gibbose. Secondly, By Contact in a Plain: as in the conjunction of the sides of Triangular or Quadrangular Atomes, or otherwise flat. Thirdly, By Contact in a Concave: as when one Atome is admitted into the Concave or hole of another; as a Spigot is into a Fosset. The first may be called, Apposi∣tion; the second, Application; the third, Reception or Intrusion.

9. §. In the two last ways, Atomes may be joyned by Mediation; but best of all the last. As when the two extreams of one Atome are re∣ceived into the Concaves or the holes of two others.

10. §. And these are all the general ways, whereby we can conceive Bodies to be Mixed together; sc. by their various Conjugation, Propor∣tion and Location. So that the Composition of Atomes, in Bodies; is like that of Letters, in Words. What a Thunderclap would such a Word be, wherein all the four and twenty Letters were pack'd up? One therefore is compounded of more, another of fewer: this of some, and that of others: and both the Conjugation, Proportion, and Locati∣on of Letters is varied in every Word: whereby, we have many thou∣sands of differing Words, without any alteration at all, in the Letters themselves; and might have ten times as many more. In like manner, therefore, or in the self same analogous way, as the Letters of the Al∣phabet, are the Principles of Words; so Principles, are the Alphabet of Things.

11. §. What we have said of Principles; and of Mixture as conse∣quent thereupon; may be a foundation for an intelligible account, of the Nature and Cause of most of the Intrinsick Properties, and Qualities of Bodies: as of Gravity, Levity, Fixity, Fluidity, Angularity, Round∣ness, Heat, Cold, Blackness, Whiteness, Sowerness, Sweetness, Fragran∣cy, Fetidness, and very many more. I say an intelligible account; sc. such as is grounded upon the Notions of Sense, and made out Me∣chanically. But the exemplification hereof, being too large a field

for this, or any one Lecture, I shall, before I come to the Causes of Mixture, only deduce from the Premises, these following Corollaries.

12. §. First, That there is no alteration of Principles or of Ele∣ments, in the most perfect Mixture of Bodies. It cannot be; for Principles are Immutable, as we have said. And if it could be, yet it needeth not to be: for they are also many, and compoundable infinite ways; as hath been shewed. So that we have no need to perplex our selves with any of those difficulties, that arise from the Doctrine of the Alteration of Elements. The ground of which conceit, is that, of three being but four Elements, and all in every particle of the mixed Body. And so men being puzeled, how from thence to make out the infinite variety of Bodies, they feigned them to be alterable, and altered, upon every perfect Mixture. Not considering, that if their four Elements be alterable; as few as they are, no fewer then three of them may be spared: for one Element, if alterable, may be made any.

13. §, Hence, Secondly, may be solved that great Dispute, Whe∣ther such as we call Lixivial Salts, are made by the fire? For first, No Principle is made by the fire: all Principles being unalterable; and therefore unmakable. Secondly, We must therefore distinguish betwixt the Principle, and its various Mixture with other Principles; from whence it may receive different Shapes and Names. Wherefore, a Lixivial Salt, qua Lixivial, is certainly made by the fire. But qua∣tenus Salt, it is not: that Principle being extractable out of most Bo∣dies; and by divers other ways, then by the fire. For whether you Calcine a body, or else Ferment it, (after the manner shewed by the curious Improver of Chimical Knowledg, Dr. Daniel Cox) or putrifie it under ground, or drown it in the Sea; it still yieldeth some kind of Salt. All which Salts are made, not by making the Saline Princi∣ple; but only by its being differently Mixed, by those several ways of the Solution of Bodies) with other Principles: from which its dif∣ferent Mixture, it receives the various Denominations, of Marine, Ni∣trous, Volatile, or Lixivial.

14. §. Hence, Thirdly, the most perfect Mixture of Bodies, can go no higher than Contact. For all Principles are unalterable; and all Matter is impenetrable; as hath been said. In the most visible and laxe Mixture, there is Contact; and in the most subtile and perfect, as in Ge∣neration it self, there is nothing more.

15. §. Hence, Fourthly, we easily understand, how divers of the same Principles, belonging both to Vegetables and many other Bodies, are also actually existent in the Body of Man Because even in Gene∣ration or Transmutation, the Principles which are translated from one Body to another, as from a Vegetable to an Animal, are not in the least alter'd in themselves; but only their Mixture, that is, their Conjugation, Proportion and Location, is varied.

16. §. Hence also the difference of Mixture, arising from the dif∣ference of Contact, is intelligible; sc. as to those three degrees, Congre∣gation, Union, and Concentration.

Congregation, and Inconsistent Mixture, is when the several Atomes touch but in a Point, or smaller part. In which manner, I have divers arguments, inducing me to believe the Atomes of all Fluid Bodies, qua Fluid, do touch; and in no other.

Union, is when they touch in a Plain. As in the Crystals and Shoot∣ings of all Salts, and other like Bodies. For if we pursue their di∣vided and subdivided parts, with our eye, as far as we can; they still terminate, on every side, in Plains. Wherefore, 'tis intelligible, That their very Atomes do also terminate, and therefore touch, in Plain.

Concentration, is when two, or more Atomes touch by Reception and Intrusion of one into another: which is the closest, and firmest Mixture of all; as in any fixed unodorable, or untastable Body: the Atomes of such Bodies, being not able to make any Smell or Taste, unless they were first dissolved; that is to say, unpin'd one from another.

17. §. Hence, Sixthly, we understand, how in some cases, there seemeth to be a Penetration of Bodies; and in what sense it may be admitted: viz. if we will mean no more by Penetration, but Intrusi∣on. For the Intrusion of one Atome into the Concave or hole of ano∣ther, is a kind of Penetration; whereby they take up less room in the mixed Body, then they would do by any other way of Contact. As a naked knife and its sheath, take up almost double room, to what they do, when the knife is sheathed. Whence we may assign the reason, Why many Liquors being mixed; take up less room or space, then they did apart; as the Ingenious Mr. Hook hath made it to appear by Experiment, that they do. I say the plain reason hereof, or at least one reason, is the Intrusion of many of their Atomes into one ano∣ther. Which yet is not a Penetration of Bodies strictly so called.

18. §. Seventhly, If all that Nature maketh, be but Mixture; and all this Mixture be but Contact 'tis then evident, That Natural and Artificial Mixture, are the same. And all those seeming subtilties whereby Philosophers have gone about to distinguish them; have been but so many Scarcrows to affright Men from the Imitation of Nature.

19. §. Eighthly, Hence it follows, That Art it self may go far in doing what Nature doth. And who can say, how far? For we have nothing to Make; but only to mix those Materials, which are al∣ready made to our hands. Even Nature her self, as hath been said, Maketh nothing new; but only mixeth all things. So far, therefore, as we can govern Mixture, we may do what Nature doth.

20. §. Which that we may still the better understand; let us be∣fore, and in the next place, see the Causes of Mixture. For since Natural and Artificial Mixture are the same; the immediate Causes of both, are and must be the same.

Notes

• Ch. 2. §. 3.
• Ch. 2. §. 10.
• Ch. 2. §. 2.
• Ch. 2. §. 5.
• Ch 3. §. 1.
• Ch. 2. §. 2.
• Ch. 2. §. 3.
• Ch. 2. §. 5.
• Ch. 3. §. 10.
• Ch. 2. §. 3.
• Ch. 2. §. 3.
• Ch. 3. §. 2.
• Ch. 3. §. 8
• Ch. 3. §. 8.
• Ch. 3. §. 8.
• Ch. 3. §. 1.
• Ch. 3. §. 14.
• Ch. 3. §. 1.
• Ch. 3. §. 18.