Experiments in consort of the luctation arising from the affusion of several menstruums upon all sorts of bodies to which is added the nature, causes, and power of mixture. Exhibited to the Royal Society. By Nehemiah Grew, M.D. and fellow of the Royal Society.

CHAP. I. (Book 1)

ALthough there are some known Ob∣ervations of this nature;

yet there is no Author, I think, who hath given us a Systeme of Experiments in consort upon the Subject: the performance where∣of, therefore, is here in∣tended.

The Bodies whereup∣on I made tryal, were of all kinds, Animal, Vegeta∣ble, and Mineral. Amongst Vegetables, such as these, scil. Date-stones, Ginger, Colocynthis, Pyrethrum, Hawthorn-stones, Staphis∣agria, Euphorbium, the Arenulae in Pears, Semen

Milii Solis, Tartar, Spirit of Scurvygrass, Spirit of Wine, &c.

Amongst Minerals, se∣veral sorts of Earths, Stones, Ores, Metals, Sul∣phurs, and Salts.

Amongst Animals; such as these, scil. Hairs, Hoofs, Horns, Shells and shelly Insects, Bones, Flesh, and the several Viscera, Silk, Blood, Whites and Yolks of Eggs, Sperma Ceti, Civet, Musk, Castor, Gall, Vrine, Dungs, ani∣mal Salts and Stones.

The Liquors which I poured hereupon several∣ly, were these, scil. Spirit of Salt Armoniac, Sp. of Harts-Horn, Sp. of Nitre, Aq. fortis, Oil of Salt, Oil of Sulphur, and Oil of Vi∣triol.

In the mixture of these Bodies, two things, in ge∣neral, are all along to be observed, viz.

First, which they are, that make any, or no Lu∣ctation. For, as some which seem to promise it, make none: so, many,

contrary to expectation, make a considerable one.

Next, the manner where∣in the Luctation is made; being with much variety in these five sensible ef∣fects.

1. Bullition; when the Bodies mixed produce only a certain quantity of froth or bubbles.

2. Elevation; when, like Paste in baking, or Barm in the working of Beer, they swell and huff up.

3. Crepitation; when

they make a kind of his∣sing and sometimes a crackling noise.

4. Effervescence; then only and properly so cal∣led, when they produce some degree of heat.

5. Exhalation; when not only fumes, but visi∣ble steams are produced.

Of all these, some∣times one only happens, sometimes two or more are concomitant. Some∣times the Luctation be∣gins presently upon mix∣ture, and sometimes not

till after some intermissi∣on. In some bodies, it continues a great while; in others, is almost instan∣taneous: Examples of all which I shall now pro∣duce; beginning with Vegetables, as affording the least variety.

And first, if we take Spirit or Oil of Salt, Oil of Vitriol, Spirit of Nitre, or Aq. fortis, and pour them severally upon the several parts of Vegetables, as Roots, Woods, Stones, &c. we shall find, that they are,

generally far less apt to make a Luctation, than ei∣ther Animal, or subterra∣neal Bodies.

Whence, as from one argument, it seemeth evi∣dent, That in most Vege∣tables, and in most of their parts, the predomi∣nant Salt is an Acid. But that, on the contrary, the predominant Salt in most Minerals, and parts of A∣nimals, is an Alkaly: in the former, usually a fix∣ed; in the latter, a vola∣tile Alkaly.

Again, although the Luctation which most Ve∣getables, and most of their parts make with Acids, be but small, yet some they make; especially with some Acids, as with Spirit of Nitre and Aqua fortis.

Whence it seemeth plain, That there is an Alkalizate Salt existent in many Vegetables, even in their natural estate; and that it is not made Alkali∣zate, but only Lixivial, by the fire. Or, there is some quantity of a Salt,

call it what we will, in the said Bodies, which is so far different from, as to make a Luctation with an Acid. But to give parti∣cular instances of the se∣veral proportions wherein it appears to be in several Vegetables.

And first, of all vegeta∣ble Bodies, Date-stones are amongst the least apt to make a Luctation with A∣cids, if they may be said to make any at all.

Hence they are not so potent Nephriticks, as ma∣ny

other Stones, which make a more sensible Lu∣ctation.

Ginger makes a small Bullition with Aq. fortis, only observable by a Glass.

Hence the pungency of Ginger lyeth in a sulphu∣reous and volatile Salt, which yet is very little Alkalizate.

Scurvygrass-seed makes a very small Bullition with Aq. fortis, like that of Gin∣ger. So doth also the seed of Purslane.

Hence, although there

is much more of a certain kind of volatile Salt in Ginger or Scurvygrass, than in Purslane; yet there is as much of an Alkaly in any one, as the others.

Colocynthis, Fruit-stones, the stony Covers of the seeds of Elder, white Bryony, Violets, and others, with Aq. fortis make a Bulliti∣on just perceivable without a Glass.

Hence it appears, That the great Cathartick pow∣er of Colocynthis lyeth not

in an Alkaly, but an A∣cid; as making a much less Bullition, than some other vegetable Bodies, which are less Cathartick. For which reason likewise it is, That the best Cor∣rectors, or Refractors of the force of Colocynthis, are some kinds of Alka∣lies, as particularly that of Vrine, as Riverius hath somewhere observed.

The Root of Pyrethrum, with Aq. fortis, makes a Bullition and huff, in a short time.

Hence, the Cause of a durable Heat, upon the Tongue, is an Alkalizate Sulphur. For the Heat of Ginger, though greater; yet abideth nothing near so long as that of Pelli∣tory or Pyrethrum; which, as is said, maketh also a more sensible Bullition with Acids.

Kermes-berries, com∣monly, but ignorantly, so cal∣led, with the said Liquor, huff up to an equal height, but in a somewhat longer time.

Hence they are gently astringent; scil. as their Alkaly binds in with some preternatural Acid in the stomach.

Hawthorn-stones, with Aq. fortis, huff up equally with the former Body; but the Bullition is not so visi∣ble. The like is also ob∣servable of Medlar-stones.

Hence, as they contain a middle quantity of an Alkaly, they are not insig∣nificantly used against the Stone.

Seeds of Staphisagria,

with Aqua fortis, make a Bulliti••n still more visible. But it quickly ends.

This confirms what was said before, sc. That the cause of a durable Heat is an Alkalizate Sulphur; these Seeds producing a durable Heat, as doth the Root of Pyrethrum.

The seeds also of red Roses, Borage, and Com∣frey do all with Aq. fortis make a considerable Bulli∣tion and huff; and that ve∣ry quickly.

So that amongst all

Shells and Stones, those generally make the great∣est Bullition, which are the hardest and the brit∣tlest.

Euphorbium makes a Bullition yet more conside∣rable, with much froth, and very quickly.

From which Experi∣ment, compared with two of the former, it appears, That Euphorbium is not an acid, but an alkalizate Gum. As also, that the cause of its so very dura∣ble Heat, is an alkalizate

Sulphur, as of Pyrethrum and Staphisagria hath been said.

It seems also hence e∣vident, that the power of all great Sternutatories ly∣eth not in their Acid, but their Alkalies.

The Arenulae or little stones in Pears, cluster'd round about the Coar, with Aq. fortis, presently huff up, and make a great Bul∣lition and Effervescence, much greater than do any of the Bodies above-na∣med.

Whence, although, so far as I know, they have never yet been used in Medicine; yet is it pro∣bable, that they are a more potent and effectual Nephritick, than any of the Bodies aforesaid, and some of them usually pre∣scribed.

It is hence also mani∣fest, That, according to what I have elsewhere * 1.1 said, for the sweetening of the Fruit and Seed, the tartareous and

alkalizate parts of the Sap are precipitated into their stones, stony parts, and shells.

The last Instance shall be in the shells of the seeds of Milium Solis; which not only with Aq. fortis, but some other Acids, make a greater and quicker Bul∣lition and Effervescence, than any other vegetable Body, upon which I have yet made tryal, in its natu∣ral estate.

Hence, as well as from divers of the last fore-go∣ing

Instances, we have a clear confirmation of what I have, towards the beginning of this Dis∣course, asserted; sc. That there is an alkalizate Salt existent in Plants, even in their natural estate. As also, that they are as sig∣nificantly used against the Stone, quatenus alkali∣zate, as Millepedes, Egg∣shells, or any other testa∣ceous Bodies of the same strength.

To these I shall sub∣joyn one or two Exam∣ples

of Vegetable Bodies which are more or less alter'd from their natural estate.

Neither Crystals of Tar∣tar, nor Tartar it self (al∣though they have some store of alkalizate mixed with their acid parts) make any Effervescence with Acids, but only with Alkalies, as Spirit of Harts Horn, &c.

Hence the calculous se∣diment of Vrine, not so properly called the Tar∣tareous part of the Vrine;

from the quite contrary events following its mix∣ture with the aforesaid Salts; as will be seen hereafter.

Spirit of Scurvygrass maketh no Luctation with any acid.

Hence (as from a for∣mer Experiment was a∣bove-noted) it seems, That there may be a kind of volatile Salt, which is neither acid, nor alkali∣zate; such as this of Scur∣vygrass and other like Plants seems to be: scil.

such a Salt as is not pro∣perly alkalizate, and yet contrary to an acid; as experience shews in its efficacy against the acid Scurvy.

Rectified Spirit of Wine, both with Spirit of Nitre, and with Oil of Vitriol, se∣verally, maketh a little Luctation.

Which argues, that there is contained, even in this Spirit, some portion of a volatile Alkaly.

Spirit of Wine, and dou∣ble Aqua fortis, as the

strongest is called, make an effervescence so vehement, as plainly to boil.

Besides the vehemence hereof, there is another sur∣prizing circumstance. For whereas all other Liquors which make an Efferve∣scence together, will do it in any quantity assigned to either of them, although but one drop to a thousand: on the contrary, these two, sc. rectified Spirit of Wine and Aqua fortis, require a certain proportion the one to the other. For if into

no more than six drops of Spirit of Wine you put in but two or three of Aq. for∣tis, they stir no more than if you put in so much Water: but drop in about seven or eight drops of Aq. fortis, and they presently boil up with very great vehemen∣cy.

Hence we may con∣ceive the reason of the so very sudden access of an acute Disease, and of its Crisis. These not begin∣ning gradually with the Cause; but then, when

the Cause is arrived unto such an 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or such a certain Proportion, as is necessary to bring Nature to the contest. And these may serve for Examples upon Vegetables.

Notes

• * 1.1

  First Book of the Anato∣my of Plants.