Van Helmont's works containing his most excellent philosophy, physick, chirurgery, anatomy : wherein the philosophy of the schools is examined, their errors refuted, and the whole body of physick reformed and rectified : being a new rise and progresse of philosophy and medicine, for the cure of diseases, and lengthening of life / made English by J.C. ...

1. The Air and Water, are Bodies not to be changed into each other.

ALthough I have plainly shewen in the presence of many, that Heer, in his Apologie or defence against my little Book concerning the Fountains of the Spaw, had impertiuently made use of my Instrument: yet he hath not been want∣ing to mingle me with his stupidities or sottishnesses. For he saith, that I would set forth a continual motion. Neither indeed hath he known, that in that, he hath contradicted himself. For the motion ceaseth in the Instrument, after that the wa∣ter hath ascended or descended, according to the temperament of the air encompas∣sing it. For neither can that motion be any more called perpetual, than the vane of a Temple appointed for the changing of the winds. Therefore Heer hath discovered, that he knowes not what perpetual motion is. For I had divulged my

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Instrument, that according to my Doctrine of the Fountains of the Spaw, I might prove that the air did sustain its common rarefaction or ma∣king thin, and compression or co-thickning, without the changing of its Element, For Heer saith, that the Spirit of Vitrioll hath pierced the [unspec 12] substance of Glasse; which thing, none will grant, who have known that far more subtile Liquors are preserved even in the fire. Neither hath it helped him, that I had affirmed to him, that Clavins in the Colledge of the Romane Society, had shut up water in a Glasse of this Figure, 60 years before, whereof not the least drop had perished. That which the line there signified by a Diamond sheweth. But Heer boast∣ed amongst Idiots, that he had sometimes been a Professour of the Mathematicks at Padua. Wherefore I would demonstrate in paper, his every way ignorance of the Mathematicks. But he was made in my presence dumb. But thus have I proceeded to demonstration. For the figure of the Glasse being delineated, in which A and D are the two Spheres

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filled with air. But A, and that the upper Sphere, is outwardly shut on every side. But D is the inferiour Globe open in the end of the Channel or Pipe F. But A and D by one onely Glasse, are conjoyned by the Channel B. C. E. in which is the liquor of Vitrioll, the which, I had said to Heer demanding of me, was made red by the steeping of Roses, that it might be the more visible, that it did not putrifie through continuance. Therefore let that red Liquor be, B. C. upon this figure: therefore I have framed this Probleme or hard Question. The Liquor B. C. cannot move it self through the temperament of the encompassing air in the Channel, unless one of the Globes be open, but the other shut. The explaining of the thing granted. Let the Glasse with the Liquor, be as is above described. The ex∣plaining

of the thing required. We must shew, That the Liquor B. C. cannot be moved in the Pipe by the temperament of the encompassing air, without the opening of F. The preparing of the demonstration. It is very great, because the air suffers enlarging, and heaping together or straightning, according to the qualities of heat and cold, and because the just extension of quantity is not had in the air, unless when it is temperate.

The Demonstration. The air which is in A being made thin by the heat of that which encompasseth it, increaseth by the increase of dimensions, and therefore it takes up more room than before. Which thing notwithstanding cannot be, unless it drives the Liquor B. C. into C. E. (otherwise a poriness or fulness of little holes of the Vessel should be admitted, or a Rupture of A. Which contradicteth the supposition of Heer) and successively the air which was in C. E. into the Vessel D. But D. cannot receive that air, unless it drive away so much air through the hole of the Pipe F.

The Conclusion. Therefore without the opening in F. the Liquor B. C. had not been moved from its place. Therefore it is no wonder, that the Liquor of Vi∣trioll hath by little and little exhaled of its own accord, through the necessary o∣pening in F. Therefore the stupidity or dulness of N. is laid open; to whom, when I had given many Instruments of like sort, yet he had never observed the opening in F. Yea although I had plainly shewen these things to him (many being pre∣sent) before that he had set forth his ridiculous fable against me; yet he feigned af∣terwards that he wondred: Because that Liquor had perished by degrees. He saith, that he found the whole Vessel most perfectly shut (for neither doth that which is not exactly shut deserve to be called shut) yet he grants that a motion of the Liquor was made, which had shewen the temperature of the air. And that the Liquor was changed into air, the Glasse being shut. Therefore false observations being suppo∣sed, I will discover his misfortunes.

It being granted, that the Vessel D. is as equally shut, as is the Vessel A, ac∣cording [unspec 13] to his supposition. The thing required we must demonstrate. That the wa∣ter B. C. cannot be moved. Likewise that it cannot teach the temperature of the air; also that it could not be dried up or exhale. Likewise that it could not be turned into air. The preparing of an absurdity. For if he admitteth of the motion and dryness of the water, he ought to admit absurdities and contradictories, or to con∣fess his errours. The preparing of the demonstration. Let some heat be applied to the Vessel A. exceeding the temperature of the air encompassing: for then the air included will enlarge it self, according to the more or lesse heat, and according to, and as it exceedeth the true temperature of the air shut up in the Vessel D. against which, it driving forward the water B. C. it shall destroy the equall tenour through too much action. So that the air shall be pressed together, and co-thickned by restraint, that it may yield to the enlargement made in A.

The Demonstration. Therefore according to the supposition of Heer (that air pressed together is turned into water) the Liquor had never failed in the Vessel. Yet his own observation will have it: that the Glasse being on every side exactly shut, the water was nevertheless dried up and made air. But he cannot admit of dryness in a Glasse exactly shut, unless his own supposition be destroyed (to wit, that air pressed together is changed into water) neither again can that supposition subsist, unless he shall admit of the continuance of the Liquor; which notwithstanding doth contradict his own observation. Likewise he cannot admit of the moving of the Liquor B. C. unless he shall grant the Glasse to be opened in F, and by consequence he confesseth, he hath erred in his observation. And which thing, although by the force of demonstrations, he was constrained to confess, before that he vomited forth his Apologie with all kinde of reproaches against me, yet he hath persisted therein, to discover his own ignorances.

The Conclusion. Therefore it must needes be, if the water B. C. be moved through some temperature of the air, that both the Vessels A and D, are not shut. For else the Instrument should not be convenient for measuring of the temperature of the air (which is contrary to his supposition) for seeing the air is of the same heat about A, and about D; the Liquor B, C, shall also necessarily take rest. Because the quality of the air which encompasseth, is the moving cause of the water B. C. act∣ing with an equall strength, and giving an equall tenour. Now, through the suppo∣sition of that which is false, I will demonstrate, what may follow upon his igno∣rance.

Let I say the water B. C. according to his observation, be changed into air. In the first place, this observation cannot be admitted, without rarefying, caused by heat. Nor can that rarefying be granted, without an increase of place, beside the heat. And the increase of place cannot subsist without the enlarging or breaking of the Vessel. Because he confesseth the Glasse to be exactly shut, with a continua∣tion of the Glasse, without ruine, or poriness. 2. A transchanging of the water into air cannot be granted, without co-thickning and restraining; and restraint is not given without the addition of parts, by pressing together, actually within the same space or magnitude. Which ought altogether to be named a condensing of the air, which in this place, cannot be made but by cold alone; which sup∣poseth the air to turn into water; therefore not the water into air. Since therefore neither heat, nor cold, can turn water into air, much lesse shall that which is temperate do that. For that, this doth not beget an alteration in those Elements. Likewise air is not turned into water, because this conversion can∣not be admitted, being made by rarefaction, because the rarefying of the air doth not happen in this place without the mediation of heat. But Heer will have it, that the air is co-thickned into water by cold. Therefore water shall not be generated of air by heat. 2. That transchanging of air into water, cannot be admitted, but by con∣densing and restraining, which cannot happen in a Glasse perfectly shut, but by cold. Which agent upon the air being shut up within A and D, should change it into water, according to the supposition of Heer. For so water, had been increased by generation, in Vessels perfectly shut. Which contradicteth his own words. This pretious Liquor perished, it is no more, it hath ceased to be, and that indeed in the ra∣ging winter. Therefore, since neither heat nor cold can co-thicken air into water: much lesse shall that do it which is temperate. Therefore never. It is a wonder therefore, why it hath not hindered the drying up of the Liquor in Vessels. Since ac∣cording to his own prattle, those should be onely buried under the Snow, that they might be filled with water. Now there shall not hereafter be need of rain, if the Cave being perfectly shut and cold, continual Cisterns should be made. And like∣wise, when the water should over-weigh the air, that water shall fall into the bot∣tom of a great Vessel very closely shut, from whence, as oft as one would list, the water should be drawn out. And so that Vessel should be changed into a winter Fountain. For as Heer saith, The Vessel was very closely shut, it wanted little holes, neither had it need of opening, as well for the entrance, as the transpiration of the air. But if a new air might afterwards enter the same way, and by the same meanes, whereby the water that was changed into air, the Glasse being shut, flew out: Here∣after therefore, sweet water shall not be wanting to Marriners in a Ship, if by the cold of the night, the air growes together by drops into water. Venice and Antwerp, shall frame Fountains in the belly of a Brasse Cock, which in the Pinacle of the Temple sheweth the windes. For by the night-cold, the air shall weep, being turned into water. And although the Pipe be moyst to those that play on Flutes; that is not from the air: Otherwise Organ-Pipes also should be moyst within, which is false. For the air utters the sound or tune, and the salt vapour, drops water out of the Pipe. They having pressed air of one ell, together, in a gun, to the space of 14 fingers, even in the cold of winter: and so far is it, that the air so pressed together in excelling cold, was changed into water; that it cast out a leaden Bullet thorow an Oken Plank, more strongly than a hand-Gun or Pistollet. Now I will proceed to prove that thing by positive Reasons. Because an applied esteem or thinking, hath on every side overshadowed the Schooles with a manifold absurdity.