Section the First.
[ 1] HAving, in complyance with the impottunate desires, or rather commands, of many of my Worthy, and inge∣nious Friends, obliged my self to ac∣quaint the World with my thoughts concerning the most probable cause of Page 2 the Stone, both in the Kidneyes, and Bladder 〈…〉 the greater World] in general: and I was encouraged the more to do so, by a Passage▪ I met with in the Works of that Noble Philosopher, Mr▪ Boyl whose words are there. Since we know very little a Prior•▪ the observation of many effects manifesting, that Nature doth actually produced them so,* and so, sug∣gests to us several wayes of explicating the same Phaenomenon, some of which we should, perhaps, never have else dream∣ed of; which ought to be esteemed no small advantage to the Physitian: And again; He that hath not had the curiosi∣ty to inquire out, and consider the se∣veral wayes whereby Stones may be generated out of the Body, not only must be unable, satisfactorily to expli∣cate, how they come to be pro•uced in the Kidneys, and Bladder; •ut will perhaps, scarce keep himself from em∣bracing such errors, (because Authoriz'd by the suffrage of eminent Physitians) as the knowledge I am recommend∣ing, Page 3 would easily protect him from.
[ 2] Let us then, in the first place, examine, how Nature produceth Stones without the Body of Man (that is, in the greater World;) after which we will see, if the causes of generating Stones in the Bodies of Animals, be not the same; or at least, bear some Analogy, or resemblance thereunto. Which that we may the better be enabled to do, I shall relate some choice Histories of Petrifications, taken out of approved Authors; and then examine the causes by which they were performed.
[ 3] Gabriel Falopius mentioneth a River,* called Else, which receives into it self the Torrent of the River Sena; into which,* Wood, Herbs, or any other thing being •ast, it converts it into stone.
[ 4] Albertus Magnus relates, that in the Danish Sea, near Lubeck, in his time,* there was found an Arm of a Tree, with a Nest, and Young Birds in it, the Wood, Nest, and Birds being all converted into Stone.
[ 5] Domitius Brusonius tells us (not upon hear-say,* but upon his own knowledge) that the branches of Trees, with their Leaves, being cast into the River of Sylar, do turn into stone.
Page 4Marbodius acquaints us,* that there is a [ 6] Fountain in Gothia [or Guthland] that changeth whatsoever is put into it into stone;* and that the Emperour Frederick being incredulous of the thing, did send his Glove thither, sealed with his Ring; & that that part of the Glove, with the seal, which was immersed in the Water, was in a few dayes converted into stone; the other part remaining Leather.
Iohannes Kentmannus, concerning [ 7] Fossils,* writes,* that Arms of Trees, with the Leaves, Bark, Wood; also Gloves, and divers other things, being cast into a certain Fish-pond, near the Castle of Schellenlerge, in Misnia, are turned into stone.
Bartholomaeus à Clivola affirms, th•re [ 8] is a Lake betwixt Caesarea,* and Tuana,* two Cities of Capadocia, into which part of a Reed, or Stick being put, it by de∣grees is changed into stone, that part which is out of the Water remaining what it was before.
Anselmus Boethius declareth, that in [ 9] England,* near the River Dee,* by West-Chester, there is a great Cave, into which whatsoever water flows, is turned into stone.
Thomas Moresinus relates,* that in [ 10] Page 5 Moravia there is a dark Water, in which there doth not at all appear any viscous matter; which water, nevertheless, coagulates into stone.
[ 11] Iohannes Petrus Faber giveth us a wonderful account of a Spring in the Suburbs of Claremont, in the County of Avernia.* It flows [sayes he] out of a Rock,* and in its very coming forth it produces Rocks, and white stones; and the Inhabitants of this City, when they would make a Bridge to go over any of the small Rivulets, which are made by this Fountain, that so they may visit their Fields and Gardens, do thus: They cause the Water of this Fountain to glide over certain planks, made Arch∣like, and within twenty four hours they have a solid stone Bridge; by the help of which they can pass dry-foot over the Rivers. The water of this Fountain is visibly changed into stone, yet neverthe∣less it alwayes flows as other Springs do: This water is exceeding clear, nor doth it differ in colour, or clearness from other Springs; Beasts will drink of it if they be not hinder'd; but if they do, it co∣agulates in their stomacks into stone, from whence Death follows, by reason of a Collick caused from thence, which Page 6 kills with cruel torments all the Beasts that have drunk this water. Wherefore the Inhabitants take care to drive their Cattel far enough from this Fountain; for it is a present poyson to all sorts of living Creatures that drink of it. When it is taken from the Spring, it is quickly turned into stone; the truth of which the Inhabitants do make manifest [to all that doubt thereof] by many experiments; they fill a glass with this water, and pre∣sently it is converted into stone, which re∣taineth the shape of the glass: so like∣wise if Earthen Vessels be filled with this water, it is suddenly congealed into stone, which keeps the form and figure of the Vessel that contained it. This wonder of Nature [sayes he] every body admires, but I believe hardly any body will be found, that shall be able to render the Natural reason of this thing. Thus far he.
Gassendus tells us,* that Peireskius [ac∣cording [ 12] to his usual custom in the Sum∣mer] going into a stream of the River Rhosne,* to wash himself; he observed once the ground to be hard under his feet, and uneven, [which had at all times be∣fore been soft, and smooth] being full of knobs, and Balls; about the bigness, Page 7 and likeness of Eggs boyled hard, and the shells pilled off; which he looking up∣on as somewhat strange, took some of them up, and cartied them home; but a few dayes after he was surprized with a greater Admiration: for, going again into the same place of the River, he found those soft, and yielding lumps, he had left there, turned into perfect peb∣ble stones; and also viewing those he had laid up at home, he found them like∣wise turned into true Pebbles.
[ 13] Helmont likewise affirms, that [con∣trary to the Proverb,* Gutta Cavat Lapi∣dem,* A drop by often falling doth hol∣low a stone] there is a Spring in the Monastery of Zonia, near Brussels, that breeds stones so fast, that the Monks are daily forced to break them off with Crooks and Hatchets.
[ 14] And I my self have seen a Spring near Wrixham, in North-wales,* that in a short space of time would convert Sticks, Straws, Leaves, Leather, or any other subject, put into it, into stone. And of this Nature are divers other Springs to be found, both in Ireland, and Eng∣land.
[ 15] Our Industrious Countrey-man,* Ger∣ard, assureth us, he knew several Springs Page 8 of this Nature,* both in England,* and Wales: As in Bedford-shire, in warwick∣shire, near Newnam Regis; and another near Knasborrow, in York-shire; he like∣wise tells us, he knew divers pieces of Ground, into which astake being struck, that part in the ground would be changed into stone, the other part remaining Wood.
Libavius relates,* That a certain [] Hen sitting on her Eggs,* being struck with a Gorgonick Spirit, was transform∣ed into stone, with her Eggs likewise.
Crollius relates,* that in a certain place [] of Moravia there is a stupendious Den,* in which are to be found divers, and ad∣mirable sportive works of Nature: for the drops distilling from the upper part of the Cave, into the hollow of it, do there form many intricate Labyrinths in the Mountain, and do presently [of their own accord] convert into stone, by the help [as he thinks] of the Spirit of Salt; and in their falling from on high, they form various Figures, and Statues of stone.
Aristotle sayes,* that in the Metalline [] Grots of Lydia, about the City Perga∣mos, certain Workmen, in the time of War, having fled into them to hide Page 9 themselves, and the mouth of the Cave being stopp'd; they perished there; but afterwards being found, not only their Bones, but their Veins, with the hu∣mours contained in them, were found to be turned into stone.
[ 19] Aventinus also writes thus: In the Year 1348.* by an Earthquake,* more than fifty Country men, with their Milch Cows, and Calves, being killed and stifled by an Earthy saline Spirit [as he supposeth] they were reduced into sa∣line Statues, [such as Lots Wife:] And this happened amongst the Carini [a People of Germany;] which similitudes or Images of Men, and Beasts, were seen both by him, and the Chancellor of Austria.
[ 20] To the like purpose,* Helmont tells us of a whole Army,* consisting of Men, Women, Camels, Horses, Doggs, with their Armour, Weapons, and Waggons, which were all transmuted into stone, and remain so to this day, [a horrible spectacle;] And this, saith he, happened in the Year 1320. be∣twixt Russia and Tartary, in the Latitude of 64. degrees, not far from a Fen of Kataya, a Village, or Horde, of the Bis∣cardians; which he very rationally Page 10 concludes to have happened from a strong hory petrifying breath or Ferment, ma∣king an eruption through some clefts of the Earth, the Land being stony under∣neath; and the Winds having been silent for many dayes.
He that desireth more Examples [] of this kind, let him consult Gorgius Wernerus, de ungaricis. Godfrid. Smoll▪ in lib▪ Princip. Philosoph. Et Medic. antiqui∣tatis. Cap. 10. F. Leander Albertus in descript. Italiae. Andreas Laurentius, lib. 2. de strumis. Cap. 2. Georgius Agrico∣la, lib. 7. de Natura fossil. Cap. 22. Johannas Wigandus, in libell• de Succino: Lobelius, in fine Observat. Caelius, &c, But I suppose what I have here related sufficient; and therefore I think it now time to inquire into the Causes of Petri∣fication, and the Efficients of these Transmutations. SECT.
