Dr. Willis's practice of physick being the whole works of that renowned and famous physician wherein most of the diseases belonging to the body of man are treated of, with excellent methods and receipts for the cure of the same : fitted to the meanest capacity by an index for the explaining of all the hard and unusual words and terms of art derived from the Greek, Latine, or other languages for the benefit of the English reader : with forty copper plates.

OF FERMENTATION OR THE Inorganical Motion OF NATURAL BODIES.

CHAP. I. Of the Principles of Natural things.

THere is nothing more rarely to be met with in the Vulgar Philo∣sophy, where Natural things are unfolded, with the vain figments of Forms and Qualities, than the word Fermentation: but among the more sound (especially of later years.) who respect the Matter and Motion chiefly in Bodies, nothing is almost more usual. But Fermentation hath its name from Fervescency, as Ferment from Ferviment or growing hot. The word is well known in making of Bread, and in the purging of new Wine, Beer, and other po∣table Liquors: thence it is also applyed to other things, which are wont to swell or grow turgid, after the same manner: that at length it signifies, whatsoever Effervency or Turgency, that is raised up in a Natural Body, by particles of that Body variously agitated.

Bodies of a diverse Consistency and Habitude, are apt to a Fermenting, viz either Thin or Thick, Liquid or Solid, Animate or Inanimate, Natural or Artificial; in all which is found an Heterogeneity of parts or particles, to wit, there are in them some substances light, and alwaies endeavouring to fly away: and also there are others thick, earthy, and more fix'd, which intangle the subtil Particles, and detain them in their Embraces, whilst they endeavour to fly away; from the strivings, and wrestlings of these two twins, in one Womb, the motion of Fermentation chiefly proceeds; but on the contrary, what things do not Ferment, for the most part consist of like Particles, and are of the same Figure and Conformation, which indeed consociate among themselves, without any Tumult or Turgescency, lye quiet, and enjoy a deep peace. If Must, or new Wine, or new Ale or Beer, be closely Bottl'd up, or put into Vessels of smal vent, they will grow so very hot, that often theVessels are in danger of breaking. But if the same Liquors, being Distilled by themselves, and then what is seperated, shut up, from thenceno motion or heat will follow. Wherefore, Distilled Waters, hot Spirits, Oyls, fixed Salts of Herbs, and very many other more simple preparations of Chymists, remain a long while without any Alteration or Fermentation, perhaps some of the Particles do evaporate, but the rest do not tumultuate. In the mean time the juice and blood of Vegetables or Animals, as also all Liquors Concreted, and compounded of many things, quickly Ferment, and from thence enter into divers turns of changes. The Spirit of Wine being closely shut up in a Phial shews no sign of growing hot, but if but a little Oyl of Turpentine be added to this Spirit, the Particles of the Liquors will so leap forth, that I have seen it break a Glass Hermetically

Sealed. All Distilled Waters of Herbs, so they be kept simply in a Glass, will remain incor∣rupt a long time, but if you add to the same Sugar or Syrup, it presently grows soure, and is corrupted: Wherefore, that the Fermentation of Bodies may be rightly unfolded, we mnst in∣quire what those Particles or Substances are, and of what Nature, o which mixt things are Compounded, and from whose being put together, and mutual strivings, motions for the most part naturally proceed.

Altho' there be many and divers Opinions of Philosophers concerning the beginning of Na∣tural things, yet there are three chiefly deserve our Assent, and Faith, before the rest. That famous fourfold Chariot of the Peripateticks obtains the chief place, which emulous of the four wheel'd Coach of the Sun, is hurried by a quick passage, through the sictitious Heaven of the first Matter, and measures that vast and empty thing, with a perpetual reciprocation: For they say, all things are Constituted out of Water, Air, Fire, and Earth; and that out of the diverse transposition of these, Generation and Corruption, as also the changes of all alterations what∣soever, do arise. In the second place, and next, stands the Opinion of Democritus and Epicurus, which lately also hath been revived in our Age, this affirms all Natural effects to depend upon the Conflux of Atoms diversly figured, so that in all Bodies, there be Particles Round, Sharp, Foursquare, Cylindrical, Chequer'd or Streaked, or of some other Figure; and from the divers changes of these, the Subject is of this or that Figure, Work, or Efficacy. The third Opinion of the Origination of Natural Things, is introduced by Chymistry, which, when by an Ana∣lysis made by Fire, it resolves all Bodies into Particles of Spirit, Sulphur, Salt, Water, and Earth, affirms by the best right, that the same do consist of these. Because this Hypothesis de∣terminates Bodies into sensible parts, and cuts open things as it were to the life, it pleases us before the rest.

As to the four Elements, and first Qualities from thence deduced, I must confess that this Opinion doth something help for the unfolding the Phaenomena of Nature, but after so dark a manner, and without any peculiar respect to the more secret recesses o•…•… Nature, it salves the appearances of things, that 'tis almost the same thing, to say an house consists of Wood and Stone, as a Body of Four Elements. The other Opinion, which is only a peice of the Epicurean Philosophy, forasmuch as it undertakes Mechanically the unfolding of things, and accommo∣dates Nature with Working Tools, as it were in the hand of an Artificer, and without running to Occult Qualities, Sympathy, and other refuges of ignorance, doth happily and very inge∣nioufly disintangle some difficult Knots of the Sciences, and dark Riddles, certainly it deserves no light praise: but because it rather supposes, then demonstrates its Principles, and teaches of what Figure those Elements of Bodies may be, not what they have been, and also induces Notions extremely subtil, and remote from the sense, and which do not sufficiently Quadrate with the Phaenomena of Nature, when we descend to particulars, it pleases me to give my sen∣tence for the third Opinion beforementioned, which is of the Chymists, and chiefly to insist upon this in the following Tract, to wit, affirming all Bodies to consist of Spirit, Sulphur, Salt, Water, and Earth, and from the diverse motion, and proportion of these, in mixt things, the beginnings and endings of things, and chiefly the reasons, and varieties of Fer∣mentation, are to be sought. If any one shall object, That the Atomical, and our Spagyric Prin∣ciples are altogether subordinate, to wit, that these, tho at the last sensible, are resolved into those, only to be signified by Conception; I shall not much gainsay him, so it shews that those Conceptions are real. I being dull and purblind, leave the more accurate to quick sights, be∣ing content to be so wise as to perform the business of the outward Sense with Reason: for I profess, it pleases not me, to devise or dream Philosophy. But that our Work may more rightly proceed, it will be necessary, to speak first a few things of these kind of Principles in general, and of their Affections.

I mean by the name of Principles, not simple and wholly uncompounded Entities, but such kind of Substances only, into which Physical things are resolved, as it were into parts, lastly sensible. By the intestine motion, and combination of these, Bodies are begot, and increase: by the mutual departure and dissolution of these one from another, they are al∣tered, and perish. In the mean time, what Particles are gathered together in the Subjects, or depart away from them, will appear under the form of Spirit, Sulphur, Salt, or one of the rest.

CHAP. II. A Description of the Principles of Chymists, and the Properties and Af∣fections of them.

1. SPirits are Substances highly subtil, and Aetherial Particles of a more Divine Breath∣ing, which our Parent Nature hath hid in this Sublunary World, as it were the In∣struments of Life and Soul, of Motion and Sense, of every thing; whilst they of their own Nature are alwayes enlarged, and endeavouring to fly away, lest they should too soon leave their subjects, they are bound sometimes with more thick Particles, that by entring into them, and by subtilizing them, and variously unfolding them, they dispose the substance to maturity, as is to be observed in the Vegetation, and Fermentation of Bodies; sometimes being restrained within some spaces, to wit, the Vessels or Bowels of living Creatures, they are compelled more often to repeat the same measures of their motions for the performing the works of Life, Sense and Motion. From the motion of these proceed the animation of Bo∣dies, the growth of Plants, and the ripening of Fruits, Liquors, and other Preparations; they determinate the Form and Figure of every thing, prefixed as it were by Divine designation: they conserve the bonds of the mixture by their presence; and open them by their departure, at their pleasure: they bridle the irregularities of Sulphur and Salt. The perfection and state of every thing consists in the plenty and exaltation of Spirits, and the fall and declination, in their want and defect.

As to the Subjects in which the Spirits are, Minerals because they are of a more fixed na∣ture, wanting Motion and Vegetation, are almost without Spirits, or at least are contented with a few. For the birth and growth of Vegetables they are required in a more moderate quan∣tity. In the Constitution of a living Creature, where there is greater Use of Spirits, for Sense and Motion, a far more plentiful quantity is found. In the works of Art, and chiefly in those which ascend to perfection, by Digestion and Fermentation, there are found to be a sufficiently great proportion of Spirits: but in all subjects whatsoever, whilst the immersed Spirits are mingled with the other Principles, their condition or state comes under a threefold consideration: for they are either depressed and scattered, and so involved with more thick Particles, that they are very little seen, or shew forth their powers, as in things undigested, crude and unripe, may be perceived, in which the Spirits can hardly extricate themselves into motion, and from which they can hardly be drawn by distillation. Or secondly, the Spirits flying forth from the thick substance of the rest, are full of vigor, shake and rightly dispose the more gross Particles, subtilize the thick, digest the crude, & bring things to the steme or height of maturitity & perfecti∣on: or lastly, Spirits having obtained the height of things, do luxuriate and make excursions out of the Body: hence those that remain, are by degrees lessened of their plenty and strength, until being less in power than the Particles of the Salts and Sulphur, they are put under their yoak, and by little and little are destroyed and driven away out of the Subject; on this threefold state de∣pends the beginnings or rudiments, the maturity and exaltation, and the defect and end of things.

It is observed, when the Spirituous Latex is drawn forth of any Liquor by Distillation, that the vapor or steam is not elevated into dew, that is, comes together in little drops or dew, every where poured forth, as it is wont to do in watery things; but it is divided into streaks, and many little rivulets, and renders the Alembic mark'd in every part with straight lines, only not meri∣dional, leading from theCentre of the top, to the brim of theCircumference. The cause of which seems to be this, to wit, since that the spirituous substance is very subtil, it is not easily Collected into Liquor, neither is it fixed every where about the sides of the Vessel, in its ascent, as watery Liquors, but alwayes stretches further, and unless when it comes to the top it self of the little head, doth in no wise stay; but there the spirituous breath, being restrained as it were in a punct, and being brought backward, it begins to gather into dew: wherefore, from that top, as it were the Fountain, the Spirits flowing forth on every side by streams, descend into streaks to∣wards the mouth or brim of the Alembic. And when those lines wholly disappear, it is a sign that the spirituous substance is quite still'd forth, and that the watery breath only ascends.

2. Sulphur is a Principle of a little thicker consistence than Spirit, after that, the most active: for when the Spirits first break forth from the loosned substance of the mixture, presently the Sul∣phureous Particles endeavour to follow. The Temperament of every thing, as to Heat, Consisten∣cy, and amiable frame or contexture, depends chiefly on Sulphur; from hence also for the most part arise variety of Colours and Odors, the fairness and deformity of the Body, also the di∣versity of tastes. In the Bosom of this, the Spirits immediately, in which as in a Copula, they

are united, by the more hard embraces of the rest. The substance of Sulphur, tho less subtil, is yet of more fierceness and unruliness than the Spirits are, for this unless it be restrained, by the embraces of the others, as it were in bonds, and its Particles be detained one from another by the interjection or coming between of the rest, not only leaves the subject, but destroys its self, with too impetuous an eruption. Indeed the little bodies of this being gently moved, do cause di∣gestion, and maturation, sweetness, and many perfective qualities in things: being a little more strongly moved, they induce heat, and excess of qualities, inordinations, and chiefly a stinking savour: but being more impetuously moved or stirred up, they bring in the dissolution of Bodies, yea a flame and Burning.

The substance of Sulphur is never seen fincere, yea it consists not of it self from others, but va∣nishes away into Air: its Particle being concreted and chained together with Salt and Earth, are fixed as it were immoveable, as is seen in Metals and some Stones: or being Diluted with Spi∣rit and Water, and temper'd together with the rest, exist in motion, by which means (as was be∣fore said of Spirit) they are in a threefold state, within the substance of the mixture: for either first of all its little bodies being involved with Salt and Earth, or too much drenched with a wa∣tery humidity are obscured, so that they excercise but little of virtue, from whence the humid and cold temper of things exists, their qualities are Obtuse, Dull, and of small virtue or force, and the Bodies less apt to be inflamed, as is discerned in unripe Fruit, raw juices and green Wood. Or secondly, The Particles of Sulphur begin to shine forth with Spirit, to be more thickly heaped or rolled together, and to appear eminent above the rest of the Principles. And so by its motion, they evaporate the superfluous moisture, digest Crudities, and induce a warm temper in things, active qualities, a lively force and maturation, or ripeness: which kind of exaltation of Sulphur may be observed in Wine and Liquors long Fermented, in ripe Fruits, in the Youth and florid Constitution of living Creatures. Or thirdly, The Sulphureous Particles being gathered into vigor, grow too hot, loose the bonds of mixture, and desire to fly away; and from their diverse manner of departure and separation, the dissolution of Bodies variously happens: For either they evaporate with Water and Spirit, by degrees, and without tumult, and leave their subjects lean and dry, which, when the Sulphur is wholly gone, fall into ashes: Or second∣ly, in Bodies which abound with Sulphur, when the mixture is loosned, and the Spirits begin to fly away, the remaining Particles of Sulphur are wont to be very much moved, and to grow exceed∣ing hot; and being shut up in a thick substance, are gathered together more nearly, (as in Dung and Hay growing hot) and conceive heat, and sometimes Burning: breaking forth after this manner, by heaps, and impetuously, they breath out a stinking smell, and bring on a rottenness to the subject. There is a third manner of eruption, whereby the Sulpureous Particles go forth of Bodies, when they withdraw themselves, as it were with violence, and being gathered to∣gether, break forth into fire and flame: whereby indeed becoming unbridled and untamed, they break all bars or lets, and wholly destroy the substance or frame of the Subject: by this means, by their own and proper effervescency they procure a Burning, as when they being layed up wet, or the wheels of Carts or Axletree, made hot by motion, do fire, or becauseSulphur is inkindled by Sulphur: for its Particles being impetuously moved, shake or move all that's near them, and carry them into the like motion of Conflagration, as shall be more fully shewn hereafter, when we shall discourse concerning the nature of fire.

3. Salt is of a little more fixed nature than either Spirit or Sulphur, nor so apt to fly away; but bestows a Compaction and Solidity on things, and also weight and duration; It retards the dissolution of Bodies, and promotes Congelations and Coagulations, and very much resists Putrefaction, Corruption, and Inflammation; to wit, forasmuch as it fixes the too volatile Sul∣phur and Spirit, and detains them in a Body: wherefore ponderous Woods, Stones, Metals, and what abound in Salt, are hardly enkindled, and remain a long while free from Corruption. Not only the duration of the individual, but also the propagation of the Species, depends very much upon the Principle of Salt, because the fertility of the Earth, the growth of Plants, and espe∣cially the frequent foetation, and bringing forth of young, in living Creatures, takes their Original from the Saltish Seed: hence it is, that Venus is said to arise from the Sea, and lust is called Salacity. For Salt having obtained a flux, gathers together, and stirs up into motion, the idle, or too much disjoyned little Bodies of Spirit or Sulphur, and excellently keeps them to∣gether with it self, for the producing the first ground-work of things.

Salt within the frame of the mixture, is either altogether fixed, when its Particles being al∣most destitute of Spirit and Water, but bound together with Earth, or Sulphur, or both of them, grow into Stones, Metals, or Minerals of another kind; which fixity in Nature is imitated in making Glass, and Earthen Ware: or Salt is loosned from its fixedness, to wit, when its Particles being mixed with the other Principles, and chiefly with Spirit and Sulphur, and Diluted with Water, do unfold themselves, and being diffused through the mixture, do Ferment with the rest: whilst the little Bodies of the Salt are after this manner put into motion, there is observed of them a threefold State or Condition, to wit, of Fusion, Volatilisation and Fluxation.

I call the State of Fusion, when the little Bodies of the Salt being Commixed with the rest, begin as to their smallest parts to be dissolved, and diffused, and explicated her•…•… and there, through the whole substance of the mixture, as may be observed in the Germination of Plants, in the first Conception of living Creatures, and in the beginnings of Fermentations; hence spring only a rude and indigested formation of things, an ingrateful savour, and for the most part bit∣ter or biting.

From these first Rudiments of Motions, the Saline Particles ascend by little and little, to Vi∣gor and Volatilisation, together with Spirit and Sulphur: to wit, whereby they run through the whole substance of the Body, and variously move its matter, and dispose it towards maturity. Some little Bodies sharpen, and stir up into motion, others Fix, Establish, and Congeal into a stony hardness. If there be plenty of Spirits and Sulphur, the Particles of Salt, as their handmaids, go about to unite, and associate themselves intimately with them, that they are not only snatched together with them, through all the recesses of the mixture, but (the subject being exposed to Distillation) Salt also ascends in the Alembic, even as the Spirit. From the Volatilisation of Salt, Beauty, and Fairness, and Savour chiefly sweet, happen in things, as in the florid blood of living Creatures, in ripe Fruits, as also in Sugar, Milk, and Hony, we know by experience.

I mean the Fluxation of Salt, when the saline Particles, which being first gathered together, with Earth, or Sulphur, or associated with Spirit, and so remain separated one from another, after∣wards the bond of the mixtion being loosened, they become wholly free, and unloosened from the yoak of the rest: for so they flow together, explicate themselves through the whole frame of the subject, and whilst Spirit and Sulphur for the most part fly away, these exercise a dominion over the remainder, and induce a soureness into the whole mixture: by reason of this Fluxation of Salt, Wine, Milk, Blood, and Eatable Things, at first grateful and sweet, grow ingrate∣fully soure when they begin to Corrupt; and for this Reason, all Salts whatsoever, having gotten a Flux, by a violent Distillation by Fire (that is, being driven from the Combination of Earth) grow soure, than if the same soure Liquor, be put upon the insipid dead Head, the Whole lastly becomes salted.

Salt being deprived of the Company of the rest, (except the Earth) becomes at last fixed, as is observed in Sea-Salt, or the incineration made of Herbs, whose Particles so cleave together, that they cannot be pulled asunder by the strongest Fire. when Vegetables are Distilled, some Sa∣line Particles, though but few, made fit for Fusion, ascend with the rest; and from thence some Distilled Waters retain a genuine savour of the mixture: The parts of living Creatures being exposed to Distillation, yeild a Volatile Salt: when Minerals, or ponderous Woods full of Salt, are brought under by Chymistry, the Distilled Liquor is like to Salt that hath gotten a Flux, and is very soure.

Spirit and Sulphur easily unlock the substance of the mixture, and make way for themselves; but Salt cannot, unless it be snatched forth of doors together with the Spirit it self. As Spirit and Sulphur being outwardly applyed, in dissolving or burning a Body, open as it were the doors for their Companions shut within, so also, Salt Liquors Distilled, do the same thing: For Sty∣gian Waters strongly Corrode Metals, and are seen like a flame put to them, to burn and con∣sume the same.

Salt resists Inflammation, for that it detains the SulphureousParticles in its Bosom, and hinders them from breaking sorth. But excepting that Sal Nitre encreases the burning of Sulphur, which indeed happens by accident, because that Salt, as it were an Hermaphrodite, grows very turgid with Sulphureous Particles also, combined in the mixture; wherefore, when the Salt is melted by other fired Sulphur, the shut up Sulphur, breaks forth with violence, and (like a blast from a Bellows) shakes the inkindled fire round about, and drives more impetuously the subject into a Body: In the mean time, if you put the flame to Nitre, it will not be inkindled at all; but being put to a Sulphureous Body, it promotes its enkindling; but the other Salts, less turgid with Sul∣phureous Particles, or rather destitute of them, being mixt with Sulphur, hinder its inkindling, and sometimes put it out.

So much for the active Principles, which effect, as it were, the first ground-work of Bodies: those which follow, chiefly bestow on them Consistency and Substance. For from hence exist either Liquids or Solids, Small things or Great. For Water and Earth fill the little spaces that are empty, through the Combination of the rest, with their coming between, and amplifie and enlarge the lineaments of the Body, otherwise too short and contracted.

4. Water is the chiefest Vehicle ofSpirit and Sulphur, by whose intervention, they consociate one with another, and with Salt; for the other Principles, being dissolved by a watery humour, or at least diluted, continue in motion, without which they grow stiff, as congealed things.

When Water is wanting, the active Principles meet together too strictly, and mutually rub against, and consume themselves; and when for this reason, the suppliment of food is cut off, the Body grows withered. If humidity abounds to much, these Elements are estranged or dis∣sociated too much one from the other, wherefore the subject becomes sluggish and slow, and of

less efficacy, and unapt for motion. Besides, Bodies too moist, are lyable very much to rot∣tenness and Corruption; because from too much Humidity the Combination of Spirit, and Sul∣phur, and Salt, is too loosly effected; that they do not mutually embrace one another, nor are retained with their embracement, in the subject. Indeed Water abounding, easily evaporates, and then the frame of the mixture being loosened, and the doors set open, Spirit and Sulphur easily break forth, the way being made, and leave the subject, as it were vapid, or made sharp with Salt: For from hence, the infusions of Vegetables, Decoctions, Juices of Herbs, and all Liquid preparations, if the quantity of Water be greater then the rest of the Principles, and improportionate, quickly Corrupt.

Water is most easily drawn forth out of every thing by Distillation, for when Spirit and Sul∣phur are often intangled with nets of Salt or Earth, they hardly let go their embraces, and are not obedient but to a more intense heat, and oftentimes require a previous Putrefaction. Water most easily, and often with no labour, is driven out of every Body; but most often it snatches in its flying away, some more loose Particles of Spirit and Sulphur, and carries them with it self, forth of doors.

5. As the interjection of Water in Liquids, so of Earth in Solids, fills the empty little Spaces and Vacuities, left by other Principles; for these hinder the active Principles from a too streight embrace, whereby they should rub against themselves, and cleave one to another; also by its thickness, it retains too Volatile things: besides, it inlarges the due substance, and magnitude in Bodies.

The more that Earth abounds in any thing, it is so much the less active, but of longer dura∣tion: Hence Minerals endure a long while, then next the greater Trees; in the mean time Ani∣mals, and the more slender Plants, are but of short age.

In Distillations, Earth ascends the Alembic, almost not at all, or but in a very little quanti∣ty: for the most part it is left, with a portion of Salt, for a Caput Mortuum, or Dead Head; therefore it is called Terra Damnata, or damned Earth: because, when the other Principles are freed, the Prison being as it were broken, this is still detained: besides Earth being deprived of the Company of the rest, is of no Use, nor capable of change, or exaltation.

Thus much for the Elements or Principles of Natural things, considered apart, and by them∣seves. It follows, that some of their Affinities and Conjugations be unfolded: because these ve∣ry strictly cohere with those, and very hardly or not at all are joyned with others. Out of the mutual Combination of some, and disagreement of others, various Affections arise, the know∣ledg of which gives no little Light to the Doctrine of Fermentation.

There is a certain Kindred and Similitude of parts, between Spirit and Sulphur, which are agil or light, and easily to be dissipated in both; wherefore, Spirit being driven forth of the Body, draws abundantly with it Sulpureous Particles, as is discerned in Spirituous Liquors Di∣stilled out of any thing; to some of which if you mingle Water, the Liquor appears as it were troubled with precipitated Sulphur; but the Spirit without the Sulphur is undiscernably mixed with the Water, which however by reason of its Volatility, may be also easily drawn away and separated by Distillation.

Altho Spirit and Sulphur are Principles very resembling, and (because of of a ready motion) either are inflameable, yet they are not one and the same, as is asserted by some: For Sulphur Copiously subsists in Bodies almost destitute of Spirit, to wit, in common Sulphur, Antimony, and other Minerals; in which its Particles are very fixed, and of their own nature, almost immoveable, which is very far from the Nature of Spirits: For they abounding in any mixture, never lye idle, and alwayes in motion, bring various alterations to the Subject where they dwell; then if they abound in strength, they easily and without tumult carry themselves forth of doors of their own accord. But Sulphur, altho it abound, doth not easily evaporate, but hath need of a strong heat, or an actual sire, that may make a way for it; and lastly, it breaks forth not without a stink or burning: yea, if you endeavour to Distill Oyly and Fat things, al∣though very Sulphureous, with a moderate Fire, they are wont to yield a Liquor only Waterish, and not inflameable; but if we Provoke generous Wine, which swells with Spirit, by the gentle heat of a Bath, a most burning Water will Still forth, and apt wholly to be inflamed.

Spirit is not presently joyned with Salt: For Sugar and Salts are scarcely dissolved by the rectified Spirit of Wine, but are after a manner associated by a long digestion and circulation; as is perceived in the Volatile Salt of Animals, or Tincture drawn forth from the Salts of Herbs, or of Minerals, by the Spirit of Wine. If that Spirits excel in plenty, and virtue, they assume to themselves, and Volatilise the Saline Particles. And therefore the Salt contained in the Juice or blood of Animals, being associated with Spirit, is volatilised: Also the Spirit of Wine, be∣ing Distilled by many Cohalations, with the fixed Salt of Herbs, renders it Volatile, and makes it pass through the Alembic; but if the power of the Salt be greater, it tames the Spirit and fixes it. Hence the blood, being become Salt, by means of an ill dyet, becomes less Spirituous. Fixed Salts, and the Oyl of Vitriol fix the Spirits, grown too volatile and unbridled, and Co∣agulate the Spirit of Wine it self.

But Sulphur is a more fit subject of the Spirit, by the coming between of which it easily is united with Salt and the other Principles; and as Spirit best agrees with Sulphur and Water, so Sulphur intimately cleaves to Earth and Salt.

As to Sulphur, besides its affinity with Spirit, it hath a great relation with Salt it self, to the volatilisation of which it doth not a little help: wherefore in Bodies which abound with a vo∣latile Salt, there is found plenty of Sulphur, as in Amber, Soot, Horns and Bones, as also in the excrements of living Creatures; where Salt and Sulphur are in motion, and evaporate from the subject, a very stinking smell is sent forth; for Sulphur being sharpned with Salt, pricks more strongly the sensory, and strikes it with its sharpness; in the mean time, Sulphur exhaling with Spirit, both pleases the sense, and excites a very pleasant smell.

Sulphur is as it were distracted between Spirit and Salt, and adheres at once to both parties. In the Distillation of Amber, Turpentine, Harts-Horn, and the like, a certain lesser part of Sulphur, being united to Spirit, first ascends and causes a Yellow Oyl, or clear Liquor of a grateful smell: the other part of Sulphur, being joyned to the Salt, is driven forth in the second place, and is Distilled with a most stinking smell, in the form of a red or black Oyl: In like manner, in the Circulation of the Blood, a pure and delicate portion of Sulphur, being mixed with the Spirit, supplies both the Animal and Vital Spirit with matter; the other more thick part, being Boyled and Rosted with Salt, is laid up in the Choledock Vessels (or belong∣ing to Choler) as it were a certain excrement seperated from the Blood. As Spirit does not easily Cohere with Salt, so Sulphur does not with Water: wherefore Fat and Oyly things, as also Gums and Sulphureous Resines, either swim upon the Water, or sink down to its bot∣tom. But Sulpureous things, Salt coming between, are commixed with a Watery Liquor, as we see Oyls imbued with Sugar or Salt, to be dissolved in common Water, which otherwise would flow separate.

Sulphur is not so tractable in Distillation, as Spirit, Water or Salt: for the Particles of this, being very Viscous; stick together among themselves, and also to others, that they cannot easily be pulled from their embrace. Hence among Sulpureous things, there are some, which are not forced, but by a strong and burning heat, into a stinking Oyl, and very empyreumatick, or smelling of Fire: But others, more pertinaciously cleaving together, are not to be loosened by Distillation, but are only broken into integral parts; and so ascend under the form of a dry Breath, as common Sulphur, Benzoin, Camphor, and the like.

Salt, besides its affinity with Sulphur, is also most strictly united with Earth; wherefore, Stones, and the more hard Minerals, consist chiefly of Salt and Earth. The Acid Spirits of Mi∣nerals, (which are only Salts resolved into Liquor by Distillation) if at last they be poured on the Caput Mortuum, Cohere with a strict embrace to it, that there will be need of a most strong Fire, to drive them forth again. Also in Glass, the union of Salt and Earth is so strictly made, that it will not suffer a Divorce by any means. Salt also is most easily Dissolved in Wa∣ter; and it melts of its own accord, in a moist Air: and these are as easily seperated one from another.

By reason of these Combinations, these Principles have got various Appellations and not Congruous in their own Nature to themselves: For Sulphur, forasmuch as it is Associated with Spirit, is called pure nnd sweet; when with Salt, impure and stinking, for as much as with Salt and Earth, it is called thick and Earthly; when the Spirit assumes to it self Sulphureous Particles in a moderate quantity, it is seen to be sweet; when saline, sharp; when both, bitter. Salt has a diverse disposition, and is known by many names, by reason of its various mixture with the other Elements, and chiefly with Earth; for besides the Titles of Fluid, Fixed, Vo∣latile, for this reason it is termed Marine, Aluminous, Nitrous, Vitriolick, Armoniack, or of some other kind. By some, these kind of Conjugations are esteemed, but wrongfully, as so many divers Principles, when they are but simple mixtures, by the coming together of the first Element, and being loosened by Distillation they openly shew their Race, from whence they are. For all salts whatsoever being driven into a Flux by the Fire, shew Liquors very near of Kin one to another, to wit, Acetous: by the like means Spirit and Sulphur are compelled to put off their masks, and to resume the Native Species common to each.

And so much for the Principles of Natural Things, and of their Affections and Conjunctions. It is abundantly manifest, that these kind of Substances are in every Body, (besides the Ana∣lyses of Bodies Chymically instituted) also from the Mutations, and effects of Things, which happen of their own Nature. When Must is ripened into Wine, is not Spirit, a Sulphureous part, also Salt, and Earth Conspicuous to our Tast and Eyes, besides the Water, Liquor? Also the Juice of every Plant being exalted by Digestion, exhibits the same sincere, and is as it were distinct: what is greater, things subject to the Flame, when they seem to be burnt, and reduced almost to nothing, they go into these kind of Particles; besides the salt remaining in the Ashes, thesmoke and Flame grow together into soot as it were a Meteor, in which are comprehended together, Spirit, Sulphur, Salt, Water, and Earth, as it were in a certain compendium of the mixture. For the active Principles abound in Soot, more than in any other inanimate Body.

But because with some there hath spread a certain suspition, that those our Principles, chiefly the Saline and Sulphureous, are to be produced for the most part by Fire, and are no wayes to be found in mixt things, unless after the coming between of that: I will witness to you in some instances, that the thing is plainly otherwise. Concerning the first, It is commonly known, that the Ashes of every Plant, being once Elixivated, or made into a Lye, if it be af∣terwards Calcined, will not yield any thing of Salt; besides if Concretes being Distilled, Ex∣hale or Breath forth a very sharp or acid Liquor, their Calx is not saltish; and on the contrary when the Salt being Volatilised or brought to a Flux, ascends the Alembic, you shall seek for it in vain in the dead head. To prove the existency of the sulphureous Principle in Vegetables, take Guaiacum, or a peice of any other ponderous Wood, & being put into a Glass Retort, draw it forth by degrees; it shall exhibit, together with an Acid Liquor (which Water is saltish) in great quantity, a blackish Oyl (which part of it is sulphureous.) It appears from hence that this was in the Body before the Distilling, and in no wise produced by its Opera∣tion, because if you proceed after another Manner, that the Sulphur may be taken out of the Concrete before Distillation, the Liquor that comes forth will be almost wholly deprived of its Oyliness: Wherefore, if you pour Spirit of Wine to those Chips of Wood, it will Extract in great quantity, by this Menstruum, a pure Resine, which is the sul∣phureous part it self; then if you Distill (as before) in a Retort, the remaining Chips being washed in common Water, and dryed, you will have a very little Oyl only. What is more to be admired, and confirms also more fully the truth of this kind of Origination, some Bodies, which being almost destitute of Spirit and Sulphur (because chiefly Volatile) consist chiefly of Salt, Earth and Water, are separated into the Elements by Distillation: the same mixture in number, and wholly known by the same accidents, is restored to them, being mingled to∣gether again; for example, if you distill Vitriol in a Reverberating Furnace, you will have a Phlegm almost insipid, or a Watery part, then a Liquor very soure, or a Salt having gotten a Flux, and in the bottom, a Red Earth, and finely Purpled: this being rightly performed, if the two Distilled Liquors be poured to the dead head, you shall have the same Vitriol as you had before, and again revived, in the same Colour, Tast, yea and almost in weight. In like manner you may proceed, with the same success, with Nitre, Sea-Salt, Salt of Tartar, and perhaps with Alum and other Minerals; so that those Concretes, which consist of fixed and stable Elements, may like a Mechanick Engine be pulled into peices, and presently without hurt∣ing the Machine, be restored or made whole. But there is enough spoken concerning the Prin∣ciples of Natural Bodies. These being thus premised, we will proceed to the thing proposed in the beginning, to wit, the Doctrine of Fermentation.

CHAP. III. What Fermentation is: Its Division as to the Subjects; and first of Mi∣nerals.

FErmentation is an intestine motion of Particles, or the Principles of every Body, either tending to the Perfection of the same Body, or because of its change into another. For the Elementary Particles being stirred up into motion, either of their own ac∣cord or Nature, or occasionally, do wonderfully move themselves, and are moved; do lay hold of, and obvolve one another: the subtil and more active, unfold themselves on every side, and endeavour to fly away; which notwithstanding being intangled, by others more thick, are de∣tained in their flying away. Again, the more thick themselves, are very much brought under by the endeavour and Expansion of the more Subtil, and are attenuated, until each of them be∣ing brought to their height and exaltations, they either frame the due perfection in the subject, or compleat the Alterations and Mutations designed by Nature.

Fermentation is an action or motion meerly Natural, and what doth perform it, are only Particles Naturally implanted in the Concrete; yet as to the subjects in which they are found, it is wont to be variously distinguished. And either things of Nature are said to Ferment in a threefold Family, of Minerals, Vegetables and Animals; or the Works of Art, to wit, when Actives are applyed to Passives by an outward Agent. Though the Term and Consideration of Fermentation, are chiefly due to Artificial things, and things made by Hand; yet it will not be from the purpose, to speak first something of Natural Things, that a Comparison be∣ing made of either, the Truth of our Hypothesis, and the certainty of the Principles may be confirmed. But this only lightly by the way, in this place I shall pass over, because their more full handling belongs to Physiology, or the Discourse of Natural or Physical Things.

In the first place, as to Minerals, altho in the bowels of the Earth, the Fermentation is less conspicuous than in the Superficies, yet it easily appears that the Elementary Particles, or the Fer∣mentative Principles, are included in the depth of the Earth, as in a certain pregnant Womb: which there constitute Concretes, and things gathered together, by strict Embraces, the Pro∣ductions of Minerals; but being loosned, and moved in the Bosom of the Earth, or exhaled up∣wards, cause the appearances of Meteors.

First, The Generation of the more hard Minerals, induces rather Congelation than Fermenta∣tion; because indeed these Principles, growing together in every Subject, are so fixed, and as it were bound together inBonds, that they are not able any wayes to move themselves, or to de∣part one from another. This kind of fixation chiefly depends on the plenty and greater pro∣portion of Salt and Earth (sometimes with an addition of sulphur) than there is of spirit or water, to wit, salt and earth, being most smally broken, and resolved even into a Vapour, lay hold of one another, and stiffen into a hard matter, and at last not to be loosned; almost after the same manner as making of Glass, and the burning of Bricks and Earthen Ware, are per∣formed. For Glass consists of Salt and Earth, which when broken into most small bits, by a very intense Fire, they suffer a flux, they mutually lay hold of one another, and so strictly and intimately come together, that they are never to be parted. Glass is more fragil, or easy to be broken, then Earthen Pots, or Minerals, because it has a greater plenty of Salt, than of Earth, which is more plentiful in Earthen Ware, and in Minerals: To some of which, also happens a modicum of Sulphur, and for that reason they are more tenacious and ductil; as is to be observed in Metals, when in the mean time stones, and what contain little of Sulphur, are fragil, and apt by every stroke to fly to peices. In Vitrification there is need of a violent Fire, for the fusion of the Salt and the Earth (whose Particles, as is commonly said, are the Pestles of the Chymists) but within the Bowels of the Earth, there is not required such a fufion of Fire for the Con cretion of Minerals, because Salt and Sulphur exist, being naturally resolved into most simple Particles; which, when they lay hold on the Earth, easily stiffen into Metal, or into a stony hardness. There are some Fountains found out, which, for that they flow with a primitive Salt, and resolved into small Particles, whatever Bodies are immersed therein, they cause them presently to be∣come stony. We have read also, of Men changed into Stones, yea a whole City to have been stiffenedinto a stony substance, by the Air, or by some Vapour, brought forth of the Earth: The Faith of which thing is left to the Authors.

Meteors are made out of the same Principles by which Minerals are made, and conceived almost in the same Womb: but loosned from Concretion wandring here and there, and diversly fluctua∣ting: or which being included in Subterraneous Vaults, and there moved, produce divers Spring∣ings up of Fountains, or ebullitions ofhot Vapours; or exhaling from the Dens of the Earth, and being mixt with Airy little Bodies, they cause within the Region of the Atmo-Sphear, as it were a diverse fashioned Landskip, of Clouds, Winds, and the appearances of other things, in the Superficies of the Earth, or on high: in either there are highly active Principles chiefly Salt and Sulphur. Spirits are either deficient in Meteors, even as in Minerals, or are found only in a very small quantity or proportion: to wit, they are almost wholly excluded from these, by reason of the strict frame of the subject, which doth not easily yeild space and passage for their motion; also they abstain from those (viz. Meteors) by reason of the lax, and wholly loose structure of Matter, from whence they, who are mighty in swiftness, easily break forth, and de∣sire to fly away.

Within the Bosom of the Earth, the Saline Particles being loosned, even into a Vapour, and then kneaded with an Earthy Matter or the moistening of Waters, they cause Eruptions of Foun∣tains, and Acidulous or Spaw Waters, which resemble the disposition of Vitriol, Alum, Nitre, sometimes of Iron or Copper. Also the Sulphureous little Bodies being loosned, and gathered together, enkindle an Heat, and sometimes Subterraneous Fires; by whose Breaths the Dens and Caverns being made Hot, like an Hot-House, whilst the Watery humours pass through them, they from thence conceive their Heat, and supply the Springs of Hot Fountains for Bathes.

In like manner, in this visible and Ethereal World, Vapors both sulphureous and saline, and of a diverse Kind and Nature, perpetually breath forth, and are diffused through the whole Region of Air. From hence the diversity of Winds, the vicissitudes of Cold and Heat, Rain, Snow, Hail, Dew, and hoar Frost, and what are of this Nature, have their Origine. Con∣cerning the particular Instances of these, the famous Gassendus may be consulted; who, in his Epicurean Philosophy, most aptly deduces the Phaenomena, almost of all Meteors, and the Rea∣sons of them, from the Exhalations of Sulphur and Salts, either Nitrous, Vitriolick, Alumi∣nous or Almoniack.

CHAP. IV. Of Fermentation for as much as is observed in Vegetables.

IN Vegetables Fermentation is yet more plainly discerned; for whilst they Bud forth, Grow, Flower, bear Fruit, Ripen, Decline and Die, we may observe the divers motions of Parti∣cles or Principles, their various Habits and Tempers. I intend not here to describe the several ways and proceedings of these. It will be sufficient, for the unfolding the Doctrine of Fermentation, to take notice of some chief Instances concerning this Subject.

It is manifest by dayly Experience, that all Plants whatsoever, exposed to a Spagyrical or Chymical Operation, may with little labour, be resolved into the aforesaid five-fold Elements: But in some there is found a greater plenty of salt, in others of sulphur; in some spirits a∣bound: Water and Earth are in most proportionated according to the Bulk and Magnitude of the thing. Plants, in which salt abounds, with a mean of sulphur, and a little quantity of spirits, are for the most part of long Age, somewhat big, or flourish all the Winter, or though their Leaves fall, they keep a Nutricious Juice under the Bark: Of which sort are the Oak, Ash, Elm, Box Tree, and all ponderous Woods and Shrubs.

In some sulphur abounds, with a little salt and spirit, as are the Pine, the Firr-Tree, Cyprus-Tree, Juniper, Ivy, Olive, Cedar, and Myrtle-Tre•…•…S, and all resinous Plants; which for the most part have a sweet smell, and are perpetually green, by reason the Juice wherewith they are nourished, is viscous, and not easily to be dissipated. In others, besides plenty of salt and sulphur, spirits also are found in a greater proportion; as are Fruit-bearing Trees, and espe∣cially the Vine, from whose Fruit, the Juice being wrung out, and purified by Fermentation, grows very big with spirit. Of this Rank are Plants for the most part Medicinal; also such as produce curious and odoriferous Flowers; but in some, Water and Earth luxuriate in too great a quantity above the other Elements, as in cold Plants, and such as grow in too rank a soil.

The Germination of Plants happens after this manner, either it is made out of the Seed, Root, Trunk, or of its own Nature, from the naked Matrix of the Earth. First, the spirit being shut up within, by the ambient Heat and Moisture loosening the frame of the mixture, being loosened, it presently endeavors to fly away; but being held back in its flight, by the more thick Particles of the rest, stretches forth more largely its Den, and together with the other Principles, with which it is bound, thrusts forth on every side into length and breadth; even as a little bundle of Silk, being contracted into wrinkles and folds, is opened here and there; in the mean time, the little spaces left by the enlargement of the spirit, and as it were made hollow, are filled up by the next Matter, driven even into the Vacuities. And after this manner the Architect Spirit, with its Ministers, salt and sulphur, still stretching forth it self, like a Snail, frames for it self an House, whose Inhabitant it is, and by dilating it self, stretches forth that, until at last it hath wrought the Plant into the due Bulk and Figure designed by Na∣ture.

You may take notice, that the times of the year, for the Budding, Flowering, Ripening, and Decaying of Vegetables, are of great efficacy and virtue; all the Winter, the Womb of the Earth, as it were shut up, is almost barren; for the spirituous Particles, which are wont to actuate the rest, and as it were to lead the Dance of Natural Motions, are either chased away by the Winters Cold, or being congealed in their subjects, are fixed, wherefore at this time Germination and Vegetation are very rare, unless that some irregulat Pla•…•…ts, which are com∣posed of plenty of spirit, salt and sulphur, dare to break forth. But in the Spring, when the Bowels of the Earth begin to be a little warm by the Vicinity of the Sun, presently they are impregnated with a wonderful Foecundity and produce the effects of their seminality. Not only the superficies of the Earth, but also the Water and Air every where grow big with spi∣rituous particles which, as it were, raise up from the dead the little Bodies of salt and sulphur, and bring them into Motion: Therefore, besides that the Plants Bud, the Juice and Blood of living Creatures is quicker, and more apt to abound. At this time the Birds and Fishes build their Nests, and bring forth Eggs; also we may perceive in our selves the Blood to flow high in the Vessels, and usually to Ferment too much. For all things are then full of this Ethereal substance, and the whole Bulk of Nature, as it were, inspir•…•…d by a lively Fermentation, is abundantly fruitful of Motions and Generations. Yea, these our Principles, at first separated and dispersed one from another, led as it were by an Appetite of Copulation, enter into mu∣t•…•…al Marriages, and being married together, almost by insinite Embraces, cause a most ample seeding and germination of the Herby State.

At the beginning of the Summer (and perhaps in some sooner, in some later) when sufficient time hath been granted for the stature and magnitude of every Plant, and that it is now come to the height of increase, it behoves Nature to perfect her Work, and to Cook and ripen the substance, as yet rude and undigested; wherefore the active Principles leisurely extricate them∣selves from the more thick, and creep forwards towards the top, there being placed with a mutual increase, they are formed into Flowers and Blossoms, from which at length (for that they are of a soft and light texture) spirit and sulphur easily evaporate, and the frame of the mixture quickly decays: But Nature careful of the perpetuating every thing, when it cannot keep for ever the Individuum, is so provident, that the species may not wholly perish: Where∣fore she institutes new and more firm and lasting Combinations of spirit, salt and sulphur; for she selects from the whole substance of the Plant the more noble and highly active Particles; and these being gathered together with a little Earth and Water, she forms in the Seed, as it were the Quintessences of every Plant; in the mean time, the Trunk, Leaves, Stalks, and the other Members of the Plant, being almost quite deprived of the active Principles, are much depauperated, and are of less Efficacy and Virtue.

About Autumn, after the Seeds are framed (as it were pledges left in memory of the Plant) the particles of spirits, salt and sulphur which remain, being now placed in their strength or exaltation, endeavour a Dissolution and Departing one from another. And first of all, the spirits evaporate by degrees with the watery Humor, through the doors set open by the sum∣mer Sun, with which the more pure parts of the sulphur make also their Journey; in the mean time, the salt, being fixed with the Earth and more thick sulphur, is left behind; wherefore in most the Leaves fall at this time, and in those of a tender and light constitution, the Princi∣ples are wholly dissipated, and the Trunk and stalk, together with the Root, wholly die. In some, after the falling of the Seed with the Leaves, the stalks wither; in the mean time the Principles which may renew the Plant in the next Spring, are preserved in the Root.

Also Winter coming on, the face of things is wholly changed; and the Elements, which in the Spring did affect to be joyned, and to marry one with another, seek nothing more than Divorces. The Spirits fly away from very many things, and wander in the Air; in the mean time the particles of salt and sulphur lie as it were benummed and asleep. Not only the Bodies of Vegetables, but of very many Animals, are left as it were dead all the Winter, till they are raised again to the Life by the Spirit, returning with the Vernal Sun, and as it were animated anew. But this little Branch being made concerning the Vegetation of Plants, it is now fit that we proceed on our Journey to Fermentation by the Rule of our before established Method, to what is to be observed concerning the Parts and Humors of Living Crea∣tures.

CHAP. V. Of things to be observed of Fermentation about Animals.

IT is so certain that the Bodies of Animals consist of the aforesaid Principles, that it wants no proof: For they so plentifull•…•… swell up with spirit, salt and sulphur, that their Particles are obvious to the sense; wherefore they are moved with a more swift motion, and more excellent senses of Life and functions of Heat in the subjects in which they are im∣planted, are enlarged. It would be too much labour, and tedious here to describe the several manners and processes of Fermentations. The first beginnings of Life proceed from the Spirit Fermenting in the Heart, as it were in a certain little punct. The motion of this is not as in Vegetables, slow and insensible, and only to be known by their increasing; but presently becoming rapid, is conspicuous to the Eyes; because the Spirit leaping from the punct, as from a Prison, being stirred, and having obtained the Vehicle of Blood, swiftly runs forth; and leaping forth, it cannot wholly fly away, it makes hollow spaces for it self in the thick substance, in which it is included, for its excursion, being compelled some other way backward. Lastly, being returned to the Heart, it Ferments the more, wherefore it stretches forth fur∣ther the spaces of its Excursion, and so easily makes an hollow way for its return back; and after this manner, for the carrying about the Blood, Arteries and Veins, as Channels and Rivulets are framed through all the parts of the Body: and on such a Vicissitude of Motion, or Reciprocati∣on, depends the life of living Creatures, which that Nature might preserve a long while, she placed the Ferment in the Heart, by whose instinct, or endeavour, the Blood grows impetuously Hot, and as it were enkindled into a Flame by its Deflagration, diffuses the effluvia of its Heat round about on every side: for by the Fermentation, or Accension which the Blood suffers

in the Bosom of the Heart, very many Particles of Spirit, Salt and Sulphur, endeavour to break forth from its loosned frame: by which being much rarified, and like Water boyling over a fire, the moved and boyling Blood is carried through the Vessels, not without great Tu∣mult and Turgescency. We would speak more in this place, both of the Natural Fermentation of the Blood, and the Feaverish, but that we reserve this Consideration for a peculiar Tract, where we Treat of Feavers.

Besides this Ferment constituted in the Chimny of the Heart, upon which the motion and heat of the Blood very much depends, there are others laid up every where in the Bowels, of a diverse disposition, by the help of which, both the Chyle (which is the Rudiment or Be∣ginning of the Blood) and the Animal Spirits, its Quintessence, are truly framed. There are others also which serve for the perfecting the Blood, transmuting it into other Liquors, and freeing it from Excrementitious Matter: It will be too far from our proposed method, to wander, to insist upon each of these, and to reap anothers Harvest: Wherefore I will only add in this place, some select instances, which may illustrate the Doctrine of Fermentation.

It is commonly received, that the Concoction of the Chyle, in the Ventricle, is made by the means of a certain Acid Ferment: That such a thing is, the Acid Belching in a full Stomach, and the want of it in the loss of Stomach, in Feaverish and Dysenterical people do testifie, &c. and its restitution a sign of Health: to which may be added this Observation, Chalybeat Medi∣cines being taken at the Mouth, a little after excite a Sulphureous savour in the Throat, as if hard rosted Eggs had been eaten: which seems wholly to be made by the Acid Ferment of the Ventricle, gnawing the Iron, even as Spirit of Vitriol, being sprinkled upon the fileings of Steel, excites such a stinking and Sulphureous Odor. Some say this Ferment is breathed into the Stomach from the Spleen, but by what means that may be done, doth not yet appear by Anatomical Observation. It seems not improbable that this Ferment is implanted in the Ven∣tricle, that it is only made by some remains of the perfected Chyle, which fixed in the folds of the Ventricle, and there growing sowr, puts on the Nature of Ferment; even as a portion of Dough being fermented or levened, and kept to a sowrness, becomes a convenient Ferment or Leven, for the making of Bread. In like manner this kind of Acid humour being prepared from the Aliments, and long carried in the Ventricle, promotes the Concoction, and subaction or subduing of the Food; for Acid things, which are full of Salt, carried out to a Flux, excellently conduce both to the Fermenting and Dissolving of Bodies: Wherefore by the action of this, Salt and Sulphur, with which eatable things very much abound, are broken in the Ventricle, and are reduced into very small parts. The Chyle being after this manner Fermented, acquires a Milky colour, by reason that the Sulphureous Particles are dissolved together with the Saline, and mixed with the Acid Ferment. For if you pour an Acetous humour to any Liquor impreg∣nated with Sulphur and volatile Salt, it presently grows white like Milk; as may be dis∣cerned in the preparing the Milk of Sulphur, or the Resinous extracts of Vegetables. Yea, the Spirits of Harts-Horn, or Soot, being very full of Volatile Salt, if they be poured to any Acid Liquor, or simple Water, acquire a Milky colour.

Concerning this Ferment hid in the folds of the Ventricle, it is observed, that it is after va∣rious manners, and changes the Aliments by diverse means: for tho in a sound Constitution it is indifferently Acid, and chiefly owes its force and energie to the Salt being brought to a Flux; yet it often declines from this laudable condition, and contains in it self either too much of sowrness, or less than it ought to have: In the former Case, where the Salt hath got too sowr a Dominion, all things taken in, (the Saline Particles being carried forth to a Flux, and the rest unduly brought under) presently grow sowr; as most often happens in Hy∣pocondriack Distempers: on the other side, where the Volatile Principles obtain the first place, (Fermentation being too hastily made) the Sulphureous parts of the Chyle are suddenly, and as it were forceably exalted; and the unconcocted of the Saline, pass into Choler: which ordi∣narily happens to those abounding with bitter Choler. They therefore who have the Ventricle affected after this latter manner, sweet and fat meats being eaten, they are troubled with a bitter and bilious Taste: Again, they who suffer the contrary disposition, altho they eat the most simple food, send forth plentifully Acid and stinking belchings: and indeed this seems to come to pass even after the same manner, as when a little too much Yest is put to the Batch of Dough, it becomes bitter; or when too great a Portion ofsowr Ferment, or Leven is put to the same Dough, the Bread from thence contracts a mighty sowrness.

As the Blood in the Heart, and appending Vessels, the Chyle in the Ventricle, so the Animal Spirit is wrought in the Brain, whose Original and Motions are very much in the dark. Nei∣ther doth it plainly appear, as to the Animal Spirit, by what workman it is prepared, nor by what Channels it is carried, at a distance, quicker than the twinkling of an Eye. But it seems to me that the Brain with Scull over it, and the appending Nerves, represent the little Head or Glassie Alembic, with a Spunge laid upon it, as we use to do for the highly rectifying of the Spirit of Wine: for truly the Blood when Rarified by Heat, is carried from the Chimny of the Heart, to the Head, even as the Spirit of Wine boyling in the Cucurbit, and being re∣solved

into Vapour, is elevated into the Alembic; where th•…•… Spunge covering all the opening of the Hole, only transmits or suffers to pass though the more penetrating and very subtil Spi∣rits, and carries them to the snout of the Alembic: in the mean time, the more thick Particles are stayed, and hindred from passing. Not unlike this manner, the Blood being delated into the Head, its Spirituous, Volatile, and subtil Particles, being restrained within by the Skull, and its Menynges, as by an Alembic, are drunk up by the spungy substance of the Brain, a nd there being made more noble or excellent, are derived into the Nerves, as so many snouts hanging to it. In the mean time the more crass or thick Particles of the Blood, being hindred from entring, are carried back by Circulation: But the highly agil and subtil Spirits enter the smallest and scarcely at all open Pores of the Brain and Nerves, and run through them with a wonderful swiftness: for there is need only of such Receptacles and Channels, for the Animal Spirit, in which there are none, or at least very small cavities or holes, otherwise the blood or excrementitious humours, their followers and companions would not be excluded. Also, be∣sides, if these Spirits should run about through too open and loose spaces, being easily dissi∣pated, they would fly away: wherefore, when there is need of a Pipe for the transmitting of blood, or serous water, the Spirit of Wine runs rapidly through the secret passages of the In∣strument or Leather. Neither doth the more strict frame of the Brain and Nerves serve only for the straining of the subtil from the thick, and the pure from the impure; but also that spi∣rituous and most subtil Liquor, being as it were distilled from the blood, gets yet a farther Perfection in the Brain; for there being inspired by a certain Ferment, whereby it is yet more volatilised, it is made more fit for the performing the offices of motion and sense. Because the substance of the Brain is exceeding full of a Volatile Salt, which is of great Virtue for the sharpning and subtilizing the Spirits; therefore the Spirits of Harts-Horn, or of Soot, are far more penetrating than Spirits of Wine.

The Seminal Vessels and Genital Parts, do so swell up with Fermentative Particles, that there is nothing more: here Spirit, Salt, and Sulphur being together compacted, and highly exalted, seem in the Seed to be reduced as it were into a most noble Elixir. These kind of active Principles do not only Ferment in the Womb, for the forming of the Child or Young ones, but also as it were, with a living Ferment, they inspire through all the Body, the whole Mass of blood, that it may be more Volatile, and more sharply hot: Wherefore in Women who have the Ferment of the Womb in good order, their face is furnished with a curious and flourish∣ing colour, their heat is more lively and copious; moreover, the mass of blood growing too rank, there is need of emptying it every Month by the flux of their Courses; but when this Fer∣mentation from the Womb is wanting, both Virgins and Women become Pale, and and as it were without blood, short-winded, and unfit for any motion. Also in men, from the seminal Ferment, happen abundance of heat, great strength, a sounding Voice, and a manly eruption of beard and hair; by reason of the defect of this, men grow womanish, to wit, a small Voice, weak Heat, and want of beard are caused.

Since we Treat of Ferments, which are found in the Animal Body, we may here opportunely inquire, what is the use of the Spleen: concerning which all good things are said by some, that it is as it were another Liver, and serves for the making of blood for the Viscera of the lower belly: it is by others reputed to be of a most vile use; that it is the Sink or Jakes, into which the feculencies of the blood are cast. By reason of its structure, we make this sort of conjecture; because the Arteries, do carry the blood to this, and the Veins bring it away, neither any other thing is carried in, or conveyed out; and for that its substance is filled with black, and stag∣nating blood, it seems that it is as it were a store-house for the receiving of the earthy and mud∣dy part of the bl•…•…od; which afterwards, being exalted into the Nature of a Ferment, is carried back to the blood for the heating of it: Wherefore, while the blood being carried by the Ar∣teries, enters the Spleen, something is drawn from it, to wit, the muddy and Terrestial Par∣ticles, which are as it were the dregs, and Caput Mortuum of the blood; that by this means the whole Mass of Blood, might be freed from the Melancholick or Atrabilous Juice; which is separated in the Spleen, even as yellow Bile or Choler, is in the Liver: wherefore, for the most part the Spleen is of a black or blewish colour, by reason of the feculencies or dregs there laid up. But as this Juice deposited in the Milt or Spleen, is not altogether unprofitable, but by reason of the plenty of fixed salt, is of a very Fermenting Nature; it is not presently, as the Choler, cast into the sink, but is further Cooked in the Spleen, and being exalted goes into a Ferment; which being lastly committed to the blood, promotes its motion and Volatilisation: Wherefore, as something is drawn from the blood, entring the Spleen by the Arteries, to wit, the Crude Juice of Melancholly; so something is continually added to the same, flowing back through the Veins, to wit, the same Juice concocted and exalted into the Nature of a Ferment: Even as Chymists, in Distilling, that the Liquor may be made better, separate the subtile and spirituous parts, from the Caput Mortuum, and then pour them on it again; and this work they so often repeat, till the Caput Mortuum, or dead H•…•…ad, is by frequent Distillation Volatilized, and the Liquor rightly exalted, even in all its Particles. That this is the use of th•…•… Spleen, is a sign,

for that this inward being ill affected, the blood either ferments too much, as in the Scor∣butick and Hypocondriack Distempers; or if the Spleen be Obstructed, or bes•…•…t with a Scir∣rhous Tumor, the blood is destitute of fit Fermentation, and causes the Dropsie, Cachexie or evil disposition of the Body, or the Tympany.

As we assert, the Earth and muddy part of the blood, which consists chiefly of Earth and fixed Salt, being separated in the Spleen, to pass there into a Ferment; so it seems not improbable, that also the Adust, or as it were the fiery part of the blood, to wit, the Yellow Bile, which •…•…onsists chiefly of Salt and Sulphur, being separated in the Liver, and from thence transmit∣ted to the intestines, serves for some use of Fermentation. For this being mixed with the Chyme or Juice, fallen from the Ventricle to the Intestines, makes it there to grow hot and swell up; whereby both the Elementary Particles are more overcome, and by reason of th•…•… Rarification or swelling up, the purer part is wrung forth into the Milky Vessels, for the Nutri∣tious Juice.

We are not only born and nourished by the means of Ferments; but we also Dye: Every Disease acts its Tragedies by the strength of some Ferment. For either the Sulphureous and Spiritu∣ous part of the blood, being too much carried forth, boyls up immoderately in the Vessels, like Wine growing hot, and from thence Feaver•…•… of a divers kind and nature are enkindled: or sometimes the Salinē part of the blood, being too much carried forth, suffers a flux; and from thence it being made acid, austere, and sometimes sharp, is apt for various Coagulations; from which the Scurvy, Dropsie, Stone, Leprosie, and very many Chronical Diseases arise.

Yea we also endeavour the Cure of Diseases by the help of Fermentation: For to the preserv∣ing or recovering the Health of man, the business of a Physician and a Vintner is almost the same: the blood and humours even as Wine, ought to be kept in an equal temper and motion of F•…•…rmentation; wherefore when the blood grows too hot, even as Wine, it is usual to empty some out of the Vessels, and to allay its Fervor with temperate things. If any extraneous or heterogeneous thing is mixed with it, unless growing hot of its own accord, it drives it forth of doors; Purging, Vomiting, and Sweating Medicines by shaking and fusing the blood and humours, promote its seclusion: when that the blood is depauperated, and grows less hot than it should do, Cardiacks, Digestives, and especialy Chalybeats or steeledMedicines restore its vigor and Fermentation: no otherwise than Wines growing sowr, or degenerating into a deadness or want of strength, are mixed with more rich Lees, whereby they may Purge or grow turgid anew. I could easily unfold the Curatory intentions, as also the effects and operations of every Medicine, according to the Doctrine of Fermentation; but I design a particular Meditation for this thing: for the perfecting of which serious work, God willing, I have determined to add to the business of Medicine, as I hope, something not unprofitable.

Having thus far wandered in the spacious field of Nature, we have beheld all things full of Fer∣mentation; not only in the distinct Provinces of Minerals, Vegetables and Animals, do we discern the motions and effects of this, but also the whole Sublunary World, seems as if one and the same substance were planted, and very pregnant through the whole with Fermentative Particles; which in every Region and Corner of it, as little Emmits in a Mole-hill, are busied in perpetual motion and agitation; they fly about here and there; sometimes upwards, sometimes down∣ward they are hurried, they variously meet one another, associate themselves, and again depart asunder; with a continual Vicissitude they enter into divers Marriages, and suffer Divorces, on which the beginnings, the death, and transmutations of things depend. These little Bodies do not only very much abound in the bosom of the Earth, or in the midst of the waters, but they are especially diffused the whole Atmosphear of the Air in thick heaps. It is sufficient that I have noted in this place, some examples in a word: I have not determined a more full specu∣lation of them here. It is time that we proceed from Physical things, to the works of Art.

CHAP. VI. Of Fermentation, as it is performed in Artificial things.

IN the works of Art, so various and manifold provision of Fermentation is perceived, that it is altogether impossible to enumerate their several Species; or to reduce the divers in∣stances of this to certain Classes or Heads of distribution. Making use of the third of the following method, we will subjoyn some examples, (which have happened to our observation) by whose rule, many others may be laid open.

Concerning Fermentation, which is made in the Subjects, made by hand, or humane industry, these three things are chiefly to be considered,

First, of what Nature and Composition Bodies are, that are most fit for Fermentation, and which are less convenient for it.

Secondly, What things are requisite about Fermentation, to wit, what are wont to promote, or also to hinder its motion in every Subject.

Thirdly, How manifold the motion of Fermentation is, and the end of it; also what are the effects and alterations which follow it.

As to the first, That all Bodies, (when tending to perfection) may truely Ferment, they are required,

In the first place, That there be some parts loose and disjoyned; otherwise the Fermenta∣tive Particles will not be stretched forth, or move from place to place: Wherefore in the more hard compact things, or in viscous things, or too much boyled, or evaporated to a spissi∣tude or dryness, Fermentation does not succeed. What are Liquid, as Wine, Beer, the Juices of Fruits and Herbs, easily and quickly swell up; next to the•…•…e what are foft, tho they are of a thicker Consistency, as Bread, and most Eatable things, and Medicinal Compositions.

Secondly, It is required that there be an Heterogeneity of parts, or a confusion of all the Principles together; to wit, that some Particles do oppose others, and stir them into motion. For the more simple Bodies, in which one, or at most two Elements only are strong, with a very small proportion of the rest, are unapt to Ferment: because like Particles, or Symbolical Ele∣ments, lye benummed and quiet. But between the unlike, there arises presently a strife for domi∣nation, and some provoke others into motion.

Thirdly, There is a third condition, that there be neither too much Crudity, nor Maturity of parts, in the Body Fermenting. In the former, the active and subtil Particles are not easily extricated from the more thick, nor are brought into motion; as it appears in Juices, which are pressed forth from unripe fruit; also in Beer which is made of Barly or Mault, not come forth or germinated. In the latter the Particles being made too volatile, are not contained in the bond of the mixture, but presently evaporate, and dispose their Subjects to Putrefaction. Where∣fore, Juice expressed from Summer fruits, or others too ripe, will not easily pass into Wine, but it will quickly Corrupt. And for this reason, extravasated blood, milk and urine, do not Ferment, but quickly putrifie.

As to the second thing proposed, there are many wayes by which Fermentation is either pro∣moted or hindred. The first and chiefest, is the adding of a certain Ferment to the body Fer∣menting; the Particles of which, when being first placed in vigor and motion, may raise up the others, idle and sluggish, in the to-be-fermented Mass, and may drive them into motion. But there is a twofold Ferment; either absolute, which is the same kind of Body, in which the active Particles, being altogether placed in their vigor, are notable in motion, and so whilst they are committed to the Subject in Fermenting, snatch with them into motion other Particles of every kind, before sluggish: by this means Barm or Yest, beaten Eggs, and such like, stir up a Fermentation almost in every thing. Or the Ferment is respective, to wit, which consists of Particles, very much of one kind, which meeting other of another kind, in the Mass to be Fer∣mented, grow hot with them, and so produce in the mixture a turgency or rising up of all the parts together. After this manner Saline Particles having gotten a Flux, grow very hot, with other Salines, either fixed or alchalisate; as appears when acetous Liquors are poured on Corrals, Harts-Horn, shells of Fishes; also when the Spirit of Vitriol, and the Salt of Tartar, are put together, a great ebullition is excited.

There are some accidents and external circumstances, which variously conduce, either to the provoking or hindring the motion of Fermentation; of which sort, are chiefly the con∣dition of the Ambient Air, the placing or laying up of the Body Fermenting, and the means of conserving it.

The Southern Air (in which hot and humid Particles every where abound, which also easily entring any Bodies, obtain the force and place of a Ferment) impresses a notable motion of Fer∣mentation in very many things: Wherefore in drinkable Liquors, it doth not only raise up at first, the force of effervescency or growing hot, but also for a long while after induces new swellings up in them being Fermented. On the contrary, the Cold and Northern Air, binds up, and very much fastens Bodies; and in very many things hinders the fusions, and flowings of the E∣lements, and oftentimes either hinders Fermentation from being stirred up, or restrains it being begun. Also the hot Summer Air, because it too much moves the active Principles, drives away the Spirits and subtile parts, exalts the Saline, and Sulphureous into a Flux, and so perverts their equal motion; and either the Sulphur or Salt being too much carried forth, it easily brings to Bodies a rancidness or putrefaction, or a mouldiness; which nothing favours the business of Fermentation.

It is a vulgar opinion, that some select times of the year, to wit, those in which the Ve∣getables of every Kind flower, cause a new the motion of Fermentation in the Juices, and other

things prepared of them, after they had fermented a long time before; so that Beer, when the Barly, and Wines, in the time that the Vine flowers, conceive risings up, or new Fermentations: They say also, that Bread and Flowr, when the Wheat is in Flower, is wont to become sooner musty and mouldy; also that spots or stains of the Juices of Fruits, as the Mulberry, Blackberry, Rasberry, and such like, being in Cloaths, are wont to be gotten forth again at that time when those Fruits are ripe. Concerning these things, I ingenuously confess, that I have not made trial of them, by my own proper observation, so as to dare to affirm it for truth in every part; I will therefore lightly pass them over, for it would both grieve and shame me (lest I should relate false things) to Philosophize concerning doubtful things.

Concerning the laying up of the fermenting Body, these things are chiefly to be observed. When things first begin to Ferment, that they are not to be shut up in too close Vessels, neither while the Liquors are hot, are they to be put intoBottles or Casks; for the Particles at first boil∣ing up, and as it were rarified, desire a very large space; wherefore the Fermentation of Wine or Beer is begun in open large Vessels, but when they grow less hot, those kind of Liquors, lest the Particles being set and moved into motion too much, should fly away from the Subject, they are kept best either in a cold Cellar, or close Vessels. In the preparation of Vinegar, we observe the contrary; to wit, it is wont to be placed in a hot place near the Chimney or Ove•…•…, or exposed to the Suns-beams; to the end that the Vinous Spirit being depressed, the Saline part might be exalted into a Flux, and so might give a sharpness to the Liquor. There is another Observation, that Liquors do ferment better in wooden Vessels, than in Glass or Stone: for by long infusion, some Saline little Bodies are got forth of the Wood, especially the Oaken, which promote Fermentation.

As to the third thing proposed concerning this thing, although to speak properly, the mo∣tion of Fermentation is only a carrying forth of the Principles confused together, from a state of Crudity towards Maturity; and the end of it is a tendency to the Perfection of every thing; yet Use or Custom hath obtained, that this Word is attributed to very many other motions of Natural things, and includes other Ends and Effects, far different. Therefore when the Fer∣mentative Particles in any Body, are greatly in motion, the Alterations which follow thereup∣on, may be in some respect referred to these three Classes.

First, It either respects the Exaltation and Perfection of the Parts of the same Body; or the Resolution and Corruption of them.

Secondly, Or the Dissolution of the Parts of another Body, is intended; or the Praecipita∣tion of those loosned.

Thirdly, By the motion and action of these kind of Principles, a Coagulation, and also a Congelation, now of the same Parts, now of different Bodies, are induced. It remains, that we briefly run through every one of these Species of Natural Motions, and Ways or Manners of Fermentation.

CHAP. VII. Of Fermentation, as it is seen in the Exaltation of Bodies, and Ten∣dency to Perfection.

THE Exaltation of the Parts, is perceived best in Works, or in all things appointed for Human Use, forasmuch as they get a greater Perfection and Vigor, by Fermentation; as chiefly Aliments and Medecines do; In many of these, we endeavour to carry forth the Spirituous Particles above the rest, and so to procure in the mixture, a grateful sweet taste, and other agreeable Qualities; as we may observe in Bread, Beer, Wine, Cider, and many others: But in some, we strive to exalt the Saline part, the Spirit being somewhat depressed; as in Vinegar, Meath, Broths; also in Sauce, Pickle, or in Preserved things, which are made of Salt and sharp Liquors. We rarely on purpose carry forth the Sulphureous part above the rest. for from thence a stinking smell, and ungrateful rammishness are wont to happen to eata∣ble things. Among Food set apart for mans Use, Bread, Beer, Wine and Cider have the fir•…•…t place; which owe mostly, whatever they have of Virtue or Strength, to Fermentation.

Concerning the making of Bread, these things are chiefly to be observed: The Meal of Wheat or Barly, or of any other Grain, being kneaded with common water, is reduced to a Mass, to be afterwards baked in an Oven. If there be nothing else added to this, it becomes forthwith heavy, and ponderous like Clay, clammy, and of an ingrateful taste, and of difficult digestion; but if in the kneading it, there be added a •…•…erment, the Mass presently grows hot, the Bulk swells, and afterwards being baked, it is made light, spongy, of good digestion, and grate∣ful

to the Taste. If you desire to know the reason of the differe•…•…ce, it is this; The meat of the Grain is imbued with a moderate proportion of Spirits, also of Salt and Sulphur; but the Particles of these are overwhelmed in the Mass with a viscous humidity, being kneaded with water; so that they move not themselves mutually, nor are in motion; wherefore in the baking, some superflu∣ous humidity evaporates; what remains, is cleaving, viscous, and becomes pressed close like Clay, and ponderous, But when a Ferment is mingled wit•…•… the Mealy Mass, the active Parti∣cles of the Ferment being first stirr'd up into motion, take hold of their Companions in the Mealy Mass, and carry them with them into motion. By this means, whilst some move others, they shortly are all stirred up into Fermentation; tumultuating here and there, they compass and run through the whole Paste or Dough, they subtilise and attenuate the clammy and terrene parts, and they lift up the mass, with the motion, and make it hollow, with little holes; which yet in the mean time, lest it become too spongy, and whereby the parts made hollow, and attenuated, might more exactly be mixed, it is wrought with long kneading, then afterwards, before the Fermentation ceases, and before the hollowed parts sink close down, it is baked in the Oven. In the baking, the superfluous moisture evaporates, and moreover, very many Particles of Spi∣rit, Salt, and Sulphur, fly away; wherefore, the mass becomes lighter, and less ponderous, in the mean time, those which remain in the Bread, being much exalted, and brought to maturity, cause in it a laudable consistency, with a grateful smell, and tast.

The Ferment commonly used, is a portion of the Mealy Mass, and unbaked, which is kept, being imbued with Salt, to asowruess (it is called in Freneh, Levain, because it lifts up the Mass) or the flowring of Beer, or Ale, called Yest or Barm; or for want of these the lees or dregs of Beer, or beaten Eggs, are made use of. In the mealy Ferment, the Saline Particles having gotten a flux, do chiefly predominate; as also in the faeces of Beer: wherefore the Bread Fer∣mented by these, is made harsh and somewhat sowr: In the mean time, Yest being very big with Spirit, Ferments the Bread more potently, and brings to the Mass lightness, and a very grateful sweetness. Beaten Eggs abound with Spirit and a Volatile Salt, and do yet more cause the Bread to Ferment, and render it more Spongy: without doubt there may be other kinds of Ferments used; for whatever are big and turgid with Spirit, or abound with Salt carried out to a Flux, seem to be fit enough for this use.

Sometimes the mealy Mass is kneaded with Sulphureous matter, as Butter, Sewet, Fat, or such like, which being baked in an Oven, while it is hot, it is seen to be light and spongy, (to wit, while the Sulphureous Particles are kept in motion by the heat contracted in the Oven) after∣wards, when this Mass grows cold, it becomes heavy, weighty, and very close: to wit, the ascititious heat being exhaled, the Sulphureous Particles, before carried forth, at length sink down; and when the Particles of the rest, not being excited into motion, the Mass therefore becomes as it were Infermentated: For in these kind of Subjects the Sulphureous Particles, because they are very viscous, hinder the motion of the rest, nor can they themselves persist in motion, longer than they are forced, by the actual heat.

Bread is sometimes made of the flower of Wheat, or Barly, that is Germinated or Maulted, which without any Ferment added to it, becomes so exceeding hot, that it cannot be contained in a compacted mass, but that in the baking it spreads abroad: the reason of which is, in such Flower, by the Maulting it, the active Principles are before placed in their vigour, and exalta∣tion; wherefore in the kneaded Mass, when they are urged, by the heat of the Oven, they run forth inordinately, and force the more thick parts, hindring them, and as it were fling them down head-long. We have said enough of making Bread; we will now pass to Beer.

Beer is made of Mault or Barly, germinated and dryed, which is performed after this manner: First, the Barly is put into common water for three days, that it may intumifie or swell, then (the water being let out from it) it is flung in a heap upon a dry floor, moving it twice or thrice a day, lest it grow too hot, until it begins to germinate, or bud forth, or put out little shoots of Roots. Afterwards, by frequent casting it about, it is hindred from germinating or springing forth any farther, and lastly, being lay'd upon a Kiln, it is made dry by rosting it; by this means, it yields a meat wonderfully sweet.

The reason of this kind of process is this; the Barly is permitted to spring forth, that its active Principles might be brought or set into their strength, or exaltation: for when it germi∣nates, the Spirit, Salt, and Sulphur, at first asleep, and sluggish, do swell up or grow big together, and their sluggishness being cast off, they are prepared to exercise their powers. The other pre∣parations, hinder the Barly from germinating further, lest that its Principles being very much loosned, should exhale too much, and fly away from the Subject. The Meal of the Barly thus prepared grows sweet, because the active Principles are set in exaltation like Fruit brought to a maturity: wherefore also the Liquor impregnated with this Meal, grows very turgid or big with Spirituous and Fermentative Particles; when the simple decoction of Barly, scarce Ferments at all, nor is kept long, but that it becomes musty, and insipid.

But Beer is made after this manner; upon the Meal of the Barly, prepared as abovesaid, boiled water is poured, and is suffered to be macerated, or mashed, for some hours, that it may be

sufficiently impregnated with the active Particles of the germinating Barly, now placed in their vigour: This Liquor being satisfied or filled, is drawn off clear from its setling, and is lastly boyled, that it might get a something more thick consistency, and be able to be kept the longer: Then, when it is somewhat cold, it is fermented, a ferment, or the flowring of Beer or Yest, being put thereto, and so tunn'd up in a Barrel. Concerning its Fermentation, these things are especially worthy of observation.

If it macerate with, or stand too long on, the Maulted Meal, the Liquor becomes thick and clammy; and afterwards will hardly ferment or work at all: the reason of this is, because the active Principles, in this work, are of a prompt motio•…•…, and move together with them; the earthy Particles; with which, if by a long stay, the passag•…•…s and pores of the Liquor are filled; being too full, they are wholly obstructed, and as the contents in the Stomach, stuffed to a surfeit, scarcely ferment at all.

If too hot, or too cold, the Liquor be put into the Barrel; as in the great heat of the Summer, or the cold in the Winter, Fermentation doth not rightly succeed: for by too much heat, the Par∣ticles are dissipated one from another, that they cannot, mutually take hold of one another, and so work; by too much cold, they are bound up and fixed, that they scarce enter into motion, neither perform it strongly.

When the Liquor of the Beer ferments in the Vat, the active Principles do on every side expli∣cate themselves, they precipitate in the bottom the more thick, and Earthy, being partly driven as it were into flight, and partly sticking to them, they lead them as it were Captive to the top, and there make hollow bubbles continually growing up, and bring them as it were to servitude. After a due Fermentation, the whole space of the Liquor is rendered clear and without dregs, in which the Spirits with a little Salt and Sulphur, do abound; in the mean time, in the settlement or dregs, a little of Spirit and Sulphur, with a greater plenty of Salt and Earth remains. So long as these shall be in their places, the Liquor will be clear, sweet, and Spirituous, but if long kept, or not shut up closely in a Barrel, great part of the Spirits will fly away: in the mean time, by the defect of these, the Saline Particles being exalted, and having gotten a Flux, impregnate the whole Liquor, and make it sowr; for when Beer, as also Wine, goes into Vinegar, it doth not happen because they are wholly deprived of Spirits (for so they would degenerate into a tastless thing) but because the Tartarous or Saline parts, are carried forth to a Flux, and infect the Liquor with their sharpness; in the mean time, the Spirits being less in power, are depressed, that they cannot resist them. Very hot Weather, Thunder, the noise of great Guns, or the tunning it in the open Air, suddenly makes Beer grow sowr, for by these means the Spirits being di∣sturbed in their equal motion, are dissipated; and in the mean time, the Saline or Tartarous parts, being before separated, and depressed, are moved, and carried forth into a Flux.

Indeed it plainly appears, that the Spirituous parts in Vinegar, are not wholly destroyed, but suppressed only whilst the Saline are placed in a Flux; because from Vinegar, may be Distilled, a Liquor exceeding hot and burning, like the Spirit of Wine, after this manner: With the distil∣led Vinegar, a Salt is extracted from Minium, or Lead Calcined, of which you have plenty, and shall distil it in a Retort, the Vinous and burning Spirit is driven into the Receiver; the reason of which is, because when the Saline Particles of the Vinegar are united with the Salt of the Lead, the Vinous Spirits yet remaining are then freed; and having obtained their own right, they are urged from their lurking places by the heat of the fire: but those Spirits are not produ∣ced from the Lead, because if you give thereto a more vehement fire, the Salt of the Lead, will be melted into a Metal.

But we will return to Beer, from whence we have digressed; to which, how great a perfection happens, by Fermentation, appears by this Experiment: If you take Beer new made, not yet purged by Fermentation, and place it to be Distilled in a Bladder or Cucurbit, only a vapid or tastless water ascends, without any Spirits, and strength at all: but if you proceed after the same manner with Beer truly fermented, you will have a hot water, and highly Spirituous. And this takes away the objection of some, who say, that water being even impregnated with the Meal of Mault, should not be any more boiled, lest the Spirits should exhale; because the Spirits, before Fermentation, are so obvolved with the more thick Particles of the rest, that they cannot break forth from the Concrete.

The more the Beer is impregnated by the Mault, the stronger it is, keeps the longer without sowring; which is helpt if Hops be boiled therein, from which at first it grows bitter, but after∣wards recovers a grateful sweetness; the re•…•…son of this is, because the pores of Liquor, which are empty of the Particles of the Meal, when they are possessed by those of the Hops, the con∣sistency is made more compact, and is more full of fermentative Particles; wherefore there is not quickly given any room for the flux of the Salt. But that the Liquor being at first bitter, aft•…•…rwards grows sweet, happens for this reason; because the Spirituous and Sulphureous parts, supplied by the meal of the Mault, come not so soon to maturity, because of the others mixed with them from the Hops being boiled therein: but when this happens, that they grow to ma∣turity, they easily excel all the others, and impart a sweetness to the whole. Not only Hops

being boiled in Beer, keep it long from sowring, but also many other bitter, or sharp things, do the same: for these, forasmuch as they exceed in a Volatile Salt, hinder the flowings of other Salt; wherefore, some are wont to put into the Barrel, a piece of Sassafrass Wood, the tops of Wormwood, Broom, the Firr-Tree, the rinds of Oringes, also Spices in a small quantity; by which means, the Drink, tho of a smaller substance, is kept a long while from sowring. Thus much concerning the Preparation of Beer, on the consideration of which, (as also of Bread) we have stayed long, because the Word Fermentation is chiefly due to these. Let us pass next to Wines.

Excepting the Blood of Animals, there are no Liquors that grow hot, like Wines; there is found in none a greater plenty of Spirits, Salt, and Sulphur, or a more remarkable turgescency, or swelling up. The Fermentation of Wines, and the handling of them fermenting, are wont to be taught among the Vintners or Wine-Coopers, as a Secret only to their Apprentices, or the Adepti of their Art. Among them there is delivered a certain Physical Science, or Method of Medicine, by which means, the impurities of Wines are purged forth, their heats attempered, or also their defect, or sickness may be healed. There are many ways to be used, besides that of Sophisticating, as a Secret, by which depauperated and tastless Wines are sold for sound and rich. But as to our Proposition, that the Doctrine of Fermentation might be illustrated, these three things ought chiefly to be considered, concerning Wines: First, Their defaecation or clean∣ing, and their going into parts. Secondly, Their immoderate effervescency or growing hot, from what causes it is wont to be stirred up, and by what means to be suppressed. Thirdly, The declination of them, when they grow worse: and by what remedies they are kept that they do not quickly pass into a tastlesness or Vinegar.

1. As to First, That Fermentation may begin in the Must, there is not (as in Beer) required, the putting to any ferment, for the Juice being expressed from the Grapes, doth so greatly swell up with active Particles or Principles, that it presently of its own accord, grows remarkably hot: but it is a usual thing in some Regions, when the Grapes are trod, to besprinkle them with Quick Lime, by the provoking of which, as a ferment, the Liquor pressed forth, grows more fervent, and is sooner purged. The Must or new Wine, is at first put into open Tubs, for that they cannot be contained in close Vessels, for their great heat or working, which so boyls up, that water over a fire grows not more hot: when the Wine is a little cooler, it is put into more close Vessels, in which it is further purged by fermenting. In the purifying, the Spiri∣tuous and Subtile Particles greatly shake the more thick dregs, and dismiss them from themselves on every side, that the Mass of the Vinous Liquor, being made free from the mixture of the dregs, is rendred clear and without dregs. The Faeces or Lees of the Wine consist of Salt and Sulphur, with a little Spirit and plenty of Earth; which whilst the Wines grow hot, being separated by degrees, either by Coagulating themselves mutually, are affixed to the sides of the Vessels under the Species of Tartar, or like Lees or Mother, settle to the bottom. In the mean time the Liquor swimming over them, is very clear and exceeding Spirituous.

Sometimes the defaecation or clearing of Wines is hardly brought about, as a Vinous Liquor is not easily freed from the mixture of Tartar: wherefore Vintners are wont to put to the Wines some Bodies that either clear them, or precipitate them, so as the Earthy matter swim∣ming in them, may sooner settle to the bottom: The things which so clarifie Wines are of two sorts: for they have either viscous parts, as Glew, the Whites of Eggs, and such like, which stick close to the faeculencies of the Wine with laying fast hold on them, and carry them with themselves towards the bottom: Or else they abound in a precipitatory strength, which while they enter into the pores of the Liquor, thrust forth the more thick Particles from thence, and strike them down to the bottom; as are the dust of Alabaster, Calcined Flints, and such like.

2. Wines tho at first they were well cleared, yet afterwards they conceive immoderate effer∣vescencies, so that the Tartar, being stirred up from the bottom, it at length mingled with them; also the Spirits being loosened, now the Sulphureous Particles, now the Saline being too much carried forth, render the Wines unsavory, clammy or sowr. We will consider these things, from what Causes they come to be so, and by what Means they are Cured.

Wines very often contract heats, when they are full of Tartar or too rich Lees: For Tartar or Lees, tho separated from the Liquor of the Wine, and depressed to the bottom of the Vessel, yet for that they consist of plenty of Salt and Sulphur, they still send from themselves fermen∣tative Particles, by the inspiration of which the Wine is kept in an equal motion of Fermenta∣tion: and as the Wines are leasurely ripened, so the Salt and Sulphur which lurk in the Tartar, are by little and little exalted; until at length, being carried forth to a flux, they infect the Vinous Liquor, with a troubled feces or dregs, and compel it to grow immoderately hot, and to boyl up. Against these too great heats of Wines, there is a necessity, that they be presently drawn off or rack'd, from this too rich Lees, and put into another Vessel, or else it comes to pass, by reason of its too great disturbance, the Sulphur being very much exalted, that they be∣come unsavory and ropy; or the Spirit being lost, and the Salt carried forth to a flux, they contract a sowrness, and turn to Vinegar.

Neither doth Wine grow more hot than it should do, only from Tartar, or too rich Lees, but by too great agitation, immoderate heat, or by an extraneous or strange Body put to in, and not miscible, or that cannot mingle with it: for by these and other ways, the Sulphureous part of the Wine grows hot, and from thence conceives a fervour, and undue boyling up; for the setling of which, besides the racking or drawing it off, from one Vessel into another, they use to pour plenty of Milk, into the Pipe or Barrel, by whose mixture the heats and tumults of the Wines are presently appeased; but as by this means the Spirits of the Wine are very much overcome, it cannot keep long, but soon after degenerates to Vinegar, or without tast; therefore the Vintners are necessitated to sell presently the Wines mended by this Artifice, and very sudden∣ly to draw them off.

These kind of heats of Wines, tho' they be timely appeased, before they wholly spoyl the Wines, yet they leave some viciousness, by which the Vinous Liquor is altered from its due colour and consistency, and is made less grateful to the Palat: for Wines made hot, oftentimes become of a more deep colour, viz. they degenerate from a watery and clear colour, to a Citron or Red, and give to the tast a rankness; all which indeed proceed, from the Sulphur being too much carried forth and exalted: For these kind of distempers of Wines, they proceed after this manner; for the mending the colour, oftentimes simple Milk, or boiled with Glew or fine Flowr, is poured into the Hogshead or Pipe; for these procure a certain separation of the exalted Sul∣phur, and with its whiteness give a clearness, or restore the colour to a brightness. Mucilagi∣nous, clammy, or ropy Wines, are amended by the infusion of burnt Alum, quick Lime, Gypsum, or Plaister of Walls, Salt and the like; for these cause a new Fermentation, that the more thick Particles are thrust forth from the rest, and precipitated towards the bottom. The unsavouriness is helped by the same means.

3. As to the the third Proposition; Wines are depauperated or made poor, when by a long effervescency the Spirit and more pure Sulphur, being exhaled, the Saline Particles begin to be exalted: in this case their languishing strength is sustained with certain Remedies, as it were Cordials.

As the Spirit and Sulphur being too much carried forth, and exalted, is cured by the drawing off the Wines from the rich Lees; so the same being depressed, the Remedy is, that they be put to a more rich Tartar or Lees: wherefore the Vintners are wont to pour the depauperated Wines, destitute of plenty of Spirits and Sulphur, and which begin to grow sowr, by reason of the Salts being carried forth to sound and fresh Lees or Tartar; that they might, as it were, anew inspired with Spirit and Sulphur, ferment and recover new strength and vigor; besides they make Syrups of generous and rich Wines, with Sugar and Spices, which they pour among the stale and deadish Wines. Further, for Wines turning to Vinegar, they are said to admini∣ster profitably, some other Remedies. Gratarolus praises, with many more, Lard and Swines flesh salted, wrapt in Linnen, and put into the Cask: and truly it is probable, that the Sulphu∣reous odour of this doth restrain the flux of the sowring salt; for this end the same Author com∣mends Leek-seed, Pine-nuts, blanched Wheat, boiled Wine, Ashes, the shavings of Willow, and many others; for the salt readily acts on these kind of subjects, and spends its force; even as Virgins sick of the Green-sickness, desire greedily to eat such like absurd things, that may satisfie the extraneous, and for the most part sowrish ferment of the Ventricle, but very hurtful to themselves. There remains another kind of Cure, whereby small Wines almost corrupted, and growing vapid or smatchless, recover new vigor for a time, to wit, a portion of Rhenish Wine, or others, very fermentable, is laid up, and hindred from fermenting, from whence it is made a perpetual Must (commonly called Stum) if a little of this Liquor be poured into a Cask of stale Wine, and jogged together, it gives a fresh, and new Fermentation to the whole: so that that Wine will froth and boyl, and shut in a Glass, will leap forth; but the drink mended by this Artifice, is accounted very unwholsom, for that it is apt to stir up an immoderate Fermen∣tation in our blood: wherefore it is prohibited by Edict, that the Wine-Coopers or Vintners make not use of this kind of Sophistication.

It is a usual thing also, to stop up close, in Stone or Glass Bottles, for a time, small Wines, and new Ale or Beer, which being afterwards opened, the Liquor ferments so impetuously, that being almost all rarified into froth, it flies forth of the Bottles: which besides contracts such an acrimony or sharp cutting, that it can scarce be swallowed: The reason of which (as it seems) is this: The turgency or swelling up, and the notable acetosity, sharpness, or quickness of these kind of Liquors, proceeds chiefly from the Salt being exalted, and having gotten a Flux; for when as the Liquor, being full of much Tartar, and little Spirit, is shut up close in a Vessel, all the Particles together are forced to be fermented, and when they cannot be separated, and fly away from one another, they do the more trouble one another, and break themselves into small bits; that by this means the bond of the mixture may be wholly broken; but the little bodies loosened one from another, and as it were freed by reason of the closeness of the Vessel, are forced together: wherefore when the Vessel is opened, all the Particles at once being rea∣dy for flight, like Air suddenly rarified, break forth with noise and tumult: and because

the Saline parts having gotten a Flux, by reason of the plenty of Tartar, are stronger than the Spirit and Sulphur, from thence the notable cutting sharpness is caused in the Liquor.

Cyder comes next to the Nature of Wine, to wit, of the smaller sort, which kind of Liquor, is only the Juice pressed from Apples, and brought to maturity by Fermentation: concerning this kind of Drink, it is worth observation, that if it be made of Summer-Fruit, or too much ripened, it will not keep in strength, but presently degenerates into a deadness: but if it be prepared of very unripe, and sowr Apples, it contracts a bitterness, for that the Spirits do not sufficiently arise in this, but give place to the salt, having first gotten a flux: but in the other, they are not long enough retained, but wholly fly away, before the mass of the Liquor attains to full Fermentation: but there are Fruits and Apples, exceeding fit for this business, which being indued with a more firm consistency, are not quickly corrupted, neither do they attain their perfect maturity or softness, but of a long time: The Juice of these wrung forth, and put into a Cask, does not grow hot, as Beer, with a great frothy head, but after the manner of Wines, with a noise, like a Pot boyling over the fire: whilst fermenting after this manner, it is made clear, the more light Recrements are carried upwards, and remain in the superficies, as the flowering: but the more thick parts and Tartarous settle plentifully in the bottom; but the more solid Crust, or Coagulated Tartar, is not fixed to the sides of the Vessel; which is a sign Cyder is a more wholsom Drink, nor so infestous to the nervous stock, because it abounds less with a sharp salt than small Wines. The Liquor swimming over these Faeces or Lees settling in the bottom, enjoys it as it were its food, and is kept by its inspiration in strength; from which, if it chance to be drawn forth, it quickly grows sowr: for indeed this kind of Drink, is in great danger to be destroyed by the flux, or sowrness of the salt: against this ill, to preserve it, some are wont to cast into the Cask Mustard Seed bruised, or Mustard Balls, for that the Volatile Salt of this hinders the flux of the acetous Salt, so that the Liquor thereby presently grows clear, and keeps the longer: another kind of Remedy against the sowrness of Cyder, is, that as soon as it begins to grow sowr, it be drawn off from its Lees, and kept in close stopped Bottles, with a little Sugar; for by this means it ferments anew, and because, together with the flux of the salt, the spirits being carried forth, are detained from flight, a very grateful sharpness is caused to the whole Liquor. Also, almost by the same preparation, and the like process of Fermentation, a potable Liquor is made out of Pears, which is however above measure sweet, and if plentifully drunk, renders the Belly loose, as if they had taken Physick.

So much for Fermenting Liquors, whose vertue consists in the Spirit being carried forth, and obtaining the height of perfection: there remains other Preparations, whose vigor is placed in the saline part being exalted, and having gotten a flux; among these, Vinegar is of chiefest note, the way of making of which, being wholly unlike the aforementioned, requires a method of Fermentation, very different from those before described: For example, small Wines, or more generous or strong Beer, being put up into the Cask, are exposed in the Summer-time, for a long while to the Suns Beams, or else in the Winter, they are kept near a Stove in some hot place; after this manner, whilst some Spirits evaporate, the rest being put under the yoak, the Saline parts are exalted and infect the whole Mass of the Liquor with their sharpness: but not only Wines long kept, or stale Beer, out of which the spirits of their own accord, begin to go away, but fresh Must, or new Beer, pass after this manner into Vinegar; for the Country-women are wont to place without doors all the Summer, strong Ale, and highly impregnated with Mault, in a Cask, by which means they make an exceeding biting and most penetrating Vinegar.

Yea after the same manner almost, our kind of Hydromels, Honled Drink, or Meath are wont to be prepared: to wit, they boyl sixteen parts of Water with one part of Hony, to the consumption of a third part, adding then some Spices, together with a sharp ferment, they place the Cask and Liquor for many days in the Sun, and afterwards in a Wine-Cellar. It seems the Sunning of it is used, that thereby the Saline parts being brought towards a flux, might somewhat restrain the nauseous sweetness of the Hony: and by that means the sweet being tempered with sharpness, a most pleasing tast is afforded to this Drink.

By reason of the sharpness arising from the flux of the Salt, also very many eatable things are wont to be prepared after various manners; hence the flesh of living Creatures, and especially of Fishes when they swell with too much Sulphur, are pickled with salt Brine or sharp Liquors, that the Salt being brought forth, they may become more grateful to the stomach. It would be a tedious business to insist here on particulars; but I will in this place describe a certain noted kind of Oaten Broth, Grewel, or Flumery, which profitably nourishes Feverish, also Consumptive and Hectick People.

This kind of Drink, that it may become gratefully sowrish, the Meal of Oats is put into common water for about three days, till it acquire a somewhat sowr tast: then, this infusion is placed upon the fire, and with a Ladle is stirred about until it boyls, and when it rises up ready to flow over the Vessel, it must then be poured forth into a Platter, and presently cooled; it

will appear like Gelly, and may be cut into bits; which if heated soon melts. In this prepara∣tion may be observed, that by a long infusion of the Grain, the saline parts being brought forth, do get a flux; then these so impregnate the Liquor that the more thick Particles being by the heat brought into its pores and passages, they are so strictly shut up, that they cannot easily sink down, but that the whole mixture becomes like Gelly.

It would also be too great labour to heap together here, the various Condites and kinds of Pickles, for it would be to describe under that rank the whole Art of Cooking and Diet. For in both the only aim is, that for healths sake and for pleasure, the active Particles in our food, may be placed in their vigor and exaltation; for so they greatly please the Palate, and by a more easie digestion go into nourishment: for this reason, not only Drinks, and Confections of Corn, and Herbs of a diverse nature and kind are thought on; but also we variously prepare flesh, bo•…•…h boiled and rosted, and add to them sauces, that the Particles, now the Spiritous, now the Saline, being carried forth to a flux, might please the tast, with a certain sharpness. Those which are of a more fixed nature, are brought to exaltation, by Sauces made of Sugar, Salt, or Pepper. They are wont to keep some flesh almost to putrefaction, that by that means, the active Particles being placed in their strength and motion, may become of a more grateful tast. Here might be interwoven, a long discourse concerning Medicinal Compositions, but because this subject, de∣serves a peculiar consideration, I will say nothing more of it here. Let us next see by what motion of Fermentation and Habitude of Principles, Natural Bodies tend towards dissolution; or what is the progress of every thing to Putrefaction and Corruption.

CHAP. VIII. Of the Motion of Fermentation, which is observed in the Death, also in the Putrefaction and Corruption of Bodies.

NAtural Bodies in which Spirit, Salt, and Sulphur, are found in but a mean quantity, do not stay long in the same state: for these active Principles are employed perpetually in motion: As soon as they come together, they tend from Crudity and Confusion to∣wards Perfection, for the sake of which, when they have reach'd the height, they are able to come to, they are not quiet in this point; but from thence they make hast towards the dissolution of that thing. Those which are more volatile do first of all break forth from the loosened bond of the mixture; then the rest separate into parts, until the form of the mixture wholly perishes: The Spirit being carried forth to the top, flies away first with the water, and the more pure Sulphur, and by its expiration, diffuses a very grateful odour; afterwards the more thick Sul∣phur, with the Salt, being loosened from the band wherewith they were tyed, and having gotten a flux, by degrees evaporate, and together disperse a very stinking smell: together with these, the watery parts flow forth, and the frame of the subject breaks, or falls down into Earth, or a Caput Mortuum.

This kind of process may be observed both in natural things, and also in Subjects prepared by Art: Concerning Natural things, the disjunction of the Elements, and their separation into parts, may be seeh both in the death of living Bodies, or the extinction of life and vegetation; and also in the corruption of them being dead, and in their reduction to a rot∣tenness.

As in Vegetables, the growth and maturity depend on the combination and mutual cleaving together of the Principles, so the decay and death depend on their going asunder, and separation, in Plants and Fruits; being by degrees exalted from a crude and sowr Juice by Spirit and Sulphur, they come to maturity; to which a sweet tast and smell, and a pleasant colour happen: then presently the same matter, the Spirit and Sulphur, and the rest of the Elements leisurely flying away from the subject, is soon reduced to a filthiness and rottenness: If after the subtil and more pure Particles of Spirits and Sulphur are flown away, there still remain plenty of Earth and Salt, with some Sulphur, the matter does not putrifie, but grows dry with an hoariness: but if the thick Salt and Sulphur, having gotten a flux, break forth from the Subject, together with the rest, the bond of the mixture being loosened, presently the external humidity, possesses the spaces left by these, and the Body is resolved into rottenness.

Also all Animals whatsoever, have set bounds of their growth and duration: For they ascend from their beginning, by slow increase, to motion and sensation; then to the strength and exal∣tation of Nature: in which point they stay not, but from thence, by equal steps, make hast towards their fall.

If the cause of this kind of limitation be required, we say that Mother Nature hath placed in the primigenious seed of every thing, such a stock of Spirit, Salt and Sulphur, which might suffice for the producing the utmost thrids or lineaments of Bodies: so that the growth and ascent of the thing, t•…•… its height or achme is only an evolution, or unrowling of that radical matter, and protension or stretching it self forth into a greater dimension; in the mean time the little spaces and vacuities, which are made by the protraction of this matter, are filled up by the active Particles, supplied by Nutrition, which also by a continual series of motion are ri∣pened, exhaled, and give place to others succeeding. As soon as this seminal matter is unfolded and exalted to the height, that it cannot be moved, or expanded further, the matter is then brought to the state of its perfection: from thence some Particles of this Radical substance, to∣gether with the secondary supplied from the Nourishment, begin to evaporate; and others daily, and then others, being after this manner consumed, both the solid parts, by degrees decrease in their substance, as also the Nutritious Juice and Blood, even decline for the worse, till by a long wasting, the props of the Body, are made dry or withered, and the Blood so de∣pauperated, that it will not suffice for sustenance to the vital fire: just as it may be perceived in a Lamp, if the Oyl being continually consumed, in its place be put Water, the Liquor is rendered poor, and diluted, that it is not able any longer, to cherish at all the flame of the Wick.

When the Life of Animals perishes, (either it expires after the aforesaid manner leisurely, and like a Candle or Lamp is extinguished, the Oyl or Tallow being consumed; or it is choaked by a hasty death, being snatched away by Fate, or the violence of a Disease) presently the Spi∣rits, with Salt and Sulphur, flowing together in the blood; and also planted in every part, cease from their regular motion, and are moved into confusion: then they partly exhale from the pores, with the vanishing heat, and partly being shut up within in the Cavities, inordinately ferment, with the remaining Particles, and make a swelling up of the inwards, and of the whole Body. But afterwards the frame of the solid parts being by degrees loosened, and the Sulphu∣reous Particles, together with the Saline, having gotten a Flux, begin to evaporate; from thence a strong stink and corruption arise. The active Principles, breaking forth by heaps, do often mutually take hold of one another, and being combined in the superficies of the Carcase, produce Worms: at length when they are wholly exhaled from the Subject, what remains falls into dust.

It is a usual thing for Worms to be generated in Vinegar when it is corrupted and lost its strength, which being exceeding small; and somewhat long and smooth like Eels, swim in the Liquor, and may by the help of Glass be exposed to our Eyes; these being seen, it is commonly said, that the sharpness and pricking of the Vinegar proceeds from these little Creatures, which is a vain thought that deserves not a refutation; for they are only to be found in dead Vinegar; and I pray from whence have they their teeth sufficient for the gnawing of Iron? But the whole corrosive force of Vinegar is more truly referred to the Salt having gotten a Flux: in the mean time those little Creatures seem to be begotten by this means; it is sufficiently known, that when very many Subjects are brought to putrefaction, the active Principles being thrust out of doors, yet still affecting their old dwelling, remain somewhere about the neighbourhood, and being joyned together, do often produce living Bodies; wherefore, when moist things put•…•…ifie, most often little Worms grow on their Superficies; but in Vinegar the business is a little different, to wit, because the Elementary Particles are more fixed, therefore when the mixture of the Liquor is wholly dissolved, the active •…•…rinciples, although loosened, yet breaking very hardly and difficultly from the substance, mee•…•… together in the bowels of the Subject, and there mutually cherishing one another, cause those little Creatures in the midst of the waters.

Also the Bodies of living Creatures, being prepared for our Food, are disposed towards putrefaction, if they are put up for some days, till the active Particles are loosened, and begin to be in motion, tending to exhalation; wherefore both the Flesh becomes more flaccid, and in eating more tender and soft: and if they are kept longer, till the Saline and Sulphureous parts being carried forth into a Flux, do break out, presently a stinking smell and putrefaction is induced.

There are many ways whereby flesh is wont to be kept from putrefaction; the chief of which are, that it be pickled with Salt or Spices. Things are kept a long time incorrupt and very grateful to the tast, with Salt: Dead Carkases are imbued with Spices, that they may remain a long while in their Sepulchers. As to the first, Brine or salt Pickle hinders the eruption of the Sulphur, and fixes it in the Subject by its embracement, and retains it. Spices, as they consist of very active Principles, stir up a new Ferment in the Subject, the dead Carcase; and the im∣planted Elements of this, joyn into the society of their motion, and retain many of their Particles flying away, yet longer in the Body: As Salt and Spices are made use of for the preserving long flesh, and Sulphureous things, (which also preserve all other things from Putrefaction) so Vegetables, and their Flowers and Fruits are better conserved with Sugar: for this by cherifhing the active Particles of the Subject, restrains them within, and besides, renders the Confections of a very grateful tast.

Minerals, chiefly the solid and hard, because they are indued with plenty of Salt and Earth, with little of Sulphur, and with a less quantity of Spirits, therefore they rarely, or not at all conceive Putrefaction: there is the same reason for resinous things, which tho' they abound in Sulphur, with Salt and Earth, yet because there is but a small portion of Water and Spirits, therefore their frame is not easily loosened, neither are they obnoxious to Putrefaction. Among Minerals, common Water only, falls under this rank: for this, if it stand still, or is kept long in a Vessel, its Salt and Sulphur, though but in a little quantity, having gotten a Flux, begin to evaporate, and together to induce Putrefaction: but so long as water is in motion, these Particles are still involved with others, and so by their mutual embrace, are detained from evaporation.

Artificial things and preparations, are no less subject to Putrefaction than Natural things; for Bread, and all manner of Eatable things or Food, Wine, Beer, and other Drinkable Liquors, also Medicinal Confections, being long kept, first lose their strength and vigor, and then after∣wards are Corrupted: concerning which, we may observe these following things.

The more the things are Compounded, and have all the Principles conjoyned together, the sooner, and the easier, do they enter into Putrefaction; wherefore Eatable things, prepared of Flesh, Broths, Decoctions of Herbs, also many Medicines made after the Galenical way, are wont (unless preserved with very much Salt or Sugar) to be Corrupted in a short time: In the mean time, Distillations, and Chymical Preparations, which consist of Homogeneous, or not much different Particles, are kept sound a long while.

In Compounded things, if there be too great quantity of Water, things sooner putrifie, for so the frame of the mixture is too loose; so that the fixed Principles cannot take hold of the Volatile, or keep them back from flight: but those in which Spirits abound with moderate Salt and Sulphur, if they are kept in a close Vessel, that they may evaporate but little, continue a long time, as may be perceived by strong or generous Wine. The next to these, are those things which are preserved with Hony or Sugar, or in which the Saline Particles are in great plenty by nature.

Many of these, whilst they are corrupted, are either made Mouldy or Rank, or they grow sowr, or degenerate into a vapidness, or without taste: things are made Mouldy, when the subtil Particles in the exhaling, are detained by the more thick, and cleaving together by their mutual embrace on the superficies of the Body, grow into a soft Down or Hoariness, even as Moss is brought forth by Stones, or Wood exposed to moisture.

Rankness or unsavory Taste, happens chiefly in Sulphureous things, for Oily and Fat things, by Heat or Age, become Musty or Unsavory, to wit, when the Spirit being very much exhaled, the Sulphureous Particles are too much exalted, and begin to evaporate.

Sharpness or Acidity is induced from the Salt, being too much carried forth and loosened; for when the Spirit is depressed, or exhaled, the Salt being fused, conceives a Flux, and so brings in a sowrness: hence Wine, Beer, Cyder, also Milk, very many Eatable things, and the Juices of Herbs, when they are long kept, or if they are moved by too immoderate heat of the Air, or shaking, do easily grow sowr.

Liquid things, degenerate into a vapidness or tastlesness, when the active Principles, are for the most part gone forth, and nothing eminent besides Water and Earth, or of the subtile parts, is left in the subject.

That I may contract what is aforesaid; the corruption of every thing, is only the separa∣tion and departure of themselves from one another into parts of the Principles before combined, (the bond of the mixture being loosened) which motion, by reason of the diverse disposi∣tion of their breaking forth, (either with or without a stink) ends in Putrefaction or Rot∣tenness.

Where Spirits abound, and that there is also plenty of Sulphur and Salt, and the Particles being loosened from their bonds, break forth in heaps; the mixture putrefies with a stink; also if it consist of a thick substance, so that all the parts are not rightly ventilated, it conceives a heat from the Putrefaction: in such a Corruption, the stink proceeds from the exhalation of the sharp pointed Sulphur, or made pricking with the Salt: Putrefaction follows, for that the external hu∣midity enters into the place of the Particles flying away: But the heat is produced by the Sulphu∣reous Particles being moved together in heaps, and being shut up within the subject, that they gather together, and being united, act more strongly. But if there be in the subject a lesser pro∣portion of Salt and Sulphur, so that when the mixture is loosened, the Particles are moved more slowly, and evaporate leisurely, the Body grows dry, and is reduced to a wasting, without any ill smell, putrefaction or heat.

It will not be from the purpose to inquire in this place, from whence some empty Vessels, and more moist bodies, by lying long, conceive a certain stink without Putrefaction; also other things being put into them, or lying near them, are wont to partake of their Evil; for which affection, a proper Latin word is not easily to be met with; in our Idiom it is called Mustiness, and in some sort seems to be designed by the word Mucor, unless that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or Mucor, points at

Bodies infected with a certain Down or Hoariness, (which we call Mouldiness) which here ne∣ver happens. The consideration of this matter is not improperly referred to the Doctrine of Fermentation, for this Tincture or Impression of a stink, unfolds it self far abroad, as if it were a certain Ferment, that the Vessel but lightly imbued with it, infects whatever Li∣quors are put into it, and infusions of them, even new and often iterated; we may observe a twofold effect of this thing: For sometimes the Vessels being almost empty, at first vitiated, afterwards infect most Liquors, which they by chance receive, with a musty odour: sometimes more moist compacted, and solid things, being kept long, somewhat close in a Cellar, contract this vice of their own accord; when in the mean time the contagion is not perceived to be in the place where they were kept; which things either may become musty, not because they are cor∣rupted, for in most Spirit, Salt, and Sulphur, being yet contained, in the bond of mixture, the frame of the matter is kept whole, but the vice only consists in this, that from the subjects after this manner disposed, effluvia's, as it were, aculeated or sharpned, fall off, and therefore become ungrateful to our smell and tafte.

First, that any Vessel may conceive a mustiness, there seems to be required in the first place, that its inward hollowness be large, and its mouth narrow; to wit, whereby a passage may lie open to the outward Air, and rest may be granted to it, being entred in: for Juggs with broad mouths, also Bottles close shut, do not easily get this fault. Secondly, that besides the more ample inward hollowness, the sides of the Vessel be indued with pores, and very small passages; for in these kind of little spaces besmeared with humour, the Air being strictly shut up, remains more quiet, and is apt to stagnate: Wherefore Glass Bottles are not so apt to suffer this evil, as Wooden, or Stone Bottles. Thirdly, that some moisture, tho' very little, stick about the sides of the Vessel, or in its bottom, whereby the Air being entred may be intangled: for if the Bottles be hung up, with their mouth downwards, that all moisture may drain out, they will never be musty.

In the second place: when Bodies, without any contagion of a Vessel, contract a mustiness or mouldiness of their own accord, we may observe, first, that they are of that kind, which consist of Heterogeneous Particles, that is, a mixture of all the Elements together; because the parts of Vegetables and Animals, and preparations of them, easily receive this evil; Minerals for the most part remain free from it: Secondly, that there be plenty of humidity in the concrete, for the more dry continue a long while without any hurt: Thirdly, that the Bodies be either kept in a heap unmoved for a long time, or else in some close Cupbord, or Cellar, without Air; for so Wheat or Grain, in a heap, unless it be often moved, as also all Eatable things, being put up in a close place, quickly grow musty.

According to these positions we conjecture, that mustiness is made an affection to a moist ina∣nimate Body, from the ambient Air, being admitted within its pores, and being got in, there stagnating, whereby the Elementary Particles of that mixture, being combined together with those sent in by the Air, are exalted into the Nature of a Ferment; that they diffuse themselves on every side with wonderful activity, and their effluvia's, as it were sharpned, ungratefully strike against the sensories of the taste and smell. When therefore, some Subject becomes pri∣marily musty, a certain portion of the Air placed near, and hindred from ventilation, enters into its pores and passages, and there being intangled with a tenacious matter, is wholly shut up within the substance of that Concrete. From the mixture of the shut-up Air, the implanted little Bodies of the matter, especially the sulphureous and saline, acquire new heads; that after∣wards, when they are exactly to be mixed with no other Body, yet very greatly Fermentative, tho intermingled with any other thing, retain their own Nature, and being diffused through the large substance of the matter, infect the whole; to wit, they dispose by that means, the Particles of that new matter, that they being armed with sharp points, bring in like manner a trouble to our senses: But in the mean time, from the mustiness, whether primarily arisen, or received by contagion, the mixture of the thing is not dissolved, nor the Principles dissipated; yea, those things which are wholly tastless, do scarce at any time become musty: the musty smell depends chiefly on the active Principles, disposed by a peculiar right, by the involved Air and their effluvia's; wherefore, if they almost wholly fly away from any subject, that is rendred almost incapable of this affection.

There may be observed a certain likeness between mustiness and an Empyreuma, or taste of fire or burnt-too, for as in this, the Particles of the fire being intangled, and included by a tenacious matter, by their long stay there, pervert the implanted little Bodies of Salt and Sul∣phur, from whence their effluvia's, strike our senses with an ingrateful sharpness; moreover, being mingled with other things, they affix to them, the disposition of their pravity; so in mustiness, the Particles of the Air, being obvolved with a viscous matter, and stagnating, they change by their presence the saline and sulphureous little Bodies, from their due temper, where∣by they being as it were gifted with sharp prickings, do strike bitterly our sensories, and being exceeding fermentative, diffuse their odour to others: the alteration being either way contra∣cted, can scarce be blotted out, by any mixture with other things, or emendation by Art: The

chief means of helping of either, is by placing it in a reciprocal trajection, viz. Empyreuma∣tical things, or tasting of the fire, are to be a long while exposed to a more moist Air, whereby the Particles of the fire may exhale: and musty things are to be held to the fire, or put to such things which may sweeten their Nature, to wit, quick Lime, Sulphur, or Stygian Waters, by which the parts of the included Air are driven away, and so the remaining little Bodies of the mixture are wont to recover their pristine state; wherefore, if musty Liquors are distilled, the Water falling into the Receiver, will be deprived of that stink: But the smatch of Fire, or Em∣pyreuma, is not so easily mended by this Artifice.

So much for Fermentation, and the motion of the Principles, for as much as within the Con∣fines of the same Subject, they dispose it, either to maturity and perfection, or towards disso∣lution and corruption. It now follows to treat of the motion of the same kind of Particles and Principles, for as much as some of one Body do act on others of another Body, and by dissolving the mixture, do wholly draw them forth, and send them outward, or by precipitating it causeth them to go into parts.

CHAP. IX. Of the Motion of Fermentation, as much as is to be observed in the Dissolution of Bodies.

FOR the Solution of Bodies, there are two great solvencies, or Menstrua, which exist from Nature; to wit, Water and Fire: Fire, if it be next and immediately applied, destroys most Bodies, drives away the Principles one from another, and as it were dissipates them into Air, Earth only, with a little Salt, being left behind; if it be mediately applied, it brings away some Particles, so that in the mean time others remain: After which manner it serves chiefly for Distillations, and Chymical Operations, and is also used in the Preparation of necessaries for our Food, both about the Boiling and Rosting of Meats. Water does not so readily destroy Bodies, but it draws forth some parts from the Subjects, and receives them into its own Bosom, and firmly retains them for various uses: But as it does not easily penetrate every Body, but leaves almost untouched those which are of a more fixed Nature, various ways are thought of, whereby the Menstruum of Water is made sharper, and is rendred fit for the dissolving of any Bodies what•…•…oever. For by means of the Bodies, which it ought to dissolve, and of the parts which it ought to receiye in it self, it is armed as it were with some Weapons; with which it is able to unlock any Subject, and to possess now these, now those Particles. The Menstruum of Water is sharpned with Spirit, Salt, or Sulphur: to wit, either with each of these, or with more of them joyned together; we will first speak of the watery Menstruum, with the various sharpning of it, and afterwards of the fiery dissolvent.

Common Water most easily dissolves the more simple Bodies, except Sulphur; and hides their Particles, in its pores and passages; it readily receives Salts of every kind, and easily imbibes Spirits; it loosens the frame of Earth, and cherishes its more tender little bodies, in its embrace; but it is hardly mixed with Fat, and Oily things, and receives not their Particles, but by the coming between of others, but drives them forth to its superficies, as not miscible, or thrusts them down to the bottom.

Water in some measure enters the more compounded Bodies, whose frame is somewhat loose; and then receives into its bosom, some not simple Particles, but resembling the nature of the whole mixture: hence most Vegetables, also parts of living Creatures, and some Minerals, being put into common Water, do impregnate it with a certain vertue; and from most Metals, by a long maceration, it takes away some strength, though but small. Some Bodies are dissolved by Water, which yet a sulphureous or spirituous Menstrua leave almost untouch'd; as the Gums Tragacanth, Arabic, &c. also Salts and Sugar.

The first and most common way of sharpning, whereby simple Water may more easily enter the Bodies to be dissolved, is, that it be furnished with fiery Particles, or darts of adventitious heat; for so it is driven more deeply with a certain force, into Bodies, and destroys some thrids, as it were the smallest mites, in their most inward recesses. Wherefore we are wont to boil for a long while, the matter to be dissolved in water, or at least to infuse it in warm water, by which means, the more tenuious, and certain subtil Particles, which resemble the nature of the subject, are easily drawn forth, and impregnate the water, with the vertue of the whole mixture.

So much for the simple, or na•…•…ural Menstruum of Water, to wit, for as much as its activity is wont sometimes to be promoted, by fire or ascititious heat. But this cannot be so simple, but

that it contains in it self some Particles of another kind; as may be gathered from its easie Putrefaction; for oftentimes it is impregnated with spirituous, sulphureous, or saline Breathings, contracted from the Air or Earth; that for the drawing forth the Tinctures of very many things, sometimes it excels an Artificial Menstruum; for that Acidulous or Spawish Waters, Mineral Wa∣ters, Rain Water, and May Dew, are of frequent use among Chymicks, for the remarkable faculty of dissolving, with which they are strong. Besides, 'tis a vulgar observation, that some Waters most easily dissolve Sope, and being throughly mixed with the same, causes in the liquor a great spume or froth; such, if they be rubbed between the fingers, feel soft and gentle; but other Waters, which being handled with the hands, are more harsh, refuse the mixture both of Sope and Oyl, and so are accounted unprofitable for the washing of Cloaths: these sort of Waters, if they should be evaporated in a Glass, oftentimes affix a Crust to its bottom and sides; because they are impregnated, more than they ought, with saline Particles, with which, when the saline parts residing in the Sope combine, the sulphureous are carried away, and they being excluded, the pores are thrust forth as not miscible, to the top of the Liquor. When Flesh is boiled in these Waters, it grows very red; which Tincture indeed being thence contracted, is a sign, that those Waters are somewhat imbued with Vitriol, or some other kind of Salt. But we will pass to Artificial Menstrua's, in which the watry Liquor is furnished with Spirit, Salt, or Sulphur, being gathered apart, or many of them together.

The spirituous Menstruum of Water is made, when from a Body swelling with Spirits, a clear and limpid Water is distilled; as from Wine, or strong Beer, or other Bodies truly fermented, and brought to exaltation: The kind of dissolvent is hardly to be had so sincere, but it is mixed with the Particles of more pure Sulphur, and sometimes of a volatile Salt. The former kind of Liquor is called Spirit of Wine, which being subtil, and very penetrating, easily enters the Bodies, and parts of Vegetables, and also of living Creatures, but hardly Minerals, or not at all: it extracts from many things, not any Particles, or resembling the Nature of the whole mixture, (as common Water) but chiefly Spirituous, and Sulphureous, the rest being almost untouched; wherefore, it is wont to be used for the resinous magisteria of Vegetables, (which it draws forth almost sincere or without mixture, under the form of Gum or Rosin) in the mean time, it is not so fit as common Water, for the extracts of Plants, which are not so indued with Sulphur: from sulphureous things, as Benzoin, Sulphur, Olibanum, Styrax, Amber, and the like, it draws forth excellent Tinctures: It dissolves the fixed Salts of Herbs, also of Pearls and Coral, before prepared with Vinegar, by a long digestion, and receives their Tinctures into it self: it leaves Sugar, and Gums, being dissolvable in Water, almost untouch'd. But there is another spirituous Menstruum, that is sharpned with a volatile Salt, such is the Liquor which is distilled out of Blood, Harts-horn or Soot; it is far stronger than the former, and cuts most Bodies, except Metals, into parts, and oftimes destroys the forms of the whole mixture: yea, it most excellently dissolves secondarily, the most fixed Metal, to wit, Gold, being first reduced into a Calx, by its proper Menstruum, and reduces it into a Tincture, or potable Liquor.

They are accounted Sulphureous Menstrua, which are brought forth of Sulphureous Bodies, under the form of an Oyl: these are prepared, either by distillation, such as are chiefly the Oyl of Turpentine, Juniper, and the like; or by expression, such as are wrung forth of Olives, Almonds, and other Fruits, or Seeds of Vegetables. Things distilled are of more efficacy, than preparations by expression; either of them draw forth some Particles, from Vegetables, or Animals; by the vertues of which, these Oyls being impregnated, they are made fit for Medicinal use. Yea they are conveniently enough made use of, for the extracting of the Sulphureous Par∣ticles of Minerals, which sometimes they draw forth sincere or unmixt: But if Oyl of Turpentine, or Lin-seed Oyl, draws forth by dissolving, the combustible part of common Sulphur, in the mean time, the remaining saline parts, and untouched by the Menstruum, grow into Crystals; as is ob∣vious to every one, in the preparing the Balsam of Sulphur.

Mineral Bodies, in which the bond of Concretion chiefly depends upon Sulphur, as are the Fire-stone, Antimony, common Brimstone, and the like, are in some sort dissolved by a sulphu∣reous Menstruum, which draws forth of the Body, Particles of the same kind, the saline being being almost untouched: wherefore Oyl of Turpentine, Lin-seed, &c. draw forth a Tincture from these; in the mean time, saline Menstrua, such as are distilled Vinegar, or Stygian Waters, profit little for the dissolving their Bodies: but that these, unless before Calcined, hardly are touched. But on the contrary, where the frame of the mixture consists of a saline bond, such as are Iron, Copper, and the like, saline Menstrua, as Aqua Fortis, Spirit of Vitriol, Salt, &c. receive in the dissolving, the Particles of the same Nature into themselves, the sulphureous being almost untouched. This plainly appears, in the solutions of Metals, but chiefly and remarkably in Camphire, which Stygian Waters reduce into a Liquor, in form of an Oyl, swimming on the Menstr•…•…um; to wit, they dissolve its frame, and receive some saline parts, on which the Concretion depends, into themselves; in the mean time the sulphureous being untouched, they are gathered together apart, on the superficies of the Liquor. There is something to be wondered

at concerning Antimony: to wit, that its Concretion being very irregular, that Mineral becomes exceeding unlike, not only to other mixtures, but also to it self; for it is very lax, nevertheless much compacted; it lies open to the least injuries, yet is almost impervious to the greatest, so that it may equally number its losses, with its Victories: some of its Particles lie so loose, that they are brought away by any Oily Menstruum, or by a common Lixivium, or Lie: others in the mean while do so pertinaciously stick together, that Aqua Fortis cannot touch them, only Aqua Regia being poured upon it can know it; which so strongly resists it, that the fumeraised up from thence, presently obscures the whole Room, wherefore there seem to be in this, parts wholly of a different Nature, some imperfectly mixt, viz. Earthy and Sulphureous, which are easily loosned by a fit solvent; in the mean time others wholly Metallic, perfectly mixt, coming near in some sort to the Nature of Gold it self; which therefore are only to be dissolved, by a fit Menstruum of Salt.

The saline Menstrua are of divers kinds and natures, viz. of Vegetables, Animals, or Minerals. Among Vegetables are eminent, the sowr Juices of Fruits and Herbs, Counterfeit Vinegars, acid Liquors distilled out of ponderous Woods, as Guaiacum, the Oak, and Box; in all which, the saline Particles having gotten a Flux, either by Art, or by Nature, give a notable sowrness: or the Vegetable Menstruum consists of Salts of Tartar, or made by the cineration of Herbs, and dissolved, which by the Fire are very much whetted, and acquire an acritude; in these the saline Particles are fixed, and in a condition opposite to a Flux. To the rank of Animals I refer the Spirit of Urine, Harts-Horn, &c. which although they are impregnated with Spirits, yet they take their chief forces from a Volatile Salt. But the strongest saline Menstrua, are drawn forth of Minerals, such are acetous Liquors, which are most strongly forced by fire, out of the Salts of Nitre, Sea Salt, Alumn, Chalcarth or Vitriol, and such like.

Those which are drawn out of Vegetables, as Vinegars, and acid Liquors, do best of all dissolve Corals, Pearls, Shells, and Shelly substances: because in these there is great plenty of Alcalizat Salt, with which the fluid Salt, which abounds in those kind of acetous Menstrua's, desires to be most strictly united; wherefore they being applied to the body to be dissolved, enter its pores and passages, loosen the Complications of the Particles of the Alcalizat Salt, and snatch them into their own Embrace. Even after the same manner, the fluid Salt in a Vegetable Menstruum, approaches the Volatile Salt in the Horns of Animals.

These kind of Menstrua's do corrode some Metals towards the superficies; but do not so po∣tently▪ unlock their bodies by dissolving, as Stygian Waters, some sulphureous subjects, being before loosened by Calcination, do enter aptly enough, and from thence carry forth saline Par∣ticles. Wherefore, for the Salt of Tinn, Lead, Antimony, Soot, and others, being first reduced into a Calx, we use distilled Vinegar.

The Salts of Tartar, and the fixed Salts of Herbs, although they serve for praecipitation, rather than dissolution, yet because they consist of sharp, and very penetrating Particles, they are of egregious use: For watry Menstrua's are chiefly sharpned with these, for the extracting of the Tinctures of Vegetables. And altho' Bodies which abound with an alcalizat Salt, as Pearls, Corals, &c. are left wholly untouched by reason of the Homogeneity or agreeableness of the parts in either; and that also, they but little gnaw, only on the superficies, being put upon Metals, and grow together with their Salt, and Sulphur, into rust; yet sulphureous Bodies they readily enter, so they be loosened by the fire, and unlock and pull asunder their joyntings or com∣plexions; wherefore, for the making of the Milk, or Magisterium of Sulphur, the Salt of Tartar most excellently conduces.

Saline Menstrua's are most strong, which are forced by distillation out of Minerals; to wit, out of Vitriol, Nitre, Sea Salt, Alumn, Arsenick; Acetous Liquors are distilled either from these single, or from many of them mixed together; which as they are of the highest sharpness, like to fire, readily enter most bodies, but chiefly Metalic bodies, and such as consist of a saline bond, and dissolve them easily into most small parts. These Liquors are only saline Particles, which being driven by the force of heat, from the embrace of their Earth, having gotten by that mean•…•… a Flux, are converted into water: as actual fire chiefly assaults sulphureous bodies, and by destroy∣ing the body, draws to it self the consimilary parts; Stygian Waters (which are also called po∣tential fire) easily pull asunder bodies, which very much abound with Salt, as Metals; and break them, inviolable by fire, into most minute parts.

Concerning the Solutions of Minerals, we may observe, that their frame is not easily de∣stroyed, or loosened into parts, as other Concretes of Nature; but for this, most strong Men∣strua's, and those chiefly Acetous, distilled from Salts, are required; the reason of which is, for that the Concretion of Minerals, depends mostly upon great plenty of Salt, binding the rest of the Particles, as with a bond; wherefore their substance is more solid, more hard, and compact, and only gives place to a saline Menstruum. When any Mineral, or Metal is dissolved, the fluid Particles of the Salt, in the Menstruum, most easily enter the most strict Complications of the fixed Salt in the mixture, and impervious to any other solvent, loosen them from their binding, and snatch them into their Embraces: after this manner, the Particles of the Salts being united,

and dilated by the Liquor, are hidden in the pores and passages of the Menstruum; and together with these, stick, and are also supped up, by the Menstruum, the more pure and minutely divided bodies of Earth or Sulphur, which were in the mixture; in the mean time, the more thick, and more stuffed with Earthiness, are praecipitated to the bottom of the dissolving Liquor: where∣fore Gold and Silver are wholl•…•… devoured by the Menstruum; but Iron, Lead, &c. and also Me∣tallic Recrements, send forth from themselves, in the dissolving, Heterogeneous Particles, as so many off-scourings: when Minerals are broke into parts by this means, the divided Particles, and most minutely broken, (so long as they equally cohaere with the Particles of the fluid Salt, which are in the Menstruum) being dispersed through the Liquor of the Menstruum, and hidden in its pores and passages, are supped up, and rendred invisible. Yea also, the humor of the Men∣struum being taken away, the remaining Calx, which consists of the Particles of a mixt, and fluid Salt, combined together, is dissolved in any other Liquor: but if after a Metallic solution, the fluid Salt be drawn off, from the Particles of the thing soluted, or b•…•… Calcination, it neither poyses any Liquor it is put to, with a new adjection of fixed Salt, nor do the little bodies of the thing soluted fall through the pores of the Menstruum, nor are they lastly supped up, by any Liquor added to them.

But that among Metals, some are corroded by any acetous Liquor; in the mean time others, as Silver and Gold, require a peculiar solvent, as it were to be unlocked by an appropriat Key: and what is more wonderful, common Aqua Fortis, which eats Silver, leaves Gold altogether untouch'd: then the same Liquor by an addition of Sal Armoniac, is made a proper dissolvent of Gold, and has no power upon Silver: The reason of those may be thus understood: Gold and Silver are more compact Metals, very much cleansed from earthy matter; wherefore they are not broken into parts by any solvent, but only by those kind of Menstrua's, which consist of a Salt homogeneous or agreeable with them. But as the frame or substance of Silver depends upon a Vitriolic Salt, and that of Gold, on an Armoniac Salt (or of a more perfect kind; to wit, such as is wont to be most strictly complicated with Sulphur) hence Aqua Fortis, so long as it is strong with a Vitriolic vertue, combines with the Salt of the Silver, and therefore unlocks its frame or substance but doth not loosen the concretion of Gold, which depends upon an Heterogeneous bond: If that to this Menstruum, Sal Armoniac be added, the power of the Vitriolic Salt is blotted forth, and the saline darts of the solvent are made fit only for the Gold, the Silver being untouched.

When Minerals are corroded by acetous Menstrua's, we are not therefore to think, the same always to be resolved into Elementary parts: that the Salt and Sulphur of them, may be had sincere or unmixt, by this means (altho' some boast, that they are easily able to shew such Analyses of Metals) for that it appears to our observation, and frequent experience, that many of these are of so compact and solid a Concretion, that they cannot be broken, but into integral parts: as for example, Gold and Quicksilver, after what manner almost soever handled, when they are reduced into manifold Calxes, will at last by a strong fire acquire their proper forms: viz. the saline Particles of the Menstruum, loosen the bond of Concretion, whereby the most minute in∣tegral parts of the mixture stick one to another; but the same solvent, is not able in all things, to break asunder the Copula of the first mixture, whereby the Elements are mutually bound toge∣ther: so that for the most part Metallic Calxes, are only little bodies of the Concrete, broken into most small little Globes, being involved by the saline Particles of the Menstruum: Where∣fore, fire being applied, those corrosive Salts being pulled away from their Embrace, are wholly driven away; then the Metallic little bits, or dust, as so many little particular Globes being fused, by the intense heat, coming together into one Mass by melting, resume the Species of the Metal: wherefore, they who commonly affirm, that the Salts of Minerals, for the most part, are only the saline Particles of the solvent, conjoyned with the Metal, reduced as it were into fine flower, without doubt speak truth in the preparations of Sol and Mercury, or of Gold and Quicksilver; also the Salt or Sugar of Saturn or Lead, is nothing else: But that sweetness comes only from the Vinegar; for if in the distillation of Vinegar, the joynings of the Vessels are closed with Clay, and Salt, Chaulk, and Horse-Dung, on the superficies of this, grows toge∣ther a most white Salt, wonderfully sweet, in every thing like to that Sugar: but from some, viz. from Iron, Copper, and Silver, are prepared fictitious Vitriols, which are for the most part saline: For that the same, by distillation, may be forced into acetous Liquors, as the Metallic recrements.

Besides the solvence hitherto recited (which, by means of the Particles, which are strong in them, act upon a peculiar and determinate matter) I know that Chymists do boast wonderful things, of a certain universal Menstruum, by whose inspiration, every body whatever, may be easily reduced to its Principles, or first Elements: And tho' Helmont have bragged, that he had attained to this Secret by his own Labour, and now daily the Adepti of Chymistry, do aspire to this end; yet the hopes and endeavours of most, have failed them in this work, even as in the Philosophers Stone. There are also some other famous Menstrua's, viz. The Aqua Vitae Tarta∣risated of Quercitan, and his Philosophic Vinegar, which are of noted use in the preparing of

Medicines; but since I know nothing, or any strange thing they have done, in the dissolution of Bodies, we will pass them over.

So much concerning solvent Menstrua: about bodies to be dissolved, a certain provision fhould be instituted, whereby indeed their complections may more easily be unlocked, and cut into most minute parts: Wherefore the Concrete is now pounded into powder, now cut into little bits, that the way might lye open for the solvent, to its most inward recesses. If that the frame of the subject be harder, and more strict, that it will not give place, but of a long time, to the Menstruum, before the dissolution is begun, there ought to be administred some aperitives, or openers, whereby the Concretion may be first loosened, and somewhat opened: wherefore, the Tincture of Steel, is more easily extracted, if its filings be sprinkled with the Juice of Li∣mons, or the Spirit of Vitriol: in like manner Harts-Horn, or the shavings of Ivory, are handled when we would have the Decoctions of them quickly made: when formerly I have been very solicitous about this thing, viz. that I might render the more hard bodies easily foluble, in any Menstruum, and that I had especially tryed many things about Iron; after several experiments, at length, by a certain chance, and almost thinking of something else, I found out a prepara∣tion, whereby without any Corrosive, or Acid Liquor, by the mediation only of a gentle heat, the body of Iron is opened, that being reduced into powder, gives immediately a tincture, to any Liquor, that neither Salts themselves, are sooner dissolved in common water: By this means, I am wont to prepare suddenly, in great quantity, Mineral waters, which exactly resemble our Tunbridge Spaws; and to render Wine, Beer, Milk, or Whey, with no trouble Chalibeated. By this means, Syrups, Tinctures, Extracts, or Magisteria out of Steel, are most easily to be had. Moreover, plainly by the same Artifice, Corals, Pearls, Eyes, and Claws of Crabs, and all shelly things, are prepared, that their powders presently impart to any Menstruum, a tincture, or the vertues of the whole Concrete. And in this preparation, no strange quality is introduced to the Subject, nor its own proper quality lost.

When I had, by this means, learnt to unlock all Bodies whatsoever, consisting of a saline bond, presently from the Analogy of this, was made known the means of unlocking Subjects, whose Concretion is wholly sulphureous: for I am wont so to prepare common Sulphur, that its powder immediately impregnates any Liquor, with the tincture and vertue of Sulphur. The Spirit of Wine, suddenly contracts a deep colour, and very red, that being put into it. Com∣mon Water by the infusion, or decoction of the same Powder, is rendered clearly sulphureous, and gilds Silver, and by this means, from that Tincture, a praecipitation being made of White Wine, or Vinegar, the Milk of Sulphur is easily prepared, in great quantity. Out of sulphurated Wine by this infusion, I make a Syrup, than which there is scarce found a more excellent remedy, in the distempers of the Thorax. By this means, Tinctures, Extracts, Magistries, are prepared from Sulphur, with no labour, and without any smatch of the fire. By the same way Preparations from Amber, Benzoin, and other sulphureous things, easily dissolvable in any Menstruum, are com∣posed. But enough, and too much of this: we will now pass to the other great dissolvent of Nature.

CHAP. X. Of the Nature of Fire: and by the way of Heat, and Light.

WE may almost pronounce the same thing of Fire; what the Philosophers of old did of the first Matter, to wit, that it was potentially every where, and in all things; but in none, in act. For among these sublunaries, Fire hath got no existence of its own Nature, or certain means of duration: It is produced almost in every Sub∣ject, but is retained long in none, but it suddenly vanisheth, and expires: yea, unless some ex∣ternal accidents, oftentimes should concur for its production, I think it had not at all been in the World. Some have dreamed, that its Sphear is scituate under the Moon: but this was intro∣duced only, for the making the Hypothesis of the four Elements: for such a thing seems consonant neither to Sense, nor Reason. That we may rightly search out the Nature of Fire, we must seek in what Bodies it is chiefly to be found, and how they are disposed; and then we may proceed to the unfolding its essence.

The Subjects most convenient both for the producing, and the maintaining of Fire, are of that kind, in which there are very many Particles of Sulphur, and but only a moderate portion of Water, Salt, and Earth: for these do hinder its inkindlings, and being plentifully poured on it, extinguish it being inkindled: Wherefore Bituminous, Fat, and Oily things, quickly take

flame: so also Chips, Straw, light and dry Wood: in the mean time, Metals, Minerals, the Glebe of the Earth, Dung, wet Straw, and green Wood, are hardly, or not at all, to be inkindled.

Secondly, We observe, that all the time the Fire continues in the subject, sulphureous Particles fly away in heaps, and from the departure of these, the substance of the burning body is by de∣grees destroyed; in the mean time, very much of Salt and Earth, remains in the form of Ashes, after the burning.

There is a third Observation, that when the sulphureous Particles are wholly, or for the most part flown out of any subject, the burning wholly ceases, and the form of fire is quite destroyed; nor can it be renewed in the remaining matter, wanting of Sulphur.

Fourthly, We will note, that sometimes some Bodies conceive a burning without the advention of another fire, only by their own effervency, and by the intestine motion of the implanted Par∣ticles, and of their own accord are reduced into Ashes; as when wet Hay is laid up close, it first grows hot, then afterwards breaks forth into smoke and flame; or the Wheels and Axel-trees of Carts or Wains, being heated by too great agitation, are inkindled.

According to these Positions, we may affirm, that the form of fire, wholly depends upon sul∣phureous Particles, heaped up in any Subject, and breaking forth from it in heaps: and that fire is no other thing, than the motion and eruption, of these kind of Particles, impetuously stirred up. For Sulphur is of an exceeding fierce and untamed Nature, whose little bodies, when (the yoak of the mixture being shook off) they begin to be thickly heaped together, diffuse them∣selves on every side like a torrent, break whatsoever obstacles are in the Subject, destroy what∣ever comes in opposition, or fling it down headlong. Nor do they only unlock their proper Sub∣jects, but also lay open the gates and doors of any other Subject near, that they can reach to, and there incite to the like fury, all the consimilary Particles of Sulphur, and provoke them to an eruption: wherefore fire every where inkindles sire.

The sulphureous Particles, while they, heaped together within the consines of their subject, or on its superficies, are agitated with a rapid motion, but are detained by the Embrace of other little Bodies, from a more free eruption, and more aggregated, constitute the form of fire; as is to be seen in burning Coals, or in glowing Iron; but when these sort of Particles fly way by heaps, from the same subject, and bound together, they produce flame, which is only an heap, or rather a torrent, of the Particles of Sulphur flowing together, and conjunctly flying away: if Watery, Earthy, and saline Particles, are commixt with the sulphureous breaking away, and are able to disjoyn and separate them, only smoke is excited; which afterwards, the sulphureous little Bodies more plentifully breathing forth themselves, and getting together, breaks forth into flame.

The inkindling of Fire happens very many ways. The first and most simple is, when from hard Bodies struck one against another, but oftenest from a Flint struck against Steel, sparks of fire break forth; which being received in Tinder, made of a Linnen Cloth burnt to blackness, dilate themselves, and then a Match, or sulphurated thing, being applied, they cause the inkindling of a flame. Secondly, A Fire often happens in dry Wood, and dry things, when by the too great attrition of the parts, and agitation, being made hot, they conceive an inkindling of their own accord. And thirdly, when Bodies abounding with Sulphur, as Hay, or Flax laid up wet, (of which mention was before made) grow hot of their own accord, and afterwards are inkindled. The fourth way, is the most usual, of introducing fire into any Subject, that it may be inkindled by another fire. We will a little more consider the several processes of these.

1. Hard Bodies struck one against another, shake forth little sparks of fire: as a Flint with Iron, or with a Flint; Indian Canes, the Fire Stone, and many other things. The reason of this is, because the Particles of Sulphur, which reside in the Supersicies of a hard Body, if they are smitten by another hard Body, are not able to go back inward, (because in hard things there is not afforded any cession of the parts, from place to place) nor can the smit∣ten Particles of Sulphur evaporate by degrees; but that by reason of the vehemency of the stroke, they are necessitated to break forth in heaps: Wherefore, when by this means, many of them are moved together, and are aggregated, they exhibit the apparition of fire. The sparks being received into the half-burnt Linnen or Tinder, are dilated into a greater fire, for that the sulphu∣reous Particles, in such a subject are eminent, and are brought, as it were, to the very top it self of eruption or breaking forth, wherefore by the least spark being moved or stirred up, a way being made they fly away.

The very same reason is for Wood, being made hot, and afterwards fired, by too great attrition; by which means, the Axel-trees and Wheels of Chariots, or of Mills, are fre∣quently fired: for the Sulphureous Particles, being by this means very much moved, are more thickly heaped together; and when, having as it were made an Army, they are able to remove, or strike away the rest, they presently break forth in Troops, and by their going away, cause a burning.

In Hay or Dung laid up wet, the Particles of Sulphur very much abound; which having got∣ten the watery Latex for a Vehicle, run themselves into motion; but when for want of Ventila∣tion, they cannot by little and little exhale, being straitned within, and so brought into their exaltation, they are able to joyn more one to another, and mutally to incite themselves: then afterwards, being very much heaped together, they unfold themselves more largely, and begin to break the Dens of the Subject, and so produce a burning. For it is to be observ'd in any Subject, when the Particles of Sulphur, being more slowly moved, fly away by degrees, nei∣ther heat, nor fire, but only a driness, and leanness succeed. But if they are more rapidly mo∣ved, than that they may be able to exhale leisurely, a heat is stirred up in the Subject: then if yet they are agitated more vehemently and impetuously, and being more thickly agglomerated, or heaped together, they break forth in heaps, a deflagration or flame follows the heat.

Fire being enkindled in any Subject, enters and enkindles whatever Sulphureous thing is next it. For as Saline Menstrua, viz. Stygian waters, assault Metals, stuffed with Mineral Salt, and loosen their saline Particles, as being of kin, from the mixture; so also the sulphureous Par∣ticles, being enkindled, break whatever sulphureous particles are next them, and stir them up into the like motion of Burning, with themselves.

Thus much concerning the Nature and Production of Fire: it remains that we next enquire into the Effects of Fire, and also concerning its Virtue and Efficacy; to wit, what kind of Bo∣dies it dissolves, and by what means; and also what uses it serves for. The chief Effects of Fire are Heat and Might; either of them are excited by Emanations or Effluvia, sent from an en∣kindled Body; but after a far different manner; for truly, Heat is most often produced at a distance, without Light; also Light, without any sensible Heat.

Heat, forasmuch as it belongs to the Sense of the Touch, is conceived, when a certain Passion is induced in the skin, or any other Organ of the Touch, whereby the little Fibres and nervous parts are drawn asunder, moved into light spasms or convulsions, and sometimes (if the stroke be vehement) suffer a solution of the Union. This is wont to be done, either by the bringing near of Fire, or of another Body made hot by Fire, or by some other means: For from either, the sulphureous or warming particles being excited, into a more rapid motion, and breaking forth by heaps, spread abroad, which, as so many little darts, being thrust into our skin, or other Sensory of the Touch, either by tickling gently, they bring to it a pIeasing sense of heat, or by striking it more grievously, the troublesom sense of burning or scorching.

For the effect of Heat, Fire is applied to Bodies, either immediatly, and so either for the sake of burning, roasting, or boyling; or mediatly, viz. by the interjection of another Body. Bituminous things, Coals, and other things dug out of the Earth, also Vegetables, and chiefly their Leaves, and Woods, are burnt, for heat, necessary for human Uses, and for the produ∣cing, and conserving it. Stones are burnt for Lime; Vegetables for the preparing of Salts. The Flesh of Animals is wont to be roasted, and the Fruits of Vegetables; whereby they may become better food for men: For by roasting, the superfluous humidity is evaporated, and the sulphureous parts being stirred by the neighbouring heat, are placed in their vigor and exalta∣tion, by which means, th•…•…y afford a more grateful food to the Palat, and of better digestion to the Stomack. By Fire Metals are fused or melted, and most Minerals, whereby they are ei∣ther very much purified, or they are better formed into various figures by Smiths. Metals, and very many Minerals, also Salts, although they are not enflamed, and take a firing (because they abound with less Sulphur, than Salt) yet by a violent fire, they glow, and suffer a fusion; for that the sulphureous particles of the Fire, enter the saline little Bodies, though most com∣pact, and dissociate them for the time; which however pulled one from another, presently the Fire being exhaled, come again together, and are strictly united.

Secondly, When Fire is mediatly administred, the particles of the soluted sulphur, and heap∣ed together into fire, are dissociated, as when a Cloud is dispersed into most little drops of Rain; wherefore they lay aside the form of fire; but though dispersed, they easily pass through any impediment, and induce a sufficient strong heat to every Subject. By this means, Fire is accommodated to very many uses, the chief of whic•…•…, and the more accustomed, are, elixation or boyling, digestion, and distillation.

In Boyling, the Particles of heat do pass into a watery Menstruum, and being united with its particles, insinuate themselves deeply into the thing to be boyled: whose superstuous humidi∣ties they carry away, digest the crudities, and carry them into a state of maturity. Boyling is instituted, either that the Liquor might be impregnated with the strength of the thing to be boyled, or that the thing to be boyled might be made tender, by the Liquor entring into it, and its Particles exalted: for Meats and all eatable things are rendred more grateful to the Palat by boyling, even as well as by roasting.

Digestion is very much used in Medecines, that their more slow Particles may be carried to a greater activity; and sometimes, that they being too fierce, might be fixed, and rendred more mild.

The most noble use of heat, or of mediat fire, is had in distillations; for the Particles of

heat, do pull away some Particles of the subject from others, (as it were by a Spagyric Anatomy) they resolve all Bodies, into their parts and principles. But the consideration of this thing, is too laborious and hard, to be inserted into this Tract.

As heat respects the sensory of the touch, so light that of the sight, and affects it so after a pro∣per and peculiar manner, that nothing at all is discerned, besides the rays of light, direct, or re∣flected: for the various appearances of Colours, and the divers proportions of Bodies, and what∣soever we see with our Eyes, is only light; to wit, either proceeding directly, or strait from a lucid Body, or retorted from another Body, to the Eye, & so formed into various figures & colours. The consideration of Light, contains in it self, very many stupendious things, and is of deep spe∣culation; which are not however proper for this place: It will suffice to take notice here, of a few things, concerning its Original, Motion, and Perceptibility.

Light is wont to be distinguished, either that it is Etherial, which flows from the Sun and Stars; or Elementary, which only proceeds from a fired Body, enkindled into a flame. It seems, that either is only flame enkindled in a greater dimension, and dilated into a most thin composition: for it appears to the sense, that from sulphureous things being inflamed; (as for example) from a burn-Candle, most thin Effluvia's, or most small divided little Bodies perpetually do spring; which being diffused into an Orb, and stretched forth into right Lines, as it were from the centre to the cir∣cumference, are still expanded on every side, in a great heap, and fill all the space within the sphear of its activity, with a luminous ray. The Particles of the flame, which first fall away or depart from a lucid Body, are still driven forward by those following behind; and so these also by others; and so by a continued series of Particles of the flames still succeeding, the beams of light are form∣ed, and are thickly or closely directed into all parts.

The motion of these is exceeding swift; like streams of water, breaking forth with a force, they pass through the medium in the twinkling of an Eye, and, as those waters, if the motion be cut off near the Spring, most swiftly vanish. When the Rays of light come directly from a Luminous Body, they constitute a medium, only clear or lucid, without the appearance of any colour or image: when the same Rays meet with a solid Body, they do not pass rightly through it, but being either broken off, they are drowned or lost, or else they are reflected and leap back or rebound, as when a Ball being cast against a Wall, with a continued motion is struck back, upon other parts, ac∣cording to the Angles of what stopped it. The Rays of light, reflected from other Bodies, being fallen into the Eye, represent the Images of visible things, and the varieties of colours. For as the superficies of visible Bodies are rough, and endued with little pores, and innumerable eminences, or risings up, hence the Rays of light, being most thickly impacted in them, and reflected from every part, according to all the ways of inclinations, and directions, as far as they go, do meet together round about, into very many tops of Cones, in which the beams proceeding from the whole object, as from a base, represent the image or similitude of the whole; and in these kind of images, the medium is every where planted, that wherever the Eye is placed, it be∣holds the image of the same thing, though not wholly after the same manner. But foras∣much, as the beams of the same light, being impacted in every Body, and variously re∣fracted and distorted, about its rough and unequal superficies, from thence reflected as it were with turnings and windings into the Eye, they cause the diverse Phaenomena, or ap∣pearances of colours, to appear. For colours, and images of things, do not exist in their own nature, but as it were spectrums, only from another place, change their apparitions by the Rays of light. When dark night brings thick darkness to this inferior World, things are not perceived, but by the Touch, and lose all their appearances: when the Sun revisits the Hemisphere, he brings forth a new Creation of things; and the whole Atmosphere is filled at once, with a sudden and manifold progeny; to wit, with infinite images of Bodies, and ap∣pearances of colours.

Therefore Light does not only illustrate the medium, that sight may be made, as some would have it; but it also creates the very objects of sight, and introduces them into the Penetralia or inward parts of the Eye, yea, to the most inward recesses of the Brain. This doth the same Office for the Eye, as the Intellect doth for the Soul, to wit, it forms the Idea's or Images of Bo∣dies, and renders them perceptible by the visive faculty. Light only is able to penetrate the Coats and Humors of the Eye, to move the little Fibres of the Optic Nerve, and to stir them up into an act of sensation. Because the Images of things, being forged by the Rays of light, va∣riously reflected, and meeting together on the tops of the Cones, are stayed within the Pupil, or dark spot of the Eye; they seem as objects in a close Chamber, admitted by a small hole, to be represented to the life: and the Concave or Convex Glasses, whereby the parallel beams are broken, or the inverse reduced or brought back, do egregiously supply the humors placed in the Eye, beyond the industry of human Art; by the help of which, the image of every object is painted, near the thin skin of the Eye, in its just figure and proportion: and then, from the motion, which this Image impresses on the little Fibres of the Optic Nerve, the act of sight is performed in the Brain. Thus much for Heat and Light, the Speculation of which, tho' it may seem to be altogether besides the Doctrine of Fermentation, yet forasmuch as by the motion of

these kind of Sulphureous Particles, many other Physical Operations are also performed, a brief mention of them ought not to have been overpass'd in this place. But before we shall lay aside quite the consideration of Fire, it will be here worth our while to inquire concerning some Sub∣jects, as it were irregular, to wit, in which fire shews admirable vertues, and beyond its common manner: of this sort, are among Simples, common Sulphur, and Sal Nitre; among Compounds, Gun-Powder, and Aurum Fulminans.

Concerning common Sulphur we may observe, that it quickly catches fire, heat it immediately breaks forth into flame, such (as nothing besides) that by its deflagration it puts out the Kitchen∣fire, that it sends forth a bluish flame, and whitens all objects with its smoke or soot. If you be∣hold the matter of this Subject, or the parts of which the mixture is composed, its Spagyrical Analysis will exhibit great plenty of pure Sulphur, a moderate quantity of Vitriolic Salt, a little of Spirit, Water and Earth. For when common Sulphur is dissolved, by the Spirit of Tur∣pentine, the Sulphureous part impregnates the Menstruum, with a very deep Tincture, and the Saline grows into Crystals: or when it is fired under a Bell, the Sulphur wholly burns, in the mean time the Salt being resolved, and having taken a Flux, is fixed about the sides of the Vessel, and so exhibits a Liquor, most like the Spirit of Vitriol, or rather the very same. To which add, if you mingle the Oyl of Vitriol, and Antimony together, and distill it in a Retort, a Yellow Sulphur, just like the common, will be Sublimed in the neck of the Retort.

I say therefore, because there are very many Particles of Sulphur in this Concrete, and that they lie loose and unbound in the mixture, (to wit, neither divided and separated by the coming between of Earth, or Water, nor much bound together by Salt) therefore they are of a most prompt motion: wherefore by the least spark of fire, they break forth from the loose frame; and because very many run forth adoors together, therefore not a naked fire, as in every combu∣stible thing besides, but first of all and immediately a flame is inkindled. Its flame becomes bluish, because'tis almost pure Sulphur that burns, not mixed with the Particles of Water and Earth, as it is in Wood or Straw. The very same thing happens to Spirit of Wine being inflamed. It extin∣guishes the Kitchen fire, by reason of the little Bodies of Vitriolic Salt left behind; and the same being eventilated with the flame and fume of Sulphur, gives a white colour to things; the like to which, the Effluvia's, exhaled from the Spirit of Vitriol, or Stygian Waters, do effect.

Concerning Sal Nitre, we will take notice, that it is not to be inkindled at all by it self; but to be melted by an intense fire: but being mixed with any Sulphureous things, it breaks forth into a flame, with a certain force and explosion: For being added to common Sul∣phur, Antimony, or Tartar, it burns with a thundering noise; also if you put into melted Nitre, a burning Cole, or Wood, the flame is exploded round about, with a wind, so that the matter put in is flung up and down here and there, and often times flung clear out of the Vessel: by this kind of deflagration, what is Nitrous is consumed, the fixed Salt (which is Tartar) remains. When Nitre is distilled, Sand or Brick dust, is mixt with it in a double quantity at least; otherwise the Nitre melting is not at all loosened into a vapor. In the distilling the vapor sent forth is very red; so that the Receptacle shines with a splendor, as if a flame were shut up within it: a sharp corrosive Liquor is stilled forth, which dissolves most Metals, also Gold.

These things being truly weighed, it seems that this mixture consists chiefly of abundance of Salt, and a little Sulphur, but these not fixed and idle, but either exalted, and ready for motion, and not without a certain resistance bound together: to wit, the sulphureous little Bodies, being rouled about by the saline, and as it were strictly pressed, still endeavour to get forth; but being strictly bound within, they are not able to rise forth by their own strength, or endeavour: but as soon as, by the mixture and inkindling of another sulphureous Body, the Particles of the Salt are disjoyned, and their Prisons unlocked, presently the included little Bodies of Sulphur, as it were breaking Prison, fling themselves forth with violence, remove every Obstacle, and strike the Air violently with a sudden eruption.

The reason why fire doth not inkindle Nitre, being inclosed in a Vessel, but only melts it, when in the mean time, any sulphureous matter being fired, makes it to flame forth with a noise, is, be∣cause the little Bodies, which fall away from the fire, enter the Nitre, make it a little loose, and dissociate the concretion of the Salt, but not so loosen it, that a way may be made for the inclu∣ded Sulphur: but by the addition of sulphureous things, the saline compaction is more dissolved, and is so far unlocked, that the Particles of the inclosed Sulphur fly away all together, and being freed from their straightness, do hugely stretch themselves abroad, and seek greedily an immense space.

That there is plenty of Sulphur in Nitre, besides its deflagration, the Genesis of it sufficiently testifies; for it is begot chiefly in places, where the sulphureous Excrements of Animals abound. The use of it in agriculture argues the same thing, because the fertility of the Earth depends very much upon it: And to this also, the flaming colour, shining in the distilling may per∣fuade.

From these premises, it will not be difficult, to unfold the nature of Gun-Powder, used in Warlike Instruments. For the sudden firing, and vehement explosion of it arise, for that those

very many, and almost infinite Particles of Sulphur, which constitute that fire-dilating Body, being fired, fly away together in a moment; all which breaking forth at once, a force being made, and desiring a most free and ample space, for their expansion, violently move the Air, and all obstacles, and so are exploded, or thrust forth with a noise. There is in this mixture, common Sulphur put, because its Particles are loose, and ready for motion, and therefore apt to move a quick inkindling: there is added Charcoal dust, because in that also, the little sul∣phureous Bodies (as is seen in Tinder, that is made of half-burnt Linnen) are brought to the very top of eruption; and therefore these presently conceive an inkindling, and both these being fired, and opposed to the Nitre, they quickly loosen its frame, and send forth the sulphu∣reous Particles inclosed in it; which indeed break forth from their impediments with a force, and as the blast of a Bellows, encrease the strength of the whole in firing. The Charcoal dust is added in a moderate quantity; though it abounds with Terrestrial matter, yet by reason of the Sulphur being carried forth in it, it accelerates the deflagration of this mixture: For the Coal and Nitre being beaten together, is sooner fired, and with a greater explosion, than Nitre and Sulphur: but if the Coals be added to this Composition, (as they are wont to make it for Cannon and great Guns) in a greater quantity than it ought, and improportionate to the Nitre, the im∣mediate firing is somewhat retarded, by reason of the interjection of the Earthy matter; and it happens, that the sulphureous little Bodies therein, apt to be too hastily inkindled, are a little disjoyned, and so the substance of the infused powder, takes fire successively, and by parts, and not all at once.

The reason of Aurum Fulminans does not so manifestly appear: but it seems wonderful, that the Calx of a Metal, otherways inviolable by fire, should be brought into a powder, one grain of which, if it be but lightly heated by fire, is exploded with so great a force, and yields such a noise, that is an hundred fold beyond Gun-powder. I know many deduce the cause of this, as in Gun-powder, from a Nitrous-Sulphureous mixture: For they suppose the Nitre drawn forth from the solvent Menstruum, to joyn together with the Sulphur of the Metal, and so the powder from thence prepared, to get that fulminating force. But in truth, if this matter be better thought on, it will appear far otherways; because this golden thundring powder, is not at all inkindled, as preparations of Nitre with Sulphur: for if fire be put to it, it goes off only suc∣cessively, by grains, nor as in Gun-powder, doth the whole fulminate at once; but being put into an Iron, Silver, or other convenient Vessel, and for some time heated, by a sudden fire, at length all the Particles being stirred together into motion, it is exploded with a mighty noise▪ but yet being exploded, it yields neither flame nor sparks, neither is the Gold lost. For if this powder fulminates in an open Vessel; whatsoever is of Gold, remains after the thundring, in the form of a purple powder; and may be gathered up. That the genuine cause of this may be extricated, there are some things to be observed, concerning its preparations, which will give no small light.

For the making of this powder, it is altogether requisite, that a solution of Gold be made with a Menstruum, impregnated with Sal Armoniack, or at least Analogical to it: for I have tryed it in vain with the Spirit of Nitre, Salt, with the Bezoartic Spirit, and some others. Then next it is requisite, that the Calx be precipitated with Oyl of Tartar; for if the same be brought into a powder, with Silver or Mercury being cast in, it loses its thundring force. Also, if the Liquor of the Tartar, be too precipitately poured in, that with the great heat, a repercussion of the thing soluted be made, it often loses its fulminating vertue: but a precipitation being lei∣surely made, the powder setling in the bottom is washed away, by the often pouring on of warm water, which, though it be most often washed and dryed, far exceeds the weight of the dissolved Gold.

According to these positions, it seems most likely, that whilst the Gold is dissolved by an ap∣propriate Menstruum for this business, some little Bodies of Sal Armoniack, (or some other resembling it) being greatly akin to the Gold, do most strictly cohere with its Particles; which then by the Salt of Tartar leisurely in the precipitating infused, are more fixed, and more strictly tyed fast together: and then the explosion of this powder, or solary Calx, is nothing else than a violent eruption of those kind of Salts, from the Cohesion or Embrace of the Gold. For when the powder prepared after this manner, is brought to the fire, or is otherways made hot, the heat causes the Sal Armoniack Particles, or others of the same nature affixed to the solar, to disso∣ciate; which notwithstanding, (when they hardly depart one from another) are not pulled asunder, but by a strong and continued heat: yet afterwards being pulled asunder with a cer∣tain force, by reason of the sudden and violent breaking off, they strike the Air impetuously, and so cause a most strong noise, for their bulk. But in the mean time if the explosion be made under a Silver Spoon, you will see a separation made of either Particles, here the solar of a Purple colour, there the saline of an Ash colour. But that this powder doth not make a noise, unless it be leisurely precipitated with the Oyl of Tartar, it is because some Particles of the Salt of Tartar, being before bound together with the Sal-Armoniack Particles, do couple together, by which means all are more strongly combined: For the Salt of Tartar being pounded with the mixture of Nitre and Sulphur, fixes their Particles for a time; that this Composition is not pre∣sently

inkindled by heat; but afterwards is exploded with a strong noise. And powder prepared after this manner seems to imitate the nature of Aurum Fulminans: and it is probable that from other Minerals dissolved and precipitated by reason of the strict Cohesions of the Salt with the Metallick matter, and their violent abruptions, thundering Calxes may be prepared. That truly the preparation of this chiefly depends on the Combination of the Salts, it appears, because, if in the precipitating (as I have known it sometimes to have hapned) the Oyl of Tartar, being too hastily infused, the Complexion of the Salts is dissolved with the Metallic matter, the powder falls in small quantity to the bottom, and of a very Purple colour, whose grains are fragments of almost most pure Gold, and therefore they do not fulminate at all: afterwards in that preci∣pitated Liquor, very many slender Crystals grow together, which are indeed the Salts, having suffered a Divorce from the Metal. Besides, that the Salt of Tartar, brings something to the preparation of this powder, it is a sign, because those things which take away the fulminating force from this, are of the same Nature, which chiefly work upon the Salt of Tartar; as a beating it together with common Sulphur, Spirit of Salt, Oyl of Vitriol, or of Sulphur: for these grow hot, and greedily desire to be joyned with the Salt of Tartar, and so they call it away from the Embraces of the Gold; by which means the Combination of the Salts, with the Particles of the Gold, is loosned, and therefore loses its Gun-like force. What is commonly said, that this powder will be presently inkindled, or exploded, by a most light heat, or by shaking it in an Iron Ladle is nothing true, as appears to me, for I have often tryed it. Nor is it more worthy of belief, what is said, that this only forces downwards, and breaks the thickest hollow Pipes with its force; in the mean time, that it doth not move or shake any thing laid over it, because long since I made tryal after this manner; Two grains of this being laid in a Silver Spoon, I covered with a Doller, then a Candle being held under the Spoon, upon the explosion of the powder, there followed a great noise, and there was a little hollow made in the bottom of the Spoon, almost through, and the piece of mony was carried up with a force to the Cieling, wherefore, when this Aurum Fulminans is explosed, its force is diffused round.

Altho' vehement heat, and incited, and also the emission of Smoke and Soot, depends for the most part upon fire; yet sometimes we perceive it to be produced in some subjects, and that in a very high degree, without its being actually inkindled. A most known instance of which thing is, quick Lime sprinkled with water: which also Stygean waters shew, being mingled with Iron, the Butter of Antimony, and with the Salts of the stagma of Vegetables. The learned men, •…•…unter, Conringius, Hogelandus, and almost all that have touched on the Doctrine of Fermentation, have delivered the effects of this Nature, as especial examples of Fermentations, wherefore it will be worth our labour, to inquire something concerning each of them: but on this condition (which I also have observed in other disquisitions) that I willingly let alone the opinion of others; for a Traveller had rather drink at the Fountains themselves: I will then as briefly and succinctly as I can dispatch the business.

Quick Lime is made of the Lime Stone, also of many others (excepting only such which con∣sist of a reddish, and as it were sandy grain) being Calcined in a close Furnace for many days, with a reverberating sire: by this means, the frame of the mixture is loosned, that it goes into 〈◊〉〈◊〉 friable matter, or that may be crumbled, which by reason of the high astriction or binding nature, in which it excels, serves most excellently for the making of Cements for Walls: This Calx or Lime being taken from the Furnace, retains still the form of stone, and seems cold to the touch, but water being poured thereon, it swells up, and grows wonderfully hot, sending forth smoak, that it burns all Bodies that are put into it, besides it falls of it self into a white dust: To which Particles this motion and heat ought to be ascribed, viz. whether to those implanted in the Lime-stone, or to the others acquired by the fire, doth not easily appear: but that we may loose this knot, if we can, I have instituted this Analysis of quick Lime. I put about half a pound of it into a large Cucurbit, then water being poured thereon, I fitted the little Head with a capa∣cious Receiver; by and by, within five minutes of an hour, the matter began to swell, and to grow very hot; then a smoak, and a breath being raised, all the Vessels became so hot, that I could scarce touch them with my hands. A clear water distilled forth into the Receiver, about six Ounces, which was not sharp, but of a Stypticor Astringent sweetish taste; the remaining pow∣der in the Cucurbit, I boiled with common water, and the Lye thereof made, I endeavoured to boil away with a gentle fire; while it did evaporate, there gathered together on the superficies of the Liquor, a white and crusty little skin, also of a sweetish taste, and the same being taken away, presently a new one succeeded; the humor being at last wholly exhaled, there remained in the bottom nothing that was sharp or salt.

We may collect from this, that this heat doth not proceed from the implanted Principles of the Lime-stone, viz. either saline or sulphureous however moved within themselves: for only a sweetish Salt was to be found in it, which was also Volatile; and it is a sign that there is not much Sulphur in the Lime-stone, because by a long Calcination, the form of the mixture is not quite destroyed, nor its substance wholly broken: wherefore, it is very likely, that whilst these •…•…tones are burnt in the Furnace, some Particles of fire do strictly cleave to the saline, and so reside

in that mixture, as it were strangers; which whilst they lie asleep, and continue idle, and being separated one from another, by the coming between of Earth, although they are very many, do not raise up heat; For all heat depends upon motion: but when water is poured to it, those fiery Particles, being thrust out of their Cells, flow together, and fly away by heaps from that Inn; so breaking forth by Troops, they cause a very intense heat, and because diluted with water, only a smoak, and not an actual fire.

It is a sign that little Bodies of fire, or fiery Particles, do stick a long while in matters Cal∣cined, because Iron Instruments, according as those Particles are driven forth of their pores, more or less, leisurely or by heaps, become soft or hard; tough or brittle: moreover, it is ob∣served, that Bricks, or fresh Earthen Vessels, being dipped in water, cause a certain hissing; also Tobacco Pipes, if one end be put into water, and the other brought near to the Ear, yield a cer∣tain sharp noise and rumbling: add to these, that fixed Salts being calcined, or having suffered a flux by the fire, become far sharper; also Stygian waters, by reason of those kind of little Bodies involved therein, which afterwards leisurely evaporate, perpetually send forth sharp fumes: and when these are poured upon saline Calxes, not only an Ebullition is raised, by reason of the dis∣agreeing Particles of the Salts, which strike one another mutually, whereby they might be more strictly combined; but besides, heat and smoak succeed, which for the most part arise from the fiery Particles being shuck out of their Dens. But it is not easie to give a reason why quick Lime, and no other Concretes, retain so copiously those kind of fiery Particles, and yield a strong heat, water being poured on them.

'Tis plain enough, that when the sulphureous Effluviums of fire, (forasmuch as they are most penetrating) enter all Bodies whatsoever, brought near, affect them after divers manners: those which are more lax, and stuffed with active Principles, are destroyed wholly by burning, and be∣cause their substance decays, the fiery Particles, as Soldiers in a City spoiled by themselves, do not continue long in the ruined place, but go farther, and move their Tents: but where the Con∣cretion of the Subject is very compact, and that its Elements cannot be so pulled in pieces by the fire, that they rather grow stiff, as is seen in Metals, Glass, Bricks, and other things made hard, either by boiling, or fusion; the fiery Particles entred in, being received in an incommodious Inn, presently go forth again; and therefore few are wont to stay in mixt things of this kind, or in things fused, or calcined: but if fire be so applied to the more hard Concretes, of which sort are most stones, and shelly Concretes, that the bond of the mixture be unlocked, some parts, viz. the watery and sulphureous are driven away, and so some spaces are made hollow, very fit for the receiving any stranger; in the mean time, that the frame of the matter be not wholly destroyed, but that it may continue its compacted and stony form, which flows not away together with its Particles, and ever threatens its ruin; in such a Subject, chiefly the Particles of fire, possessing the spaces of the parts flown away, copiously remain; and there cleaving close to the saline little Bodies, being detained one from another, by the coming between of the earthy, lie quiet; w•…•…ich notwithstanding afterwards, being violently driven from those Inns, are able to produce by their eruption, an intense, and almost fiery heat: in the mean time those saline little Bodies, are so loosned, by the long familiarity of the fiery, and by the embrace of one another, and of the strangers, that they become Volatile, and being diluted with Water, for the greatest part eva∣porate with it; and the remaining Salt, because also Volatile, and having suffered almost a divorce from all the rest of the Principles, is both sweetish, and becomes desirous of conjunction, and astringent; and therefore also is of excellent use for plastring of Walls.

But that S•…•…ygian Waters, being poured upon the Stagma's of fixed Salts, produce heat, and the same mixed with Iron, or the Butter of Antimony, stir up a mighty ardour, with a blackning smoak, the reason seems plain. As to the Stygian Waters, and fixed Salts, it may be said that both these Concretes are only Salts, having got divers states by the fire, and so ei∣ther being very much stuffed with fiery Particles (which are the most minute atoms of Sulphur:) But they being confused together, do forthwith rush into mutual embraces, and because the Particles of either, are made unlike, therefore, whereby they may be more strictly united, there is made a great attrition of parts, and together an excussion of the fiery Particles, from whence the great ebullition, with a heat is excited: when the same Menstrua, are poured on Iron, or the Ice of Antimo, the Salts of either come together, and shake forth the fiery Particles, and also the sulphureous Particles, before implanted in either Subject; which flying away in heaps, cause a smoak with a heat, but not a flame.

CHAP. XI. Of the Motion of Fermentation, as it is to be observed, in the Precipitation of Bodies.

WE have hitherto treated of the Solutions of Bodies; it remains now, that we speak of Precipitation: This is performed only in Liquids, which, when as they are stuffed with Heterogeneous Particles, are compelled by a matter Precipitating those Particles, to separate one from another, and to obtain for their substance, divers places and conditions: wherefore, since in this operation, there is an agitation and motion of parts, its consideration ought to be referred to the Doctrine of Fer∣mentation.

Precipitation is performed, either in Natural things, as chiefly in Milk, Blood, Urin, and per∣haps in some others; or in Artificial things, which are of a divers kind and nature: but they may be described and ranked in a certain order, according as the Liquor to be Precipitated, or Preci∣pitating, is either Spirituous, Sulphureous, Watery, or Saline: besides, according as the Par∣ticles separated from the rest, are either Elementary, (viz. either Sulphureous, Earthy, or Saline) or Integral, which participate of the nature of the whole mixture, and are only very small por∣tions of it very much broken.

There are two common and known ways of Precipitation, whereby is made from Milk, both Cheese, and Butter: As to the first, if any sharp thing be poured into warm Milk, the thicker and Cheesie parts, presently separate from the serous and thinner, and are gathered together into a thick substance. The reason of which consists in this: Milk has a somewhat thick consistence, and its pores and passages are very much beset, with the thicker (to wit, the Cheesie) contents; wherefore when something more subtil and penetrating, (as is Rennet) passes through the Liquor, it easily thrusts forth the more thick Particles, with which the pores were possessed; which then mutually Embrace one another, and are separated apart from the thin, and Wheyie Liquor. When Milk is kept long to a sourness, it is Precipitated after the same manner, without Rennet, by warming it over the fire. For in stale Milk its Saline parts get a Flux, then being stirred up by the fire, supply by their own sourness the turn of Rennet; yea, it is not improbable, that the fluid Salt in the Rennet provokes the Saline Par∣ticles of the Milk, into a Flux, and that for this reason chiefly its Coagulation succeeds: for that the Saline parts having gotten of their own accord a Flux, so bind the pores of the Liquor, that the more thick Contents are willingly exterminated from them: wherefore we do say, for that reason, the same thing happens, when a Flux of the same Salt is caused by some thing else put into it. But that the Coagulation of Milk happens, not only by reason of the passages and pores being possessed by a strange Body, the sign is; because the Salt of Tartar, tho' exceeding Precipitatory, effects nothing of this, and this effect is excited almost only by sour things. Sugar hinders the Precipitation of Milk, and many other Liquors, because it restrains the Flux of the Acetous Salt, and as it is easily soluble, and its Particles are soft and blunt, they extrude not the former Contents implanted in the Liquor, but fill all vacui∣ties, that afterwards there is no space whereby another Precipitating Liquor may unfold it self, and break into anothers quarters.

But Country People are wont to make Butter of the Flowers or Cream of Milk, kept for the most part to a sourness, only by shaking or Churning it. The reason of which (as it seems to me) is this: In Cream there is great plenty of Sulphur, with which also a mean por∣tion of Salt and Earth is mixed, as may be conjectured, both by the sourness of the Liquor re∣maining of the Butter, or the Butter-Milk, and by its thicker consistency. In this mixture, the parts both Saline and Sulphureous are in motion, and a flux: but as the Liquor is thicker they cannot presently fly away: wherefore it remains, that if the bond of the mixture be further loosned, they will separate into parts, and that first the sulphureous Particles, which excced the others in power, are congregated together with a mutual embrace; wherefore these two things, the Churning of the Cream performs, viz. it brings the sulphureous parts by their often obvolution together, whereby they do the better intangle themselves, and mutual∣ly ensnare one another; besides, it breaks their mixture with the rest. For this reason, in the Winter time, (when Cream is thinner, and abounds less with Sulphur) Butter is hardly made. Besides, the admixtion of Salt or Sugar wholly hinders its making; because by the coming between of those little Bodies, the Sulphureous parts are hindr•…•…d, from a mu∣tual adhesion.

The chief Precipitation of the Blood, which is performed within a living Body, is made in the Reins; where, not without the strength of a certain Coagulum, or Rennet, the serous matter is separated from the rest of the Blood; just as Whey from Milk: For which reason Diu∣retical things are of the same nature, as those which bring a Coagulation to Milk; and there∣fore, because they more Precipitate the Blood by fusing it, they cause a large profusion of Urin. The Blood being sent forth of the Vessels, separates into various substances, by its own disposi∣tion: whilst it is warm, it is variously Precipitated, by some Liquors poured to it, (in like man∣ner Urin) not without a pleasant spectacle. If you pour upon warm Blood the Spirit of Wine, Harts Horn, Soot, Vitriol, or other Liquors, chiefly Spirituous or Saline, a wonderful Ebullition, and heat is stirred up; whence we may conjecture, after what manner is grows turgid, in Fea∣vers. But before the rest, the Salt of Tartar, and a Solution of Alum, procure both in Blood and in Urin, a great perturbation of the Liquor, and falling down of the parts: for these disturb all the Contents in the pores and passages of the Liquor, and by their astriction, very much lock them up for a long time.

Precipitation in Artificial things is of greater note and use: for this for the most part follows Dissolutions, and succeeds them as it were by a certain right of Order; because this takes out of their Jaws, and, as it were, lays by the prey, which all Menstrua take by dissolving. Accord∣ing to the diversity of the Menstruum, and of the Body dissolved, Precipitation also variously happens: but in some Subjects there are two chief remarkable things, concerning the manner of Precipitation; to wit, the soluted Particles, immersed in the pores and passages of the Menstruum, are wont to fall out of them; either by reason of the narrowness of the containing space, or else by reason of the Contents being increased in weight and bigness: for in some the pores of the Solvent, being either leisurely bound up, or beset with a strange Body, shut forth from their Cells, the little Bodies of the thing soluted, and send them to the bottom; as may be observed in Sulphureous Solutions, or such as are made of the whole mixture of integral parts, in a thin Liquor; which are disturbed, and lay away their Contents by external cold, simple water, or at least by any Acid infusion. After this manner, resinous Tinctures, also of Sulphur, Olibanum, Benzoin, and the Infusions and Decoctions of Vegetables, also Urin, Milk, and Blood, are wont to be Precipitated: but in several others, besides that the pores, and passages of the Menstruum, are either leisurely drawn together, or possessed by a new guest, also something new grows to the Particles of the thing soluted from the Precipitating matter, whereby being increased in weight and bulk, they can be no longer sustained; but that they are necessitated to sink to the bottom. This is chiefly seen in the Saline Solutions of Minerals, which are only Precipitated by the Salts; whose Particles presently cleave to the little Bodies of the thing soluted, and increase their substance, that presently they descend to the bottom by their own weight: For in Saline Solutions, the little Bodies of the thing soluted, are strictly bound together by the fluid Menstruum, with the Saline Particles; and the Particles run hastily and are heaped together into the Embraces of the same fluid Salt, from the Precipitating infu∣sion of the fixed Salt: wherefore, when these three, (to wit, the little Bodies of either Salt, and of the soluted matter) do cohere together, they constitute greater grains than can be contained in the narrow spaces of the Menstruum, and therefore being thrust out, they fall down towards the bottom: That this does truly happen after this manner, the great affini∣ty, both of the fluid and fixed Salt, is a sign; that the Particles of both being placed near, or mixed together, are presently combined in one: also, because many Solutions of Mine∣rals, are presently Precipitated by a fixed Salt, but not by Vitriol or Alum being put in, which do much more bind, and stop up the pores of the Liquor. Thirdly, It appears clearly even to sense, because that the matter put for a Precipitate, far exceeds the thing soluted in bulk and weight, and is impregnated by the fixed Salt adhering to it. But these being thus disposed, we will descend to the particular cases of Percipitations, forasmuch as Precipitation is made mani∣fold; to wit, according to the diversity of the Menstruum, of the soluted matter, and the Preci∣pitating infusion.

Simple Water, though it do not well sustain the Particles of the mixture which it re∣ceives into it self by Infusion, or Cohesion, yet hardly sends them away by Precipitation. For the pores of this Menstruum are too open and loose, wherefore the Precipitating mat∣ter, doth not easily strike the little Bodies of the thing soluted: in the mean time, by reason of the more loose frame of the Menstruum, some parts of the soluted Body sink down; others of their own accord evaporate, from whence that Liquor doth not long keep the Vertues or Tincture, with which they are impregnated by another. As some more thick parts and Terrestrial may be thrust down to the bottom, or otherways separated, we put in the Juice of Limons, or some acid thing, or boil in it the whites of Eggs, to wit, that whatsoever is thick might cleave to their viscous substance.

Spirituous and Sulphureous Menstrua, being impregnated with the Sulphureous Particles of the thing soluted, easily lay by their burden; for they are Precipitated by common, or any

distilled Water; as is seen in Sulphureous and Resinous Tinctures of Sulphur, Scammony, Ben∣zoin, Frankincense, and others of that kind, prepared by the Spirit of Wine, or Oyl of Turpen∣tine, which presently grow Milky, by Water or Phlegm being infused. For in these sort of Solu∣tions, the pores are wholly possessed, that they admit nothing besides the thing soluted; and besides, both the Liquor, and soluted Matter are so thin, that they easily give place to any thing else being infused.

When Menstrua's of this kind are filled with Saline Particles, as we may observe in the Tinctures of the Salt of Corals, of Tartar, and such, Precipitation does not presently succeed from Common Water, but from an Acid Liquor, as the Spirit of Vitriol, Salt, &c.

Saline Menstrua's impregnated by the Solutions of Stones or Metals, are most easily Precipitated by Saline Particles, and scarce by others. The chief Precipitatory Liquor, is the Salt of Tartar, or of Herbs burnt to Ashes, deliquated or melted; for this strikes back the Particles of every solu∣ted thing whatsoever, and sends them headlong to the bottom; to wit, forasmuch, as it passes through every where, the little spaces of the solvent, and sticking to the Contents, increases them in bulk, that they more easily fall out of the pores of the Menstruum, bound also together with their own weight.

What fluid Salt (as Vinegar, Stygian Waters, &c.) dissolves, the same a fixed Salt precipi∣tates; and on the contrary: because Salt of Tartar being melted, most excellently penetrates common Sulphur, and receives the Tincture; which then is precipitated by a fluid Salt, viz. by the Spirit of Vitriol, and the like: which indeed does not happen, by reason of the disagreeing Particles of the Salts, and mutually opposing one another; but for that the same are greatly of kin, and rush into mutual Embraces: for from hence, the little grains of the thing soluted, by rea∣son of the cohering of both the Salts together, being increased in bulk and weight, are more readily thrust out of the little spaces of the Menstruum, and descend to the bottom. We will in this place, more sparingly insist upon instances of this nature, because the more full handling of them belongs to the Chymical Work.

Precipitation is not only observed in the separation of a more thick matter, from a serous latex, and in the setling of the disturbed parts towards the bottom; but sometimes the Par∣ticles shut up within the pores and passages of the Liquor, are so small and subtil, that being Precipitated, they are not discerned by the sight, neither do they quickly descend to the bot∣tom; but from their situation and position, being variously changed, the colour, and consistency of the Liquor, are diversly altered. I was wont in times past, to sport with the Solutions of Vegetables and Minerals, which being made by themselves, were clear, like Spring Water, and appeared bright, being commixed, shewed now a Black colour, now a Milky, Red, Green, Blue, or some other kind. The Solution of Saturn, (or Lead) being made with distilled Vine∣gar, appears bright like common Water, if you add to this Oyl of Tartar, like clear Water, the mixture straight grows White, like Milk. If Antimony calcined with Nitre, be boiled in Spring Water, the straining seems clear, and almost without smell, which yet being dashed by any Acid thing, presently acquires a deep yellow colour, with a most wicked stink. Common Water fleing imbued by an infusion of Mercury sublimate, is presently tinged with yellowness, by Oyl of Tartar dropped into it. Quicksilver, and Sal Armoniack, being beaten together, and sublimated in a Matrace, by the heat of Sand, go into a white powder; this being soluted by melting, shows like to clear Spring Water, which yet being smeared upon Brass, or Copper, appears like Silver; and being lightly rubbed on brasen Vessels, renders them as if they were perfectly silvered. A Solution of Calcined Tin, being put to melted Salt of Tartar, becomes bluish. A clear infusion of Galls, being mixt with a solution of Vitriol, makes Ink; if you add to this, Spirit of Vitriol, or Stygian Water, the black Liquor is by and by made clear, like Spring Water; and this Oyl of Tartar reduces again to Ink. And what is more wonderful, if you write on Paper with the clear infusion of Vitriol, and frame any Letters; what you so write presently vanishes, nor is there any marks of the Characters left: but if you smear over the Paper with an infusion of Galls, presently the Letters may be read, if wrote with Ink; which yet, with a Pen run over, dipt in Spirit of Vitriol, you may put quite out at once wet∣ting, and then again render them, with wetting them with another Liquor of Tartar. The Sky-colour Tincture of Violets, being dashed with Oyl of Vitriol, becomes of a Purple colour: to which, if you add some drops of the Spirit of Harts Horn, that Purple colour is changed into Green. Brasil Wood, being infused in common Water, leaves a very pleasant Tincture, like to Claret Wine; if you pour to this a little distilled Vinegar, the Liquor appears clear, like White Wine: a few drops of Oyl of Tartar reduces it to a deep Purple colour: then if the Spirit of Vitriol be poured in, it becomes of a pale yellow, like to Sack; if you add the Salt of Lead, being soluted by deliquation, the mixture grows presently Milky: by this means you may imitate that famous Water-drinker, who having swallowed down a great deal of Spring Water, was wont to vomit forth into Glaces placed before him, diversly coloured Liquors, resembling

the Idea's of divers kinds of Wines: for Glasses being medicated with the aforesaid Tin∣ctures, (so lightly that they may not be perceived by the standers by) will not only cause the Water poured into them, to imitate every Wine, but will exhibit the very Proteus him∣self of the Poets, changed into Waters, and from thence putting on all colours, and infinite forms.

If a Reason of these kind of appearances be asked, it ought to be sought in the minute Par∣ticles, contained within the pores of every Liquor; which as to their site and position, being diversly altered, by another Liquor infused, transmit variously the Rays of Light, many ways break or reflect them, and so make divers appearances of colours. For when the Rays of Light pass through almost in right Lines, they make a clear colour, like Spring-water; but if in their passage, they be a little broken, the Liquor grows yellowish; but being more refracted, they cause a red colour; if they are bowed back, so as to be drained, or that they cannot shew themselves, a dark or black colour arises; but if they are again reflected, to the outmost Superficies of the Liquor, they create the image of Whiteness: after this manner we might variously Philosophise about other colours, and their appearances, the diver∣sity of which, and sudden alterations in Liquids, depend chiefly on Precipitation: because, as the Particles contained in the Liquor, are driven sometimes more near by another infusion that they clasp themselves together; sometimes are ordered into other series of positions, the diverse representation of colours is made. For Liquor being impregnated with little Bodies or Atoms, or this Nature, most minutely broken, seems as an Army of Soldiers placed in their Ranks, who now draw into close Order, now open their Files and Ranks, now turn to the left, now to the right hand, as is diversly shown in the exercising of Tacticks, or the Art Military. When two clear Liquors being mixed together shall make Ink, it is because the Particles contained in either, ap∣proach near one another, and as it were placed in their close Orders hinder the passage of the beams of light: when afterwards, this Ink is made clear by another Liquor poured in, it is be∣cause the new Bodies of the thing put in, disperse abroad the former close joyned Particles, and drive them as it were into their open Orders.

CHAP. XII. Of the Motion of Fermentation, as much as it is to be observed in the Coagulation, and the Congelation of Bodies.

COagulation and Congelation of Natural Bodies, no less than their Solution, depend only on these our Principles. The improportionate mixture of these, and the exal∣tation, and powerfulness of some above others, are the cause of either. Spirit and Sulphur being loosned from the bond, do not only pull asunder the proper Subjects, but they set upon whatever is next them; and where they are mighty in number and strength, they affect nothing more than divorces and separations from the rest of the Principles, and suffer no delay: but on the contrary, Salts love to be united to the rest, and to be made into hard and solid substances; and being destitute of the Company of the rest, presently to enter into new Friendships, and desire only not to be joyned to any opposite. If at any time they are more impetuously moved, either by their own disposition, or being soluted, they destroy the sub∣stance of others, this thing seems to be done for this end, destinated as it were by Nature, that they might find out subjects agreeable to themselves, and having through War obtained Peace, they might at length be more strictly united unto them: wherefore when saline Menstr•…•…ums cor∣rode Stones or Metals, they are Coagulated with their Particles, and grow together into diversly figured Crystals.

When we here treat of Coagulation, we do not take this word after the usual mann•…•…r: to wit, as it is wont to be vulgarly us•…•…rped, when Milk is become congealed, that is, departs from its simple and equal Liquor, into Heterogeneous substances, viz. Cheese, or Curds and Whey, or thick and then; in like manner, when Blood or other Humors go into parts after that manner, they are said to be coagulated: also, we have elsewhere given this sense, to this word, tho' to speak properly, these sort of motions ought rather to be referred to Preci∣pitation than to Coagulation. But here we would have to be understood, by the term Coa∣gulation, an alteration in Bodies of the same kind, as when things at first tender and soft, grow hard, into a stiff, and as it were stony matter: or any thing is said to coagulate, when saline little Bodies being dispersed abroad in any subject, begin to be congregated and joyned

together, and from thence united, either among themselves, or with Earth, produce out of a soft and fluid substance, a hard and compacted. This may be perceived in the shells clear∣ly stony, of Fruits and Seed; in Bones and Horns of living Creatures, in shells and shelly scurffs of Fishes; all which indeed very much abound with an Alcali Salt, or the same Volati∣lized. Among Handicrafts, or Preparations from Human Industry, the Crystalisation, Vitrifi∣cation of Salts, or making of Glass, also the baking of Pots and Earthen Ware, ought to be refer∣red to Coagulation.

But it is properly called Congelation, when the Saline Particles, coming from elsewhere, strictly bind together the subjects on which they fall, fix the Particles variously moved within the substance of the mixture, and gather them together, that by that means the whole becomes stiff, and as it were stony. We may behold these kind of effects in Ice and Frost, by which soft Mud, or fluid Springs of Waters grow stiff, into a very Marble substance. Also the same is manifestly beheld, among the Operations of Art, in the confusions of some Salts, and mutual Concretion in Sublimating; by which means, they go into a substance, now like to Ice, now to Snow. To which may be added the Artificial turning of Water to Ice, which is performed by the mixture of Salt and Snow; but the instances which we have remarked in either of these, about the Works of Art, we will in this place briefly run through, and a little consider the reasons of them, and the ways of being done.

The Crystalisation of Salts, is procured after this manner; Salts of every kind are through∣ly dissolved in common Water, and their Particles being dispersed through the whole Mass of the Liquor, wholly disappear; afterwards, if this Liquor be somewhat evaporated, that its pas∣sages and pores be something bound together, the little Bodies of the Salt close one with another, and mutually take hold of themselves, and joyn together, the outward cold binding them, and are flgured in the midst of the Water, into Crystals proper to their Nature. By this means Sal Nitre into Pyramids, Sea Salt into Cubes, Alum into eight cornered Figures, Sal Armoniack into six cornered, and other Salts are formed into other Figures of their own accord, after a constant manner.

If the Reason of this be sought after, we say that these kind of Salts are not simple Ele∣ments, but Bodies made up of abundance of Salt, with the other Elements mixed with them in small quantity; which even as other Natural Concretes, are allotted by the first Creator, peculiar manners of figurations, according to the surpassing strength of Salt and Spirit, and commixion with the rest. For in determining the Figures of Natural Bodies, Spi∣rit and Salt are as the Rule and Compass in describing Mathematical Figures: Spirit, as the moveable Foot of the Compass, or as a Pensil in the hand of an Artist, variously excurs and draws here and there diverse fashioned lineaments. But Salt (as the applyed Rule) mo∣derates the excursions of the other, and determinates them, and restrains them within the confines designed by Nature: when the Spirit is more powerful than the Salt, there happens a greater variety in the Figuration of things, as in Vegetables and Animals; because the Spi∣rit running forth more largely, forms very many Marks of its Pourtracture, and describes Bo∣dies not in right Lines, but intorted, and very much variegated. Where the Salt lords it over the Spirit, as in Mineral Concretes, and chiefly saline; Bodies grow together in less adorned Figures, and are accounted the first and more simple, and of that sort, as the Mathe∣matical descriptions in right Lines or Circles. For those Salts, are as it were second Elements; and from the implanting of them in Bodies, the proper and native Figures of things, very much depend; and therefore they themselves are primitively imbued by Nature with a certain Elemen∣tary Configuration, (so that according to Plato, God in truth exercises Geometry) and the first regular Figures are formed in the more simple, that things compounded of them, might arise fur∣nished with all manner of variety of figures.

The fixed Salts of Herbs being prepared by Calcination, because they are almost destitute of the Fellowship of Spirits, do scarce go at all into Crystals, nor are they coagulated, but by a long evaporation. Sea Salt containing a very little Spirit, with great Labour goes into Cubes. Next to this Alum, gifted with a little more Spirit, is more easily coagulated, and grows into more elaborate Figures, viz. eight cornered. Sal Nitre, swelling with spirit, is most easily coagulated, and is framed into a more perfect Figure, viz. Pyramidical; which consists of both spherical, and right Lines. But Volatile Salt, (such as is distilled out of Urine, Blood, and the Horns of living Creatures) being associated with a plentiful Spirit, is drawn into Concretes, very much varying, which imitate now the Horns of Staggs, now the Figures of Plants. Out of Mer∣cury, with Salt, or the Calx of Silver, by an Amalgama, in the midst of the waters a Silver Tree is formed, with Stock, Trunk and Branches, painted to the Life. It is a usual thing in the Winter∣time, for the Air, impregnated with saline Vapors, and fallen on the Glass Windows, to be conden∣sed into most fair Figures of Trees and Woods. So much for the Crystallisation of Salts: The other Species of Coagulation, is Vitrification, of which we will speak next.

Vitrification (which is also said to be the last mutation of Bodies, of which Nature is capable, and from which there is no going back) depends upon a fused Salt, and united to an Earthy Matter, even to its smallest Particle: for when either Matter is fused, by a most vehement fire, and divided in its smallest parts, the Bodies of either, being put into a Flux, are by so •…•…rict a marriage joyned together, that afterwards they are never to be pulled asunder.

There are many ways, and diverse provisions of Vitrification; to wit, of Sal Alcali, with Sand or a sandy matter fused together by a violent Fire, common Glass is made; which is transparent, both by reason of the abundance of Salt, and of the clearness of the Sand; for if you behold the little Sands of which Glass is made, with a Microscope, each of their little Globes appear, (as they were Glassie Gems) clear and shining. Wherefore Salt pro∣motes the fusion of that clear matter by fire, and then is admitted into its most strict embraces being fused.

Besides Glasses of diverse Colours and Consistences are made of Minium, the Calx of Tinn, Antimony, and some other Minerals, (when the sulphureous part doth first fly away) fused, now by themselves, now with Flint or Sandy matter. The reason of all which consists in this; that Salt and Earth, being most smally broken by a violent fusion of fire, and being divided as to their last Particles, catch hold of one another, and so are bound together, by the most strict bond of the mixture. The Coalition or Coupling of these, is never to be dissolved, because •…•…here is wanting within in the mixture, other Principles, which might unlock the frame of the subject: yea, Salt and Earth, being joyned by the mediating fire, do so intimately cohere, that they affect not divorces of themselves, nor suffer them from another.

The baking of Earthen Pots and Bricks, is of kin to Vitrification (or making of Glass) whereby moist and soft Clay is stifned into a very stony hardness: But in these, there is greater plenty of Earth, and less of Salt; wherefore they are less brittle, and not transparent. Con∣cerning these we say, that by the fire mediating, and as it were handying the smallest, broken, and divided Particles of Salt, are married to every Particle of the Earthy matter, and with them grow hard, into as it were a stony substance, and that not easily to be resolved. Also in these kind of matters, prepared by human Industry, we imitate indeed, with an excellent Artifice, the Concretions of Bones and Stones, made by Nature in divers Families of Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals.

As to what respects Congelation; Salts of a diverse kind, do often meet together, and grow stiff, into as it were a new substance: But this happens many ways. Of these, some Salts being mixed together, presently grow together into Crystals: for the Acid Spirits of Minerals being added to the Salts of Tartar, or those made of the incineration of Vegetables, turn into a white Coagulum, like Snow, and with a spumeous or frothy Heat: The reason of which is, that the Particles of the Salt, having gotten a Flux, take hold of other Salts in the Spirit, Alcalisate by melting; but by reason of the first Particles of either, being made unlike, there arises a strife; then from the same consociate in one, that white settlement is made.

Not unlike the same manner, these Acetous Spirits, to wit, of Vitriol, Nitre, Salt, and others being mixed with Metals, while they corrode them, are Crystallised together with their saline Particles: so the Spirits of Vitriol, Nitre, also Stygian Waters, (which are only Salts having gotten a Flux) are formed into most elegant Crystals, in the dissolving of Silver, Iron, Copper, and other things. For Salts, even as Sulphur, being loosned from the mixture, dis∣solve other mixtures, and greedily desire to be united with the Homogeneous Particles of the same subject.

There is another manner of Congelation, when Sàlts being mixed with some other matter, are elevated by sublimation out of their subjects, and then congeal the Particles of that new matter, which they carry away with them, and grow together with them (like a Meteor) on high: after this manner the Salts of Vitriol, Nitre, and Sea Salt, being sublimated with Mercury, are congealed as it were into a snowy substance: The same being sublimed with Antimony, go into a matter like Ice. After this manner the Natural Congelations, by which some Minerals, and chiefly Vitriols and Sulphurs, are begot in the Bowels of the Earth, may be imitated. For of Iron and Copper are prepared factitious Vitriols, which are very like the Natural: Of Antimony Sulphur is made, which answers to an hair our common Sulphur in taking fire, colour and smell: For example, Pour Oyl of Vitriol, to the height of a finger's breadth, upon pulverised Antimony; and let it be distilled in a Retort in a Sand Furnace, a yellow Sulphur will be sublimed in the Neck of the Retort, that cannot be discerned from the common Sulphur: which is a sign that the Concretion of Sulphur is made in the Earth, when some sulphureous Mineral is corroded by the Salt of Vitriol, whose sulphureous parts are congealed by the same Salt. This also is an Argument, that Oyl of Sulphur, which is separated, by inkindling under a Bell from the sulphureous matter, is nothing else but Vitriolic Salt, nor doth any thing differ from Oyl of Vitriol.

Artificial Congelation concludes Instances and Examples of Congelations: to wit, whereby common Water, or any Liquors being put over the fire, or in an Hot House, are suddenly con∣gealed into Ice: 'tis a common way, and vulgarly known. Salt being mixed with Snow and Ice, and agitated or shaken in a Vessel put into Water, suddenly the Water about the sides of the Vessel will be frozen. This will be done, if you make tryal of it, either with common Salt, or Sea-Salt, Nitre, or also with Vitriol, Alum, Sal Armoniac, or Mercury sublimate: For Salt of every kind, being put to Snow or Ice, loosens their mixtures, and sends away the Nitrous and Congelative Particles from the subjects; which presently being immersed in the neighbouring Water, congeal it, as if they were freshly blown from the North.

What is more admirable; let a Dish with Snow be placed over hot Coals, and in the middle of the Snow put a Glass full of Water: as the Snow is melted by degrees by the fire, the Water shall be frozen: for the Nitrous Particles, being driven away by the heat, by their departure, they are dashed against the neighbouring Water, and congeal it.

And thus much for FERMENTATION in general, and briefly of its various parts; it had been almost an infinite Labour, and from our purpose, to heap up Instances in so diffuse a thing. Those hitherto brought, however chosen out of Natural Philosophy, were fit to wait upon the following Medical Dissertation, that we may more happily know the Original, Pro∣gress, and State, as also the Remedies and Cure of Motions, and Mutations, in Causes, which variously happen to all kind of Bodies, and somewhat respecting the Tumults, which from thence are begot in the human Body, from the Blood being irritated, and the rest of the humors; to which exercise, God willing, we will now proceed.

FINIS.