The works of the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esq., epitomiz'd by Richard Boulton ... ; illustrated with copper plates.

CHAP. XX. Suspicions about some hidden Qualities of the Air.

* 1.1BEsides the four first Qualities of the Air, viz. Heat, Cold, Moisture and Driness, and those which Philosophers and Chymists have discover'd, as Gravity, Springiness, &c. I am apt to suspect, that there are other latent Qualities in it, due to the substantial Ingredi∣ents, which it is made up of: For the Air we live in, is not a simple Body, but a confus'd Ag∣gregate of Effluviums; which, being jumbl'd together, constitute a great Mass of Hetero∣geneous Matter, endew'd with different Qua∣lities.

For from what is elsewhere deliver'd, it ap∣pears, that there are various Effluvia, besides those that afforded ordinary Meteors, which arise from Bodies in subterraneal Parts; several of which have no Names, or at least none as∣sign'd them, and have several Powers and Qua∣lities which we know not of.

Besides, the Sun and Planets may have In∣fluences here below, distinct from their Heat and Light, which may mix with the Atmosphere we live in: And for as much as those celestial Globes that move about us, may be endew'd with substances, that we here know nothing of, the Effluviums which come from them, may affect us in a different manner from any Bodies, we here have in our Atmosphere. And tho the greatest Part of those Effluviums,* 1.2 which are active in our Atmosphere, arise from subter∣raneal Parts, and from Celestial Bodies; yet doubtless there are a great many that result from the mutual Action of the different Parts of it acting on those Bodies that are expos'd to it; for tho', notwithstanding any manifest Qualities we can discern in it, the Air seems to be unfit for a Menstruum; yet I doubt not, but it may have considerable Effects on Bodies dispos'd to be acted on by it; for not to urge, that sometimes the Quantity of a Menstruum compensates it's want of strength; we know, that there are several Liquors, which, tho insipid, and make no sensible Impressions, on the Organs of Taste, yet by their various Attritions and frequent Motions against Bodies, become fit for Solvents: So the Air, having it's Parts always acting on Copper expos'd to it, in tract of time, produces that Efflorescence colour'd like Verdigrease; a factitious Body usually produc'd from the same Substance corroded by Vinegar or the Juice of the Husks of Grapes. Besides, we see, that Mercury, which hath no sensible Taste, hath a faculty of Dissolving Gold and Silver, and all Strong Menstruums, which dis∣solve

Bodies with the utmost Vigour, are soon glutted, and can dissolve no more; so that, tho' the Air be a weak one, yet it hath this lasting Advantage, that when a small Quantity of it is glutted, it bears so great a Proportion to the Body it acts on, that a fresh Part of it is still to supply the Deficiency and Place of that which can act no longer.

* 1.3Besides, the Air abounds with so many saline and sulphureous Parts, that by rubbing upon Bodies that lie in their way, by frequent occur∣sions, they cause considerable Effects, so we see, according to the Proverb,

Gutta cavat Lapidem, non vi, sed, saepe cadendo.

Moreover, tho' the Parts of Air are very minute, yet, we know, that the Bodies which are expos'd to their Action, are only acted on by them upon their outward Superficies, which may consist of as many Parts, and as minute as those of the Air, which, by successively hit∣ting against them, carry them along with them: So Sugar or Sal Gem. being immers'd in Water, have their Parts dissolv'd and carri'd up into the Liquor, by the successive attritions and occursions of so insipid a Menstruum, and whose Parts are in so gentle a Motion.

* 1.4And I am apt to believe, that some Bodies have may such a disposition, to be worked upon by the Sun-Beams, as to be rais'd by them in such a form, as not to be distinguish'd from the Body they are rais'd in. But whether they may or not, certainly it is consonant to Experience, that the Atmosphere is fill'd, in several Places,

with Effluviums of different kinds, and of un∣common or unobserv'd Natures; which Con∣jecture may be favour'd, by observing, how subject Camphire is to waste; and that, when the Superficies of some solid Bodies have been taken off they emitted Steams copiously, by which in a Minute of an hour, they suffer'd a manifest decrement of weight.

* 1.5But to reassume the Discourse we have made this Digression from, I shall urge some Argu∣ments à posteriori, which favour what I propos'd concerning these latent Qualities in the Air.

And first, I shall urge the appearing growth of some Salts, in Bodies, which usually afforded them not at all, or not in such plenty; Vitrio∣late Efflorescences having been observ'd to be, after sometime, on the glistering parts of Marcha∣sites, which were kept in a dry Room: And it hath been observ'd, that a heavy ponderous Mi∣neral expos'd to the Air for some time, became so brittle, that it would crimble away, and plentifully abounded with Copperas; and some of the same being kept in a close and dry Place, was in some time covered over with an Efflore∣scence, which being mix'd with an Infusion of Galls, manifested it self to be a Vitriol; whose growth is the more strange in the Air, because it is not a meer Acid Salt; but abounds with combustible and sulphureous Parts, which I have often separated from common Vitriol without the addition of any combustible Mat∣ter; and sometimes without any addition at all. And it was not a little strange that our blackish Minerals, yielded vitriol Efflorescences so soon, since I kept shining Marchasites, from whence

they usually prepare Vitriol, without being changed near so much, as those I have men∣tion'd; and it is usual, sometimes, to let them lie expos'd to the Air two Years, before they yield their vitriolate Parts.

* 1.6To these Observations we may add, that Alum Ore, being robb'd of it's Salt, recovers it again by being expos'd to the Air; and Lime in old Walls hath in time regain'd a Nitrous Spi∣rit, which I have learn'd by dissolving it in common Water, and evaporating the filtrated Solution. Nay,* 1.7 calcin'd Vitriol expos'd to the Air, in a competent time regains fresh Parts of a vitriolate Salt.

* 1.8But tho I propose these Observations as favou∣rable to the Suspicions laid down; yet I am apt to suspect, that the Air concurs to the Production of them, rather as an Ingredient, than as an Agent; or that the Production of them depends on some seminal Principle, by which, when they are once ripen'd, the Moi∣sture of the Air helps them to disclose them∣selves in the Form of saline Concretes; as in Tartarous Matter saline Parts are generated, which cause that acid Taste in Tartar, of Renish Wine especially: Besides, it may be suspected, that the Salt found in Marchasites, &c. may be made of saline Particles swimming in the Air, and attracted by congenerous Particles, that re∣main in those Bodies, that are, as it were, the Wombs of such Minerals; or that these Aerial Salts, assisted by the Moisture of the Air, open the Textures of these Wombs, and by extricating the latent saline Parts, and adjoyn∣ing with them, compose those emergent Bodies;

but tho I suspect, that the Air is not wholly con∣cern'd in producing such Bodies, yet I believe it is in a great measure concern'd, as I have al∣ready intimated.

* 1.9But to proceed to other Instances of these Aerial latent Qualities, I think that the neces∣sity of the Air's Presence to preserve and conti∣nue Flame, is a sufficient Argument of some latent Spirit or Quality, whether vital Sub∣stance or nitrous Spirit diffus'd through the Air, on which likewise the Life of Animals depends, and without which, they, as well as Flame, presently, are extinguish'd and die.

To these I shall add, that Animal Substances enclos'd in Vacuo, yield not Insects, as when ex∣pos'd to the open Air; And it is related by a Noble Man of this Country, that an Oak being dug out of a Rock of Salt, was so hard, that Iron Tools could scarce work upon it; yet in three or four Days, being expos'd to the Air, it was rotten. And it hath been observ'd by several, that the Air hath such an Influence on Diaphoretick Antimony, that if it be long ex∣pos'd to it, it becomes Emetick.

From which Observations, and what I have before laid down concerning Quick-Lime, the Air seems to be a Substance capable of being assimilated by every Body,* 1.10 or that it consists of all sorts of seminal Corpuscles; so that any Body may find a Substance there, analogous to it, and fit to make up a part of the same Body.

But without any further notice of this odd Surmise, I shall subjoyn the following Phaenome∣na to favour my Suspicion. The first is, That

tho' the Juice of the Fruit of the Tree Junipa (which the Indians use to black their Faces, to make them more formidable to their Ene∣mies) gives such a Tincture, that it cannot be wash'd out with Soap; yet the Air abounds with Particles of such a Nature, that it disap∣pears in ten Days time; tho' I suspect that, it in a great measure depends on the continual Excretion of Sweat, through the Pores of the Skin.

* 1.11And I am inform'd, that Instruments made of Damasco Steel, tho' when first made, they excel not, or scarce equal those of commo•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yet when kept in the Air two 〈…〉〈…〉 they answer Expectation and a•…•… 〈…〉〈…〉 prov'd. And I have observ'd, that 〈…〉〈…〉 •…•…e Body, which would not be dissolv'd in a strong Menstruum, nor lose it's Colour by Fusion, would presently be turn'd black, if expos'd to the Air.

* 1.12It is observ'd in Blood concreted, that the black internal Parts being expos'd to the Con∣tact of the Air, become florid; and I have pre∣par'd a factitious Concrete, which if kept to the Fire, or secluded from the Air, would be of a red Colour; yet in a quarter of an hour, being expos'd to the Air, it would turn almost black. To which I shall add, that an inquisitive Per∣son prepar'd a Medicine of a vegetable and A∣nimal Substance, which at that time of the Year would be coagulated in a Viol like Oyl of Ani∣seeds; but if unstopp'd and expos'd to the Air, it would presently dissolve again, and recoagu∣late when stopp'd up again; The Consideration of which Experiments may tell us, that the

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Air by being communicated to the Blood by Re∣spiration, may have Effects not inconsiderable upon it, in carrying off it's fuliginous Recre∣ments,

To what hath hitherto been deliver'd in fa∣vour of our Suspicion, it may be added, That there are Anonymous Substances and Qualities in the Air; To countenance which, I shall take notice of those various and odd Diseases, incident both to Men and Beasts, which prove Mortal to a particular Species of Animals, and in particular Places, which depend on some unknown subterraneal Vapours: To which I shall subjoyn, that Fernelius mentions a Plague, which affected no Animals but Cats; Dionysius Halicarnassus, takes notice of one that only affected Maids; whereas, that which ra∣ged in the time of Gentilis, seiz'd none but Lusty Men: And Bolerus gives us an Account of another, which only affected the younger sort of People. Cardan speaks of a Plague at Brasil, which only affected the Switzers, and neither the Italians, French or Germans; and Johannes Ʋtenhovius gives an Account of a cru∣el Plague at Copenhagen, which only raged a∣mongst the Danes. As for the Cause of these Diseases, tho I think they are chiefly to be ascrib'd to subterraneal Effluviums; yet I deny not, but that the Particular Constitutions of Men are concern'd in them; nor do I think the Distempers already mention'd, alone de∣pend on such Steams as rise from the Earth, but the Sudor Anglicus in the 15th Century, the Scurvy and the Morbus Hungaricus, the

Lues Moraviae, Novus Morbus Luneburgensis, and some others in the last Century.

* 1.13And now, if from what hath been said, our Suspicions concerning Subterraneal and Syde∣real Steams, may seem not ill grounded; they may lead us to consider the following Particu∣lars.

• 1. Whether those Effects, which are some∣times thought to depend on the immediate Wrath of God, and the Intercourse of Angels, may not arise from these Steams, whose Quali∣ties are probably heteroclite, and unknown; since we see that there are several Steams di∣spers'd through the Atmosphere, which cause it to raise Mercury in a Baroscope, which could be no otherwise discover'd, but by the Effects they have on the Air, made evident by that In∣strument. And this Consideration hath some∣times made me suspect, that even the Sun-Beams may cause a manifest Gravity in the Atmosphere besides that which they do by virtue of their Heat; and it may be worth Enquiry, whether some Spots in the Sun, upon their Dissolution, may not be dispers'd through, and cause some considerable Effects in our Atmosphere, at least in it's Gravity.
• 2. It will not seem improbable, that some Bodies have peculiar Dispositions to be associa∣ted with those Exotick Principles, which arise from subterraneal Parts, or are transmitted from the Planets. Upon which Dispositions, or the contrary, what we call Sympathy and Anti∣pathy depend. By Virtue of such Dispositions, a Burning-Glass refracts the Sun-Beams, and the Sun-Beams impart a Lucidness to the Bolonian

• Stone. And that the Steams of subterraneal Bo∣dies will act on some Bodies, and not on others we have given sufficient Proof.
• 3. The third thing which may be suggested by what we have deliver'd; is, whether there may not be Receptacles or Attractives of Syde∣rial and other Exotick Effluviums, that wander up and down the Air, such as are Magnets; by which I mean, not such a Body that can attract foreign Effluvia; but such a one as can detain them, when by virtue of their various Motions they happen to come near such a Magnet. Just as Oyl of Tartar per Deliquium draws to it, aque∣ous Vapours, and embodies with them, when they chance in their Passage through the Air to come near it.

But a greater resemblance of the Magnet may be allow'd to some Bodies, than what is here mention'd; for such a Magnet may not only by a Juxta-Position or Contact detain the Effluviums, that would glide along it; but also arrest those subtle Parts of Matter by a kind of precipitating Quality; and so it may fetch in some Effluvia, which would otherwise pass by it: On which occasion, I remember, that in some Cases, I have been able to give some Bo∣dies Electrical Qualities, without exciting them by rubbing, &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Latent Qualities in the Air.
• * 1.2

  Qualities in the Air which arise from the Union and Conjuncti∣on of other Bodies with it.
• * 1.3

  The Air a∣bounds with saline and sulphureous Parts.
• * 1.4

  The Sun-Beams suf∣ficient to raise some Bodies.
• * 1.5

  Arguments to prove la∣tent Quali∣ties in the Air.
• * 1.6

  Alum Ore regains it's Salt when expos'd to the Air.
• * 1.7

  And so does Vitriol.
• * 1.8

  Suspicions about the Productions of Vitriol.
• * 1.9

  The necessity of Air to continue flame, an Argument of a latent Principle.
• * 1.10

  The Air seems to consist of all sorts of se∣minal Prin∣ciples.
• * 1.11

  Damasco S•…•… 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.12

  Remarka∣ble Changes of Colours.
• * 1.13

  Considera∣tions drawn from what hath been said.