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

TITLE XXI. Promiscuous Experiments and Observations concerning Cold.

* 1.11. SEveral Flowers being gathered in Decem∣ber and January, and hastily smel••ed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had no sensible effect on the Sensory, whic•• Phaenomenon I attributed to the Frost, hindring a sufficient Quantity of spirituous Sap from ri∣sing up into them; and not that it prevented those spirituous Parts from emitting Effluvia; since a vigorous fresh Primrose, had an Odour genuine and sweet.

2. Rose-water being froze, when it was whol∣ly Ice, afforded a genuine Scent, but something fainter, than when it was thawed again; but in making these Experiments it is requisite, that the Body smelt at, should not be held too long near the Nose, lest the warmth of one's Face should help to excite those Odoriferous Parts, and consequently frustrate the Tryal.

3. Stinking Water being exposed to the Cold and froze, was altogether inodorous.

4. It is reported by several, and attested by Olearius, That the Russians and Livonians, en∣able themselves to bear Cold extremely, by go∣ing out of their Store naked, immediately in∣to cold Water, and even Ice it self.

5. Having made use of a good burning-Glass to concentre the Rays of the Moon, I could nei∣ther perceive them cold or hot; tho' Sanctorius tells us, That they are hot, and that being con∣centred, and cast upon the Ball of a common Weather-glass, the Water was sensibly depres∣sed; but since my Glass, for as much as I can gather from the Narrative, was better than his, I must suspend my Assent, 'till further satisfied by Experience; for since he tells us, that seve∣ral of his Scholars stood by to watch the Event, the Effect might in a great measure depend on the Warmth of their Breath.

One Particular referrable to the XXI Title.

The Samojedes cloath themselves with Renes Skins, the Hair being outward; and I have found a Pair of Cangies warmer than furred Gloves. They are chiefly made use of for the Sledge, tho' one may walk in the Snow with them, it being so dry, that a Scarlet being co∣vered all over with it, it will brush off without wetting or endammaging it.

To the XI Title.

* 1.21. The Barrel of a Gun which was about a Foot long, and of a proportionable Diameter, had the Touch-hole riveted up, and a Screw fitted to the Nose of the Barrel, which being done, it was filled full of Water, and suspended in a Perpendicular Line: The Screw having been thrust down as forcibly as a Man could; in a frosty Night, the congealed Ice raised the Screw

considerably, so that Ice had made it's way out at the sides of the Barrel: But the Experiment being repeated, and the Intervals of the Screw filled up with melted Bees-wax, the expanded Ice not being able to raise it, the Nose of the Barrel was cracked obliquely; besides several o∣ther Flaws in other Places, which gave way to the Wind blown into the Barrel to try it.

An Appendix to the XVII Title.

* 1.3Bartholinus citeing an Experiment, wherein the Proportion betwixt Nitre and Water was 35 to 100; to try the success of it, we mixed a Pound of Salt-Petre with 3 Pounds of Water, and stirring it about constantly, as Cabaeus directs, in an Hour and half we perceived not the least Ice; whereas, according to him, it ought to have been wholly froze in less time; but we could not perceive the Vapours on the outside of the Glass in the least froze.

For a further Tryal, we mixed two Ounces of Salt-Petre with six of Water in a Glass-Vial, but by all the shaking we could not produce the least Ice; tho' whilst the Nitre was dissolving the Mixture was sensibly colder; and the same we have observ'd to happen upon a Dissolution of Common Salt; tho' the Degree of Cold was not sufficient for Congelation, which I was satis∣fyed in, by removing a Thermoscope out of the Mixture of Nitre and Water, into Water which was placed in Snow and Salt: For by that means the Liquor in the Weather-Glass subsided in the latter about 3 Inches; so that I am apt to think

the Learned Cabaeus mistook Chrystals of Nitre for Ice.

It is believed by most Water-men, That the Water begins to freeze at the bottom, because they observe large Pieces of Ice rise from the bottom of the Water: But the Truth of it is very reasonably question'd, since we not only see, that Water in Vessels, but in Wells, begins to freeze at the Top; and several Arguments in proof of the contrary may be found in our Section of the Primum frigidum. And as for those Pieces of Ice, which they observe to e∣merge, that Phaenomenon may easily be solved, without supposing the Water to begin to freez at the Bottom: For since the Water, which runs along the sides of the Banks being froze, seve∣ral Stones may stick to it; they by their Weight may cause it to subside, when it is partly loos∣ned by the Heat of the Sun, and the Water, by that Rarifaction becomes lighter: Yet, when the Water above is cooled, and the Water be∣low being warmer, hath melted the Ice in some measure, and loosned some of those Stones which were before froze to it; the Ice becoming speci∣fically lighter than the Water, must consequent∣ly emerge. On which occasion, I shall here ob∣serve, that Capt. James Hall takes notice, That they found a Stone of three hundred weight upon a Piece of Ice. In confirmation of our Solution of this Phaenomenon, I might al∣ledge the Experiments laid down in the Section of the Duration of Ice. And it were to be wish∣ed, that for a further Decision of this matter, that either Divers were sent down, or Instru∣ments

which would bring up Ice if any were there.

We took a seal'd Weather-Glass, and having inverted the Stem of it when furnished with Spirit of Wine, so that, that being placed in a Hole purposely made in a Box, the Ball of the Weather-Glass rested on the Box; about that we placed a Mixture of Snow and Salt, and found, that presently the Spirit of Wine was retracted. So that Liquors may be condensed, without the assistance of their Gravity, to de∣press and cause the Parts of the Body to sink to∣gether: But whether in this case, the Contra∣ction was assisted by the Tenacity of the Liquor or the Springiness of some Elastick Particles, will be inquired into in a more proper Place.

Frogs and Toads being taken up from under Ice, were brisk and lively; and it is observ'd, that in frosty Weather they generally lye in the Bottom of Pits, for their Security.

Paralipomena to the II and XX Titles, of the frost getting into hard and solid Bodies.

* 1.4In England it hath been observ'd, That Wood whose Diameter, was a Foot through hath been froze; and in Poland the Frost hath been so powerful, that it hath rendred the Timber so hard, that Hatchets would not cut it; and the Wood with which the Houses were cover'd would give Cracks as loud as Pistols. And I am told by one, that his Bow being froze, if he did not take a great deal of Care in thawing it, it would break. Marle and Chalk will be shat∣tered with the Frost, the Texture of those Bo∣dies

being by that means opened and rendered more fit to nourish Plants and Grass. And I am told by an Experienced Mason, that even free stone, of which Houses are built, will crack and flaw in frosty Weather. And it is observ∣ed in England, That stones dugg up in the be∣ginning of Summer and seasoned in the Air are not near so subject to flaw as those that are dug up and worked, whilst the Frost continues. And it is further observed, That both Earthen as well as Glass-Vessels are considerably im∣paired by the Effects of Frost upon them. To which instances I shall add the Testimony of Maistre Bernard Palissy who says, That tho' the stones of the Mountain Ardenne are harder than Marble; yet for fear of Frost they are drawn out of the Quarries in the Winter: And he further adds, That in the Winter the Rocks sometimes crack and fall down without being cut. And it hath been observed, That Iron-In∣struments brought out of the Cold into a warm Room have been covered over with a white Hoar; and it is not only confirmed by foreign Artists but several here, That Cold hath so great an Effect on Steel as to make several Piec∣es of Metal more brittle than in the Summer; so that they are then forced to work them ano∣ther way and to give them a different tem∣per.

* 1.5It being a Tradition, and also taught by A∣ristotle, That Hot Water is sooner froze than Cold; to determine the matter, I made the following Experiments.

Cold Water being exposed to freeze in one Porringer, boiled Water cooled in another, and Hot Water in a Third, at 8 a Clock; the Cold Water began to freeze at ¼ after ten; the Boild Water cooled, at ¾ past ten; and the Hot Water at ¼ an hour past Eleven. And the like success happened, when the Experiment was tryed a second time in Metalline Vessels: And the Experiment being again tryed with grea∣ter exactness, the Cold Water and the rest being exposed to freeze at ¼ after 6, the first beganto freeze ¼ after 7; the Water heated and cooled again ¾ after 7, and the Hot Water was not froze ½ an hour after Eight.

The like Experiment being tryed with Wa∣ter contained in Glass-Cylinders of an equal Bore sealed at one end, we found that there was very little difference in the time of their Congelation, when immersed in a Mixture of Snow Salt and Water; but once, when the end of one of the Cylinders was drawn smaller than Ordinary, the smallness of the Pipe occa∣sioned the Hot Water to begin to freeze soon∣er than the Cold Water.

Postcript.

Accidentally looking upon the Circulus Pisa∣nus of Berigardus, I found, That tho' that Au∣thor opposes Aristotle in other Points; yet he agrees with Him, That Hot Water cooled, will sooner freeze than ordinary Cold Water; but having tryed the Experiment, I observ'd, That both being exposed to freeze when by a Weather-Glass I found them of the same temper,

my Domestick who attended them, took notice al∣so that they both began to freeze at one time. And tho' Berigardus further wonders, That warm Salt-Water should be less subject to freeze for being Salt; yet from▪ Experiments already laid down, it abundantly appears, That tho' Salt Externally applyed promotes it, yet Inter∣nally being dissolv'd in Water, it prevents Congelation.

Particulars referrable to several Titles.

For a further Confirmation of the VI Title. I shall add that Purchas relates Lib. 4. Cap. 19. That the Samojeds, when they Bury their Dead, only cover them with a Pile of stones, and tho' the Dead Bodies may be seen through them; yet the Coldness of the Air preserves them from stinking. And the same Author tells us, That in a certain Island they preserve their Fish and Flesh, by hardening it in the Air, bet∣ter than if it were corned with Salt.

In Confirmation of what hath been delivered under the VII Title, I exposed several Vials filled with Water and unstopped, to be froze, and found that the Bottles were broke in pieces, by the Expansion of the frozen Water; so that the Phaenomenon could not be attributed to Nature's abhorrency of a Vacuum: For if either the Expanded Water could have made it's way by stretching the Glass, or leaving the Super∣ficial Ice congealed at first in the Neck, or a∣ny other way easier than to break the Vessel; the Vessel would probably be left intire, I say probably, because sometimes in such Expe∣riments

something may intervene which requires further Tryals and Observations to discover: Since I have in other Experiments made it appear, That the Water beginning to freeze at the Bottom rose a considerable height in the Stem without breaking the Bottle, and I have some∣times had a good deal of a Liquor froze in a stopped Vial without breaking it, as if the success were varyed by some uncommon Pro∣perties in the Glass, or some peculiar softness of the Ice.

In Confirmation of what is delivered in the VII Title, of the Expansion of freezing Water, I shall add, That the Capacity of a large Bottle being filled with Water, except the Neck, and that filled with Oyl, the expanding Water not only elevated the Cork; but raised it several Inches; it being supported by a Cylinder, part∣ly consisting of Oily, and partly of Watry Particles of Ice.

It is a General Tradition amongst Fisher-men, That when Ponds or Rivers are froze up, ex∣cept several holes are broke up for the Air to communicate with the Water, the Fishes will be suffocated; and Olaus Magnus, tells us, That Fishes are usually found suffocated, when a thaw comes, where Veins of living Water do not enter.

But I am not satisfyed, whether, if the Tra∣dition be true, they may not be killed either by some Subterraneal Steams or their own Excre∣mentitious Effluvia prevented, by the Ice, from making their way out of the Water; and it may be questioned further, whether this Phaenome∣non

may not be caused, by excessive Cold as well as for want of Air.

Wherefore to satisfie my self, whether the Vulgar Opinion be true or not, I enclosed some Gudgeons in a large Glass with a long Neck, and having froze the Water in the Neck by applying a Mixture of Snow and Salt, I found, That the Fishes lived a considerable time. And the like I observed, when the same Fishes were contained in an Earthen Vessel with a little Water frozen over: Where the External Air was wholly separated, and prevented from communicating with the Water under the Ice; yet one thing observable was, That there was a large Bubble of Air, under the Ice, which I suppose came from the Fish: For I have ob∣served, not only these sort of Fish but Lam∣prels take in Air, and then being immersed un∣der Water emit Bubbles, both at their Mouths and Gills. Gudgeons frozen up in Ice in a Ba∣sin recovered when it was thawed; but some that continued 3 Days in Ice revived not. Frogs froze in Water till they were all enclosed with Ice, and till one of them was stiff with it, recovered when it was thawed, and Swam about; tho' before some of them lay with their Bellys upwards and void of Motion.

As for the weight of Bodies frozen, Capt. James tells us, That Wood, that had lain all Winter under Ice would sink when cast into the Water. And he likewise tells us, That the Ice of Wine is so durable, that a Butt of Wine which was froze in the Winter; conti∣nued unthawed in May.

Purchas tells us, of two pieces of Ice which they found lay fast on the Ground, the one of

which was 20 fathom under Water and 12 a∣bove, and the other 18 fathom below the Sur∣face of the Water and 10 above it.

It is observed by Purchas and several others, That the Snow lying upon the Ground in Rus∣sia as well as in England makes it fruitful.

* 1.6It would be worth while to try, what Ef∣fects Cold hath upon occult Qualities as well as manifest ones; and likewise upon Fermentati∣on; since it is observ'd to retardate the work∣ing of Ale extremely; and it is observed, That Must may be preserved sweet a long time in a deep Well, or if let down into the Bottom of a River; and will when taken up, be less apt to ferment than other parcels of Must kept in the warmer Air.

It hath been observed in the Northern Coun∣trys, That the most Spirituous Parts of Li∣quors, have been separated and Collected to∣gether by a Congelation of the Phlegm; where∣fore to try what Cold would Effect in our Cli∣mates, I hung out a Bottle of Beer in a sharp Night; and found, That most Part of it being froze, the Liquor which was not froze, was very strong and Spirituous; the frozen Part being Spiritless. But Rectifyed Spirit of Wine tinged with Cochineel being mixed with Wa∣ter, Congelation separated not their Parts, nor did it separate the red and the Watery Parts of Claret. I made several Tryals upon Milk and Blood, as also on Vinegar, in which my Attempts proved insatisfactory: But a Solution of Salt be∣ing made in 24 Parts of Water, so that it was as strong as the Sea-Water about us, I caused it to be exposed to freeze in a flat Vessel, which was the larger, That the Superficies of the Water

might be considerable; and when it was cove∣red with a Cake of Ice, that being taken off, it acquired another; which, when dissolved, yiel∣ded Water, not near so Salt as that which re∣mained unfroze; and being Hydrostatically weig••ed was considerably lighter.

Having exposed several Vegetable and Animal Substances to be froze, I found, That by that means I could discover, their succulent juices, and squeez them out in the form of Ice, which being done; by cutting them transversely and length ways, I could discover also the Figure and Size, of the Pores in which those Juices lodged. Amongst the Animal substances ex∣posed to freeze, were the Eyes, and the Brains of Animals; which by being froze would be fitter to be dissected; the latter, when cut in two seeming like an Apple froze, the Ventricles and i•…•… whole substance being filled with Icy Particles.

N••ither an Eye nor a Liver, lean flesh or fish▪ nor a living Frog; would be crusted over with Ice, as Eggs and Apples are, when put into Water; after they had been froze. As for the Reason why flesh is usually much impaired by being froze, I suppose it to proceed hence, viz. That the Alimental Juice being expended by freezing hath not it's own texture altered only, but even the solid Vessels which contain it, are thereby bruised and crushed; for from several Experiments it is evident, That Eggs will be burst by the freezing of the Alimental Juice, and that the Textures of Stones and Vegetables will be destroyed by the Powerful Congelation of their respective Juices, which will be less

wondered at, if we consider that Aqueous Parts by their Expansion were able to burst the Barrel of a Gun: Had I had leasure and conveniency I would have tryed what Effects Cold hath upon Animals froze to Death; but having exposed a Rabbet to the Cold all Night, I found that only one Leg was swelled and a little stiff. But a strangled Rabbet being ex∣posed to be froze, Ice was produced in se∣veral Parts.

It is affirmed by several Modern Writers, That if Water be impregnated with the Salts of Vegetables; upon Congelation, they will re∣present the shape of the Plant they belong to: But notwithstanding I have several times tryed the Experiment, I found it either false or ve∣ry contingent; since it did not once answer Expectation. But having exposed a Lixivium of Pot-ashes to freeze; I found, That the Chrystals upon the Surface of the Water were Prismatical, and that under those lay a great many thin Parallel Plates of Ice; but not ranged in such an order as to represent the shape of Trees: And tho' Bartholinus tells us, That if a Decoction of Cabbage be froze it will re∣present a Cabbage; yet I could never find, That the Experiment succeded, except that once there appeared the faint resemblance of a single Leaf. But I have found, That fair Water froze would represent the shapes of Vegetables oftner than their Decoctions. And tho' Berigardus also affirms the same; yet I suspect, That he only wirt, without trying the Experiments himself.

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And yet, I deny not, but that prepossessed Spectators may fancy they see such things when they do not, for tho' Sea-Salt and Allum consist of Parts of determinate Figures; yet when dissolved in Water they exhibit Figures too various and extravagant, not to be refer∣red to Chance. And on this occasion, to what hath been said I shall add, That by Distilling and rectifying Oyl of Turpentine from Sea-Salt in a Glass-head, as the degrees of Heat were varyed, so would the Figures of Trees be re∣presented different on the inside the Glass. And I have several times produced the shapes of Trees from Bodies belonging to the Ani∣mal Kingdom. And I have found, That tho' Figures curious enough would be represented by Spirits, Solutions, Decoctions, Vinegar, Milk and even common Water; yet it was in vain to hope for the same success, and that the like Figures should always be afforded by the same Liquor; since very small Circumstances would vary them considerably: And in trying of such Experiments as these it may not be amiss to advertise, That it will be convenient, that the Liquor should be as shallow as it possi∣bly may, That it may be more speedily froze.

A frozen Egg being Put into Oyl of Tur∣pentine instead of common Water it gathered not about it any crusty Film.

It is observed by Mr. Wood, That tho' New-England be 10 or 11 degrees remoter from the Pole; yet the Winters are much more pierc∣ing and Cold than ours. And to what hath

been delivered in the XVIII Title of the infri∣gidating Power of Wind, I shall add, That sometimes it hath been so much more Cold than at others, That being blown through the frigorifick Mixture, it would cause not only the Spirit of Wine to subside; but being blown upon the Ball of another Weather-Glass; not only the Liquor; but even Mercury it self would be forced to ascend, tho' the Vicinity of the frigorifick Mixture could not cause that Effect. And I have often tryed, That when the Temperature of the Air was such, that tho' when first blown upon the Ball of a nice Ther∣moscope; it would not cause the Liquor to as∣cend; yet at another season the Tinged Li∣quor ascended, as if the Air by being more than ordinarily compressed in the Room, had some sensible Effect in compressing and con∣tracting the Air included in the Thermo∣scope.

To try whether Liquors, by losing their fluidity and becoming consistent would acquire a greater degree of Coldness, I caused the Ball of a Weather-Glass to be immersed in Sallet-Oyl, and a Solution of Minium in Vinegar, or of Quick-lime in Water, either of which will coagulate the Oyl; but I did not find, That the Mixture tho' consistent was Colder than the fluid Ingredients.

To try whether Water was capable of Com∣pression, we took a Glass-Ball with a long Stem, and filled it with Water within two Inches of the Top; then we Hermetically sealed it up, and freezing it from the Bottom upwards in a fri∣gorifick

Mixtre, when the included Air was compressed as much as we thought the Glass would bear, we nipt off the Apex; and found, That thereupon the Air flew out and the Wa∣ter rose ¼ of an Inch above it's former Surface: So that it seemed to be compressed ⅜ of the length of the Aqueous Cylinder; but whether this Phaenomenon might be occasion'd, by the Spring of some latent Air in the Pores of the Water, or whether it might be occasioned by some Springiness in the Ice, or Whether the Glass being before distended and now reduced to it's former Dimensions occasioned this Phae∣nomenon, I will not undertake to determine without further Tryals. And,

To what hath been observed in this Experi∣ment, I shall add, That if the Apex were broke off before the Air was much compressed, it would cause no considerable Noise: And fur∣ther, when the Experiment was a second time repeated with one of the same Glasses, and the same Liquor; it would rise ⅛ and ¼ in the Stem, higher than before, upon breaking of the Apex.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Whether Frost hinder odoriferous Effluvia from exert∣ing their Power.
• * 1.2

  The force of Expansion by Cold.
• * 1.3

  Of the Ef∣fects of Ni∣tre in free∣zing.
• * 1.4

  Of the Ef∣fects of Frost on so∣lid Bodies.
• * 1.5

  Hot Water does not freeze soon∣er than Cold.
• * 1.6

  Of the se∣paration of Liquors by Cold.