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

TITLE VI. Experiments and Observations concerning the preservation and destruction of (Eggs, Ap∣ples, and other) Bodies by Cold.

* 1.1IT is a common Tradition, That if Eggs or Apples be thawed near the Fire, it spoils them; but if they be immersed in cold Water, they thaw slowly without dammage. To try the truth of this Tradition, I made the following Experiments.

An Egg which weighed 12 drachms and a grain, being wrapt in a wax'd Paper to defend it from the thawing Snow, was froze in a mix∣ture of Snow and Salt; and then wanting 4 grains of its former weight, it was put into a Basin of Water: It acquir'd such a Crust of Ice about it, as increased the weight to 15 drachms and 9 grains; and the Ice being taken off, and the Egg dryed, it weighed 12 drachms and 12 grains; being broke we found it almost thawed: When froze it swam in the Water, but when thawed it sunk.

We took two Eggs well froze, and placing them both at an equal distance from the Fire, the one was put into Water and the other laid on a Table: When that in the Water was crust∣ed over with Ice, we took it out, and breaking it, found that the Yolk and some part of the White were thawed; but the other Egg being cut asunder, the White was wholly frozen, and the Yolk hard as if it had been over-boyl'd: There likewise appear'd in it certain concentri∣cal

Circles of different Colours, and a very white Speck in the middle of it.

The same Experiment being tryed a second time, we were confirmed in our Perswasion, That frozen Eggs will thaw sooner in cold Wa∣ter, than in the open Air.

An Egg being suspended in Water, was co∣ver'd with a Crust of Ice equally thick on all sides.

Frozen Pippins being put into a Basin of Wa∣ter, were covered over with a Crust of Ice of a considerable thickness; where it was observa∣ble,

• 1. That that Part of the Pippin which was immersed, was covered with a much thicker Crust than that which was above it.
• 2. The extant Part seem'd harder than the immersed.
• 3. Those in the Water were thawed, but one that lay out of it was much harder and more froze.
• 4. Neither the frozen Eggs or Apples condensed and froze the Air, tho' they incrusta∣ted the Water.

Eggs being froze in Snow and Salt till they crack'd, we put one into Milk, two into a Glass of Beer, and two more into a large Glass of Sack, but produced no Ice. Eggs being put into Vinegar produced no Ice; but the Vinegar cor∣roded the Egg-shells.

A Cheese immersed in Water in a cold Coun∣try, was crusted over with Ice; but lumps of Iron, pieces of Glass, and Stones, being kept longer in Snow and Salt than was sufficient to freeze Eggs, produced no Ice in Water.

Water being poured into a Bottle which stood on the North-East side of our Elaborotory, Part of it was presently turned into Ice.

Ice and Juice of Pippins shaken together in a Vial produced a great deal of Dew, and so did Ice beaten into a Liquor with the White of an Egg. Pippins were much better when thaw'd in cold Water than hastily.

It hath been observed in the cold Northern Climates, That when they have come out of extreme Cold too hastily to the Fire, it hath raised Blisters; wherefore it is a custom amongst the more careful sort, to wash their Hands, or other frozen Parts, in cold Water or Snow be∣fore they approach the Fire. I am told by one, That Cheeses being froze in Muscovy, those thaw'd in Water were crusted over with Ice; but were much better than others thaw'd in a Stove. And Guilielmus Fabritius Hildanus, Cap. 10. de Gangraena & sphacelo, gives an Account of a Man who was successfully thaw'd and crusted over with Ice as our Apples and Eggs were.

Tho' a moderate degree of Cold preserves Bodies from putrifaction; yet Glaciation leaves them more subject to it upon a thaw, tho' whilst they are in that state they putrifie not.

To prove that the highest degree of Cold un∣der Glaciation hinders Bodies from Corruption, I shall alledge the following Instances, Bartholinus de usu nivis, says, p. 80. Regii Mutinenses ni∣vem hoc fine arcte compactam servant, in Cellis Nivariis, in quibus fervente aestate vidi carnes mactatorum Animalium a Putredine diu se conser∣vasse. And Capt. James in his Journal, p. 74. hath these words, By the ninth of May we were come to and got up our five Barrels of Beef and Pork, and had four Buts of Beer and one of Cider— It had lain under Water all the Winter; yet we

could not perceive that it was any thing the worse. P. 79. he farther says, That a Cable having lain under Ice all Winter, was not in June found a jot the worse.

And from Simlerus his Account of the Alps, it appears, That entire Bodies may be preserv∣ed by Snow without Glaciation. Refert (says Bartholinus, speaking of him, p. 79. de figurati∣vis) in Rhetis apud Rinwaldios; nivium è monte ruentium moles Sylvam & proceras Abietes dejecisse, accidisse etiam Helvetio Milite per Alpes iter fa∣ciente, ut 60 homines & plures eadem Nivis con∣globatione opprimerentur. Hoc igitur Nivium tu∣mulo sepulti ad Tempus aestatis delitescunt, quo so∣luto nonnihil Nive deciduâ Corpora Mortua invio∣lata patent; si ab amicis, vel transeuntibus quaeran∣tur. Vidimus ipsi triste hoc Spectaculum, &c.

To prove that inanimate Bodies whilst froze are not subject to Putrifaction, I shall bring se∣veral Instances. Nor indeed is it much wonder, since, whether Glaciation proceeds from intru∣ding Swarms of frigorifick Atoms, wedged in betwixt the Parts of a Body, or whether we sup∣pose it to arise from an avolition of those restless Particles which before kept the Body fluid or soft; we must suppose an unusual rest, and con∣sequently the concomitant cause of Corruption to be wanting.

But to proceed to Instances, I am told, That on the Coast of Sweeden and Denmark, the Cold will preserve Bodies a long time from putrifacti∣on. And Bartholinus relates a Story of several dead Bodies (p. 83. de usu Nivis) which being kill'd in a Battel in the Winter, were froze in several Postures, and continued so without be∣ing

corrupted as long as the Winter lasted. To which I shall add, that Capt. James tells us, p. 76. of a Man whom they found froze in the Ice six Weeks after he had been committed to Sea, and all the alteration the Frost had wrought on his Body, was, that his Flesh would move up and down upon his Bones like a Glove upon a Man's Hand. And Bartholinus de usu Nivis, Cap. 12. further tells us, That 'tis observed in Greenland, that the Frost preserves Bodies from Putrifaction 30 Years.

But tho' freezing preserves Bodies from Pu∣trifaction for the time, yet when they thaw they presently discover, that the Textures of them were impaired and vitiated all that while by the action of the Cold; for having froze an Ox-Eye, I observ'd, that the Chrystalline humour, which was so transparent before, being froze, lost its dia∣phaneity and became white. And it hath been ob∣served by others, That tho' Cheeses which were thaw'd in Water, were better than those that were otherwise freed from the Ice; yet they were all, in some measure, impaired by the Frost.

To these Instances I shall add, that Purchas, Lib. 3. Cap. 5. Sect. 2 p. 493. tells us, That in Nova Zembla, their strong Beer being froze, was wholly vitiated, and without strength or taste. And Capt. James tells us, That strong Alicant Wine, by being froze, had lost much of its Spirits. And it hath been observed in the Northern Country, less cold than Muscovy, That Beef having been froze, was almost insipid, and yielded Broth little better than Water. Besides which Instances I am inform'd, That

Bodies much harder than any yet mention'd may be work'd upon by Cold; not to mention, that it is observ'd, That Bones, and even Steel it self, are much more subject to break in frosty Weather than at other times. And it is to our present Purpose, further observable, That Capt. James relates, that in Charlton-Island the Wood must be thaw'd before the Carpenters are able to work it.

And I am further inform'd, That the Timber of the Houses in Moscow will not only crack in frosty Weather; but 'tis observ'd, That Brick-Houses in the West-Indies decay much sooner than here in England. And it hath been further observed, That Marbles themselves have not on∣ly flown in pieces in frosty Weather, but that Brass-Instruments, and even Iron-Hoops have been crack'd by extreme Cold; as Olaus Wormius, and the Dutch-men in their Voyage to Nova Zembla witness. But I am apt to believe, that the break∣ing of the Iron-Hoops rather depended on the operation of the Cold on the Liquor contain'd in those Barrels; than immediately on the Iron-Bars themselves, and that they were broke by the ex∣pansion of that Liquor.

An Appendix to the VI. Title.

In confirmation of what hath been deliver'd before, the Russian Emperor's Physitian told me, That if those that have their Noses or Cheeks froze, don't rub them with Snow before they go into the Stoves, they sometimes drop off; and he likewise told me, That moderately weak Wine by being froze, would lose both its co∣lour

and taste. He further told me, That Bo∣dies there, will keep all the frosty Weather un∣corrupt; and that Venison and Beef, and other Flesh, will be preserved a long time by Frost; but if it is not thawed leasurely before it comes to be roasted, it will be much impaired. And I am told, That a young Man having been froze all over, was recovered by being first rubb'd with Snow before any other means was used.

Particulars referrable to the VI Title.

Fishes taken from under the Ice, in Lakes and Ponds which were frozen over, and packed up, would be preserv'd a Month without being salt∣ed or dryed; and it was observ'd, That when they were taken out of the Water in the cold Air, they would be froze immediately. It was like∣wise observ'd by the same Person who told me these things, That tho' Flesh-meat froze was better when thaw'd leasurely in cold Water than hastily by the Fire, yet it acquir'd not a Crust of Ice about it.

In Lapland when any Part is froze, they toast Cheese made of Deer's Milk, and anoint the af∣fected Part with the Cows-body.

I had some Cheshire-Cheeses froze my self, one of which being thrown into Water gather'd a Crust of Ice about it.

There are white Bears in Green-Land which have so excellent a scent, that when the Car∣cass of a Whale was left at some distance from the shore; they would raise themselves, on their Legs, and with their two Paws, would fan themselves with the Air, and snuff it in at their

Snouts, and then throwing themselves into the Sea would Swim towards the dead Carcasses; the fat of some of them would yield a Hogshead of Oyl. In Moscow a Hogshead of Malaga-Sack being froze, a Spirituous Liquor distill'd out of it stronger than the Sack it self; but the Li∣quor left behind it, was a strengthless Phlegm. A Barrel of Beer being froze on the Coast of Green-Land, the Spirituous Part was contain'd in the middle.

The Spanish and French Wines, that are brought to Moscow betwixt Russia and Poland, are sometimes so frozen by the time they come there; that they are forced to break the Casks, and to transport it in Jars from one place to a∣nother, and when they have a mind to thaw it, they put it into another Hogshead, and that being placed in a hole made in Ice or Snow, it thaws leasurely there without being so much impaired as if thawed in a Stove or by the Fire.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of the Pre∣servation of Bodies by Cold.