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

TITLE I. Whether Human Blood may be so ordered by Fermentation or Putrefaction, as that in Distillation a Spirit either Ʋrinous or Vinous may ascend before the Phlegm.

COnsidering that Fevers have been looked upon to proceed from a Fermentation in the Blood; and likewise, that Human Urine which hath a great Cognation with Human Blood, will not whilst fresh afford a Spirit, till the Phlegm be first drawn off; this Subject of this Title may not appear Groundless. But I am not much encouraged to expect a Vinous or ardent Spirit from Human Blood, nor am I sure there is any such thing as Fermentation in Human Blood. And on this occasion I shall add, that having once kept Blood Hermetical∣ly sealed up in a Glass for twelve Months, when it came to be opened, it smelled so offensively, that we could not make any tryal upon it; and another time having digested, in a pretty large Vial Hermetically sealed some Sheeps Blood; when it had been a good while in the digestive Furnace, it suddenly broke with a considerable noise, and blew off the long neck of the Vial. And here, to what hath been laid down, I shall add, That some Ounces of Serum of Blood being added to a fourth Part of Raisins of the Sun stoned, and kept in a Glass, in a warm Room for several days; the event of this tryal was, that with∣in

in a few Days the Raisins began to emerge, and whilst they floated, yielded a conside∣rable quantity of springy and permanent Air; from whence it appeared, that there had been some Degree of Fermentation. But when this Serum came to be distilled, tho' it did not stink as if it had been putrified, yet the Spi∣rit which first ascended, tasted not like a-Viscous Spirit, nor like a meer Phlegm. Whe∣ther the Fermentation observed in this Li∣quor, depended on the whole Serum, or on∣ly on the Aqueous Parts distinct from it, I shall leave to Experience to determine.

To try whether Digestion or Putrefaction would so open the Texture of Blood, as to make it part with its Spirit more easily, and before the Phlegm, I kept a quantity of Se∣rum for that purpose, four times as long as was sufficient to make Urine part with its Spirit before its Phlegm, but the Liquor which came over by a gentle heat, had but little strength either in Smell or Taste; nor would it readily turn Syrup of Violets Green; yet like a Volatile Alkaly, it would soon turn a Solution of Sublimate in fair Water, into a White, Opacous, and almost Milky Liquor.