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

CHAP. IX. Of the Natural History of Human Blood.

PART. 1. Containing a List of Titles for the History of Human Blood.

* 1.1BEfore I proceed to enumerate the Titles laid down for a Natural History of Human Blood, it may be requisite to advertise, that the first Set which I call primary, and to which those in the Appendix are secondary ones, con∣sist of such as offer themselves to the View at the First sight, which need not be either nicely Methodical, or accommodated to any Hypo∣thesis. The second Class consists of such as are to be ranged into a better order, being of a greater extent and more comprehensive, so that one Topick may be branched into several sub∣ordinate ones, or secondary Titles. And from the Materials drawn together under this Head, may be deduced a Set of Titles, reduced into an inchoate Natural History of the Subject they have Relation to.

And since the Subject to be treated of is ve∣ry difficult or comprehensive, as the Genera∣tion of Living Creatures, Magnetism, Fermen∣tation, Gravity, &c. it may be useful, if not necessary, to interpose betwixt the Titles of the last, and those of the first Order, a Set of Titles that may be called of the middle Or∣der

or Classis; in which the Nature of the Subject is more narrowly look'd into.

Titles of the first Order for the Natural History of the Blood of Healthy Men.

• * 1.2I. Of the Colours of Human Blood, Arteri∣al and Venal.
• II. Of the Taste of Human Blood.
• III. Of the Odours of Human Blood.
• IV. Of the Heat of freshly emitted Human Blood; which is observed to be much violenter after it hath run a while, than when it first began. The Blood that came out of the Veins of a young Gentlewoman, falling upon the Ball of a Ther∣moscope, caused the Liquor to ascend above an Inch nearer the smaller and upper Ball of the Glass. And in another Tryal it was raised almost as high as to the Ball of an ordinary Thermoscope; but being held in the Blood of a healthful and lusty Man, the Heat raised the tinged Liquor a good way into the upper Ball; which was high∣er than the Heat of the Air in the Dog-days u∣sually does, and the Blood of a healthful Man continued its Heat so lo long, that it raised the tinged Liquor three or four Fingers breadth when it was coagulated.
• V. Of the inflamability, and some other Qua∣lities of Human Blood. A piece of Human Blood being dryed 'till it was fit to be powdered, and then held in the flame of a Candle, it took Fire, and afforded a flame not much unlike that which caused it, burning with a Crackling noise, and here and there melting; and if it was laid upon live Coals, and now and then blown, it

• would yield a very yellow Flame, and during its Deflagration, would seem to fry upon the Coals, and in a great measure to melt into a Black Substance almost like Pitch. And some of the Powder of Blood being cast into the flame of a Candle, they took Fire in their pas∣sage, and flashed not without some noise, as if they had been Rosin.
• VI. Of the Aerial Parts naturally mixed with Human Blood; and also found in its di∣stinct Parts.
• VII. Of the Specifick Gravity of Human Blood entire. It may be different in several Persons, according to their Sex, Age, Consti∣tution, &c. as also in the same Person, accord∣ing to the time of the Year, the Day, or, as it is taken out at a less or greater distance from a Meal. But to make an Estimate of its Speci∣fick Gravity, we took the Blood of a sound Man, and put it into an oblong Glass; and when it was setled, we marked with a Diamond, that part of the Glass to which the Liquor wrought; and then weighing the Glass, and the Blood contained in a very Tender Ballance; we poured out the Blood, and having washed the Vessel, we filled it up to the same Mark, and then weighed it in the same Ballance; and then weighing the Glass, and deducting that from the weight of the Glass, and the two Liquors, the Water weighed nine Ounces, six Drams, and fifty Grains. And the Blood equal to it in Bulk, weighed ten Ounces two Drams, and four Grains, so that the Blood being three Drams and fourteen Grains heavier, it was about ••/2•• part heavier than Water.

• VIII. Of the Specifick Gravity of the Fibrous and Red part; and of the serous part of the Blood.
• IX. Of the Consistence of entire Human Blood.
• X. Of the Disposition of Human Blood to Concretion; and the time wherein it was per∣formed.
• XI. Of the Liquors and Salts that coagulate Human Blood. Clotted Blood being kept some Hours in Spirit of Wine, which is a Men∣struum fit to dissolve some Bodies, it was taken out as hard as if it had been dryed by the Fire.
• XII. Of the Liquors and Salts that obstruct or dissolve its Coagulation.
• XIII. Of the Liquors, &c. that preserve Hu∣man Blood.
• XIV. Of the Mixture that Human Blood may receive from Aliments.
• XV. Of the spontaneous or Natural Analysis of Human Blood into a serous and a fibrous Part.
• XVI. Of the respective Quantities of the se∣rous and fibrous part of Human Blood.
• XVII. Of the differences betwixt the serous, and the Red part of Human Blood.
• XVIII. Of the Artificial or Chymical Analy∣sis of Human Blood; and first of its Spirit.
• ...

  XIX. Of the Volatil Salt of Human Blood, and of its Figures. This Salt is so fusible, that one part of it may be brought to boil, whilst the other flies way; and this Observation will hold in most Volatil Salts. And tho' this Salt, when sublimed, looks white and Clean, and a very homogeneous substance, yet I am apt to

• ...

  think, that it is made up of Parts of Matter of sizes and shapes different enough, for having weighed some Grains of re-sublimed Salt of Hu∣man Blood, that seemed pure, its smell was very strong and diffusive, so that one would have expected it to fly away in a little time, but we observed that it was very little diminished in seven or eight days time; yet what remain∣ed had lost its Odour, but retained a saline Taste; and being put upon a Solution of Sub∣limate in common Water, turned it White, so that its diffusive and penetrant Humour seem∣ed to depend on some more volatil Parts of the Blood. But it may be a Question to be solv'd by further Experience, whether the fixedness of this Salt may not proceed from the Coalition of an Acid Salt in the Air.

  A Dram of Volatile Salt of Human Blood sublimed in a Lamp-furnace, was put into com∣mon Water, and when a Thermoscope was brought to its right temper, being immersed in this mixture, the tinged Spirit of Wine mani∣festly subsided about 2/10 parts of an Inch; tho' a considerable part of the Salt lay undissolved in the bottom of the Water. And when the Liquor would descend no further, we added to the Solution strong Spirit of Nitre, 'till it would no longer make a manifest Conflict with the Salt; and then we observed, that whilst the Conflict lasted, the Spirit of Wine rose above three Inches and a half higher than the station it stood at before. The figure of this Salt may be either considered in reference to single Grains, or an Aggregate of them, when they are raised and sublimed to the top of the Glass;

• ...

  the latter of which may be best observed, when they fasten themselves to the inside of the Glass that is set to receive them; for in the begining of the Operation, one may ob∣serve the little saline Concretions to lye in rows, sometimes straight enough, and sometimes more or less crooked, with different Coherings and Interferings, so that they sometimes represent either Trees, or their Branches or Harts-horn, &c. which are casual figurations depending on se∣veral accidental causes and circumstances, as the degree of fire made use of to sublime the Salt, the quantity of the ascending matter in reference to the Capacity of the Vessel that receives it. And the like diversity of Configu∣rations I have observed amongst the Salts of other Volatile Salts, as well as those of Hu∣man Blood. And as for the single grains of the Salt of Human Blood, I discovered a good many of them to be finely shaped; but whe∣ther they were accidental or not, experience must determine. But these figures were only observed in the sublimate of the first Distilla∣tion, for those obtained by rectifying the Salt and distilling it again, were of a conside∣rable bigness and solidity tho' differently sha∣ped, some of them being Cubes, others Paral∣lelopipeds, others Octoedrons, being almost like grains of Allom; but most of them prettily shaped; being comprehended by Planes, smooth, finely figured, and aptly terminating in solid Angles, as if the concretions had been cut and polished.

  Another way I took to discover the figures of the Salts of the Blood, was to rectifie the

• ...

  Spirit, so that it may be fully satiated with the Salt, whilst the Liquor continues warm; for when it is refrigerated, a number of saline Concretions of different sizes, several of which shoot into very smooth Crystalline Plates pret∣tily figured, having their broad and parallel Surfaces of an Hexagonal or an Octogonal figure, regular enough.

  A drachm of dry Volatile Salt of Blood, being dissolved in some distilled Water, we dropped into it good Spirit of Nitre, till the two Liquors would no longer manifestly act one upon another, and when the conflict ceas∣ed, we slowly evaporated the superfiuous moisture, which steamed almost all away be∣fore the saline part would coagulate. At length it became dry, and the middlemost part ap∣peared in the form of thin Crystals, not un∣like those of Salt Petre; but the rest which was by much the greatest part of the Concretion, seemed to be a confused mass without any di∣stinct figure; and this mass weighed but twelve grains above a drachm; so that Volatile Salt of Blood may be satiated with a fifth part of its weight of the saline Parts of Spirit of Nitre. This Salt exposed to the open Air in a win∣dow was very apt to run per Deliquium, and a little of it being put upon a live Coal, it melt∣ed and seemed to boil; and towards the end made a noise, and afforded a flame yellower than that of common Nitre.

• XX. Of the Phlegm of distilled Human Blood.
• ...

  XXI. Of the two Oyls of Human Blood. By distillation in a Retort, it affords an Empy∣reumatical

• ...

  and a very fetid Oyl, whose colour is almost black; which seems to be occasioned by the increase and opacous redness of the Liquor, since some of it being spread thin upon Glass, and held against the light, appeared yellow, or of a reddish colour, as they lay thicker or thiner upon it, but when it was well dryed before committed to Distillation, it yielded a greater quantity of Oyl, so that once out of a Pound of not over-dryed Blood, we obtained an ounce and a half of Oyl, and from another we had a much greater quantity of Oyl. And having once prepared Blood by a convenient Digestion, and rectified very carefully the di∣stilled Liquor that came over with the flame of a Lamp, I obtained amongst other things two Oyls of very different colours; the one being of a pale Amber or yellow colour, and the other of a deep red; and tho' these Oyls were both of them afforded by the same Blood, and were clear and pure enough; yet they would swim in distinct Masses one over another, and if mixed by shaking would again separate like Oyl and Water. Whether the difference in specifick Gravity betwixt these two Oyls, kept them from mixing permanently, as well as it kept them distinct before they were mix∣ed; or whether the seeming incongruity pro∣ceeded from the Texture of these Liquors I shall not now stay to dispute.

  To shew that the Oyl of Human Blood con∣tains several saline Particles, capable of being separated from it, we put a parcel of unrecti∣fied Oyl, to a convenient quantity of distilled Water, and having mixed them sufficiently by

• ...

  agitation, so that the Water might rob the Oyl of its separate saline Particles, the event was that after the Liquors were well setled, the Water was found to be impregnated with saline Particles, that it obtained by dissilution from the Oyl; so that it acquired a moderatly brisk taste, and would readily turn Syrup of Violets green; and precipitate a white Pow∣der out of a solution of Sublimate; but whe∣ther the like will succeed with other Empyreu∣matical Oyls or not, drawn from Bodies be∣longing to the Animal Kingdom, I shall leave o∣thers to determine.

  Having put some unrectified Oyl of Human Blood into a concave piece of Glass, and then dropped as much Oyl of Vitriol into it, as might amount to a third or fourth part of the fetid Oyl, we stirred them together with a slender piece of solid Glass, upon which the Mixture emitted store of whitish fumes or Smoak; and acquired a considerable degree of Heat, so that tho' it amounted to not much more than a spoonful, yet I was not able to hold my finger under that Part of the Glass, that contained the Liquor.

  Having taken some Empyreumatical Oyl of Human Blood unrectified, tho' it was dark, and gross, and muddy, yet it would easily in the cold dissolve in rectified Urinous Spirits, to which it gave a reddish colour deep e∣nough.

• XXII. Of the fixed Salt of Human Blood. To obtain but one ounce of it, there is requisite to employ a considerable quantity of Blood; and duly prepared by a very obstinate fire; for the

• Caput Mortuum being kept three or four hours in the fire, it will yield no fixed Salt at all: But having by an obstinate Calcination obtain∣ed three or four drachms of this Salt, I found that it was of the Nature of common or Sea-salt, tho' a little different; for it tasted like it, and a strong solution did not readily turn Syrup of Violets green, nor precipitate a Brick colour, or brownish yellow, no more than a white Powder, out of a solution of Sublimate; nor did the Spirit of Salt dissolve it as an Alkaly. And having put a little Oyl of Vitriol upon our dryed Salt, it immediatly, as it several times did upon common Salt, corroded it with great violence, and with much foam and Smoak. We also dropped a little of it dissolved in Wa∣ter, upon a solution of Silver made in Aqua Fortis, upon which a white Powder was imme∣diatly precipitated: And having put some Leaf-Gold upon Aqua Fortis, which would not work upon it, whilst it was swimming there without being so much as discoloured, I put a little of our powdered Salt into it, which being thereby turned into a kind of Li∣quor, did without the assistance of Heat, pre∣sently dissolve it.
• XXIII. Of the Terra Damnata of Human Blood. From twenty four ounces of dryed Blood, we got after two days Calcination, but two drachms and nine grains of Earth; which probably was not pure Earth, since it had a red colour like that of Colchotar of Vi∣triol.
• XXIV. Of the Proportion of the differing Sub∣stances Chymically obtain'd from Human Blood.

• they are scarce to be determin'd, not only be∣cause of the sometimes great disparity, as to proportion, that may be met with of the fibrous part to the Serum, in the Blood of se∣veral Persons; but of the same, according to different Circumstances, and also, because it is hard to distil the pulverised part of the Blood; since no one hath so much as taken notice of the Necessity of shifting the Retort, to gain as much Volatile Substance as may be obtained; and leave as little as may be in the Caput Mortuum. For having distilled a quan∣tity of dryed Blood, the same Heat which made the lower part pass in the form of Exhalations into the Receiver, made the matter to swell, so that it lifted up a considerable quantity of Black Matter to the upper part of the Vessel, which a common Distiller would have called a Caput Mortuum, tho' to a discerning Eye, it appear∣ed to be of the same Nature with the Matter first put in, tho' blackened by the ascending Fumes, therefore taking it out, and mixing it with the remaining Substance, that was more of the Nature of Caput Mortuum; it was com∣mitted again to Distillation in another Retort, whereby we obtained more Oyl, &c. And perceiving that even this Caput Mortuum had upon the top of it, a pretty deal of Matter, which was not sufficiently despirited, I caused it to be distilled again in a fresh Retort, in which it afforded a not contemptible quantity of Volatile Matter. And having thus in three Retorts distilled twenty four Ounces of dryed Human Blood, we obtained of Volatile Sub∣stances,

• viz. Spirit, together with a little Phlegm, White Salt, and very high colour'd Oyl thirteen Ounces and one Dram, besides se∣veral parcels of thick Oyl that stuck to the Re∣torts and the Receiver, which we judged to be seven Drams more; so that the whole Quanti∣ty of the Volatile Part amounted to fourteen Ounces, of which the Oyl was six Ounces six Drams, and the clear Liquor six Ounces, three Drams and a half, besides the Volatile Salt, which, when the Spirit was drained from it, appeared white but wet; so that it was not possible to determine exactly, neither how much Liquor it yet retained, nor how much it self weighed; but it will be no hard matter to guess near the Truth to any Man that knows, that having carefully sublimed the Salt, there remained in the Glass two Drams and five Grains of Phleg∣matick Liquor; which was not wholly void of Salt; and of Volatil Salt in a dry form, we ob∣tained one Ounce and two Drams and a half; the Caput Mortuum amounting to eight Ounces and a half, and somewhat more, which being calcined for two or three Days together, afforded not White, but brounish-red Ashes, whence we obtained seven Drams ¼ of White and fixed, but not a truly lixiviate Salt; and two Drams and nine Grains of Earth. But indeed considering the great proportion of each of these Substances lost in distillations, it will, upon that account, be a hard matter to determine the true pro∣portion of the Principles of Human Blood.

• XXV. Of the Fermentation or Putrefaction of Human Blood and its Phaenomena.
• XXVI. Of the Mechanical Uses of Human Blood, as in Husbandry, &c.
• XXVII. Of the Chymical Uses of Human Blood.
• XXVIII. Of the Medicinal Uses of Human Blood.
• XXIX. Of the difference betwixt Human Blood, as its found in sound Persons, different∣ly constituted, and circumstantiated, as Men, Women (when Monstrous and when not) Chil∣dren, Moors, Negroes, &c.
• XXX. Of the affinity and difference betwixt the Blood of Men, and that of several other Animals, as Quadrupeds, Birds, Fishes, and Sanguineous Insects.
• XXXI. Paralipomena relating to the History of Human Blood.
• XXXII. Micellaneous Observations, Ex∣periments and Enquiries about Human Blood.

Were this Treatise applyed to any o∣ther than extravasated Blood, to these we might add the following Titles.

• I. Of the process of Sanguification, or the series of changes that the Aliment succes∣sively undergoes, from its first being taken in at the mouth, till it be turned into Blood.
• II. Of the motions of the mass of Blood, and particularly its Circulation.
• III. Of the Chyle, Lympha, and other Li∣quors, that are supposed to enter and mingle with the Blood.

• IV. Whether Phlegm, Gall and Melancholly, be constituent Parts of the Blood.
• V. Whether some other Substances may not, with as much reason be admitted into the composition of the Blood.

Titles of the first Classis, for the natural History of Human Ʋrine.

• 1* 1.3I. Of the colours of Human Urine.
• II. Of the taste of Human Urine.
• III. Of the Odours of Human Urine fresh and putrified.
• IV. Of the Heat and Cold of Human Urine.
• V. Of the specifick Gravity of Human Urine.
• VI. Of the Consistence of Human Urine, as to Density, Viscosity, &c.
• VII. Of the Aerial Parts contained in Hu∣man Urine.
• VIII. Whether Human Urine is a fit Li∣quor for Fermentation properly so called.
• IX. Of the differences betwixt fresh and stale Human Urine.
• X. Of the Fermentation or Putrefaction of it, and the time it requires.
• XI. Of its Spontaneous separation of Parts.
• XII. Of its Vulgar Analysis by Distilla∣tion.
• XIII. Of some other ways of distilling Hu∣man Urine.
• XIV. Of the proportion of the Principles, or Ingredients of Human Blood.

• XV. Of the Spirits of Human Urine.
• XVI. Of the Phlegm of Human Urine.
• XVII. Of the Volatile Salt of Human Urine.
• XVIII. Of the fixt Salt of Human Urine.
• XIX. Of the compounded Salts of Human Urine.
• XX. Of the shining Substance obtainable from Human Urine.
• XXI. Of the Salt that is Predominant.
• XXII. Of the Empyreumatical Oyls of Hu∣man Urine.
• XXIII. Of the Mellago, or Rob of Human Urine, and its uses.
• XXIV. Of the Terra Damnata.
• XXX. Of some accidental differences of Human Urine, as it's emitted in the Morning, or at certain distances from Meat, or after the use of certain Aliments, or Medicaments, as Asparagus, Turpentine, &c. Or at diffe∣rent seasons of the year, as Winter, Sum∣mer, &c.
• XXVI. Of the affinity of Human Urine with divers other Bodies, especially Vegetables and Minerals.
• XXVII. Of the Hostility of Human Urine with Acids, &c.
• XXVIII. Of the affinity and difference be∣twixt Human Blood, Urine, Gall, Milk, &c. and divers Liquors, or Juices belonging to the Animal Kingdom; particularly of the com∣parison betwixt Human Urine and that of Beasts.
• XXIX. Of the Mechanical uses of Human Urine.

• XXX. Of the Chymical uses of Human Urine, and its Parts, especially as a Menstru∣um.
• XXXI. Of the Medicinal uses of Human Urine External and Internal.
• XXXII. Paralipomena relating to the Histo∣ry of Human Urine.
• XXXIII. Promiscuous Observations, Ex∣periments and Enquiries about Human Urine.

The second Part of the Natural History of Hu∣man Blood, containing Miscellaneous Ex∣periments and Observations about Human Ʋrine. The third Part containing Promiscuous Experi∣ments and Observations, about the Serum of Human Blood.

HAving separately weighed the Serum, and the consistent part of the Blood, the latter weighed four ounces, six drachms and a half, and the former three ounces, six drachms. And having taken the same measures with the Blood drawn from another Person, the fibrous part weighed four ounces, five drachms, and the Serum four ounces. But from these Experiments it does not follow, that the fibrous part is alone heavier than the Serum; since a great deal of the latter is dispersed through the Pores of the former,

which appears, since four ounces, five drachms, and thirty four grains of the fibrous part of Blood being distilled in a digestive Furnace, the dryed Blood remaining weighed but one ounce, three drachms, and thirty four grains; whereas the serous Liquor distilled from it amounted to three ounces, fifty three grains; and the like tryal being again repeated with another parcel of Blood, the dryed mass a∣mounted to one ounce, six drachms, and fifty grains; and the Phlegmatick Liquor distilled from it, to seven ounces.

Red Sealing-Wax suspended at a Hair, weighed in the Air one drachm, fifty six grains; in Water thirty five; in Serum thirty three. And having made use of an Instrument pur∣posely made, when common Water weighed 253 grains, an equal bulk of Serum weighed 302; and the Serum of the Blood of another Person being weighed, it wanted but two grains of the weight of the former.

Serum which was tinged with Blood being strained through Cap-Paper, the Liquor which passed through it was of a yellow colour.

Spirit of Salt being dropped into Serum, coagulated some Parts, which subsided in the form of Cheese-Curd; and Oyl of Vitriol had the same effect, but more powerfully: But Spi∣rit of Sal-Armoniack rather made it fluid. Oyl of Tartar per Deliquium produced a white Curd, by uniting with some Parts of the Serum, but not so powerfully as the other had done. Spirit of Wine rectified produced a copious white Curd, but so soft that it swam upon the top of the Liquor.

Upon an infusion of a solution of Sublimate, it yielded a white Curd; but some of the Se∣rum of Human Blood being poured upon filings of Iron, the Liquor dissolved some of the Steel; which appeared, since upon an addition of some of an infusion of Galls, the Liquor which before was muddy and thick, laid down a whitish Sediment; and a convenient quantity of the infusion being added, the two Liquors united into a consistent Body, wherein the Eye discovered no distinct Liquor at all.

But having put some of our Liquor upon filings of Copper, which, when wrought up∣on by Bodies that have in them any thing of Urinous Salt, usually give a conspicuous Tincture, we accordingly found, that the Me∣tal was in a few hours discoloured by the Menstruum; and afterwards it began gradually to grow more blue, and in a day was of a deep Ceruleous colour: And to shew that this colour proceeded from some Volatile Salt la∣tent in the Serum, we mixed some of it with Syrup of Violets, and found that it appeared of a fine green. And one thing observable in the Serum impregnated with Copper was, that I kept it several weeks in my Win∣dow without perceiving that it in the least sunk.

About two ounces of Serum was left in a South Window three weeks in the Month of July; but did not appear in the least putrified; but had let down a considerable Sediment, and in three or four days after it stunk offen∣sively; and that at the same time it was void of Acidity appeared, since it would not take

off the blue colour of a Tincture of Lignum Nephriticum. This fetid Serum being distilled in a low Cucurbite, the Liquor that first came over was so little Spirituous or Saline, that it would not in an hours time turn Syrup of Vi∣olets green; yet that it was not without a Volatile Alkaly appeared, since being dropped into a good solution of Sublimate, it caused it to lay down a white precipitate.

Serum of Human Blood filtred through Cap-Paper, being distilled in a small Retort placed in a Sand Furnace; we obtained only a few drops of a darkish red Oyl, some of which subsided to the bottom of the other Liquor, but the greater part swam upon it; and after a good deal of insipid Phlegm had been drawn off, there came over a good proportion of Spirituous Liquor, which smelled almost like the Spirit of Blood, and contained a pretty deal of Volatile Alkaly; so that it would rea∣dily turn Syrup of Violets green, and cause a white precipitate, and ferment with Spirit of Salt. And this Spirit being rectified in a small Head and Body, a good quantity of a thick Substance like Honey was left in the bot∣tom of the Glass, which was for the most part of a dark red, and seemed to contain more Oyl than appeared upon the first Distillation. The Liquor that came over the Helm was purer, but not stronger than the first; but having put it into a Glass-Egg with a slender Neck, and given the Vessel a convenient Scitu∣ation in hot Sand, we obtained a Volatile Alkaly, that sublimed into the Neck in the form of a white Salt; from whence it seems

to follow, that the serous part of the Blood affords the same Elementary Principles or Si∣milar Substances, both as to number and kind, as the fibrous and consistent part, tho' not as to quantity; that of the Oyl and dry Salt be∣ing less in a determinate proportion of Serum, than of Blood.

Tho' it be necessary, to loosen the Spirit of Urine from the more drossy Parts of it, that before Distillation it should putrefie for about six weeks, yet if fresh Urine be poured upon Quick-Lime a great part of the Spirit will pre∣sently be united, and ascend in Distillation: Encouraged by which Observation, I mixed Se∣rum with Quick-Lime, upon which there ensu∣ed a transient Heat; and this mixed Body be∣ing committed to Distillation, first it afforded a Phlegm in a gentle fire; and then in a stronger, a moderate quantity of Liquor, that was thought to smell manifestly of the Lime, but had not a brisk taste; and this was accompa∣nyed with a greater quantity of fetid Oyl than was expected. The other Liquor being slowly rectified, the Spirit which first came over had a strong and piercing smell, but less rank than common Spirit of Human Blood: Its taste was somewhat fiery, and being drop∣ped upon Spirit of Violets it presently turned it green; in a solution of sublimate with Water, and another of Quick-silver in Aqua Fortis, it presently made two white precipitates. And being mingled with some good Spirit of Sea-Salt, there appeared a thick and whitish Smoak, but neither any visible conflict nor bubbles; yet the colour of the Spirit of Salt

seemed much heightned by this operation. And here I shall observe, that having set the lately mentioned Mixture of the Spirit of Se∣rum and of Salt to evaporate, the Salt afforded by it was not like that of Sal-Armoniack, but the colour produced in the Mixture whilst fluid, was so heightned in the Concrete, that it appeared of a Blood-red colour; but of such a confused shape, that it could not be reduced to any kind of Salt; by all which Phaenome∣na this Spirit of the serous part of the Blood, seems to be very near of kin to that of the con∣creted mass.

To try whether the fixed Salt of Pot-ashes would have the same effect on Serum of Human Blood, to four Parts of Liquor we put one of Salt, and having distilled them slowly in a Glass-Head and Body, we obtained a good store of a Liquor, but not near so strong as that drawn off from Quick-Lime; and having rectified this Spirit by a gentle Heat, the two first spoonfuls which rose were not Spirituous▪ but Phlegmatick; nor would it turn Syrup of Violets green, tho' it afforded a light Sublimate when put upon a solution of Sublimate.

Having put one part of Salt of Pot-ashes into three of Human Urine, and slowly distil∣led them in a Head and Body; first a Spiri∣tuous Liquor ascended; which being set aside, we continued the Distillation till the remains appeared dry: in which operation we ob∣tained not one drop of oyl; besides which it was observable that this Spirit of Urine was not near so fetid, as that made

the common way; and that that Liquor which came over at the latter end of the Distillation, was so unlike that which the Serum of the Blood affords us, that it was not only con∣siderably strong, and manifestly stronger than that which first ascended, but had a penetrate∣ing and fiery taste which left a lasting impres∣sion upon the Tongue, and made a notable Ebullition with Spirit of Salt, which the Spirit of Urine drawn from Quick-Lime did not; and whereas in the last Liquor I never observed any Volatile Salt to ascend in a dry form, in the operation made by the help of Salt of Pot-ashes, there ascended without Recti∣fication, several grains of Volatile Salt, one of which was Crystalline and very large, so that it appeared to be like a Plate curiously figured; but some lesser corns of Salt hiding one part of it, I could not clearly discern whether it were Hexagonal or Octa∣gonal. And this Experiment being repeated a second time, the Liquor ascending was more Phlegmatick, tho' we both times applyed Salt of Pot-ashes taken out of the same Vessel, and the Urine of the same Person; but this Liquor being rectified per se, afforded more of a brisk saline Spirit, from which we obtained a pretty quantity of Volatile Salt in a dry form, and of a very white colour.

Having put betwixt two and three ounces of Serum of Human Blood into a Bolt-head, capable of holding four times as much, and having sealed the Glass Hermetically, and set it aside, we observed the following Par∣ticulars.

First, No alteration appeared in the Liquor for twelve Months, nor were any Worms or Magots bred in it; and tho' it be generally believed, that Insects naturally breed in the fluid Parts of Human Bodies, yet I have ob∣served, that if Blood be so exactly closed up, that Flies cannot blow upon it, and that too before it is putrified, or blowed upon, it will not breed them.

But, Secondly, In this Liquor there appear∣ed not the least Mother which usually accom∣panies Putrefaction; but the tip of the sealed Glass being broken off, a pretty deal of Air rushed out with a considarable noise; and that this Air had been considerably compressed, whilst it was penned up appeared, since upon its eruption a multitude of bubbles remained on the Surface of the Liquor, as upon the opening of Botled Drink, or other Liquors, when the Vessels they are contained in come to be unstopped. And to these Observations, I shall add, that some Sheeps Blood being shut up in Vacuo, upon a gentle Putrefaction, the Elastick and Aerial Particles that were produ∣ced blew it up, with a surprizing noise. But, Thirdly,

The smell of our Serum was strong but not Cadavarous; rather resembling that of the Tincture of Sulphur made with Salt of Tartar and Spirit of Wine, or some such Sulphureous preparation.

Fourthly, This Serum being committed to Distillation in a small Glass Head and Body in a digestive Furnace, the Liquor which first came over, first smelled strong enough, yet

tasted not at all brisk or spirituous, like that distilled from putrefied Urine, nor did it pre∣sently give a manifest greenness to Syrup of Violets; but in a solution of Sublimate, it had the same effect with Spirit of Urine or a Vola∣tile Salt. And having mixed some of it with Syrup of Violets, spread all night upon white Paper, and another parcel of it with filings of Copper, the former in the Morning was turn∣ed green; and the latter was so far dissolved, as to leave a large blue stain upon the Pa∣per.

One part of Salt of Tartar being dissolved in eight Parts of Serum of Human Blood, and stirred over a gentle Heat, it was not turned red by it as Milk is. That Blood will be co∣agulated by Heat in a short time into a kind of Gelly, is a common Observation. But having put Spirit of Human Blood into Serum, and kept it a convenient time over a fire, the Volatile Alkaly seemed to make the coa∣gulation more slow. And this effect was more considerable, when we tryed another parcel of Serum with Salt of Tartar instead of Spirit of Blood.

The fourth Part, containing the History of the Spirit of Blood, begun.

BEfore I proceed to the Titles belonging to this Part of the History, it will be requi∣site to advertise,

First, that the Spirit made use of in the fol∣lowing Tryals and Observations, was drawn from Human Blood without any Sand, Clay, or other Additament; and that the fir•••• Di∣stillations were performed in Retorts placed in Sand, care being taken that the Vessels should not be too much filled, because Blood if not well dryed is apt to swell, and pass into the neck of the Retort, if not into the Re∣ceiver.

Secondly, It is to be observed, that the Blood we made use of, was such as was drawn from People, who frequently bleeded by way of prevention.

Thirdly, There is so great a Cognation be∣twixt the Spirit, and Volatile Salt of Human Blood, that the latter seems to be the former only in a dry form.

A List of Secondary Titles, concerning the Spirit of Human Blood.

• * 1.4I. Whether Human Blood may be so or∣dered by Fermentation or Putrefaction, as that in Distillation, a Spirit either Urinous or Vinous may ascend before the Phlegm.
• II. Whether Spirit of Human Blood be really any thing, but the Volatile Salt and Phlegm well commixed.
• III. Of the Species of Saline Bodies, to which Spirit of Human Blood is to be refer∣red.
• IV. Whether Spirit of Human Blood be differ∣ing from Spirit of Urine, and other Spirits that are called Volatile Alkalies.

• V. Of the quantity of Spirit contained in Human Blood, whether accompanyed with Se∣rum or dryed.
• VI. Of the specifick Gravity of Spirit of Human Blood.
• VII. Of the Odour, Taste, Colour, tran∣sparency and consistency of the Spirit of Hu∣man Blood.
• VIII. Of the dissolutive power of the Spirit of Human Blood.
• IX. Of the Tinctures that may be drawn by Spirit of Human Blood.
• X. Of the coagulative power of the Spirit of Human Blood.
• XI. Of the precipitating power of Spirit of Human Blood.
• XII. Of the Affinity betwixt Spirit of Hu∣man Blood, and some Chymical Oyls and Urinous Spirits.
• XIII. Of the relation betwixt Spirit of Hu∣man Blood and the Air.
• XIV. Of the Hostility of Human Blood with Acids, whether in the form of Liquors or Fumes.
• XV. Of the Medicinal Virtues of Spirit of Human Blood externally applyed.
• XVI. Of the Medicinal Virtues of Spirit of Human Blood internally given in Pleurisies, Head-achs, Coughs, Fevers, Scurvies, Cachex∣ies, Dropsies, Fits of the Mother.
• XVII. Paralipomena, and promiscuous Ex∣periments and Observations concerning the Spirit of Human Blood.

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.

TITLE II. Whether Spirit of Human Blood be really a∣ny thing but the Volatile Salt and Phlegm well commixed.

FOR several Reasons I am inclined to believe, that the Spirit of Human Blood is totally composed of a Volatile Salt, and a Phlegm which is not so pure and Elementary, but that some Particles of Oyl, and others of Salt, may be mixed with it; and whether by frequent Re∣ctifications this Phlegm may be rendered Homo∣geneous I much question, since I am not sure, but that in frequent Distillations, some Par∣ticles of the Fire mny be from time to time associated with the Liquor; and even in the first Distillation, the Fire uniting with the Li∣quor, may form one different from the In∣gredients or Principles of the Body; and I have found that Woods afford by distillation, a Li∣quor which is not an Oyl, nor an Acid, or an Alkaly, and yet no true Phlegm, but an Adia∣phorous Liquor. And on this occasion to shew, That the Composition of a Body may as well be made known by investigating the way of generating or producing it, as by that of Ana∣lysing or resolving it; I shall add, that having dissolved as much Volatile Salt of Human Blood in distilled Water, as the Liquor would take up, and then having distilled it in a convenient∣ly shaped Vessel, with a regulated degree of Heat, the Distillation afforded us such a Li∣quor

as was desired, since by Smell and Taste it appeared to be a good brisk Spirit of Hu∣man Blood. And this Experiment was a∣gain repeated with the like success.

TITLE III. Of the Species of Saline Bodies, to which the Spirit of Human Blood is to be refer∣red.

THO' it be generally allowed that Saline Spirits are of two sorts, yet it may not be amiss to add, That some of them are Acid in Taste, as Spirit of Nitre, Vitriol, &c. O∣thers are rather like common or lixiviate Salts; and their different Effects and Operations are much less alike than their Taste, for upon their mixture, there ensues a manifest conflict, and usually one will precipitate the Bodies, the other will dissolve. And amongst Salts call∣ed Alkalies, some are fixed in considerable Degrees of Fire, and others, who take Acid and Alkalies for the true Principles of mixed Bodies, call the one Fixed, and the other Vo∣latile Alkalies. And tho' I, who question this Doctrine, often call the Salts made by Com∣bustion, simply Alkalies, or lixiviate Salts, and those that ascend, sometimes Ʋrinous, and sometimes Volatile Salts, yet since the Names of Fixed Alkalies and Volatile ones are in re∣quest now, I shall now make use of them in that Sense.

These Things being premised, I shall pro∣ceed to observe, that notwithstanding that some Physicians and Chymists ascribe Digestion to an Acid Ferment in the Stomach, yet the Spi∣rit of Human Blood is referrable to that Classis, which many call Volatile Alkalies, since it ge∣nerally performs what Volatile Alkalies are said to do; for it will ferment with Acids, turn Syrup of Violets Green, and precipitate a Solution of Sublimate in common Water.

Were I sure that the Ferment of the Sto∣mach were Acid, I should be apt to believe, that the Blood retains something of Acidity in it; but yet that would not be an Argu∣ment why I should not refer the Spirit of Human Blood to the Class of Alkalies, be∣cause so few Acid Particles would either be destroyed by the Alkalizate ones, that are so a∣bundant in the Spirit, or at least they would be so very much predominant as to give us Reason on their account to denominate, the Mixture Alkalious. As if some drops of Spi∣rit of Vinegar were mixed with stale Urine, they would be either depriv'd of their Acidi∣ty by some Particles of a contrary Nature, or be so overpowered by the Fugitive Salts they abound with, that the Mixture might well be referred to the Classis of Volatile U∣rinous Salts.

TITLE IV. Whether the Spirit of Human Blood be dif∣fering from Spirit of Ʋrine, and other Salts called Volatile Alkalies.

UPON this Occasion I shall offer, that not to intimate that a Body may have many similar Qualities, in respect of another Body, and yet distinct Operations on a third Substance: I say, not to intimate that, there may be a considerable difference betwixt Vo∣latile Salts or Spirits, as they are commonly prepared, and when prepared as they may, by reiterated Rectifications, and other ways of Depuration by a dextrous Chymist, to bring them to a greater degree of Purity and Simpli∣city; a greater degree I say, because it may be difficult to bring them to an absolute Purity, since unheeded commixtures may be made, upon the Account of some Corpuscles of Fire with the Body they work upon.

And that there is a manifest difference be∣twixt Spirit of Human Blood and other Alkalies, as Spirit of Urine and Harts-horn, is evident to several People who, tho' they abhor the Odour of Spirit of Blood, yet they will with Pleasure hold their Noses a great while over Spirit of Urine and Sal-Ar∣moniack. And tho' from a due proportion of Spirit of Urine or Sal-Armoniack with Spirit of Salt, I have got a Salt which shoots into the shape of that of Urine or Sal-Armoniack

yet I have seldom, if ever, obtained a Salt of the like shape from a Mixture of the Spirit of Humane Blood with that of Common Salt, for tho upon an Evaporation of the superfluous Moisture, the Salts would coagulate together, yet the Concretion seemed confused, and not of the Regular shapes of those Salts, resulting from a Mixture of the Spirit of Sea-Salt with Urinous Spirits. And Helmont tells us, that the Spirit of Human Blood will cure Epilepsies, which Spirit of Urine will not do.

TITLE V. Of the Quantity of Spirit contained in Hu∣man Blood, whether accompanied with its Serum, or dryed.

THIS is not easie to determine, since some Mens Blood is much more Phleg∣matick than others, or more Serous, which may of it self be more Spirituous, according to the Complexion, Age, Sex, &c. of the Per∣son that Bleeds.

Twelve Ounces of Healthy Human Blood, afforded us seven Ounces and a half of Phlegm, and consequently about Four Ounces and a half of dry stuff. And havi••g distilled in a Retort, in a Sand Furnace, seven Ounces of well dryed Blood, we obtained about an eighth part of Spirit, which, tho' not recti∣fied, left in the Receiver and Viol I kept it in, a good deal of Volatile Salt undissolved,

which a Phlegmatick Liquor would not have done. And if Spirit of Blood be but a Salt and Phlegm united, We may well sup∣pose, that Human Blood yields a far great∣er Proportion of Spirit than this, since from the seven Ounces of dryed Blood, we obtained about five Drachms of Volatile Salt, which had it been united with a due quantity of Phlegm, it would probably have afforded us near two Ounces more of a Liquor deserving the Name of Spirit.

TITLE VI. Of the Consistence and Specifick Gravity of Human Blood.

A Compact Body, which in the Air weigh∣ed fifty eight Grains, and in Water weighed six Grains and ¾, in rectifi'd Spirit of Human Blood weighed but five Grains and ¼; and what was considerable, was, That a piece of Amber would not subside to the Bottom, but kept floating upon the Top, and if plung∣ed into it, would emerge again.

As for the Degree of the Fluidity of the Blood, or its immunity from Tenaciousness, tho' divers other Alkalizated Liquors, as Oyl of Tartar per deliquium, fixed Nitre resolved per deliquium, a Solution of Pot-Ashes, are sensibly unctuous, and but languidly fluid, yet I ob∣served that Spirit of Human Blood did not appear more Unctuous than common Water.

And whereas it is commonly found, That as Liquors are more spirituous, so the Bubles raised by Agitation, soonest disappear; I have observed that the Spirit of Blood was almost as soon clear of them as Spirit of Wine; and when some Drops of it were let fall, they manifestly appeared less than Drops of Wa∣ter.

To discover the subtlety of the Parts of Human Blood, we so prepared common Wa∣ter, by Infusions made in it without Heat, that by putting one single Drop of our Re∣ctified Spirit of Human Blood into ten Oun∣ces and four Scruples of the prepared Water, and lightly shaking the Viol, there appeared throughout the Liquor a manifest Colour, whereof no Degree was discernible before; so that it dispersed it self through a thousand times as much Water, and produced a mani∣fest Change in the Colour of it: And tho' this Computation is made upon the common suppo∣sition that a Drop of Water weighs a Grain, yet tho' it weighs more a little, the Difference is recompensed, since having dropped ten Drops of common Water into a common Bal∣lance well adjusted, and having likewise drop∣ped ten Drops of this Spirit, we found that the last were not only less in bulk, but lighter, since they weighed not above four Grains, so that the Proportion to which it extended it self, may be said to be as one, to betwixt 4000 and 5000; and this subtlety of the Parts of the Spi∣rit of Human Blood will appear to be yet much greater, if we consider, that some Part even of this Drop must needs be Phlegm.

TITLE VII. Of the Odour, Taste, Colour, and Transpa∣rency of the Spirit of Human Blood.

THat the Spirit of Human Blood is in re∣spect of some Liquors potentially Cold, since it refrigerates them, and with reference to others potentially Hot, since being mixed with them it renders them Hot, may appear from the following instance; for having put the lower end of an Hermetically sealed Weather-Glass into a slender Cylindrical Glass, we poured as much moderatly strong Spirit of Blood into it as covered the Ball, and then dropped on that Liquor some good Spirit of Salt, upon which ensued a conflict accompa∣nyed with a Noise, Bubbles, and Heat, which made the Spirit of Wine presently ascend a∣bove two Inches and a half; which Experi∣ment seems to be the more remarkable, be∣cause several other Volatile Alkalies being mix∣ed with Acids, produce a notable degree of coldness; and whereas I had several times found by Tryal, that the Spirt of Verdigrease would, with Volatile Salt of Sal-Armoniack or Urine, produce a real coldness. This Spi∣rit of Verdigrease being mixed in the small Cylindrical Glass, with Spirit of Blood mode∣rately strong, not only produced a hissing Noise and store of Bubbles, but an actual Heat, upon which the Liquor in the Thermoscope

ascended above an Inch and a half, tho' both the Liquors employed amounted not to above two spoonfuls.

TITLE VIII. Of the dissolutive power of Spirit of Hu∣man Blood.

THAT this Spirit is not only a good Me∣dicine for several Diseases, but is also a good Menstruum, will appear from the fol∣lowing instances. And first, having poured Spirit of Human Blood upon Crude Copper, in about a quarter of an hour the Liquor was tinged blueish, which colour grew higher and higher, till in some hours it was deeply Cerule∣ous. And to this I shall add, that having drop∣ped a drop or two of Spirit of Blood upon a piece of bright Copper, within about half a minute of an hour, the Verge of the moisten∣ed part of the Surface appeared blueish, and in a little time after, the rest of the wetted Part acquired a fine Azure.

Having poured Spirit of Blood upon filings of Zinke or Spiltre, it presently began to work manifestly in the cold; and when assisted by a little Heat, it dissolved the Zinke briskly, and not without producing store of bubbles, being also a little discoloured by the operation of this Experiment.

Having put a piece of clotted Blood, which had been exposed to the Air, into a slender

Vial of clear Glass, and then poured on a lit∣tle rectified Spirit of Human Blood, and shook the Glass a little, the blackness of the superfi∣cial part of the Blood presently disappeared, and became a florid Scarlet, and the Liquor was tinged with a fairer red, and from a suc∣cession of bubbles passing from time to time out of the cold into it, seemed to work some∣what like a Menstruum, but in a little time af∣ter the Blood was degenerated from its for∣mer colour to a little more dark one. But another clot of Blood, one side of which was red and the other black, being put into the Vial, and Spirit of Blood poured upon it, the red side had its colour improved, but the o∣ther continued black and dirty. And I once pre∣served twelve drachms of Blood in two of the Spirit of Blood, and found that twelve months after it remained fair and florid, and little less than totally fluid; and when the Vessel was opened there appeared little sign of Putrefacti∣on, but only a small clot was fastened to the bottom, the rest passing readily through a strain∣er; so that the Spirit seemed to have a great embalming Virtue, since it was able to preserve six times its weight of a Body so apt to putre∣fie: But to what hath been observed, I shall add, that having comitted the Mixture to Di∣stillation, the first Liquor was a kind of Phlegm, which was succeeded by a Spirituous Liquor and Volatile Salt in a dry form.

Having poured some of our Spirit upon filings of Iron, where they were not in the least Rusty, and kept them together a while in digestion, we found, as we expected, that that Li∣quor

by working upon them had produ∣ced a light substance, something paler than a Crocus, and there appeared likewise in the Li∣quor good store of thin Plates, which after a gentle Agitation, being held against the Sun-Beams, exhibited the colours of the Rain-Bow very vividly; but the taste of the Liquor ap∣peared not at all Martial.

TITLE IX. Of the Tincture that may be drawn with Spirit of Human Blood.

SPirit of Blood being put upon Saffron pre∣sently acquired a yellow colour; and from Tu merick, a Tincture like a solution of Gold, which may doubtless prove a good Medicine in the Jaundice; and some of this Spirit being put upon powder of Blood, it presently ex∣tracted from it a colour as red as that of French Claret, but when I made use of another parcel of Spirit well rectified, I found that it extracted not a Tincture so soon; and after several hours the colour it obtained was brown, which in some hours after was heightned into redness, and in a longer time it became al∣most as red as the former Tincture.

To shew that Spirit of Human Blood may extract Tinctures out of the hardest Bodies, we put filings with it into a small Egg, and kept them all night in digestion in a moderate Heat; and the next day we found the Liquor

tinged with a deep brownish red; and those filings which stuck to the sides of the Vessel and were above the Liquor, were turned by the Exhalations of this Spirit into a yellow Crocus: But the Mixture being kept some days longer in the same Vessel, the colour of it was grown Opacous, and appeared to be black when it was looked upon in a con∣siderable bulk; but it seemed of another colour when looked upon as it was spread thin upon white Paper. Some of this Ticture being pour∣ed upon an infusion of Galls, it would not make it of an Inky colour, nor was the preci∣pitate, which presently fell to the bottom, of an Inky colour. From which Experiments it appears, that it is unsafe either to suppose, that if Chalybeates be dissolved in the Body, it must be by some Acid Juice, or to conclude, that if Steel be dissolved by the Liquors of our Bodies, they must be ex predominio Alkali∣zate, since a Liquor that is very different from Acids dissolves it; but without touching fur∣ther upon this account, I shall rather com∣mend it to the consideration of Physicians, to pitch upon some other method of explicating the effects of Chalybeates upon Human Bodies, and whether martial Medicines may not be made use of, which are prepared by Volatite Alkalies, instead of Acids.

Spirit of Human Blood being kept in di∣gestion with powder of Amber, it extracted no considerable Tincture, but whether the fault was in the fineness of the Amber, or the weakness of the Spirit, I shall leave undeter∣mined.

Some Spirit of Human Blood being put upon some of that Gum called Seed-Lac soon became tinged, which I supposed to proceed from a superficial colour of some Parts of the Gum, proceeding from some adhering Blood of the little winged insects, who by their bitings occasioned this Gum, upon the twigs of the Trees where it is found; so that the colour seems not to be given by the Gum, but the Blood of those Animals, and may probably be a good solvent Medi∣cine, since most of the insects used in Phy∣sick consists of Parts very subtle and penetrat∣ing, and of considerable Efficacy.

TITLE X. Of the Coagulating power of the Spirit of Human Blood.

HIghly rectified Spirit of Human Blood, being well mingled by shakeing it with a convenient quantity of Urinous Spirits, there will presently ensue a Coagulation or a concre∣tion of Parts, either of the whole Mixture or a Portion of it, into corpuscles of a Saline form, which cohering loosely together make up a mass of a fluid and consistent soft tem∣per; in which form it will continue in a cool place several months.

TITLE XI. Of the Precipitating power of Spirit of Human Blood.

IT hath a power of Precipitating, as other Volatile Spirits, most Bodies dissolved in Acid Menstruums; I say most, because there is no need this rule should be general, or hold when the Body is of such a Nature, that it may be as well dissolved by an Acid as an Alkaly; and that there are such Bodies appears, since Spirit of Human Blood will dissolve both Cop∣per and Zink, which may be likewise dissolved by Aqua Fortis and other Acid Menstruums.

But that this Spirit will precipitate other Bodies dissolved in Acid Menstruums, I am con∣vinced by several tryals made on red Lead dissolved in Vinegar, Silver in Aqua Fortis, Gold in Aqua Regia, and Tin dissolved in an appropriated Menstruum, and several other Bodies. And out of a Solution of common Salt made in Water, we could readily precipitate with the Spirit of Blood, a Substance which looked like a white Earth, and such a Sub∣stance I obtained in a far greater quantity, from that which the Salt-makers call Bittern, which usually remains in their Salt Pans, when they have taken out about as much Salt, as would coagulate in figured grains. This Spirit of Human Blood does likewise precipitate a Solu∣tion of Dantzik Vitriol in Water, but that Solution is not a total one.

TITLE XII. Of the Affinity between Spirit of Human Blood, and some Chymical Oyls and Vi∣nous Spirits.

THAT there is an Affinity betwixt Spi∣rit of Human Blood, and Spirit of Wine, appears, since we have formerly observed that being put together, they will concoagulate, and continue united a long time; and tho' a rectified Spirit of Wine will not draw a Tin∣cture from Blood, yet Spirit of Blood will. But as for Lixiviate Liquors such as are made of Salt of Tartar, fixed Nitre, &c. we find not that they will strictly associate with it. Spirit of Blood readily mixes with that Adia∣phorous Spirit formerly mentioned; but de∣phlegmed Spirit of Blood mixed by agitation with its Oyl, will presently separate again, tho' with Spirit of Wine it will permanently unite, tho these two Liquors belong to a diffe∣rent, viz. the one to the Animal, and the o∣ther to the Vegetable Kingdom.

With the essential Oyls of Aromatick Vege∣tables, the Spirit seems to have a greater Affi∣nity; for an equal proportion of this Liquor, and of Oyl of Aniseeds, drawn in an Alembick per Vesicam, being shaken together, they made a soft or Semifluid coagulation, which con∣tinued in that form for a day or two; and would probably have longer done so, if I

had not had occasion to proceed further with it.

To shew that Spirit of Human Blood may either communicate some of its saline Parts to essential Oyls, or work a change in them; I digested a while in a Glass with a long neck some recstified Spirit of Human Blood, with a convenient quantity of Oyl of Aniseeds drawn in an Alembick, and found that the Oyl grew coloured of a high yellow, and afterwards attained a high redness; which may afford us a hint of the cause of some changes of colour, that are produced in the Liquors of the Body.

To take off the stinking quality of Human Blood, and to render it more grateful, we mixed with it in a Glass about an equal quan∣tity or half as much Oyl of Aniseeds, and hav∣ing shaken them together in the Glass, we placed it in a Furnace with a gentle Heat, by which means the slight Texture of the Coagulum be∣ing dissolved, part of the Oyl appeared float∣ing upon the top, whence being separated by a Tunnel, the Liquor was whitish and with∣out a stinking smell; it smelling and tasteing strong of Aniseeds, tho' the saline Particles retained a considerable degree of their brisk and penetrating taste.

Another way I took to deprive Spirit of Human Blood of its offensive smell was, by employing a Medium to unite it with essential Oyls; for having dissolved an eighth part of Oyl of Aniseeds in highly rectified Spirit of Wine, and added an equal quantity of Spirit of Human Blood, and upon a convenient agitation we suffered the Mixture to settle a considera∣ble

time, after that it appeared, that some of the Oyl swam in drops distinct from the other Liquors, which consisted of a Mixture of the two Spirits impregnated with a few particles of Oyl which they had detained. This Liquor abounded with little Concretions made by the Coagulation of the Sanguineous and Vinous Spi∣rits; which by a gentle Heat were sublimed in the form of a Volatile Salt, to the upper Part of the Glass; and this Salt had not only a much less penetrating Odour, than the meer Vola∣tile Salt of Human Blood, but had quite lost its stink, and yet retained a considerable quickness, and something of the scent of Ani∣seeds; and the remaining Liquor was likewise deprived of its ill smell, and moderately im∣bued with that of the Oyl.

To try whether there would be any Affinity between our Spirit, and the highly rectified Oyl of Petroleum, I shaked a convenient quanti∣ty of them together in a new Vial, upon which they presently turned into a white Mixture; and tho' after a few hours the greater part of the Oyl swam above the Spirit, yet there appeared be∣twixt the two Liquors a good quantity of whiteish Matter, which seemed to be produced by the Union of many Particles of the Spirit and Oyl, which were most disposed to combine.

TITLE XIII. Of the Relation betwixt Spirit of Human Blood and the Air.

TO try whether the Air will have any con∣siderable effect on the Spirit of Human Blood after Distillation, as it evidently hath on the Blood before, I spread thinly upon a piece of white Paper some small filings of Cop∣per, and wetting them well without covering them quite over, with a few drops of Blood; by that means they being well exposed to the free Air; the Action of the Liquor was so much promoted, that within a minute or two it did even in the cold acquire a blueish co∣lour; and in fewer minutes than one would have expected, that colour was so heightned as to become Ceruleous; but another parcel of the same filings being put into a Vial, the in∣tercourse of the Air being excluded, the Li∣quor would not in some hours acquire so deep a colour.

Having in a clear Cylindrical Vial of about an Inch Diameter, put more filings of Cop∣per than was requisite to cover the bottom, and poured so much Spirit of Blood upon them as rought about a fingers breadth above them, it in a few hours acquired a rich colour, which after a day or two began to grow more faint, and afterwards gradually declined, till it was almost lost; yet the Liquor was not al∣together limpid or colourless, as I have often

had it with Spirit of Urine or Sal-Armoniack, and these remains of blueishness I attributed to the effects of the Air included in the Bottle, with so small a quantity of Liquor. And tho' I thought it not impossible, but that length of time might destroy it's blueishness, yet un∣stopping the Vessel, I observed, that in two minutes of an hour, the Surface of the Li∣quor where it touched the fresh Air became Ceruleous; and in a quarter of an hour the whole Body of the Liquor had attained a deep∣er colour than that of the sky, which colour grew sensibly paler again when the Vial was stopped: But one thing I must add is, that I have found the Experiment to succeed with some Analogy, when another Volatile Spirit hath been made use of, in which there was no Volatile Salt of Human Blood; but the Ex∣periment being repeated the Air produced a green and not a Ceruleous colour, which makes me suspend my Judgment till satisfied by further experience, whether the event of the former tryal depended on any Affinity of the Spirit with Blood or not. And here I shall add, that a parcel of Spirit of Human Blood being kept in Vacuo Byliano, when the Air was pumpt out, it afforded fewer and less bubbles than an equal quantity of common Water.

TITLE XIV. Of the Hostility of the Spirit of Human Blood with Acids, whether they be in the form of Liquors or Fumes.

IT exercises its Hostility against more than one sort of Acid Spirits, as Spirit of Salt, of Nitre, Spirit and Oyl of Vitriol, Aqua For∣tis, Aqua Regis, &c. And not only against Faciti∣ous but natural ones, as the Juice of Lemons, up∣on its Mixture with which there presently ensued a great commotion with noise. But there is not on∣ly an Hostility evident betwixt the Parts of these Liquors, but also their Effluvia; for if Spirit of Salt of Nitre be put into a Vial somewhat wide mouthed, and Spirit of Blood rectified into another, when these Liquors are held near one another, their invisible Emanati∣ons joyning together will form a manifest Smoak.

Some pure Volatile Salt of Human Blood be∣ing just satiated with Spirit of Nitre, we slowly evaporated the superfluous moisture, which being done, we took the compound Cry∣stals which the Mixture afforded, and put it into a Bolt-Head with a slender and a long neck, and then adding to it a convenient quan∣tity of Salt of Tartar, and as much distilled Water as made the Mixture Liquid enough, the Salt of Tartar detained the Spirit of Nitre, and a good proportion of the Volatile Salt

ascended in a dry form to the neck of the Vessel.

Spirit of Blood and Nitre being mixed to∣gether, there ensued a conflict, in which thick white fumes rose plentifully, and circulating in the Vessel, ran down the sides of it in a white stream; untill the fumes ceased to rise a∣gain, the Mixture in the mean time appearing reddish. Being setled and seeming to have been so discoloured by a fattish Substance, we put to it a little rain Water, and having by filtra∣tion separated the Faeces, and slowly evapo∣rated the thus clarified Liquor, the saline Parts shot into Crystals like those of Salt-Petre; but after a while seemed yellow, as if tinged with the Oyl. N. Tho' on several occasions the Spirit of Blood appears Oyly, yet I not long since dissolved another parcel of Blood, whose Liquor was clear and limpid a year after.

Some of the before mentioned Crystals being put upon well kindled Charcoal, presently melted and burnt away like Salt-Petre, but the flame seemed not so halituous, and differed in colour, being not at all blue but yellow; and after the Deflagration ceased, there remained upon the Coal a lump of dirty coloured matter, which had scarce any taste, nor was that little it had Alkalious. This brittle Substance being held in the flame, became red hot without any sensible imminution, and so it did upon a live Coal.

TITLE XV. Of the Medicinal Virtues of Spirit of Hu∣man Blood outwardly applyed.

SINCE we meet not with any Acid Sub∣stance, except in the Pancreatick Juice of a sound Person: And since the fixed Salt of Blood does much resemble Sea-salt, whether its Spirit be Acid or no; and since several Parts of the Body whether Solid or Liquid, afford a Liquor impregnated with store of Volatile Salt; it is not amiss to think that the Spirit of Human Blood, may have considerable effects in several Diseases, even when exter∣nally applyed. And that Spirit of Sal-Armo∣niack hath been found successful in assisting se∣veral People in Apoplexies, Epilepsies, &c. when applyed to or put up the Nostrils, it's confirmed by the experience of several learned and able Physicians; and upon the like reason I prepared a Volatile Salt sublimed from a compound Salt, obtained from Spirit of Blood satiated with Nitre. And for a like purpose, to bring over the Saline Part of Blood in a liquid form, we mixed two Parts of dryed Blood with three of Spirit of Blood, and distilling them with a pretty strong fire, we obtained a pret∣ty deal of Spirit, unaccompanyed with any Volatile Salt, in a dry form; and this Spirit seemed to have a stronger taste and smell be∣fore rectification, than Spirit of Human Blood prepared another way had after rectification;

and had we made use of more Lime, I question not but that we should have obtained a more piercing Spirit, since it would have retained more of the Oyl and the superfluous moi∣sture.

And on this occasion I shall add, that I have often found Head-aches cured by the se∣parated application of Spirit of Human Blood; which is likewise good in Hysterick and Hypo∣chondriacal Cases, and in fainting Fits; and if the smell of it makes it too nauseous, that may be corrected according to the method already laid down in this Chapter, to which I shall add, that a few drops of Oyl of Rhodi∣um, being dissolved in Alcohol of Wine, if that be mixed with Spirit of Human Blood, it will give it a very grateful and odoriferous smell.

And here I shall add, that Medicines made of Amber have been found successful not only in Convulsions, and other Distempers of the Genus Nervosum, but the Tincture of it in Spirit of Wine, hath proved successful enough in Diseases both of Men and Women. And this Tincture may not inconveniently or unsuc∣cessfully be added, to correct the Odour and increase the Virtues of Spirit of Human Blood; and tho Oyl of Amber will not mix readily with Spirit of Wine, yet if they be shaken to∣gether and left to settle at leisure, tho' they settle in distinct masses, yet the Spirit would even in the cold extract a high and a yellow Tincture, little different from the Oyl it self, which may be mixed with the Spirit of Blood, till the smell of the Amber be predominant.

To what hath been said of the external use of Spirit of Human Blood I shall add, that if the Oyl in these Mixtures should be too much predominant, it may be easily separated by runing it through a Tunnel, whose Orifice at the bottom is formed so small and sharp, as to give way for the Spirit to run off first, which may when thus separated be kept in a distinct Vessel. And since if the Vinous Spirit be suf∣ficiently rectified, there will by the Coagula∣tion of the Saline and Urinous Parts, be pro∣duced a kind of Salt, you may either pour the Liquid part into another Vessel, and then use them separate, or else separate the Salt by sublimation in a dry form; and Spirit of Hu∣man Blood thus separated will have a fragrant brisk and piercing Odour. But,

To conclude, this Spirit is not only good in respect of the Virtues ascribed to its scent, but it may be good likwise when used as a fo∣mentation, as Spirit of Sal-Armoniack hath been effectual in removing the Pains of the Gout, and in the Erisipelas. And since upon the account of its Alkalizate Nature it may be good to correct Acidities, it may be for that purpose made use of both by Physicians and Chirurgeons.

TITLE XVI. Of the Medicinal Virtues of Spirit of Hu∣man Blood inwardly used.

I Have been long apt to think, that the same peccant matter may produce several Distempers as its effects are diversified, part∣ly by its greater or lesser quantities, as well as more or less active qualities, and partly by the particular Natures, or Structures, and Sci∣tuations of the Parts that it invades; which seems to be favoured by the frequent Metasta∣ses of Morbifick matter in several Distempers, since the same Acid or sharp Humours some∣times occasion a Colick, sometimes after that a Palsey, at other times a Cough, a flux of the Belly, an Opthalmia, a Violent Head-ach, Convulsions, &c. As the peccant Humour falls upon this or that part, upon which ac∣count one or two Medicines may be able to cure several Distempers, especially if endew∣ed with any variety of active Virtues; and upon these grounds I am inclined to believe, that the Spirit of Human Blood may be a good Remedy in several internal affections of the Body; and indeed Volatile Alkalies in general have been so prosperously made use of in Physick, since the year 1656 as to in∣vite several Physicians to employ them instead of other Medicines, which clog and weaken the Patient, and want several advan∣tageous

qualities, which may be found in Vo∣latile Alkalies.

And indeed Spirit of Human Blood mor∣tifies Acid Salts, which occasion several Dis∣eases: It is likewise a great Resolvent, and fit to open Obstructions which produce not a few Diseases; it is also Diaphoretick and Di∣uretick, and able to discharge several noxious Salts, and to expel several Malignant and Con∣tagious Particles of matter. It resists Putre∣faction and Coagulation; and gives a brisk∣ness and Spirituousness to the Blood, which promotes free Circulation, upon which account it is a good Cordial and an Antidote against some Poysons: It is ve∣ry friendly to the Genus Nervosum, and to cure its Distempers, and Balsamick in some sort of Asthams, it neither causes great eva∣cuations, nor does it clog the Stomach; or is disadvantageous in any manifest qualities. And it may likwise be very good in such cases as Spirit of Sal-Armoniack hath been found successful in. Helmont commends it in Epi∣lepsies, which he says, it will cure in Adult Persons: And I have known it cure an inve∣terate Consumptive Cough, and a very bad Head-ach, which had a long time baffled ve∣ry eminent Physicians. But besides the Virtues it hath when simply used, its Virtues may be enobled and diversified by a long digestion, or frequent Cohobations of the Spirit with the Oyls, Salt or Phlegm of the same Concrete; or, by uniting it with Acids, as Spirit of Nitre, or Vinegar; Verdigrease, Oyl of Vi∣triol,

&c. either used in a Liquid form, or when reduced by evaporation into Crystals.

Or the Virtues of it may be enobled, by u∣niting our Spirit with Metalline Solutions, as of Gold, Silver, or Mercury; and with Solutions of Minium made with Spirit of Vinegar; by a Mixture of which Liquor and a slow evapora∣tion of them, I have obtained finely shaped Crystals.

Or, again either by uniting with it Sulphur opened with Salt of Tartar; or by dissolving in it Metalline Bodies, as Copper, Zinke, and Iron. Or by adding about a double weight of Alcohol of Wine; for these Liquors being shaken together, will in a very great measure coagulate into a Salt, which will retain a con∣siderable degree of quickness and penetrancy. And why such Salts as these should not be ef∣ficacious I see no reason, since such a kind of a Mixture, tho' made with another Urinous Spirit hath had extraordinary effects in Fevers. nor is the Liquor this Salt leaves behind useless in Medicine when well dephlegmed.

But this Spirit may be rendered still more commodious, if impregnated with essential Oyls; and by that means several Oyly Volatile Salts may be produced, which may be useful in peculiar Distempers, as those Oyls respect this or that part in their Medicinal Virtues.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of the Na∣tural Histo∣ry of Hu∣man Blood.
• * 1.2

  Titles for the Natural History of Blood.
• * 1.3

  Titles for the Natural History of Human Urine.
• * 1.4

  Of the Hi∣story of Hu∣man Blood