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

EXPERIMENT I.

* 1.1The First I shall begin with is, what occurs in hatching of an Egg. And.

First, we are to consider, that in a Prolifick Egg, by the same Reason, that Bones and Mem∣branes are called Similar Parts of an Animal; the Liquor of the Yolk, as well as the White, is to Sense, a Similar Substance, though by Di∣stillation several Substances may be drawn from them.

Secondly, That by beating the White of an Egg well, it loses much of its Tenacity, and becomes a fluid Body; in which Agitation, there is only a Mechanical Alteration of the Texture of the Body.

Thirdly, That the Rudiments of the Chick, lodged in the Cicatricula, are nourished only by the White, till it becomes a great Chick; the Yolk being reserved as a stronger Nourishment, till the White is spent, and the Chick is able to di∣gest it; and in effect the Chick seems to be fur∣nish'd with Head, Wings, Beak and Claws, before the Yolk is touched.

Lastly, It is not a little to be admired that so Soft and Similar a Liquor as that of an Egg, should be in so short a time, changed into a Chick, endowed with Organical Parts of dif∣ferent Fabricks; and Similar ones different in Texture very much from one another; be∣sides the Liquors contained in the Solid Parts, being as different as the former, and endow∣ed

First, With new Qualities, as Colour, Taste, Odours, Heat, Hardness, &c. Secondly, Quali∣ties distinct from Sensible ones, as Fludity, Con∣sistency, Hardness and Flexibility, &c. Thirdly, Occult Qualities, as when Birds or Parts of An∣nimals, afford Specifick Medicines, or at least most Noble ones. But

Fourthly, since some may Object, that these Parts are formed by the Plastick Power of the Soul, and that a Chick is not a Mechanically contrived Engine, we are to consider, that let the Plastick Principle be what it will, yet still, being a Physical Agent, it must act after a Physi∣cal manner; and having no other Matter to work upon, but the White of the Egg, it can work upon that Matter but as Physical Agents, and consequently can but divide the Matter into Minute Parts of several Sizes and Shapes, and by local Motion so variously contex them, as is requisite to produce an Animal of this or that Species; though from so many various Textures of the Parts formed, there must na∣turally arise such different Colours, Tastes and Consistencies, and other Qualities, as we have taken Notice of: For we are not here to con∣sider so much, what is the Agent or Efficient in these Productions, but after what manner the Matter they are made of, is affected in producing them: To illustrate which, we may observe, that a Man who is to frame a Build∣ing, or some curious Engine, though he may by the help of Reason and Art, skillfully con∣trive his Materials, yet he can but move, di∣vide, transpose and contex the several Parts, in∣to which he reduces the Matter assigned.

And that the Soul of a Hen, does not any more contribute to the forming of a Chick, is plain; fince we are assur'd, that multitudes of Eggs may be hatch'd meerly by the regulated Heat, either of Ovens, or Dunghills: Whence it easily ap∣pears, That the Plastick Power, no otherwise contributes to the Formation of a Chick, than by guiding the Parts of the White, put into Motion by the external Heat; so, that they may asso∣ciate after a manner necessary to produce an Or∣ganical Chick.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An Experi∣ment to il∣lustrate what hath been deli∣vered con∣cerning Forms and Qualities.