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HAving in some of the foregoing Chap∣ters, given a short Scheme of the Princi∣ples of the Corpuscularian Philosophy, for the better understanding our Experiments concern∣ing the Productions and Changes of Particular Qualities, I shall now lay down such Natural Phaenomena as induced me to take up such Notions, in which, not Art but Nature disco∣vers her Operations.
* 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.
* 1.2 Water, tho' a Homogeneous, Diaphanous, Fluid Body, devoid of Colour, Taste and Smell, &c. may, by altering the Texture of its Parts, acquire Attributes different from these: This is evident, in the Growth of Vegetables, when nourish'd even by simple Water, in Bottles; where I have observ'd, that Crows-foot, after six Months Growht, weigh'd above three times as much as before it was put in. But not only Crows-foot, but several other Plants, owe their Substance to the Particles of Water, alter'd in Texture, as Spear∣mint, Marjorane, Raphanus Aquaticus, and Ra∣nunculus: From whence we may infer, that the same Particles of Matter which compose Water, may, by having their Parts differently modify'd, produce several Concretes, endu'd with different Qualities, as Firmness, Volatility, Colours, Smell, and Taste; together with other Specifick or Occult Qualities: Yet it is to be admir'd, that so insipid a Body as Water, should be converted into a Juice so caustick, as that of Ranunculus, or
one so inflammable as Oyl, which may be drawn by Distillation from Plants, only nourish'd in Bottles.
* 1.3It is usually believ'd, That Plants by the Fa∣culties of a Vegetative Soul, select and suck in a Juice, appropriated to each; rather than that they are all nourish'd by one Juice differently modify'd in that Plant: But the Latter will ea∣sily appear, if we consider, what happens in Grafting and Inoculations; for if a Pear-Tree be Grafted into a White-Thorn, the Aliment suck'd in by that Root, will be so alter'd, as to yield Nourishment to a Pear; Fruit much diffe∣rent from that of the White-Thorn: The same is evident in Inoculations, where the Sap, selected by the Root, is so alter'd in the Bud inoculated, that the same Sap, which in the Genuine Branches of the Tree, constitutes one sort of Fruit, is turn'd into another, in those springing from the inoculated Bud. And here it is further Re∣markable, That not only the same Juice yields various sorts of Substances in different Plants, but even in the same Tree; where the Skin of the Fruit differs from its Flesh, and that from the Stone, and all of them from the Substance of the Tree; not only in Colour, but several other Qualities; as the Blossoms of a Peach, have a Purgative Virtue, which is not in the Fruit: And Garcias ab Horto affirms, That the Seeds of so∣lutive Cassia fistula, are Astringent: An Account not unlike to which we have of certain Kernels of a Fruit, much like a White Pear-Plum, by
Mr. Lygon, in his History of Barbados, p. 67, 68. Five of which work'd a dozen times upwards with him, and twenty times by Stool; yet by taking away a thin Film, which divides the Ker∣nel into halves, the Nut is as sweet as a Jordan Almond, and has no sensible Operation: Which Relation is also favour'd by Monardes, under the Title of Fabae Purgatrices, where he speaks of a Purgative Fruit, brought from America, from Carthagena, and also from Nombre de Dios. And Vincent le Blank, in his Survey of the World, p. 260. Part. 2. gives an Account of a Golden Apple, as bitter as Gall, containing Five Kernels, of an equal Bigness with Almonds, whose Juice is sweet; and he also relates, That of a thick Film, which encompasses the Nut in the Shell, they prepare an Excellent Sweet-Meat.
* 1.4We have also an Instance, how Matter may be alter'd, by a Variation of its Texture in Rotten Cheese; which differs from the Sound, both in Colour, Taste, Smell, and Consistence. In which likewise, by a good Microscope, we may per∣ceive Clusters of Animals, endu'd with Parts very differently modify'd, and Qualities little diffe∣rent from Occult ones.
An Experi∣ment to il∣lustrate what hath been deli∣vered con∣cerning Forms and Qualities.
Water may, by altering its Texture, put on New Forms.
All Plants may be nou∣rish'd by one and the same Sub∣stance.
Further In∣stances in Cheese.