The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

404 NOVUM ORGANUM. BOOK II.
sum total of matter, is constant, and is neither I bodies which are compact and not hollow. Then
increased nor diminished. Nor is it less true, we noted exactly the weight of the liquid and
"that out of this given quantity of matter, there vial. We next took a bladder, containing about
is a greater or less quantity contained within the two pints, and squeezed all the air out of it, as
same space or dimensions, according to the differ- completely as possible, and until the sides of tilhe
ence of bodies;" as, for instance, water contains bladder met. We first, however, rubbed the bladmore than air. So that, if any one were to der gently with oil, so as to make it air-tight, by
assert, that a given content of water can be closing its pores with the oil. We tied the bladchanged into an equal content of air, it is the der tightly round the mouth of the vial, which we
same as if he were to assert that something can had inserted in it, and with a piece of waxed
be reduced into nothing. On the contrary, if any thread to make it fit better and more tightly, and
one were to assert, that a given content of air can then placed the vial on some hot coals in a brabe changed into an equal content of water, it is zier. The vapour or steam of the spirit, dilated
the same as if he were to assert that something and become aeriform by the heat, gradually
can proceed from nothing. From this abundance, swelled out the bladder and stretched it in every
or scarcity of matter, are properly derived the no- direction like a sail. As soon as that was accomtions of density and rarity, which are taken in plished, we removed the vial from the fire and
various and promiscuous senses. placed it on a carpet, that it might not be cracked
rPhis third assertion may be considered as being by the cold: we also pricked the bladder irnoealso sufficiently certain; namely, that the greater diately, that the steam might not return to a liquid
or less quantity in this or that body, may, by state by the cessation of heat, and confound the
comparison, be reduced to calculation, and exact, proportions. We then removed the bladder, and
or nearly exact proportion. Thus, if one should again took the weight of the spirit which remn'nosay that there is such an accumulation of matter ed; and so calculated the quantity which ha;'.een
in a given quantity of gold, that it would require converted into vapour, or an aeriform shape, and
twenty-one times the quantity in dimension of then examined how much space had been occuspirits of wine, to make up the same quantity of pied by the body in its form of spirits of wine in
matter, it would not be far from the truth. the vial, and how much on the other hand had
The accumulation of matter, however, and its been occupied by it in its aeriform shape in the
relative quantity are rendered sensible by weight. bladder, and subtracted the results; from which
For weight is proportionate to the quantity of it was clear, that the body, thus converted and
matter, as regards the parts of a tangible sub- changed, acquired an expansion of one hundred
stance, but spirit, and its quantity of matter, are times beyond its former bulk.
not to be computed by weight, which spirit rather Again, let the required nature be heat or cold,
diminishes than augments. of such a degree as not to be sensible from its
W\e have made a tolerably accurate table of weakness. They are rendered sensible by the
weight, in which we have selected the weights thermometer as we described it above;* for the
and size of all the metals, the principal minerals, cold and heat are not actually perceived by the
stones, liquids, oils, and many other natural and touch, but heat expands and cold contracts the
artificial bodies: a very useful proceeding both as air. Nor, again, is that expansion or contraction
regards theory and practice, and which is capable of the air in itself visible, but the air when exof revealing many unexpected results. Nor is panded depresses the water, and when contracted
this of little consequence, that it serves to demon- raises it, which is the first reduction to sight.
strate that the whole range of the variety of tangi- Again, let the required nature be the mixture
ble bodies, with which we are acquainted, (we of bodies; namely, how much aqueous, oleaginmean tolerably close, and not spongy, hollow ous, or spirituous, ashy or salt parts they contain;
bodies, which are for a considerable part filled or, as a particular example, how much butter,
with air,) does not exceed the ratio of one to cheese, and whey there is in milk, and the like.
twenty-one. So limited is nature, or at least that These things are rendered sensible by artificial
part of it to which we are most habituated. and skilful separations in tangible substances,
We have also thought it deserving our industry, and the nature of the spirit in them, though not
lo try if we could arrive at the ratio of intangible immediately perceptible, is nevertheless discoveror pneumatic bodies to tangible bodies; which ed by the various motions and efforts of bodies.
wre attempted by the following contrivance. We And, indeed, in this branch men have laboured
took a vial capable of containing about an ounce, hard in distillations and artificial separations, but
using a small vessel in order to effect the subse- with little more success than in their other expequent evaporation with less heat. We filled this riments now in use; their methods being mere
vial, almost to the neck, with spirits of wine, se- guesses and blind attempts, and more industrious
lecting it as the tangible body which, by our table, than intelligent; and what is worst of all, without
was the rarest, and contained a less quantity of
matter in a given space, than all other tangible * See Table of Degrees, No. 38.