Chapter 11

As to _Prognostications_, he somewhat complains, That men do more inquire what Comets _signifie_, then what they _are_, or how they are generated and moved; professing himself to be of the mind of those that would have Comets rather _admired_ then _feared_; there appearing indeed no cogent reason, why the Author of Nature may not intend them rather as Monitors of his _Glory_ and _Greatness_, then of his _Anger_ or _Displeasure_; especially seeing that some very diligent Men (among whom is _Gemma Frisius_) take notice of as great a number of _good_ as _bad_ Events, consequent to Comets. _Seneca_ also relating, That that Comet which appeared in his time, was so happy, that it did _Cometis detrahere infamiam_, it cleared the credit of Comets, and made People have good thoughts of them.

Having given some Account of what may be look'd for in this _Prodromus_, it follows, That some also should be rendred of the _Animadversions_ mention'd to have been made upon the same. This was done by that _Parisian_ Philosopher Monsieur _Auzout_, in a Letter of his to his Country-man Monsieur _Petit_; in which he strongly conceives, That this {108} _Prodromus_ contains some mistakes, of which he chiefly singles out one, as most considerable, in _Hevelius_'s Observation of _Feb._ 8/18, and declares thereupon, That he, and several very intilligent Astronomers of _France_ and _Italy_ concurring with him therein, (whereas M. _Hevelius_ to him seems to stand single, as to this particular) found by their Observations, That this Comet could not, on that day of _February_, be there where M. _Hevelius_ placeth it, _viz._ In _Prima Arietis_; unless it be said, That it visited that Star of _Aries_ on the 18, and returned thence the 19^{th}, into its ordinary course; in which, according to his, and his several Correspondents Observations the Comet on _Feb._ 17. was distant from that _first Star_ of _Aries_ at least 1 degree and 17 minutes; and on _February_ 19. (he having missed, as well as his other Friends, the Observation on _Febr._ 18) was advanced in its way 12 or 13 minutes, but yet distant from the said Star _some minutes_ above a _whole degree_, and consequently far from having then passed it. After which time M. _Auzout_ affirms to have seen it as well as several others, for many daies, and that until _March_ 7/17, observing, That about _Feb._ 26. or 27, when the Comet was nearest to the often-mentioned _first_ of _Aries_, it approached not nearer thereunto, then the distance of 50. minutes.

This important Difference between two very Learned, and very deserving Persons, being come to the knowledge of some of the ablest _Philosophers_ & _Astronomers_ of _England_, hath been by them thought worthy their Examination: and they being at this very present employed in the discussion thereof, by comparing what hath been done and published by the Dissenters, and by confronting with them their own Domestick Observations, are very likely to discern where the mistake lies; and having discern'd it, will certainly be found hightly impartial and ingenuous in giving their sense of the same. {109}

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_Of the _Mundus Subterraneus_ of _Athanasius Kircher_._

This long expected _Subterraneous World_, is now come to light, dedicated (at least the _Exemplar_, that hath been perused by the _Publisher_ of these _Papers_, who hears, That other _Copies_ bear Dedication to other _Great Princes_) both to the present Pope, as being esteemed by the author to have a part of his _Apostolical Kingdom_ there; and to the _Roman Emperor_ now Regent, who indeed in his Kingdom of _Hungary_, and in several Provinces of _Germany_, hath very many and very considerable things, worthy to be observed, under _Ground_.

To give the Curious a taste of the _Contents_ of this _Volume_, and thereby to excite them to a farther search into the recesses of Nature, for the composure of a good _Natural History_; they may first take notice, That the Author, having given an account in the _Preface_, what encouragement he received, for writing this Book, from the opportunity of Travelling with the _Cardinal_ of _Hassia_ into _Sicily_ (in which Voyage, he saith, He met with, as it were, an _Epitome_ of what may be observable in the Subterraneous parts of the Earth; and in particular, with an Earth-quake of 14 daies duration, very instructive to him concerning several great Secrets of Nature:) having I say, thus Prefaced, he divided his Work into 12 _Books_, wherein he affirms not only to have explicated the Divine Structure of the under-ground World, and the wondrous distribution of the Work-houses of Nature, and her Majesty and Riches therein; but also to have opened the Causes of her Effects and Productions; whence, by the Marriage of Nature and Art, a happy Issue may follow for the use and benefit of Humane Life.

In the _First_ Book, he considers the nature of the Centre of the Earth, where he delivers several _Paradoxes_ touching the same, and Discourses of the Motion of heavy Bodies, of Pendulems, of Projectils. {110}

In the _second_ he treats of the Fabrick of the _Terrestrial Globe_, of the Influences it receives from the Coelestial Bodies, especially the _Sun_ and _Moon_, of both which _Luminaries_ he gives a _Scheme_; of the proportion of the Earth to the Sun and Moon; of the external conformation of the Earth, its Mountains, and their concatenations, decrease and increase, together with the strange transformation thereof. Further, of the Waters encompassing the Earth, and their various Communications by hidden Passages; as also the heighth of Mountains, and of the depth of Seas; the dimension of the _Sicilian Straights_; the Magnetical Constitution of the Earth, its Heterogeneous Nature, Interior Frame, Laboratories, Caves, Channels, &c.

In the _third_: Of the Nature of the Ocean, and the diversity of its Motions; of its general Motion from the _East_ to _West_, Currents; Reciprocations, Gulfs, Whirle-pools, Saltness, &c.

In the _fourth_: Of the Nature of the Subterraneous _Fire_, its necessity, diffusiveness, food, prodigious Effects through ignivomous Mountains; as also of the Nature of _Air_, and _Winds_, their power and variety; of the general Wind, how and whence generated; of Periodical and Anniversary Winds, and their Causes; as also of the production of Artificial Winds, for refreshment and other advantages. To which he subjoyns a Discourse, tending to prove, That all Meteors owe their Nativity to the Fiers of the Subterraneous World.

In the _fifth_: Of the Original of Springs, Rivers, Lakes; various differences and qualities of Waters, and the marks where they are to be met with under Ground; of Waters _Medical_, hot Baths, and their Differences, Causes, Virtues; together with the Wonderful Qualities and Proprieties of some Springs, as to their Colour, Taste, Smell, Weight, Salubrity, Flux and reflux, Petrifying power, &c.

In the _sixth_: Of the _Earth_ it self, and the great variety contained in the Womb thereof; of the manifold Productions {111} made therein, by the virtue of Salt and its Auxiliaries, the differences whereof are largly discoursed of, together with the way of extracting the same. In particular of _Saltpetre_, its Generation, Nature, Virtues; of the way of making _Gunpowder_, and the various uses thereof, as also the Nature, Qualities, Preparation, Medicinal and other uses of _Alume_ and _Vitriol_.

In the _Seventh_: Of some _Fossils_, as Sand, Gravel, Earths, and their various Differences, Qualities, uses Economical, Chymical, Medical: together with the strange varieties & changes happening in the Earth, and their causes; as also the requisits to _Agriculture_.

In the _eight_: First, of _Stones_, their Origine, Concretion, difference of Colours; and in particular, of _Gems_ and their variety, causes of generation, transparency in some and colours in others; as also of their various Figures and Pictures by Nature framed both in common and precious Stones, with their Causes. Secondly, of the Transformation of Juices, Salts, Plants, yea of Beasts and Men turn'd into Stone: together with the generation of Bony Substances under ground, by many esteemed to be the Bones of _Gyants_; and of _Horny_ Substances, taken for _Unicorns_ horns: as also of _Fossile wood_ and _Coals_, Thirdly, of _Bituminous Flowers, lapis Asbestos, Amber_, and its _Electrical_ virtue; together with the way how Insects, little Fishes, and Plants are Intombed therein. Fourthly; of Subterraneous _Animals_, Moles, Mice, Birds, Dragons; where is also treated, of those Animals that are found in the midst of Stones.

In the _ninth_; First, of Poysons, their primeval Origine from Minerals, and their accidental Generation in Vegetable and Animal Bodies, together with their differences; where 'tis discoursed, not only how Poysons may be bred in Men, but also, how the Poyfons of some Animals do infect and kill Men; and, where the Venom of Vipers lodges, and how mad _Dogs_ and _Tarantula's_ so communicate their Poyson, as that it exserts not its noxiousness, till after some {112} time: Where also occasion is taken to discourse on the Original of Diseases, and cure of Poysonous ones. Secondly, of the wonderful Nature of _Sulphur, Antimony, Quick-silver_, their origine and qualities; together with the productions of _Corals_ and _Pearls_.

In the _tenth_: First of _Metallurgy_, and the way how that unctuous Body, out of which mettals are produced, is elaborated by Nature, and what therein are _Sulphur, Salt_, and _Mercury_; besides, what it is that renders Mettals fluid in the Fire, but not Stones and Vegetables, &c. Secondly, of the Requisits to a perfect knowledge of the _Metallick Art_, and of the Qualities of the _Mine-master_; then of the Diseases of Mine-men, and their Cure, and the waies of purging the Mines of the Airs malignity; as also of _Metallognomy_, or the signs of latent Mettals, and by what Art they may be discovered. Thirdly, several Accounts sent to the Author, upon his Inquiries by the Mine-masters themselves, or other cheif Over-seers of the Mine-works, touching the variety, nature and properties of Minerals, and the many Accidents happening in Mines, particularly the _Hungarian_ ones at _Schemnitz_, and those of _Tyrol_. Fourthly, of several both _Hydraulick_ and _Wind-Engines_, to free the Mines from Water and noxious damps. Fiftly, Of the way of working Mettals, Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron, and particularly of the method used at _Potosi_ in _Peru_, of extracting the Silver out of the Mineral: to which is added, a Discourse of _Salt-pits_, and the way of making Salt.

In the _eleventh_, First, of _Alchimy_, its Original and Antiquity, the Vessels and Instruments belonging thereunto. Secondly, of the _Philosophers Stone_, what is meant by it, and whether by means thereof true Gold can be produced? And in general, whether there be any such thing, as a true and real Transmutation of one Mettal into another? Where are delivered the several Processes of the reputed _Adepti, Raymund Lulle, Azoth, Arnold de Villanova, Paracelsus, Sendivogius, &c._ but all exploded as fals and deceitful. Thirdly, {113} of the decisions in Law concerning Chimical Gold, true or fals. Fourthly, what the celebrated _Philosophers Stone_ was among the Ancients, and what they understood by the same?

In the _twelfth_: First, Of the _Seminal Principle_ of all things, its origine, nature and property; of the way how Nature proceeds in the Generation of _Minerals, Vegetables, Animals_; of Spontaneous Generation; of _Zeophyts, Insects_ of all sorts, and particularly of the Worms bred in Men; together with the causes why Nature would produce such swarms of infinite sorts of Insects. Secondly, of the variety and differences of _Vegetables_; of the requisits to know the _virtues_ of _Plants_, and of the several waies of _Engrafting_. Thirdly, of the _Art of Distilling_, whereby Nature is imitated, as doing all her under-ground works, in the Opinion of this Author, by _Distillation_. Fourthly, of the _Laboratories of various Arts_, in which, according to Natures pattern, used in her Subterraneous Operations, strange things may be performed: where treating of _Chymical Secrets_, the truth of the Preparation of _Aurum potabile_ is discussed, and the _Magisteries_ of Gold, Silver, Iron, Tin, Copper and Lead, examined: to which is subjoyned an _Appendix_, furnishing such Rules, whereby Students in _Chymistry_ may be directed in their work, and true Operations distinguished from fals ones. Fiftly, Of _Metallostaticks_, where by the mixture of Mettals and Minerals may be certainly known; together with a way of weighing the Proportions of _moist_ and _dry_, existent in every Compound, as well Vegetable and Animal, as Mineral. Sixthly, of _Glass-making_, where is treated of the Nature of _Glass_; of the Artificial Production of all sorts of Precious Stones, partly from the Authors own Experiments, partly from the Communication of his Friends, and the Collection of the best Writers upon that subject. Seventhly, of _Fire-works_, where the Invention and Preparation of Gunpowder is largely discoursed of, and the waies of making _Squibs, Fires burning in Water_, {114} and many others, used in Publick Festivities, are described. Eighthly, of some _Mechanical Arts_, as that of _Gold-smiths, Black smiths, Copper smiths, Wyre-drawers_, in the last whereof he resolves this _Problem_; a certain weight of Mettal, and the bigness of the hole, through which the Wyre is to be drawn, being given, to find into what length so much Mettal can be spun out.

Thus you have a view of this whole _Volume_; to which it may perhaps not be amiss to adde, for a Conclusion, some of those Particulars which are esteemed by the Authour to out-shine the rest, and are here and there inter-woven as such. For example, in the _First Part_.

The use of _Pindules_, for knowing by their means the _state_ of ones _Health_, from the different beatings of the _Pulse_, p. 51.

The _Chain_ of _Mountains_, so drawn over the Earth, that they make, as it were, an _Axis_, passing from _Pole_ to _Pole_; and several transverse _ductus_, so cutting that _Axis_, as to make, in a manner, an _Equator_ and _Tropicks_ of Mountains: by which concatenation he imagines, That the several parts of the Earth are bound together for more firmness, p. 69.

A Relation of a strange _Diver_, by his continual converse in Water, so degenerated from himself, That he was grown more like an _Amphibium_, than a man, who, by the command of a _Sicilian_ King, went down to the bottom of _Charibdis_, and brought a remarkable account of the condition of that place, p. 98.

A Description of the Origine of the _Nile_, as this Author found it in a certain _MS._ of one of his own _Society_, called _Peter Pais_, whom he affirms to have been an Eye-witness, and to have visited the Head of the _Emperor of Æthiopia_ himself _Anno_ 1618. which _Manuscript_, he saith, was brought to _Rome_, out of _Africa_, by their _Procurator_ of _India_ and _Æthiopia, p._ 72. {115}

The _Communication_ of the _Seas_ with one another by Subterraneous Passages, _viz._ of the _Caspian_, with the _Pont Euxin_ and the _Persian Gulf_; of the _Mare Mortuum_, with the _Mare Rubrum_, and of this latter with the _Mediterranean_; as also of _Scylla_ with _Charybdis_, p. 85. 101.

The Subterraneous _Store-houses_ (in all the four parts of the Earth) of _Water_, and _Fire_, and _Air_; together with their important Uses, p. 111.

An account of the state of the Earth about the _Poles_, how the Waters are continually swallowed up by the _Northern_, and running along through the Bowels of the Earth, do regurgitate at the _Southern Pole_, p. 159.

A description of Mount _Vesuvius_ and _Ætna_, both visited by the Author himself, _Anno_ 1638. their Dimensions, Communication, Incendiums, Paths of Fiery Torrents cast out by them, &c. as also of the _Vulcans_ in _Iceland_ and _Groenland_, and their Correspondence and Effects. p. 180.

An Account of that famous and strange _Whirl-pool_ upon the Coasts of _Norway_: commonly call'd _The Maelstrom_; which the Author fancies to have Communication, by a Subterraneous Channel, with another such _Whirl-pool_ in the _Bodnick Bay_; by which commerce, according to him, the Waters, when, upon their accumulation and crowding together in one of these places, they are swallowed up by the Gulf there, carrying along with them whatsoever is in the way and lodging it in a certain receptacle at the bottom thereof, are conveyed through the same under-ground Channel to the other Gulf; where again, upon the like flux and retumescence of Waters, they are absorbed, and through the same Channel do reciprocally run to the former Gulf, and meeting in their impetuous Passage with the things formerly sunk down into the Repository, carry them aloft, with themselves; and cast them up again on the Coast of _Norway_, p. 146.

A Relation of strange _Earth-quakes_, p. 220

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An Enumeration of all the celebrated _Medical Water, and hot Baths_, in all parts of the world, p. 236. _et seq._

In the _Second_ Part, some of his special Observations, are, How _Stones_ are _coloured_ and _figured_ under ground, p. 13. 24, 25.

Natures skill in _Painting_ of _Stones_, p. 22.

A whole Natural _Alphabet_ represented upon _Stones_, and all sorts of _Geometrical_ Figures, naturally Imprinted upon them, p. 23.

The cause of the variety of Colours in _Prismes_, and the Authors severe Judgment concerning those, that hold them to be meerly _Phantastical_, _pag._ 15, 16, 17. Where he also delivers an Experiment, by him counted wonderful, exhibiting all sorts of Colours by the means of _Mercury_, coagulated by the vapour of Lead, and put in a Brass spoon upon burning Coals.

The cause of the curious Colours in _Birds_, p. 17.

The way of Nature in the Generation of _Diamonds_, p. 21.

A way of preparing such a Liquor, that shall sink into, & colour the whole Body of Marble, so that a Picture made on the surface thereof, shall, the stone being cut through, appear also in the inmost part of the same, p. 43.

A Story of a whole Village in _Africa_ turned into Stone, with all the people thereof, p. 50.

An Experiment, representing the Generation of the _Stone_ in the _Bladder_, p. 52.

An _Asbestin_ Paper, that shall last perpetually, p. 74.

Several Relations of numerous Societies of People living under ground, and their _Oeconomy_; whereof a strange one is alledged to have been found in _England_, attested by an _English_ Author, p. 97, 98, 99.

A Relation of a Man that bred a Serpent in his Stomach, which came from him of the length of one Foot and a half, affirmed by the Author to have been seen by himself, p. 126.

Of whole Forrests of Coral at the bottom of the _Red Sea_, p. 159. {117}

The vanity of _Virga Divinatoria_, p. 181.

A peculiar way of washing out very small _Dust-gold_, p. 198.

Of some extraordinary big pieces of perfect _Natural_ Gold and Silver, p. 203.

Of a very rare Mineral, sent to the Author out of the _Hungarian_ Mines, which had pure Silver branching out into Filaments, and some splendid yellow parts, which was pure Gold, and some dark parts, which was Silver mixed with Gold, 189.

_Salt_ the _Basis_ of all Natural Productions, and the admirable variety of Salts, p. 299.

Strange Figures of _Plants_, p. 348.

The way of producing _Plants_; p. 414.

In how much time a Swallow can fly about the World, p. 411, &c.

This may suffice, to give occasion to the Searchers of Nature, to examine this Book, and the Observations and Experiments contained therein, together with the Ratiocinations raised thereupon, and to make severer and more minute Inquiries and Discussions of all.

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_A farther account of an Observation above-mentioned, about _White Blood_._

Since the Printing of the former Sheet, there is this farther account from the same hand.

Mr. _Boyle_,

I have at length, according to your desire, received from the Ingenious Dr. _Lower_, an account in writing of the Observation about _Chyle_ found in the Blood; which though you may think strange, agrees well with some Experiments of his and mine, not now to be mentioned. The Relation, though short, comprizing the main Particulats of what he had more fully told me in Discourse, I shall give it you with little or no variation from his own words. {118}

A Maid, after eating a good Break-fast, about seven in the Morning, was let Blood about eleven the same day in her Foot; the first Blood was receiv'd in a Porringer, and within a little while it turn'd very white; the last Blood was received in a Sawcer, which turn'd white immediately, like the white of a Custard. Within five or six hours after, he (the Physitian) chanced to see both, and that in the Porringer was half Blood and half Chyle, swimming upon it like a Serum as white as Milk, and that in the Sawcer all Chyle without the least appearance of a drop of Blood; and when he heated them distinctly over a gentle fire, they both harden'd: As the white of an Egge when 'tis heated, or just as the _Serum_ of Blood doth with heating, but far more white. This Maid was then in good health, and only let Blood because she never had her Courses, yet of a very florid clear Complexion.

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Note.

_The _Reader_ of these Papers is desired, that in those of _Numb. 4. pag. 60. lin. 10_. he would be pleased to read _eight_, instead of _hundred_: this latter word having been put in by a great over-sight, and without this Correction, injuring that Author, whose Considerations are there related. This Advertisement should have been given in _Number 5_. but was omitted for haste._

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Imprimatur _Rob. Say, Vice-Cancel._ Oxon.

Oxford, Printed by _Leonard Lichfield_: for _Richard Davis_. 1665.

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_Num._ 7.

PHILOSOPHICAL _TRANSACTIONS._

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Monday, _Decemb._ 4. 1665.

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The Contents.

_Monsieur de _Sons_ progress in working _Parabolar_ Glasses. Some speculations of Monsieur _Auzout_ concerning the changes, likely to be discovered in the Moon. The instance of the same Person to Mr. _Hook_, for communicating his Contrivance of making with Glasses of a few feet Diameter, _Telescopes_ drawing several hundred feet; together with his Offer of recompensing that secret with another, which teaches, How to measure with a _Telescope_ the _Distances of Objects_ upon the _Earth_. The Experiment of _Kircher_, of preparing a Liquor, that shall sink into, and colour the whole Body of Marble, delivered at length. An Intimation of a Way found in _Europe_, to make good _China-Dishes_. An Account of an odd Spring in _Westphalia_, together with an Information touching _Salt-Springs_; and a way of straining _Salt-water_. Of the Rise and Attempts of a way to conveigh Liquors immediately into the Mass of Blood._

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_Of Monsieur _de Sons_ Progress in working _Parabolar_ Glasses._