Part 30
In the _Fifth_, He treats of the Union of the Body and Soul, and the manner, how they act one upon the other; and esteems it not more difficult to conceive the Action of Spirits upon Bodies, and of Bodies upon Spirits, than to conceive the Action of Bodies upon Bodies: the cause of the great difficulty in understanding the two former, arising (according to him) from thence, that we will conceive the one by the other, not considering, that every thing acting according to its own nature, we shall never know the action of one Agent, if we will examine it by the notions we have of another, that is of a quite differing nature. Here he notes, that the Action of Bodies upon Bodies is not {309} more known to us; than that of Spirits upon Bodies, or of Bodies upon Spirits; and yet most men admire nothing but _this_, believing to know the _other_; whereas he Judges, that all things being well examin'd, the Action of Bodies upon Bodies is no more conceivable, than that of Spirits upon Bodies. Mean while the opinion of the Authour touching this subject, is, That the union of Soul and Body consists onely in this, that certain motions of the Body are followed by certain _Cogitations_ of the Soul, and, on the contrary, that certain Thoughts of the Soul are follow'd by certain _Motions_ of the Body. And, having supposed, that Bodies are said to act upon one another, when they cause some change suitable to Extension; and Spirits to act upon one another, when they cause some change suitable to a Thought; he infers, that when a Body acts upon a Spirit, that cannot be by causing any change of motion, of figure, or parts, as having none of all these; nor when a Spirit acts upon a Body, that cannot be by producing any change of Thought, as having none: But, when this Body, or its motion, or figure, or other thing, depending upon its nature, can be perceived by a Spirit, so as, upon that occasion, this Spirit has thoughts, it had not before, it may be said, that the Body has acted upon this Spirit, for as much as it has caused all the change in it, whereof it was capable according to its nature.
In the _Sixth_, After he hath shew'd, what is to be understood by what we call _Soul_, and by what we call _Body_, he labours to make it out, that we are much more assured of the Existence of the Soul, than of that of the Body, which he conceives he can prove from hence, that we cannot doubt, that we think, because even doubting is thinking; but one may doubt, whether one has a body, for several reasons, which he alledges, and thinks so cogent, that he concludes, it is not evident to him by the light of reason, that he has a Body. But supposing, there be Bodies, he examines, what are the Operations, that belong to the Soul, and what those, that belong to the Body; and lastly, what those, that result from the Union of both: And then explains, how all those operations are perform'd, and particularly, _Sensation_; where he shews, that the Nerves, holding at one end to the Brain, whereof they are but Allongations, and being at the other end extended to the extremities of the Body; when an Object comes to touch those exterior ends of the Nerves, the interior ones in the Brain are presently shaken; and cause different sensations according to the diversitie of Nerves, and the differing manner, in which they are shaken. And to shew, that 'tis this shaking, that causes Sensation, he notes, that if any thing shakes the interior parts of the Nerves, though the object be absent, the Soul has presently the same {310} sensations, as it would have, if it were present. As, if one should knock on's head forcibly against a wall, the shaking, which the blow gives to the Brain, moving the interior extremities of the Nerve, which causes the sensation of Light, the Soul has the same sensation, which it would have, if it saw a thousand Candles: On the contrary, if the interior extremities of the nerves are not shaken, though the object be present, it causes no sensation; whence it comes, that if a strong Ligature be made upon the middle of the Arm, and the hand be then prickt, no pain is felt, because the shaking of the nerves that are pricked, being stopped by the Ligature, cannot reach to the extremities of the Nerves, that are within the Brain.
* * * * *
_Advertisement._
The following _Errata_, left by the _Press_ in _Num._ 16, the _Reader_ is desired thus to correct.
Page 269. lin 27. read, _motion of B above the Center; G. is also_, with a _Semi-colon_ after the word _Center_. p. 274. l. 13, r. _it to do to the_. p. 277. l. 24. r. _natural days_. p. 281. l. 16. r. _of his_. ib. l. 27. r. _a notion_. p. 293. l. 4. r. _enough without_. ib. l. 43. r. _to the Sine of_. p. 294. l. 1. r. _to the Sine of_.
* * * * *
_LONDON_,
Printed for _John Martin_ and _James Alestry_, Printers to the Royal Society. 1666.
{311}
* * * * *
_Numb._ 18.
PHILOSOPHICAL _TRANSACTIONS._
* * * * *
_Munday_, _October_ 22. 1666.
* * * * *
The Contents.
__Patterns_ of the _Tables_ proposed to be made for _Observing of Tides_; promised in the next foregoing _Transactions_. Other _Inquiries_ touching the Sea. Some Considerations touching the _Parenchymous_ parts of the Body. Observables concerning _Petrification_. A Relation from _Paris_, of a kind of _Worms_, that eat out Stones. Some promiscuous Observations made in _Somersetshire_. A Problem for finding the Year of the _Julian Period_, by a new and very easie Method. An Account of some Books, not long since publish'd, which are, _1. Tentamina Physico-Theologica de Deo_, Authore _Samuele Parkero. 2. Honorati Fabri Tractatus duo; Prior, de Plantis et de Generatione Animalium; Posterior, de Homine. 3. Relation du Voyage de l'Evesque de Beryte, par la Turquie, la Perse, les Indes_, &c. per Monsieur de _Bourges_._
* * * * *
__Patterns_ of the _Tables_ proposed to be made for _Observing of Tides_, promised in the next foregoing _Transactions_; by Sir _Rob. Moray_._
In performance of what was promised in the last of these _Papers_ for Observing the _Tides_, here are subjoyned _Patterns_ of the _Tables_ there mentioned; _One_, for marking the _precise Time_ of the High waters and Low-waters during one Month; that is, between _New_ and _New_ Moon, or _Full_ and _Full_ Moon. The _other_, for marking the _Degrees_ of the Risings and Fallings of the Water in _Equal_ spaces of Time, and the _Velocity_ of its motion at _several_ heights: The _Degrees_ of _Heat_ and _Cold, &c._
The _Times_, assigned in the _first_, to the High waters and Lowest Ebbs, are taken out of Mr. _Wing_'s Almanack, for this present year 1666, as he calculates them for the Month of _September_ for _London Bridge_. Only, whereas he takes notice but of _one_ High-water for every day, _Here_ are set {312} down the Times of the other, and the two Ebbs intervening, by subdividing the _Differences_, he assignes between two Tides, equally amongst them. In all which, though there may be Errors, that is not to be considered, seeing the Dissein is to Correct and State the _Times_ of the _Tides exactly_ by _Experiments_, after this method. Mr. _Wing_ states the High waters to fall out at _London-Bridge_ constantly, when the Moon is 46. deg. 30. min. to the _West-ward_ of the _Meridian_. For the Times, he marks for them, are made up by adding every day 3. hours, 6 minutes, to those in his _Table_ for knowing the Time of the Moons coming to the South.
The _First Table_ consists of _two_ Parts, and each part of _four Columns_. The _first_ part marks the Tides and Ebbs from the day of the _New_-Moon to its _Full_: The _other_, from the _Full_ to the next _New_. The _first Column_ in both parts hath the day of the Month and Week; _M._ standing every where for _Morning_ and _A._ for _Afternoon_. The _third_ column hath the _Character_ of the day of the Week prefixt to the Hour and Minute of the High-water, and answering to the day of the Month. The _last_ Column hath the same for the time of Low-water, varying the _Character_ of the day, as often as the low-water falls out more early than the High-water. In this _Example_ between the said _New_ Moons there falls out in all just 57. periods of the Tide or Flowing water, and 58. of the Ebb or Low water; which numbers vary according to the Intervals of the Moons changes, but with what constancy and exactness, is to be inquired after: Which whosoever undertakes to do, may keep such a _Table_, as is here proposed, in a Book by it self.
The _other_ Table doth in 9. _Columns_ comprehend the particular Observations of the _Degrees_ of the Rising and falling of the Tides, and the other things specified at the Tops of them: The _first_ Column marking the Hour and Minut common to all the several Observations. Each hour is divided in 3. equal Parts, that number of Observations being only pitch't upon by way of _Example_: The numbers may else be varied at pleasure, when other more frequent Observations are thought fit to be made, or when they prove too frequent and laborious; though the most frequent are most desirable, till competent information of all particulars be attained.
The _Rising_ of the Tide from Low-water to the highest pitcht of the full Sea, is here supposed to be 60. foot: And the Degrees of its rising every 20. Minuts, to be in the _Proportion_ of _Sines_, The whole time of Flowing supposed to be 6. hours. But this _Example_ will serve for marking the _Spaces_ of the Increasing or Rising, as well as of the falling of the water, in order to the investigation of their _Proportions_ to one another, when the _Duration_ of the Tide exceeds 6. hours by any number of _minuts_, as well as for just 6. hours; seeing they may be easily collected from any Number of Observations; their precise Time and that of the Duration of the waters Rising and Falling (that is, the just interval between the High-Water and Low-water) being known: This Calculation by _Sines_, being only set down as a _Conjecture_, flowing from Observations of the Motion of the water in its Rising and Falling, {313} which seems to observe this or some such like Proportion; which is supposed still to hold in _all_ Tides, be the _Duration_ what it will; the Increase still continuing proportionably till the very midle of the Hight and Duration, and Decreasing afterwards in the same manner: Which whether it be so indeed or not, is that, which is desired to be known.
There is the like Proportion here supposed to be in the _different degrees_ of the _Velocity_ of the Current of the Water after _Equal_ spaces of Times, as in its Rising and Falling: And so it is markt in the _Third_ Column. But because the _true Velocity_ of the Current of the Water, raised above the Levell 456/1000 of a foot, is unknown, it is by way of Supposition set at Ten feet in one Minute of an Hour, which being once stated, the rest distant from each other by the space of 20. Minutes of an Hour, are set down according to the same _Proportions_ of _Sines_ before suggested. It being supposed, that of the _Velocity_ of the Current of the Tide, after it hath flowed 20 minuts of an hour, be such, as a Log of Wood placed in the Water will move 10 foot in the space of one minute of time, at the middle of the Tide it will in the like space of Time move 114 f. 276/1000, and so proportionably at other times: Which, howsoever these Proportions shall be found by Experiments to fall out, may be not unworthy of the pains and charges requisite to acquire the knowledge of it. For, besides the satisfaction it may afford upon other accounts, it may possibly be of no small use to those, who need an exact reckoning of their Ships running, when the Velocity of the Current of the Tide may be necessary to be known; lest through the defect of the knowledge of that, especially when it is reckoned less than indeed it is, the Ship be thrown in the night upon Shores, Rocks or Sands, when they reckon themselves to be far from them.
The Numbers in the 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. _Columns_ are set down at random, only for _Examples_ sake; there being no difficulty in the apprehension of it, and imitating of it in setting down the true Hights and Variations of the _Thermometer_, _Baroscope_, &c. The Use whereof is so vulgarly known, that there needs no further Direction concerning them. But if any person who would make these Experiments, do not know the fabrick or use of any of the Instruments requisite for some of these Observations, nor where to have them, he may address himself to Mr. _Shortgrave_, one of the _Operators_ of the _Royal Society_, lodged in _Gresham Colledge_, from whom he will receive full satisfaction about these things.
But the labour employed in the Observations of the Heat, Cold, &c. required to be taken notice of in order to the Ends proposed in the former _Tract_, and others that may be of no less delight than advantage, will be much retrenched, when Dr. _Christopher Wren_ puts in practice, what he some years ago proposed to the _Royal Society_ concerning an _Engine_ with a _Clockwork_, which may perform these Observations in the last enumerate _Columns_, without being toucht or lookt after but once or twice a day.
The Tables themselves follow,
{314}
_A Perpendicular Line divided into _Signes_, supposed to be the _Periods_ of the Risings and Fallings of the Tides, as is in the other Table represented._
1666. Age of Time of High water. Time of Low water. Sept. the moon ho.mi. Day. Hour. Min. Day. Hour. Min. Mo. 3. New Mo. 2. 57. Morn. Mo. 9. 8. Morn. 8.38'. 3. 19. Aftern. 9. 30. Aftern. Tu. 4. Tu. 3. 41. M. Tu. 9. 51½ M. 4. 2. A. 10. 12½ A. We. 5. We. 4. 23. M. We. 10. 33¼ M. 4. 43½ A. 10. 53¾ A. Th. 6. Th. 5. 4. M. Th. 11. 14½ M. 5. 25. A. 11. 35½ A. Fr. 7. Fr. 5. 46. M. Fr. 11. 56½ M. 6. 7. A. Sa. 0. 17½ M. Sa. 8. Sa. 6. 28. M. 0. 39½ A. 6. 51. A. Su. 1. 2½ M. Su. 9. Su. 7. 14. M. 1. 23½ A. 7. 37. A. Mo. 1. 48¼ M. Mo. 10. Mo. 8. 0. M. 2. 13. A. 8. 26. A. Tu. 2. 39. M. Tu. 11. 1. Qu. Tu. 8. 52. M. 3. 5. A. 10 A. 9. 18. A. We. 3. 31. M. Mo. 12. Mo. 9. 44. M. 3. 57¾ A. 10. 11½ A. Th. 4. 25¼ M. Th. 13. Th. 10. 39. M. 4. 53. A. 11. 7. A. Fr. 5. 21. M. Fr. 14. Fr. 11. 35. M. 5. 49. A. Sa. 15. Sa. 0. 3. M. Sa. 6. 17. M. 0. 31. A. 6. 45. A. Su. 16. Su. 0. 59. M. Su. 7. 13. M. 1. 27. A. 7. 41. A. Mo. 17. Mo. 1. 55. M. Mo. 8. 9. M. 2. 23. A. 8. 36¾ A.
Tu. 18. Full. Tu. 2. 50½ M. Tu. 9. 4¼ M. 11.10'. 3. 19. A. 9. 31¼ A. We. 19. We. 3. 45. M. We. 9. 58½ M. 4. 11. A. 10. 25½ A. Th. 20. Th. 4. 39. M. Th. 10. 52½ M. 5. 6. A. 11. 20. A. Fr. 21. Fr. 5. 34. M. Fr. 11. 48. M. 6. 2. A. 0. 16. A. Sa. 22. Sa. 6. 30. M. Sa. 0. 44. A. 6. 58. A. Su. 1. 12½ M. Su. 23. Su. 7. 27. M. 1. 41½ A. 7. 36. A. Mo. 2. 10¼ M. Mo. 24. Mo. 8. 24½ M. 2. 38¾ A. 8. 53. A. Tu. 3. 6¾ M. Tu. 25. Tu. 9. 20½ M. 3. 34¼ A. 9. 48. A. We. 4. 1¾ M. We. 26. last Q We. 10. 15½ M. 4. 29¼ A. 3.11' 10. 43. A. Th. 4. 56½ M. Th. 27. Th. 11. 10. M. 5. 23½ A. 11. 37. A. Fr. 5. 48. M. Fr. 28. Fr. 11. 59. M. 6. 10. A. Sa. 29. Sa. 0. 21. M. Sa. 6. 32. M. 0. 43. A. 6. 54. A. Su. 30. Su. 1. 5. M. Su. 7. 16. M. Octob. 1. 27. A. 7. 38. A. Mo. 1. Mo. 1. 49. M. Mo. 7. 59. M. 2. 9. A. 8. 19. A. Tu. 2. Tu. 2. 29. M. Tu. 8. 39. M. New. 2. 49. A. 8. 59. A. We. 3. 1.38' We. 3. 9. M. We. 9. 19. M.
1666. Rising, and Thermo- Hygro- Sept. 3. fall of Tides metre scope Hour. M. Foot /1000 Inch /10 Inch /10 Velocity of Baro- Azimuth. Force the Current scope of the Wind Foot /1000 Inch /10 deg. deg. 00, 000. 0, 000. Weather XII. 00. 00, 000. 6. 7. 28. 1. 3. 4. S. to W. 50. 3. 0, 456. Rain great 20. 10, 000. 6. 7. 28. 1. 3. 4. S. to W. 57. 3. 1, 353. Rain great 40. 36, 250. 6. 8. 28. 1. 3. 4. S. to W. 60. 3. 2, 211. Rain small I. 00. 48, 587. 6. 8. 28. 1. 3. 3. S. W. 45. 4. 3, 000. Rain small 20. 66, 658. 6. 8. 28. 1. 3. 2. S. W. 30. 4. 3, 696. Rain very small 40. 81, 053. 6. 9. 28. 2. 3. 1. S. W. 36. 4. 4, 284. Fair but cloudy II. 00. 93, 289. 6. 9. 28. 2. 3. 0. S. W. 39. 5. 4, 740. Fair and warm 20. 103, 289. 6. 8. 28. 1. 2. 7. S. W. 42. 5. 5, 049. Warm and cloudy 40. 110, 724. 6. 8. 28. 2. 2. 3. S. W. 19. 6. 5, 211. Sunshine III. 00. 114, 276. 6. 8. 28. 2. 2. 0. S. W. 60. 5. 5, 211. Sunshine and clear 20. 110, 724. 6. 7. 28. 3. 2. 1. S. W. 73. 5. 5, 049. Sun clouded 40. 103, 289. 6. 7. 28. 3. 2. 0. S. W. 90. 6. 4, 740. Cloudy IIII. 00. 93, 289. 6. 6. 28. 3. 2. 1. S. W. 90. 6. 4, 284. Hazy about the Horiz. 20. 81, 053. 6. 6. 28. 4. 2. 3. N. W. 87. 6. 3, 696. Misty 40. 66, 658. 6. 5. 28. 4. 2. 3. N. W. 70. 7. 3, 000. Misty V. 00. 48, 487. 6. 4. 28. 4. 2. 3. N. W. 59. 7. 2, 211. Clearing up 20. 36, 250. 6. 2. 28. 5. 2. 3. N. W. 50. 6. 1, 353. Clear 40. 10, 000. 6. 1. 28. 5. 2. 1. N. W. 60. 5. 0, 456. Sunshine VI. 00. 00, 000. 6. 0. 28. 5. 2. 0. N. W. 60. 4. 0, 000. Sunshine
{315}
* * * * *
_Other Inquiries Concerning the Sea._
The _Publisher_ of these _Tracts_, knowing that the Honorable _Robert Boyle_ had not left unconsidered the Natural History of the _Sea_, of which Subject the late, and these present Papers, have entertained the _Reader_ as to the Observables of its _Flux_ and _Reflux_; He was on this occasion instant, with that Gentleman to impart to him, for publication, these Heads of Inquiries, he had drawn up, touching that Subject: Which having obtained (though the _Author_ desires, they may be lookt upon as unfinisht) he thus subjoyns.
What is the Proportion of Salt, that is in the Water of differing Seas; And whether in the same Sea it be always the same? And if it be not, how much it differs?
[Sidenote: * _This last Clause containing difficult _Quaere_ and that may seem something odd, Mr. _Boyl_ thinks fit to note, That having recommended this matter, among others, to a learned Physician, that was sailing into _America_, and furnished him with a small _Hydrostaticall_ Instrument, to observe from time to time the Differences of Gravity he might meet with; This account was returned him, That he found by the Glass, the Sea-water to increase in weight, the nearer he came to the _Line_, till he arrived at a certain Degree of _Latitude_; as he remembers, it was about the 30th; after which, the Water seemed to retain the same specifick gravity, till he came to the _Barbadoes_, or _Jamaica_._]
What is the Gravity of Sea-waters in reference to Fresh Waters and to one another: Whether it vary not in Summer and Winter, and on other Scores? And whether in the same Season its Gravity proceed _only_ from the greater or lesser Proportion of Salt, that is in it, and not sometimes from other Causes? And what are the differing Gravities of the Sea-water, according to the Climats. *
What are the Odors, Colours and Tasts, observable in Sea-water?
What is the depth of the sea in several places, and the Order of its increase and Decrements? And whether the Bottom of the Sea does always rise towards the Shore, unless accidentally interrupted?
Of the Bottom of the Sea, and how it differs from the Surface of the Earth, in reference to the Soyl, and evenness or Roughness of the Superficies, And the Stones, Minerals and Vegetables to be found there?
What the Figuration of the Seas from North to South, and from East to West, and in the several Hemispheres and Climats?
What communication there is of Seas by Streights and Subterraneal Conveyances?
Of the Motion of the Sea by Winds, and how far Storms reach downwards towards the Bottom of the Sea?
[Sidenote: * _The particulars whereof (saith the Author) are here omitted; Sir _Robert Moray_ and Dr. _Wallis_ having by there more accurate inquiries about _Tides_ made them needless._]