promise to our selves that our not understanding how actuall cold and an effectually cooling quality can consist with radical heat will avert from us the odious attribute of presumption and conciliat a favourable construction to this our singularity and non-adherence to Antiquity because that distinction never was nor could be applied to any without controversie hot body not salinous as to the spirit of Wine Oyl of Cloves Cinnamon Mustard c. any of which being mixed with the most cooling liquor will without controversie diminish its frigidity 2. Aqua fortis the spirits of Vitriol and Brimstone the spirit of common Salt the Oyl of Tartar by deliquation which is the Salt of Tartar dissolved into a liquor by the humide air in a cold or subterrancal place the Oyl of common Salt by deliquation c do extinguish the fire as doth the coldest water Therefore they are in their first qualities heterogeneal to fire for such bodies only are and ought to be vulgarly called homogeneal to fire in their first qualities which do contain some matter which becometh nourishment unto fire Salts and Salinous bodies only excepted and that is only Sulphur it from if it be almost insipide as the Sulphur â—r Oyls of sweet Almonds Olives c. before they become rancide then the body which containeth it is not called hot but temperat in heat but if the Sulphur bâ— very sapide and do affect the taste much the body wherein it doth reside is called hot and its degreeâ— of heat are commensurat by the degrees of its sapidity Now every pure Salt is altogether destitute of such matter Moreover the frigidity of bodieâ— which are estimat cold should likewise be measureâ— by their different degrees of sapidity as Cichory is colder than Lettice and the juyce of a Limon is colder than either and the spirit of Vitriol is the coldest of all the four c. Neither is this contrary to the common saying of Phâ—losphers viz. that water is the coldest of all bodies for that is only to be asserted of the pute elementary water which is not to be found amongst us and unto which without all controversie frigidity in the highest degree is as proper as siccity humidity and calidity are unto the Elements of Earth Air and Fire So that it is more then probable that as the refrigerating cold of some springing waters doth hugely surpass the same quality in common fountain water so likewise the frigidity of the elementary water doth surpass that of the spirit of Vitriol and springing water as far as the strength of Aqua fortis doth the strength of the juice of Limons in dissolving of Pearls both which do operat after the same manner only dissolving them into pouder without 〈◊〉 I roying their natural temperaments which five doth when it dissolveth them or any thing 〈◊〉 all which do undeniably evince this that Corrosives are not of a fiery and hot temperament 3. Every Fixed-salt doth naturally attract those things which are cold and humide as Water and Air therefore it is in its first qualities frigidity and humidity homogeneal to them Moreover as the action of the spirit of Wine Aqua-vitae c. upon Oyls whereby they dissolve them and unite them unto themselves doth argue the Oyls viz. of Cinnamon Anise c. and spirits to be homogeneal so likewise we do most probably conceive that the dissolution of Salts by water doth demonstrat the homogeneity of their natures For no natural body which is in its natural estate doth naturally appetize or attract its contrary Nor is it contrary unto this that an animal whose stomach is distempered with calidity and siccity naturally desireth a humide and refrigerating body because that stomach is not in its natural estate neither is it the stomach but the Animal whose the stomach is which desireth the curation of the morbifick distemper by a humide and refrigerating body You would here take notice that the cause of Thirst which is by Aristotle in his second Book of the Soul called a desire after a humide and frigide body is two-fold external and internal each whereof is either hot or corrosive and cold For corrosives are really different from such things as are hot as shall afterwards appear from what hath been and is to be said 1. The internal hot cause of thirst is a hot distemper of the whole body as in a Feaver or of some part of it as of the Stomach Liver c. 2. The external hot cause of thirst is the radical heat of meat or drink existing in their sulphureous parts which produceth a hot distemper in the stomach c. 3. The internal corrosive cause of thirst is a bilious salt and corrosive humor which corrodeth the skin of the stomach and by motion in the solution of continuity conciliateth heat in the corroded part only whereas the heat of meat and drink do sometimes produce a hot distemper in the whole body each of whose parts after the concoctions it permeateth 4. The external corrosive cause of thirst is the corrosive salts of meat and drink which do corrode the stomach as before For the cure of thirst proceeding from a hot cause whether external or internal a body radically and actually cold and humide is necessarily required But for the cure of thirst proceeding from a corrosive cause a humide body radically only though not actually cold is sufficient wherein the Salts may be dissolved which being done in a copious humide body they become so debilitat that they cannot any more corrode the skin of the stomach for disjoyned virtue or strength is weaker Now this solution is more easily effectuat in a humide body which is actually hot than in one which is cold This sort of thirst is curable also by Pearls Coral c. For when such things are put into the stomach the Salt of the corrosive humor doth affix it self to the atoms of the Pearls Coral c. and so the humor is dulcified as is Vinegar when affused to Corals Red-lead c. and loseth its corrosive quality and then the thirst ceaseth Here we cannot but inquire after the cause and cure of that common and troublesome distemper vulgarly called the Heart-scade We conceive that it is caused by acide and corrosive humors which being congested into the stomach do irritat its expultrix faculty so that they are constrained to mount upwards to the throat where the greatest pain and trouble is found because the corrosive humor having excoriat the Oesophage or Wezand it is still most sensible of the mordication of the humor which is most active upon the uppermost part upon which it beateth with violence So this may be called an imperfect vomiting because there is but little or nothing expelled at the mouth the humor descending again into the stomach The cure of this turbulent distemper consisteth 1. either in the evacuation of the peccant humor which is the perfect cure or 2. in the correcting of its
to sulphur that is perfectly digested and which is inflamable of it self of which fort are the fulphureous parts of Brimstone and Coals because the salt which detaineth the sulphur cannot prohibit it's inflamation seing the most abundant salts of Brimstone do not hinder the inflamation of it's combustible sulphur 6. Aqua-fortis destilled Vinegar c. do not burn therefore they are neither hot nor firy for such things as are burned or consumed by fire cannot be refuscitated and their proper temperaments are destroyed as when Stones Salts Iron Antimony c. are vitrified by fire but such things as are dissolved as it were burned and annihilated by Aqua-fortis destilled Vinegar c. their proper temperament is not destroyed and they can be resusitated for what is the precipitation of Coral and of such like who have been dissolved by the fore-mentioned Liquors but their resuscitation And when they are resuscitated they are endued with the same virtues where-with they were enriched before their solution as is confessed by all Physicians who prescribe this manner of their preparation and then make use of them as more effectual then formerly But some perchance will say they are not intirely resuscitated nor can they be reduced to their pristine estate As for example it is impossible to convert Lead which was dissolved by destilled Vinegar and afterward separated from it by precipitation and converted into Ceruss into Lead again as it was I did truly essay this but to no purpose for this matter cannot be liquified without the most intense heat of the fire and then it is only converted into a matter like unto the litharge of Gold the reason whereof is most probably thus viz that the corrosive salt of Vinegar which hath affixed it self unto the atoms of the Lead can never be separated from them for which consult the Animadversions of Dr. John Zuelfer upon the Magisterial gouder described in the Augustan Pharmacopoeia and prohibiteth the liquation of those atoms which of themselves are most easily melted before that it self be melted which requireth a most intense degree of heat for it is of the same nature with the salt of Tartar as was said which is nor easily melted These things are most true and being calculated according to their seeming altitude in the meridian of reason would appear to be nearer the Zenith of truth than our sixth argument But the contrary will evidently appear if you consider that it happeneth not so in all for although you should a thousand times dissolve and as it were annihilat Quick-silver by the strongest corrosives and causticks as they call them yet a little heat will revivify it again and cause it recuperat its pristine form Proteus-like And yet the self same Quick-silver which is most impatient of the heat of fire for it flyeth from its vesicating and depilating degree and far more rather its actual touch by which it is quite dissipated esheweth not the most intense somniat heat of corrofive bodies nor is it dissipated thereby but only converted into most minute atoms and that without the destruction of its proper and natural temperament Therefore such things as are as it were burned by corrosives are not burned and destroyed by any fiery and hot substance but only converted into most small atoms by a corrosive and cold one without the destruction of their proper and natural temperaments It is no small ground of admiration to me that no Chymicall writer which I have seen or heard of did ever expresly assign unto their Principles or Elements first qualities as did the Peripatetick Philosophers who attributed heat to fire hismidity to air frigidity to water and siccity to earth I will therefore further attempt the proving of Salt to be radically cold and Sulphur hot from the most learned assertions of the most admirably ingenious Physician Dr. Thomas Willis I will begin with the last being least controverted and soonest dispatched In his Diatriba Medico-Philosophico de fermentatione cap. 2. cui Titulus Chymicorum Principiorum descriptio corum proprietates assertiones where writing of Sulphur he asserteth thus Rei cujusque temperies quoad calorem consistentiam amabilem texturam à sulphure imprimis dependet i. e. The temperature of every thing as to heat consistence and lovely texture doth originally depend upon Sulphur As to the first that salt is radically cold in that 2. chap. of salt he writeth thus Rebus compactionem soliditatem nec non pondus durationem largitur corporum dissolutiones retardat congelationes coagulationes promovet putredini corruptioni inflamabilitati plurimum resistit The knowledge of those things pertaining only to such whose literature doth capacitat them to understand them as they are here set down and it being impossible to express them so significantly in Scots I will not molest the Reader with a Translation but only deduce my consequence from them I am confident that none who have any knowledge of Nature and her admirable works will deny that the most compact Diamond solid Gold ponderous Lead durable Silver bodies are radically cold the existence of which quality in them is further demonstrat by their long resisting the violence of fire which is the most violent and agile dissolver of the natural unity of Bodies their congelation and coagulation whereby they are capacitat to deny obedience to the greatest violence excepting that of malleation when thereby required to alter their natural circum-scription by their own supersicies as also by their incapacity of being putrified corrupted or inflamed If then the most compact solide ponderous and durable bodies c. be radically cold it is undenyable that that from which they have these properties is far more such for propter quod unum-quodque est tale id ipsum est magis tale Moreover doth not only their resisting of the violence of fire demonstrat their natural qualities to be opposite to those of fire Whatever shall be said to the contrary of this I am most confident that it is most undenyable in all other things Further our fore-mentioned Author whose ingeniosity shall never be sufficiently admired in his Diatriba de Febribus cap. 3. he writeth thus Rigoris aut frigoris calori praecedanei in febribus intermittentibus causa est succi nutritii portio quae insignem acorem contraxit quo partes nervosas valdè pungit vellicat atque frigoris sensum incutit non secus ac Cervisia novella quae utribus inclusa à dulci in acidum nitrosum saporem transit ut prae acore frigiditate vix deglutiri poterit cum hujusmodi crudi succi particulae nitroso acore praeditae in fluore esse incipiunt spiritus vitales acore suo primo obtundunt calorem nonnihil obruunt quare sanguis frigidior existit tardius circulatur quin ob caloris defectum sensus frigoris in toto corpore percipitur Ex praedictis ni fallor manifeste sequitur 1. Sanguinem in
shall most wilingly acknowledge an errour in the interim In magnis voluisse sat est That is In things of great excellency Let the endeavour satisfie And upon this account we will plead for pardon for there is no man ΑΠΑÎΤΑ ΣΟΦΟΣ I. E. Omniscient AN APPENDIX Concerning the saltness of the SEA c. THat the truth of what hath been said may shine more clearly we must refull some opinions of D. John French who in the 2. Chapter and 22. page of his Book entituled the Yorkshire Spau asserteth That there can no other reason be given for hâ—t springs than the fire which burns in the very cavities and caverns of them the cavities themselves consisting of or rather being replenished with a Bituminous matter For Bitumen and these things which are made of it being kindled burn in water as Camphire also doth a very long time which could not be unless it were fed by the moisture of the water which it did attract and convert into its own nature And in the 14. Chapter concerning the putidâ— Sulpher-well about the middle of page 107. The stinking odour thereof I suppose is caused from the vaporâ— of the burning Bitumen and adust terreness mixt therewith which lye nor far from the head of the Will And page 106. the â—aliness of the Sea proceedeth from the Salt of the burnt Bitumen which is dissolved in the water that ranÌ„ through these veins of the earth wherein it was which page 106. and 107. he confirmeth by the example of the Lake called Asphaltites And in the beginning of the 108. page he asserteth That it cannot be rationally conceived that the whole Sea received all its salt into its self at one time after a natural way and therefore being such a great body must become sultish by little and little even insensibly The falsehood of these opinions will manifestly appear by considering 1. That it is more like an untruth than a truthâ— that there is a perpetual subterraneal fire of burning Bitumen which doth naturally heat the wawater 1. Because it is not probable that there was ever so much Bitumen in any subterraneal place as would by itâ— flame have heated the waters which do every where spring out of hot fountains 2. Neither is it probable that there is so much air in any cavity of the earth as would necessarily for to avoid the penetration of dimensions give place to so much flame as would hear so much water 3. If the inflamed Bitumen did producâ— the foresaid heat then the fire would change 〈◊〉 place when it followeth its aliment and so the water of the fountains would not be alwaies impregnat with the same degree of heat because the fire which heateth them would not alwaies be equidistant from the fountains In the 25. page of the forementioned Book the Author answereth to this argument saying that flame is nourished two wayes 1. When it followeth its food as in the burning of wood 2. When the food followeth the flame as doth Oyl in a Lamp and thus saith he is the flame of the Bitumen nourished neither is this falsified by the flame of Brimstone which followeth the mater For saith he the Bitumen is melted by the great heat and so it followeth the flame and continueth the flame in the same place But I reply 1. That flame doth alwaies follow its food neither doth Oyl follow the flame in a Lamp but one part of the Oyl being continuous to another doth follow it whilst it is a consuming by the flame That you may the better understand this you would take notice of the reason why some sulphureous bodies as Camphire Turpentine c. do of themselves take and conserve flame when others as Tallow Bees-wax Oyl of Olives c. do neither take nor conserve it but by the help of others as of Linnen cloath Paper Rushes c. The cause of these things we conceive yea affirm to be this that the first sort are bodies which contain much Salt for they are very sapide which doth still detain the Sulphur even when it is converted into flame and the last sort are bodies almost void of Salt because insipide almost which do not take flame because they cannot conserve it unless they be associat to the Sulphur of another body containing much Salt which detaineth its proper Sulphur and so take flame with it From these things it doth appear that flame doth alwaies follow its food especially seing the threeds of the Candle and Lamp do wast and consume by the flame whilst it followeth the Sulphur of the threeds which is its food whose consumption is retarded by the Tallow in the Candle and Oyl in the Lamp which do nourish it 2. It is not probable that all the Bitumen is liquified 1. Because the flame of the kindled Bitumen liquifieth only the parts which are nearest to its self as happeneth in a Candle Brimstone red Wax c. 2. Whosoever will say that the Bitumen followeth the flame because it is melted he must also confess that there is some other sire beneath or above the Bitumen which melteth it and this would infer the absurd progress in infinitum 3. Nor can the flame of the kindled Bitumen by heating the caverns of the earth liquifie the rest of the Bitumen because as was said it is not probable that there is a place in the bowels of the earth which would contain so much flame as would by its heat liquifie all the Bitumen which is within four five or six miles unto it the contrary whereof must of necessity be confessed by him who will assert that the flame of the kind led Bitumen changeth not its place by following its food 2. It is most falâ—… that Bitumen Camphire and such like which burn in water do retain their flame longer than if they were out of the water because they convert it into their own nature by which means it becometh food to the flame but the cause of their longer burning in the water is rather because their external supersices the uppermost only excepted are humected by the water which prohibiteth the flame to seize upon all their external parts as happeneth when they are inflamed out of the water and so they burn longer because a few only of their parts are inflamed No man who will be at the pains to put a little inflamed Camphire into water will question the truth of this For he will see the flame excavat the Camphire and at length extinguished when it penetrateth unto the external parts into which the water hath insinuat it self 3. Although the flame of Bitumen were in the veins of the earth yet its vapors could not communicat any putide smell unto the water 1. Because of the fore-mentioned reasons when we wrote of inflamed Brimstone 2. Because they contain no terrestrial adust matter For 1. no such matter capable to communicat such a smell doth ascend from any body whilst it is a destilling and far less therefore
the cause why multitudes of them are molested with Vlcers of all sorts Caucers especially I do acknowledge that elsewhere Logh-leeches will sometimes fall off ere they be full But the cause of this is the exuberancy of blood which cometh so impetuously upon them that it is like to choak them for which they desist from sucking as children ordinarily do when the Nurse her milk doth molest them after the same manner For the same reason also the most part of strangers who go to reside in the Isles of Orkney are at first molested with a Diarrhaea or Flux the acrimonious saltness of the bread and drink irritating the expultrix faculty more than ordinary untill it be accustomed with the same This also is the reason why the inhabitants there for the most part do require a far stronger dose of any purgative or vomitive medicine than those who live in the South because their expultrix faculty being accustomed with the acrimony of bread and drink which will prove purgative unto others who are not accustomed unto it requireth a stronger medicinal exciter We thought it not unworthy of our pains to offer unto the consideration of Naturalists and Mathematicians our opinion concerning the flux and reflux of the Sea before that we should have put a close to these things concerning the Sea and it is thus seing the Moon doth by her presence refrigerat all sublunary bodies especially the air and seing fixed salt doth attract the cold air sooner and better than the hot we conceive that the fixed salt which was concreated with the Sea and dissolved in its water doth abundantly attract the air that was cooled or so disposed by some other quality that it might be the more easily attracted by the salt by the presence of theâ— Moon or of the opposit point in its sphere and so the quantity of the water is greatly augmented and the water is again by little and little converted into air when the air loseth its foresaid quality by the departure of the Moon or of its opposit point from the meridian This opinion is sufficiently proven by this argument viz. that Sea-stones which are most saltish do attract the air when it is altered as was said and do become so wet that water droppeth down from them But when the air loseth its foresaid alteration then the water is again converted into air and the stones become dry like others Moreover this humectation of the stones doth as it were observe the set times of the flux and reflux of the Sea It is true that in very moist weather these stones will be constantly wet because of the frigidity of the air but yet they are more wet when the Moon is in the meridiau than at other times so that this doth not in the least render our opinion improbable From what hath been said it may probably be concluded 1. that the sea-Sea-water is not so saltish when the Tide is at the height as when it is a Low-water because then its salt is dissolved in a greater quantity of water 2. That Sea-water taken from the Ocean would observe the set times of the increase and decrease of the Sea if it were put into a Weather-glass or a glass of the same fashion hermetically sealed seing it is impregnat with an active principle Salt whereof common water is destitute which nevertheless doth alter according to the mutations of the air by occupying of a larger place at sometimes and a lesser at another Having since the publication of this opinion in Latine more seriously considered it we conceive it needfull now to declare that we do not believe this most real transmutation of air and water to be the adequat and only cause of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea but that it is not one of the least considerable causes of this most admirable effect the full and exact knowledge of whose causes it seemeth the Almighty hath reserved unto himself These things we do freely offer unto all to be censured according to the difference of opinions concerning them Some Spagyrical operations of nature added in stead of a Conclusion THe first is Destillation For vapors being elevated into the second region of the air which is cold as the head of a Still are there condensed and do from thence fall down in drops 2. Sublimation as it were of Snow 3. Chrystallization of Sal-Gemmae Ice and Hail 4. Coagulation of Sea-salt by the heat of the Sun 5. Calcination of Horse-hones and of other animals which die in the fields by the solar rayes 6. Filtration of water through the veins of the earth for it is most limpide which cometh out of fountains 7. Dulcification of Sea-water whilst it passeth through the bowels of the earth for it is the very same being sweetned which springeth in fountains Ecclesiastes 1.7 8. Circulation of Salino-Sulphureous spirits in thesu perfice of the Sea of which before The transmutation of the Elements also is a kind of circulation 9. Salification of Nitre in the concavities of Caves and Vaults 10. Fermentation which doth alwayes preceed generation for there is no corruption without an antecedent fermentation as appeareth from the premisses 11. Solution of Minerals by water which is impregnat with some corrosive salt as was said concerning Antimony in the description of Moffet-Well 12. Conflagration of Thunder 13. Aurification in the veins of the earth which many Spagiricks have in vain essayed to imitat upon its superfice Therefore the Spagyrical Art is a most excellent imitatrix of Nature from whose principles and operations we may collect most probable causes for almost all effects whether natural or artificial THE OYLY-WELL OR A Topographico Spagyricall description of the Oyly-Well at St. Catharines-chappel in the Paroch of Libberton To this is subjoyned MONSTRUM CATHANESIENSE OR A description c. BY MATTHEW MACKAILE Chyrurgo-Medicine Edinburgh Printed for Robert Brown and are to be sold at his Shop at the Sign of the Sun on the north-side of the Street over against the Cross 1664. The Epistle to the Reader Courteous Reader I have yet again adventured to lanch forth into the Ocean of the World in this little Vessel which doth not deserve the observation of any where so many others more excellent and stately do appear adorned with the sinest sails of rational discourses supported by the surest experiments and furnished with most irresistible arguments which do conclude only the weightiest of truths for the routing and sinking into silence of those irrational Pirats who do what they can altogether to hinder our arrival at the haven of verity were it not because of the rarity and usefulness of the commodities which she carrieth For surely they will be delectable to some and usefull to all who have had so great a benefit by Nature conferred upon them as is understanding not to abuse that which might prove usefull for them They are such things as have passed through the Refrigeratory of my vulgar Brain and which
the fermentation of fresh Fleshes 3. Or where there is not a free egress given to the superfluous though not abounding humidity as when a green herb or piece of flesh wrapped up in a two or three-fold cloath doth putrifie whereas it would have been fermented and dryed without putrefaction if it had been hung up in the open air 4. All savour or smell whether pleasant or unpleasant proceedeth from the evaporating Sulphur for such things as are most sulphureous are most odoriferous whilst the Sulphur is evaporating as Camphire Turpeutine c. But Stones Mettals c. which are almost destitute of all combustible Sulphur are likewise also destitute of smell And there be many very sulphureous bodies which are void of smell before the Sulphur begin to evaporat as the recent Vrine of a Man and the flesh of new mactat animals which smell most abominably whilst their Sulphur is evaporating in their fermentation And yellow Lamer which is void of all smell containeth a most odoriferus Oyl as appeareth when it is destilled or inflamed 5. Salt detaineth Sulphur and to its power prohibiteth its evaporation And this is the reason why the recent Vrine of a Man smelleth not For whensoever the Salt of the Vrine which also stinketh because of a little Sulphur which it detaineth united to its self beginneth to be separated from it and affixed to the sides of the Matule the Sulphur beginneth to evaporat and the loathsome smell ariseth Likewise fresh fleshes for the same reason have no abominable smell and the future putide and loathsome savour is prevented by the admistion of Salt For the Sulphur of salted fleshes is fixed and detained by the Salt so that it cannot recrudesce nor evaporat abundantly with any abominable savour and the putrefaction is also exiled by the Salt which doth not absume as some do ridiculously affirm but contemperat the supersluous humidity as before 6. Brimstone not inflamed doth scarcely emit any savour because its combustible Sulphur is by its Salts fixed as well as volatile detained from evaporating Now that Brimstone containeth salts fixed and volatile is hence proven that out of its dross after the separation or consumption of its combustible Sulphur the former is extracted by lixiviation and it is the latter which being resolved into smoak and ascending into the vitreous campane is by the humide air resolved into a most sharp spirit or spiritous liquour which falleth down into the other campane which is the receiver and it is called the Oyl or spirit of Brimstone by the Campane or Bell. 7. The quality of the vapors of inflamed Brimstone which affecteth the Nostrils is not so much a smell as a corrosive quality existing in the Volatile-salt resolved into smoak as was said which doth mordicat the tender skin of the Nostrils penetrateth into the brain perturbeth it and deceiveth the sense and sometimes killeth as is demonstrat by its killing of Bees for all smell proceedeth from the evaporating combustible Sulphur as was formerly proven but the combustible Sulphur of Brimstone doth not evaporat when it is inflamed because it is totally converted into flame and consumed and none of it doth evaporat or is converted into smoak with the volatile salt for if from inflamed Brimstone sulphureous smoak doth ascend with the salinous into the vitreous campane why are not the former condensed into a sulphureous as the latter are into a salinous liquor Moreover no sulphureous body which is void of volatile salt emitteth smoak when it is inflamed unless it be blown upon by wind and so a little of the flame be extinguished and converted into smoak as Sheeps-tallow c. But the smoak of Lamer Camphire and such like inflamed bodâ—es is only the volatile salt resolved into smoak which any man will confess when he shall in vain have sought for a sulphureous and combustible liquor amongst the foresaid condensed smoaks which become either a salt only or a spiritous liquor as was said concerning the volatile salt of Brimstone Likewise no sixed salt doth emit any salinous vapors when it is melted by the fire and therefore in the destilling of such salts as of Nitre Sea-salt c. the double quantity of some Earth as of Bole of Armenia calcined Allom Sand c. is usually mixed with them that their fusion may be hindred for the heat of the fire doth sooner convert the atoms of the salt which are separate from one another by being mixed with the atoms of the Earth into a spirit then if they were united into a liquor by fusion for united virtue or strength is stronger for operating or resisting and contrariwise and the atoms of the Earth do impede the union of the salinous which are melted by the heat and converted into a spiritous vapor But some perchance will say if the quality of inflamed Brimstone which affecteth the nostrils were only a corrosive quality existing in the volatile salt then the forementioned spirit of Brimstone which is its volatile salt dissolved into a liquor by the humide air cast upon burning coals would emit a smoak endued with a corrosive quality which would affect the nostrils trouble the brain and deceive the sense as before To this I answer that this cometh not to pass because the volatile salt in which only the corrosive quality doth exist is detained by the fixed salt of the coals which doth prohibit its evaporation with the humide air which was first converted into water and is again resolved into smoak The truth of these things will afterwards better appear in the answers to the first and second Objections 8. From the premisses we conclude that the whole substance almost of Brimstone consisteth not in a rotten smell and that it cannot in a natural manner communicat to any earth or water an unsavoury smell whether natural called foetor or unnatural called putor For only the salts of Tartar and Lime can produce the solution in water and indâ—gestion from whence proceedeth the putide smell which it communicateth to water of the combustible Sulphur of Brimstone as in the composition of Lac sulphuris For when Brimstone is boiled in water with the salt of Tartar the combustible Sulphur with the salts being by boyling associated to the salt of Tartar becometh dissolved in the water which before its fermentation smelleth no otherwise than Brintstone which is not inflamed Now the fermentation of this water thus impregnat is 1. subitaneous when some drops of destilled Vinegar are instilled into it for then the salt of Tartar doth associat it self to its like according to the proverb viz. the salt of Vinegar both which have their original from Wine And after the precipitation of the pouder it relinquisheth some of the combustible Sulphur mixed with the water which incontinent becometh indigested and beginneth to evaporat because it is dissolved in a strange humide body and is associated to a strange salt which cannot hinder its evaporation from whence proceedeth the
whilst it is a burning 2. Because smell proceedeth only from Sulphur whereof such earth which did pass through the sire would be most destitute It were therefore more consonant to reason and truth to say that the pâ—…tide smell of the fountain of which this Author writeth doth proceed from the Sulphur of Bitumen or of any other thing which is recrudescing and evaporating whilst it is a fermenting 4. Seing the Sea is a great body it is more probable that all its salt was concreated with it in the very instant of its creation than that its saltness was by little and little communicated unto it by the salt of the Bitumen which was burned in the caverns of the earth For 1. seing sea-salt which nature coagulateth in many places as at the Rochel in France and in many places of Spain is such an usefull and necessary thing for man it is incredible that God who created so great a variety of creatures for the use of man did not at the beginning creat it with the rest than many of which it is more usefull 2. Seing every pound of Sea-water containeth about a drachin of salt and the Asphaltick ' Bitumen which is found upon the shore of the Lake Asphaltites which is called eminently saltish scarcely containeth any saltness that 's perceptible by the taste it is probable that a mass of Bitumen though calcined and equiponderating the terrestrial Globe could not communicat so great and perceptible saltness to so great a body as the Sea is Moreover the ashes of the Asphaltick Bitumen from which the Sulphur is separated by burning do scarcely contain any saltness for it is a sulphureous body which of it self will hardly take or retain flame unless it be associat to the Sulphur of burning coals 3. Seing it is most probable that the saltness of the Asphaltick lake proceedeth not from the Bitumen which is not dissolved in the water but swimmeth only above upon it and is thereby at length ejected upon the shoreâ— it is more probable that neither the fastness of the Occan is communicated unto it by the Bittimen seing it containeth no such matter 4. Seing 1. the Lâ—kâ— Asphaâ—…es is in the same place where were Sodâ—m Gomorrah and the valley which was full of bitumenous or slymie Genes 14.10 and salt See the English Annotations on Joshua 15.62 pâ—ts 2. Seing then the foresaid Cities and vâ—lley were calcined or incinerat by Fire and Brimstone which we proved to be most faltish which came down from heaven Gon. 19.24,25 3. Seing the ashes of all calcined bodies do contain a fixed salt which naturally attracteth the humide air that so it may be dissolved by diâ—…quation without all doubt the great saltness of that Lake which is called eminently saltish proceedeth only from the ashâ—s of those things which were then calcined whose salt did attract the humidt air which did convert it into a liquor which was afterwards augmented by Rain and the Rivulets which ran that way So that it is probable that that water is 〈◊〉 for no other cause seing there are many great Lakes whose sweet waters do peretrat as far into the bowels of the earth as the waters of the Asphaltick-lake and many bayes of the Sea do Moreover this continual attraction of the air because of the Salino-sulphurcous spirit that is diffused through it produceth in the air a perpetual circulation of suâ—phureous and salâ—nous spirits for the fixed salt of the water attracteth the saline-sulphureous spirit and the more volauâ—e parts whether salinous or sulphureous which are dissolved in the strange humide body do constantly attempt an avolation which rendreth the birds valetu â—inary when they transvolat the Lake and at length killeth them And it is the very-like circulation of spirits which causeth persons who are not accustomed to navigation upon the Sâ—a nauseat or vomit when these salinous and suâ—phureous spirits which are in their circulatory motion do enter the body with the air Now that there is such a salino-sulphureous spirit which is the universal yet subservient to the first cause of generation really existing in nature is sufficiently proven by these four not ordinary arguments 1. The earth which was within the limits of the flux and reâ—…ux of the Sea remaineth barren for a time after that the Sea deserteth it viz. untill that Salino-sulphureous spirit have insinuat it self into it for whensoever this cometh to pass then all sorts of vegetables whose seeds or roots were seminated or planted there or brought thither by the rain from circum-jâ—cent places begin to germinat in it 2 It is the very Salino sulphureous spirit which insinuateth it self into the earth that is almost most barren and maketh it more fertile when it is not manured for two or three years and the penetration of this spirit into the ground is promoved by the relicts of its proper Salt which attracteth it But when earth that hath not been manured for a long time becometh barren which happeneth sometimes as I was informed by one skilfull in Agriculture that ought to be ascribed unto the super-abundance of spirits which doth often impede generation for a woman immediatly before her menstrual flux doth seldom conceive For which look the second Thes that was disputed in medicinal School at Paris Nov. 23. 1656. or to some other disease known perchance to Husband-men 3. It is the very Salino-sulphureous spirit which is diffused through the air that maketh Heathy wilde and almost barren places more fertile when it is attracted by the Lime which they cast upon the ground for the fixed Salt of the â—ials which is united to the earth of the stones by calcination when the Lime is a making promoveth the attraction of the foresaid spirit and so the earth is rendred more apt for the generation of Vegetables which require more Salinous and sulphureous spirits 4. In the Isles of Orkney the attraction of this Salino sulphureous spirit is greatly promoved by the salt of the Sea-ware and ashes of Peats wherewith the inhabitants are accustomed to dung their lands which are also much fatned by the abundant Sulphur of the same vegetable Here I will acquaint you with an observation which by many reiterated experiments I know to be most certain And it is this when Logh-leeches are applied to the inhabitants of Orkney they fall off sooner and suck less blood than when they are applied to such as live in the South-parts of the Kingdom I conceive the reason of this to be the saltness and acrimony of their blood which maketh those Animals constantly to desist longâ—… they be full of blood and this acrimony or saltness doth without all doubt proceed from the salt of the forementioned Sea-ware which causeth the Barley and Oats the only Corus which grow there to be more salt then in other places where the earth is not dunged with the foresaid vegetable and ashes This also with the much eating of salted Fishes by the vulgars there is
I offer to be rectified through the Serpens of a wiser that the World may be presented with a Destillatum which may prove magis restaurativum of truth than this will For the world had never more need of such a medicine than in this our age which hath too too well nursed so many Charletans as betake themselves to no other employment than cheating all men with some one medicine or other as Coffe Chocolat or Jacolata c. to each of which they ascribe more virtues than any ten can have and give them to all such as will be so foolish as to hazard the disturbance of the aeconomy of their bodies in the hands of those who are as ignorant of the nature of the instrument wherewith they do it as are the vessels which contain them and far more of the way of restoring the greatly disturbed body to its pristine healthfull condition Such Cheaters are those who fill the publick places of every Town they come to with Programs for the end foresaid or else arrogantly do assume to themselves the skill of curing first some particular diseases infallibly and then all others curable by art at a cheaper rate than any other and to these they add many detracting expressions which may prove derogatory to the reputations of the Physicians of the place though never so learned all which are the most infallible marks of a Cheater Yea their wandring all the world over doth undenyably argue them to be such for when people do perceive that their medicine hath scarcely any one of those virtues which they ascribed unto it and that their skill in curing is only palliative they cease to employ them any more and thereby they are constrained to begin and to set up in another place for getting of a new recruit of money which they would have got to excess in any one considerable Town or Country if they or their medicine could have cured the Gout Chollick Stone c. Such blades are pleased sometimes to erect Stage-playes in the Macrocosme that by their skill in those they may allicite men to permit them to erect the like in their Microcosmes which they often do to the sad lamentation of some I have let fly this Broad-side of exclamations at those of our age who are most guilty of such actions as also at such as have been so foolish as to believe that every far fetcht fowl hath fair and so have been very ingrate to their Maker who hath furnished their native Country with such an abundance of most able and skilfull Physicians and remedies of all sorts purgatives and spices only excepted as might with very little help from our neighbours serve in the greatest necessities as also to those well-deserving Country-men who have spent the most and best of their time and means and in travelling have ventured their lives for the good of their Country I hope the Echo of these exclamations will prove in time coming a warning-piece to all such as have been so wise to bear off and not to go near such Pirats who rob so many not only of their mony but also of their healths and that the most part of those children who have been burned by them will in time-coming dread their fire I shall only add an earnest desire that you would accept this and what followeth with as charitible a mind to me as mine is wel-wishing to you and make such a good use of them as you may in doing of which you shall neither wrong your self nor him who is and will still be Yours as he shall have reason M. M. THE OYLY-WELL OR A Topographico-Spagyrical description of the Oyly-Well at St. Catharines-chappel in the Paroch of Libberton IN the Paroch of Libberton the Church whereof lyeth two miles south-ward from Edinburgh there is a Well at the Chappel of St. Catharine which is distant from the Church about a quarter of a mile and is situat toward the South-west whose profundity equalleth the length of a Pike and is alwaies replet with water and at the bottom of it there remaineth a great quantity of black Oyl in some veins of the earth His Majesty King James the sixth the first Monarch of Great Britain of blessed memory had such a great estimation of this rate Well that when he returned from England to visit this His ancient Kingdom of Scotland in anno 1617. he went in person to see it and ordered that it should be built with stones from the bottom to the top and that a door and a pair of stairs should be made for it that men might have the more easie access unto its bottom for getting of the Oyl This royal command being obeyed the Well was adorned and preserved until the year 1650 when that execrable Regicide and Vsurper Oliver Cromwell with his rebellious and sacrilegious complices did invade this Kingdom and not only deface such rare and antient monuments of Natures hand-work but also the Synagogues of the God of Nature Before that we proceed any further let us inquire from whence the water of all Springs such especially as are most frequently deprehended upon or near unto the tops of high mountains do proceed The opinions of Philosophers concerning this affair are these three which are mentioned by Frambesarius in his natural history and Dr. Andrew Baccius de Thermis lib. 1. cap 2. and by Dr. John French in his York-shire Span chap. 2. The first is Aristotles viz. That these waters are generat of vapors which are contained in the caverns of the earth and of air insinuating it self into them by the conduits it encountreth which are condensed into water by the frididity of the earth The second is that these waters are only Rain-water which having insinuat it self into the veins of the earth maketh way for its own egress by the most convenient passages The third is that these waters come from the Sea through the veins of the earth according to that saying of Solomons Ecclesiastes 1.7 All rivers run into the Sea yet the Sea is not full unto the place from whence the rivers come thither they return again who was the wisest of all meer men who were before or should be after him 1 Kings 3.12 and that not only in spirituals but also in naturals For the Scripture 1 Kings 4.33 saith that he spoke by which you may well understand writing also of Animals and Vegetables He was also no doubt as skilfull in the art of Navigation and knew well the natures of Minerals seing 1 Kings 9.26,27,28 and 10.22 he made Navies of ships which he sent with his servants that had knowledge of the Sea unto Ophir and Tarshish from whence he brought gold and silver in so great abundance that in his dayes silver was nothing accounted of 1 Kings 10.21 He was also no less skilfull in Agriculture as may appear from Ecclesiastes 2.5 And his making of Pools of water ver 6. demonstrateth his dexterous skill in finding out the
subterraneal passages of water As to the first of these opinions we cannot embrace it because of these reasons 1. It is most improbable that there are such large caverns in the earth as will contain so great a quantity of vapors and air as being condensed would afford so much water as doth daily scaturiat in springs which are upon high mountains For ten Gallons of air will scarcely afford one Gallon of water as all will acknowledge We will make use of this argument not only in relation to such springs as proceed from the tops of high mountains but also in relation to some which are in lower places and environed with mountains one whereof we will instance which perpetually every moment yieldeth many Scots quarts of water and it is that known Well in Carrick at the Wel-tries near to Maybol unto which Well no man who knoweth the Country betwixt it and the Sea westwards will deny its original to be from thence 2. If the water which doth scaturiat from or near unto the top of an high mountain doth proceed from vapors which have been condensed in the caverns of the same mountains these caverns being of necessity below the caverns from which the water issueth it seemeth impossible that the water can naturally ascend from the lower unto the higher parts of these caverns which are at the tops of the mountains because water doth naturally ascend no further than it did descend We will notwithstanding acknowledge 1. that there may be some springs upon or near unto the tops of some mountains which do not proceed from the Sea immediatly but rather from some Logh whose superfice is more distant from the Centre of the earth than the springs and whose water cometh from the Sea immediatly after that maner of which you shall be informed afterwards 2. When water issueth slowly from the lower part of a mountain as from St. Authonies Well at Arthurs seat it may proceed from vapors and air which have been condensed in the caverns of that same mountain which are above the place out of of which it issueth The second opinion is no less improbable because it is incredible that the rain-Rain-water which doth at sometimes only fall upon mountains and valleys can be the only water which doth perpetually scaturiat in all fountains and that as abundantly from some after a long summers drought as after the greatest abundance of brumal showers We will here likewise admit that there be many springs issuing from mountains which are furnished with no other water than the bottles of the clouds do afford unto some valleys whose superfices are further from the centre of the earth than the foresaid springs whose waters are perpetually increased by Rain and diminished totally sometimes by drought But these are not the springs concerning the original of whose waters we are inquiring and therefore all arguments which are or may be taken from them can conclude nothing against Solomon his forementioned assertion The third opinion which as was said is founded upon Solomon his assertion is also dubitable because it doth necessarily infer this improbable conclusion viz. that the supersice of the Sea is higher that is further distant from the centre of the earth than the orifices of these subterraneal veins from which its water is alledged to issue forth upon or near unto the tops of mountains though never so high and that because of the fore-mentioned Axiom viz. Water doth naturally ascend no further then it did descend as is ordinarily demonstrat by a stroup of white Iron which is bowed at the middle The verity of the opinion and validity of the consequence will evidently appear by proving the conclusion to be a certain truth for the doing of of which take these undeniable Propositions from which we shall manifestly infer that the waters of the most part of springs do come from the Sea through the subterraneal veins because of the altitude of its superfice beyond that of the highest mountains from which water springeth Proposition 1. In the evening of the first day of the worlds creation the four elements did surround one another that is the water did compleatly surround the earth Psal 104.5,6 the air surrounded the water end the earth and the element of fire if there was or is such a thing did contain within its concavity all the three The truth of this is evident from Gen. 1.1,2 For in the first verse it is expresly said that in the beginning that is in the first day of the creation as ver 5. God created the heaven and the earth and in the second verse the earth was without form and void that is the form of the earth did not appear because it was compleatly covered with the waters which upon the third day of the creation God did gather unto one place that the dry land might appear as ver 9. Proposition 2. Before the gathering of the waters unto one place the earth and the waters did constitute one rotund Globe and never since but when God commanded them for drowning of the world to return unto that their first position or â—ituation wherein their superfice was fifteen cubits above the top of the highest mountain Genes 7.19.20 And that 1. through the fountains of the great deep Gen. 7.11 or veins of the earth as Job 38.8 the latter half of which verse doth without controversie relate to the floud of Noah 2. Through the bottles of the clouds unto which they had ascended into vapors and from which they did descend for malaxing of the hard earth that the subterraneal waters might the more easily conciliat a more facile egress unto themselves by new passages through the superfice of the same Proposition 3. From the third day of the worlds creation untill the floud of Noah and since that after the floud the waters returned from off the face of the earth Gen. 8.3 and the dry land appeared ver 5.11,12 the middle of the superfice of the Ocean which we conceive most probably to be beneath the Arctick or North-pole hath been and is further distant from the centre of the earth than the top of the highest mountain This Proposition is undenyable for if when the waters surrounded the whole earth their superfice was fifteen cubits higher than the top of the highest mountain far more is it higher now and hath been ever since they returned from off the earth and that no doubt unto one yea their former place unto which they were at first gathered Gen. 1.9 Moreover its truth is clearly evinced from Job 38.10 I brake up for it my decreed place and set bars and doors ver 11. And said hither to shalt thou come and no farther and here shall thy proud waves be stayed For these verses and the first words of ver 8. of the same Chapter and Job 28. ver 11. He bindeth the flouds from over-slowing c. do no doubt relate unto the third day of the creation whereon God did gather the waters
unto one place Gen. 1.9 or unto the returning of the waters from off the earth Gen. 8.3 or both which is most probable This third Proposition is also proven by Psal 104.5 Who laid the foundations of the earth that it should not be removed for ever ver 6. Thou covered'st it with the deep as with a garment the waters stood above the mountains ver 7. at thy rebuke they fled at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away ver 8. they go up by the mountains they go down by the valleys uno the place which thou hast founded for them ver 9. Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over that they turn not again to cover the earth ver 10. he sendeth his springs that is permitteth the springs to pass among the hills And Prov. 8.28 When he strengthened the fountains of the deep ver 29. when he gvae to the Sea his decree that the waters should not pass his commandment Seing it is most evident from these places of Scripture especially from Psal 104.9,10 and Job 28.11 and 38.8.10,11 that the Sea hath a natural and perpetual inclination unto turning again to cover the earth whereby all the parts of its supeefice may be equidistant from the centre of the earth and that by the omnipotency only of God it is detained in that situation wherein now it is we do from them and the foresaid propositions conclude that the waters of all springs even such as do scaturiat upon the tops of the highest mountains which run perpetually do proceed from the Sea through the subterraneal veins For further probation of this opinion consider that if the superfice of the Sea where any of its water doth enter into the veins of the earth by which it is conveyed to the tops of high mountains were not further distant from the centre of the earth than the tops of those mountains it could never ascend unto them no more than the water which issued from the top of an high mountain could move in a natural maner as it doth toward the Sea-shore if the place from whence it proceedeth were not further distant from the centre of the earth than the shore Here we cannot but take notice how Dr. John French in his York-shire Span chap. 2. pag. 10 11 12. denieth that the middle superfice of the Ocean is higher than the shore and that there are such veins in the earth as the water would pass through unto the tops of mountains where springs are because the veins in the bowels of the earth are not wholly and throughout full as of necessity they must be before water will ascend through them for preservation of its continuity and the avaiding of a vacuum as those crooked pipes are by which Wine-coopers use to draw Wine out of our vessel into another For answer in consideration of our former reasons we will as confidently affirm as he doth deny that the middle superfice of the Ocean is not only higher than the shore but also higher than the highest mountain and that these veins of the earth are wholly and throughout full of water because if they were not so the Sea-water could never scaturiat from the tops of high mountains The foresaid Author having as he thinketh sufficiently refuted that opinion which asserteth the ascent of the waters by the subterranea veins which are in the mountains though it be according to the express Word of God Psal 140.8 They go up by the mountains they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them setteth down his own pag. 15.16 which is this the water which proceedeth from the tops of mountains is only the vapors of the waters contained in the caverns of the earth which the subterraneal heat of the burning Bitumen as pag. 22. did elevat unto the heads of the springs where they are condensed into water aâ— water is elevated from the Sea unto the middle region of the air where it is condensed into water Having into our Appendix unto Moffet-Well shewed the improbability if not the impossibility of that his subteraneal fire for refuration of this opinion I shall only make use of the words of his own 2. Arg. pag. 2. whereby he refuteth the opinion of Seneca viz. That springs are generated chiefly of earth changed into water changing only the words air and corrupted and putting vapor and converted for them thus It is to be wondred at that seing ten parts of vapor if not moe serve for the making of one part of water containable in the same space there should be so much space in the earth for containing so much vapor as serveth the making of such a quantity of water as springs daily out of the earth how is it possible that so much vapor can be converted in such a moment Moreover as it is most probable as he there writeth that the whole elementary air being of its own nature most subtile and not being sufficient to make such abundance of water as all the springs of the earth will amount to so it is most like that though there were such a subterraneal fire occasioning the elevation of such vapors yet all these would not be sufficient to yield so much water as doth daily proceed from all the springs that are upon the earth Let us here applaud the most ingenious opinion of the most famous Philosopher Renatus Des Carres princip Philosoph parte 4. Parag. 65. Vt animalium sanguis in eorum venis arteriis sic aqua in terrae venis circulariter fluit Because thereby appeareth one great resemblance which is betwixt the Macrocosme and the choicest of Animals Man called the Microcosme Not that we think that the similitude holdeth in all things but that because of its reality the foresaid Author is much to be admired and respected for his ingenious observation In the next place we shall first give you that description of the Well which we find in J. Monipeny his Memorial of the rare and wonderfull things of Scotland at the end of his Abridgement of the Scotish Chronicles 2. We shall shew in what things this description is faulty 3. Describe the maner of collecting this Oyl and add such things as we have observed in the Well 4. Prove that the fore cited Author his opinion concerning the Oyl is most probable 5. Set down the maner of its separation from the Coals 6. Describe the Virtues which undoubtedly it hath or in probability may be ascribed to it 7. Propose and answer three questions As to to the first viz. I. M. his description of the Well these are his words In Louthian two miles from Edinburgh is a Well-spring called St. Catharines Well flowing perpetually with a kind of black fatness or Oyl above the water preceeding as is thought of the Parret coal bring frequent in these parts This fatness is of a marvellous nature for as the coal whereof it proceeds is judain to conceive fire or flame So