receiveth another Ferment by the mixture of the Bilis and Succus Pancreaticus by which the thinner Parts are separated from the thicker and received or rather squeezed by the Peristaltick Motion into the Orifices of the Lacteal Vessels but the thicker and gross ejected by Stool This Precipitation and Separation Sylvius compareth to a Solution of Vitriol in fair Water which by the mixture of Salt of Tartar presently leteth its Sulphureous and dreggy Parts subside I shall not then like some take the perfecting of Chylification in the Intestines to be a second Digestion distinct from the former but rather a Perfection and Depuration of the concocted Aliment or Chyle Neither shall I make that little alteration or rather preparation to Sanguification which the Chyle by mixture of the Lympha receiveth from the Mesenterical Glandules and Ductus Thoracicus before its ingress into the jugular Veins to be a third Digestion and distinct from Chylification and Sanguification but as a Preparative to the Latter with a convenient Vehicle The acrimonious Particles of the Saliva swallowed and the Acid Stomachical Ferment and the Reliques of Aliment of former Digestions sticking to the Coats of the Stomack and brought to Acidity finding no Aliment to prey upon do molest and irritate the Stomack which molestation being imprest upon the Nerves of the Sixt or according to Dr. Willis the Eighth Pair and by these communicated to the Brain doth excite a desire of Eating or Hungering after Meat to imbibe the ferment gnawing on the Stomack As for the Colour of the Chyle or why Mutton Beef Bread Herbs c. eaten together should be turned into a white Creamy Substance Or why the Aliment should not retain its pristine Colour I conceive to be as thus The Saline and Sulphureous Particles with which our usual Aliment doth abound being well dissolved and mixed together do by the Acid Ferment acquire a white Colour Even as in making of Lac Sulphuris the Flos Sulphuris and Salt of Tartar by boyling together turn the Water to a dark Red but by instillation of Vinegar turneth to a white So every Liquid impregnated with a Sulphur and an Alkalizate Salt but more especially when the Salt is volatile or with a Salt well implexed in and dissolved with the Sulphur by addition of an acid Liquor becometh white as may be seen in the making of Resinous Extracts of Vegetables or by mixing spirit of Benjamin spirit of Harts-horn of Soot or such like spirits abounding with volatile Salt with an acid Liquor or fair Water The Chyle having passed the Stomach into the Intestines the purer part is received into the Lacteal vessels and perhaps some of the more Spirituous parts into the Mesenterical veins by reason of the sudden refection after eating and drinking by those that are through labour and travel wearied which convey it to the Mesenterical or Asellius his Pancreas and from thence is conveyed by the Ductus Thoracicus into the Subclavian vein where by the way it is mixed with the Lympha brought by the Lympheducts which is not as an useless Liquor but serveth for a vehicle to the Chyle and by its saline Particles doth prepare it for Sanguification The Chyle having once entered the subclavian vein is mixed with the recurrent venal blood and by the vena cava is conveyed to the Heart where is chiefly made the second Digestion or Sanguification But first entering the right ventricle of the Heart from thence it passeth through the Arteria Pulmonaris called also vena Arteriosa into the Lungs From whence it is reduced to the left ventricle of the Heart by the vena Pulmonaris or Arteria venosa in the Diastole or laxation of the Heart it enters the left Ventricle but by its Contraction or Systole is sent forth into the Aorta and by It is carried to the whole body But the residue after Nutrition is reduced by the veins to the right ventricle of the Heart from whence again it begineth its Circulation This is the Natural course in adult persons but in the foetus or Embryo it is something different An Embryo having not attained to Respiration nor to a perfection of its Lungs the Blood cannot Circulate as in adult Animals Wherefore Nature hath provided two vessels in a foetus that afterward grow obsolete and useless viz. the foramen ovale and canalis Arteriosus The Foramen Ovale is placed under the right Auricle of the Heart and uniteth the vena cava to the vena Pulmonaria The Use of it is to carry the Blood that doth not enter the Right ventricle into the vena Pulmonaria that it may enter the left ventricle of the Heart The Canalis Arteriosus uniteth Arteria Pulmonaris to the great Aorta whose Use is to convey the blood that hath passed through the Right ventricle and is driven by the Systole into the great Artery so that it slideth by the left ventricle By which we may observe That the blood in its Circulation always entereth the Heart but in an Embryo passeth through only one ventricle I said before that Sanguification is chiefly performed in the Heart for it may with good reason be questioned Whether the Effervescence of the blood the Accension or flamma vitalis as Dr. Willis would have it be from the Heart or rather from the Fermentation of its contrary Principles and according to others Sanguis sanguificat Dr. Lower cap. 2. de corde absolutely denieth any Ferment to be placed in the Heart He telleth us The Heart oweth its Heat to the Blood and not the Blood to the Heart yea that the Blood by its heat doth actuate and enliven our bodies and that Nature hath not bestowed more heat upon the heart than upon other Muscles but it hath a more brisk and lively heat than other parts of the body because it is in a continual motion and so much surrounded with adjacent parts Neither doth its Action differ from the Action of other Muscles And cap. 5. he telleth us The Chyle is turned into blood by the vital spirit and other of its active Principles which from the first Mixture with Chyle do work upon it until it be refined until the saline sulphureous and spirituous Particles be set at liberty from the feculent and associated to them of the Blood Dr. Harvey that exquisite Searcher into the Generation of Animals speaking of the Order of Generation of the Parts of the Body saith Ab initio Punctum rubrum saliens vesicula pulsans fibraeque inde deductae sanguinem in se complectentes c. Exercit. 50. That a red beating Spot or Bladder with Fibres thence deduced containing Blood do first of all appear And by exact observation doth conclude In the generation of Animals blood is the first thing that is made And as Pulsation doth begin in it and from it so at the last moment of life doth it end in the Blood Quantum ex accuratâ inspectione discernere licuit â—it Sanguis antequam punctum
of an Alkalizate Salt The vertue and operation of Mars doth chiefly depend on its Saline and Sulphureous parts and according as they are more or less set at liberty from the terrestrious so a Preparation is more or less Medicinal The usual Compositions are 〈…〉 Martis aperitivus cum 〈…〉 aqua vel aceto 2. Crocus Martis 〈◊〉 3. Tinctura Martis 4. Extractum Martis 5. Mars diaphoreticus 6. Vitrioluâ— Martis 1. Crocus Martis aperitivus cum sulphure is made by applying a Butt of Brimstone to a hot Bar of Iron or by calcining the Filings of Iron with Sulphur in an earthen pot or Crucible In either way the Acids of Sulphur do penetrate the body of Mars so as in the operation to carry off much of the sulphureous parts of Iron but by the addition of the acid parts of Sulphur to much increase the Saline Some of the Sulphureous do yet remain is apparent by the setid savour in Belchings after the taking of this Crocus That the Saline part is increased is clear because the Weight of the Iron will be increased by the Preparation For Sixteen ounces of good Iron by weighing after the Operation is ended will yield Eighteen or Nineteen except the Calcination be vehement which is needless of Crocus This is an excellent Preparation and worketh good effects upon a twofold account viz. 1. because of its Sulphur 2. its Salt The Sulphur will enrich and add a new supply to a cold watery blood so that in the Febris alba Pica and Leucophlegmatia it will reduce the pale-faced Patient to a florid complexion because of its Salt it is a good Deoppilative as in Uterine obstructions and those maladies peculiar to the Female sex and in the Dropsie may be of good use because of its vitriolick Stipticity that bindeth up the laxity of vessels and other parts In the making of Crocus Martis cum aceto the Sulphureous parts are almost separated insomuch that after it is swallowed down it yieldeth but a weak sulphureous savour But by addition of the Acid parts of Vinegar the Saline Principle of Mars is so much exalted and advanced so near an Acid that by instillation of other Acids it will scarce make any effervescence or ebullition at all yea weaker than Crocus cum Sulphure that maketh a far less ebullition with Acids than plain filings of Iron This Crocus in the Preparation having lost much of its Sulphur is unfit for use when the blood is too low or depauperated in its Balsamick Sulphur as in diseases proceeding from a waterish blood or from phlegmatick Obstructions But where the blood is retorrid or adust this Crocus cum Aceto by its Saline Principle being cool and aperient is of good use as in Hypochondriacal distempers Carbuncled faces and to astringe a laxed blood-vessel because of the saline stiptick Principle implexed in the Terrestrious Crocus Martis cum Aqua is made by exposing Plates or Filings of Iron to the Rain or Dew until it hath contracted a Rust which collected is called Crocus Martis cum Aqua or ferri Rubigo This Crocus consisteth of the sulphureous saline and terrestrious parts combined together yea indeed it is the very substance of Iron having its pores much opened by the Dissolvent or Saline parts of Water which not only maketh its Pores more open but by combining with it maketh this Crocus an excellent Aperient medicine whose Deoppilative vertue chiefly dependeth on this Salt The Sulphur of Iron being retained in this Preparation renders it a fit ferment for blood whose active Principles are weak and faint And the Saline part being exalted by That of the Dissolvent Water that much laxeth the body of Mars renders it a good Aperient in Obstructions as of the Liver Spleen Mesentery Lacteal vessel or Womb with its coherent parts Crude filings of Iron taken inwardly may be dissolved by the Acid stomachical Ferment as by extraneous Acid Menstruums which may be concluded from the fetid strong scented Smell and the blackness of their Excrements that take it unprepared But then it must be a strong robust Constitution able to bear the Iron in its solid substance but in Constitutions where the acid stomachical ferment is weak there is danger lest that the Filings should remain undissolved and cause Obstructions or else grating on the Tunicles of the Intestines cause wracking Torments Besides the Sulphureous part of filings of Iron unprepared will more increase the Ferment of the Blood than the Saline stiptick can repress which maketh it unfit for Use in hot Constitutions or in Distempers proceeding from a wracking fiery Blood And if the Filings of Iron be of so hard a Dissolution much more these of Steel whose substance is more fast and compact and pores more closed that its Dissolution must be more difficult 2. Crocus Martis astringens is made by calcining of Filings or Plates of Iron in a strong fire which carrieth away the saline and sulphureous parts that made it an Aperient medicine Some wash the Iron in order to the Preparation with fair Water or Vinegar which not only with frequent Washings may carry away much of the drossy impurities but also take away or at least destroy much of its volatile Salt and soluble Parts that must afterwards by the violence of â—ire have been consumed or else disposed for a separation The terrestrious part of the Iron being deprived of the active Principles for by a strong Calcination those few that remain are become fixed it imbibeth the saline igneous Particles which remain fixed therein And being much deprived of its Salt that renders it a Deoppilative it is become a proper Astringent to be used in a Diarrhoea Breaking of a vein Flux of Haemorrhoids immoderate Lunar evacuation in women c. for besides the Astringency it is endowed with it will imbibe much of the exorbitant Acidity of our bodies seeing it is deprived much of its Saline principle 3. Tinctura Martis made with Rust or Filâ—ings of Iron and white Tartar boiled together in fair water is an excellent Aperitive for besides the dissolved Mars the Tartar is also a great Assistant especially in diseases proceeding from an acid Humor Whence it may be of good effect in a Cachâ—xie Dropsie Vterine obstruction and Hypochondriacal Distempers 4. Extractum Martis made with the phlegm of Honey juice of the White-wine Grapes throughly brought to maturity and the juice of Lemons hath its aperient faculty not only from the Iron but also from the saline part of the Menstruum Now this Menstruum being not very corrosive doth dissolve only the saline and soluble parts of Mars but leaveth the gross and terrestrious parts behind So that the saline parts of Iron impregnated with the Essential salts of the Menstruum maketh it a good Opener of Obstructions such as those of the Liver Spleen Mesentery or of the other viscera of the Abdomen 5. Mars Diaphoreticus made from Rust of Iron and Salt Armoniack sublimed together into Flowers which being
halitus or Ocre And afterwards saith Vitriol is resolvable into three Principles Salt Sulphur and Ocre but the Saline principle is only owing to the Germination in Air. But had the Docter considered how that Vitriol is found under ground where we cannot suppose a free access of air if any at all he would not have been so positive in his assertion For the Hungarian and Cyprian blew Vitriol is digged up near the Copper-mines the English Roman and German Vitriol which last partaketh of a little Copper lie near to Iron stones All which without exposing to the air will from their Marcasites yield their distinct sorts of vitriol And what should hinder the germination of vitriol under ground seeing that vitriol is but a Compound body of an acid Salt and sulphureous Earth The sulphureous Earth is but the Ocre or Terra metallica that Mater ferri vel Veneris which receiveth the Acid and determineth the same according to the Power of the Semen latent in the Earth which may as well convert the Acid of the Earth as the Saline particles floating to and fro in the air As for the dissolution of the Pyrites in water I shall easily grant that much of its saline part may be thus resolved especially whilst it is near its first succulency but thence see no reason to lay its Original upon the Air neither could ever find any of these spirits flying off from mineral waters which the Doctor calleth ipsum metallum vegetans for if so then certainly there might be by the help of an Alembick and Receiver such a spirituous substance preserved from fresh Spring-water which none that ever I heard of could obtain T is true some steams will fly off from mineral water as by our sense of smelling may be perceived but these Aporrhea are but some particles winding off and are the effect of fermentation or heat yet cannot be collected retaining the full nature of the mineral ingredient All mixt bodies are subject to change by internal or external ferments and by the active agile parts and motion many vapours as in insensible transpiration may fly off and enter the pores of other bodies or perhaps put on a new form but never could be found an essential spirit of Mineral water But by spirit perhaps the Doctor might mean Ocre for he tells us c. 7. that Ocre doth evaporate from our Baths and that spirit which flyeth off is a Metal and elsewhere will not allow Ocre to be a sulphureous Earth but a meer Metal merum ferri metallum est Lâ—st de font med c. 2. because after burning in the fire it may be drawn by the Loadstone But Gilbertus hath proved that not only Iron but many other things will answer the operation of the Magnet Non ferrum tantùm magnes à magnete attrahitur volvitur magneticè sed ferreae venae omnes lapides etiam alii ut fissiles Rhenani Andegavenses nigri quibus pro tegulis utuntur aliorumque colorum substantiarum plurimi si praeparati fuerint tum omnis argilla glis saxaque nonnulla atque ut planiùs dicam omnis terra firmior modò pinguioribus humidis corruptelis defoedata non fuerit ut lutum coenum And a little after Omnia magnete attrahuntur solis ignibus praeparata à recrementitio humore liberata Gilb. de mag lib. c. 17. Not only Iron and a Magnet which is but a more pure minera of Iron or finer Iron-stone may be drawn by a Magnet but Stones white Earth Potters clay yea all firm Earth in case the Excrements and putrid moisture are purged off by fire T is true the Operation betwixt the Magnet and Iron is great and consequently by how much the more of metalline parts of Iron there are in a mineral Earth by so much the more conspicuous is the Magnetism yet simple Earth after Calcination will though in an inferior degree shew the like effect But this leading me to the enquiry of a new subject I shall return to my proposed matter in hand Du Glos observ on the Min. wat. of Fran. p. 8. rightly telleth us That the first Beings or Embryo's of Mineral Salts are nothing else but vapours or juices unconcrete wholly vapourable And pag. 9. The Embryonate Salt in the Chalk-stones is a stony juice which mixeth it self with waters that pass between the beds and interstices of the stones in the rocks but is not easily discern'd in the waters impregnated therewith The Seminary of Alum and Vitriol is also necessary in the substances whence these sorts of Salts are drawn Waters current in their chanâ—els meeting with and dissolving them become a proper menstruum to unlock the Mineral Kingdom and according to the dissolved minera so Waters differ in their qualities Upon the variety of Salts and Mineral Earths dependeth variety of Springs For there are four sorts of Salt commonly known to us according to Dr. Jorden and others viz. Alum Vitriol Nitre and common Salt which others and perhaps with as great reason reduce to three Alum Vitriol and common Salt which last may be again divided into Sal gemma or fossilis Fountain-salt and Sal Marine because these three sorts partake near of the same nature and work almost the like effects Only the Sea-salt being dissolved in water hath lost many of its sharp points and consequently is not so penetrating as Sal fossilis from mountains and rocks of which according to most of our modern Authors the saltness of the Sea doth take its original An affinity betwixt these Salts Monsieur Lemery hath observed who aâ—so in his Cour. Chym. Remar on Salt-peter giveth us this Experiment When Salt-peter is boiled a long time in water and over a great fire some part of the spirits fly away and there at last remains nothing but a Salt like unto sea-Sea-salt or Sal Gemma which serves to prove that Salt-peter is only a Sal gemma fuller of spirits than the other And if so then Salt-peter may be ranked under the other and make no different species of Salt From these Salts with which waters may singly or joyntly be impregnated to which for ought we can tell species of Salt as yet unknown to us may be added preying upon divers Minerals must needs depend great variety of Mineral waters As for the Calcarious salt asserted by Dr. Lister I suppose it to be but a kind of Nitre which is centered upon the Lapis Calcarius mentioned by Falopius de Therm Aq. c. 8. and by the seminary principle thereof doth become a stony salt discernable enough by some clear but cold petrifying Springs The variety also of Earths as white red or yellow Marle Clay Chalk or other mineral Earths may cause great variety as to the weight colour sediment smell c. more especially when there is a complication of many in the same water PART II. NOw I shall proceed to Enquire what are the Ingredients of Ilmington-Spaw first taking notice of
its Colour which is far more pale then Rock-spring water With Syrup of Violets it would turn green like Alkalizate Liquors with that syrup with Galls to a Purple like Martial Vitrioline Waters for Cuprous Vitrioline with Galls turn muddy with a very little Purple or Black but of this more afterwards It s body being of a thick muddy consistence I weighed in a very dry Season a Pint of this Spaw-water against a Pint of ordinary Water but the Spaw exceeded near half a Drachm Another time after a wet Season and when the Ocre was fallen an old Pint pot of common Pump-water weighing 18 Ounces did equalize and if either did turn the Scales the same quantity of the Spaw-water which may caution us from prefixing a determinate Weight to any Spring-water Variety in the Weight of Waters may appear by comparing That Salt spring water of Droit-wich with sweet springs yea to him that compareth the Waters of several sweet springs together For the Esurine salt many times being carried along with the water sliding through its secret Meanders or veins of the Earth of which part insinuateth it self into and part corroding occurrent bodies it fretteth off fragments such as fragmenta ferrea from Iron-stones and particles from ordinary stones which are carried along with the water and lie latent to the naked eye in its pores but by Distillation Evaporation c. will appear Whence of necessity followeth a great variety in weight according to the greater or less quantity of sabulum or fragments therein contained Then I proceeded to enquire after the Mineral with which this Spring was impregnated And first I took about half a pint of new milk upon which in a Porringer I poured this water fresh from the Spring-head but could not discern any coagulation yea for any thing did appear this mixture differed not from a mixture of milk and ordinary spring water After four miles carriage of the water when the reddish Ocre began to subside I poured upon warm milk from the cow a pretty quantity of this water and let it stand at least twelve hours but neither in this mixture nor in milk and this Spaw-water boiled together did any Coagulum appear Hence I began to suspect that its brackish taste was not from an acid Salt therefore on this spring-spring-water I instilled some oyl of Tartar but upon the instillation and the standing of the water all night a very small curdling did ensue only the mixture looked more white than the spaw-Spaw-water it self which alteration of colour proceeded from the oyl of Tartar Whereupon I concluded that no Acid salt was here predominant yea rather as such scarce discernable in this Spring it being as I shall hereafter prove far nearer to an Alkali than to an Acid salt Upon an Oaken leaf bruised I poured a pintglass full of this Spring-water and immediately it inclined to a Purple colour I then try'd it with Galls and it turn'd first to a Purple but with an addition of more Galls to a black But desiring more exactness I caused one single grain of Galls finely powdered to be divided into twenty parts another grain into nineteen another into eighteen equal portions c. Upon tryal I found that the eighteenth part of a grain did something incline a pint of this water to a Purple colour as might be perceived in a chrystal glass set in a clear light but the sixteenth part of a grain put into a pint of water did presently cause a tincture plainly discernable and inclining to a purple but the eighth part of a grain fully turned a pint to a Purple much resembling in colour Syrup of Damask Roses mixed with ordinary Spring-water Afterwards the more Galls were added by so much the more it altered towards a black until it turned into a muddy inky Liquor Which Liquor by the instillation of spirit of Vitriol was cleared but by oyl of Tartar or spirit of Harts-horn was again muddied with spirit of Nitre oyl of Vitriol or Aqua fortis c. became clear again for what an Alkali muddieth an Acid again cleareth Now considering the small quantity of Galls with which a Pint of water was thus tinged I believe we may compare our new found Spaw in this particular with any of the English Medicinal waters yea with the German Spaws so much in request But it being sufficiently proved by the Learned Dr. Simpson in his Hydrologia Chymica that a solution of the Calx of Alum or of Alum-stones with the addition of Galls will turn to a deep Purple and from thence with more solution of Galls added becometh blackish and opacous almost like Ink. Upon which spirit of Vitriol being poured it becomes clear again with oyl of Tartar again muddied and with spirit of Vitriol of Nitre Aqua fortis c. reduced to its pristine clarity He also in his Hydrological Essays writeeth thus Not only Galls will strike a purple tincture with the Alum-salt got before the addition of Kelp and Urine dissolved in distilled or fresh spring-water but also the same may be done by other bodies whose texture of parts are congeneal as for example the inner part of the Oak the roots of Tormentile Avens Bistort Clove-gillyflowers and the flowers called Balaustia All which like Galls will strike a purple with water wherein the Alum salt is dissolved yea and will also become clear again by the instilling a few drops of oyl of vitriol and with the oyl of Tartar will become turbid and muddy c Hydr. Ess p. 132. I began to enquire farther into this Spaw upon consideration that a Purple colour and from thence a dark muddy liquor like Ink might be made with Galls from another Liquor than from a Vitriolick water or Solution And that Vitriol dissolved by an addition of Galls will strike a good black is evident from the ordinary way of making black writing Ink Whereupon I compared Aluminous waters and this Spring I made a Solution of Mineral Alum with fair wâ—ter which presently upon the instillation did curdle Milk but upon the mixture of Milk and this Spring water no Coagulation did ensue And that Alum consisteth chiefly of an Acid salt all-sufficient to coagulate milk is apparent by the mixture of a Solution of simple Alum salt with a Solution of salt of Tartar Wormwood or any Vegetable fixed Salt from whence will arise a turbid liquor with Coagulations in it which Coagula are caused by the mutual conflict of different Salts destroying each other until a Third and Neutral Salt result therefrom Besides Aluminous Springs are purgative witness the Scarbrough Spaw Epsom and Barnet Waters c. but this near Ilmington worketh most what by Urine Yea perhaps and truly I might conclude That this Spaw in respect of its mineral ingredients worketh not by Siedge I know it may be objected That some persons drinking of this water do thereupon find a loosness perhaps to the number of four or five stools or more To which
to the bottom and by their mutual conflict or ferment having broken off and dulled the edges of each others Particles and combined together do become a Neutral Salt Some Authors have asserted That from a Tartarum vitriolatum put into a Retort by the force of fire may be drawn off a spirit of vitriol again as if the Salts clasping together had not as it were destroyed each others pristine texture of parts by breaking off and dulling the edges of the saline Particles Nevertheless Experience proveth That what is drawn over the Helm from Tartarum vitriolatum is not a spirit like the oyl or spirit of vitriol at the first For the Taste and Operation of it plainly sheweth that the Alkalizate salt of Tartar hath almost wholly taken off its Acidity yea I think I might positively affirm That it is an impossibility from these Neutral Salts such as Tartarum vitriolatum vitriolum Martis c. to restore an Acid to its pristine lustre and efficacy I said before when the Acid and Alkalizate Bodies are mixed in a proportionate quantity together For the Acid in too great a quantity dissolves and destroys all these Coagula that it made with the Alkali when mixed in a small quantity Whilst these Contraries are proportionate the Alkalizate Particles maintained their part against the Acid so that both lay fixed and free from motion but by addition of more Acid its strength is increased so as to scatter and dissolve the Coagulation And this may be seen as I intimated before by instillation of spirit of Vitriol upon this Spaw-water or a Solution of sal Chalybis with Galls wherein the vitrioline parts of the Water with the Galls make coagula but by addition of more spirit of vitriol or other Acid are scattered that the Liquor becomes again clear The same reason is when the Alkali is too strong for the Acid it destroys and expells the acid particles floating in the Liquor and maketh them unable to bear up a conflict So also when Milk is curdled by an Acid the Acid hath entered the Cheesy part and lost its motion but upon the pouring on of more Acid the Cheesy part will be precipitated but at last the Coagulation will dissolve away and quite disappear Many Instances I might produce which I shall pass by seeing they allow the same Rationale As in the making of Tartarum vitriolatum the Salts combine and work themselves into a Neutral Salt so also in this Spring-water where by an Esurine acid Salt acuating the Water is made a Solution of the Minera of Iron whose Alkalizate parts combined and clasped with the Esurine acid Salt are become a Neutral Upon the instillation of a contrary Salt whether volatile or fixed Alkali the Salts presently make an assault upon each other and by their closing together and taking off their edges by the ferment become a third or Neutral Salt In the conflict or duel they thrust forth and partly leave the Mineral body dissolved by the Esurine Acid which precipitates to the bottom and carrieth down with it some of the Salts of the Menstruum For more than a Colcothar must be here separated because of the ebullition following an instillation of Acids thereon But least that it should be imagined that there may follow a fermentation by instillation of Acids because of the Alkali added to make a Precipitation but not belonging to it as a Mineral Water we must consider that a precipitation may be made besides that by droping thereon or mixing contrary Salts out of mineral Water three ways 1. by exposing to the air which causeth a putrefactive ferment the Mineral parts will subside 2. by heat as in boiling distilling c. the Ocre falls 3. by motion ab extra as by carriage c. The Powder thus precipitated did with Acids make a great ebullition which could not be from any Salts not belonging to it as a Mineral Wherefore the Sediment thus precipitated is not a simple Colcothar but with the Colcotar do fall some of the Salts of the Menstruum for by pouring on fresh water and dulcifying the Sediment a Salt is extracted from the Colcotar that may by Evaporation Chrystallization c. be brought to a dry body and exactly answereth sal Chalybis as to its Operation Experiments and Effects I distilled a considerable quantity of this Water in a Glass Retort and Receiver closely luted to it The first Water that came over the Helm I found by taking off the Receiver to be insipid which would not with Galls Balaustia flowers Avens Bistort roots c. like vitrioline waters strike a Purple Then I distilled off more insipid Water but to the sides of the Retort when cooled I found sticking a redish powder like that I found by Evaporation the Residue of the Water in the Retort by Evaporation ad siccitatem yeilded more Upon this Sediment dryed I let fall a few drops of spirit of Nitre of Vitriol oyl of Sulphur per Campanam and Aqua fortis an ebullition with a great effervescence did immediately follow But upon instillation of oyl of Tartar per Deliquium spirit of Harts-horn or other Alkalizate Liquors not the least ebullition or efferverscence could be perceived From which Experiments as also from the former may follow these two collateral Conclusions First That this Spaw like other Mineral Waters by the precipitation of its Ocre or Sediment doth lose its tinging Property with Galls and also is weakened in its Operation And although some of the Salt yet remain dissolved in the Water after the falling of the Sediment its former vigour and efficacy is decayed for by so much the Water hath let fall of its Ocre and Sediment which as I proved before is not a simple metallick earth but doth carry down with it some of the salts of the Menstruum by so much the water is weakened and by the falling of more Sediment groweth weaker and weaker in its Operation Secondly from the ebullition and effervescence of Acids poured upon this Powder left after Evaporation or precipitated by Motion Heat or Air but upon instilling of oyl of Tartar or other Alkalizate Salts no fermentation follows I conclude that the Salt in this Powder is rather Lixivial than Acid although it be as I have hinted before a Neutral Salt from the combining of the Esurine Acid in the Water and the Alkalizate part of Iron yet like Tartarum vitriolatum or vitriolum Martis it inclineth much to an Alkali And whereas an Ebullition and Effervescence followed the instillation of Acids on the precipitated Sediment like as upon vitriol of Iron or Tartar vitriolated c. and that an effervescence and ebullition follows the pouring of oyl of Vitriol on filings of Mars in the making of sal chalybis and the oyl of Vitriol upon the Tartar in making Tartarum vitriolatum both which Compositions like the sediment of this Spaw will strongly ferment with Acids I conclude it is highly probable that this Spring when
part into Phlegm The flesh of Eeles as Mr. Boyle hath observed by distillation doth yield a great quantity of water and whilst distilling they seem to boyl like a pot of water seeming to be nothing else but a congealed water The semen of Vegetables before roots and branches are formed do require a moist body which according to the Plastick power of the Archeus doth Proteus like turn its shape and that which was in the form of Water is turned into a Vegetable which by the Ferments of our body may become blood or flesh which at length by Putrefaction may be resolved and turned in Worms c. But even to the generation of Worms and Insects a putrid juice is required If we look to the first formation of an Animal we shall find the Sperme to be but a Liquor disguised by the Ferment of Seminal Vessels which by circulation through the parts of the body whilst blood is impregnated with an Efflorescence of the whole And when it is thus prepared before the Aura vitalis can exert its operation it must have a convenient Matrix as a place but an Addition of moisture for encrease of the Animal formed As Vegetables and Animals have their Seeds so likewise Minerals in the Bowels of the Earth and not only to the encrease but also to the first formation of a Particular in either of these Species we still find a Succus required 'T is true the Mineral Seeds are inconspicuous and fall not under our sense of Seeing So by an exact enquiry we shall find these of Animals and Vegetables For the prolifick part or Genitura is properly the Seed but the Sperme in an Animal and the Grains or Corns among Vegetables are but convenient Receptacles to lodge the more active part which is indiscernable by the best instruments in Opticks until set at work by some External cause in its proper place But however we see by dayly experience that by the plastick power of the Seeds a juice is formed into roots and branches so from Metaline and Mineral Seeds placed in the body of the earth rather in divers parcels thereof ab origine whence the variety of Mineral Glebes which turn a Succus into their own nature These Mineral Principles being set at work by the Celestial influence upon appropriate matter form to themselves a Mercurial Juice and Sulphur as the more immediate matter to the production of Metals or Minerals which by the specifick Ferments of the Seeds at length are compleated That Mineral Glebes will appropriate a juice and therefrom perfect a Metal is hence evident As Earth out of which Nitre is extracted and afterwards exposed to the open Air will centre upon it the floating Saline Particles the like effect we shall find upon the Caput mortuum of Vitriol so as to be again impregnate with a fresh Vitriol or Nitre in like manner Mineral Glebes after the Metal is extracted will again convert a Succus into a Metal as the Miners of Tin Lead c. can testify who find a fresh Ore where All was for sixty or seventy years before extracted Dr. Jorden hath observed that the Tinners in Cornwall within thirty years have found Tin generated de Novo where it hath been all digged up and the place filled with earth Jord Natur. Bath Cap. XI Many examples he citeth as the great Income witnessed by Fallopius that the Duke of Florence hath by Metals and Minerals produced where all Ore was before exhausted So also that of the Iron Mines at Ilva an Island of the Adriatick Sea where the Venetians find Iron generated afresh yea as fast as they can work it this is testified by Georgius Agricola de Ortu Cauj Subt. Lib. 5. p. 61. Who farther confirmeth the Reproduction of Metals Putei ex quibus materia metallo gravida est effossa aliquot annis eadem replentur And a little after In Lygiis ad Sagam oppidum eruitur è pratis ferri vena quae fossae decennio replentur venâ renatâ Agric. Lib. 5. p 64. Remarkable aâ—so is that of Erastus Vidi ego argentum purissimum in valle Joachimicâ in arbore sive trabe cuniculi cujusdam concretum quae vix ante annos 25 aut 30 ad sustinendum cuniculum ibi collocata fuerat Erastus de Medicin Nov. Paracels de Metallis p. 19. That in the Mines of S. Joachims Valley Silver was generated on a Prop of Wood that had not above 25 or 30 years supported the Mine-works We cannot suppose the reason of the new Eruptions of fire after hundreds of years at Aetna and Vesuvius and these prodigious burnings of the Mountains Popochampeche and Popocatepec mentioned by Mr. Gage in his Survey of the West Ind. Cap. 13. Except a production of Bituminous or Sulphureous matter generated de Novo is the cause of perpetuating these Vulcano's For else how could the fire burn round these Hills and perhaps return violently to the same place it had burned in about a hundred years before It must certainly find new matter seeing that in former Eruptions of fire Ashes have been cast forth yea the very stones and earth have been as it were calcined to Powder So that we cannot imagine Sulphureous matter to be there left but by the Seminal Principles and a convenient Succus to be newly begotten But I need not proceed to produce the testimony of more Authors as I might out of Caesalpinus de Metallis and Libavius in his Alchem de Metal seeing most Authors as to this particular have allowed a generation of Minerals de Novo not approving the Opinion of some few supposing them to have been latent from the Creation The difference is whether with Erastus in defence of Aristotle we suppose the matter before concretion into a hard Mineral or Metalline Substance to be a Vapor or with Agricola we believe Succus est ex quo formatur Metallum de Ortu Subt. Lib. 5. p. 71. but it will not be very material For if the Matter do arrive to the Mineral Glebes under the form of Halitus or Vapor What is Vapor but a Succus or moist body whose Particles are seperated and elevated apart but may be collected again into a greater Bulk by a Receiver c. as Helmont hath sufficiently proved In Distillation of Water the vapour that ariseth is but Water rarified whose Particles collected in a Receiver make up again a body of Water That Minerals may be made out of Water we have that Experiment cited by Mr. Boyle out of Monsieur de Rochas I took saith he water which I well knew not to be compounded nor mixed with any other thing then the Spirit of Life By a well proportioned artificial heat I so ordered it that with it and coagulations congelation and fixation I turned it into earth which earth produced Animals Vegetables and Minerals Here Water was turned into Earth which at length was converted into either of the Three States Out of Mercury saith the afore-cited
I might answer 1. That any simple Spring-water drank in a large quantity will purge by its own weight for as it lyeth heavy upon the stomach and intestines it oppresseth Nature whence the Peristaltick motion is excited to expell that which infests and is burdensome and if the water doth much oppress the stomach before it pass through the Pylorus vomiting is the effect according to Dr. Willis In vomitu fibrarum motricium spasmus ab alteris earum finibus viz. sinistris incipiens statim violentus impetuosior factus totam stomachi â—avitatem simul collectam valdè coarctatam versus sinistrum orificium corripi illac evacuari cogit Cujus ratio est quoniam si quid valde incongruum ac naturae infestum stomacho insederit illud non ordinariâ viâ per intestina ut per anum expellatur circumferri verum exitu propiori excerni debet Willis Pharm ration sec 2. cap. 1. de vomitione parag 5. The same reason he giveth for purging by Stool only by a contrary motion of the Stomachical and intestinal fibres from a less irritation which motion is continued usque ad anum We cannot say then that this Water is purgative by its Minerals as I shall more evince when I speak of its Essential parts For 2. If this Spaw water as such were Cathartick then it must have the same effects on all persons allowing a proportionate quantity according to the Constitution of the Party but that it is not Experience testifieth For many find great Costiveness hereby but a great Secretion by Urine Yea I have known some persons that have ventured upon five Pints for the first Dose to begin their Water-course yet instead of a Purge found their Excrements to come off in blackish hard Scybala 3. To whom this Water becometh a Cathartick they must be either of a weak constitution soon opprest by a large quantity of water or else whose bodies abound with sharp humors as Scorbutick persons c. all-sufficient to produce a Diarrhoea or loosness by a long irritation of the fibres whence the Peristaltick motion being once excited Nature as through its common Sink expelleth its peccant matter For if according to Dr. Willis not only the succus Pancreaticus and Bilis but the serous humors also in their natural Crasis by Contraction of the tunicles squeezed out of the intestinal Glandules to make the common Ductus slippery and irritating the fibres do promote Purgation much more then according to Sylvius when the Saline Principle becomes too much exalted To which I might add a fourth Cause why this Spaw should become to some persons and at some times a Cathartick viz. an Inclination to a Lask whether it be from a Pravity of Humors Obstructions of the Vessels Viscera c. Besides that Alum is an Acid as I have already proved and also is a Cathartick both which properties are not to be found in this Spaw comparatively more than in ordinary Spring-water I observed also that the Excrements of those that drank this water were turned blackish which is a consequent to the taking of Chalibeat Medicines but not to the drinking of Aluminous waters For farther tryal I took about two Quarts of this water and after Evaporation set it to Chrystallize but could not find any Salts shot to the sides or bottom of the vessel I therefore evaporated it ad siccitatem and found left a reddish white powder upon which I dropped spirit of Harts-horn but it made no ebullition or effervescence but with an Acid did make a great ebullition with fumes quite contrary to Alum which maketh a plain effervescence with spirit of Harts-horn but with an Acid stirreth not which proveth that an Aluminous Salt is not found in this Spaw Because oyl of Vitriol and spirit of Nitre mixed together cause a great effervescence and from thence spirit of Nitre is concluded upon by Dr Grew in his Tractate of Experiments to be a Subalkalizate Acid because also that spirit of Nitre and Mercury presently boyl up it put me upon Enquiry Whether a Nitrous liquor was the Menstruum to the Mineral of this spaw-Spaw-water But by the way I shall propose one Paradox taken notice of by Dr. Simpson Hydrol. Essay p. 142. quite contrary to the received opinion of vulgar Chymists viz. That Nitre as Nitre or before it hath suffered the force of fire is not an Acid. For if Nitre were an Acid then it being put into boyling milk would curdle it that it will not Experience teacheth yea no more than Sal Gemma neither of which do become acid until they have undergone a fiery Tryal whose spirits drawn off will soon curdle milk Which seemeth to confirm that opinion of Monsieur Lemery before mentioned viz. That Nitre is only a Sal Gemma fuller of spirits than the ordinary fossile Salt because when the spirits of Salt-peter by boiling over a strong fire are fled away there remaineth only a Salt resembling Sea-sa lt That Nitre before its particles are acuated by the stress of fire is not acid may hence appear because it will make no Ebullition with a Lixivium of Salt of Tartar nor any other Alkali which any Acid will do And the ordinary way of making Fixatio Nitri by putting a burning coal into the Crucible or Mortar wherein is Nitre proveth That when the volatile parts are fled off as may be perceived by the great detonation Salt-peter is become a plain Alkali salt Neither for my part can I approve of Schroder's Definition of Salt-peter Sal Nitrum est sal sulphureum seu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 salso amarum ex terrâ pingui excoctum I know it may be urged that Salt-peter yeildeth Red fumes or vapours when its spirits are drawn over the Helm which seem inflammable and sulphureous and that Nitre flung upon burning coals will burn most vehemently and with great noise and that the strength of Gun-powder proceedeth from the Elastick force of Nitre its spirits taking their Explosion from the inflammation To which may be answered That Sulphur is the chief Principle of â—nflammability but This I deny to be in simpâ—e Nitre For about Nitre in a Crucible or earthen pot make Ignis Rotae or the most vehement fire that can be yet the Nitre without an addition of Sulphur shall not take flame and burn which must have been a necessary Consequent were Inflammability appropriate thereto Let but a small quantity of Sulphur be added as that of a burning coal c. with great impetuosity the volatile parts fly off even as a great wind that increaseth the flame of combustible matter but of it self is not capable of accension so Nitre by its volatile parts like bellows doth blow up the sulphureous parts of a Coal that are the principle matter of Flame Were these Volatile parts inflammable then once accended like other combustible matter in a sufficient quantity they would totally waste But in fixing of Nitre it is observed that as the
this An inky liquor or Ink and consequently will smell as such is made by a solution of vitriol precipitated or made opacous by the addition of Galls whose stiptick parts do make Coagula with the vitriolick and hurry the vitriolick out of the former posture and make them like so many confused Atoms they also fill these interstices and pores of the water which before made a diaphanous body but is now become a turbid confused and consequently a blackish liquor In the ordinary way of making ink Gum Arabick and Sugar is added to the Galls and vitriol by reason they cause a thicker consistence and their glutinous parts buoy up these confused Atoms and Coagula which by long standing would subside and so the Solution return diaphanous The solution of vitriol of Mars and Spaw-water by instillation of spirit of Vitriol spirit of Nitre or by other Acids are reduced to a clear consistence because that spirit of Vitriol c. doth work upon and scatter those confused Atoms and coagula made by the Vitriol and Galls which the Galls had caused to float up and down in a confused posture Wherefore the Liquors return clear the Acids having expelled the stiptick and Alkalizate Particles By instillation of oyl of Tartar these Liquors become again turbid and muddy inclinable to an inky colour For an Alkali precipitates and destroys an Acid such as spirit of Vitriol spirit of Nitre c. and bringeth into confusion what an Acid had cleared and doth by destroying the Acid drive out its Particles from the interstices and pores of the water and sets them with them of the Gall as yet unprecipitated into confusion so that the coagulum betwixt the vitriolick parts of the Water and Galls resumes it self Upon the instillation of spirit of Nitre both became clear again and with spirit of Harts horn both again turbid and muddy for the same reasons before alledged Whence I infer a similitude betwixt a Solution of Vitriol and this Spaw-water as to Precipitations and Reductions by the instillation of Alkalizate and Acid Liquors or Salts For farther tryal and proof that this Spaw is vitrioline and that only I took two or three quarts of this Spring-water and evaporated it in an earthen vessel ad siccitatem where it left behind a redish white powder on some of it I let fall a few drops of spirit of Nitre and immediately a great ebullition with froth and fumes did arise with a sensible effervescence Upon the same quantity of powder I let fall some spirit of vitriol and the like effect did ensue I let stand a quart of this spring-water in an open vessel and another quantity in a glass-bottle closely stoped out of both in a short time I found precipitated a redish sediment which being dryed with the aforesaid Acids did make an Ebulliâ—â—on I then forthwith made tryal with the same Acid spirits and vitriol of Iron or salt of Steel Upon a little vitriol of Iron I instilled a few drops of spirit of Nitre and an ebullition with forth and fumes did arise like as upon the powder left after evaporation and also upon the sediment of water with spirit of Nitre Upon vitriol of Iron I let fall a few drops of spirit of Vitriol but could not perceive any Luctation either by ebullition effervescence exhalation crepitation or elevation But why spirit of vitriol should not ferment with vitriol of Iron and yet should ferment with the powder left after evaporation of this water when as I said before that the strength of this water consists in a vitriol of Iron with a terra metallica or Colcothar adjoyned to and precipitated with it the reason is plain In the making of sal Chalybis or vitriol of Iron with oyl of vitriol and fileings of Steel the oyl doth incorporate with the Steel or Iron and being a strong Acid and indeed the most Caustick part of Vitriol and improperly called Oyl doth ferment with the Alkalizate parts of Iron and from the combining of these two different Salts a neutrum quid viz. vitriolum Martis comes Now the pores of Iron being fully saturated with the Acid of Vitriol upon a new instillation of more spirit or oyl no fermentation follows seeing the iron hath already as it were imbibed as much of the Vitriol as it can there will not follow any fermentation For as Water worketh not upon Water so neither spirit of Vitriol on spirit of Vitriol the same thing worketh not upon it self neither can the oyl or spirit work again on the Alkalizate parts of Mars which are already subdued by the Acid of vitriol and utterly uncapable of making a new conflict with it but will with spirit of Nitre being a subalkalizate Acid because the pores of sal Chalybis are open to it But why then spirit of vitriol should make an Ebullition with the powder left after evaporation and upon the sediment is because the metallick particles brought from the Marcasites of Iron are not fully saturated with the Esurine Acids in the water which preyed upon the Marcasites and brought with it fragments thereof whose pores are still so disposed that Acids may be able to close and by their violent motion divide and as it were tear in pieces until the contrary salts have embraced each other and are united into a Tertium Quid or indissolvable Texture For a farther comparison betwixt this Spring-water and a solution of Vitriol of Iron I took a quantity of Milk but by mixing with this Spring-water could find no coagulation either with hot cold or boiling Milk Then I made a solution of sal chalybis with fair water and mixed it with cold milk with milk warm from the cow and also boyled it with Milk but neither of them curdled yea no more than fair spring-Spring-water and milk But now it may be Queried What is become of the Acid viz. the Esurine acidity And how comes a Solution of vitriol of Iron not to curdle Milk when as oyl of vitriol goeth into its composition which is an Acid and like other Acids as Vinegar Aqua fortis c. will curdle Milk Answ The Esurine salt of the Earth preying upon the Metallick parts of the Marcasites of Iron so also the oyl or spirit of vitriol in making Sal Chalybis on the Iron or Steel and the vitriol on the oyl of Tartar in making Tartarum vitriolatum viz. an Acid upon an Alkalizate body When they are in a proportionate quantity the conflict betwixt these contrary Salts is great but the Acid being in a proportionate quantity cannot tear in pieces and shiver the Alkalizate into invisible Atoms but fixeth its points in the pores of the Alkalizate Matter yet hath not power to shatter it all to pieces and free it self from Combinations but the Parts of the Acid lie sheathed and loaded with the Alkali So they being closed together do by their own weight especially after the Liquor buoying them up is weakened by Evaporation fall down