Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Part 22

7. That among those, which he observed, he saw two more firm, than the rest, which shone all over; and when they fell from the Oyster, twinkled like a great star, shining strongly, and emitting rays of a violet-light by turns, for the s.p.a.ce, (as touch't above) of 20. seconds. Which Scintillation the _Observer_ imputes to this, that those worms being alive, and sometimes raising their head, sometimes their tayle, like a Carpe, the light increased and lessened accordingly; seeing that, when they shone not, he did, viewing them by a Candle, find them dead.

8. That forcibly shaking the Oyster-sh.e.l.ls in the dark, he sometimes saw the whole sh.e.l.l full of lights, now and then as big as a fingers end; and abundance of this clammy matter, both red and white, (which he judges to have been Worms) burst in their holes.

9. That in the shaking he saw all the Communications of these little Verminulous holes, like to the hole of Worms in Wood.

10. That in more than 20 douzen of Oysters he shook no sh.e.l.l (10. or 12.

excepted) but it emitted light: And found some of this light in sixteen of the Oysters themselves.

11. That this light occurs more frequently in big, than small Oysters; in those that are pierced by the Worm, oftner, than {206} in those that are not, and rather upon the Convex-side, than the other; and more in fresh ones; than in the stale.

12. That having somewhat scaled the Convex-side of the sh.e.l.l, and discover'd the Communication of the holes, wherein the often-mention'd viscous moysture, that has any form of insects, is found; he smelt a scent, that was like the water of a squeesed Oyster.

13. That the Worms give no light, when irritated, but if they do, the light lasts but a very little time, whereas that which appears in those, that were not angred before, continues a great while; the _Observer_ affirming to have kept of it above 2 hours.

So far the _Journal des Scavans_; which intimates withal, that if the _Observers_ had had better _Microscopes_, they could have better examin'd this matter.

But since the curious here in _England_ are so well furnish with good ones, 'tis hoped, that they will employ some of them for further and more minute Observations of these Worms; it being a matter, which, joyned with other Observations, already made by some excellent persons here, (especially Mr.

_Boyle_) upon this subject of Light, may prove very luciferous to the doctrine of it, so much yet in the dark.

_Some Observations of the Effects of _Touch_ and _Friction_._

The Operations and Effects of _Touch_ and _Friction_ having been lately much taken notice off, and being lookt upon by some, as a great _Medical_ Branch, for the curing of many diseases and infirmities; it will perhaps not be unseasonable to mention (here also) some Observations relating thereunto; which may give an occasion to others, to consider this subject more, than has been done heretofore, and to make {207} further Observations and Tryals concerning the power of the same.

And _First_, the Ill.u.s.trious Lord of _Verulam_, in his _History of Life and Death_, Histor. 6. --. 3. observes, That _Motion_ and _Warmth_ (of which two, _Friction_ consists) draws forth, into the parts, New Juyce and Vigour. And _Canon._ XIII. he affirms, That _Frictions_ conduce much to _Longevity_. See the same, _Connex._ ix. --. 26. &c.

_Secondly_, The Honourable _Robert Boyle_, in his _Usefulness of Experimental Philosophy_, _sect_ 2. _ch._ 15. considering the Body of a Living man or any Animal, as an Engine, so composed, that there is a conspiring communication betwixt its parts, by vertue whereof a very slight impression of advent.i.tious matter upon some one part, may be able to work, on some other distant part, or perhaps on the whole Engine, a change far exceeding, what the same advent.i.tious matter could do upon a Body not so contrived: Representing, I say, an Animal in this manner, and thence inferring, how it may be alter'd for the better or worse by motions or impulses, confessedly _Mechanicall_, observes, How some are recover'd from swouning fits by p.r.i.c.king; others grow faint and do vomit by the bare motion of a Coach; others fall into a troublesome sickness by the agitation of a Ship, and by the Sea-air (whence they recover by rest, and by going a sh.o.r.e.) Again, how in our Stables a Horse well-curried is half-fed: How some can tell by the Milk of their a.s.ses, whether that day they have been well curried or not: Arguing hence, that if in _Milk_ the alteration is so considerable, it should be so likewise in the _Blood_, or other Juyces, of which the Blood is elaborated, and consequently in divers of the princ.i.p.al parts of the Body. Where also (upon the authority of _Piso_) he refers the Reader to the _Brasilian_ Empiricks, whose {208} wild _Frictions_, as unskilfully as they order them, do strange things, both in _preserving health_, and _curing diseases_; curing Cold and _Chronical_ ones by _Friction_, as they do _Acute_ ones, by _Unction_.

_Thirdly_, The learned Dr. _John Beale_, did not long since communicate by some Letters; _First_, that he could make good proof of the curing or killing a very great and dangerous _Wen_ (that had been very troublesome for two or three years,) by the application of a dead mans hand, whence the Patient felt such a cold stream pa.s.s to the Heart, that it did almost cause in him a fit of swouning. _Secondly_, that, upon his brothers knowledge, a certain Cook in a n.o.ble Family of _England_ (wherein that brother of his then lived) having been reproached for the ugliness of his _Warty_ hands, and return'd for answer, that he had tried many remedies, but found none, was bid by his Lord, to rub his hand with that of a dead man; and that this Lord dying soon after, the Cook made use both of his Lords advise and hand, and speedily found good effect. (Which is also confirm'd by what Mr.

_Boyle_ relates in his lately mentioned _Book_, of Dr. _Harvey's_ frequently succesfull triall, of curing some Tumors or Excrescencies, by holding on them such a Hand.) Here is _Friction_ or _Touch_, to mortifie Wens, to drive away swellings and Excrescencies: And why not to repell or dissipate Spirits, that may have a dangerous influence upon the Brain, or other parts; as well as to call forth the retired ones into the habit of the Body, for Invigoration? _Thirdly_, that a Gentleman, who came lately out of _Ireland_, lay at his House, and inform'd him of an aged Knight there, who having great pain in his feet, insomuch that he was unable to use them, suffered, as he was going to bed, a loving _Spaniell_ to lick his feet; which was for the present very pleasing to him, so that he used it mornings and evenings, till he found the pain appeased, and the use of his feet restored. This, saith {209} the _Relater_, was a gentle touch, and transpiration; for he found the Spirits transpire with a pleasing Kind of t.i.tillation. _Fourthly_, that he can a.s.sure of an honest Blacksmith, who by his healing hand converted his Barrs of Iron into Plates of Silver; and had this particular faculty, that he caused Vomitings by stroaking the Stomack; gave the Stool by stroaking the Belly; appeased the Gout, and other paines, by stroaking the parts affected.

_Some particulars, communicated from forraign parts, concerning the Permanent _Spott_ in _Jupiter_; and a Contest between two Artists about _Optick Gla.s.ses_, &c._

[Sidenote: _See _Numb. 1_. of these _Transactions_; by the date whereof it will appeare, that that _Spot_ was observed in _England_, a good while before any such thing was so much as heard of._]

_Eustachio de Divinis_ (saith the _Informer_,) has written a large Letter, wherein he pretends, that the Permanent Spot in _Jupiter_ hath been first of all discovered with _his_ Gla.s.ses; and that the P. _Gotignies_ is the first that hath thence deduced the Motion of _Jupiter_ about his _Axis_; and that Signior _Ca.s.sini_ opposed it at first; to whom the said _Gotignies_ wrote a letter of complaint thereupon.

The same _Eustachio_ pretends likewise, that his great Gla.s.ses excell those of _Campani_; and that in all the tryals, made with them, they have performed better; and that _Campani_ was not willing to do, what was necessary for well comparing the one with the other. _viz._ To put equall _Eye-gla.s.ses_ in them, or to exchange the same Gla.s.ses.

The said _Divini_ affirms also, that he hath found a way to {210} know, whether an Object gla.s.s be good or not, onely by looking upon it, without trying. This would be of good use, especially if it should extend so far as to discerne the goodness of such a gla.s.s, whilst it is yet on the Cement.

_An Account of Dr. _Sydenham's_ Book, ent.i.tuled, _Methodus Curandi Febres, Propriis observationibus superstructa_._

This _Book_ undertakes to deliver a more certain and more genuine Method of curing Feavers and Agues, than has obtained hitherto: And it being premised, _First_, that a Fever is Natures Engine, she brings into the field, to remove her enemy; or her handmaid, either for evacuating the impurities of the blood, or for reducing it into a New State: _Secondly_, that the true and genuine cure of this sickness consists in such a tempering of the Commotion of the Blood, that it may neither exceed, nor be too languide: This, I say, being premised by the Author, he informs the Reader;

In the _First Section_, of the different Method, to be employed in the cure of Feavers, not only in respect of the differing const.i.tutions and ages of the patients, but also in regard of the differing seasons of one and the same year, and of the difference of one year from another. As to the _Former_, he shews, in what sorts of _Patients_, and at what time of the Feaver, Phlebotomy, or Vomiting, or both, are to be used; and when and where not: In what s.p.a.ce of time the _Depuration_ if nature be not disturbed or hindred in her work, will be perform'd: When _Purgatives_ are to be administred: How that _Diarrhea's_ happen, if the _Patient_ had in the {211} beginning of the Feaver an inclination to vomit, but no vomit was given; and that those symptoms, which commonly are imputed to a malignity, do, for the most part, proceed from the Relaxation of the tone of the Bloud, caused by Medicines too refrigerating, or by the unseasonable use of Glisters in the declination of the disease. As to the _Latter_, he observes, that one of the chief causes, rendring the Cure of Feavers so uncertain and unsuccessfull, is, that _Pract.i.tioners_ do accommodate their observations, they take from the successful cure of some Feavers in one season or the year, or in some one year, to that of all Feavers in any season, or in any year whatsoever. And here he observes, _first_, how vigorous the blood is in the _Spring_, and how dispirited in _Autumn_; and thence regulates the letting of bloud, and Vomiting, and the giving of Glisters. _Next_, how difficult it is, to a.s.sign the cause of the difference between the Feavers of _Several years_; and to prognosticate of the salubrity or insalubrity of the following part of the year: where yet he insinuates, that, when _Insects_ do swarm extraordinarily, and when Feavers and Agues (especially _Quartans_) appear very early, as about _Midsummer_, then _Autumn_ commonly proves very sickly. _Lastly_, what method and Cautions are to be used in the Cure of _Epidemical_ Feavers.

In the _Second Section_, he treats of the _Symptoms_, accompanying _Continued_ Feavers; as _Phrensies_, _Pleurisies_, _Coughs_, _Hicoughs_, _Fluxes_, &c. Shewing, both whence they are caused, and how they are to be cured: Where having inserted a considerable _Paragraph_, touching a certain _Symptomatical_ Feaver in the _Spring_, to be cured like Plurisies; he mentions among many Observables, this, as a chief one, that _Laudanum_, or any other _Narcotick_ given against the _Phrensy_, in the beginning, progress, or height of a Feaver, does rather hurt, than good, but in the declination thereof, is used with good success. To all which he subjoins a particular {212} accompt of the _Iliac Pa.s.sion_ (esteem'd by him to be sometimes a _Symptome_ also of Feavers;) not only discoursing of its cause (a preposterous inversion of the Intestins, proceeding either from Obstruction, or Irritation,) but adding also a very plain way of Curing the same; and that not by the use of _Quick-silver_ or _Bullets_ (by him judged to be frequently noxious) but only by _Mint-water_; and the application of a Whelp to the Patients stomach; to strengthen the same, and to reduce it again to its natural motion.

In the _Third Section_, he treats of _Intermittent_ Feavers, or of _Agues_: Where he discourses of the times of the _Cold_ and _Hot_ fits, and of _that_ of the _Separation_ of the subdued aguish matter: Finds difficulty in giving a satisfactory accompt of the _return of Fits_: distinguishes Agues into _Vernal_ and _Autumnal_: Takes notice, that as there are few _Continued_ Feavers, so generally there are only _Quotidians_ and _Tertians_, in the _Spring_; and only _Tertians_ and _Quartans_ in _Autumn_; Of which having offered Reasons, that seem considerable, he proceeds to his Method of curing them; and, laying much weight upon the said difference, he prescribes and urges different ways to be used in that cure: Interserting among other things these notes; _First_, that the Period of Fermentation in Feavers, both _Continued_ and _Intermittent_, is (if left to Natures own conduct, and well regulated, if need be, by Art) perform'd in about 336. hours or 14 dayes, subducting in _Intermittent_ ones, the hours of intermission, and counting 5 hours for every Paroxism; and imputing the excursion beyond that time to the disturbance given to nature by the error of Pract.i.tioners. _Secondly_, that whoever hath had a _Quartan_ formerly, though many years be pa.s.s'd, shall, if he chance to have another, be _soon_ freed from it; and that a Physician knowing _that_, may confidently predict _this_. {213}

In the _Fourth Section_, the Author, in conformity to the Custom of those that write of Feavers, discourses of the _Small-pox_; and _First_, examining the cause of this sickness and its universality, delivers his peculiar opinion of the bloud's endeavouring a Renovation or a New Texture (once at least in a Mans life) and is inclin'd to preferr the same to the received doctrine of its malignity. _Then_, having laid down, for a foundation of the Cure, the two times, of _Separation_ and _Expulsion_, he argues as well against too high an Ebullition or too hasty a separation (by a hot diet or high Cordials) as against too languid a one (by Blooding, Purges, and Cooling medicines.) The like he does to the Time of _Expulsion_, forbidding _both_ immoderate Heat (whereby Nature's expelling operation is disturbed by a precipitated and too thick a crowd of the protruded pustuls,) _and_ too much Cooling, whereby due Expulsion is hindred. In short, he advises, to permit Nature to do her own work, requiring nothing of the Physician, but to regulate her, when she is exorbitant, and to fortifie her, when she is too weak. He concludes all, with delivering a Model of the Method, he would use for his own only Son, if he should fall into this Sickness.

Advertis.e.m.e.nt.

_Whereas 'tis taken notice of, that several persons perswade themselves, that these_ Philosophical Transactions _are publish't by the_ Royal Society, _notwithstanding many circ.u.mstances, to be met with in the already publish't ones, {214} that import the contrary; The Writer thereof hath thought fit, expresly here to declare, that that perswasion, if there be any such indeed, is a meer mistake; and that he, upon his_ Private _account (as a Well-wisher to the advancement of usefull knowledge, and a Furtherer thereof by such Communications, as he is capable to furnish by that Philosophical Correspondency, which he entertains, and hopes to enlarge) hath begun and continues both the composure and publication thereof: Though he denies not, but that, having the honour and advantage of being a_ Fellow _of the said_ Society, _he inserts at times some of the Particulars that are presented to them; to wit, such as he knows he may mention without offending them, or transgressing their Orders; tending only to administer occasion to others also, to consider and carry them further, or to Observe or Experiment the like, according as the nature of such things may require._

Printed with Licence for _John Martyn_, and _James Allestry_, Printers to the Royal Society. 1666.

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_Numb._ 13.

PHILOSOPHICAL _TRANSACTIONS._

_Munday_, _June_ 4. 1666.

The Contents.

_Certain _Problems_ touching some Points of Navigation: Of a new Contrivance of _Wheel-Barometer_, much easier to be prepar'd, than others. An account of _Four Suns_ which lately appear'd in _France_; and of two, unusually posited, _Rainbows_, seen in the same Kingdom. A Relation of an Accident, by Thunder and Lightning, in _Oxford_. An Experiment, to examine, what _Figure_ or Celerity of Motion begetteth or increaseth _Light_ and _Flame_. Some Considerations touching a Letter in the _Journal des Scavans_ of _May__ 24. 1666.

_Certain _Problems_ touching some Points of _Navigation_._

These _Problems_ are presented by the Learned and Industrious _Nicolaus Mercator_, for the advancing of that Excellent and Beneficial Science, _Navigation_, as follows:

The line of _Artificial Tangents_, or the _Logarithmical Tangent-line_, beginning at 45 deg. and taking every half _degree_ for a whole one, is found to agree pretty near with the _Meridian-line_ of the _Sea-Charte_; they both growing, as it were, after the same Proportion. But the Table of _Meridional_ degrees being calculated only to every _s.e.xagesimal_ minute of a degree, shews some small difference from the said _Logarithmical Tangent-line_. Hence it may be doubted, whether that difference do not arise from that little errour, which is committed by calculating the Table of _Meridional_ degrees _only_ to every minute. {216}