Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Part 27

6. That their _n.o.bility_ is raised from Learning and Knowledge, without regard to Bloud or Parentage, excepting the Royall Family.

7. That in _CHEKIAN_, a maritime Province, whence is the shortest cut of _China_ to _j.a.pan_, is the best and plentifullest _Silk-trade_ in the world: And that there every year the Mulberries are cutt, and kept down, that they grow not into Trees for the easier gathering of the Leaves, there being a _double_ Silk-harvest in that Country, as there is in severall other parts of the East-indies; (both which there is hope, will shortly be imitated in _Virginia_.)

8. That the way of making _Porcelane_ is this: (_Which is the rather inserted here, because it agrees so well with an Account, we received a while since from a very Curious and intelligent Person of Amsterdam._) There is in the Province of _Nankin_ a Town, call'd {250} _Goesifols_ whence they draw the Earth for _Porcelaine_, which is found between the Rocks of Mountains. This Earth they beat very small, and stamp it to a very fine Powder, and then put it into Tubs fill'd with water; where the finest part sinks to the bottom. Afterwards 'tis kneaded in the form of small Cubes, of the weight of about 3. _Catti_ (a _Catti_ being 20 Ounces.) These pieces thus wrought are sold to the people, that commonly in great numbers fetch them, coming from the Town _Sintesimo_ (otherwise _Jontiou_) in the Province of _Kiansy_, being about 50 miles distant from _Wotsing_, neer the City _KIANSY_; which people transport them to their homes, and there bake them in this manner: They heat their Ovens well, for the s.p.a.ce of 15 daies successively, and then keep them so close, that no Air may get in; and after 15 _other_ daies are pa.s.s'd, they open the Oven in the presence of an Officer, who takes every fifth vessel of each fashion for the service of the Emperor: Which done, the rest is sold to those of _Ucienien_, whence it is transported all over the Country. So that the Earth is not prepared, in _Nankin_, where 'tis found, because the people of that Province have not the skill of working it, as the other above-mention'd; who also alone have the Art of coloring it, which they keep as a great Secret, not teaching it to any, but their Children and next Kindred.

9. That _Musk_ is nothing else, but the t.e.s.t.i.c.l.es of a Beast like a Dear, found in the Province of _Honan_; and that, when tis good and unmixt, as it comes from the Animal, they sell it even in _Nankin_ and _Pekin_, for 30.

or 35. _Teyls_ (that is, about so many Crowns) the _Catti_.

Many other curious informations might be borrow'd from this Author, concerning the Customs, Studies, Exercises of the _Chinese_; of the number of the people of each Province; of the Natural productions of the Earth and Rivers there; of the Structure and Antiquity of their Wall; of the Magnificence of their Porcelain Tower &c.; but, remitting for these things to the Book it self, we shal only add a piece of Oeconomy, used by the _Holland_-Merchants in their Commerce with _China_, which is, that they dry abundance of Sage-leaves, role them up, and {251} prepare them like _The_, and carrying it to _China_, as a rare drogue, get for one pound of it, fourtimes as much _The_.

_A DISCOURSE ABOUT THE CAUSES OF THE INUNDATION OF THE NILE_, in _French_.

The Author of this Book is Monseiur _dela Chambre_, who being perswaded from several Circ.u.mstances, that accompany the Overflowing of this River, that it cannot proceed from Rain, ventures to a.s.sign for a Cause of _it_, and of all the other effects that happen at the time of its swelling, the _Niter_, wherewith that water abounds.

The discourse having six parts, the Author endeavours to shew in the

_First_, that the Waters of the _Nile_ are Nitrous, explicating the Nature of Salt, and Saltpeter, and imputing the fertility of the Earth, as well us the fecundity of Animals, to Salt. Where he shews, that all things, that serve to improve Land, are full of Salt; and that 'tis observ'd, that grain steep'd in Vrine, before sowing, rises sooner, and becomes fuller and stronger, than else. Adding, that that, which renders the Seed of Animals prolifick, is, that one of the _Spermatick_ veins hath its Origine from the _Emulgent_, through which the Nitrous and Saline Serosities, that discharge themselves into the Kidneys and Bladder, do pa.s.s.

In the _Second_, he examins, what is Fermentation, and how 'tis perform'd; affirming, that, what thrusts forth Plants in the Spring, is, that the Earth being fermented by the _Niter_, it harbours, the Nitrous spirits insinuate themselves into their Pores.

In the _Third_ he treats of all the Circ.u.mstances, observable in the Inundation of the Nile. 'Tis affirm'd, that 3 or 4 days before that River begins to overflow, all its water is troubled: that then there falls a certain Dew, which hath a fermenting vertue, and leavens a Paste exposed to the Air: that the Mud, which has been drawn out of the water, grows heavier, when the overflowing begins, then it was before, and that by the increase of the weight of that Mud, they judge of the greatness of the approaching inundation. The Author pretends, that {252} the Niter, which the _Nile_ is stored with, is the cause of all these strange effects, and of many others, by him alledged. For, _saith he_, when the Nitre is heated by the heat of the Sun, it ferments, and mingling with the water, troubles it, and swells it, and makes it pa.s.s beyond its banks; after the same manner, as the Spirits in new Wine render it troubled, and make it boyle in the vessel. And it seems not likely to him, that the Mud, found in the _Nile_, should come a far off; for then it would at last so raise the banks of this River, that it would not be able to overflow them any longer.

Whereas 'tis more than 2000 years, that the banks thereof are not grown higher, there being now requisite but 16. cubits for overflowing the Land, no more than there was in the time of _Herodotus_. Which shews, _saith he_, that this Mud is nothing but a volatil _Niter_, which exhaling, doth not increase the Earth. As for the _aegyptian_ Dew, and the increase of the weight of the Mud, he adscribes them to the same Cause. For the spirits of Nitre abounding in the _Nile_, when raised into the Air with the vapors, that exhale continually from this River, there is made out of their mixture, a Dew, that refreshes the Air, makes sickness to cease, and produces all those admirable effects, that make the _aegyptians_ wish for it so pa.s.sionately. And the same spirits of Niter, being joyned to the Paste, and to the Mud, raise the one, and augment the weight of the other. That, which Mr. _Buratini_ observes, that at the time of this inundation, the Niter-pits of the neighboring places vomit out liquid Niter, and that one may see issue out of the Earth abundance of Chrystals of Nitre, is alledged to fortify this conjecture; Which is yet more confirm'd by the Fertility, communicated to the Earth by the Mud of this River. For, plants do grow there in such abundance, that they would choak one another, if it were not remedied by throwing Sand upon the Fields; insomuch that the _aegyptians_ must take as much pains to spread Sand to lessen the fatness of their Land, as other Nations do, to spread dung or other manure upon theirs to increase the fatness.

In the _Fourth_ and _Fifth_, the Author undertakes to prove, that all those strange effects cannot be attributed to Rain or Snow, {253} and that the overflowing of the _Nile_ always happens at a certain day.

In the _Last_, he alledges some Relations, serving to confirm his Opinion; Which are too long here to insist upon.

_DE PRINCIPIIS ET RATIOCINATIONE GEOMETRARUM, Contra Fastum Professorum Geometriae;_ Auth.o.r.e _Thoma Hobbes_. It seems, that this Author is angry with all Geometricians, but himself; yea he plainly saith in the dedication of his Book, that _he invades the whole Nation of them_; and unwilling, it seems, to be call'd to an account for doing so; He will acknowledge no judge of _this_ Age; but is full of hopes, that posterity will p.r.o.nounce for him. Mean while he ventures to advance this _Dilemma_; _Eorum qui de iisdem rebus mec.u.m aliquid ediderunt, aut solus insanio Ego, aut solus non insanio; tertium enim non est, nisi (quod dicet forte aliquis) insaniamus omnes._ Doubtless, one of these will be granted him.

As to the Book it self, he professes, that he doth not write it against _Geometry_, but _Geometers_; and that his design in it is, to shew, That there is no less uncertainty and falsity in the writings of _Mathematicians_, than there is in those of _Naturalists_, _Moralists_, &c., though he judges, that _Physicks_, _Ethicks_, _Politicks_, if they were well demonstrated, would be as certain as the _Mathematicks_.

Attacking the Mathematical Principles as they are found in Books, and withall some Demonstrations, he takes to task _Euclid_ himself, instead of all, as the Master of all Geometricians, and with him his best interpreter, _Clavius_, examining in the _First_ place, the _Principles_ of _Euclid_: _Secondly_, Declaring false, what is superstructed upon them, whether by _Euclid_, or _Clavius_, or any _Geometer_ whatsoever that hath made use of those or other (as he is pleased to ent.i.tle them) _false_ Principles.

_Thirdly_, Pretending, that he means so to combat all, both Principles and Demonstrations, undertaken by him, as that he will subst.i.tute better in their room, least he should seem to undermine the Science it selfe. {254}

The particulars, which he undertakes to reform, are,

_Punctum._ _Linea._ _Terminus._ _Linea Recta._ _Superficies._ _Superficiei Termini._ _Superficies Plana,_ _Angulus_ (Where he is large upon the _Angulus Contactus._) _Pet.i.tio prima Elem. 1. Euclidis._ _Ratio._ _Radix & Latus._ _Prop. 16. El. 3._ _Dimensio Circuli._ _Magnitudo Circuli Hugeniana._ _Sectio Anguli._ _Ratio, quam habet recta composita ex Radio & Tangente 30. grad, ad Radium ipsum._ _Propos. 47ae. Elem. 1. Demonstratio._ _Addita est Appendix de Mediis proportionalibus in genere._

_KING SALOMONS POUTRAITURE OF OLD AGE_; by _John Smith_, M.D. This Treatise being a _Philosophical_ Discourse, though upon a _Sacred_ Theme, may certainly claim a place among _Philosophical_ Transactions. Not here to mention the many other learned Notes, this Worthy Author gives upon that Hieroglyphical Description of Old Age, made by that Royal Pen-man of _Ecclesiastes_, cap. 12. We shall onely take notice of that surprizingly Ingenious one, there to be met with, concerning the Antiquity of the Doctrine of the _Blood's Circulation_: King _Salomon_, who lived neer 2700 years agoe, using such expressions, as may, to a considering Reader, very probably denote the same Doctrine, which the Sagacious Dr. _Harvey_ has of late years so happily brought to light, and introduced into all the most Ingenuous Societies of Learned men: The _Pitcher_, mention'd in the quoted place, being Interpreted for the _Veines_, and the _Fountain_ for the _Right Ventricle of the Heart_, as the _Cistern_ for the _Left_; the _Wheele_, there spoken off, manifestly importing a _Circulation_, made by the _Great Artery_ with its Branches, the princ.i.p.al Instrument thereof.

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

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_Num._ 15.

PHILOSOPHICAL _TRANSACTIONS._

_Wednesday_, _July_ 18. 1666.

The Contents.

_A new Experiment, shewing, How a considerable degree of Cold may be suddenly produced without the help of _Snow_, _Ice_, _Haile_, _Wind_, or _Niter_, and that at any time of the year. An Account of two Books, lately printed in _London_; whereof the one is ent.i.tuled, _EUCLIDIS ELEMENTA GEOMETRICA, novo ordine ac Methodo demonstrata_; the Author _Anonymus_. The other, _THE ENGLISH VINE-YARD VINDICATED_, by _JOHN ROSE_._

_A new Frigorifick Experiment shewing, how a considerable degree of _Cold_ may be suddenly produced without the help of _Snow_, _Ice_, _Haile_, _Wind_, or _Niter_, and that at any time of the year._

This subject will it self, 'tis presumed, without any other _Preamble_, speak the Cause, why this present Paper is publish't at this (unusual) time of the Month: though, by the by, it may not be amiss to add on this occasion, that the Publisher of these _Tracts_ never meant so to confine himself to a _Set_ time, as not to retain the Liberty of taking any other, when there is occasion. And there being one given him, before another Month is come in, he does without any scruple or delay comply therewith, presenting the Curious with an Experiment which he thinks is both seasonable, and will not be unwellcome to them; furnish't out of the Ample Magazin of that Philosophical Benefactor, the n.o.ble Mr. _Boyle_; Concerning which, thus much is further thought requisite to intimate on this occasion, that it, and some others of the same Gentlemans, that have been, and may be, mentioned in the _Transactions_, belong to certain Treatises, the Author hath lying by him; but that yet he denys not {256} to communicate them to his Friends, and to allow them to dispose thereof, upon a hope, that equitable Readers will be ready to excuse, if hereafter they should appear also in the Treatises they belong to, since he consents to this Antic.i.p.ation, but to comply with those, that think the imparting of real and practical Experiments, may do the Publick some Service, by exciteing and a.s.sisting mens Curiosity in the interim.

As for the Experiment, you saw the other day at my Lodgings, though it belongs to some Papers about _Cold_, that (you know) could not be Publish't, when the rest of the _History_ came forth, and therefore was reserved for the next _Edition_ of that Book; yet the Weather having been of late very hot, and threatning to continue so, I presume, that to give you here in compliance with your Curiosity an Account of the Main and Practical part of the Experiment, may enable you to gratify not onely the Curious among your Friends, but those of the Delicate, that are content to purchase a Coolness of Drinks at a somewhat chargeable rate.

You may remember, that the Spring before the last, I shew'd you a particular Account of a way, wherein by a certain substance obtain'd from _Sal Armoniack_, I could presently produce a considerable degree of _Cold_, and that with odd Circ.u.mstances, without the help of _Snow_, _Ice_, _Niter_ &c. But that Experiment being difficult and costly enough, and design'd to afford men _Information_, not _Accomodations_, I afterwards tryed, what some more cheap and facile mixtures of likely Bodies with _Sal Armoniack_ would do towards the Production of Cold, and afterwards I began to consider, whether to that purpose alone (for my first experiment was design'd to exhibite other _Phaenomena_ too) those mixtures might not without inconvenience be omitted: and I was much confirm'd in my conjecture, by an accident, which was casually related to me by a very Ingenious Physician of my acquaintance, but not to be repeated to you in few words, though he complain'd, he knew not what to make of it.

Among the several ways, by which I have made infrigidating Mixtures with _Sal Armoniack_, the most simple and facile is this; Take one pound of powder'd _Sal Armoniack_ and about three Pints (or pounds) of Water, put the Salt into the Liquor, _either_ altogether, if your design be to produce an intense, though {257} but a short coldness; _or_ at two, three, or four several times, if you desire, that the produced coldness should rather last somewhat longer than be so great. Stirre the powder in the Liquor with a stick or whalebone (or some other thing that will not be injur'd by the fretting Brine, that will be made) to hasten the dissolution of the Salt; upon the quickness of which depends very much the intensity of the Cold, that will ensue upon this Experiment. For the clearing up whereof, I shall annex the following particulars.

[Sidenote: * _In the History of Cold._]

1. That a considerable degree of Cold is really produced by this operation, is very evident: _First_ to the touch; _Secondly_, by this, that if you make the Experiment (as for this reason I sometimes chuse to do) in a Gla.s.s-Body or a Tankard, you may observe, that, whilst the Solution of the Salt is making, the outside of the Metalline Vessel will, as high as the mixture reaches within, be bedew'd (if I may so speak) with a mult.i.tude of little Drops of Water as I have * elsewhere shown that it happens, when mixtures of Snow and Salt, being put into Gla.s.ses or other Vessels, the aqueous vapors that swim to and fro in the Air, and chance to glide along the sides of the Vessels, are by the coldness thereof condens'd into Water.

And in our Armoniack Solution you may observe, that if you wipe off the Dew from any particular part of the outside of the Vessel, whilst the solution does yet vigorously goe on, it will quickly collect fresh Dew, which may be sometimes copious enough to run down the sides of the Vessel. But _Thirdly_, the best and surest way of finding out the Coldness of our Mixture is that, which I shew'd you by plunging into it a good seal'd Weathergla.s.s furnish't with tincted Spirit of Wine. For the Ball of this being put into our frigorifick mixture, the Crimson Liquor will nimbly enough descend much lower, than when it was kept either in the open Air, in common Water, of the same temper with that, wherein the _Sal Armoniack_ was put to dissolve. And if you remove the Gla.s.s out of our Mixture into common water, the tincted Spirit will, (as you may remember, it did) hastily enough reascend for a pretty while, according to the greater or lesser time, that it continued in the _Armoniack_ Solution. And this has succeeded with me, when instead of removing the Mixture into _Common_ Water, I removed it into water newly impregnated with _Salt-peter_.

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2. The _Duration_ of the Cold, produc'd by this Experiment, depends upon several Circ.u.mstances; as _First_, upon the Season of the year, and present temperature of the Air; For, in Summer and Hot weather the Cold will sooner decay and expire. _Secondly_, upon the Quant.i.ty of Salt and Water: For, if both these be great, the effect will be as well more lasting, as more considerable. _Thirdly_, for ought I yet know, we may here add the Goodness & Fitness of the particular parcel of Salt, that is imploy'd; for, though it be hard to discern beforehand, which will be the more, and which the less proper; yet some trials have tempted me to suspect, that there may be a considerable disparity, as to their fitness to produce Cold, betwixt parcels of Salt, that are without scruple look't upon as Sal Armoniack: Of which difference it were not perhaps very difficult to asign probable reasons from the Nature of the Ingredients of this compound Concrete, and the wayes of preparing it. But the Duration of the Cold may be conceived to depend also. _Fourthly_, upon the Way of putting in the Salt into the Water. For, if you cast it in all at once, the Water will sooner acquire an intense degree of Coldness, but it will also the sooner return to its former temper; Whereas, if you desire but an inferiour degree of that Quality, but that may last longer (which wil usually be the most convenient for the Cooling of Drinks), then you may put in the Salt by little and little. For, keeping a long Weather-gla.s.s for a good while in our impregnated Mixture, I often purposely try'd, that, when the tincted liquor subsided but slowly, or was at a stand, by putting in, from time to time, 2 or 3. spoonfuls of fresh Salt, and stirring the Water to quicken the Dissolution, the Spirit of Wine would begin again to descend, if it were at a stand or rising, or subside much more swiftly than it did before. And if you would lengthen the Experiment, it may not be amiss, that part of the Sal Armoniack be but grosly beaten, that it may be the longer in dissolving, and consequently in Cooling the Water. Whilst there are dewy drops produced on the outside of the Vessel, 'tis a sign, that the Cold within continues pretty strong; for when it ceases, these drops especially in warm weather, will by degrees vanish. But a _surer_ way of measuring the duration of the Cold, is, by removing from time to time the Seal'd Weather-gla.s.s out of the Saline Mixture into the same common Water, with part of which it was made. And though it be not easie to determin any thing particularly about this matter; yet it may somewhat a.s.sist you in your Estimates, to be inform'd, That I have in the Spring by a good Weather-gla.s.s found a sensible advent.i.tious Cold made by a pound of Sal Armoniack at the utmost, to last about 2 or 3 hours.

3. To cool Drinks with this Mixture, you may put them in _thin_ Gla.s.ses, the thinner the better; which (their orifices being stopp'd, and still kept above the Mixture) may be moved to and fro in it, and then be immediately pour'd out to be drunk: Though when in the Gla.s.s, I imployed, was conveniently shap'd as, like a Sugar-loaf, or with a long Neck, I found it not amiss to drink it out of that, without pouring it into any other; which can scarce be done without lessning the Coolness. The refrigeration, if the Gla.s.s viall be convenient, is quickly perform'd: And if one have a mind to cool his hands, he may readily do it by applying them to the outside of the Vessel, that contains the refrigerating Mixture; by whose help, pieces of Chrystal, or Bullet for the cooling of {259} the Mouths or Hands of those patients, to whom it may be allow'd, may be potently cool'd, and other such refreshments may be easily procur'd.

4. How far Sal Armoniack, mingl'd with Sand or Earth, and not dissolv'd, but only moistn'd with a little Water sprinkl'd on it, will keep Bottles of Wine or other liquors more coole, than the Earth or that Sand alone will do, I have not yet had opportunity by sufficient trials fully to satisfie my self, and therefore resign that Enquiry to the Curious.

5. For the cooling of Air, and Liquors, to adjust Weather-gla.s.ses (to be able to do which at all times of the year, was one of the chief aimes, that made me bethink my self of this Experiment;) or to give a small quant.i.ty of Beer &c. a moderate degree of coolness, it will not be requisite, to employ neer so much as a whole pound of Sal Armoniack at a time. For, you may easily observe by a seal'd Weather-gla.s.s, that a very few ounces, well pouder'd and nimbly dissolv'd in about 4. times the weight of Water, will serve well enough for many purposes.