Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Part 34

Su. 23. Su. 7. 27. M. 1. 41 A.

7. 36. A. Mo. 2. 10 M.

Mo. 24. Mo. 8. 24 M. 2. 38 A.

8. 53. A. Tu. 3. 6 M.

Tu. 25. Tu. 9. 20 M. 3. 34 A.

9. 48. A. We. 4. 1 M.

We. 26. last Q We. 10. 15 M. 4. 29 A.

3.11' 10. 43. A. Th. 4. 56 M.

Th. 27. Th. 11. 10. M. 5. 23 A.

11. 37. A. Fr. 5. 48. M.

Fr. 28. Fr. 11. 59. M. 6. 10. A.

Sa. 29. Sa. 0. 21. M. Sa. 6. 32. M.

0. 43. A. 6. 54. A.

Su. 30. Su. 1. 5. M. Su. 7. 16. M.

Octob. 1. 27. A. 7. 38. A.

Mo. 1. Mo. 1. 49. M. Mo. 7. 59. M.

2. 9. A. 8. 19. A.

Tu. 2. Tu. 2. 29. M. Tu. 8. 39. M.

New. 2. 49. A. 8. 59. A.

We. 3. 1.38' We. 3. 9. M. We. 9. 19. M.

1666. Rising, and Thermo- Hygro- Sept. 3. fall of Tides metre scope Hour. M. Foot /1000 Inch /10 Inch /10 Velocity of Baro- Azimuth. Force the Current scope of the Wind Foot /1000 Inch /10 deg. deg.

00, 000.

0, 000. Weather XII. 00. 00, 000. 6. 7. 28. 1. 3. 4. S. to W. 50. 3.

0, 456. Rain great 20. 10, 000. 6. 7. 28. 1. 3. 4. S. to W. 57. 3.

1, 353. Rain great 40. 36, 250. 6. 8. 28. 1. 3. 4. S. to W. 60. 3.

2, 211. Rain small I. 00. 48, 587. 6. 8. 28. 1. 3. 3. S. W. 45. 4.

3, 000. Rain small 20. 66, 658. 6. 8. 28. 1. 3. 2. S. W. 30. 4.

3, 696. Rain very small 40. 81, 053. 6. 9. 28. 2. 3. 1. S. W. 36. 4.

4, 284. Fair but cloudy II. 00. 93, 289. 6. 9. 28. 2. 3. 0. S. W. 39. 5.

4, 740. Fair and warm 20. 103, 289. 6. 8. 28. 1. 2. 7. S. W. 42. 5.

5, 049. Warm and cloudy 40. 110, 724. 6. 8. 28. 2. 2. 3. S. W. 19. 6.

5, 211. Sunshine III. 00. 114, 276. 6. 8. 28. 2. 2. 0. S. W. 60. 5.

5, 211. Sunshine and clear 20. 110, 724. 6. 7. 28. 3. 2. 1. S. W. 73. 5.

5, 049. Sun clouded 40. 103, 289. 6. 7. 28. 3. 2. 0. S. W. 90. 6.

4, 740. Cloudy IIII. 00. 93, 289. 6. 6. 28. 3. 2. 1. S. W. 90. 6.

4, 284. Hazy about the Horiz.

20. 81, 053. 6. 6. 28. 4. 2. 3. N. W. 87. 6.

3, 696. Misty 40. 66, 658. 6. 5. 28. 4. 2. 3. N. W. 70. 7.

3, 000. Misty V. 00. 48, 487. 6. 4. 28. 4. 2. 3. N. W. 59. 7.

2, 211. Clearing up 20. 36, 250. 6. 2. 28. 5. 2. 3. N. W. 50. 6.

1, 353. Clear 40. 10, 000. 6. 1. 28. 5. 2. 1. N. W. 60. 5.

0, 456. Sunshine VI. 00. 00, 000. 6. 0. 28. 5. 2. 0. N. W. 60. 4.

0, 000. Sunshine

{315}

_Other Inquiries Concerning the Sea._

The _Publisher_ of these _Tracts_, knowing that the Honorable _Robert Boyle_ had not left unconsidered the Natural History of the _Sea_, of which Subject the late, and these present Papers, have entertained the _Reader_ as to the Observables of its _Flux_ and _Reflux_; He was on this occasion instant, with that Gentleman to impart to him, for publication, these Heads of Inquiries, he had drawn up, touching that Subject: Which having obtained (though the _Author_ desires, they may be lookt upon as unfinisht) he thus subjoyns.

What is the Proportion of Salt, that is in the Water of differing Seas; And whether in the same Sea it be always the same? And if it be not, how much it differs?

[Sidenote: * _This last Clause containing difficult _Quaere_ and that may seem something odd, Mr. _Boyl_ thinks fit to note, That having recommended this matter, among others, to a learned Physician, that was sailing into _America_, and furnished him with a small _Hydrostaticall_ Instrument, to observe from time to time the Differences of Gravity he might meet with; This account was returned him, That he found by the Gla.s.s, the Sea-water to increase in weight, the nearer he came to the _Line_, till he arrived at a certain Degree of _Lat.i.tude_; as he remembers, it was about the 30th; after which, the Water seemed to retain the same specifick gravity, till he came to the _Barbadoes_, or _Jamaica_._]

What is the Gravity of Sea-waters in reference to Fresh Waters and to one another: Whether it vary not in Summer and Winter, and on other Scores? And whether in the same Season its Gravity proceed _only_ from the greater or lesser Proportion of Salt, that is in it, and not sometimes from other Causes? And what are the differing Gravities of the Sea-water, according to the Climats. *

What are the Odors, Colours and Tasts, observable in Sea-water?

What is the depth of the sea in several places, and the Order of its increase and Decrements? And whether the Bottom of the Sea does always rise towards the Sh.o.r.e, unless accidentally interrupted?

Of the Bottom of the Sea, and how it differs from the Surface of the Earth, in reference to the Soyl, and evenness or Roughness of the Superficies, And the Stones, Minerals and Vegetables to be found there?

What the Figuration of the Seas from North to South, and from East to West, and in the several Hemispheres and Climats?

What communication there is of Seas by Streights and Subterraneal Conveyances?

Of the Motion of the Sea by Winds, and how far Storms reach downwards towards the Bottom of the Sea?

[Sidenote: * _The particulars whereof (saith the Author) are here omitted; Sir _Robert Moray_ and Dr. _Wallis_ having by there more accurate inquiries about _Tides_ made them needless._]

Of the grand Motions of the Bulk or Body of the Sea; especially of the Tides *; Their History as to their Nature and Differences.

{316} What power the Sea hath to produce or hasten Putrefaction in some Bodies, and to preserve others; as Wood, Cables, and others that are sunk under it?

Of the Power ascribed to the Sea to eject Dead Bodies, _Succinum_, _Ambergris_?

Of the shining of the Sea in the night?

What are the Medical vertues of the Sea, especially against _Hydrophobia_?

What is its vertue to Manure Land? And what are the Plants, that thrive best with Sea-water.

_Some Considerations concerning the _Parenchymous_ parts of the Body._

These were communicated by the inquisitive M. _Edmund King_ at the Instance of the _Publisher_, as follows;

The _Parenchymous_ parts of the Body, are by _Anatomists_ generally supposed to be in very many places wholly _void of Vessels_; designed chiefly to fill up Cavities and interstices between the Vessels, and to boulster up the same, and to convey them through the parts.

But having many years endeavoured to excarnate several parts of the Body, _viz._ the Liver, Lungs, Spleen, Kidneys, &c. (not to name the _Placenta Uteri_, which seems to be _Parenchymous_ too;) and being very desirous to make a _Scheme_ of the Vessels of any of these, what ever they were, I fixt upon; I found, notwithstanding all my care to preserve the Vessels, when I was freeing them, as heedfully as I could, from the supposed _Parenchyma_, that in every breach, I made, either with my fingers or otherwise, all my endeavors were destructive to my purpose: and that, upon examination of those bits, much of which is called _Parenchyma_, I met in them more Vessels, than I had preserved in the parts whence they came: And though the portion were never so small, yet my bare eye could make this discovery; much more could I, when a.s.sisted by a _Microscope_, perceive, I had destroyed more Vessels than preserved, in despite of the exactest care, I was capable to use. And being not a little concern'd, that I should undertake to preserve the Vessels by such a Cause, as I saw plainly to be their definition (were the part never so big, or never so small) I was both confounded and tired. For I saw (and so must any, that will attempt this work) in my endeavouring to preserve one Vessel of a traceable magnitude, I spoiled an infinite number of others less discernable, which were as truly Vessels, as the other, differing only in size and figure (as to appearance.) Then reviewing what mischief I had done in every place, quite through the whole Tract of my Fingers, Knife, &c. I begin to think with my self, That it was not impossible for these parts to consist wholly of Vessels curiously wrought and interwoven (probably for more Uses, than is yet known;) And the {317} consideration, which came into my mind, of a piece of fine Cloth (which consists of so many several minute Hairs, call'd _Wool_) was no discouragement to this opinion. Yet I durst not be presumptuous as to indulge my self too much in it; much less to venter presently to speak of such a thing, which seem'd to contradict so many Learned Men's belief. But being restless, till I might receive more satisfaction in the thing, I iterated experiments over and over; some of which prov'd so successful to my apprehension, that I was encouraged in the year 1663. and 1664 to discourse of it to several very worthy Persons, as Mr. _Boyl_, Sir _William Petty_, Dr. _Williams_, Dr. _Lenthal_, Dr. _Jaspar Needham_, Dr. _Samson_, (who afterwards sent me a Letter from _France_, intimating the acquaintance he had made with the learned _Steno_, who hath since published something of the same Discovery) Mr. _Daniel c.o.x_, and Dr.

_Samuel Parker_, &c, who doubtless cannot but remember, that then I related to them, I found much cause to believe, that that substance commonly called _Parenchyma_, was in most, if not in all its _Parenchymous_ parts, full of Vessels; however it had been imagin'd by all, I could ever meet with, to consist in great part of a substance, in many places void of Vessels, designed for such uses, as are above mentioned.

Against which I have now further to alledge, 1. That I observe in a piece of _Musculous_ flesh (so call'd) either raw, rosted, or boiled, &c. that if I so far extend it as to make it to be seen through, I can (a.s.sisting my Eye) perceive it full of Vessels placed as thick as is possible to be imagin'd, (the fat if there be any, being first removed) there appearing then nothing but vessels, yet so as with a _Microscope_ may be seen through, when they are extended. 2. That, if any one, as he is at dinner, take a piece of flesh, and begin either at the head or tail of a _Muscle_, he may divide it _in infinitum_ all along from head to tail, without breaking any thing of that, called Flesh, only these transverse _Fibres_, that seem to st.i.tch them together, and (as I am apt to think) pa.s.s through the very Bodies of the smallest of them, and quite through the whole Muscle up the Cutaneous porosities; so that there is not one of these small _ducts_, that run _per longitudinem_, but 'tis furnisht with a sufficient number of outlets, when need requires, though too minute to suffer any _alimentary_ juice to pa.s.s transversly (in a living Body) or any other liquor, when the Body is dead and cold. But to wave their use at present, and to return to what I was saying. Compress between the fingers this bit of flesh, and you shall find the Juice, especially if the Meat be Hot, to go before your fingers toward either end you please; but if you compress both ends, you shall see it swell into the middle; and again, if you press the middle, it will run out at both ends. But further, suppose a piece of flesh, called _Parenchyma_, as big, or as little as you please, in any part of the Body, and let me p.r.i.c.k it with a Needle, where you shall appoint; if you feel it, I presume you will acknowledge, a _Nerve_, or a _Fibrilla_, related to it, is touch'd; If you feel it not, I am sure some liquor either sanguineous or other, will follow the Needle; And from whence can that come, but out of Vessels? unless {318} accidentally, as by a _Contusion_, &c., it be extravased, in which case my Argument will not be injured, because the part is depraved, whereas I speak of the parts, as they are in their natural State.

To confirm and ill.u.s.trate all which, I desire, that the following _familiar_ Observations may be considered: