406Natural Hiſtory;
called Motus Plagæ.
In this common Experiment, the cauſe of the encloſure
of the Bubble is for that the Appetite to reſiſt Separation, or Diſcontinu-
ance (which in ſolid Bodies is ſtrong) is alſo in Liquors, though fainter and
weaker: As we ſee in this of the Bubble; we ſee it alſo in little Glaſſes of
Spittle that Children make of Ruſhes; and in Caſtles of Bubbles, which
they make by blowing into Water, having obtained a little degree of
Tenacity by Mixture of Soap: We ſee it alſo in the Stillicides of Water,
which, if there be Water enough to follow, will draw themſelves into a
ſmall Thred, becauſe they will diſcontinue; but if there be no remedy,
then they caſt themſelves into round Drops; which is the Figure, that
ſaveth the Body moſt from Diſcontinuance: The ſame reaſon is of the
Roundneſs of the Bubble, as well for the Skin of Water, as for the Air with-
in: For the Air likewiſe avoideth Diſcontinuance; and therefore caſteth it
ſelf into a round Figure. And for the ſtop and arreſt of the Air a little
while, it ſheweth, that the Air of it ſelf hath little, or no Appetite of
Aſcending.
of the Bubble is for that the Appetite to reſiſt Separation, or Diſcontinu-
ance (which in ſolid Bodies is ſtrong) is alſo in Liquors, though fainter and
weaker: As we ſee in this of the Bubble; we ſee it alſo in little Glaſſes of
Spittle that Children make of Ruſhes; and in Caſtles of Bubbles, which
they make by blowing into Water, having obtained a little degree of
Tenacity by Mixture of Soap: We ſee it alſo in the Stillicides of Water,
which, if there be Water enough to follow, will draw themſelves into a
ſmall Thred, becauſe they will diſcontinue; but if there be no remedy,
then they caſt themſelves into round Drops; which is the Figure, that
ſaveth the Body moſt from Diſcontinuance: The ſame reaſon is of the
Roundneſs of the Bubble, as well for the Skin of Water, as for the Air with-
in: For the Air likewiſe avoideth Diſcontinuance; and therefore caſteth it
ſelf into a round Figure. And for the ſtop and arreſt of the Air a little
while, it ſheweth, that the Air of it ſelf hath little, or no Appetite of
Aſcending.
THe Rejection, which I continually uſe, of Experiments (though it ap-
1125. peareth not) is infinite; but yet if an Experiment be probable in the
22Experiment
Solitary,
touching the
making of
Artificial
Springs. Work, and of great uſe, I receive it, but deliver it as doubtful. It was
reported by a ſober man, that an Artificial Spring may be made thus: Finde
out a hanging Ground, where there is a good quick Fall of Rain-water. Lay
a Half-Trough of Stone, of a good length, three or four foot deep with-
in the ſame Ground; with one end upon the high Ground, the other upon
the low. Cover the Trough with Brakes a good thickneſs, and caſt Sand
upon the top of the Brakes: You ſhall ſee (ſaith he) that after ſome ſhowres
are paſt, the lower end of the Trough will be like a Spring of Water; which
is no marvel, if it hold, while the Rain-water laſteth; but he ſaid it would
continue long time after the Rain is paſt: As if the Water did multiply it
ſelf upon the Air, by the help of the Coldneſs and Condenſation of the
Earth, and the Conſort of the firſt Water.
1125. peareth not) is infinite; but yet if an Experiment be probable in the
22Experiment
Solitary,
touching the
making of
Artificial
Springs. Work, and of great uſe, I receive it, but deliver it as doubtful. It was
reported by a ſober man, that an Artificial Spring may be made thus: Finde
out a hanging Ground, where there is a good quick Fall of Rain-water. Lay
a Half-Trough of Stone, of a good length, three or four foot deep with-
in the ſame Ground; with one end upon the high Ground, the other upon
the low. Cover the Trough with Brakes a good thickneſs, and caſt Sand
upon the top of the Brakes: You ſhall ſee (ſaith he) that after ſome ſhowres
are paſt, the lower end of the Trough will be like a Spring of Water; which
is no marvel, if it hold, while the Rain-water laſteth; but he ſaid it would
continue long time after the Rain is paſt: As if the Water did multiply it
ſelf upon the Air, by the help of the Coldneſs and Condenſation of the
Earth, and the Conſort of the firſt Water.
THe French (which put off the name of the French Diſeaſe, unto the name
3326. of the Diſeaſe of Naples) do report, That at the ſiege of Naples, there
44Experriment
Solitary,
touching the
Venomous
quality of
Mans Fleſh. were certain wicked Merchants that barrelled up Mans Flesh (of ſome that
had been lately ſlain in Barbary) and ſold it for Tunney; and that, upon
that foul and high Nouriſhment, was the Original of that Diſeaſe. Which
may well be; For that it is certain, that the Canibals, in the VVeſt-Indies, eat
Mans Flesh; and the VVeſt-Indies were full of the Pox when they were firſt
diſcovered: And at this day the Mortaleſt poyſons, practiſed by the VVeſt-Indi-
ans, have ſome mixture of the Blood, or Fat, or Fleſh of Man. And divers
Witches, and Sorcereſſes, as well amongſt the Heathen, as amongſt the
Chriſtians, have fed upon Mans fleſh, to aid (as it ſeemeth) their Imagination,
with high and foul Vapors.
5454[Handwritten note 54]3326. of the Diſeaſe of Naples) do report, That at the ſiege of Naples, there
44Experriment
Solitary,
touching the
Venomous
quality of
Mans Fleſh. were certain wicked Merchants that barrelled up Mans Flesh (of ſome that
had been lately ſlain in Barbary) and ſold it for Tunney; and that, upon
that foul and high Nouriſhment, was the Original of that Diſeaſe. Which
may well be; For that it is certain, that the Canibals, in the VVeſt-Indies, eat
Mans Flesh; and the VVeſt-Indies were full of the Pox when they were firſt
diſcovered: And at this day the Mortaleſt poyſons, practiſed by the VVeſt-Indi-
ans, have ſome mixture of the Blood, or Fat, or Fleſh of Man. And divers
Witches, and Sorcereſſes, as well amongſt the Heathen, as amongſt the
Chriſtians, have fed upon Mans fleſh, to aid (as it ſeemeth) their Imagination,
with high and foul Vapors.
IT ſeemeth that there be theſe ways (in likelihood) of Verfion of Vapors
5527. or Air, into Water and Moiſture. The firſt is Cold, which doth mani-
66Experiment
Solitary,
touching the
Verſion and
Tranſmmtati-
on of Air in
to Water. feſtly Condenſe; as we ſee in the contracting of the Air in the Weather-
Glaſs; whereby it is a degree nearer to Water. We ſee it alſo in the Gene-
ration of Springs, which the Ancients thought (very probably) to be made by
the Verſion of Air into VVater, holpen by the Reſt, which the Air hath in
thoſe parts, whereby it cannot diſſipate. And by the coldneſs of Rocks;
5527. or Air, into Water and Moiſture. The firſt is Cold, which doth mani-
66Experiment
Solitary,
touching the
Verſion and
Tranſmmtati-
on of Air in
to Water. feſtly Condenſe; as we ſee in the contracting of the Air in the Weather-
Glaſs; whereby it is a degree nearer to Water. We ſee it alſo in the Gene-
ration of Springs, which the Ancients thought (very probably) to be made by
the Verſion of Air into VVater, holpen by the Reſt, which the Air hath in
thoſe parts, whereby it cannot diſſipate. And by the coldneſs of Rocks;
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