AVING enumerated the general Causes, we shall, lastly, enquire into the Power and Use of Mixture; or, into what it can Do and Teach. And I shall Instance in six particulars. First, to Render all Bodies Sociable, whatsoever they be. Secondly, To Make Artificial Bodies in Imitation of those of Natures own production. Thirdly, to make or imitate the sensible Qualities of Bodies; as Smells, and Tasts. Fourthly, To make, or imitate their Faculties. Fifthly, It is a Key, to discover the Nature of Bodies. Sixthly, To discover their Use, and the Manner of their Medicinal Operation.
INSTANCE I.
FIRST, To render all Bodies Sociable or Mingleable: as Water with Oyl, Salt with Spirit, and the like. For Natural and Artificial Mixture, are the same; as we have before proved. Ch. 3. §. 18. If therefore Nature can do it, as we see in the Generation of Bodies she doth, ’tis likewise in the Power of Art to do it.
2. §. And for the doing of it, two general Rules result from the Premisses, sc. The Application of Causes, and the Choice of Materials. As for the Causes, they are such as I have now instanc’d in. Ch. 4. And for the Application of them, I shall give these two Rules.
3. §. First, That we tread in Natures steps as near as we can; not only in the Application of such a Cause, as may be most proper for such a Mixture; but also in allowing it sufficient time for its effect. For so we see Nature her self, for her more perfect Mixtures, usually doth. She maketh not a Flower, or an Apple, a Horse, or a Man, in a moment; but all things by degrees; and for her more perfect and elaborate Mixtures, for the most part, she requireth more time. Because all such Mixtures are made and carri’d on per minima; and therefore require a greater time for the compleating of them.
4. §. A second Rule is, Not only to make a due Application of the Causes; but sometimes to Accumulate them. By which means, we may not only, imitate Nature, but in some cases go beyond her. For as by adding a Graft or Bud to the Stock, we may produce Fruit sooner, and sometimes better, than Nature by the Stock alone would do: So here, by accumulating the Causes of Mixture, that is, by joyning two, three, or more together; or by applying more in some Cases, where Nature applyeth fewer; we may be able to make, if not a more perfect, yet a far more speedy Mixture, than Nature doth. As by joyning Compression, Heat, and violent Agitation, and so continuing them all together, by some means contrived for the purpose, for the space of a Week, or Month, or longer, without cessation. Which may probably produce, not only strange, but useful Effects, in the Solution of some, and the Mixture of other Bodies. And may serve to mix such Bodies, as through the small number of their congruous parts, are hardly mingleable any other way. Agitation being, as carrying the Key to and fro, till it hit the Lock; or within the Lock, till it hit the Wards.
5. §. Secondly, For the Choice of materials, if they are not immediately, that is, of themselves, mingleable; we are then to turn one Species of Mixture into a Rule; Ch. 3. §. 9. which is, To mix them by mediation of some third, whether more simple or compounded Body, which may be congruous in part to them both: as Sulphurous Salts are to Water and Oyl; and are for that reason mingleable with either of them. Or, By any two congruous Bodies, which are also, in part, congruous to two others: and other like ways. Whereby the parts of Bodies, though never so heterogeneous, may yet be all bound and lock’d up together. Even as twenty Keys may be united, only by uniting the two Rings whereon they hang.
6. §. The Consideration of these things, have put me upon making several Experiments, for the mingling of heterogeneous Bodies. I shall give two Examples of Tryal; the one upon Fluid, the other upon consistent Bodies.
7. §. For the first, I took Oyl of Aniseeds, and pouring it upon another Body; I so order’d it, that it was thereby turned into a perfect milk-white Balsam, or Butyr. By which means the said Oyl became mingleable with any Winy, or Watery Liquor; easily, and instantaneously dissolving therein, in the form of a Milk. And note, That this is done, without the least alteration of the Smell, Tast, Nature, or Operation of the said Oyl. By somewhat the like means, not only Oyl of Aniseeds, but any other stillatitious Oyl, may be transformed into a milk-white Butyr; and in like manner be mingled with Water or any other Liquor. Which is of various use in Medicine; and what I find oftentimes very convenient and advantageous to be done.
8. §. Again, not only Fluid but consistent Bodies, which of themselves will mix only with Oyl; by due mixture with other Bodies, may be render’d easily dissoluble in Water; as may Rosin, and all resinous and friable Gums. As also Wax: and this without changing much of their Color, Tast, or Smell. Whereof likewise, whatsoever others may do, the Physician may make a manifold Use.
BY Mixture also, we may be taught to Imitate the Productions of Nature. As to which, from what we have before said of Mixture, we may conclude; That there is no Generation of Bodies unorganical, but what is in the Power of Mixture to imitate. As of Animals, to Imitate Blood, Fat, Chyle, Spittle, Flegm, Bile, &c. Of Vegetables, to Imitate a Milk, Mucilage, Rosin, Gum, or Salt. Of Minerals, to Imitate Vitriol, Allom, and other Salts; as also Metals, and the like.
2. §. I do not say, I can do all this: yet if, upon good Premisses, we can conclude this possible to be done; it is one step to the doing of it. But I will also give an Instance of somewhat that may be done in every kind. And,
3. §. First, For the Imitation of an Animal Body, I will instance in Fat. Which may be made thus; Take Oyl Olive, and pour it upon high Spirit of Nitre. Then digest them for some days. By degrees, the Oyl becomes of the colour of Marrow; and at last, is congealed, or hardened into a white Fat or Butter, which dissolveth only by the fire, as that of Animals. In converting Oyl thus into Fat, it is to be noted, That it hardens most upon the exhalation of some of the more Sulphureous parts of the Spirit of Nitre. Which I effected, well enough for my purpose, by unstopping the glass after some time of digestion; and so suffering the Oyl to dissolve and thicken divers times by successive heat and cold. Hence, The true Congealing Principle, is a Spirit of Nitre separated from its Sulphur. For the better doing whereof, the Aer is a most commodious Menstruum to the said Spirit of Nitre. Whence also, if we could procure such a Spirit of Nitre, we might congeal Water in the midst of Summer. We might also refrigerate Rooms herewith Artificially. And might Imitate all frosty Meteors. For the making of Fat, is but the Durable Congelation of Oyl: which may be done without frost, as I have shewed how.
Hence also it appears, That Animal Fat it self, is but the Curdling of the Oyly parts of the Blood; either by some of its own Saline parts; or by the Nitrous parts of the Aer mingled therewith.
Hence likewise it is, That some Animals, as Conies, and Fieldfares, grow fatter in frosty weather: the oily parts of the blood, being then more than ordinarily coagulated with a greater abundance of nitrous parts received from the Aer into their bodies.
For the same reason it is, That the Fat of Land-Animals is hard; whereas that of Fishes is very soft, and runs all to Oyl, sc. Because the Water, wherein they live, and which they have instead of breath, hath but very few nitrous parts in it, in comparison of what the Aer hath.
4. §. Secondly, For the Imitation of a Vegetable Body, I will give three Instances; In Rosin, Gum, and a Lixivial Salt. The first may be made thus; Take good Oyl of Vitriol, and drop it upon Oyl of Anise seeds; and they will forthwith incorporate together; and by degrees, will harden into a perfect Rosin; with the general and defining Properties of a truly Natural Resinous Gum. Being not at all dissoluble in Water; or at least, not any more, then any natural Rosin or Gum: yet very easily by fire: as also highly inflamable: and exceeding friable. Although this Artificial Rosin, be the result of two Liquors, both which very strongly affect the Sense: yet being well washed from the unincorporated parts, (which is to be done with some care) it hath scarce any Tast or Smell.
The Concentration of these two Liquors, is likewise so universal; that the Rosin is not made by Precipitation, but almost a total Combination of the said Liquors; and that with scarce so much, as any visible fumes.
5. §. Again, Having taken a certain Powder and a Saline Liquor, and mixed them together in a bottle, and so digested them for some time; the Powder was at last transmuted to a perfect Oily Gum; which will also dissolve either in Oyl or in Water; in the self same manner, as Galbanum, Ammoniac, and the like will do.
6. §. And Lastly, A Lixivial Salt may be imitated thus; Take Nitre, Oyl of Vitriol, and high spirit of Wine, of each a like quantity. Of these three Bodies, not any two being put together, that is to say neither the Nitre with the Oyl, nor the Oyl with the Spirit, nor the Nitre with the Spirit, will make the least Ebullition: yet all three mingled together, make a very conspicuous one. The Spirit of Wine being as the Sulphur; and so that, and the Nitre together, standing, as it were, in the stead of an Alkalizate, that is, a Sulphurious Salt, against the Oyl of Vitriol. Divers other Experiments may be shew’n of the like Nature.
7. §. In the last place, for the Imitation of a Mineral Body, I will instance in two, sc. Nitre and Marine Salt; if I may have leave to reckon them amongst Mineral Bodies. As for Nitre, by mixing of four Liquors together, and then setting them to shoot; I have obtained Chrystals of true and perfect Salt; which have had much of a nitrous tast; and would be melted with a gentle Heat, as Nitre is; and even as easily as Butyr it self: I mean not, by the addition of any sort of Liquor, or any other Body, to dissolve it; but only by the fire.
8. §. And as for a Sea-Salt, that I might Imitate Nature for the making thereof, I consider’d, That the said Salt is nothing else but that of Animals and Vegetables, freed from its true Spirit and Sulphur, and some Saline particles, specifically Animal or Vegetable, together with them. For both Animal and Vegetable Bodies being continually carried by all Rivers into the Sea; and many likewise by shipwrack, and divers other ways immersed therein: they are at last corrupted, that is, their Compounding parts are opened and resolved. Yet the Resolution being in the Water, is not made precipitately, as it is in the Air; but by degrees, and very gently; whence the Sulphurious and other Volatile parts, in their Avolation, make not so much haste, as to carry the more fixed Saline parts along with them; but leaveth them behind in the Water, which imbibeth them as their proper Menstruum.
And the Imitation of Nature herein, may be performed thus; Put as much of a Lixivial Salt as you please, into a wide-mouth’d Bottle, and with fair Water make a strong Solution of it; so as some part thereof may remain unresolved at the bottom of the Bottle. Let the Bottle stand thus for the space of about half or three quarters of a year, all the time unstopped. In which time, many of the Sulphurious and other Volatile parts gradually flying away; the top of the unresolved Salt will be incrustate, or as it were frosted over, with many small and hard Concretions, which, in their nature, are become a true Sea-Salt. Whereof there is a double Proof; First, In that most of the said Concretions are of a Cubical, or very like Figure. Especially on their upper parts; because having a fixed Body for their Basis, their under parts, therefore, contiguous thereto, are less regular. Whereas the parts of the Salt in the Sea, being environed on all sides with a Fluid; their Figure is on all sides regular. Secondly, In that a strong Acid Spirit or Oyl being poured upon a full body’d Solution hereof; yet it maketh herewith no Ebullition, which is also the property of Sea-Salt. And thus much for the more General Imitation of Bodies.
INSTANCE III, & IV.
FROM the aforesaid Premisses, and by the aforesaid Means, there is no doubt to be made, but that also the other sensible Qualities of Bodies may be Imitated, as their Odors, and Tasts. And that not only the general ones, as Fragrant, or Astringent: but also those which are specifical and proper to such a species of Bodies.
2. §. Thus for Example, by mixing Spirit of Nitre or Vitriol with rectified Oyl of Turpentine, and some other Vegetable Oyls, severally, and in a due Proportion and Time, I have Imitated the Smells of divers Vegetables; as of Tansy, of Lignum Rhodium, and others. And I conclude it feasable, To Imitate the Tast or Smell of Musk, or Ambergreece, or any other body in the world.
3. §. Hence also we may be Taught, How to Imitate the Faculties, as well as other Qualities of Bodies. The reason is, because even these have no dependance upon any substantial Form: but are the meer result of Mixture; effected by the same Causes, whether in Nature or Art; as I think I have made to appear in the foregoing Idea. Id. §. 55. Ch. 2. §. 10. Ch. 3. §. 10. And as in the Premisses of this Discourse hath been shew’d.
FROM whence, again, it is likewise a Key to Discover the Nature of Bodies. For how far soever we can attain to Mingle, or to Make them, we may also know what they are.
2. §. For Bodies are mingleable, either of themselves, or by some Third. As to those which mingle of themselves, we may certainly conclude, That there is a congruity betwixt them, in some respect or other. So upon various Tryals I find, That Essential Oyls do more easily imbibe an Acid, than an Alkaly. Whence it is evident, That there is some Congruity and Similitude betwixt Essential Oyls, and an Acid, which there is not betwixt the said Oyls and an Alkaly.
3. §. As to those that mingle only by some third; we may also certainly conclude, That though the two extreams are unlike; yet that they have both of them some congruity with that third, by which they are united.
4. §. Moreover, We may make a Judgment from the manner or Degree of Mixture. Thus the Acid Spirit of Nitre, as is said, will coagulate Oyl-Olive, and render it consistent. Whence it might be thought, That any other strong Acid will do the like; and that therefore, there is no great difference in the Nature of the said Acid Liquors. But the contrary hereunto, is proved by Experiment. For having digested the same Oyl in the same manner, and for a much longer time, with strong Oyl of Sulphur; although it thence acquired some change of Colour, yet not any Consistence.
5. §. Again, Because the said Spirit of Nitre coagulates Oyl-Olive; it might be expected, it should have the same effect upon Oyl of Aniseeds; or, at least, that if other Acids will Coagulate Oyl of Aniseeds, that this should do it best. But Experiment proveth the contrary. For of all I have tryed, Oyl of Vitriol is the only Acid that doth it instantaneously. Oyl of Sulphur, if very strong, will do it; but not so soon, nor so much Aqua fortis, and Spirit of Salt, for the present, do not at all touch it. And Spirit of Nitre it self will not coagulate it, under eight or ten hours at least.
INSTANCE VI.
LASTLY, and consequently, It is a Key To Discover the Medicinal Use and Operation of Bodies. Thus, for Example, by the Imitation of Rosins and Resinous Gums, we certainly know what all of them are, and when, and wherefore to be used. For what are Mastick, Frankincense, Olibanum, Benzoin, and other like Rosins, or Resinous Gums, for their principle and predominant parts, that is, quà Rosins; but Bodies resulting from Natural, in like manner, as I have shewed, they may be made to result, from Artificial Mixture? That is to say, the Oleous, and Acid parts of Vegetables, being both affused and mingled together, per minima, in some one sort of Vessels in a Plant, they thus incorporate into one consistent and friable Body, which we call Rosin.
2. §. Now from hence it is, That the said Rosins, and Resinous Gums; as also Amber and Sulphur for the same Reasons; are of so great and effectual Use against most thin and salt Rheums; sc. as they are Acidoleous Bodies. For by their Acid parts, which in all these Bodies are exceeding copious, they mortifie and refract those Salt ones, which feed the Rheum. And by their oleous parts, the same Salt ones are also Imbibed. Whence, they are all, in some degree, incorporated together; that is, The Rheum is thickned: which is the desired effect.
3. §. Whereas, on the contrary, if the Cough proceed not from a thin, and specially a Salt Rheum, but from a Viscous Flegm; the use of many other Bodies which are also more oleous, and abound not so much with an Acid as these do, especially some of them, is more proper: such as these, in this Case, proving sometimes not only ineffectual, but prejudicial. Since the very Cause of the said Viscousness of Phlegm, is chiefly some great Acidity in the Blood, or in some other part, as may be proved by divers Arguments.
4. §. Many more Instances might be hereunto subjoyned: and may hereafter be offered to the acceptance of such, who are inquisitive into matters of this Nature. If I shall not herein anticipate, or reiterate the Thoughts and Observations, of those two Accurate and Learned Persons Dr. Willis, and Dr. Walter Needham, as to what the one hath already published, and both have put us in Expectation of. But the Instances already given, are sufficient to evidence what I have said. And, I hope, this present Discourse to prove, in some measure, thus much; That Experiment, and the Common Notions of Sense are prolifick; and that nothing is Barren, but Phansie and Imagination.