What is generally to be observed upon the Affusion of the Menstruum; and what, particularly of Vegetable Bodies.
HE Bodies whereupon I made tryal, were of all kinds, Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral. Amongst Vegetables, such as these, scil. Date-stones, Ginger, Colocynthis, Pyrethrum, Hawthorn-stones, Staphisagria, Euphorbium, the Arenulæ in Pears, Semen Milii Solis, Tartar, Spirit of Scurvygrass, Spirit of Wine, &c.
2. §. Amongst Minerals, several sorts of Earths, Stones, Ores, Metals, Sulphurs, and Salts.
3. §. Amongst Animals; such as these, scil. Hairs, Hoofs, Horns, Shells, and shelly Insects, Bones, Flesh, and the several Viscera, Silk, Blood, Whites and Yelks of Eggs, Sperma Ceti, Civet, Musk, Castor, Gall, Urine, Dungs, animal Salts and Stones.
4. §. The Liquors which I poured hereupon severally, were these, sc. Spirit of Salt Armoniac, Spirit of Harts-Horn, Spirit of Nitre, Aqua fortis, Oyl of Salt, Oyl of Sulphur, and Oyl of Vitriol; commonly so called.
5. §. In the Mixture of these Bodies, two things, in general, are all along to be observed, viz. First, which they are, that make any, or no Luctation. For, as some which seem to promise it, make none: So, many, contrary to expectation, make a considerable one.
6. §. Next, the manner wherein the Luctation is made; being with much variety in these five sensible Effects. 1. Bullition; when the Bodies mixed produce only a certain quantity of froth or bubbles. 2. Elevation; when, like Paste in baking, or Barm in the working of Beer, they swell and huff up. 3. Crepitation; when, they make a kind of hissing and sometimes a crackling noise. 4. Effervescence; then only and properly so called, when they produce some degree of heat. 5. Exhalation; when not only fumes, but visible steams are produced.
7. §. Of all these, sometimes one only happens, sometimes two or more are concomitant. Sometimes the Luctation begins presently upon mixture, and sometimes not till after some intermission. In some bodies, it continues a great while; in others, is almost instantaneous: Examples of all which I shall now produce; beginning with Vegetables, as affording the least variety.
8. §. And first, if we take Spirit or Oyl of Salt, Oyl of Vitriol, Spirit of Nitre, or Aqua fortis, and pour them severally upon the several parts of Vegetables, as Roots, Woods, Stones, &c. we shall find, that they are, generally far less apt to make a Luctation, than either Animal, or subterraneal Bodies. Whence, as from one argument, it seemeth evident, That in most Vegetables, and in most of their parts, the predominant Salt is an Acid. But that, on the contrary, the predominant Salt in most Minerals, and parts of Animals, is an Alkaly: in the former, usually a fixed; in the latter, a volatile Alkaly.
9. §. Again, although the Luctation which most Vegetables, and most of their parts make with Acids, be but small, yet some they make; especially with some Acids, as with Spirit of Nitre and Aqua fortis. Whence it seemeth plain, That there is an Alkaline Salt existent in many Vegetables, even in their natural estate; and that it is not made Alkaline, but only Lixivial, by the fire. Or, there is some quantity of a Salt, call it what we will, in the said Bodies, which is so far different from an Acid, as to make a Luctation therewith. But to give particular instances of the several proportions, or manner of Mixture, wherein it appears to be in several Plants.
10. §. And first, of all vegetable Bodies, Date-stones are amongst the least apt to make a Luctation with Acids, if they may be said to make any at all. Hence they are not so potent Nephriticks, as many other Stones, which make a more sensible Luctation.
11. §. Ginger makes a small Bullition with Aqua fortis, only observable by a Glass. Hence the pungency of Ginger lyeth in a sulphureous and volatile Salt, which yet is very little Alkalizate.
12. §. Scurvygrass-seeds make a very small Bullition with Aqua fortis, like that of Ginger. So doth also the Seed of Purslane. Hence, although there is much more of a certain kind of volatile Salt in Ginger or Scurvygrass, than in Purslane; yet there is little more of an Alkaly in any one, than in an other.
13. §. The Pulp of Colocynthis, Fruit-Stones, the stony Covers of the Seeds of Elder, of white Bryony, of Violets, and others, with Aqua fortis make a Bullition just perceivable without a Glass. Hence it appears, That the great Cathartick power of Colocynthis lieth not so much in an Alkaly, as an Acid; as making a much less Bullition, than some other vegetable Bodies, which are less Cathartick. For which reason likewise it is, That the best Correctors, or Refractors of the force of Colocynthis, are some kinds of Alkalies, as particularly that of Urine, as Riverius hath somewhere observed.
14. §. The Root of Pyrethrum, with Aqua fortis, makes a Bullition and huff, in a short time. Hence, the Cause of a durable Heat, upon the Tongue, is an Alkalizate Sulphur. For the Heat of Ginger, though greater; yet abideth nothing near so long as that of Pyrethrum; which, as is said, maketh also a more sensible Bullition with Acids.
15. §. Kermes-berries, commonly, but ignorantly, so called, with the said Liquor, huff up to an equal height, but in a somewhat longer time. Hence they are gently astringent; scil. as their Alkaly binds in with some preternatural Acid in the stomach.
16. §. Hawthorn-stones, with Aqua fortis, huff up equally with the former Body; but the Bullition is not so visible. The life is also observable of Medlar-stones. Hence, as they contain a middle quantity of an Alkaly, they are not insignificantly used against the Stone.
17. §. Seeds of Staphisagria, with Aqua fortis, make a Bullition still more visible. But it quickly ends. This confirms what was said before, sc. That the cause of a durable Heat is an Alkaline Sulphur; these Seeds producing a durable Heat, as doth the Root of Pyrethrum.
18. §. The Seeds also of red Roses, Borage, and Comfrey do all with Aqua fortis make a considerable Bullition and huff; and that very quickly. So that amongst all Shells and Stones, those generally make the greatest Bullition, which are the hardest and the brittlest, and so the fullest of Salt.
19. §. Euphorbium makes a Bullition yet more considerable, with much froth, and very quickly. From which Experiment, compared with two of the former, it appears, That Euphorbium is not an Acid, but an Alkaline Gum. As also, that the cause of its so very durable Heat, is an alkaline Sulphur, as of Pyrethrum and Staphisagria hath been said. It seems also hence evident, that the power of all great Sternutatories lyeth not in their Acid, but their Alkalies.
20. §. The Arenulæ or little stones in Pears, cluster’d round about the Coar, with Aqua fortis, presently huff up, and make a great Bullition and Effervescence, much greater than do any of the Bodies above-named. Whence, although, so far as I know, they have never yet been used in Medicine; yet it is probable, that they are a more potent and effectual Nephritick, than any of the Bodies aforsaid, some of which are usually prescribed. It is hence also manifest, That, according to what I have elsewhere said, Anat. of Plants, B. 1. Ch. 6. for the sweetning of the Fruit and Seed, the Tartareous and Alkaline parts of the Sap, are precipitated into their Stones, stony parts, and Shells.
21. §. The last Instance shall be in the shells of the Seeds of Milium Solis; which not only with Aqua fortis, but some other Acids, make a greater and quicker Bullition and Effervescence, than any other vegetable Body, upon which I have yet made tryal, in its natural estate. Hence, as well as from divers of the last fore-going Instances, we have a clear confirmation of what I have, towards the beginning of this Discourse, affected; sc. That there is some kind of Alkaline Salt in Plants, even in their natural estate. As also, that they are as significantly used against the Stone, quatenus alkalizate, as Millipedes, Egg-shells, or any other testaceous Bodies of the same strength. To these I shall subjoyn one or two Examples of Vegetable Bodies which are more or less altered from their natural estate.
22. §. Neither Crystals of Tartar, nor Tartar it self (although they have some store of alkaline mixed with their acid parts) make any Effervescence with Acids, but only with Alkalites, as Spirit of Harts-Horn, &c. Hence the calculous sediment or Arenulæ in Urine, may not so properly be called the Tartareous part of the Urine; the events following the mixture hereof with the aforesaid Salts, being quite contrary; as will be seen in the Last Chapter.
23. §. Spirit of Scurvy-grass maketh no Luctation with any Acid. Hence (as from a former Experiment was above-noted) it seems, That there may be a kind of volatile Salt, which is neither acid, nor alkaline; such as this of Scurvygrass and other like Plants seems to be: yet contrary to an acid; as experience shews in their efficacy against the acid Scurvy.
24. §. Rectified Spirit of Wine, both with Spirit of Nitre, and with Oil of Vitriol, severally, maketh a little Luctation. Which argues, that there is contained, even in this Spirit, some portion of a volatile Alkaly.
25. §. Spirit of Wine, and double Aqua fortis, as the strongest is called, make an effervescence so vehement, as plainly to boil.
26. §. Besides the vehemency hereof, there is another surprizing circumstance. For whereas all other Liquors which make an Effervescence together, will do it in any proportion assigned, although but one drop to a thousand: these two, sc. rectified Spirit of Wine and Aqua fortis, require a certain proportion the one to the other. For if, suppose, into six drops of Spirit of Wine you put but two or three of Aqua fortis, they stir no more than if you put in so much Water: but drop in about seven or eight drops of Aqua fortis, and they presently boil up with very great vehemency. Hence we may conceive the reason of the sudden access of an acute Disease, and of its Crisis. These not beginning gradually with the Cause; but then, when the Cause is arrived unto such an ἀκμὴ, or such a certain Proportion, as is necessary to bring Nature to the contest. And these may serve for Examples upon Vegetables.