M. A _Hook_, on which the end of the _Chain_ is fastned by a _Ring_, the
_Hook_ fixed being placed in the side of the Dore.
N. A _Barr_ of _Iron_ in the Walls, to which the _Pulley_ is fastned.
The higher the _Shaft_ of the Chimney is, the Fire draws the Air the
better. And this Invention may be made use of in the _Pits_ or _Shafts_,
that are _Perpendicular_, or any wise inclining towards it, when there is
want of fresh Air at the bottom thereof, or any molestation by unwholsom
Fumes or Vapors:
* * * * *
_A way to break _easily_ and _speedily_ the hardest _Rocks_, communicated
by the same Person, as he received it from Monsieur _Du Son_, the
Inventor._
[Illustration]
Though the invention of breaking with ease, and dispatch, hard Rocks, may
be useful on several occasions, the benefit is incomparably great, that may
thereby accrue to those, who have _Adits_ or Passages to cut through hard
_Rocks_, for making passage for Water to run out by, in _Mines_ of _Lead_,
_Tin_, or any other whatsoever; these _Adits_ appearing to be the surest,
cheapest, and most advantagious way imaginable, for draining of the same.
{83}
That which is here to be described, was invented by one of the most
Excellent _Mechanicks_ in the World, _Monsieur du Son_, who lately put it
in practice himself in _Germany_, at the desire of the _Elector_ of
_Mentz_. The manner is, as followeth.
The _Mine_ or _Adit_ is to be made seven or eight foot high, which though
it seem to make more work downwards, yet will be found necessary for making
the better dispatch by rendring the Invention more effectual.
There is a _Tool_ or _Iron_ well steeled at the end, which cuts the Rock,
(of the shape shewed by _Fig._ 2. here annexed,) 20. or 22. Inches long or
more, and some 21/2 Inches _Diameter_ at the steeled end, the rest being
somewhat more slender. The steeled end is so shaped, as makes it most apt
to pierce the Rock, the Angles at that end being still to be made the more
obtuse, the harder the Rock is. This _Tool_ is to be first held by the
hand, in the place, where the Hole, to be made for the use, which shall
here be shewed, is to be placed; that is, in the middle between the sides
of the Rock, that is to be cut, but as near the bottom as may be. The
_Tool_ being placed, is to be struck upon with an Hammer, the heavier the
better, either suspended by a Shaft turning upon a Pin, or otherwise, so as
one man may manage the Hammer, while another holds the Tool or Piercer. If
it be hung in a _Frame_, or other convenient way, he that manageth it hath
no more to do, but to pull it up at first as high as he can, and let it
fall again by its own weight, the motion being so directed, as to be sure
to hit the Piercer right. After the stroke of the Hammer, he that holds the
Piercer, is to turn it a little on its point; so that the Edges or Angles
at the point may all strike upon a new place; and so it must still be
shifted after every stroke, by which means small Chipps will at every
stroke be broken off, which must from time to time be taken out, as need
requires. And thus the work must be continued, till the _Hole_ be 18. or
20. Inches deep, the deeper the better. This _Hole_ being made as deep as
is required, and kept as streight and smooth in the sides, as is possible,
there is then a kind of double _Wedge_ to be made, and {84} fitted exactly
for it; the shape whereof is to be seen in the annexed 3. Figure.
[Illustration]
This double _Wedge_, being 12. or 13. Inches long, each piece of it, and so
made, as being placed in their due position they may make up a _Cylinder_,
but _Diagonal_-wise. The two flat sides that are contiguous, are to be
greased or oyled, that the one may slip the more easily upon the other; and
one of them, which is to be uppermost, having at the great end a hollow
_Crease_ cut into it round about, for fastening a _Cartridge_, full of
_Gunpowder_, to it with a thred, the round end of the _Wedge_ being pared
as much as the thickness of the Paper or Pastboard, that holds the Powder,
needs to make the outside thereof _even_ with the rest of the _Wedge_. This
_Wedge_ must have an Hole drilled through the longest side of it, to be
filled with _priming Powder_, for firing of the Powder in the _Cartridge_;
which needs have no more, than half a pound of Powder, though upon occasion
a greater quantity may be used, as shall be found requisite.
Then this _Wedge_, being first thrust into the Hole with the _Cartridge_,
the round side, whether the Priming-hole is, being uppermost, the other
_Wedge_ is to be thrust in, home to the due position, care being taken,
that they fit the Hole in the Rock as exactly as may be. Then the end of
the lower _Wedge_ being about an Inch longer, than that of the upper
outwardly, and flatned, priming Powder is to be laid upon it; and a piece
of burning _Match_ or _Thread_ dipt in _Brimstone_ or other such prepared
combustible Matter, fastned to it, that may burn so long before it fire the
Powder, as he, that orders it, may have time enough to retire quite out the
Pit or _Adit_, having first placed a piece of Wood or Iron so, as one end
thereof, being set against the end of the lower Wedge, and the other
against the side-wall, so as it cannot slip. Which being done, and the Man
retired, when the Powder comes to take fire, it will first drive out the
uppermost Wedge, as far as it will go, but the slaunting figure of it being
so made, as the farther it goes backward, the thicker it grows, till at the
last it can go no farther, then the {85} fire tears the Rock to get forth,
and so cracks and breaks it all about, that at one time a vast deal of it
will either be quite blown out, or so crackt and broken, as will make it
easie to be remov'd: And according to the effect of one such _Cartridge_,
more may be afterwards made use of, as hath been said.
* * * * *
_Observables upon a _Monstrous Head_._
[Illustration]
This was the Head of a _Colt_, represented in the annexed _Figure_ 4. first
viewed by Mr. _Boyle_, who went into the Stable where the _Colt_ lay, and
got the Head hastily and rudely cut off, the _Body_ thereof appearing to
his Eye compleately formed, without any _Monstrosity_ to be taken notice of
in it. Afterwards he caused it to be put into a Vessel, and covered with
_Spirit of Wine_ thereby chiefly intending, to give good example, together
with a proof, that by the help of the said _Spirit_, (which he hath
recommended for such Properties in one of his _Essays_ of the _Usefulness_
of _Natural Philosophy_) the parts of _Animals_, and even _Monsters_, may
in _Summer_ it self be preserved long enough to afford _Anatomists_ the
opportunities of examining them.
The Head being opened, and examined, it was found.
_First_, That it had no sign of any _Nose_ in the usual place, nor had it
any, in any other place of the Head, unless the double Bag CC, that grew
out of the midst of the forehead, were some rudiment of it.
_Next_, That the _two Eyes_ were united into one _Double Eye_, which was
placed just in the middle of the Brow, the Nose being wanting, which should
have separated them, whereby the two Eye-holes in the Scull were united
into one very large round hole, into the midst of which, from the Brain,
entred one pretty large _Optik Nerve_, at the end of which grew a great
_Double Eye_; that is, that _Membrane_, called _Sclerotis_, which contained
both, was one and the same, but seemed to have a _Seam_, {86} by which they
were joined, to go quite round it, and the fore or pellucid part was
distinctly separated into two _Cornea_'s by a white _Seam_ that divided
them. Each _Cornea_ seemed to have its _Iris_, (or Rain-bow-like Circle)
and Apertures or Pupils distinct; and upon opening the _Cornea_, there was
found within it two _Balls_, or _Crystalline Humours_, very well shaped;
but the other parts of it could not be so well distinguished, because the
eye had been much bruised by the handling, and the inner parts confused and
dislocated. It had four Eye-browes, placed in the manner exprest in Figure
4. by a a, b b; a a representing the _lower_, and b b, the _upper_
Eye-lids.
_Lastly_, That just above the Eyes, as it were in the midst of the
Forehead, was a very deep depression, and out of the midst of that grew a
kind of double _Purse_ or _Bagg_, C C, containing little or nothing in it;
but to some it seemed to be a production of the matter designed for the
Nose, but diverted by this Monstrous Conception; perhaps the _Processus
mammillares_ joyned into one, and covered with a thin hairy skin.
* * * * *
_Observables in the Body of the _Earl_ of _Balcarres_._
These following Observations, were a while since sent out of _Scotland_ by
an ingenious person, an Eye-witness, to Sir _Robert Moray_.
1. That the Belly of this Nobleman being opened, the _Omentum_ or _Net_ was
found lean and small: his _Liver_ very big; the _Spleen_ big also, filled
with a black and thick humour. His _Stomack_ and _Entralls_ all empty, of a
Saffron-colour, distended with wind only. The _Bladder_ of _Gall_ swelled
with a black humour: The _Kidneys_ filled with a kind of _grumous blood_.
2. That in the _Thorax_ or _Chest_, the _Lobes_ of the _Lungs_ were all
entire, but of a bad colour; on the left side somewhat black and blue, and
on the right, whitish; with a yellowish knob under one of the _Lobes_. {87}
3. That the _Pericardium_ or the _Case_ of the _Heart_ being opened, there
appeared none of that water, in which the _Heart_ uses to swim; and the
external Surface of it, from the _Base_ to the _Tipp_, was not smooth, but
very rough. It being cut asunder, a quantity of white and inspissate
liquour run out, and beneath the _Base_, between the right and left
Ventricle, _two stones_ were found, whereof the one was as bigg as an
_Almond_, the other, _two_ Inches long and _one_ broad, having three
_Auricles_ or crisped _Angles_: And in the Orifice of the right Ventricle,
there was a fleshy fattish Matter.
4. That the whole Body was bloudless, thin, and emaciated, of a black and
bluish Colour.
5. The _Scull_ being opened, both the _Cerebrum_ and _Cerebellum_ were bigg
in proportion to the Body; and out of it run much more Bloud, than was seen
in both the other Regions together.
* * * * *
_Of the designed Progress to be made in the _Breeding of Silkworms_, and
the _Making_ of _Silk_, in _France_._
The _French_ King _Henry the Fourth_, having made a general Establishment
all over _France_, of planting and propagating of _Mulberry-trees_, and
_Breeding of Silkworms_, in order to set up and entertain a _Silk-trade_
there; and having prospered so well in that Design, that in many parts of
his Dominions great store of such Trees were raised, and Multitudes of
Silk-works propagated, to the great benefit of the _French_ people,
forasmuch as it was a considerable beginning to avoid the transport of
several Millions abroad for buying of Silks, and withall an excellent means
of well-imploying abundance of poor Orphans and Widows, and many old, lame,
and other indigent and helpless people; The present _French King_, hath
lately revived and seconded that Undertaking by giving express order that
it should be promoted by all possible means, and particularly in the
_Metropolis_ of that Kingdom, and round about it; and that for that end the
whole way concerning that Work and {88} Trade should be fully and
punctually communicated in Print; which hath also been executed by one
_Monsieur Isnard_, in a Treatise published at _Paris_, in _French_,
Intituled, _Instructions for the Planting of White Mulberryes, the Breeding
of Silkworms, and the Ordering of Silk in _Paris_, and the circumjacent
Places_, In which Book, the Method being represented, which that Great
Prince _Henry_ IV used in establishing the said Work and Trade, together
with the success thereof, and the advantages thence derived to his
Subjects, the _Author_, from his own _Experience_, and long _Practice_,
delivers (and seems to do it candidly) all what belongs in this business in
four main heads. _First_, he teaches the Means of sowing, planting, and
raising _White Mulberryes_ (as the Foundation of Silkworks) shewing how
many several wayes _that_ may be done. _Secondly_, The Breeding of
_Silkworms_, the choosing of good Eggs, and their hatching, as also the
Feeding of the _Worms_, and preserving them from sickness, and Curing them
of it, together with the way of making them spin to best advantage.
_Thirdly_, The manner of winding their Silk from their Bottoms, adding the
_Scheme_ of the _Instrument_ serving for that purpose. _Fourthly_, The way
of _keeping_ _Silkworms_ Eggs for the ensuing year.
Through the whole Book are scattered many not inconsiderable particulars,
though perhaps known to most. The _White Mulberry Tree_, as it is in other
qualities preferable to the _Black_, so this _Author_ esteems it the best,
not only for the durableness of the wood, and its large extent of
usefulness in Carpentry and Joyners work; but also for the fitness of its
leaves (besides their principal use for the food of _Silkworms_) to fatten
Sheep, Goats, Cowes, and Hoggs, only by boyling and mingling them with
Bran. The Berryes themselves he commends as very excellent to fatten
Poultry, and to make them lay Eggs plentifully. In the _Changes_,
_Working_, and _Generation_ of this _Insect_, he is very curious to observe
many things. Their _Metamorphoses_, as is known, are four, whereof the form
of the one hath no conformity with any of the rest. The first from an Egge
(of the bigness of a Mustard-seed, and of a darkish Gray Colour, when good)
to a _Worm_ or _Caterpillar_, but of a domestick, noble, and profitable
kind, _Black_, when it first comes {89} forth, but growing _white_ at last;
having 24. feet, 8. on each side of the body, and 4. besides, close to each
side of the head. During this form, they undergo constantly 4. Sicknesses,
in which they cast their Skins, each sickness lasting about 4. days,
wherein they feed not at all; but grow clearer, shorter, and thicker. The
second from a _Worm_ to an _Aurelia_ or _Chrysalis_, having the shape of a
small Plum, whereunto it is transformed after its spinning time is past; in
which state it lies shut up, in hot Countries, for 14. or 15. dayes; in
more temperate ones, 18. or 20. without any Food or Air, known to us.
During which time this _Insect_ leaves two Coats, both that of a _Worm_,
whence 'tis changed into an _Aurelia_, and that of an _Aurelia_, whence it
becomes a _Papilio_ or _Butterfly_, in the _Theca_ or _Case_. The third is,
from an _Aurelia_ to a _Butterfly_, coming out of the _Theca_ with a head,
leggs, and horns; for which passage it makes way by a whitish water, it
casts upon the Silk, which moistning, and thereby in a manner putrefying
it, the new creature thrusts out its head through the sharp end of the
_Case_, by a Hole as big as its self. There is found no Excrement in the
_Case_, but the two Skins only, just now mentioned.
Before they begin to spin, and about the latter end of their feeding, they
must, saith the _Author_, be often changed, and have Air enough, by opening
the Windows of the Room, they are in, if it be not too ill Weather; else,
saith he, the Silk that is in their Belly, will cause so extraordinary a
heat in them, that it burns their gutts, and sometimes bursts them; and the
same (being a substance that resembleth Gum or Burgundy Pitch) will putrefy
and turn into a yellowish matter.
He maketh the best marks of their maturity for spinning to be, when they
begin to quit their white Colour, & their green and yellow Circles, and
grow of the Colour of Flesh, especially upon the tail; having a kind of
_consistent_ softness shewing that they have something substantial in their
Stomachs.
As for their _Working_, he gives this account of it, that the first day
they make only a _Webb_; the second, they form in this _Webb_ their
_Cases_, and cover themselves all over with Silk; the third day, they are
no longer seen, and the dayes following they thicken their _Cases_, alwayes
by one _end_ or _thread_, which they {90} never break off, themselves.
This, he affirms, they put out with so much quickness, and draw it so
subtle and so long, that without an _Hyperbole_, the _end_ or _thread_ of
every _Case_ may have two Leagues in length. He advertiseth, that they must
be by no means interrupted in their work, to the end, that all the Silk,
they have in their bellyes, may come out.
Some eight dayes after they have finished their Work, as many of the best
_Cases_, as are to serve for _seed_, _viz._ the first done the hardest, the
reddest and best coloured, must be chosen, and put a-part; and all
diligence is to be used to winde off the silk with as much speed, as may
be, especially if the _Worms_ have nimbly dispatched their work.
Here he spends a good part of his Book, in giving very particular
Instructions, concerning the way of winding off the silk, setting also down
the form of the Oven and Instruments necessary for that work, which is the
painfullest and nicest of all the rest.
Touching their _Generation_, he prescribeth that there be chosen as many
male as female _Cases_ (which are discerned by this, that the males are
more pointed at both ends of the _Cases_, and the females more obtuse on
the ends, and bigger-bellyed) and that care be had, that no _Cases_ be
taken, but such wherein the _Worms_ are heard rolling; which done, and they
being come forth in the form of _Butterflies_, having four wings, six feet,
two horns, and two very black eyes, and put in a convenient place, the
males fluttering with their wings, will joyn and couple with the females,
after that these have first purged themselves of a kind of reddish humour
by the fundament: in which posture they are to be left from Morning (which
is the ordinary time of their coming forth) till evening, and then the
females are to be gently pulled away, whereupon they will lay their eggs,
having first let fall by the Fundament another humour, esteemed to proceed
from the seed of the males; but the males are then thrown away as useless.
He advertiseth, that if they be coupled longer than 9. or 10. hours, (which
they will be, and that sometimes for 24. hours together, if they be let
alone) either the female will receive very great hurt by it, or much seed
will remain in her belly. {91}
The seed at first coming out is very white, but within a day it becoms
greenish, then red, at last by little and little gray, which colour it
retains alwaies, the most coloured of an obscure gray, being the best;
those grains which never quit their whiteness, having no fecundity in them.
Each female emits ordinarily some 300 grains, more or less, some of them
not being able to render them all, and dying with them in their belly. One
ounce of seed will require an hundred pair of _Cases_, of as many Males as
Females.
Care must be taken, that no Rats, Mice, Ants, or other Vermin, nor any
Hens, or Birds, come near the Seed, they being very greedy to eat them.
This is the substance of what is contained in this _French_ Author,
published at _Paris_ on purpose to promote the _Making_ of _Silk_ there, as
well as it is practised already in other parts of that Kingdom; which is
represented here, to the end, that from this occasion the design, which the
English Nation once did entertain of the _increasing of Mulberry trees_,
and the _Breeding of Silk-worms_, for the _Making of Silk_ within
themselves, may be renewed, and _that_ encouragement given by King _James_
of Glorious memory for that purpose (witness that _Letter_ which he
directed to the Lords Lievtenants of the several shires of _England_) and
seconded by his _Most Excellent Majesty_, that now is, be made use of, for
the honour of _England_ and _Virginia_, and the increase of wealth to the
people thereof; especially since there is cause of hope, that a _double
Silk harvest_ may be made in _one_ Summer in _Virginia_, without hindring
in the least the _Tobacco_-Trade of that Countrey.
* * * * *
_Enquiries concerning _Agriculture_._
Whereas the _Royal Society_, in prosecuting the _Improvements of Natural
knowledge_, have it in design, to collect _Histories of Nature and Arts_,
and for that purpose have already, according to the several Inclinations
and Studies of their Members, divided themselves into divers _Commitees_,
to execute the said design: Those Gentlemen, which do constitute the
_Commitee_ for considering of _Agriculture_, and the _History_ and
_Improvement_ thereof, have begun their work with drawing up certain {92}
Heads of _Enquiries_, to be distributed to persons _Experienced in
Husbandry_ all over _England_, _Scotland_, and _Ireland_, for the procuring
a _faithful_ and _solid_ information of the _knowledge_ and _practice_
already obtained and used in these Kingdoms; whereby, besides the aid which
by this means will be given to the general End of collecting the
aforementioned _History_, every place will be advantaged by the helps, that
are found in any, and occasion ministred to consider, what improvements may
be further made in this whole matter. Now to the End, that those
_Enquiries_ may be the more universally known, and those who are skilful in
Husbandry, publickly invited to impart their knowledge herein, for the
_common_ benefit of their Countrey, it hath been thought fit to publish the
_effect_ of them in Print, and withal to desire that what such persons
shall think good from their own _Knowledge_ and _Experience_ to communicate
hereupon, they would be pleased to send it to the Printers of the _Royal
Society_, to be delivered to either of the _Secretaries_ of same. The
Enquiries follow.