\:i I ^y^^^e tfTr ,g, THE WILLIAM R. PERKINS LIBRARY OF DUKE UNIVERSITY ' I On T A R. HAIL vulgar Juice of never fading Pine ! Cheap as thou art ! thy Virtues are divine. To mew them and explain, (fuch is thy Store) There needs much modern and much ancient Lore. While with flow Pains we fearch the healing Spe!!, Thofe Sparks of Life, that in thy Balkm dwell ; From loweft Earth by gentle Steps we rife, Through Air, Fire, «&ther, to the higheft Skies. Things grofs and low prefent Truth's facred Clue. Senfe, Fancy, Reafon, Intellect purfue Her winding Mazes, and by Nature's Laws From plain Effects trace out the my (lie Caufr, And Principles explore, though wrapt in Shades, That Spring of Life which this great World pervade?, The Spirit that moves, the Intellect that guides. Th* eternal One that o'er the Whole pre£des, Go On T A R. Go learn'd Mechanic, flare with flupid Eyer, Attribute all to Figure, Weight, and Size ; Nor look behind the moving Scene, to fee What gives each wondrous form it's Energy. Vain images poffefs the fenfualMind ; To real Agents, and true Caufea blind. But foon as Intellects bright Sun difplays O'er the benighted Oib his fulgent Rays, Delufive Phantomes fly before the Light : Nature and Truth lye open to the Sight : Caufes connected with Effects fupply A golden Chain, whofe radiant Links on high Fix'd to the Sovereign Throne, from thence depend, j Arid reach e'en down to Tar the nether End. CONTENTS. Sect? TAR WATER, how made.' * How much to be taken at a Time. 3, 1 1 6 How long to be continued, mo How made palatable, 1 1 5 A Prefervative and Preparative againft the Small- Pox. 3 A Cuie for Foulnefs of Blood, Ulceration of Bowels, Lungs, Coniumptive Coughi, Pleurify, Peripneu- many, Eryfiphelas, Althma, Indigeftion, Cachectic and Hyfteric Cafes, Gravel, Dropfy, and all Irv- flammations. 4, 7 Anfwers all the Piirpofes of Elixir Proprietati*, Stoughton's Drops, bell Turpentine, Deco&ion of tjie VVoods a and Mineral Waters, 55, 6i, 65 &pA CONTENTS. Sect. And of the molt coftly Balfams. 21, 22, 63 May be given to Children. 67 Of. great Ufe in the Gout 68, 80 In Fevers. 75, 114. Cures a Gangrene as well as Eryfiphelas 82, 83 The Scurvy, and all Hypocondriac Maladies 86, IC9 A Prefervative for the Teeth and Gums. 1 1 4 h particularly recommended to feafaring Perfons, Ladies, and Men of lludious and fedentary Lives. . . XI 7» ll 9 Its Specific Virtues c^nfiits in its volatile Salts. 8, 123 Its Virtues heretofore known, but only in Part. 9> « I » * ' 2 Tar, whence produced, 10, 17 Refm, whence. 18, 19 Turpenpine what. 20 Tar mixt with Honey, a Cure for the Cough. 21 Refin, an efFe&uiJ Cure for the Bloody-flux 79 Scotch firs what, and how they might be improved. 25 Pine and Fir, different Species of each. 26, 28 The wonderful Structure of Trees. 29, 38 juices produced with die leaft violence bed 46 Myrrh foluble by the human R.yJy would prolong Life. 49 Tar Water, by what Means and in what manner it Operates. 50, 57 Is a Soap at once and a Vinegar. 59 Aromatic Flavours and Vegetables depend on Light as much as Colours. 40, 214, 215 Analogy between the fpecific Qualities of Vegetable Jui es and Colours. 165 A fine fuhtile Spirit, the diftinguifliing principle of all V getables. 121 WmAc the Principle of Vegetation, and how promoted. j 26, 128 Theory CONTENTS, Sect? Theory of Acids, Salts, and Alcalies. 129, 136, 227 Air the common feminary of ail vivifying Principles. 137 Air of what it confifls. 147, 151, 195, 197 Pure sether, or invifible Fire, the Spirit of the Uni- veife, which operates in every Thing. 152, 162 Opinion of the Ancients concerning it 166, 175, 229 And of the Chinefe, conformable to them. iSo, 182 Fire worfhipped among various Nations. 183, 185 Opinion of the bell modern Chymifts concerning it. 189, 19a Ultimately the only Menftruum in Nature 191 Adds to the Weight of Bodies, and even Gold made by the Introduction of it into Qyicknlver. 192, 195 The Theory of Ficinus and others concerning Light. 206, 213 Sir Ifaac Newton's Hypothefis of a fubtile sether ex- amined. 221, 228, 237, 246 No accounting for Phenomena, either by Auraclion and Repulfion, or by elaflic sether, without the Prefence of an incorporeal Agent, 231, 238, 246, 249, 294, 297 Attraction in fome Degree difcaver'd by Gali sei. Phenomena are but Appearances in the Soul, not to be accounted for upon mechanical Principles. 251, 252, 310 The Ancients not ignorant of many Things in Phyiks and metar-hyiics, which we think the Diicovery of modern limes. 265, 269 Had fome Advantages beyond us. 20 g Of abfolntc Space, and Fate, 27c, 272 Of the Anima Mundi of Pl2to, 276, 284, 322 What meant by the ^Egyptian Ifis and Ofiris 268, 299 Fktj CO NT E NT S. flato and Ariftotle's three-fold Diftinftion of Ob- jecls 306, 307 Their Opinion of Ideas being innate, or not. 308, 309 Neither of 'them believed the abfolute Exigence of corporeal Things. 311, 312, 316, 318 The Study of the Philofophy of Socrates and Pitha- goras would have fecured the minds of Men from the Seifiirmefs which the mechanic Philofophy has introduced, 331, 332 The Study of Plato recommended, 3.32, 3 38 Who agrees with Scripture in many Particulars . 335 His Cpi.iicn of the Deity, and particularly of a Tri- nity, agreeable to Revelation. 341, 365 f§; i (5) S I R I S A Chain of P hi lof optical Reflexions AND I N QJJ I R 1 E S, &V. F»R Introduction to the following piece I iffa e the Header, that rothing could, in my prefent fituatkn, have n:d' ced me to be at tha pains of wriring it, but a &*m> b lief that it wou.d piove a v.iju ble prefent to the Public What enter- tainment foever the reafoning or notional pi t may af- ford the mind, I will vemure co iny, the o her 'part fcemeth fo futely calculated, to do go> d o trie Body, that .bo h muft be gainer.,. For if the iute be not well tune:, the muhc an tails of his harmony. And in our prefeni; Hate, the ^peraiions of the mind, fq far de- pvnd ^ the rigi- 1 tone or g~od condition f it's inftru- imnt, that any thmg which greatly conttibutts to pre- ferve or recover the health of the bedy, is well worth the attention oi the mind, 1 hde cc nh .legations have mov.d me to communicate to the Public :h£ fa utary virtues of Tar water ; to which F (nought my lelf inoifpenfib'y objigea-, by the Duty every man ewes to A 2 aiaukiud. 4 S I R I S. mankind. And, as effects are linked with their caufes, my thoughts on this low but ufeful theme led to farther inquiries, and thofe en to others remote, perhaps, and Speculative, but, I hope, not altogether ufelefs or unen- tertaining. J. TTN certain parts of America, Tar water is made X by putting a quart of cold water to a-qUart of tar, and ilirring them well together in a veffel, which is le:'t {landing til] the tar finks to the bottom. A glafs cf water being poured off for a draught, is repla- ced by the fame quantity of frefli water, the veffel be- ing fhaken and left to Hand as before. And this is re- peated for every glafs,. fo Jong a$ the tar continues to impregnate the water fuxficiently, which appears by the fmell and talk. But as this method produceth tar water of a naufeous kind, and different degrees of ilrergth, I chufe to make it in the following manner. Pour a gallon of cold water on a quart of tar, and flir, work and mix them thoroughly together with a wooden ladle or flat Hick, for the fpace of five or fix minutes; after which the vefftl mull Hand clofe co- ver'd and unmoved three days and nights, that the tar may have full time to fubfide ; and then the clear water, having been firft carefully skimmed without ihaking the veiTel, is to be poured off, and kept in bottles well flopped for ufe *, no more being made from the fame tar, which may Hill ferve for com- mon ufes. 2. The cold infuGon of tar hath been ufed in fome of our colonies, as a prtfervative or preparative a- gainll the fmall pox, which foreign practice induced me to try it in my own neighbourhood, when the fmall- pox raged with great violence. And the tryai fully an- fwered * I make this water Hronger, than that firfl pre- fcribed in Sir is, having found on more general ex* perience, that five or fix minutes itirring, when the water is carefully cleared and skimmed, agrees with molt ilomachs. S I R I S j fwered my expe&ation : all thofe, within my know- ledge, who took the tar water having either efcaped that diilemper, or had it very favourably. In one fa- mily there was a remarkable inflance of feven children/.' who came all very well through the fm all Pox, ex- cept one young child which could not be brought to diink tar water as the reft had done. 3. Several were preferved from taking the fmall pox by the nfe of this liquor : others had it in the mildeft manner, and others that they might be able to* take the infection, were obliged to intermit drinking the tar water,. I have found it may be drunk with great fafety and fuccefs for any length of time, and this not only before, but alfo during the difiemper. The general rule for taking it is, about half a pint- night and morning on an empty itomach, which quan- tity may be varied, according to the cafe and age of the patient, provided it be always taken on an empty itomach, and about two hours before or after a meal. For children and fqueamifh perfons it may be made weaker or given Iittie and often, more water or Itfs Itirring makes it weaker, as lei's water or more ftirring makes it llronger. It fhould not be lighter than French,, nor deeper coloured than Spanim white wine j if a fpirit be not very fenfihly- perceived on drinking, eit e s the tar mull have been bad or already ufed, or the tar water carelefly made or kept. Particular experi- ence will belt fhew how much and how flrong the- ftomach cm bear, and what are the pmpereil times icr taking it. I apprehend no danger irorn excels in the ufe oi this medicine. 4. It fee'med probable, that a medicine of fuch efficacy in a diftemper attended with fo rnauy paruh t ulcers, might be alfo ufeful in other foulneffesof the blood, accordingly I tried it on feveral perfons infc with cutaneous eruptions and ulcers, w o were foon re- lieved,, and loon after, cured. Eocdujraged by SucceiTes, I ventured to advife it in the foulef: d ill pers ; wrereink proved much more fucctlsful than oa- livatior.s and wood drirjks had done. 5. Having tried it in a great v:irie:y &f -cafes, ! 6 S I R I S. found it fucceeded beyond my hopes ; in a tedious and painful ulceration of the bowels, in a confumptive cough ar.d (as appeared by expectorated pus) an ulcer in the lungs ; in a pleurify and pcripneumony. Ami when a per/on who for fome years had b(-en fubjett to eryfipelatous fevers, perceived the ufual forerunning fy mptoms to come on, I advifed her to drink tar water, which prevented the eryfipelas. 6. I never, knew any thing- fo good for the ftomach as tar water : it cures indtgeftion and gives a good appetite. It is an excellent medicine in an althnia. It imparts a kindly warmth and quick circulation t.Q the juices without heating, and is therefore ufeful r not only as a pectoral and baliamic,. but alfo as a pow- erful and fare dcobllruent in cachectic and hylleric cafes. As it is both healing and diuretic, it is very good for the gravel. I believe it to be of great ufe in a dropfy, having. known it cure a very bad anaiarci in a perfon whofe thirlr, thojgh very extraordinary, oral in a lhoit time removed by the drinking of tar witer. \ The ufefulnefs of this medicine in inflainaiatory oafes is evident, from what has been already ob- I {a}. And yet fome perhaps may fufpect that, ' as the tar itfelf is fulphureou*, tar water muil be of a hot and inflaming nature. Rut it is to be noted that' s>U ballams contain an acid fpirit, which is in truth a volatile fait. Water is a menihuum that tliflblves all forts of falts,. and draws them from their fuhjic"b. Tar, therefore, being a ballam, it's falutary acid is extracted by water, which yet is incapable of diilolving it's grois re fi nous, parts, whole proper menilruum is fpifit oi" wine. Therefore tar water, not being impregnated ivith refin, may be fafely uf-d in inflammatory cafes: and in fact it hath brren found an admirable febrifuge, at or.ee the fat* ll cooler and cordial. 8. Tun volatile l'aits ieparated by infufion from tar, may be fuppafed to contain it's fpecific vertues. Mr. Boyle 'and other later Chymhis are agreed, that fixed felts are much the fame in ail bodies, But it is well known that volatile fairs do greatly d»r»r, and the eafier thev are ftparated from. the fuhject, the more do {?) V:.-7. 5,- they S I R I S. f they poffefs of its fpecific qualities. Now the moft eafy feparation is by infufion of tar in cold warer, which to fmell and tafte (hewing itfelf well impreg- nated, may be prefumed to extract and retain the moil pare volatile and active particles of that vegetable balfam. 9, Ta r was by the ancients efleemed good againft poifons, ulcers, the bites of venomous creatures, alfo for ptilical, fcrophulous, par?;litic and afthmatick per- fons. But the method of rendering it an mofFenfive medicine and agreeable to the ilomach, by extracting it's virtues in cold water, was unknown to them. The leaves and tender tops of pme and fir are in our times ufed for diet drinks, and allowed to be antilcorbutic and diuretic. But the moil elaborate juice, fait, and fpirir. of thefe evergreens are to be found in rar ; whofe vir- tues extend not to animals alone, but alfo to vegetables. Mr. Evelyn in his treatife on Foreft trees obferves with wonder, that ftcms of trees, fmeared over with tar. are preferved" thereby from being hurt by the invenomed teeth of goats and other injuries, while every other thing of an unctuous nature is highly prejudicial to them. i a, It feems that tar and turpentine may be had more orlcfs, from all forts of pines a^.d firs v/h/ufoever j and- that the native fpirits and efTemial falts of thofe ve- getables are the iame in turpentine and common tar. In effect this vulgar tar, which cheapnefs and plsnty may have rendered contemptible,, appears to be an ex- ce'L-nt baliam, containing the virtues of moil, other balfaws, which it eafily imparts to water, and by thaC means readily and inoffenfively infinuates them into the habit of the body.. ii. The refinous exfudations of pines and firs are an important branch of the materia medica, and not only ufeful in the prefcriptions of phyficians, but have been alfo thought otbertvife conducive to health. Pliny tells us, that wines in the time oi the oid Romans wue medicated with pitch and re fin ; and Jcnftonus in his Dsndrograthia obferves, that it is whoie'.ome to walk in groves of pine- trees, wnich impregnate the air with twifamick particles, That all turpentines and refins are good 8 S I R I ■ S. good for the lungs, againft gravel alfo and obit ruction^ is no fecret. And that the medicinal properties of thofe drugs are found in Tar water, without heating the blood, or difordering the itomach, is confirmed by ex- perience ; and particularly that ptifical and aith- irutick perfous receive fpeedy and great relief from the ufe of it 12. Balsams, as all unctuous and oily medicine*, create a mulcting in the itomach. They cannot therefore be taken m fubftance, fo much or fo loi g, as to produce all thofe falutary effects, which, if tho- roughly mixed with the bio id and juices, they wou'd be capable of producing. It muft tnerefore be a thing of great benefit, to be able to introduce any requiiite quantity of their volatile parts into the fineft duct's and capillaries, fo as not to offend the ftomach, but, on the contrary to comfort and flrengthen it in. a great de- gree. 13. According to Pliny, liquid Pitch (as he calls it) or Tar, was obtained by letting fire to billets of old fat pines or firs. The firit running was Tar, the later or thicker running was pitch. Theophraftus is more particular : He tells us the Macedonians made huge heaps of the cloven trunks of thofe trees, wherein the: billets were placed erect bcfide each other. That fuch heaps or piles of wood were fometimes a hundred and eighty cubits round, and flxty or even a hundred high : And that having covered them with fods of earth to, prevent the flame from burfting forth (in which ca e t c Tar was loll) they fet on fire thofe huge heaps of pine or fir, letting the tar anJ pitch run out in a channel. 14. Pliny faith, it was cuftomary for the antients, to hold fleeces of wooll over the fteam of boyling tar, and fqueeze the moilture from them, which watery Jub- ilance was called pifiinum. Ray will have this to be the famewith the piiTelsourn of the ancients ; but Har- douin in his Notes on Piiny, thinks the piiTclasum to have been produced from the cones of cedars. What ufe they made of theie liquors anciently I know not : But it may be preiumed they were ui'ed in medicine, though at prefent, for ought I can find, they are not ufed at ali* 15. S I R I S. p i£. FrOM the manner of procuring tar (u) it plain- ly appears to be a natural production, lodged in the veflels of the tree whence it is only freed and let loofe (not made) by burning. If we may believe Pliny, the firft running or tar was called cedrium, and was of fuch efficacy to preferve from putrefaction, that in JEgyft they embalmed dead bodies with it. And to this he afcribes their mummies continuing uncorrupted for fo many ages. 1 6. Some modern writers inform us that tar flows from the trunks of pines and firs, when they are very old, through incifions made in the bark near the root. That pitch is tar infpifTited : and both are the oyl of the tree grown thick and ripened with age and fun. The trees, like old men, being unable to perfpire, and their fecretory ducts obflructed, they are, as one may fay, choaked and fluffed with their own juice. 17. The method ufed by our colonies in America, for making tar and pitch, is in effecl: the fame with that of the ancient Macedonians ; as appears from the account given in the Philofophical tranfaclions. And the relation of Leo Africanus who defcribes, as an eye witnefs, the making of tar on Mount Atlas, agrees in fubilance, with the methods ufed by the Macedonians of old, and the people of New England at this day. 18. Jonstonus in his Dendrographia, is of opinion, that pitch was anciently made of cedar, as weii as of the p:ne and fir grown old and oily. It fhou'd Item indeed that one and the fame word was ufed by ihe n- ciems in a large fenfe, fo as to comprehend the juices iffuing from all thofe trees. Tar and all lorts of exfu- dations from evergreens are, in a general acceptation, included under the name re fin. Hard coarfe refin or dry pitch is made from tar y by letting it blaze till the moifture is fpent. Liquid refin is properly an oily vifcid juice oozing from the bark of evergreen trees, either fpontaneoufly or by incifion. It is thought to be the oyl of the bark infpiilUted by the fun. As it iiTues from the tree it is liquid, but becomes dry and hard being condenfed by the fun or by fire. (6) $etf. 13* 19. io SIR I S. 19 According toTheophnftus, refin was obtaJ«<£by ftripino orF the bir:\ from pints and by inctfions mads in thefilver fir nnd the pitch pine. The inhabitants of Mount Ida, he tells us ilripxl the trunk of the pine on the funny fide two or three cubits from the ground. He obfeno'that a good pine might be made to yield refin every year; an indifferent every other year, and the weaker trees once in three years ; and that three Tim- ings were as much as a tree couV. bear. It is remark- ed by the fame author, that a pine doth not at once produce frut and refin, but (h« former only in its youth, the later in its .-Id age. 20 Turpentine is a fine refin. Four kinds of this are irt ufe. The Turpentine of Chios or Cyprus tvlvck flows from t'.e turpentine tree; tf.e Venice lur- penrne which is g<>: by piercing the Larch tree ; the Strasburgh turpentine which Mr Ray informs us 19 pr cre.i from the knots of the filvci fir ; it is fragrafet and grows yellow with age; the fourth kind is common turpentine neither rrmfparent, roi fu liquid as the formers an' this Mr. Kay uiketh to flw 'rom the mountain pine. .AH ibefc turpentines are u-eful in the fame intentions, f' eopnraftus :aith the belt refin or turpcn'im: U got from the Tctebintlms growi g in Sv ria and tome of the Greek ifl.nds. The next beft front the filvci fir and pitch pine. . 21. Turpentine is on all hands allowed to hive grc-t medicinal vinues. Tar and us irfufion coi.tain tfRjfe virtues'. Tar waiet is extremely pectoral and ref- tor tve, and if I m -y ju<'ge, from wit I eicpe knee I have hacl.it pbifdieth t- e weft valuable -njiu^saf- cribed to the fever*! b lu»s of P n- of oh , of-Ca- pivi and even to tne baloi r with honey I have fiund anexc tent coughs; Bajfioni as harh bee ilntadj fcbft apt to offend the Itomach. But , without 3 fhorn, which S I R I S- 13 which agrees with the fpruce fir, whereof I have feen clofe (horn hedges. 27. There Teems to have been fome confufion in the naming of thefe trees, as well among the ancients as the moderns, The ancient Greek and Latin names are by later authors applied very differently. PHny himfelf acknowledged, it is not eafy even for the skilful to diflinguifli the trees by their leaves, and know their fexes and kinds : and that difficulty is fince much increafed, by the difcovery of many new fpecies of that ever green tribe, growing in various parts of the globe. But defcriptions are not fo eafily mifapplied as names. Theophraftus tells, that T/Tf* differeth from tf-ti/jiH, among other things, in that it is neither fo tall nor fo flreight, nor hath {0 large a leaf. The fir he diflinguifheth into male and female: the later is fofter timber than the male, it is alfo a taller and fairer tree, and this is probably the filver fir. 28. To fay no more on this obfeure bufinefs which I leave to the Criticks, I mail obferve that according to Theophraftus not only the turpentine trees, the pines, and the firs yield refin or tar, but alfo the cedars and palm tree3; and the words fix and refina are taken by Pliny in fo large a fenfe as to include tie weepings of the Lentifcus and Cyprefs, and the balms of Arabia and Judaea ; all which perhaps are near of kin, and in their moll ufeful qualities concur with common tar, ef- pecially the Norwegian, which is the moll liquid and bell for medicinal ufes of any that I have experienced. Thofe trees that grow on mountains, expofed to the fun or the North wind, are reckoned by Theophrailus to produce the beft and pureftTar : And theldaean pines were diilinguiftied from thofe growing on the plain, as yielding a thinner, fweeter, and better fcented tar, all which differences I think I have obferved, between the tar that comes from Norway, and that which comes from low and fwampy countries. 29. Agreeable to the old obfervation of the Peripa- tetics, that heat gathereth homogeneous things and difperfeth fuch as arc heterogeneous, we find chymiflry B is 14 S X R I 5. is fitted for the analyfis of bodies. But -the chymiftry of nature is much more perfect than that of human art. inafmnch as it joineth to the power of heat that of the moft exquifite mechanifm. Thofewho have examined Che ftrutture of trees and plants by m;crofcopes, have di (covered an admirable variety of fine capillary tube6 and veiTels, fitted for feveral purpofes, as the imbibing or attracting of proper nourifhment, the diftributing thereof through all parts of the vegetable, the difcharge of fuperfluities, the fecretion of particular juices. They are found to have duels anfvvering to the tracheae in cnimals, for the conveying of air; they have others anfvvering to lacleals, arteries and veins. They feed, digeft, refpire, perfpire and generate their kind, and .ire provided with organs nicely fitted for all thofe ufes. 30. The fap veflels are obferved to be £ne tubes run- ning up through the trunk from the root. Secretory i-effels are found in the bark, buds, leaves, and flowers. Exhaling veiTels, for -carrying off excrementitious parts, are difcovered throughout the whole furface of the ve- getable. And (though this point be not fo well agreed) I)r. Grew in his anatomy of plants, thinks there ap- pears a circulation of the lap, moving downwards in the root, and feeding the trunk upwards. 51. Some difference indeed there is between learned •men, concerning the proper ufe of certain parts of ve- getables. But, whether the difcoverers have rightly •gucfied at all their ufes or no, thus much is certain, .that there are innumerable fine and curious parts in a vegetable body, and a wonderful fimilitudc or analogy between the mechanifm of plants and animals. And perhaps feme will think it not unreafonable to fuppofe the mechanism of plants more curious than even that of animals, if we confidcr not only the feveral juices fecretcd by d tffcn e nt parts of the fame plant, but alfo the endlefs variety of juices drawn and formed out of the fame foil, by various fpeciesof vegetables; which rnui; therefore differ in an endlefs variety, as to the ..texture of their abforbent veflels and iecretory duels. 52. ABodt, therefore, either animal or vegetable may S I R I S is may be considered, as an organifed fyftem of tubes and veflHs, containing feveral forts of fluids. And 1 as fluids are moved through the veflels of animal bodies, by the fyftole and dlaftole of the heart, the alternate expanfion and condenfation of the air, and the ofcilla- tions in the membranes and tunicks of the veflels j even fo by means of air expanded and contracted in the tracheae or veflels made up of elaftie fibres, the fap is propelled through the arterial tubes of a plant, and the vegetable juices, as they are rarefied by heat or condenfed by cold, will either afcend and evaporate into air, or defcend in the form of a grofs liquor. 33. Juices therefore, firfl purified by (training through the fine pores of the root, are afterwards ex- alted by the action of the air and veflels of the plant] but, above all, by the action of the fun y s light; which at the fame time that it heats, doth wonderfully rarefy and raife the fap; till it perfpires and forms an atmef- phere, like the effluvia of animal bodies. And though the leaves are fuppofed to perform principally the of- fice of lungs, breathing out excrementitious vapours and drawing in alimentary; yet it feems probable, that the reciprocal actions of repulflon and attraction, ar« performed all over the furface of vegetables, as well as animals. In which reciprocation, Hippocrates fup- pofeth the manner of nature's acting, for the nouriih- ment and health of animal bodies chiefly to conlift. And, indeed, what fliare of a plant's nouriTiment is drawn through the leaves and bark, from that ambient heterogeneous fluid called air, is not eafy to fay. It feems very considerable and altogether neceflary r as well to vegetable as animal life. 34. It is an opinion received by many, that ths fap circulates in plants as the blood in animals : that it afcends through capillary arteries in the trunk, into which are inofculated other veflels of the bark anfwer- ing to veins, which bring back to the root the remain- der of the fap, over and above what had been depoflted, during it's afcent by the arterial veflels, and fecreted for- the feveral ufes of the vegetable throughout all it's B z parts, i5 S I R I S. parts, item, branches, leaves, flowers, and fruit. O- thers deny this circulation, and affirm that the Tap doth not return through the bark veffcls. It is nevei thelefa agreed by all that there are afcending and defcending juices; while forae will have the afcent and defcent to be a circulation of the fame juices through different veffels: others will have theafcending juice to be one fort attracted by the root, and the defcending another imbibed by the leaves, or extremeties of the branches : laftly, others think that the feme juice, as it is rarefied or condenfed by heat or cold, rifes and fubfides in the fame tube. 1 mail not take upon me to decide this controverfy. Only I cannot help obferving, that the vulgar argument from analogy between plants and ani- mals lofeth much of it's forc^, if it be confidered, that the fuppofed circulating of the fap, from the root or Jacleals through the arteries, and thence returning, by incfculations, through the veins or bark vt fills to the root or lacleals again, is in no fort conformable or ana- lagous to the circulation of the blood. 35. It is sufficient to obferve. what all muft ac- knowledge, that a plant or tree is a very nice and com- plicated machine (g) ; by the feveral parts and motions whereof, the crude juices admitted through the abfor- bent veffels, whether of the root, trunk, or branches, are varioufly mixed, feparated, altered, digeikd, and exalted in a very wonderful manner. The juice as it paffeth in and out, up and down, through tubes of different textures, fhapes, and fizer, and is affected by the alternate compreffion and expantion of elaftic veffels, by the uiciffitudes of feafons, the changes of weather, and the various action of the folar light, grows ftili more and more elaborate. 36. There is therefore no chymiftry like that of nature, which addeth to the force of fire the moll de- licate, various and artificial percolation (d). The in- ceffant action of the fun upon the elements of air, earth, and water, and on all forts of mixed bodies, animal, vegetable and foffil, is fuppofed to perform all forts S I R I S. 17 forts of chymical operations. Whence it fhould follow that the air contains all forts of chymic productions, the vapours, fumes, Byte, falts, and fpirits of all the bodies we know: From which general aggregate or mafs, thofe that are proper being drawn in, through the fine veffels of the leaves, branches, and ftem of the tree, undergo in it's various organs, new alterations, fecretions, and digeftions, till fuch time as they affume- the moll elaborate form. 37. Nor is it to be wondered, that the peculiar texture of each plant or tree, cooperating with the fo- lar fire and preexifting juices, fhould fo alter the fine nourifhment drawn from earth and air (f), as to pro- duce various fpecific qualities of great efficacy in medicine; efpecially if it be confidered that in the: opinion of learned men, there is an influence on plants derived from the fun, befides it's mere heat. Certainly Dr. Grew, that curious anatomifi of plant3, holds the folar influence to differ from that of a mere culinary fire, otherwife than by being only a more temperate- and equal heat. 38. The alementary juice taken into the lacteal?, if I may fo fay,, of vegetables, confifls of oily, aque- eu?, and faline particle?, which being diflblved, volati- lifed, and diverfly agitated, part thereof is fpent and exhaled into the air; and that part which remains is by the ceconomy of the plant, and action of the fun,, {trained, purified,, concocted, and ripened into an in- fpilTated oyl or balfam, and depofited ia certain cells placed chiefly in the bark, which is thought to anfwer the panniculus adipofus in animals, defending trees from the weather, and, ; when in fuflicient quantity, render- ing them evergreen. This balfam, weeping or fweat- ing through the bark,, hardens into refin; and this moil copioufly in the feveral fpecies of pines and firs,, whofe oyl being in greater quantity, and more tenaci- ous of the acid fpirit or vegetable foul ( as perhaps it may not improperly be called) abides the action of the. fun, and attracting the fun beams, is thereby exalted B 3 an 4 (/) 33. 18 S I R I S. and enriched, fo as to become a moft noble medicine ; fuch is the laft product of a tree, perfectly maturated by time and fun. 39. It is remarked by Theophraftus, that all plants and trees while they put forth have moft humour, but when they have ceafed to germinate and bear, then the iumour is ftrongeft and moft fheweth the nature of the plant, and that, therefore, trees yielding refin fhould be cut after germination. It feems alfo very reafonable to fuppofe the juice of old trees, whofe organs bring no new fap, fhould be better ripened than that of others. 40. The aromatic flavours of vegetables feem to de- pend upon the fun's light, as much as colours. As in ihe production of the later, the reflecting powers of the object:, fo in that of the former, the attractive and organical powers of the plant cooperate with the fun (h). And as from Sir Ifaac Newton's experiments it appears, that all colours are virtually in the white light of the fun, and fliew themfelves when the raies are Se- parated by the attracting and repelling powers of ob- jects, even fo the fpecirie qualities of the elaborate juices of plants feem to be vhtually or eminently contained in the folar light, and are actually exhibited upon the fe- paration of the raies, by the peculiar powers of the capillary organs in vegetables, attracting and imbibing certain raies, which produce certain flavours and qua- Jities, in like manner as certain raies being reflected,, produce certain colours. 41. It hath been obferved by fome curious anato- wifts, that the fecretory veflels in the glands of animal bodies are lined witha fine down, which in different glands is of difierentTolours. And it is thought, that each particular down, being originally imbued with it's own proper juice, attracts none but that fort; by which means fo many various juices are ftcreted in different parts of the body. And perhaps there wcy be fome- thing analougous to this, in the fine abforbent vefi'ds of plants, which may cooperate towards producing tliat end lei's (b) 36, 37- S I R I S. is> endlefs variety of juices, elaborated in plants from the fame earth and air. 42. The balfam or eflentitfl oyl of vegetables con- tains a fpirit, wherein confifl the fpecifk qualities, the fmell and tafle of the plant. Boerhaave holds the na- tive prefiding fpirit to be neither oyl, fait, earth, or water; but fomewhat too fine and fubtile to be caught alone and rendered vifible to the eye. This when iiif- fered to fly off,, for inftance, from the oyl of rofemary, leaves it deftitute of ail flavour. This fpark of life, this fpirit or foul, if we may fo fay, of the vegetable departs without any fenfible diminution of the oyl or water wherein it was lodged. 43. It mould feem that the forms, fouls, or prin- ciples of vegetable life, fubfiil in the light or folar ema- nation (m)> which in refpedt of the macrocofm is what the animal fpirit is to the microcofm ; the interior tegument, the fubtile inilrument and vehicle of power. No wonder then that the ens frimum or fcintilla fpiri- tuofa, as it is called, of plants fhculd be a thing fo fine and fugacious as to efcapeour niceil fcarch. It is evi- dent that natnre at the fun's approach vegetates; and languishes at his recefs; this terreftiai globe feeming only a matrix dipofed and prepared to receive life from his light i whence Homer in his hymns ftyleth earth the wife of heaven, cLhoy^ *BUfdtf* &&§o'wr*$t 44. The luminous fpirit which is the form or life of a plant, from whence it's differences and properties flow, is fomewhat extremely volatile, It is not the oyl, but a thing more fubtile whereof oyl is the vehicle, which retains it from flying off,, and is lodged in feve- ral parts of the plant, particularly in the cells of the bark and in the feeds. This oyl purified and exalted by the organicai powers of the plant, and agitated by warmth, becomes a proper receptacle of the fpirit; part of which fpirit exhales through the leaves and flow- ers, and part is arrefted by this unduous humour that detains it in the plant. J t is to be noted this effential ©yl animate:?, as one may fay c wi'.h the flavour of the plant (m) 40, 16 S I R I " S. plant Is very different from any fpirit, that can be pro- cured from the fame plant by fermentation. 45. Light impregnates air (n), air impregnates vapour; and this becomes a watery juice by dedillation having rifen full in the cold dill with a kindly gentle heat. This fragrant vegetable water is poffcfled of the fpecific odour and tade of the plant. It is remarked that deflilled oyls added to water fcr counterfeiting the vegetable water can never equal it, artificial chymiltry falling (hort of the natural. 46. The lefs violence is ufed to nature the better ifs produce. The juice of olives or grapes iffuing by the lighted preflure is bell. Reims that drop from the branches fpontaneoufly, or ocze upon the flighted inci- fion, are the fined and mod fragrant. And infufions- ar-e obferved to act more drongly than decoctions of plants, the more fubtle and volatile falts and fpirits, which might be lod or corrupted by the later, being obtained in their natural date by the former. It is alfo obferved that the fined, pured, and mod volatile par: is that which fird afcends indedillation. And, indeed, it mould feem the lighted and mod active particles re- quired lead force to difengage them from the fubjedt. 47. The falts, therefore, and more active fpirits of the tar are got by infufion in co^d water: but the refi- nous part is not to be diilblved thereby (p). Hence. the prejudice which fome perhaps may entertain againlt Tar water, as a medicine, the ufe whereof mignt in-» flame the blood by it's fulphur and refin, appears to be not well grounded; it being indeed impregnated with a fine acid fpirit, balfamic, cooling, diuretic, and pof- feffed of many other virtues (q). Spirits are fuppofed to confid of falts and phlegme, probably too fomewhat of a fine oily nature, differing from oyl in that it mix- eth with water, and agreeing with oyl, in that it run- neth in rivulets by dedillation. Thus much is allowed, that the water, earth, and fixed fait are the fame in all. plants; that, therefore, which difFcrenceth a plant or makes it what it is, the native lpark or form, in the-. language. 43- (p)S'8-7- (l)$ea>Az> 44- S I R I S. 21 language of the chymiils or fchools, is none of thofe things, nor yet the fineft oyl, which feemeth only it's receptacle or vehicle. It is obferved by chymifts, that all forts of balfarnic wood aiFord an acid fpirit, which, is the volatile oily fait of the vegetable : Herein are chief- ly contained their medicinal virtues, and by the fryals I have made, it appear*, that the acid fpirit in tar- water, polTeffeth the virtues, in an eminent degree, oi that of guaiacum, and other medicinal woods. 48. Qualities in a degree too ftrong for human nature to fubdue, and aiiimilate to itfelf, mull hurt the conflitution. Ail acids, therefore, may not be ufeful or innocent. But this feemeth an acid fo thoroughly concocted, fo gentle, bland, and temperate, and withal a fpirit fo fine and volatile, as readily to enter the fmall- tft vtffels, and be afilmiiated with the utmcfl cafe. 49. If anyone were minded to diffulve fome of the refin, together with the fait or fpirit, he need on- ly mix fome fpirit of wine with the water. But fuch an intire folution of refins and gums, as to qualify them for entering and peivading the animal fyftem, like the fine acid fpirit that firit flies cfF from the fubjcct, is perhaps imrcfiible to obtain. It is an apcthegme of the chymifts, derived from Helmcnt, that whoever can make myrrh foluble by the human body, has the feret of prolonging his days : and Eoerhaave owns that there feems to be truth in this, from it's refilling pu- trefaction. Now this quality" is as remarkable in Tar, with which the ancients embalmed and preserved dead bodies. And though Boerhaave himfelf, and other chymifls before him, have given methods for making folutions of myrrh, yet it is by means of alcohol which extra&s only the inflammable parts. And it doth not feem that any folution of rnyrrh is impregnated with it's fait or acid fpirit. It may not, therefore, feem ftrange if this water fhou'd be found more beneficial for procuring health and long life, than any foiucion of myrrh whatfoever. 50. Certainly divers refms and gums may have virtues, and yet not be able for their groflhefs to pafs the 22 S I R. I S. the lacleals and other finer veflels, nor yet, perhaps, readily impart thofe verues to a menjlruum, ^hat may with fafety and fpeed convey them throughout the hu- man body. Upon all which accounts, I believe tar water will be found to have lingular advantages. It is obferved that acid fpirits prove the Wronger, by how much the greater degree of heat is required to raifa them. And indeed, there feemeth to be no acid more gentle than this, obtained by the fimple afTufion of cold water j which carries off from the fubjecl the mcfi light and fubtile parts, and, if one may fo fpeak, the very flower of it's fpeciSc qualities. And here it is to be noted, that the volatile fait and fpirit of vegetables do r by gently Simulating the folids, attenuate the fluids contained in them, and promote fecretions, and that they are penetrating and a&ive, contrary to the general nature of other acids. 51. It is a great maxim for health, that the juices cf the body be kept fluid in a due proportion. Therefore, the acid volatile fpirit in tar water, at once attenuat- ing and cooling in a moderate degree, mufl greatly conduce to health, as a mild falutary deobllruent, quick- ening the circulation of the fluids without wounding^ the foiids, thereby gently removing or preventing thofe obitructions, which are the great and general caufe cf molt chronical difeafts; in this manner anfwering to. the antihyiterics, aflli faetida, galbanum, myrrh, am- ber, and in general, to all the rcfins and gums of trees or fhrubs ufeful in nervous cafes. 52. Warm water is itfelf a deobfiiuent* There- fore the infufion of tar drunk warm, is cafier infinuat- ed into all the nice capillary veflels, and atts, not only by virtue of the balfam, but alfo by that of the vehi- cle. It's tafle, it's diuretic quality, it's being fo great a cordial, fhew the activity of this medicine. And at the fame time that it quickens the fluggifh blood of the hiilerical, its balfamic oily nature abates the too rapid motion of the fliarp thin blood in thofe who are hedic. There is a kntour and fmoothnefs in the blood for healthy ftrong people, on the contrary, there is often S I R I S. 23 often an acrimony and folution in that of weakly mor- bid perfons. The fine particles of tar are not only warm and active, they are alfo balfamic and emollient, foftening and enriching the (harp and vapid blood, and healing the erofions occaiioned thereby in the blood veffels and glands. 53. Tar water poffeffeth theflomachicand cardiac qualities of elixir proprietatis, Stoughton's drops, and many fuch tinctures and extracts, with this difference, that it worketh it's effect more fafely, as it hath no- thing of that fpirit of wine, which, however mixed -and difguifed, may yet be well accounted a poifon in fome degree. 54. Such medicines are fuppofed to be diaphoretic, which being of an active and fubtile nature, pafs thro' the whole fyftem, and work their effect in the fineil capillaries and perfpiratory ducts, which they gently cleanfe and open. Tar water is extremely well fitted to work by fuch an infenfible diaphorefis, by the fine- nefs and activity of it's acid volatile fpirit. And fure- ly thofe parts ought to be very fine, which can fcour the perfpiratory duels, under the fcarf skin or cuticle, if it be true that one grain of fand wou'd cover the mouths of more than a hundred thoufand. 55. Another way wherein tar water operates, is by urine, than which perhaps none is more i'afe and ef- fectual, for cleanfing the blood and carrying off it's falts. But it feems to produce it's principal effect as an alterative, fure and eafy, much fafer than thofe vehe- ment purgative, emetic, and falivating medicines, which, do violence to nature. 56. A n obflruction of fome veffels caufeth the blood •to move more fwiftly in other veffels, which are not obflrncted. Hence manifold diforders. A liquor that dilutes and attenuates refolves the concretions which ob- struct. Tar water is fuch a liquor. It may be faid., indeed, of common water, that it attenuates, alfo of mercurial preparations that they attenuate. But it ihou'd be confidered that meer water only diftends the veffels and thereby weakens their tone ; and that Mer- cury 64 S I R I S. cury by It's great 7nomentum may juftly be fufpecled of hurting the line capillaries, which two deobliruents tlierefore might eafily overact their parts, and (by kf- fening the force of the elaitic veffels) remotely produce thofe concretions they are intended to remove. 57. Weak and rigid fibres are looked an by the molt able phyficians, a^ fources of two different chiles of diitempers: a fluggifh motion of the liquids occafi- ons weak fibres: therefore tar water is good to flrenth- en them as it gently accelerates their contents. On the other hand, being an unctuous bland fluid it moilt- ens and foftens the dry and ilifF fibres: and fo proves a remedy for both extremes. 58. Common foaps are compofitions of lixivial fait and oyl. The corrofive acrimony of the faline par- ticles, being foftened by the mixture of an uncluous fubftance they infmuate themfelves into the fmall duels with lefs difficulty and dinger. The combination of thefe different fubitances makes up a very fubtile and aclive medicine, fitted for mixing with all humours, and refolving all obftruclions. Soap therefore is juitty efteeroed a moil efficacious medicine in many diilem- pers. Alcaline foap is allowed to be cleaning, attenu- ating, opening, refolving, fweetening; it is peroral, vulnerary, diuretic, and hnth other good qualities which are alio to be found in tar water. It is granted, rhac oyl and acid falts combined together exilt in vegetables, and that confequently there are acid foaps as well as al- caline. And the faponaceous nature of the acid vege- table fpirits, is what renders them fo diuretic, fudoriiic, penetrating, ablterfive and refolving. Such, for in- ftance, is the acid fpirit of Guaicum. And all thefe fame virtues ieem to be in tar water in a mild and falu- tary degree. 59. It is the general opinion that all acids coagulate the blood. Boerhaave excepts vinegar which he holds to be a foap, inafmuch as it is found to contain an oyl as well as an acid fpirit. Hence it is both uncluous and penetrating, a powerful antiphlogiftic, and prefervative againll corruption and infeclion. Now it fcems evident that S I R I S. |j cliat tar water is a foap as well as vinegar. For though it be the character of refin, which is an infpifiated grofs oy!, not to diflblve in water (a), yet the falts at- tract fomeiine particles of effential oyl: which fine oy! fervcs as a vehicle for the acid falts, and mews itfelf in the colour of the tar water: for all pure falts are colour- lefs. And though the refin will not diiTolve in water, yet the fubtile oyl, in which the vegetable falts are lodged, may as well mix with water as vinegar doth, which contains both oyl and fait. And as the oyl in tar water difcovers itfelf to the eye, fo the acid falts do manifeft themfelves to the tafte. Tar water therefore is a loap and as fuch hath the medicinal qualities of foaps. 60. It operates more gently as the acid falts lofe their acrimony being fheathed in oyl, and thereby ap- proaching the nature of neuteral falts, are more benign and friendly to the animal fyftem : and more effectually, as by the help of a volatile imooth iniinuating oy!, thofe fame falts are more eafily introduced into the ca- pillary duels. Therefore in fevers and epidemical dif- tempers it is (and I have found it fo) as well as in chro- nical difeafes, a moft fafe and efficacious medicine, be- ing good againft too great fluidity as a balfamic, and good againlt vifcidity as a foap. There is fomething in the fiery corrofive nature of lixivial falts, which makes alcaline ioap a dangerous remedy in all cafes where an inflammation is apprehended. And as inflammations are* often occafioned by cbftructions, it fhou'd feem an acid foap was much the fafer deobftruent. 61. Even the belt turpentines, however famous for their vulnerary and detergent qualities, have yet been obferved by their warmth to difpofe to inflammatory tu- mours. But the acid fpirit (e) being in fo great pro- portion in tar water renders it a cooler and fafer med- dicine. And the etherial oyl of turpentine though an admirable dryer, healer, and anodyne, when outward- ly applied to wounds and ulcers, and not lefs ufeful in cleaniing the urinary pafl\ges and healing their ulcera- C tions 5 («) $t£l. 47. (e) Seti. 7, 8. a6 SIR I S. tions, yet is known to be of a nature fo very relaxing as fometimes to do much mifchief when taken inward- ly. Tar water is not attended with the fame ill effects, which I believe are owing in a great meafure to the ethenal oyls being deprived of the acid fpirit in diftil- Jation, which vellicating and contracting as a rtimulus might have proved a counterpoife to the exceflive lu- bricating and relaxing qualities of the oyl. 62. Woods in decoction do not feem to yield To ripe and elaborate a juice, as that which is depofited in the cells or locidi terebintbiaci, and fpontaneoufly oozes from them. And indeed though the balfam of Peru obtained by boiling wood and fcumming the decoction, be a very valuable medicine and of great account in divers cafes, particularly aflhmas, nephritic pains, ner- vous colics and obftructions, yet I do verily think (and 1 do not lay this without experience) that tar water is a more efficacious remedy in all thofe cafes than even taat coftly drug. 63. It hath been already oblerved that the reitera- tive pectoral antihyfterical virtues of the moft precious balfams and gums are poflefled in a high degree by tar water [tl). And I do not know any purpofe anfwered by the wood drinks, for which tar water may not be ufed with at lealt equal fuccefs. It contains the virtues even ef Guiacum which feems the molt efficacious of nil the woods, warming, and fweetening tne humours, diaphoretic and ufeful in gouts, dropfies and rheums, as well as in the foul difeafe. Nor lhou'd it feem Grange, if the virtues obtained by boiling an old dry wood prove twfcrior to thofe extracted from a balfam. 64. There is a fine volatile fpirit in the waters of Gcronfter, the mail eiteemed of all the fountains about Spa, but whole waters do not bear tranfporting. The Stomachic, cardiac and diuretic qualities of this foun- tain fomewhat referable thofe of tar water, which, if I am not greatly miftaken, contains the virtues of the bell thalybeat and fulphureous waters; with this difference s that thofe waters are apt to affect the head in taking, which (d) Se8. 9. 8,1, 22, 23. S I R I S. i? which tar water is not. Befides, there is a regimen cf diet to be obferved, efpecially with ehalybeat waters, which I never found necefTary with this. Tar water layeth under no refhaint either as to diet, hours, or employment. A man may fludy or exercife or repofe, keep his own hours, pafs his time either within or without, and take wholefome nourifhment of any kind. 65. The ufe of mineral waters, however excellent for the nerves and ftomach, is often fufpended by colds and inflamatory diforders j in which they are acknow- ledged to be very dangerous, whereas tar water is fo far from hurting in thofe cafes, or being difecntinued on that account, that it greatly contributes to their cure (f). 66. Cordials, vulgarly fo called, acl immediately on the ftomach, and by cenfent of nerves on the head, .But medicines of an operation too fine and light to pro- duce a fenfible efFecl in the primes Emetics are on certain occafions adminiftred with great fuccefs. But the overflraining and weake- ning of nature may be very juftly apprehended from a W Sea, 7, C 2- courfc aS S I R I S. courfe of emetics. They are neverthelefs prefcribed and fubftituted for exercife. But it is well remarked in Plato's Timeus that vomits and purges are the woril exercife in the world. There is fomething in the mild Operation of tar water, that feems more friendly to the ceconomy, and forwards the digefflons and feaetions in a way more natural and benign, the mildnefs of this medicine being fuch that I have known children take it, for above fix months together, with great benefit, and without any inconvenience; and after long and re- peated experience I do efleem it a moil excellent diet- drink fitted to all feafons and ages. 68. It is I think allowed that the origin of the gout lies in a faulty digeftion. And it is remarked by ihe ableft phyficians, that the gout is fo difficult to cure, fcecaufe heating medicines aggravate it's immediate, and cooling it's remote caufe. But tar water, although it contains active principles that flrengthen the digeilion beyond any thing I know, and confequently mult be Jhighly ufeful, either to prevent orhiTen the following fit, or by invigorating the blood to cad it upon the ex- tremities, yet it is not of fo heating a nature as to do harm even in the fit. Nothing is more difficult or dif- agreeable than to argue men out of their prejudices, I 51iall not therefore enter into controverfies on this lub- jeel, but if men difpute and object, (hall leave the de- ciiion to time and tryal. 69. In the modern practice, foap, opium, and mer- cury bid faireft for univerfal medicines. The firir. of ihefe is highly fpoken of. But then thofe who magni- fy it molt, except againft the ufe of it in fuch cafes where the obftruclion is attended with a putrefactive al- jkaii, or where an inflamatory difpofition appears. It as acknowledged to be very dangerous inapthific, fe\er, and fome other cafes in which tar water is not only fafe but ufeful. 70. Opium though a medicine of great extent and efficacy, yet is frequently known to produce grievous diforders in hyfterical or hypochondriacal perfons, who inakeagreat part, perhaps the greateft, of thofe who lead S I R I S. sp lead fedentary lives in thefe iflands. Befides r upon all conflitutions dangerous errors may be committed in the ufe of opium. 71. Mercury hath of late years become a medi- cine of very general ufe. The extreme minutenefs, mobility, and momentum of it's parts, rendering it a molt powerful cleanfer of all obstructions, even in the moil minute capillaries. But then we mould be cautious in the ufe of it, if we confider, that the very thing which gives it power of doing good above other deob- ftruents, doth alfo difpofe it to do mifchief. I mean it's great momentum, the weight of it being about ten times that of blood, and the momentum being the joint product of the weight and velocity, it mull needs ope- rate with great force; and may it not be juftly feared, that fo great a force entering the minuteil veliels,. and breaking the cbftructed matter, might alfo break or wound the fine tender coats of thofe fmall veffels, and fo bring on the untimely effects of old age, producing more, perhaps, and \v»rfe obilructions than thofe it re* moved ? Similar confequences may juftly be appre- hended from other mineral and ponderous medicines, Therefore, upon the whole, there will not perhaps be found any medicine, more general in it's ufe, or mo*e falutary in it's effects than tar water. 72. To fuppofe that all diflempers arifing from very different, and it may. be from contrary caufes, can be cured by one and the fame medicine mull feem chime- ricaj; But it may with truth be affirmed, that the vir- tue of tar water extends to a furprizing variety of cafes very diflant and unlike (/>). This I have experienced in my neighbours, my family, and my felf. And at I- live in a remote corner among poor neighbours, who for want of a regular phyficianhave often recourfe to me, I have had frequent opportunities of tryal, which con- vince me it is of fo;juit a temperament as to be an ene- my to all extremes. I have known it do great good in a cold watery conllitution, as a cardiac and {torn a- chic ; and at the fame time allay heatacd feverifluhirft C 3 m (!?) Sea. 3>4>5> 6 ; zl > &c- 30 S I R I S. in another. I have known it correct coftive habits in fome, and the contrary habit in others. Nor will this feem incredible if it be confidered that middle qualities naturally reduce the extreme. Warm water, for in- ftance, mixed with hot and cold will leflen the heat in that, and the cold in this. 73. They who know the great virtues of common foap, whofe coarfe lixivial falts are the product of culi- nary fire, will not think it incredible, that virtues of ■nighty force and extent mould be found in a fine acid foap Q), the falts and oyl whereof, are a molt elabo- rate product of nature and the folar light. 74. It is certain tar water warms, and therefore fome may perhaps ftill think it cannot cool. The more effe&ually to remove this prejudice, let it be farther confidered, that as on the one hand, oppofite caufts do fometimes produce the fame effect, for inftance, heat fcy rarefaction and cold by condenfation do both in- creafe the air's elafticity : fo on the other hand, the fame caufe fhall fometimc produce oppofite tffects: lieat for inftance thins, and again heat coagulates the blood. It is not therefore ftrange, that tar water 'Ihou'd warm one habit, and cool another, have one good effect on a cold conftitution, and another good effect on an inflamed one ; nor, if this be fo, that it Ihou'd cure oppofite diforders. All which juftifies to Teafon, what J have often found true in fact. The falts, the fpirits, the heat of tar water are of a tempe- rature congenial to the conftitution of a man which re- ceives from it a kindly warmth, but no inflaming heat. It was remarkable that two children in my neighbour- hood, being in a courfe of tar water, upon an inter- jniffion of it, never failed to have their iffues inflamed by an humour much more hot and marp than at other times. £ut it's great ufe in the fmall pox, pkurifies, and fevers, is a fufficieM proof thft tar water is not of an inflaming nature. 75. J have dwelt the longer on this head, becaufe fome gentlemen of the faculty have thought fit to de- clare S I R I S. 31 clare that tar water muft enflame, and that they wou'd never vifit any patient in a fever, who had been a drink- er of it. But I will venture to affirm, that it is fo far from increafing a feverifh inflamation, that it is on the contrary a moft ready means to allay and extinguifh it. It is of admirable ufe in fevers, being at the fame time the fureft fafeft and molt effectual both paregoric and cordial ; for the truth of wh : ch, I appeal to any perfon's experience, who mall take a large draught of it milk warm in the parcxyfm of a fever, even w^en plain water or herb teas fhall be found to have little or no effect. To me it feems that it's fingtilar and iurprizing ufe in fevers of all kinds, were there nothing elfe, would be alone fufheien: to recommend it to the pub- lic. 76. The belt phyficians make the idea of a fever to confift in a too great velocity of the heart's motion, and too great refinance at the capillaries. Tar water, as it foftens and gently ftimulates thofe nice vefiels, helps to propel their contents, and fo contributes to re- move the later part of the diforder. And for the for- mer, the irritating acrimony which accelerates the mo- tion of the heart is diluted by watery, corrected by a- cid„ and foftened by balfamic remedies, all which in- tentions are anfvvered by this aqueous acid balfamic me- dicine. Befides, the vifcid juices coagulated by the febrile heat are refolved by tar water as a foap, and •not too far refolved, as it is a gentle acid foap; to which we may add, that the peccant humours and falts are carried off by it's diaphoretic and diuretic qua- lities, 77. I found all this confirmed by my own experi- ence in the late fickly feafon of the year one thoufand feven hundred and forty one, having had twenty five fevers in my own family cured by this medicinal wa- ter, drunk copioufly. The fame method was practifed on feveral of my poor neighbours with equal fuccefs. It fudu'enly calmed the feveriih anxieties, and feemed every glafs to refrefh, and infufe life and fpriric into the patient. At frit feme of thofe patients had been FGmited, 3i S I R I S. vomited, but afterwards I found that without vomiting, bleeding, bliikring or any other evacuation or medi- cine whatever, very b:id fevers cou'd be cured by the fole drinking of tar water milk warm, and in good quantity, perhaps a large glafs every hour or oftcner taken in bed. And it was remarkable, that fuch as were cured by this comfortable cordial, recovered health and ipirits at once, while thofe who had been cured by evacuations often languished long, even after the fever had left them, before they cou'd recover of their me- dicines and regain their ilrength. 78. Ik perip- eumonies and pleurifies I have cbfer» ved tar water to be excellent, having known fome pleu- ritic perfons cared without bleeding, by a blifter early- applied to the flitch, and the copious drinking of tar water, four or five quarts, or even more in four and twenty hours. And I do recommend it to farther try- alj whether in all cafes of a pleurify, one moderate bleeding, a bliiter on the fpot and plenty of tepid tar •water may not fuflice, without thofe repeated and im» moderate bleedings, the bad effects of which are per- haps never got over. I do even fufpect that a pleuritic patient betaking himfelf to bed betimes, and drinking very copiouily of tar water, may be cured by that a- lone without bleeding, bliftering, or any other medi- cine whatfoever, certainly I have found this fuccced at a glafs every half hour. 79. I have known a blocdy flux of long continu- ance, after divers medicines had been tryed in vain, cured by tar water. But that which I take to be the moft fpeedy and effectual remedy in a bloody flux, is a clyfler of an ounce of common brown rofin difiblved over a fire in two ounces of oyl, and added* to a pint of broth, which not long firKe I had frequent occafion of trying when that diilemper was epidemical. Nor can I fay that any to whom I advifed it nafcarried. This experiment I was led to make by the opinion 1 had of tar as a balfamic: and rofm is only tar infpiflfated, £0. Nothing that I know corroborates the flomach. fo much as tar water- (a). Whence it follows, that it (*) 6Vtf. 68. jnul. S I R I S. 33 mull be of lingular ufe to perfons afHI&ed with the gout. And from what I have obferved in rive or fix inftances, I do verily believe it the belt and fafeft me- dicine either to prevent the gout, or fo to itrcngthen nature againft the fit, as to drive it from the vitals. Dr. Sydenh m in his treatife of the gout, declares, that whoever finds a medicine the moft efficacious for ftrengtheriing digeftion, will do more fervice in the cure of that and other chronical diftempers, than he can even form a notion of. And I leave it to tryal, whe- ther tar water be not that medicine, as I my felf am perfuaded it is, by all the experiments I couM make. But in all tryals I wou'd recommend difcreifion ; for inflance, a man with the gout in in his itomach ought not to drink cold tar water. This effay leaves room for future experiment in every part of it, not pretend- ing to be a complete treatife. 81. It is evident to fenfe, that blood, urine, and other animal juices, being let to ftand, foon contract a great acrimony. Juices, therefore from a bad di- geftion, retained and flagnating in the body, grow fharp and putrid. Hence a fermenting heat, the im- mediate caufe of the gout. The curing this by cool- ing medicines, as they wou'd increafe the antecedent caufe, muft be a vain attempt. On the other hand, fpices and fpirituous liquors, while they contribute to remove the antecedent caufe, or bad digeftion, wou'd by inflaming the blood increafe the proximate or imme- diate caufe of the gout, to wit, the fermenting heat. The kope therefore muft be, to find a medicine that fhall coroborate, but not inflame. Bitter herbs are recom- mended ; but they are weak in companies of tar water. 82. The great force of tar water, to correct the a- crimony of the blood, appears in nothing more than in the cure of a gangrene, from an internal caufe ; which was performed on a fervant of my own, by prefcribing the copious and conftant ufe of tar water for a few weeks. From my reprefenting tar water as good for fo many thing?, fome perhaps may conclude it is good for nothing, But charity obligeth me to fay, what' 34 S I R I S. what I know, and what I think, howfoever it may be t.iken. Men may cenfure and object as they pleafe, but I appeal to time and experiment, i ffee~b mifimput- ed, cafes wrong told, circum fiances overlooked, per- haps too, prejudices and partialities againft Truth, may for a time prevail and keep her at the bottom of her well, from whence neverthelefs me emergeth fooner or later, and ftrikes the eyes of all who do not keep them {hut. 83. Boer ha ave thinks a fpecijk may be found, for that peculiar venome, which infefts the blood in the fmall pox, and that the profpeft of fo great a pub- lic benefit mould Itir up- men to fearch for it. It's wonderful fuccefs in presenting and mitigating that diftemper (<-), wou'd incline one to fufpeft that tar- water is fuch a fpecifk, efpecially fines I have found it of fovercign ufe as well during the fmall pox as befora it. Some think an Eryfipelas and the plague differ on- ly in degree. If fo, tar water fhou'd be ufeful in the plague, for I have known it cure an Eryfipelar. 84. Tar water, as cleanfing, healing, and balfamic, is good in all diforders of the urinai'y paffiges, whether obilrucled or ulcerated. Dr. Lifter fuppofeth, indeed, that turpentines aft by a cauftic quality, which irritates the coats of the urinary duels to expel fand or gravel. But it fhou'd feem this expelling diuretic virtue, con- fjfted rather in the falts than the refin, and confequent- ly refides in the tar water, gently Simulating by it's felts, without the dangerous force of a cauftic. The violent operation of Ipecacuanha lies in it's rcfin, but the faline extract is a gentle purge and diuretic, by the ftimulus of it's fait?. 85. That which afts as a mild cordial (d\ neither hurling the capillary veffels as a cauftic, nor affecting the nerves, nor coagulating the juices, mufl in all cafes be a friend to nature, an J affift the vis wit* in it's ftruggle againft all kinds of contagion. And from what I have oblerved, tar water appears to me an ufeful pre- fervative in all epidemical diforders, and againft all o- ther (c) 2, 3. [d] 66. S IRIS. 35 ther infe&ion whatfoever, as well as that of the fmall- pox. What effects the animi fathemata have in humane maladies, is well known, and confequently the gene- ral benefit of fuch a cardiac may be reafonably fup- pofed. 86. A s the body is faid to cloath the foul, (o the nerves may be faid to conftitute her inner garment. And as the foul animates the whole, what nearly touch- es the foul relates to all. Therefore the afperity of tar- tarous falts, and the fiery acrimony of alcaline falts, ir- ritating and wounding the nerves, produce nafcentpaf- fions and and anxieties in the foul.; which both agravate diiterapers, and render men's lives rtftlefs and wretched, even when they are afflicted with no apparent diftemper. This is the latent fpring of much woe, fpleen, and t 92, It 3* S I R I S. 92. It is the received opinion that the animal falts of a found body are of a neuteral, bland, and benign nature: that is, the falts in the juices pail the prima o»/>, are neither acid nor alcaline, having been fub- daed by the conftitution, and changed into a third na- ture. Where the conftitution wants force to do this, the aliment is not duly aifimilated ; and fo far as the i'dlis retain their priftine qualities, fickly fymptoms en- i'ue, acids and alkalies not perfectly fubdued, producing weak ferments in the jjices. Hence fcurvy, cachexy, and a long train of ills. 93. A Cachexy or ill habit is much of the fame kind with the (curvy, proceeds from the fame caufes and is attended with like fymptoms, which are fo ma- nifold and various, that the fcurvy may well be looked on as a general cachexy, infecting the whole habit and vitiating all the degeitions. Some have reconed as ma- ny forts of the fcu;vy, as there are different taints of the blood. Others have fuppofed it a collection of all illneffes together. Some fuppofe it an accumulation of feveral dikafes in fieri. Others take it for an aiTem- blage of the reliques of old dhlempers. 94. But thus much is certain, the cure of the fcurvy is no more to be at:empted by itrongly active medicines than ( to ufe the fimilitude of an ingenious writer,) a thorn in the fleih, or pitch on fiik to be re- moved by ioTce. The vifcid humour mull be gently rciuIveU and diluted, -the tone of the veflels recovered )>y a moderate Simulation, and the tender fibres ai d llafy veflels pr» « eared from the concreted ftuff, ti.ar adheres mid obilructs them. All winch is in the apteft manner performed by a watery diluent, con- taining a fine vegetable foap. And although a coai* pleat care by alteratives, operating on the isisll capil- lar ies, and by infcnfible discharges, muit require lengi 1 of time, yet the good effect of this medicine on ,..« checticahd fcoibutic perfbna, is foon pero-ived., by the change it produceth in their pale difcbloured loo k% c ; v~ j healthy countenance in lefa time than per- hapiany other medicine, 95. I> S I R 1 8. 3$> 95. It is fuppofed by phyficians, that the imme- diate caufe of the fcurvy lies in the blood, the fibrous, part of which is too thick and the ferum too thin and (harp: and that hence arifeth the great difficulty in the cure, becaufe in the correcting of one part, regard muft be had to the other. It is vvdl known, how extreme- ly difficult it is to cure an inveterate fcurvy : how many icorbutic patients have grown woife by an injuditious courfe of evacuations: how many are even rendered incurable by the treatment of inconfiderate phyficians: and how difficult, tedious and uncertain the cure is in the hands even of the bell, who are obliged to ufe fuck variety and change of medicines, in the different flages of that malady: which neverthelefs may be cured (if I may judge by what I have experienced) by the fole, regular, conftant, copious, ufe of tar water. 96. Tar water moderately infpiflates with h's ba!- famic virtue, and renders mild the thin and (harp part of the biood. The fame, as a foapy medicine, dif- folves the grumous concretions of the fibrous part. As a balfam it deftroys the ulcerous acrimony of the hu- mours, and as a deobftruent it opens and cleans the veffds, reftores their tone, and ftren-gthens the digefH- on, whofe defects are the principal caufe of fcurvy and cachexy. 97. In the cure of the fcurvy,. the principal aim is to fubdue the acrimony of the blood and juices. But as this acrimony proceeds from different caufes, or even oppofite, as acid and alkaline, what is good in one fort of fcurvy proves dangerous, or even mortal, in another* It is well known, that hot antifcorbutics, where th« juices of the body are alcalefcent, increafe the difeafe. And four fruits and vegetables produce a like effect in the fcurvy, caufed by an acid acrimony,, Hence fatal blunders are committed by unwary practitioners, who, not diflinguifhing the nature of the difeafe, do frequent- ly aggravate, inftsad of curing it. H I may truft what tryals I have been able to make, this water is good in the feveral kinds of fcurvy, acid, alkaline, and muriatic, and I believe it the only medicine that cure* D 3 thera 46 S I R I S. them all without doing hurt to any. As it contain* a volatile acid (a) with a fine volatile oyl, why may not a medicine cocl in one part and warm in another be a remedy to either extreme (c). I have obferved it to produce a kindly genia! warmth without heat, a thing to be aimed at in ail forts cf leurvy. Befides, the bal- fam in tar water (heaths all fcorbu'tkk ialts alike: and its great virtues as a d : gefter and deobilruent are of ge- neral ufe in all icorbutic, and I may add, in all chro- nical cafes whatfoever. »j8. I cannot be fure that I have tried it in a fcro- phulous cafe, though I have tried it fuccefsfully in one that I fufpccled to be Co. And I apprehend it wou'd be very ierv'c.ablc in frch diforders. For although Dr. Gibbs in his treatife en the King's Evil derives that difcafe from a coagulating acid, which isalfo agreeable to the opinion of Tome other phyficians, and although tar water contain an acid, yet, as it is a foap pi), it refolvcs iniiead of coagulating the juices of the body. 99. For hyfterical and hjpecondriacal diforders fo frequent among us, it is commonly fuppofed that all acios are bad. But I will ventue to except the acid fj.ip of tar water, having found by my own experience and that of many others, that it raifes the fpirits, and is an excellent antihyfleric, nor lefs innocent than po- tent, which cannot be (aid of thofe others in common ufe, that often leave people vvorfe than they found them. 100. In a high degree of fcr.rvy a mercurial Sali- vation is looked on by many as the only cure. Which by the vehement {heck it gives the whole frame, and the fenfible fecretion it product th may be thought more adequate to fuch an effldl. But the diforder cccafioned by that violent procefs, it is to be feared, may never be got over. The immediate danger, the frequent bad effects, the extreme trouble and nice care attending fuch a courfe do very defervedly make people affraid of it. And though the fenfible fecretion therein be fo great, yet in a longer tract of time the ufe of tar water may produce C«)7- W72. (4 58. S I R I S. 41 pr&duce as great a difcharge of fcorbutic falts by urine and by penpiration, the effi.ft of which laft, though rot fo fenfible, may yet be greater than thnt of Saliva- tion ; efpecially if it be true, that in common life in- fenfible perfpiration is. to nutrition* and all fenfible ex- cretions as five to three. loi. Many hyfteric and fcoibutic ailments, many taints contracted by themfclves, or inherited from their anceftors, airlift the people of condition in thefe iflands, often rendering them, upon the whole, much more unhappy than thofe whom poverty and labour have ranked in the loweft lot of life; which ailments might be fafcly removed or relieved by the fole ufe of tar water : And thofe lives which feem hardly worth living for bad appetite, low fpirits, refllefs nights* wafting pains and anxieties, be rendered eafy and comfortable. 1 02. As the nerves are inftruments of fenlation, it follows that fpafms in the nerves may produce all fymp- toms, and therefore a diforder in the nervous fyitem (hall immitate all diftempers, and occafion, in appear- ance, an afthma for inftance, a pleurify, or a fit of the ftone. Now whatever is good for the nerves in ge- neral, is good againft all fuch fymptoms. But tar wa- ter, as it includes in an eminent degree the virtues of warm gums and refins, is of great ufe for comforting and ftrengthening the nerves (e) 9 curing twitches in the nervous fibres, cramps alfo, and numbnefs in the limbs, removing anxieties and promoting {leep, in all which cafes I have known it very fuccefsful.. 103. This fafe and cheap medicine fuits all circum- fiances and all conflirutions, orerating eafily, curing without disturbing, raifirg the fpirits without deprefl- ing them, a circumftance that deferves repeated atten- tion, efprcially in thefe climates, where itrong liquors fo fatally and fo frequently produce thofe very uirtreif- es they aredefigned to remedy; and, if I am not mifin* formed, even among the Ladies themfelves, who ar«- truiy much to be pitied. Their condition of life make* them a prey to imaginary woes, whic& never fail to D 3. siave 41 S I R I S. grow up in minds unexercifed and unemployed. To get rid of thefe, it is Cud, there are, who betake them- felves to diftilled fpirits. And it is not improbable, they are led gradually to the ufe of thofe poifons by a cer:a : n complaifant pharmacy,, too much ufed in the modern practice, palfy drop?, poppy cordial, plague- water, and fuch like^ which being in truth nothing but drams difguifed, yet coming from the apotheca- ries, are coniidered only as medicines. 104. Tkjs foul of man was fuppofed by many an- cient fages, to be thrufl: into the humane body as into a prifon,. for punifnment of part oneness. But the worft prifon is the body of an indolent Epicure, whole blood is inflamed by fermented liquors f/J and high, fauces, or render'd putrid, Jharp, and corrofive, by .1 ihgnation of the animal juices through (loth and in- aolencei whofe membranes are irritated by pungent falts v whefe mind is agitated by painful ofcillations of the nervous [g\ fyilem, and whole nerves are mutually aftecled by the irregular paffions of his mind. This ferment in the animal ceconomy darkens and confounds the intellect. It produce th vain terrours and vain con- ceits, and ftimulates the foul with mad defires, which, net being natural, nothing in nature can fatisfy. No loader, therefore, there are fo many fine perfons of texts, fhining them i elves, and (hone on by fortune,, ivho are inwardly roiferable and ifick of life. ioc- Tkj* hardnefs of llubbed vulgar confutations, :.s them infenfible of a thoufand things, that free .'! rhefs delicate people, who, as if their fkln was pabd off, feel to the quick every thing that touches The remejy for this exquifite and painful fen- is commonly fought from . fermented, perhaps From diftilled liquors, which render many, lives wretch- ed, that wou*d otherwife have been only ridiculous. The tender nerve?, and law fpirits of fuch poor crea- lup.-s, wou'd be much relieved by the uk of tar water, v. hjch might prolong and chesr their lives. I do there- to; s lecommend to tbtmthe uf« of . • 03 as. ftJK- SIR I S. 4$ fefe and innocent, but giving health and fpirit as furely as other cordials deftroy them. 1 06. I do verily think, there is not any other me- dicine whatfcever, fo effectual to reftore a crazy con» flitution,. and cheer a dreary mind, or fo likely to fubvert that gloomy empire of the fpleen (b) which ty- rannifeth over the better fort (as they are called) of thefe free nations ; and maketh them, in fpight of their li- berty and property, more wretched Haves than even the fubje&s of abfolute power, who breath clear air in a funny climate. While men of low degree often enjoy a tranquility and content, that no advantage of birth or fortune can equal. Such, indeed, was the cafe, while the rich alone cou'd afford to be debauched ; but when even beggars became debauchees^ the cafe was altered. 107. The public virture and fpirit of the Britifh legislature, never mewed it feif more confpicuous in any act,, than in that for fupprelTing the immoderate tife of diililled fpirits among the people, whofe itrength and numbers conflitute the true wealth of a nation * though evafive arts will* it is feared, prevail fo long as deftiiled fpirits of any kind are allowed, the character cf Englifhmen in genera!,, being that of Brutus, Piu'c- quid which 4« S I R I S. which will incorporate with oyl or recYfied fpirit, but cot with water. 113. Sir John Ffoyer remarks, that we want a method for the ufe of turpentine, and again, he who ihall hit, faith he, on the pleafantefl method of giving turpentine, will, do great cures in the gout, flone, ca- tarrhs, dropfies and'cold fcurvies, rheumatifrns, ulcers, and obflruclions of the glands. Laflly, he fubjoins, that for the ufe of altering and amending the juicei and fibres, it mull be given frequently, and in fuch fmall quantities at a time, and in fo comodious a man- ner, as will agree befi with the ftomach fV), flay long- ell in the body, and not purge it felf off; for large dofes (faith he) go through too quick, and befides offend the head. Now the infufion of tar or turpentine in cold water feems to fupply the very method that vis wanted, as it leaves the more unctuous, and grofspirti behind {/), which might offend the ftomach inteltinei and head ; and as it may be eafily taken, and as often, and in fuch quantity and fuch degree of ftrength, a» fuits the cafe of the patient, nor ihou'd it feem, that the fine fpirit and volatile oyl, obtained by infufion of tar (g), is inferior to that of turpentine, to which it fuperadds the virtue of wood foot, which is known to be very great with refpect to the head and nerves ; and thii appears evident from the manner of obtaining tar {b). And as the fine volatile pnrts of tar or turpen- tine are drawn off by infufion in cold water and eafily conveyed throughout the whole fyflem of the human body; fo it iliould feem the fame method may be ufed with all forts of balfams or refins whatfocver, as tht readied, eaftcil, and moil inoffenfivc, as well as in many cafes the moft effectual way of obtaining and im- parting their virtues. 114. Aftbr having faid fo much of the ufes of tar, 1 mull farther add, that being rubbM on them, it is an excellent prefervative of the teeth and gums : that it fweeetens the breath, and that it clears and ftrength- ons the voice. And, as it's effects are various and ufe- ful, W9- (/)47- fc) 7.42* 58- W«3- S I R I ■ S. 47 Jiil, To there is nothing to be feared from the operation of an alterative fo mild and friendly to nature. It was a wife maxim of certain ancient philofophers, that difeafes ought not to be irritated by medicines {h). But no medicine difturbs the animal ceconomy lefs than this, which, if I may truft my own experience, never pro- duces any diforder in a patient when rightly taken. 1 1 r. I knew indeed a perfon who took a large glafs of tar water jail before breakfaft, which gave him an invincible naufea and difgufi, although he had before received the greateft benefit from it. But if the tar water be taken and made in the manner prefcribed at the beginning of this eiTay, it will, if I miftake not have enough of the fait to be ufeful, and little enough of the oyl to be inofenfive. I mean my own manner of making it, and not the American which makes it fometimes too ftrong and fometimes too weak, and how- over ferviceable as there ufed meerly for a prefervative againft the fmall-pox, yet may not be fit to ufe in all thofe various cafes wherein I have found tar water fo fuccefsful. Perfons more delicate than ordinary may render it palatable, by mixing a drop of the chymical oyl of nutmegs, or a fpoonful of mountain wine in each •glafs. It may not be amifs to obferve, that I have known fome, whofe nice ilomachs could not bear it in the morning, take it at night going to bed without any inconvenience. For outward wafhes and fomentations, it may be made ftronger as by pouring on warm water; aifo for brute beaits, as horfes, in whofe difcrders I have found it very ufe r ul, I believe more fo than that bituminous fubftance called Barbadoes tar. 1 1 6. In very dangerous and acute cafes much may be taken and often ; as far as the ftomach can bear. But in chronica! cafes, about half a pint night and mor- nings may furlice, or, in cafe fo large a dofe fliou'd prove difagreeable, half the -quantity may be taken four time=, to wit, in the morning early, at night go- ing co bed, and about two hours after dinner and break- fail. A medicine of fo great virtue in fo many differ- ent diforders, and efpcciaily in that grand enemy, the (J> y 103. fever, 4$ S I R I S. fever, muft needs be a benefit to mankind in genera?. There are neverthelefs three forts of people to whom [ wou'd peculiarly recommend it: Sea-faring perfons, Ladies, and men of ftudious and fedentary lives. 117. To failors and all fea-faring perfons, who are fubjedl to fcorbutic diforders and putrid fevers, efpeciaily in long fouthern voyages, I am pefuaded this tar water wou'd be very beneficial. And this may deferve par- ticular notice in the prefent courfe of marine expediti- ons, when fo many of our countrymen have perilhed by fuch diftempers, contracted at feaand in foregn climates. Which, it is probable, might have been prevented by the copious ufe of tar water. 118. This fame water will alfo give charitable re- lief to the Ladies (w), who often want it more than the parifli poor ; being many of them never able to make a good meal, and fitting pale, puny, and for- bidden like ghofb, at their own table, victims of va- pours and indigeition. 1 19. Studious perfons alfo pent up in narrow holes, breathing bad air, and Hooping over their books, are much to be pitied. As they are debarred the free ufecf air andexercife, this I will venture to recommend as the bell fuccedanejm to both. Though it were to be wifh- ed, that modern fcholars would, like the ancients, me- ditate and converfe more in walks and gardens and open air, which upon the whole, would perhaps be no hindrance to their learning, and a great advantage to their health. My own fedentary courfe of life had long fmce thrown me into an ill habit, attended with many ailments, particularly a nervous cholic, which rendered my life a burthen, and the more fo, becaufe my pains were exafperated by exerciie. But fince the ule of ear water, I find, though not a perfect recovery from my old and rooted illnefb, yet fuch a gradual re- t lrn of health and eafe, that I efteem my haviug taken th's medicine the greateit of ail temporal b'effings and am convinced, that under provideuce, I owe my life to it. 120. In («0 i°3« S I. R I S. 49 I2p. In the diftilling of turpentine and other bal- faras by a gentle heat, it hath been ebferved, that there rifeth rn-ft an acid fpirit (») that will mix with water ; which fpirit, except the fire be very gentle, is loll. This grateful acid fpirit that firfr. comes over, is, as a learned chymift and phyfician informs us, highly refrigeratory, diuretic, fudori£c, balfamic or preserva- tive from putrefaction, excellent in nephritic cafes, and lor quenching thirft, all which virtue! are contained m the cold infufion, which draws forth from Tar only it's fine flower or quinteffence, if I may fo fay, or the native vegetable fpirit, together with a little volatile oyl. 121. The diftinguifhing principle cf all vegetables, that whereon their peculiar fmei), taite, and fpecific properties depend, feems to be fome extremely fine and fubtile fpirit, whofe immediate vehicle is an exceeding; thin volatile oyl, which is it felf detained in a groffer and more vifcid refm orbaifam, lodged in proper cells in the bark and feeds, and moll abounding in autumn or winter, after the crude juices have been thoroughly concocted, ripened, and impregnated with fehr I The fpirit it icif is by fome fuppoied to be an oyl h fubtilized, fo as to mix. with water. But fuch v: oyl is not the fpirit, tat only it's vehicle. Sii:ce aro- matic oyls being long exposed to air, will kfe their fpecific fmell and taile, which rly cfFwith the fpirit or vegetable ialt, without any fenuble diminution of the oyl 122. Those volatile (a!'.s, that ere fct free and railed by a geruie heat, may jultly be iuppofed effen- tia! («), and to have pieexifted in the vegetable £ whereas the lixivia! fixed faltjs obtained by the incine- ration of the fubjeel, whole natural conftituem parts have been altered or deftroyed by the extreme force A fire, are by later chymifls upon very good grounds, iuppofed not to have pre-exifled therein 5 all fuch fal,ts Appearing, from the experiments of fignior Redi, not ::\ t -) (») 7* W ».. fr S I Pv I s. to prefcrre the virtues of the refpettive vegetable fab* jefts ; ut'd to be alikt purgative and in an equal de- gree, whatsoever may be t.»e frnpe of" their points, Whether (harp or obtufe. But although fixed or lixivi- ou> (kits may not contain the original properties of the Sublet ; yet volatile falts railed by a flight heat from vegetables are allowed co preferve their native virtues: ami i'ach falts are readily imbibed by water. 123. Tut moft volatile of the falt5, and the mod attenuated part of the oy!, may be fuppoied the firil and readieit to impregnate a cold infuiion (c). And this willailiit us to account for the virtues of tar water. That volatile acid in vegetables, which refills putre- faction and is their great prefervative, is detained in a fubtiie oyl mifcible with water, which cyl is it felf imprifened in the refin or grciler part of the tar, from which it is eafily kt free and obtained pure by cold water. 124. Tke mild native acids are obferved more kindly to work upon, and more thoroughly to diiTolve, metallic bodie?, than the ftrongeft acid fpirits produced by a vehement fire ; and it may be iufpecled, they have the fame advantage as a medicine. And as no acid, by the obfervation of fome of the belt chymilts, can be obtained from the fubllsnce of animals thoroughly aifimilated, it mould fallow, that the acids received into a healthy body mult be quite fubdued and chanced by the vital powers : but it is eafier to fubdue and aiiimilate (#) the gentler than the ltronger acids. 125. I am very fenfible, that on luch fubjects ar- guments fall fiiort of evidence : and that mine fall fhort even ci what they might have been if I enjoyed better health, or thofe opportunities of a learned commerce, from whkh 1 am cut off in this remote corner. I (hall neverthelefs go on as 1 have begun, and proceed by rcaiun, by conjecture, and by authority, to cift the beft light I can on the obfeure paths that lie in my way. 126. Sjr S I R I 9. 51 126. Sir Ifaac Newton, Boerhaave, and Romberg are all agreed, that the acid is a fine fubtile fubflance, pervading the whole terraqueous globe j which pro- duceth divers k.in-is of bodies, as it is united to different fubjec~b. This according to Romberg is the pure fait, fait the pjinciple, in it ielf fimilar and oni form, buc never found alone. And although this principle be called the felt of the earth, yet it mould leem it may more properly be called the fait of the air, fince earth turned up and lying fallow receives it from the air. And it fhould feem that this is the great principle of vegetation, derived into the earth from all forts of ma- nures, as well as fr.m the air. The acid is allowed to be the caufe of fermentation- in all fermented liquors. Why therefore, may it net be fuppofed to ferment the earth, and to conftitute that fine penetrating principle, which introduces and afiimilates the food of plants, and is fo fugitive as to eleape ail the filiations and perqui- sitions of the mofl nice obfervers ? 127. It is tho doctrine of Sir Ifaac Newton and monfieur Homberg, that, as the watery acid is that which renders fait folubie in water, fo it is that fame which joined to the earthy part makes it a fait. Let it therefore be confidered, that the organs [d) of plants are tubes, the rilling, unfolding, and difknding whereof by liquors, doth conftitute what is called the vegetation or growth of the plant. But earth it felf is not folubie in water, fo as to form one vegetable fluid therewith. Therefore the particles of earth mufl be joined with a watery acid, that is, they muft be- come falts in order to difiblve in water ; that fo, in the form of a vegetable juice, they may pafs through the ftrainers and tubes of the root into the body of the plant, fwelling and diflending it's parts and organs, that if, increafing it's bulk Therefore the vegetable matter of the earth is in effect earth changed into fait. And to render earth fertile, is to caufe many of its particle* to affume a faline form. E 2 128. Hence C4 30; 3'* 35- fct S I R I S. 128. Hence it is obferved, there are more falts in the root than in the bark, more falls in vegetables ing than in the autumn or winter, the crude laiine juices being in the fummer months partly evaropatfd, and partly ripened by the action and mix- ture of light.. Hence al ; .o it appears, why the di- viding of earth, fo as to enlarge its furface, v. hereby it may admit more acid from the air, is of fuch uie in promoting vegetation. And why allies, lime, rind burn: clay are found fo profitable manure?, fire being in reality the acid, *s is proved it the firqucl (*) t Mais - alfo and flitlls are ufeful, fbrafmuch as thoft ileal if e bodies attract, the acid, and raife an efferve/ceflce v. ith i% thereby promoting a fermentation in the gfebe. The eaocrements of animals and putrid vegetables do in like manner contribute to vegetation, by increafing the felts of the earth. And where fallows r.re well broken, and lye long to receive the acid of the air into all their parts ; This alone will be fuflicient io change many terrene particles* into falls, and eoi / render them fallible in water, and therefoie fit aliment for ve- getables. 129. The acid, faith Homberg, is always joined to feme iulphur, which determines it to this cr that fpe- cies, producirg different falts, as it is the vegetable, bituminous, or metallique fulphur. Even the alkaline, whether, volatile or lixivial falts, are fuppofed to be nothing but this fame acid fliicTly detained by oyl and earth, in fpight of the extreme force of fire, which lodgeth in them, without being able to diflodge fome remains of the acid. 130. Salts, according to fir Ifaac Newton, are dry earth and watery acid united by attraction, the acid rendering them foluble in water {/). He fuppo- feth the watery acid to flow round the terrellrial parr, as the ocean doth round the earth, being attracted thereby, and compares each particle of fait, to a chaos whereof the innermoft part is hard and earthy, but the furface (a) 202. (/) I27. S I R I S. S3 fiii-face toft and watry. Whatever attracts and is at* traded moft ftrongly, is an acid in his fenfe. 131. It feems impcfiible to determine the figures of particular falts. All acid fol vents together with the diiTolved bodies are apt to (hoot into certain figures. .And the figures, in which the foflil falts cryftaliize, have been iuppofed the proper natural fhapes of them and their acids. But Homberg hath clearly mewed the contrary : forafmuch as the fame acid difiblvirg different bodie.% a flumes different fhapes. Spirit of nitre, for mflance, having diffolved copper (hoots into hexagonal cryftals ; the fame having diffolved iron, moots into irregular fquares ; and again, having dif- folved filver, fonns thin cfyftals of a triangular figure. 132. Hcmberg neverthelefs holds in general, that acids are fnaped like daggers, and alkalie3 like fheaths : j^nd that moving in the fame liquor, the daggers run into the fheaths fitted to receive them, with fuch violence as toraife thatefreivefcence obferved in the mixture of acids and alkalies. But it feems very difficult to conceive, how, or why the mere configura- tion of daggers and fheaths, floating in the fame li- quor, fhould caufe the former to ruih with fuch ve- hemence, and direct their points fo aptly into thelater, any more than a parcel of fpigots and foffets floating together in the fame water, fhould rufh one into the other. 133. It mould feem rather, that the vehement at- traction which fir liaac Newton attributes to all acids, whereby he fuppofeth tb-m to rufh towards, penetrate, make, and divide the molt folid bodie,% and to fer- ment the liquid of vege ables, could better account for this phenomenon. It is in this attraction,, that fir Iliaac placeth all their activity, and indeed it fhould feem, the figures of fairs were not of fuch efficacy in producing their effects, as the ftrong active powers whereby they are agitated and do agitate other bodies. Efpecially if it be true (what was b?fbre .remark- ed), that lixivicus falts are alike purgartive, whaWvfcr E 3 «Uy 54 S I R I S. may be tbe fhape of their angles, whether more or lefj acute or obtufe. 134. Sir Ifaac Newton accounts for the watry acid's making earthy corpufcles foluble in water, by fuppofing the acid to be a mean between earth and water, it's particles greater than thofe of water, and lefs than thofe of earth, and ftrcngly to attract both. But perhaps there is no neceflary reafon, for fuppofing the parts of the acid groflfer than the parts of water, in order to produce this effect ; may not this as well be accounted for, by giving them only a itrong attraction or cohefion with the bodies to which they are joined ? 135. The acid fpirit or fait, that mighty initru- ment in the hand of nature, refiding in the air, and diffufed throughout that whole element, is difcernible alfo in many parts of the earth, particularly in foflik, fuch as (u'phur, vitriol, and alum ; it was already ob- ferved from Homberg, that this acid is never found pure, but hath always fjlphur joined with it, and is claiTcd by the difference of its fulphurs, whether mi- neral, vegetable, or animal. 136. Salts are vulgarly reckoned the moil active ©f chymical principles. But Homberg derives all their activity from the fulphurs joined with them. From Which alio, as hath been iaid, he derive* all their kinds and differences (g). Salt, water, oyl, and 1 feem to be originally the fame in all vegetables. the difference, according to the chymiib. arifeth from a fpirit refiding in the oy', called the Rector or Archxus. Tint is otherwife called by chymilts, em l»-imu?,'!, or the native fpirit, whereon depend, and wherein are contained, the peculiar 11 .vour and odour, !he fpecifjc qualities aud virtues of the plant. 1 37. 'in ess native fpiriis or vegetable fouls are all breathed or exhaled into the air, which feems the re- ceptacle as well as fource of all fublunary forms, the great mafs or chaos which imparts and receives them. The air or atmofpheie that fur rounds our earth contain a a mix.uie ufall he active volatile parts of the whole habitable S I R I S. S3 habitable world, that is of all vegetables, minerals and animals. Whatever perfpires, corrupts, or exhales impregnates the air j which, being acled upon by the folar fire, produceth within it felf all forts of chymical operations, difpenfing again thofe falts and fpirits in new generations, which it had received from putre- factions. ij8. The parpetual ofcillations of this elaftic and reftlefs element operate without ceafing, on all things that have life, whether animal or vegetable, keeping their fibres, veffels, and fluids in a motion always changing ; as heat, cold, moiilure, drynefs, and other caufes alter the elafticity of the air. Which accounts, it muft be owned, for many efrecls. But there are many more which mail be derived from other prin- ciples or qualities in the air. Thus iron and copper are corroded and gather ruft in the air, and bodies of all forts are diifolved or corrupted, which fneweth an acid to abound and diffule it felf throughout the air* i 39. By this fame air fire is kindled, the lamp cf life preferved, refpiration, digeftion, nutrition, the pulfe of the heart and motion of all the mufcles feemto be performed. Air therefore is a general agent, not only exerting it's own, but calling forth the Qualities or powers of all other bodies, by a divlfion, comminution, and agitation cf their particles, caufing them to Hy off and become volatile and aclive. 140. Nothing ferments, vegetate?, or putrefies without air, which operates with ail the virtues of the bodies included in it ; that is, of all nature 3 there be- ing no drug, falutary or poifonous, whofe virtues are not breathed into the air. The air therefore is an a&i'/e mafs of numberlefs different principles, the gene- ral fource of corruption and generation j on one hand., dividing, abrading, and carrying orr the particles of bodies, that is, corrupting or diffolving them ; on ths frther, producing new ones into being; deilroy ing arid bellowing forms without inteimilhor.. 141, Til $ i<5 S I R I $. 141. The feeds of things fee m to lye latent in the air, ready to appear and produce their kind, whenever they light on a proper matrix. The extremely fmall feeds of fern, moffes, mufhroorns, and fome other plants are concealed and wafted about in the air, every part whereof feems replete with feeds of one kind or other. The whole atmofphere feems alive. There is tvery where acid to corrode, and feed to engender. Iron will lull, and mold will grow in all places. Virgin earth becomes fertile, crops of new plants evei and anon fhew themfelves, all which demonftrates the air to be a common feminary and recepticle of all vivifying principles. 141. Air may alfo be faid to be the feminary of minerals and metals, as it is of vegetables. Mr. Boyle informs u?, that the exhaufted' ores of tin and iron be- ing expofed to the air become again impregnated with metal, and that ore of alum having loll it's fait re- covers it after the fame manner. And numberlefs in- stances there are of falts produced by th« air, that vail collection or treafury of active principles, from which all fublunary bodies fcem to derive their forms, and on which animals depend for their life and breath 143. That there is fome latent vivifying fpirit dif- perfed throughout the air common experience lheweth $ infomuch as it is neceiltry both to vegetables and ani- mals (k) whether terretirial or, aquatic, neither beafb, infects, birds nor fifties being able to fubful without air. Nor doth all air fuffice, there being fome quality or ingredient, of which when air is deprived, it be- comcth unfit to maintain either life or flume. And this even though the air mould retain it's elaflicity j which, by the bye, is an argument that air doth not ad only as an antagonifl to the intercoilal mufcles. It hath both that and many other uies. it gives and preferves a proper tone to the veffela : Tins elaitio fluid promotes all fecretions : it's oicillaticr.s keep tvery part in motion : it pervades and actuates the ivhole animal fyftem, producing great variety of effect*, (/>) 138, 139, S I R I S. 57 effect?, and even cppofite in different parts, cooling at the lame time and heating, diftending and contracting, coagulating and refolding, giving and taking, fuilain- ing life and impairing it, preffing without and expand- ing within, abrading fome parts, at the fame time in- sinuating and Supplying others, producing various vi- brations in the fibres, and ferments in the fluids; all which mufi needs enfae from fuch a fubtile, active, he- terogeneous and elaftic fluid. 144. But there is, as we before obferved, fome one quality or ingredient in the air, on which life more immediately and principally depends. What that $* though men are not agreed, yet it is agreed it mull be the fame thing that fupports the vital and the common flame ; it being found that when air, by often breath- ing in it* is become unfit for the one, it will no longer ferve for the other. The like is obfervable in poi- fonous damps or fleams, wherein flame cannot be kindled. As is evident in the Grotto del cane near Naples. And here it occurs, to recommend the plunging them in cold water, as an experiment to be tried on perfons affected by breathing a poifonous va- pour in old vaults, mine?, deep holes or cavities under ground. Which, I am apt to think, might fave the lives of feveral, by what I have feen practifed en a dog convulfed and in all appearance dead, but inftantly re- viving on being taken out of the above-mentioned grotto and thrown into a lake adjacent. 145. Air, the general menitruum and feminary, feemeth to be only an aggregate of the volatile parts of all natural beings, which varioufly combined and agitated produceth many various efTects. Small par- ticles in a near and clcie fituation ftrongly act upon each other, attracting, repelling, vibrating. Hence divers fermentations, and all the variety of meteor?,, ffcmpefts, and concuflions boih of earth and firmament, Nor is the microcofm lefs affected thereby. Being pent up in the vifcera, veflels, and membranes of the bo- dy, by it's falts, fulphurs, and elaftic power, it en- genders jS S I R I S. genders cholics, fpafms, hilleric diforders and other maladies. 146.THE fpec'fic quality of air is taken to be perma- nent elafticity. Mr. Boyle is ex pre fly of this opinion. And yet, whether there be any fuch thing as permanently claftic air may be doubted, there being many things which feem to rob the air of this quality, or at leait leiTen and fufper.d it's exertion. The falss and fulphurs, for inilance, that float in the air abate much of is'i elasticity by their attraction. 147. Upon the whole it i* manifeft, that air is no diftinct element, but a mafs or mixture of things the molt heterogeneous and even oppcfite to each other (w) which become air, by acquiring an elasticity and vola- tility from the attr?£Uon of fome active, fubule fub- llance ; whether it be called fire, aether, light, or the vital fpirit of the world ; in like manner as the par- ticles of antimony, of themfelves not volatile, are car- ried off in fublimation and rendered volatile, by co- hering with the particles of fal ammoniac. But action and reaction being equal, the fpring of this ethereal fpirit is diminilhed by being imparted. It's velocity and fulitility are alfo lefs, from it's being mixed with, grofTer particles. Hence found moves flower than light, as mud than water. 148. Whether air be only freed and fixed, or ge- nerated and deftroyed, it is certain that air begins and ceafes to exert or fhew it felf. Much by experiments feems to be generated, not only from animals, fruits, and vegetables, but alfo from hard bodies. And it is obferved by fir Ifaac Newton, that air produced from hard bodies is mofl elaitic. The transmutation of ele- ments, each into other, hath been anciently held. Jn Plutarch we find it was the opinion of Heraclitiw, that the death of fire was a birth to air, and the death of air a birth to water. This opinion is alfo mai»- tained by fir Jfaac Newton. Though it may be ques- tioned, whether what is thought a change be not only a difguife. 149. Fire S I R I $ & 149. Fire Teems the moll elaflic and expanfive of all bodies. It communicates this quality to moift va- pours and dry exhalations, when it heats and agitates their part*, cohering clofely with them, overcoming their former mutual attraction, and caufing them, in- Itead thereof, reciprocally to repcll each other and fly afunder, with a force proportionable to that where- with they had cohered. 150. Therefore in air we may conceive two parts, the one more grofs which was railed and car- ried off from the bodies of this terraqueous mafs : the other a fine fubtile fpirit by means whereof, the for- mer is rendered volatile and elaltic. Together they compofea medium, whofe elaflicity is lefs than that of p.ure aether, fire, or fpirit, in proportion to the quan- tity of falts, vapours, and heterogeneous particles contained therein. Hence it follows, that there is no fuch thing as pure fimple element of air. It follows alfo that on the higheft mountain?, air mould be more rare than in proportion to the vulgar rule, of the fpaces being reciprocally as the preffures : and fo in facl it is faid to have been found, by the Gentlemen of the French Academy of Sciences. 151. £ther, fire, or fpirit being attracted and clogged by heterogeneous particles becometh lefs active ; and the particles cohering with thofe of zether, become more active than before. Air therefore is a mafs of various particles, abraded and fubli mated from wet and dry bodies of all forts, cohering with particles of aether; the whole permeated by pure aether, or light, or fire: for thefe words are uled promifcuoufiy by ancient phi- lofophers. 152. This aether or pure invifible lire, the moft fub- tile and elaftic of all bodies, feems to pervade and ex- pand it Cdf throughout the whole univerfe. If air be the imediate agent or inftrument in natural things, it is the pure inviiible fire that is the firft natural mover or fpring, from whence the air derives it's power ( a ). This M I 39> H9* l %h 60 S I R I S. This mighty agent is every where at hand, ready to break forth into action, if not retrained and governed with the greateft wifdom. Being always reftlefs and in motion, it actuates and enlivens the whole vifible mafs, is equally fitted to produce and todeftroy, diftinguifhes the various flages of nature, and keeps up the perpe- tual round of generations and corruptions, pregnant with forms which it conftantly fends forth and reibrbs. So quick in it's motions, fo fubtile and penetrating in it's nature, fo extenfive in it's effects, it feemeth no o- ther than the vegetative foul or vital fpirit of the world. 153. The animal fpirit in man is the inftrumental or phyfical caufe both of fenfe and motion. To fup- pofe fenfe in the world, would be grofs and unwarrant- ed. But locomotive faculties are evident in all it's parts. The Pythogoreans, Platonifls, and Stoics held the world to be an animal. Though fome of them have chofen to confider it as a vegetable. However the phenomena and effects do plainly fhew there is a fpirit that moves, and a mind or providence that pre- fidcs". This providence, Plutarch faith, was thought tq be in regard to the world, what the foul is in regard t:> man. 154. The order and courfe of things, and the ex- periments we daily make, fhew there is a mind that governs and actuates this mundane fyflem, as the pro- per real agent and ciufe. And that the inferior inltru- mental caufe is pure sether, fire, or the fubfhnce of light (c ) which is applied and determined by an infinite mind in the macrocofm or univerfe, with unlimited power, and according to ftated rules ; as it is in the microccfm,with limited power and fkill by the humane mind. We have no proof, either from experiment or reafon, of any other agent or efficient caufe than mii>d or fpirit. When therefore we fpeak of corporeal a- gents or corporeal cjufes, this is to be underiicod in a different, fubordinate, and improper fenfe. 155. The (') 2 9» 37» i-3^ I49« S I R I S l 5°> l S 2 - (*) H7- \g) 43- (*> 4°- S I R I S. 6$ out the whole univerfe; the feveral parts whereof were produced, fuftained, and held together by it's force. And it was the opinion of the Pythagoreans, as Laer- tius informs us, that Heat or Fire was the principle of Life animating the whole fyitem, and penetrating all the elements [a). The Platonifts too, as well as the Pythagoreans, held fire to be the immediate natural a- genr, or animal fpitit; to cheriih, to warm, to heat, to enlighten, to vegetate, to produce the digeftions^ circulations, fecreuons, and organical motions iri all living bodies, vegetable or animal, being effects of that element, which, as it actuates the macrocofm,. fo it a- nimates the microcofm. In t-heTimaeusof Plato, there is fuppofed ibmething like a net of fire, and raies of fire in a humane body. Doth not this feem to mean the animal fpirit, flowing, or rather darting through the nerves? 167. According to the Peripatetics, the form of heaven, or the fiery aethereal fubuance, contains the forms of all inferior beings ( l 7S* l 77> fcf'« S I R I S. ft fafhion, diftinguifh, and fpecificate all natural beings. This li of the Chinefe feems to anfwer the forms of the Peripatetics. And both bear anology to the fore- going philofophy of Fire. 181. The Heaven is fuppofed pregnant with vir- tues and forms, which conftitute and difcrirriinate the various fpecies of things. And we have more than once obferved, that, as the light, fire, or celeftial aether, being parted by refracting or reflecting bodies, produceth variety of colours ; even fo, that fame ap- parently uniform fubftance being parted and fecreted by the attracting and repelling powers of the divers fe- cretory ducts of plants and animals, that is, by natural chymiftry, produceth or imparteth the various fpeciflc properties of natural bodies. Whence the taftes and odours and medicinal virtues fo various in vegetables. 182. The tien is confidered and adored by the learned Chinefe, as living and intelligent sether, the mff voz^bv of the Chaldxans and the Stoics. And the worihip of things celeftial, the Sun and Stars, among the Eaitern nations lefs remote, was on account of their fiery nature, their heat and light, and the influence thereof. Upon thefe accounts, the Sun was looked on by the Greek Theologers as the fpirit of the world, and the power of the world. The cleanfing quality, the light and heat of fire are natural fymbols of purity, knowledge, and power, or if I may fo fay, the things themfelves fo far as they are perceptible to our fenfes, or in the fame fenfe as motion is faid to be action. Accordingly, we find a religious regard was paid to fire, both by Greeks and Romans, and indeed by moft, if not all, the nations of the world. 183. The worihip of Vefta at Rome was, in truth, the worihip of Fire. Nee tualhidVejlam quam if) l6 3> l ^> 1 I R 1 S. J5 effects alone ; fuch as heat, dilatation of all folid bodies, and rarefaction cf fluids, the fegregating hete- rogeneous bodies, and congregating thofe that are ho- mogeneous. That therefore which fmokes and flames is not pure fire, but that which is collected in the focus of a mirrour or burning glafs. This fire ieems the fource of all the operations in nature : without it no- thing either vegetates, or putrefies, lives or moves or ferments, is diflblved or compounded or altered, throughout this whole natural world in which we fub- ft&. Were it not for this, the whole wou'd be one great ftupid inanimate mafs. But this :jctive element is iuppofed to be every where, and :■■! w ys present im- parting different degrees or life heat and motion, to the various animals, vegetables, and ether natural producti- ons, as well as to the elements themfelves, wherein they are produced and nourifned. 191. As water ads upon fait, or aqua fortis opon iron, fo fire difTo'ves all other bodies. Fire, ail water are all three menftruums : but the two la&feeih to derive all their force and :dtivty from the firft (g), And indeed there leems to re, brtgjna ly or . ] , but one menitruum in nature, to which a. i othei men- firuums may be reduced. Acid felts are a rhefitfruam, but their force and diftiucl powers are from fulphur, Cor.fidered as pure, or in themfelves, t ;iey are all of the fame nature. But, as obtained by diftiiktion, they are conlhntly joined with fome fulphur, which cha- racterized and cannot be feparated from them. This is the doctrine of Monfieur Homberg. But what is it that characterized! or diffcrenceth the fulphurs themfelves? Jf fulphur be the fubiiance of light, as that author will have it, whence is it that animal, vegetable, and me- tallique fu'phurs impart different qualities to the fr.mc acid fait ? Can this be explained upon I4omberg's prin • ciples ? And are we not obliged to fuppofe, that light feparated by the attracting and repelling powers in the /trainers, duels, and pores of thole bodies, doth form feveral diilinct kinds of fulphur, all which, be fore fuch fe pa ration, were loft and blended together,. (g) i4 ( > 6 z ** 7 iS 1 ' f 4 ') l6 9> *9 2 > *93. S I R I S. 79 middle nature, and therefore more fit to receive the impref- fionsof a fine aetherial fire (e), and impart them to other things. According to the ancients, foul ferveth for a vehicle to intellect (/), and light or fire for a vehicle to the foul; and, in like manner, air may be fuppofed a vehicle to fire, fixing it in fome degree, and commu- nicating it's effects to other bodies. 200. The pure invisible fire or aether doth permeate all bodies, even the hardeft and moft folid as the dia- mond. This alone, therefore, cannot as fome learned men have fuppofed, be the caufe of mufcular motion, by a mere impulfe of the nerves communicated from the brain to the membranes of the mufcles, and there- by to the enclofed secher, whofe expanfive motion, be- ing by that means increafed, is thought to fwell the mufcles and caufe a contraction of the flefhy fibres. This it fhou'd feem, the pure aether eannot do immedi- ately, and of it felf, becaufe, fuppofing it's expanfive motion to be increafed, it muft ftiii pafs through the membranes, and confequently not fwell them, inafmuch as aether is fuppofed freely to pervade the moil: folid bodies. It mould feem therefore that this effect muft be owing, not to pure aether, but to aether in fome part fixed and arrefted by the particles of air. 201. Although this aether be extremely elaftic, yet, as it is fometimes found by experience to be at- tracted imprifoned and detained in grofs bodies (g), fo we may fuppofe it to be attracted, and it's expanfive force diminimed, though it fhould not be quite fixed, by the loofe particles of air, which combining and co- hering therewith may bring it down, and qualify it for intercourse with groffer things. Pure fire may be faid to animate air, and air other things. Pure fire is invifible ; therefore flame is not pure fire. Air is necefTa- ry both to life and flame. And it is found by experiment, that air lofeth in the lungs the power of feedirfg flame. Hence it is concluded, that the fame thing in air con- tributes both to life and flame. Vital flame furvives culinary flame in vacuo: therefore it requires lefs ot that thing to fuftain it. (O l6 3- (/) 178. [g] 169. 202. What So S I R I S. 202. What this may be, whether fome certain pro- portion, or fome peculiar parts of aether, is not eafy to fry. But thus much feems plain, that whatever is afcribed to acid may be alfo afcribed to fire or aether. The particles or' aether fly afunder with the greateft; force : therefore, agreeably to Sir Ifaac Newton's doc- trine, when united they muft attract each other with the greateft force. Therefore they conftitute the acid. For whatfoever ftrongly attracts and is attracted, may be called an acid, as Sir Ifaac Newton informs us in his tract de acido. Hence it fhould feem, that the ful- phur of Hombergand the acid of fir Ifaac are at bottom one and the fame thing, to wit, pure fire or aether. 203. The vital flame or aetherial fpirit, being at- tracted and imprifoned in grofler bodies, feemeth to be fet free and carried off, by the fuperior attraction of a fubtile and pure flame. Hence, perhaps it i c , that lightening kills animals, and turns fpirituous liquors vapid in an initant. 204. Hipocrates in his book concerning the henrt obferveth, that the foul of man is not nourifhed by meats and drinks from the lower belly, but by a pure and luminous fubftance darting it's raies, and dutribut- ing a non natu;al nouriihment, as he terms it, in like manner as that from the inttftines is diftributed to all parts of the body. This luminous non natural nourifti- ment, though it be fecreted from the blood, is exprefly faid not to come from the lower bel'y. It is plain,, therefore, he thought it came into the blood either by refpiration, or by attraction through the pores. And it mult 1 e acknowledged, that fomewhat igneous or sethereal brought by the air into the blood feems to nou.- rilh, though not the foul itfelf, yet the interiour tuni- cle of the foul, the aural' Jimflias ignem. 205. That there is really fuch a thing as vital flame, actally kindled, nourifhed, and extingaifhed like common flame, and by the fame means, is an o- pinion of fome modern?, particularly of Dr. Willis in his tract de fanguinh accenjlone: that it requires conflant eventilation, through the trachea and pores of the body for S I R. I S. 81 for the difcharge of a fuliginous and excrementitious vapour: and that this vital flame, being extremely fub- til, might not be feen any more than mining flies or ignes fatui by day-light. And yet it hath fometiraes become vifible on divers perfons, of which there are undoubted inftances. This is Dr. Willis's notion : and perhaps there may be fome truth in this, if it be fo underitood, as that light or fire might indeed conftitute the animal fpirit or immediate vehicle of the foul. 206. There have not been wanting thofe, who, not content to fuppofe light the moft pure and refined of all corporeal being?, have gone farther, and bellow- ed upon it fome attribute of a yet h'gher nature. J u- lianus the Platonic philofopher, as cited by Ficinus, faith it was a doctrine in the theology of the Phaenici- ans, that there is diffufed throughout the univerfe, a pellucid and mining nature pure and impaffive, the act of a pure intelligence. And Ficinus himtelf undertakes to prove, that light is incorporeal, by feveral argu- ments : Becaufe it enlightens and fills a great fpace in an . inftant, and without oppofition : Becaufe feveral lights meet without refifting each other : Becaufe light cannot be defiled by filth of any kind : Becaufe the folar light is not fixed in anyfubjecV. Laftly, becaufe it contracts and expands it felf fo eafily without collifion, condenfation, rarefaction, or delay throughout the vafteft fpace. Thefe reafons are given by Ficinus, in his comment on thefirfl book of the fecond Ennead of Plotinus. 207. But it is now well known, that light moves, and that it's motion is not inftantaneous: that it is ca- pable of condenfation, rarefaction, and collifion : that it can be mixed with other bodies, enter their compofi- tion, and increafe their weight [b). All which feems fufiiciently to overthrow thofe arguments of Ficinus, and fhew light to be corporeal. There appears indeed fome difficulty at firlt fight, about the non refiftance of raies or particles of light occuring one to another, in all poffible directions or from all points. Particularly, if we fuppofe the hollow furface of a large fphere, flud- ded with eyes looking inwards one at another, it may (b) 169, 192, 193. perhaps 82 SIR I S. perhaps feem hard to conceive, how dilHnft raies from every eye mould arrive at every other eye without jaft- ling, repelling, and confounding each other. 208. But thefe difficulties may be got over by con- lidering in the nrft place, that vifible points are not mathematical points, and consequently that we are not to fuppofe tvery point of fpace a radiating point. Se- condly, by granting that many raies do refill: and inter- cept each other, notwithstanding which the act of vifion may be performed. Since as every point of the object is not ken, fo it is not neceilary that raies from every fuch point arrive at the eye. We often fee an object, though more dimly, when many raies are intercepted by agrofs medium. 209. Besides, we may fuppofe the particles of light to be indefinitely fmall, that is as fmall as we pleafe, and their aggregate to bear as fmall a proportion to the void as we pleaie, there being nothing in this that con- tradicts the Phenomena. And there needs nothing more, in order to conceive the pofiibility of raies paifmg from and to all vifible points, although they be not incor- poreal. Supppofe a hundred ports placed round a cir- cular ka, and fhips failing from each port to every 0- ther; the larger the fea, and the fmaller the veffeh are fuppofed. the lefs danger will there be of their ftr iking againil each other. But as there is by hypothecs no limited proportion between the fea and the fhfps, the void and folid particles of light, fo there is no difficulty that can oblige us to conclude the fun's light i Co poreal from it's free paffige ; efpecially when th< ;e are lo many clear proofs of the contrary. As for the difficulty, therefore, attending the fappofition of a fphere ftttdded with eyes looking at each other, this is removed only by fupp.fing the particles of light exceeding fmall re- latively to tru. empty fpaces. 210 Plotinus (uppoieth, that from the fun's light which is corporeal, there 'piings forth another aequivo- cal light which is incorporeal, and as it were the bright- nefs of the former. Marcilius Ficinus alfo obfervmg it to be a doctrine m the Timaeus of Pinto that there is an occult S I R I S. 83 occult fire or fpirit diffufed throughout the univerfe, in- timates that this fame occult invifible fire or light is, as it were, the fight of the mundane foul And Plotinue in his fourth Ennead fheweth it to be his opinion, that the world feeth it feif and all it's parts. The Platonic philofophen do wonderfully refine upon Hg'Jt, and foar very high: from coal to flame; from flame to light: from this vifible light to the occult light of the celeftial or mundane foul, which they fuppofed to pervade and agitate the fubftance of the un^erfe by it's vigorous and expanfive motion. 2 1 1 . I f we may believe Diogenes Laertius, the Pythagorean philosophers thoughc there was a certain pure heat or fire, which had fomewhat divine in it, by the participation whereof men became allied to the Gods. And according to the Platonifts, Heaven is not defined fo much by it's local fitu .tion, as by it's purity. The pureft and molt excellent fire, that is Heaven, faith Ficinus. And again, the hidden fire thac every where exerts it {df y he calls celeftial. He reprefi-nts. fire as molt powerful and attive, dividing all things, abhor- ring all compofition or mixture with other bodies, And, as foon as it gets free, relapfing inftantly into the com- mon mak of celeilial fire, which is every where pre- jfent and latent. 212. This is the general fource of life, fpirit, and ftrength, and, therefore, of health to all animals, wh,® condantly receive it's illapfes cloathed in air, through the lungs and pores of the body. The fame fpirit im- prifoned in food and medicines, is conveyed into the itomach, the bowels, the lacteal, circulated and fecret- ed by the feveral duels, and diftributed throughout the ■fyftem (a). Plato in his Timeus enumerating the ig- nited juices, names wine in the firil place, and tar in the ft:cond. But wine is preffed from the grape, and fermented by humane induftry. Therefore of all ig- nited juices purely natural, tar or refin muft in his ac- count be efteemed the firit. 213. The vivifying luminous aether exifis in all places, l«) 37> 4 2 >44- 8 4 S I R I S. places, even the darkeft caverns, as is evident from hence, that many animals fee in thofe dark places, and that fire may be kindled in them by the collifion or at- trition of bodies. It is alfo known that certain perfons have fits of feeing in the dark. Tiberius was faid to have had this faculty or diftemper. I my felf knew an ingenious man who had experienced it feveral times in himfelf. And Dr. Willis in his tract de fangumis ac- centione mentions another of his own knowledge. Tm's luminous aether or fpirit is therefore faid by Virgil, to nourifh or cherilh the innermoft earth, as well as the heavens and celeflial bodies. Principo ceelum ac terras, campofque liquentes* Lucentemque globum Lun/s , Titamaque ajira Spiritus in tus alit. 214- The principles of motion and vegetation in living bodies feem to be delibations from the invifible fire or fpirit of the univerfe (b). Which, though pre- fent to all things, is not neverthelefs one way received by all; but variously imbibed, attracted, and fecreted by the fine capillaries, and exquifite flrainers in the bo- dies of plants and animals, whereby it becomes mixed and detained in their juices. 215. It hath been thought by feme obfervers of nature, that the fine glandular veffds admit from the common mafs of the blood, only fuch juices as are homogeneous to thofe, with which they were originally imbued. How they came to be fo imbued doch not appear. But thus much is plain; That fine tubes at- tract fluids, that the glands are fine tubes, and that they attract very different juices from the common mafs. The fame holds alfo with regard to the capilla- ry veffels (c) of vegetables, it being evident that thro' the fine drainers in the leaves and all over the body of the plant, there be juices or fluids of a particular kind drawn in, and feparated from the common mafs of air and light. And that the moft elaborate fpirit, whereon the character or diitinguiihing viitue and properties of the (*)43» >57> l6 4> «7*« CO l* lh 33>35- S I R I S. 8.5 the plant depend, is of a luminous (d) and volatile nature, being loft or efcaping into air or aether, from effential oyls and odoriferous waters, without any fefl- fible diminution of them. 216. As different kinds of fecreted light or fire pro- duce different effences, virtues, or fpecific properties, fo alio different degrees of heat produce different effects. Thus one degree of heat keeps the blood from coagu- lating, and another degree coagulates the blood. Thus a more violent fire hath beenobferved to fetfree and carry cff that very light, which a more moderate fire had introduc- ed and fixed in the calcined regulus of antimony. In like manner, one kind or quantity of this setherial fiery fpirit may be congenial and friendly to the fpirits of a man, while another may be noxious. 217. And experience fheweth this to be true. For the fermented fpirit of wine or other liquors produc- eth irregular motions, and fubfequent deprefiions in the , animal fpirits. Whereas the luminous fpirit lodged and detained in the native balfam of pines and firs, is of a nature fo mild and benign and proportioned to the hu- mane constitution, as to warm without heating, to cheer but not inebriate, and to produce a calm and fteady joy like the erfeft of good news, without that finking of fpirits which is a fubfequent effect of all fermented cordials. I may add, without all other inconvenience, except that it may like any other medicine be taken in too great a quantity for a nice ftomach. In which cafe it may be right, to lefTen the dofe, or to take it only once in the four and twenty hours, empty, going to bed ( when it is found to be leaft offenfive, ) or even to fufpend the taking of it for a time, till nature fhall feem to crave it, and rejoice in it's benign and comfort- able fpirit. 218. Tar water ferving as a vehicle to this fpirit is both diuretic and diaphoretic, but feems to work it's principal effect by afiitting the 43- H. femes 86 S I R I S. femes mobi. And this fhould feem in mod cafes the belt and fafeft. courfe. Great evacuations weaken na tuff as well as the difeafe. And it is to be feared that fhey who ufe falivations and copious bleedings, may, though they mould recover of the diftemper, in their whole life be never able to recover of the remedies. 219. It is true indeed, that in, chronical cafcs there is need of time to compleat 3 cure, and yet I have known this tar water in disorders of .the lungs and flo- mach to prove a very fpeedy remedy, and to allay the anxiety and heat of a fever in an inftant, giving eaic and fpirits to the pattent. This I have often experi- enced, not without iurprife at feeing thefe falutary ef- fects follow fo immediately in a ftver on taking a glais of tar water. Such is the force of thefe active vivify- ing principles contained in this balfam. 220. Force or power, ftn&'.y fpeaking, in the a- ■gtm alone who imparts an equivocal force to the invi« iible elementary fire, or animal fpirit(^) of the world, and this to the ignited body or vifible flame, which produceth the fenfe of light and heat. In this chain the firlr. and laft links are allowed to be incorporeal : the two intermediate are corporeal, being capable of .■notion, rarefaction, gravity, and other qualities of bo- dies. It is fit to diftinguifh thefe things, in oider to avoid, ambiguity concerning the nature of fire, 221. Sm lfaac Newton in hie optic?, asks; Is not fire a body, heated fo hot as to emit light copioufly ? for what elfe, adds he, is a red hot iron than fire ? Now it fhould feem, that to define fire by heat, would be to explain a thing by it felf, A body heated fo hot as to emit light is an ignited body, that is, hath fire in it, 3:> pencriated and agitated by fire, but is not it i'e\f fire. And although it fhould in the third foregoing accepta- tion, or vulgar fenfe pafe foi fire, yet it \s not the pure tlem -.ntary (/') fire in the fecond or philufophic fenfe, fuch as wa? undcrilood by the Sages of antiquity, and dfuch as is cci'ec"lcd in the focus of a burning gtafs; much leis is it the vis, force, or puwer of burning, deicr ;y- 0) *Sh ! 5 6 > l >7- (/) «9 - : S I R I S. 87 ir.g, calcining, melting, vitrifying, and raifing the perceptions of light and heat. This is truly and really in the incorporeal agent, and not in the vital fpirit cf the univerfe. Motion, and even power in an aequiva- cal fenfe, may be found in this pure setherial fpirit, which igniter bodie c , but is not it felf the ignited body,, being an inftrument or medium (g) by which the real agent doth operate 011 grofTer bodies. 222. It hath been mewed in Sir Ifiac Newton'.-: optics, that light is not refie&ed by impinging on bo-' dies, but by feme other caufe. And to him it feem? probable, that as many raies as impinge on the folio! parts of bodies, are not refle&ed but Hided and retained in the bodies. And it is certain, the great porofity of all known bodies affords room for much of thi* light or fire to be lodged therein. . Gold it fe$f the moil fokd of all metals, feems to have far more pores than folia part*, from water being preifed through it in the Flo- rentine experiment, from magnetic effluvia paffing, and from mercury entering it's pores fo freely. And it is admitted that water though irnpoiuble to be comprefled. hath at lead forty times more pores than folid parti. And as acid particles, joined with thofe of earth in cer- tain proportions, are fo ciofely united with them, as to be quite hid and loft to all appearance, as in ?n?rcu7-iui dulcis and common fulphur, fo alfo may we conceive the particles of light or fire to be abforbed and latent in g roiler bodies.. 223. It is the opinion of Sir Ifrc Newton, that fomewhat unknown remai ■■■•?. in vacuo, when the air -13 exhaufted. This unknown medium he calls aether. He fuppofeth it to be raore fubtile in it's. nature, and more fwift in it's motion,, than light, freely to pervade all bodies, and by it's immenfe elaiticity to be expand* ed throughout all the heavens. lt J i denfity is fuppofsd greater in free and open fpaces, thm w;thin the pore? of compact bodies. And, in puffing from the celeftia! bodies to great diftances, it is fuppefed to grow denier and denfer continually ; . aue) thereby cauis thofe great . H 3 bodies 88 S I R I S. bodies to gravitate towards one another, and their res- pective parts towards their centers, every body endea- vouring to pafsfYom the denier partsof the medium to- wards the rarer. 224. The extreme minutenefs of the parts of this medium and the velofity of their motion, together with it's gravity, denfity and elaflic force, are thought to qualify it for being the caufe of all the natural mo- tions in the univerfe. To this caufe are afcribed the gravity and cohefion of bodies. The refraclion of light is alio thought to proceed, from the different den- sity and tlaftic foice of this aetherial medium in differ- ent places. The vibrations of this medium alternately concurring with, or obftructing, the motions of the raies of light, are fuppcfed to produce the fits of eafy reflexion and tranfmiffion. Light by the vibrations tf tkia medium is thought to communicate heat to bodies. Animal motion and fenfation are alfo accounted for by the vibrating motions of this aetherial medium, propa- gated through the foLd capillaments of the nerves. In a word, all the phenomena and properties of bodies, j hat Were before attributed to attraction, upon later thoughts feem afcribed to this aether, together with the various attractions themfelves. 225. But in the philofophy of Sir Ifaac Newton, the fits {as they are called) of eafy tranfmilTion and re- flexion, feem as well accounted for by vibrations excited n bodies by the raies of light; and the refraction of 'ight by the attraction of bodies. To explain the vi- brations of light by thofe of a more fubtile medium, feems an uncouth explication. And gravity feems not an efftcl of the denfity and elafticity of aether, but ra- ther to be produced by fome other caufe j which Sir Ilaac himfelf infinuates to have been the opinion even of thofe ancients who took vacuum, attoms, and the gravity of attoms for the principles of their philofophy, tacitly attributing (as he well obferves) gra- vity to fome other caufe diftincl from matter, from atoms and confequently, from that homogeneous aether or e- Uftic fluid. The elafticity of which fluid is fuppofed to S I R. I S. 8^ to depend upon, to be defined and meafured by it's den*- fity ; and this by the quantity of matter in one particle, multiplied by the number of particles contained in a given fpace; and the quantity of matter in any one particle to be determined by it's gravity. Should not therefore gravity feem the original property and fir ft fuppofed ? On the other hand, if force be confidered as prefcinded from gravity and matter, and as exifting only in points or centers, what can this amount to but an abftract fpiritual incorporeal force ? 226. It doth not feem neceifary from the pheno- mena, to fuppofe any medium more active and (ubti'e than light or lire. Light being allowed to move at the rate of about ten millions of miles in a minute, what oc> cafion is there to conceive another medium of Hill fmailer and more movable parts. Light or fire feem the fame with aether. So the ancients underflood, and fo the Greek word implies. It pervades all things (£), is every where prefent. And this fame fubule medium, according to it's various quantities, motions, and deter- minations, fheweth it felf in different eife&s or ap- pearances, and is asther, light or fire. 227. The particles of Eether fly aflunder with th& greateft fore, therefore when united they muftfacco ding- to the Newtonian doctrine) attract each other with the greateff. force; therefore they are acids (a) or confti- tute the acid; but this united with earthy parts maketh alkaii, as Sir Ifaac teacheth in his tract de acidoi al- kali, as appears in cantharides and lixivial falts, is a cauiric; cauftics are fire; therefore acid is fire; there- fore asther is fire; and if lire, light. We are not therefore obliged to admit a new medium diftinct from light, and of a finer and more exquifite fubftance, for the explication of phenomen', which appear to be a>- well explained without it. How can the denfity or e» lailicity of astner account for the rapid flight of a ray of light from the Sun, frill fwifter as it goes farther from the fun ? or how can it account for the various motions and attractions of d fTcrent bodies I Why oyl H 3. and 5>o S I R I S. and water, mercury and iron repell, or why other bo- die attract each, ether ? or why a particle of light fhould repel! on one fide and attract on the other, as in the cale is it no. as much fo to account for the gravity of bod e^ by the t lafiicicy o^" aether ? 228. It is one thing to arrive at general laws of nature from a contemplation of the phaenomena ; and another .0 frame an hypothefis, and from thence de- duct the phenomena Thofe who fuppofe epicycles, and by tn^m explain the motions and appearances of the pl.mets, may not therefore be thought to have dis- covered principles true in fact and nature. And albeit we may from the premifes infer a conclufion, it will not follow, that we can argue reciprocally, and from the conclufion infer the premifes. For inftance, fuppofing an elaitic fluid, whofe conftituent minute particles are equidiftant from e;'.cr» other and of equal denfities and diameters, and recede one from another with a centri- fugal force which is inverfly at the diftance of the cen- ters, and admitting that from fuch fuppofition it mull follow, that the denfity and elaftic force of fuch fluid are in the inverfe proportion of the fpace it occupies when compreflld by any force ; yet we cannot re- ciprocally infer, that a fluid endued with this proper- ty mutt therefore confiil of fuch fuppofed equal parti- cles ; for it would then follow, that the conftituent particles of air were of equal denfities and diameters ; whereas it is certain, that air is an heterogeneous maie, containing in it's compofitioH an infinite variety of ex- halations, from the different bodies which make up this terrsqueous globe. 229. Tmb phenomena of light, animal ipirit, maf- cular motion, fermentation, vegetation, and other na- tural operation*, feein to require nothing more than the intellectual and artificial fire of Heraclitus, Hip- pocrates, the Stoics (£), and other ancients. Intellect, fupeTadded. (*) 1 66, 168. S I R I S. pi fuperadded to sethereal fpirit. fire, or light, moves, and moves regularly, proceeding, in a method, as the Stoics, or increafmg and diminishing by meafure, as Heraclitus expreffed it. The Stoics held that Fire comprehended and included the fpermatic reafons or forms (\oyws wmffsutn kcv{) of all natural things. As the forms of things have their ideal exigence in the intellect, fo it fhould feem that feminal principles have their natural exiflence in the light (c), a medium confifting of heterogeneous parts, differing from each other in divers qualities that appear to fenfe, and not improbably having many original properties, attrac- tions, repulfions and motions, the laws and natures whereof are indifcernible to us, othervvife than in their remote effects. And this animated heterogeneous fire fhould feem a more adequate caufe, whereby to ex- plain the phenomena of nature, than one uniform astherial medium. 230. Aristotle indeed excepts aginft the ele- ments being animated. Yet nothing hinders why that power of the foul, ftyled by him mvnrimi or locomo- tive, may not refide therein, under the direction of an Intellect:, in fuch fenfe and as properly as it is faid to refide in animal bodies. It mull neverthelefs be owned, that albeit that phiiofopher acknowledgeth a divine force or energy in fire, yet to fay that fire is alive, or that having a foul it fhould not be alive, feem to him equally abiurd. See his fecond book, de partihus animalium 231. The laws of attraction and repul Hon are to be regarded as laws of motion, and thefe only as rules or methods -obferved in the productions of natural effects, the efficient and final caules whereof are not of mecha- nical confideration. Certainly, if the explaining a phenomenon be to affign it's proper efficient and final caufe (d)i it mould feem the mechanical philofophers never explained any thing ; their province being only to difcover the laws of nature, that is the general rules (0 "64. (i) i$h *5S> 160. 5>2, S I R I S. rules and methods of motion, and to account for par- ticular phenomena by reducing them under, or flaw- ing their conformity to fuch general rules. 232. Some corpufcularian philofophers-of the Ia£ age, have indeed attempted .0 explain the formation of this world and it's phenomena, by a few fimple laws of mechanifm. But if we confider the various pro- ductions of nature, in the mineral, vegetable, and animal parts of the creation, I believe wc mall fee caufe to affirm, that not any one of them has hitherto been, or can be accounted for on principles merely me- chanial ; and that nothing could be more vain and imaginary, than to fuppofe with Defcartes, that merely from a circular motion's, being imprefTed by ihe fupreme agent on the particles of extended fiihfhfflO, the whole world with all it's feveral parts, appurte- nances, and phenomena might be produced, by a ne- ceffary confequence from the laws of motion. 233. Others fuppofe that God did more at the beginning, having then made the feeds of all vegetables and animals, containing their folid organical parts in miniature, the gradual filling and evolution of which, by the influx of proper juices, doth conflitute the gene- ration and growth of a living body. So that the artifici- al ftrudture, of plants and animals daily generated, re. quires no prefent exercife of art to produce it, having been already framed at the origine of the world, which with all it's parts hath ever fince fubMed, go- ing like a clock or machine by it's felf, according to the laws of nature, without the immediate hand of tl e artiil. But how can this hypothecs explain the blend- ed features of different fpecies in mules and other mon- giels ? or the pans added or changed, and fometimes whole limbs lolt by marking in the womb ? or how can it account for the refurrcttion of a tree from it's Hump, or the vegetative pjwer in it's cuttings ? in. which cafes we mull neceffarily , conceive foracthing more than the mere eyolution of a feed. 234. Mechanical $ S I R I S. p3 234. Mechanical laws of nature or motion di- rect us how to aft, and teach us what to expect. Where intellect prefides there will be method and order, and therefore rules, which if not dated and conftant would ceafe to be rules. There is therefore a con- flancy in things, which is ltyled the courfe of na- ture (e) All the phenomena in nature are produced by motion. There appears an uniform working in things great and fro all, by attracting and repelling forces. But the particular laws of attraction and repul- fion are various. Nor are we concerned at all about the forces, neither can we know or meafure them otherwife than by their effects, that is to fay the motions, which motions only, and not the forces, are indeed in the bodies (/). Bodies are 'moved to or from each other, and this is performed according to different . laws. The natural or mechanic philofopher endeavours to difcover thofe laws by experiment and reafonirg. But what is faid of forces refiding in bodies, whether attracting or repelling, is to be regarded only as a mechanical hypothecs, and not as any thing really exifling in nature. 235. We are not therefore ferioufly to fuppofe with certain mechanic philoibphers, that the minute particles of bodies have real forces or powers, by which they acton each other, to produce the various phenomena in. nature. The minute corpufcles are impelled and directed, that is to {ay, moved to and from each other according to various rules or laws of motion. The laws of gravity, magnetifm, and elec- tricity are divers. And it is not known, what other different rules or laws of motion might be eftablifhed, by the author of nature. Some bodies approach to- gether, others fly afunder, and perhaps fome others do neither. When fait of tartar flows per deliquium, it is vifible that the particles of water floating in the air are moved towards the particles of fait, and joined with them. And wfcen we behold vulgar fait not to flow (e) 160, (/) 155, 94 S I R I S. flow per deliquium. may we not conclude that the fame law of nature and motion doth not cbtain be- tween it's pai tides and thofe of the floating vapours ? A drop of water aftumes a round figure, becaufe it's parts are moved towards each other. But the par- ticles of oyl and vinegar have no fuch difpofition to unite. And when flies walk in water without wetting their feet, it is attributed to a repelling force or faculty in the flie's feet. But this i s obfcure, though the phe- nomena be plain. 236. It is not improbable, and feems not unfup- ported by experiment^, that, as in algebra, where pofitive quantities ceafe there negative begin, even ^0 in mechanic?, where attracting forces ceafe there re- pelling forces b^gin : or (to exprefs it more properly) where bodies ceafe to be moved towards, they b; gin to be moved from each other. This fir Ifaac Newton infers from the production of air and vapours, whofe particles fly afunder with fuch vehement force. We behold iron move towards the loaditone, ftraws towards amber, heavy bodies towards the earth. The laws of thefe motions are. various. And when it is faid, that all the motions and charges in the great world arife from attraction ; the elasticity of the air, the mo- tion of water, the defcent of heavy, and the afcent of light bodies, being ail afcribed to the fame princi- ple ; when from infenfible attractions of moft minute particles at the final left diftance, are derived cohe- sion, difllution, coagulation, animal fecretion, fer- mentatibn, and all cnymical operations ; and when it is faid, that without fuch principles there never would have been any motion in the wor.d, and without the continuance thereof all motion would ceafe. In all this we know or underftand no more, than that bodies are moved acco ding to a certain order, and that they do not move themieives. 237. So likewiie, how to explain all thofe various motions and effects, by the denfity and elaflicityof aether* S I R I S. 9 $ aether, feems incomprehenfible (g). For inftance, why (hould the acid particles draw thofe of water and repell each other ? why (hould fome falts attract va- pours in the air, and other? not ? why fhouid the particles of common fait repel each odier, (o as not to fubfide in water ? why mould the mofc repellent par- ticles be the moll attractive upon contact ? Or why fhouid the repellent begin wnere the attractive faculty leaves off. 'Ihefe, and nu-r>berlefs orher eft cts feem. inexplicable en mechanical principle^, or otherwife than by recourfe to a mind or fpiritual agent (/?). Nor will it furHce from prefent phaenomena and effects, through a chain of natural caufes, and fubordinate blind agent?, to trace a divine intellect as the remote original caufe, that firll created tht worl , and then fet it agoing. We cannot make even one fingle ftep in accounting for the phaenomena, without admitting the immediate prefence and immediate act";n of an incorporeal agent, who connects, moves, and difpofes all things, according to fifch rules, and for fuch pur- pofes as feem good to him. 238. It is an old opinion adopted by the moderns, that the elements and other natural bodies are changed each into other (/). Now, as the particles 162. [I) 154, 220. (;) 148. {k) 152, 156. p6 S I R I S. it hath been difcovered by fir Ifaac Newton, and an admirable difcovery it was, that light is an heterogc neous medium [a) confuting of particles endued with original diftinft properties. And upon thefe, if I may venture to give my conjectures, it feemeth probable the fpecific properties of bodies, and the force of fpe- cific medicines may depend. Different fides of the fame ray mail, one approach and the other recede from the Iilandic Cryflal ; can this be accounted for by the elafticity of a fine medium, or by the general laws of motion, or by any mechanical principles what- ever ? And if not, what mould hinder but there may be fpecific medicines, whofe operation depends not upon mechanical principles, how much foever that notion hath been exploded of late years ? 239. Why may we not fuppofe certain idiofyncra- fies, fympathies, oppositions, in the folids or fluids or animal fpirit of a human body, with regard to the fine infenfible parts' of minerals or vegetables, impreg- nated by rays of light of different properties, not de- pending on, the different fize, figure, number, foli- dity or weight of thofe particles, nor on the general laws of motion, nor on tne denfity or elafticity of a medium, but merely and altogether on the good plea- fure of the Creator, in the original formation of things ? From whence divers unaccountable and un- foreleen motions may arile in the animal ceconomy ; from whence alfo various peculiar and fpecific virtues may be conceived to arife, refiding in certain medi- cines and not to be explained by mechanical principles. For although the general known laws of motion are to be deemed mechanical, yet peculiar motions of the infenfible parts, and peculiar properties depending thereon, are occult and fpecific. 240. The words attraction and repulfion may, in compliance with cuftom, be ufed where, accurately fpeaking, motion alone is meant. And in that fenfe it may be laid, that peculiar attractions or repulfions in the parts, are attended with fpecific properties in the (a) 40, 1 8 1. S I R I S. 97 the wholes. The particles of light are vehemently moved to or from, retained or rejected by, objects. Which is the fame thing as to fay wich fir Ifaac New- ton, that the particles of acids are endued with great attractive force (£), wherein their activity coniitts ; whence fermentation and diffolution ; and that the moft repellent are, upon contact, the moil attracting particles. 241. Gravity and fermentation are received for two moft extenfive principles. From fermentation are derived the motion and warmth of the heart and blood in animals, fubterranous heat, fires, and earth- quakes, meteors and changes in the atmofphere. And, that attracting and repelling forces operate in the nu- trition and diffolution of animal and vegetable bodies, is the doctrine both of Hippocrates, and fir Ifaac Newton. The former of thefe celebrated authors, in his trea fuppofeth that the foul of the imi- verfe is not the original caufe or author of the fpecies, but receives them fom Intellect, the true principle of order and diftin&ion, the fource and giver of forms. Others confider the vegetative fbul only as fome lower faculty of a higher foul, which animates the fiery x- therial fpirk (g). As for the blots and defects which appear in the courfe of this world, which fome have thought to proceed from a fatality or neceffity in nature, and others from an evil principle, that fame philcfo- pher obferves, that it may be the governing Reafcn produceth and ordaincth all thofe things; and, not intending that all parts mould be; equally good, mak- eth fome worfe than others by deGgn, as a!l parts in an animal are not eyes: And in a city, comedy or picture all rankr, characters, and colours are not equal al;ke ,- even fo excefies, defects, and contrary qualities, con- spire to the beauty and harmony of the world. 263. It cannot be dewied, that with refpecl to the universe of things we in this mortal Hate, are like men educated in Plan's cave, looking on fhaddows with our backs turned to :h~ tight. But though our light be dim, and our fitua o ad vet if th- belt ufe be made of bot'h, perhapfc fumcthirg n> y be feen. I rcchrs, in his con in tafy on the the ogy of Plato, obferves there are two forts of phil 1 p- ers. The one placed body firit in the order of beings, md madf the faculty of thinking depend theieup ..ppofing that the prin- ciples of all ipgs are corr>o e I : that body molt really or principally exifts, and all 1 h< th ngs in a fecondary fe'ifc, and by virtue of that. Others, making all cor- poreal things t6 be dependent upon foul ormnd, think this to extt> in the firft place and primary feiif<°, and the being of bodies to be altogether derived from, and prefuppofe that of the mind, 264. Sense , S I R. I S. 107 .•264. Sense and experience acquaint us, with the courfe and analigjr of appearances or natural effects. Thought, rcafon, intellect, introduce us into the know- ledge of their caufes. Senfible appearance?, though of a flowing unliable and uncertain nature, yet having firit occupied the mind, they do by an ear'y preven- tion, render the after talk of thought more difficult : and as they amufe the eyes and ears, and arc more fuit-' ed to vulgar ufes and the mechanic arts of life, they eafily obtain a preference, in the opinion of mofl nvn, to thofe fuperior principles, which are the later growth of the humane mind arrived to maturity and perfection, but, not affecting the corporeal fenfe, are thought to be fo far deficient in point of folidity and reality, fenfible and real to common apprehenfions be- ing the fame thing. Although it b<- certain, that the principles of fcience are neither objects of fenfe nor imagination ; and that intellect and reafon are alone the fure guides to Truth. 265. The fuccefsful curioiity of the prefent age, in arts and experiments and new fyftems, is apt to elate men, and make them overlook the ancients. But notwithftanding that the encouragement and purfe of Princes, and the united endeavours of great focieties in thefe later ages, have extended experimental and mechanical knowledge very far, yet it mud be owned, that the ancients too were not ignorant of many things (h), as well in phyfics as metaphyfks, which perhaps are more generally, though not ftrit known in thefe modern times. 266. The Pythagoreans end PlatoniUs had a notion of the true fyilem of the world. Thsy allowed of mechanical principi r., but actuated by foul or mind : they cliftinguifheci the primary qualities in bodies from the fecondary, making the former to be phyfical cauf- es, and they uocUritood phyfical caufes in a right fenfe: they faw that a mkid infinite in power, unextended, invifible, irnmortd, governed, connected and contain- ed all things : they faw there was no fuch thing as real abfolute {h) 166, 167, 168, .241. 242. £fc. io8 S I R I S. abolute fpate: that mind, foul or fpirit, truly and real- ly exifb : that bodies exifl: only in a fecondary and dependent fenfe : that the foul is the place of forms : that the fenfible qualities are to be regarded as acts only in the caufe, and as paflions in us: they accurate- ly confidered the differences of inteliect, rational fouf, and fenfitive foul, with their diftinct acts of intellection, reafoning, and fenfation, points wherein the Carte- fians and their followers, who confider fenfation as a mode of thinking, feem to have failed. They knew there was a fubtil aether pervading the whole mafs of corporeal beings, and which was it felf actually moved and directed by a mind : and that phyfical caufes were only inilruments, or rather marks and figns. 267. THtwit ancient- philnfnpV)<»rs underftood the generation of animals to confiit, in the unfolding and diftending of the minute imperceptible parts of pre- exifting animalcules, which palfeth for a modern dif- covery : this they took for the work of nature, but nature animate and intelligent (a) they underftood that all things were alive and in motion : they fuppo- fed a concord and difcord, union and difunion in par- ticles fome attracting, others repelling each other : and that thofe attractions and repulfions, fo various, regular, and ufcful, could not be accounted for, but by an intelligence prefiding and directing all particu- lar motions, for the confervation and benefit of the whole. 268. The ^Egyptians, who imperfonated nature, had made her a diftinct principle, and even deified her under the name of Jiis. But Ofiris was underftood to be mind or reafon, chief and fovcrcign of all. Ofiris, if we may believe Plutarch, was the firft, pure, un- mixed and holy principle, not difcernible by the low- er faculties ; a glympfe whereof like lightening dart- ing forth, irradiates the underftanding j with regard to which Plutarch adds, that Plato and Ariltotle termed one part of philofophy iiroirTtKoir : to wir, when having foared above common mixtd object?, and (m) 172. S I R I S. 109 and got beyond the precincts of fenfe and opinion, they arrive to contemplate the iirft and moft fimple be- ing, free from all matter and compaction. This is that k/ffict ovrwf oW* of Plato which employeth mind alone ; which alone governs the foul. And the foul is that which immediately informs and animates nature. 269. Although the ^Egyptians did fymbolically rcprefent the fupreme divinity fitting on a lotus, and that gefture hath been interpreted to fignify, the moft holy and venerable being to be utterly at reft repofing within himfelf j yet, for any thing that appears, this geflure might denote dignity as well as repofe. And it cannot be denied, that Jamblichus, fo knowing in the ^Egyptian notions, taught there was an intellect that proceeded to generation, drawing forth the latent powers into light in the formation of things. Nor was this to be underilood of an external world, fubfifting in real abfolute fpace; For it was a doctrine of thofe an- cient Sages, that Soul was the place of forms, as may be feen in the twelfth book of the arcane part of divine wifdom, according to the ^Egyptians. This notion was embraced by divers philosophers of Greece, who may be fuppofed to have derived it from the fame fource, from whence many of their other opinions were drawn. 270. The doctrine of real abfolute external fpace, induced fome modern philosophers to conclude it was apart or attribute of God, or that God himfelf was fpace ; inafmuch as incommunicable attributes of the deity appeared to agree thereto, fuch as infinity, immu- tability, indivifibility, incorporeity, being uncreated, impaflive, without beginning or ending ; not confi- dering that all thefe negative properties may belong to nothing. For nothing hath no limits, cannot be moved ©r changed, or divided, is neither created nor deftroy- ed. A different way of thinking appears in the Her- maic as well as other writings of the ancients. With regard to abfolute fpace, it is ©bferved in the Afcle- pian dialogue ; that the word Space or Place hath by K it ito S I R I S. it fell no meaning; and again, that it is rmpoflible to underftand what Space alone cr pare Sp.ce is. And Plotinns acknowledged no place but foul or mind, exprcily affirming that the foul is not in the world, but the world in the foul. And farther, the place of the foul, faith he, is not body, but ibul is in mind, and body in foul. See the third chapter of the fifth book of the fifth Ennead. 271. Concerning abfolute fpace that phantome cf the mechanic Geometrical Philofophers (b), it may fufr.ee to obferve, that it is neither perceived by any fenfe, nor proved by any reafon, and was ac- cordingly treated by the the greateft of the ancients as ft thing merely vifionary. From the notion of abfo- lute fpace fprings that of abfolute motion * ; and in thefe are ultimately founded the notions of external exigence., independence, neceility, and fate. Which fate, the idol of many moderns, was by old philofo- .phers differently understood, and in fuch a ftnfc as net to defhoy the aiiii^riov of God or man. Parme- •nides, who thought all things to be made by necefTity •r fate, underftood juftice and providence to be the fame with faie ; which, how fixed and cogent fcever wiih refpect to man, may yet be voluntary with refpecl to God. Empedocles declared Fate to be a caufe uflng principles and elements. Heraclitus taught that Fate was the general reafon that runs through the whole nature of the univerfe : which na- ture he fuppofed to be an aetherial body, the feed of fhe generation of all thin^. Plato held Fate to be the (b) 25.0. * Our judgment in thefe matters is not to be overborn by a .jrefumt-d evidence cf mathematical notions and reafonings, fince ji is plain, thi mathematicians of this :ige embrace obfeure notions, and uncertain opinions, and arc puzzled about them, contradicting *efe ten years 1 have feen pub- lifted above twenty tracts and dirTertationsj whofe authors 'bVing Utterly at varience j and inconhftcnt with each other, inftruct by- standers what to think of their pretenfms to evidence. S I R I S. in the eternal reafonorlaw of nature. Chryfippus Tup- pofed that Fate was a fpiritual power which difpoied the worid in order ; that it was the reaibn and law of thofe tnings which are adminiltred by providence. 272. All the foregoing notions of Fate, as repre- sented by Plutarch, do plainly fhew that thofe ancient philolophers did not mean by fate, a blind, head-long* unintelligent principle, but an orderly fettled courfe of things conducted by a wife and provident mind. And as for the ^Egyptian doctrine, it is indeed afferted ia the Pimander, that all things are produced by Fats. But jamblichus, who drew his notions from ^Egypt, affirms that the whole of things is not bound up :n Fate ; but that there is a principle of the foul higher than nature, whereby we may be raifed to an union with the Gods and exempt our felves from Fate. And in the Afclopian dialogue it is exprefly faid that fate follows the decrees of God. And indeed, as all the- moticns in nature are evidently the product of rea»- fon (c), it mould &em there is no room for neceffity, in any other fenfe than that of a iteady regular coutfe. 273. Blind fate and blind chance are at bot om much the fame thing, and one no more intelligible than the ether. Such is the mutual relation, connec- tion, motion, and fympathy of the parts of this worlds that they feem as it were animated and held together by one foul : and fuch is their harmony, order, and regular courfe, as fheweth the foul to be governed and directed by a mind. It was an opinion of remote an- tiqui'y that the world was an animal (d.) If we may trull the Hermaic writings, the ^Egyprians thought all things did partake of life. This opinion was alfo io general and current among the Greeks* that Plutarch ailerts all others held the world to, be an animal, and governed by providence, except Leucippus, Democri- tus, and Epicurus. And although an animal, con- taining all bodies within it felf, could not be touched K 2 qs (c) 154. (J) 153, 172. U2 S I R I S. or fenfibly afFtcled from without ; yet it is plain they attributed to it an inward fenfe and feeling, as well as appetites and averfions ; and that from all the various tones a£tk>M and paffions of the univerfe, they fuppofed cne fymphony, one animal ad and life to refult. 274. Jamelicus declares the world to be one a- nimal, in which the pans however diftant from each guiihed from the anima 7nundi i than as life is from foul, and upon the principles of the oldelt philofophers,, may not improperly or incongruously be ruled the Life of the world. Some Platomcs indeed, regard Life as the act of nature, in like manner as intellection is of the mind or intellect. As the firft intellect acta by Br.derilanding, fo nature according to them acts or ge- nerates by living. But life is the act of the foul, and fcems to be very nature it (df } which is not the prin- ciple, but the refult of another and higher principle^, being a life refulting. from foul, as cogitation from in- id:ect.. £ 3. 279., I? (*) 1-66, 1 63, 274, 175,, to 114 S I R I S. 2 79. If nature be fuppofed the life of the world, *- nimated by one f juI, compacted into one frame, and di- rected or governed, in all parts by one mind ; This fyftem cannot be accufed of Atheifm ; though perhaps it may of ftiiftake or impropriety. And yet, as one pre- fiding mind gives unity to the infinite aggregate of thing , by a mutual communion of actions and paf- il)ps > and an acquitment of parts caufing all to con- cur in one v ew to one and the fame end, the ultimate and fupreme good of the whole, it fnould feem rea- fonable to \;\y, with Ocellus Lucanus the Pythagoire.in, thai '.. life holds together the bodies of animal?, the fcaui » ■■■■' ;reof is the ioul ; and as a city is held toge- ther b> conco d, the caufe whereof is law ; even fo the world u held together by harmony, the caufe whereof is God. And in this fenfe, the world or univerfe may be confidered either as one animal (f) or one city. 2S0. Aristotle dihpproves the opinion of thofe who hold a foul to be diffused throughout the world ; and for this resfon j becauie the elements are not •alive. Though perhaps it may not be eafy to prove, that blcod and animal fpirit are more alive in man, than water 2nd fire in the world. That Philofopher, in his books of the Soul, remarks upon an opinion fet forth in the Orphics, of the Soul's entering from the imiverfe into living creatures being born by winds, that this cannot be true of plants or of certain animals which do n t breath. But air veiTels arc by later ex- periments allowed to bt found in all plants and ani- mals And air may in ibme fort not improperly be feid, to be the carrier or vehicle of the foul, inas- much as it is the vehicle of fire, which is the fpiri* immediately moved and animated by the foul (g) 281. TfiE living fire, the living omniform femi- feary of the world, and other expreflions of the like nature occurirrg in the ancient and Platonic Philofophy,. 2vow can they be underload exclufive of light or ele- mental if) i:z, £77- (lJ l6 h *7* S I R I S. 115 mental fire, the particles of which are known to be heterogeneous, and, for ought we know, may forne of them be organised, and, notwithstanding their wonderful minutenefs, contain original feeds which, being formed and fowed in a proper matrix, do gradu- ally unfold and manifefl: themfeives, ftill growing to a juft proportion of the fpecies. 282. May not this ethereal feminary confidently with the notions of that philofophy,. which afcribe much of generation to celeitial influence, be fuppofed to impregnate plants and animals with the firlt prin- ciples, the iUmina, or thofe animalcules which Plato, in his Timaeus, faith are invifible for their fmallnefs, but, being fown in a proper matrix, are therein gradu- ally diflended and explicated by nourishment, and at length the animals brought forth to light. Which no- tion hath been revived and received of kte years by many, who perhaps are not awaie of it's antiquity, cr that it was to be found in Plato. Timaeus Lccrenfius in his book of the foul of the World, fuppofeth even fouls to be derived from the caelefiial luminaries,, ex- cepting only the rational or intellectual part.. But what influence or influx is there from the casleftial bo- dies, which hath not light for it's vehicle (b)_? 283. What other nature there lhould be interme- diate between the foul of the World (a) and this grofe corporeal fyftem, which might be the vehicle of life, or, to ule the language of philofopher>, might receive or be impreiTed with the forms of thing.', j s difficult to comprehend, It is a vulgar remark, that the works of art do not bear a nice microfcopieal infpeo tion, but the more helps are ufed, and the more nice- ly you pry into natural' productions, the more do yoa difcover of the fine mechanifm of nature, which is endlefs or inexhauitible j new and other parts, more fubtile and delicate than the precedent^ ftill continue ing to offer themfeives to view. And thefe microf- copieal oblervations have confirmed the ancient theory concerning ( h ) 43» ("X MTU ii<5 S I R I S. concerning generation, delivered in the Timaeus of Plato. But that theory or hypothecs, how agreeable foever to modern difcoveries, is not alone fufficient to explain the phenomena, without the immediate aclion of a mind. And Ficinus, notwithftanding what himfelf and other Platonics fay of a plaitic nature, is obliged to own, that with the mundane force or fcul it is to be underflcod, there is joined an intelligence, upon which the feminal nature conftantly depends, and by which it is governed. 284. Alcinous in his tracl of the doelrine of Plato faith that God hath given the world both mind and foul : others include both in the word foul, and iuppofe the foul of the world lo be God. Philo ap- pears to be of this opinion in feveral parts of his wri- tings. And Virgil, who was no ftranger to the Py- thagorsean and Platonic tenets writes to the fame pur* pofe. Deum tiamque ire per omnes Terras que tr&tlufque maris ccelumque p-sfundum. Hinc pecucies armcnta y *viros, genus omne fer arum. Quemque fihi tenuis nafeentem arcejfere njitas. Thus much the fchools of Plato and Pythagoras feen* agreed in, to wit, that the foul of the world (Z), whether having a diftincl mind of it's-xwn, or directed by a fuperior mind [c) t doth embrace all it's parts, conned them by an invifible andindiilbluble chain, arid prefer ve them ever well adjufted and in good order. 2S5. Naturalists, whofe proper province it is to Confider phenomena, experiments, mechanical organs and motions principally regard the viable frame of things or corporeal world, fuppofing foul to be con- tained in body. And thi3 hypothecs may be tolerated in phyfics, as it is not neceiTary in the art of dyalling or navigation to mention the true fyftem or earth's mo- tion. But thofe who, not content with fenfible ap- pearances, would penetrate into the real, and true cauftj- S I R I S. 117 caufes (the object of theology metaphyfics, or the pbilo/opbia prima) will rectify this errour, and fpeak of the world as contained by the foul, and not the foul by the world. 286. Aristotle hath obferved there were indeed fome who thought fo grofly, as to fuppofe the univerfe to be one only corporeal and extended nature : but in the fiift book of his metaphyfics he jully remarks they were guilty of a great miftake ; forafmuch as they took into their account the elements of corpo- real beings alone ; whereas there are incorporeal be- ings alfo in the univerfe ; and while they attempt to aflign the caufes of generation and corruption, and ac- count for the nature of all things, they did at the fame time deitrcy the very caufe of motion. 287. It is a doctrine among other fpeculations con- tained in the Hermaic writings, that all things are one. And it is not improbable that Orpheus, Parmenides, and others among the Greeks, might have derived their notion of 7? h the one from ^Egypt- Though that fubtil metaphyfician Parmenides, in his doctrine of eV leaf ftems to have added fomething of his own. If we fuppofe, that one and the fame mind is the univerfal principle of order and, harmony throughout the world, containing and connecting all ifs parts, and giving unity to the fyftem, there feems to be nothing atheiftical or impious in this fuppofition. 288. Number is no object of fenfe : it is an act of the mind. The fame thing in a different conception is one or many. Comprehending God and the creatures in one general notion, we may fay that all things together make one univerfe, or to nreiv- Put if we fhould fay, that all things make one God ; this would, indeed, be an erroneous notion of God, but would not amount to Atheifm, fo long as mind or intellect was admitted to be the 70 f)yiy.ov()tov, the governing part. It is neverthelefs more refpectful, and confequently the truer notion of God, to fuppofe him neither made up of parts, nor to be himfelf a part ©f any whole whatfoever. 289. All. nS S I R I S. 2.89. All thofe, who conceived the umverfe to be an anima 1 , mult in confequence of that notion, fup- pofe all things to be one. But to conceive God to be the fentient Soul, of an animal, is altogether unworthy and abfurd. There is no fenfe, nor fenfory, nor any thing like a fenfe or fenfory in God. Senie implies an impreifion from fome other being, and denotes a de- pendence in the Soul which hath it. Senfe is a paf- iion : and paflions imply imperfe&ion. God know- eth all things, as pure mind or intellect, but nothing by fenfe, nor in nor through a fenfory. Therefore to fuppofe a fenfory of any kind, whether fpace or any other in God would be very wrcng, and lead us into falfe conceptions of his nature. The prefuming there was fiich a thing as real abfolute uncreated fpace, fcems to have occasioned that modtrn miftake. But this preemption war, without grounds. 290. Body is oppofite to fpirit cr mind. We have a notion of fpi-rit from t 1 ought and a&ion. We have a no:ion of body from refiilance. So far forth as there is real power, there is fpirit. So far forth ae there i; refill. nee, there is inability or want of power. That is, there is a negation ot fpirit. We are em- bodied, that is, we are clogged by weight, and hin- dered by refinance. But in refpecl of a petfeel fpirit, there is nothing hard or impenetrable : there is no re- finance to the deity : Nor. hath he any Body : Nor is the fupreme being united to the work)* as the foul of an animal is to it's body, which neceiTarily im- plieth defeel, both as an inftrument and as a conitant weight and impediment. 29 1. Thus much it confifts with piety to fay, that a divine agent doth by his virtue permeate and govern the elementary fire or light (d) which ferves as ani- mal fpirit to enliven and actuate trie whole mafs, and all the members of this vifible world. Nor is this do&rine lefs philofophical than picus. We fee all na- ture aiive or in motion. We fee water turned into air, and air rarefied and made elaitic (e) by the attrac tian W- l 57> »/2. (0 H9> ML*> 20 °- S I R I 5. ii£ don of another medium, more pure indeed, more fubtil and more volatile than air. But fti!J, as this is a moveable extended and, confequemiy. a corporeal being, (/) it cannot be it felf the principal of motion, but leads us naturally and neccffarily to an incorporeal fpirit or agent. We are confcious that a fpirit can begin, alter, or determine motion, but nothing of this appears in body. Nay, the contrary is evident, both to experiment and reflection. 292. Natural phenomena are only natural ap- pearances. They are, therefore, fuch as we fee and perceive them. Their real and objective natures are, therefore, the fame; palTive without any thing active, fluent and changing without any thing permanent in them. However, as thefe make the firil impreffions, and the mind takes her firil flight and fpring, as it were, by refling her foot on thefe objects, they are not only fitft confidercd by all men, but mod confidered by moll men. They and the phantomes that refult from thofe appearances, the children of imagination grafted upon fcnfe, fuch for example as pure fpace ( i ) are thought by many the very fir ft in exigence and {labili- ty, and to embrace and comprehend all other beings. 293. Now although fuch phantomes as corporeal forces, abfolute motions, and real fpaces, do pafs in phyfics for caufes and principles (g ), yet are they in truth but hypothefes, nor can they be the objects of real fcience. They pafs neverthelefs in phyfics con- verfant about things of fenfe, and confined to experi- ments and mechanics. But when we enter the province cf the pbllofophia prima, . we difcover another order of being?, mind and it's acts, permanent being, not de- pendent on corporeal things, nor refuldng, nor connect- ed, nor contained; but containing, connecting, enlive- ning the whole frame ; and imparting thofe morions, forms, qualities, and that order and fymetry to :-ll thofe tranfient phenomena, which we term the courfe of nature. 294. It if) 207. ( i ) 270. (g) 220, 249, 250. no S I R I S. 294. It is with our faculties as with our affections : what firft feizes holds fall (a). It is a vulgar theme, that man is a cdmpound of contrarieties, which breed a reftlefs ftruggle in his nature, between flefh and fpirit, the beafl and the angel, earth and heaven, ever weigh- ed down and ever bearing up. During which conflict the character fluctuates: when either iide prevails, it is then fixed for vice or virtue. And Life from differ- ent principles takes a different iifue. It is the fame in regard to our faculties. Senfe at firft befets and over- bears the mind. The fenfible appearances are all in all : our reafonings are employed about them: our defires terminate in them : we look no farther for realities or caufesj till intellect begins to dawn, and caft a ray on this fhadowy fcene. We then perceive the true prin- ciple of unity, identity, and exiftence. Thofe things that before feemed to conftitute the whole of being, upon taking an intellectual view of thing.% prove to bs but fleeting phantomes. 295. From the outward form of grofs ma/Fes which occ'upy the vulgar, a curious enquirer proceeds to ex- amine the inward ftructure and minute parts, and from obferving the motions in nature, to difcover the laws of thofe motions. By the way, he frames his hypothe- cs and fuits his language to this natural philofophy. And thefe fit the occafion and anfvver the end of a mak- er of experiments or mechanic, who means only to ap- ply the powers of nature, and reduce the phenomena to rules. But, if proceeding fliil in his analyfis and inquiry, he afcends from the fenfible into the intellectu- al world, and beholds things in a new light and a new order. He will then change his fyftem and perceive, that what he took for fubttunces and caufes are but fleet- ing fhadows ; that the mind contains all, and ads all, and is to all created beings the fource of unity and identity, harmony and order, exiftence and usability. 296. It is neither acid, nor fair, nor fulphur, nor air, nor aether, nor vifible corporeal fire [b), much lefs the phantome, fate, or neceifity, that is the real agent, but («)*64. (^J 155. S I R I S. I2i but by a certain analyfis, a regular connexion and cli- max, we alctnd urough all thofe mediums to a glympfe of the firiV mover, invifible, incorporeal, unextended, intellectual fource of life and being. There is, it mull be owned, a mixture of obfcurity and prejudice in hu- i -.ne fpeech and reafonings. This is unavoidable, i ce the veils of prejudice and errour are flowly and i gly taken off one by one. But if there are many links in the chain which conne&s the two extremes of what is grcfly fenfible and purely intelligible, and it feem a tedious work, by the flow helps of memory, i- magination, and reafon, oppreffed and overwhelmed, as we are, by the fenfes, through erroneous principles and long ambages of words and notions, to ftruggle up- wards into the light of Truth, yet as this gradually dawns, fui ther difcoveries Hill correct the ilyle and clear up the notions. 297. The mind, hor acts, and faculties, furnifii a. new and diftinct ciafs oPobjects (c ), from the contem- plation whereof arife certain other notions, principles, and verities, fo remote from, and even fo repugnant to, the firft prejudices which furprife thefenfe of mankind, that they may well be excluded from vulgar fpeech and books, as abiiract from fenfible matters, and more fit for the Speculation of Truch, the labour and aim of a few, than for the practice of the wcvrld, or the fub- jects of experimental or mechanical inquiry. Never- thelefs though, perhaps, it may not be relilhed by fome modern readers, yet the treating in phyfical books con- cerning metaphyiical and divine matters can be juitihed by great authorities among the ancients: not to men- tion, that he, who profefTetily dehvers the elements of a fcience, is more obliged to method and fyitem, and tyea down to more rigorous laws, than a mere eiTiy writer. It may, therefore, be pardoned if this rude eil.y dQth, by in fenfible tranfuions, draw the reader in- to remote inquiries and Ipeculations, that were not though; of, either by him cr by the author, at firft fctting out. L -29s* There (c) 163, 266. im S I R I S. 298. There are traces of profound thought as well as primeval tradition in the Platonic, Pythagorean, JE- gyptian, and Chaklaic phylofophy (p). Men in thofe early days were not overlaid with languages and litera- ture. Their minds feem to have been more exercifed, and lefs burthened, than in later ages; and, as fo much nearer the beginning of the world, to have had the ad- vantage of patriarchal lights handed down through a few hands. It cannot indeed be affirmed (how proba- ble foevcr it may feem) that Mofes was that fame Mo- chas, with whole lucceilors, prie£s and prophets, Py- thagoras is faid to have converted at Sidon. Yet the ftudy cf philofophy appears to be of very great anti- quity and remote original; inafmuch as Timasus Locrenfis; that ancient Pythagorean, author of the beok concerning the foul of the world, fpeaks of a molt ancient philofophy, even in his time, d 7Tfii ix&ipw auMAyw y.eo. 306. In the ancient philofophy of Plato and Py- thagoras, we find dillinguiftied three forts of objects : In the firll place a form or fpecies that is neither g^> nerated nor deflroy'd, unchangeable, invifible, and al- together imperceptible to fenfe, being only understood by the intellect. A fecond fore there is ever fluent and changing (g), generating and perifhing, appearing and vanilhing. This is comprehended by fenfe and o<- pirsion. The third kind is matter which, as Plato teacheth, being neither an object of understanding nor of fenfe, is hardly to be made out by a certain fp'iri- ous way of reafoning MyKTfj.Z rm vo'Qa y.oyif ifi&y* See his Timzsas. The fame doctrine is contained m the Pychagoric treatife de anima muudi, which diitin- gui thing ideas, fenfible things, and matter, maket.h the kit 10 be apprehended by intellect, the fecond by feafo* L 3 »n& is) *r-> 293- ti<5 S I R I S. and the laft, to wit, matter, \syurucS v$u. Where- of Themiftius the Peripa.etic affigns the reafon. For, faith he, that act is tob' eiteemed ipurious, whofe ob- ject hath nothing politive, being only a mere privation, as filence or darknefs. An i fuch he accounteth mat- ter. 307. Aristotle maketh a threefold diftinclion of obje&s according to the three fp culntive fciences. Phyfics he fuppoferh to be cmverfant about fuch things as have a principle of motion in themfelves, mathe- matics about things permanent but not abitracted, and theology about being abftracted and immoveable, which diftinction may be feen in the ninth book of his metaph>fics. Where by abftracled, ^a^/roy, he un- .derftands feparable from corporeal beings and fenfible qualities. 308. That philofopher held that the mind of man was a tabula rafa, and that there were no innate ideas. Plato, on the contrary, held original ideas in the mind, that is, notions which never were or can be in the fenfe, fuch as being, beauty, goodnefs, likenefs, parity. Some perhaps may think the truth to be this: that there are properly no ideas or pamVe objects in the mind, but what were derived from fenfe : but that there are alfo befides thefe her own acts or operations : £uch are notions. 309. It is a maxim of the Platonic philofophy, that the foul of man was originally furnifned with na- tive inbred notions, and Hands in need of fenfible oc- cafions, not abfolutely for producing them, but only for awakening, roufing or exciting, into act what was already preexiilent, dormant, and latent in the foul; as things are faid to be laid up in the memory, though not actually perceived, until they happen to be called forth and brought into view by other objects. This notion feemeth fomewbat different from that of innate ideas, as underftood by thofe moderns who have at- tempted to explode them. To underfland and to be, are according to Parmenides the fame thing. And Plato S I R I S. 127 Plato in his feventh letter makes no difference between y»V and \irm^, mind and knowledge. Whence it follows that mind, knowledge, and notions, either in habit or in act, always go together. 310. And albeit Ariftotle confidered the foul in it's original Hate as a blank paper, yet he held it to be the proper place of forms. ?w *\>v%jiv ^vtLt t'o7tqv hfcov (a). Which doctrine firft maintained by others he admits, under this reftriction, that it is not to be underftood of the whole foul bu; only of the foh7/*»; as is to be feen in his third book de anima. Whence, according to Themiftius in his commentary on that treadle, it may be inferred that all beings are in the foul. For, faith he, the forms are the beings. By the form every thing is what it is. And he adds, it is the foul that imparteth forms to matter j Tm vKnv fjiofO&Hra, iroi'iiKctii /aofpa/<. Therefore they are hrit in the fouJ. He farther adds, that the mind is all things, taking the forms of all things it becomes all things by intellect and fenfe. Alexander Aphrodifseus faith as much, affirming the mind to be all things KtiTcii rs 70 vouv net) 7* cii<&divz£rcu. And this in fact is Ariftotle's own doctrine in his third book de anima, where he alfo afierts, with Plato, that actual knowledge and the thing known are all one. ri duiz <^e ish n k&\* ivif yndcv iTi^dun ra Tfeiy.ctyTi. Whence it follows that the things are where the knowledge is, that is to fay, in the mind. Or, as it is otherwife ex- prefled, that the foul is all things. More might be Jaid to explain Ariftotle's notion, but it would lead too far. 311. As to an abfolute actual exiftence (b) of fen- fible or corporeal things, it doth not feem to have been admitted either by Plato or Ariitotle. In the Thtse- tetus we are told, that if any one faith a thing is or is made, he muft withal fay, for what, or of what, or in refpect of what, it is or is made ; for, that any thing mould exiil in it felf or abfolutely is abfurd. Agreeably (a) 269. {b) 264, 292, 294. ia8 S I R I S. Agreeably to which doctrine it is alfo farther affirmed by Plato, that it is impoftible a thing (hould be fweet and fweet to nobody. It mull neverthelefs be owned with regard to Ariftotle, that, even in his metaphyfics there are fome expreflions which feem to favour the abfolute exiftence of corporeal things. For inftance, in the eleventh book (peaking of corporeal fenfible things, what wonder, faith he, if they never appear to us the fame, no more than to fee lick men. fince we are always changing and never remain the fame our felves ? and again, he faith, fenfible things, although they receive no change in them felves, do nevertheless in fick perfons produce different fenfations and not the fame. Thefe pafTages would feem to imply a diftincl and abfolute exiftence of the objects of fenfe. 312. But it mult be obferved, that Ariftotle dif- tinguifneth a twofold exiftence potential and actual. It will not, therefore,, follow that, according to Ariflotle, becaufe a thing is, it mult actually exift. This is evi- dent from the eighth book of his metaphyfics, where he animadverts on the Megaric philofophers, as not admitting a poftible exiftence diriinct from the adual : from whence, faith he, it muft follow, that there is no^ thing cold or hot or fweet or any fenfible thing at all, where there is no perception. He adds, that in con- sequence of that Alegaric doctrine, we can have no ienfe but while we actually exert it : we are blind when we do not fee, and therefore both blind and deaf feve:al times in a day. 313. The lvTiKiyjria.1 tqcotcli of the Peripatetics* that is, the fciences arts and habits, were by them dif- tinguifhed from the acts or v/TiKi-yeiisL J^ut^*,, and fuppofed to exift in the mind, though not exerted Of put into act- This feems to iiluftrate the manner in which Socrates, Plato, and their followers conceive innate (c) notions to be in the foul of man. It was the Platonic doctrine, that humane fouls or mind, de- fended from above, and were fowed in generation, ui.i foey were {tunned, ftupified, and intoxicated by this defeng 0) 3°9. S I R I S. 129 defcent and immerfion into animal nature. And that the foul, in this Mff*f< God produced it by a fepatation from all fubilanee, eiTence or being, d?ro gug-i'ot\)to<; dirofti&iio-iK vkqtyi7o<;. That matter is actually nothing, but poten- tially all things, is the docTriue of Ariilotle, Theo- phrailus, and all the antient Peripatetics. ■ (<} 309, 314- 318. Ac. S I R. I S. 131 318. Accoring to thofe Philofophers, matter is only a pura potentia y a mere poflibility. But Anaxi- mander, fucceffor to Thales, is represented as having thought the fupreme deity to be infinite matter. Ne- verthelefs though Plutarch calleth it matter, yet it was iimply 70 aVs/for, which means no more than infi- nite or indefinite. And although the moderns teach that fpace is real and infinitely extended : yet if we confider that it is no intellectual notion, nor yet per- ceived by any of our fenfes, we fhall perhaps be in- clined to think with Plato in his Timzeus, that this atfo is the refult of hoyivixls v'Sos or fpurious rea- foningj and a kind of waking dream. Plato ob- ferves that we dream, as it were, when we think of place, and believe it necefiary, that whatever exifts fhould exiit. in fome place. Which place or fpace (f) he alfo obferves is uit* a.vdL£r-A