Again, the conceit is ill contrived, and one effect inferred, whereas the contrary will ensue; for, if the removing of one of the needles from A to B should have any action or influ ence on the other, it would not entice it from A to B, but repel it from A to Z; for needles excited by the same point of the stone do not attract, but avoid each other, even as these also do, when their invigorated extremes approach unto one another.

Lastly, were this conceit assuredly true, yet were it not

business, which was, that after dinner I took the garter out of the water, and put it to dry, but Mr. Howel's servant came running, that his master felt as much burning as ever he had done, if not more, for the heat was such as if his hands were twixt coals of fire: I answered, that although that happened at present, yet he should find ease in a short time; for I knew the reason of this new accident, and I would provide accordingly, for his master should be free from that inflammation, it may be, before he could possibly return unto him: but in case he found no ease, I wished him to come presently back again, if not, he might forbear coming. Thereupon he went, and at the instant I did put again the garter into the water, thereupon he found his master without any pain at all. To be brief, there was no sense of pain afterward; but within five or six days the wounds were cicatrized and entirely healed."

Dr. Bostock, in his remarks on the sympathetic powder, seems to have somewhat misstated the modus operandi laid down in the aforesaid trea tise, which he justly characterises as "exemplifying admirably the mode of philosophising that was fashionable in the earlier part of the seventeenth century." He says, "Every one who is acquainted with the history of sur gery is acquainted with the sympathetic powder, which, about the middle of the seventeenth century, engaged the notice and received the sanction of the most learned men of the age. This celebrated remedy derived its virtues not from its composition, but from the mode of its application, for it was not to be applied to the wound, but to the weapon by which the wound was inflicted; the wound was ordered to be merely closed up, and was taken no further care of. Most men of sense, indeed, ridiculed the proposal, but after being fully tried, it was found that the sympathetic mode of treating wounds was more successful than those plans which proceeded upon what were considered scientific principles; and it continued to gain ground in the public estimation, until at length some innovator ventured to try the experiment of closing up the wound without applying the sympathetic powder to the sword. Wiseman, who wrote about fifty or sixty years after the introduction of this mysterious operation by Sir Kenelm Digby, in describing the importance of keeping the divided parts in union, says, "for here nature will act her part, by the application of blood and nourishment to both sides indifferently, and finish the coalities without your further assistance. And this is that which gives such credit to the sympathetic powder."-Elements of Phy siology, vol. i. p. 448.

a conclusion at every distance to be tried by every head; it being no ordinary or almanack business, but a problem mathematical, to find out the difference of hours in different places; nor do the wisest exactly satisfy themselves in all. For the hours of several places anticipate each other, according unto their longitudes, which are not exactly discovered of every place; and therefore the trial hereof, at a considerable interval, is best performed at the distance of the antoci-that is, such habitations as have the same meridian and equal parallel on different sides of the equator; or, more plainly, the same longitude, and the same latitude unto the south, which we have in the north. For, unto such situations, it is noon and midnight at the very samé time.

And therefore, the sympathy of these needles is much of the same mould with that intelligence which is pretended from the flesh of one body transmuted by incision into another. For, if by the art of Taliacotius,* a permutation of flesh, or transmutation be made from one man's body into another, as, if a piece of flesh be exchanged from the bicipital muscle of either party's arm, and about them both an alphabet circumscribed, upon a time appointed, as some conceptions affirm, they may communicate at what distance soever. For, if the one shall prick himself in A, the other at the same time will have a sense thereof in the same part, and, upon inspection of his arm, perceive what letters the other points out in his. Which is a way of intelligence very strange, and would requite the lost art of Pythagoras, who could read a reverse in the moon.

Now this magnetical conceit, how strange soever, might have some original in reason; for men, observing no solid body whatsoever did interrupt its action, might be induced to believe no distance would terminate the same; and most, conceiving it pointed unto the pole of heaven, might also opinion that nothing between could restrain it. Whosoever was the author, the Eolus that blew it about was Famianus Strada, that elegant Jesuit, in his rhetorical prolusions, who chose out this subject to express the stile of Lucretius. But neither Baptista Porta, De Furtivis Literarum notis, Trithemius, in his Steganography, Selenus, in his Cryptography,

* De Curtorum Chirurgia.

nor Nuncius inanimatus,* make any consideration hereof, although they deliver many ways to communicate thoughts at distance. And this we will not deny may in some manner be affected by the loadstone, that is, from one room into another, by placing a table in the wall common unto both, and writing thereon the same letters one against another; for, upon the approach of a vigorous loadstone unto a letter on this side, the needle will move unto the same on the other. But this is a very different way from ours at present; and hereof there are many ways delivered, and more may be discovered, which contradict not the rule of its operations.

As for Unguentum Armarium, called also Magneticum, it belongs not to this discourse, it neither having the loadstone for its ingredient, nor any one of its actions; but supposed other principles, as common and universal spirits, which convey the action of the remedy unto the part, and conjoins the virtue of bodies far disjoined. But perhaps the cures it doth are not worth so mighty principles; it commonly healing but simple wounds, and such as, mundified and kept clean, do need no other hand than that of nature, and the balsam of the proper part. Unto which effect, there being fields of medicines, it may be a hazardous curiosity to rely on this; and, because men say the effect doth generally follow, it might be worth the experiment to try, whether the same will not ensue, upon the same method of cure, by or dinary balsams, or common vulnerary plasters.

Many other magnetisms may be pretended, and the like attractions through all the creatures of nature. Whether the same be verified in the action of the sun upon inferior bodies, whether there be Æolian magnets, whether the flux and reflux of the sea be caused by any magnetism from the moon, whether the like be really made out, or rather metaphorically verified in the sympathies of plants and animals, might afford a large dispute; and Kircherus, in his Catena Magnetica, hath excellently discussed the same; which work came late unto our hand, but might have much advantaged this discourse.5

Other discourses there might be made of the loadstone, as moral, mystical, theological; and some have handsomely * By D. Goodwin, Bishop of Hereford.

5 Many other, &c.] Added in the 2nd edition.

done them, as Ambrose, Austine, Gulielmus Parisiensis, and many more; but these fall under no rule, and are as boundless as men's inventions. And, though honest minds do glorify God hereby, yet do they most powerfully magnify him, and are to be looked on with another eye, who demonstratively set forth its magnalities; who not from postulated or precarious inferences entreat a courteous assent, but from experiments and undeniable effects enforce the wonder of its maker.

CHAPTER IV.

Of Bodies Electrical.

HAVING thus spoken of the loadstone and bodies magnetical, I shall, in the next place, deliver somewhat of electrical, and such as may seem to have attraction like the other. Hereof we shall also deliver what particularly spoken or not generally known is manifestly or probably true, what generally believed is also false or dubious. Now, by electrical bodies I understand, not such as are metallical, mentioned by Pliny and the ancients, for their electrum was a mixture made of gold, with the addition of a fifth part of silver-a substance now as unknown as true aurichalcum, or Corinthian brass, and set down among things lost by Pancirollus; nor by electric bodies do I conceive such only as take up shavings, straws, and light bodies (in which number the ancients only placed jet and amber); but such as, conveniently placed unto their objects, attract all bodies palpable whatsoever. I say conveniently placed, that is, in regard of the object, that it be not too ponderous, or any way affixed: in regard of the agent, that it be not foul or sullied, but wiped, rubbed, and excitated; in regard of both, that they be conveniently distant, and no impediment interposed. I say, all bodies palpable, thereby excluding fire, which indeed it will not attract, nor yet draw through it; for fire consumes its effluxions by which it should attract.

Now, although in this rank but two were commonly mentioned by the ancients, Gilbertus discovereth many more; as diamonds, sapphires, carbuncles, iris, opals, amethysts, beryl, crystal, Bristol stones, sulphur, mastic, hard wax, hard resin,

arsenic, sal-gemma, roche alum, common glass, stibium, or glass of antimony, Unto these, Cabeus addeth white wax, gum elemi, gum guaiaci, pix hispanica, and gypsum. And unto these we add gum animi, benjamin talcum, china-dishes, sandaraca, turpentine, styrax liquida, and caranna dried into a hard consistence.6 And the same attraction we find not only in simple bodies, but such as are much compounded: as in the oxycroceum plaster, and obscurely that ad herniam and gratia Dei; all which, smooth and rightly prepared, will discover a sufficient power to stir the needle, settled freely upon a well pointed pin; and so as the electric may be ap plied unto it without all disadvantage.

But the attraction of these electrics we observe to be very different. Resinous or unctuous bodies, and such as will flame, attract most vigorously, and most thereof without frication; as animi, benjamin, and most powerfully good hard wax, which will convert the needle almost as actively as the loadstone. And we believe that all, or most of this substance, if reduced to hardness, tralucency, or clearness, would have some attractive quality. But juices concrete, or gums easily dissolving in water, draw not at all; as aloe, opium, sanguis draconis, lacca, galbanum, sagapenum. Many stones also, both precious and vulgar, although terse and smooth, have not this power attractive: as emeralds, pearl, jaspis, cornelians, agate, heliotropes, marble, alabaster, touchstone, flint, and bezoar. Glass attracts but weakly, though clear; some slick stones, and thick glasses indifferently; arsenic but weakly; so likewise glass of antimony; but crocus metallorums not at all. Salts generally, but weakly; as sal gemma, alum, and also talc; not very discoverably by any frication; but, if gently warmed at the fire, and wiped with a dry cloth, they will better discover their electricities.

• And unto these we add gum animi, &c.] The author is perfectly correct in adding (evidently from his own experiments) these substances to the list of electrics. The "compounded bodies," which he next mentions, derive their electrical properties chiefly from the resin or wax which they contain.-Br.

7 slick.] Smooth.

8

crocus metallorum.] And yet (which is the more to be enquired) crocus martis, which hath much affinitye to, and his first original from iron, should in common reason attract more than any of the other.-Wr.