Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Part 40

The Books you have sent me over sea, I have not yet received: I wish, they were all translated into Latin; for I have not _English_ enough, to understand all particulars perfectly. For the rest, you have obliged me, by communicating the Observations of the last _Eclipse_ of the _Sun_, aswell those made in _England_, as those of _Paris_ and _Madrid_. That I may requite you in some measure, I send you my Observations both of _that_, and the _Moons_ last _Eclipse_. In the _Sun's Eclipse_, this is chiefly observable, That the _Semidiameter_ of the _Moon_ from the very beginning, to about 5. or 6. digits of the increasing _Phasis_ was much less than the _Rudolphin_ Account imports. For it was then almost equal to the _Semidiameter_ of the _Sun_: but, after the greatest Obscuration, when I again contemplated the _Moons Semidiameter_, I found it 8" or 9" bigger than that of the _Sun_; so that the _Semidiameter_ of the _Moon_ was not always, during this Eclipse, constant to it self. It will therefore be worth while, to be hereafter more diligent and curious in this particular, and accurately to observe in the _Phasis_ of each _Digit_ the _Proportion_ of the _Semidiameters_ of both Luminaries; to the end, that _first_ it may be made manifest, Whether in all the _Eclipses_ of the _Sun_, or in some only, that variation happens; _next_, that the Causes of such a _Phaenomenon_ may be diligently inquired into. Of this Variation, the Excellent _Ismael Bullialdus_ hath also observed something at _Paris_. For he has written to me, That in the same Eclipse the _Semidiam._ of the _Sun_ to the _Semid._ of the _Moon_ was, as 16'. 9". to 16'. 22"; but that in another {348} _Phasis_ of 6 _digits_, the Semidiameters appear'd equal.

These my Observations, if you think them worthy, you may communicate to other Mathematicians. The last year 1665. _July_ 27. (_st. n._) the _Tables_ did also indicate an Eclipse of the _Moon_: but though the Sky here was very cleer, yet the Moon was not at all obscured by the _true shadow_, but entred only a little into the _Penumbra_, wherein it continued 50'. The beginning of its touching the _Penumbra_ did then almost happen, when _Aquila_ was elevated 36 18'; which is an Example worthy to be noted.

I have many Observations of the _Eclipses_ of former years by me, which I could not yet make publick, by reason of the mult.i.tude of my business, which do almost over-whelm me. The Eclipse of the Moon of this Year 1666.

_June_ 16. (_st. n._) was observed from a Hill neer my Garden, to the end, that we might see both together the _Suns setting_, and the _Moon rising_.

But I was disappointed of my hopes: For very thick Exhalations, besieging the _Horizon_, where the Moon was to rise, unto 2. 30', hindred me from seeing the _Moon rise_, in the Article of the _setting_ of the _Sun_.

Wherefore the first _Phasis_ of 1. _dig_. 45'. did not appear but in the _Moons Alt.i.tude_ of 2. 30'; when the greatest Obscuration was already past. The _End_ fell out hor. 9. 27'. about 128 from the _Zenith_ Westward.

[Sidenote: * A Letter, written since from _Paris_, advertises, that some of the Curious there have received one of these Gla.s.ses of _Sr. Burattini_, and do esteem it to be good without mentioning the Dimension of it: which yet is look'd for by the next.]

I am very glad to understand, that you have so good _Telescopes_, as to make such considerable Observations in _Jupiter_ and _Mars_, as you have lately done in _England_. I have no leasure now, by reason of the Observations of the Fixt Stars, which I now almost constantly am employ'd about, to do any thing in the advancing of _Telescopes_. I am obliged to finish the _Catalogue_ of the _Fixt Stars_; having mean while the contentment to find, that many excellent persons labour about the Improvement of _Optick Gla.s.ses_. If I could get a good one of those of 60.

foot, you mention, at a reasonable rate, you would oblige me in sending me one; perhaps may I be so happy, as to make likewise some good discovery or other, by the help thereof. In the mean time, let me know, I pray, the Dimensions of those Gla.s.ses, and how they are to be managed. The ingenious _Burattini_ has not yet finisht his _Telescope_; as soon {349} as he hath, I shall acquaint you with it. * Before I conclude, I must give notice to the Lovers of _Astronomy_, that on the 24. of _September_ (st. n) of this year, I have observ'd that _New Star_ in _Pectore Cygni_ (which from the year 1662. untill this time hath been almost altogether hid) not only with my naked Eye, like a Star of the sixth or seventh Magnitude, but also with a very great _s.e.xtant_. It is still in the very same place of the Heavens, where it was formerly from _A._ 1601. to almost 1662. For, its Distance from _Scheat Pegasi_ hath been by me found 35. 51'. 20". and from _Marcab_, 43. 10'. 50"; which Distances (as I have found in my _Journal_) are altogether equal to those, which I observ'd _A._ 1658. the 1. of _November_. For the Distance from _Scheat_ at that time was 35. 51'. 20".

and from _Marcab_, 43. 10'. 25": where that former from _Scheat_ exactly answers to the recent; and that from _Marcab_, 'tis true, differs in a very few _Seconds_, but that disparity is of no moment, since it only proceeded from thence, that this _New Star_ is not yet so distinctly to be seen, as at that time, when it was of the _third Magnitude_. It is therefore certain, that it is the self same Star, which _Kepler_ did first see _A._ 1601. and continued untill _A._ 1662. But whether in time it will grow bigger and bigger, or be lost again, time will shew. He that will observe this Star, must take care, lest he mistake those three more _Southern_ ones, of the _Sixth Magnitude_, and now in a manner somewhat brighter (though not extant on the _Globe_) than the _New Star_ in _Collo Cygni_.

The highest of those three, is distant from _Scheat Pegasi_ 36. 25'. 45"; the middlemost from the same, 37. 25'. 20". and the lowest, 38. 4'. 30".

Farewell, and a.s.sure the Most Ill.u.s.trious _Royal Society_ of my humblest Services.

_So far Monsieur Heuelius_, whose accurate Calcul. of the _Solar Eclipses_ Duration, Quant.i.ty, &c. is intended to be fully represented the next Month, since it could not be conveniently done this time. The _annexed_ Papers follow.

_One_ is from Monsieur _Joh. Schefferus_, to this purpose.

1. That he is confident, the _Royal Society_ of _England_ will do much good for the advancement of usefull Knowledge.

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2. That he conceives _Amber_ to be a kind of _Fossil Pitch_, whole Veins lie at the bottom of the Sea; believing that it is hardned in tract of time, and by the motion of the Sea cast on sh.o.r.e: _He adds_, that hitherto it hath been believed, not to be found but in _Borussia_; but he a.s.sures, that it is also found in _Sueden_, on the sh.o.r.es of the Isle _Biorkoo_, in the Lake _Melero_, whose water is _sweet_. Of this, _he saith_, he hath a fine piece by him, two inches large and thick, presented him by one, that himself with his own hands had gathered it and several other pieces, on the sh.o.r.e of the said Island; affirming withall from the mouth of a Shepherd of that place, that it is thrown out by a strong Wind, bearing upon the sh.o.r.e.

3. That it is most certain, that _Swallows_ sink themselves towards Autumne into Lakes, no otherwise than _Frogs_; and that many have a.s.sured him of it, who had seen them drawn out with a Net together with Fishes, and put to the fire, and thereby revived.

4. That 'tis also very true, that many _Animals_ there grow white in Winter, and recover their own Colour in Summer. That himself hath seen and had _Hares_, which about the beginning of Winter and Spring were half white, and half of their native colour: that in the midst of winter he never saw any but all white. That _Foxes_ also are white in Winter; and _Squirrels_ grayish, mixt of dark and white colour.

5. That 'tis known there generally, that _Fishes_ are killed, by reason of the Ice not being broken: but _first_, in ponds only or narrow Lakes; _next_, in such Lakes only, where the Ice is pretty thick; for, where 'tis thin, they dye not so easily. _Lastly_, that those Fishes that lie in slimy or clayie ground, dye not so soon as others. But, _he adds_, that even in great Lakes, when 'tis a very bitter Frost, Ice is wont to be broken, either by the force of the Waves, or of the Imprisoned Vapors, raised by the agitation of the Water, and then bursting out with an impetuosity; witness the noise made by the rupture of the Ice through the whole length of such Lakes, which _he affirms_ to be not less terrible than if many guns went off together. Whereby it falls out, that Fishes are seldom found dead in great Lakes.

6. That neither Oyle, nor a strong Brine of Bay-Salt, is truly {351} congeal'd into Ice, in those parts, _Viz._ at _Upsall_ in _Sueden_.

7. That the Frost pierces into the Earth, two Cubits or _Swedish_ Ells; and what moisture is found in it, is white, like Ice: That Waters, if standing, freeze to a greater depth, even to three such Ells or more; but those that have a Current, less: That rapid Rivers freeze not at all; nor ever-bubling Springs; and that these latter seem even to be warmer in Winter, than Summer.

_So far this Observer_; who likewise offers his Services in giving an answer to the remaining _Queries_, and in entertaining a commerce in such other Philosophical matters, as he is conversant in.

_Another_ Paper written by Monsieur _Febre_, chief Secretary to Prince _Ratzivil_, contains these particulars;

1. That the College of the Learned in _Borussia_, finds it not so easie to resolve all those _Queries_ sent from _England_ to M. _Heuelius:_ but yet that they will try what may be done upon it.

2. That as for himself, he can a.s.sure from his own Experience concerning the Effects of Cold; _First_, That in the War against the _Muscovites_ and _Cosacks_, _A._ 1655. in _January_, in _White Russia_, at the Siege of _Biskow_, 30. Leagues from _Smolensko_, and three from _Morhilo_, near the River _Boristhenes_, when they had Quarter in a Village call'd _Bikau_, they were seized on with such a Frost, that all their Provisions of _Spanish_ Wines or _Petersimen_, and _Beere_, were in one Night frozen upon the Sleds, notwithstanding they were cover'd with Straw; in so much, that when next morning they would have drawn of those Liquors, they found all dry, and were constrain'd to carry them into a Stove, to thaw them; which they could not do in two whole days, and were obliged to break the Vessels, and put pieces of the Icy Wine into Kettles to thaw them over the Fire, for Drink: That they asked not for a Draught, but a _Morsel_ of Wine or Beer: That their Horses had no better cheer than themselves, as to matter of Drink; the Pond of the Village being so thoroughly frozen, that there was but very little Water left between the Ice and the bottom of the Pool; whereby the poor Beasts were forced to drink with great reverence, kneeling on the forefeet to thrust their heads into the holes, made for them in the Ice, and to suck thence some drops of Water; and that, if they had not had Snow to eat, there would have dyed a far greater {352} number of them, than there did. Moreover, that he observed, that the _Hungarian Wine_, of which they had a Tun, resisted the Cold better, than the _Peter Simen_; for it was not so much frozen; unless it be, that the Butler had more care of that, than the rest, by transporting it sooner into the Stove, when he found the excess of Cold. Again, that one presenting him in the March with some _Aqua-vitae_, the Scrue of the Flagon, put to his Mouth, stuck so close to his Lips, that he could not draw it off, without drawing bloud,

In a _third_ Paper, I find these particulars from the same M. _Febre_.

1. That a considerable person, one Dr. _Becker_, a great Lover of Curious Inquiries, has given him hopes to entertain this Philosophical Commerce.

2. That he hath seen men dye in _Poland_ and _Lithuania_ both of _Heat_ and _Cold_. And _first_, that _A._ 1653. in _July_, being with this present King of _Poland_ in march from _Leopoli_ to the Camp of _Glignani_, it was so furiously hot that day of their march, that it caused such an alteration in that Regiment of Foot, which was the Kings Guard, marching most of them bare-foot upon Sands, that more than an hundred of them fell down altogether disabled, whereof a dozen dyed out-right, without any other Sickness. _Secondly_, as to the Cold, that the frost was so bitter, that 3 Souldiers dyed of it, _A._ 1665. the 2. of _January_, in pa.s.sing a long Ditch: besides, that divers persons lost some of their Lims.

_The Success of the Experiment of Transfusing the Bloud of one Animal into another._

This experiment, hitherto look'd upon to be of an almost unsurmountable difficulty, hath been of late very successfully perform'd not only at _Oxford_, by the directions of that expert Anatomist Dr. _Lower_, but also in _London_, by order of the _R. Society_, at their publick meeting in _Gresham Colledge:_ the Description of the particulars whereof, and the _Method_ of Operation, is referred to the next Opportunity.

_Errata_ to be corrected in Number 18.

Pag. 311. line 18. read _marked_. p. 312. l. 35. r. _Sines_. ib. l. penult.

_Sines_. p. 313. l. 13. r. _Sines_. p. 316. l. 26. r. _that_ for _if_.

_London_, Printed for _John Crook_ neer the _Blew-Anchor_ in _Duck-lane_; and _Mose Pits_ at the _White-Hart_ in _Little-Britain_.

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_Numb._ 20.

PHILOSOPHICAL _TRANSACTIONS._

_Munday_, _December_ 17. 1666.

The Contents.

_The Method observed in _Transfusing the Bloud out of one live Animal into another_: And how this Experiment is like to be improved. Some Considerations concerning the same. An Accompt of some Sanative Waters in _Herefords.h.i.+re_. A farther Accompt of the _Vitriolate_ Water mention'd _Numb. 18_. together with some other particulars touching Waters. Inquiries for _Turky_. An Observation about Optick Gla.s.ses made of Rock-Crystal, communicated from _Italy_. A Relation of the Use of the Grain of _Kermes_ for _Coloration_, from _France_. An Accompt of some Books lately publisht, _vid. 1_. PINAX Rerum Naturalium BRITANNICARUM, continens VEGETABILIA, ANIMALIA & Fossilia ANGLIae, inchoatus; Auth. _Christophoro Merret_, M.D. _2_. PLACITA PHYLOSOPHICA _Guarini. 3_. GUSTUS ORGANUM per _Laurentium Bellini_ deprehensum._

The Method observed in _Transfusing the Bloud of one Animal into another._

This Method was promised in the last of these Papers. It was first practiced by Dr. _Lower_ in _Oxford_, and by him communicated to the Honourable _Robert Boyl_, who imparted it to the _Royal Society_, as follows;

First, Take up the _Carotidal_ Artery of the Dog or other Animal, whose Bloud is to be transfused into another of the {354} same or a different kind, and separate it from the Nerve of the _Eighth pair_, and lay it bare above an inch. Then make a strong Ligature on the _upper_ part of the Arterie, not to be untied again: but an inch below, _videl._ towards the Heart, make another Ligature of a _running_ knot, which may be loosen'd or fastned as there shall be occasion. Having made these two knots, draw two threds under the Artery between the Ligatures; and then open the Artery, and put in a Quil, and tie the Artery upon the Quill very fast by those two threds, and stop the Quill with a stick. After this, make bare the _Jugular_ Vein in the other Dog about an inch and a half long; and at each end make a Ligature with a running knot, and in the s.p.a.ce betwixt the two running knots drawn under the Vein two threds, as in the other: then make an Incision in the Vein, and put into it two Quills, one into the _descendent_ part of the Vein, to receive the bloud from the other Dog and carry it to the Heart; and the other Quill put into the other part of the _Jugular_ Vein, which comes from the Head (out of which, the second Dogs own bloud must run into Dishes.) These two Quills being put in and tied fast, stop them with a stick, till there be occasion to open them.

All things being thus prepar'd, the Dogs on their sides towards one another so conveniently, that the Quill may go into each other, (for the Dogs necks cannot be brought so near, but that you must put two or three several Quills more into the first two, to convey the bloud from one to another.) After that unstop the Quill that goes down into the first Dog's _Jugular_ Vein, and the other Quill coming out of the other Dog's Artery; and by the help of two or three other Quills, put into each other, according as there shall be occasion, insert them into one another. Then flip the running knots, and immediatly the bloud runs through the Quills, as through an Artery, very impetuosly. And immediately, as the bloud runs into the Dog, unstop the other Quill, coming out of the _upper_ part of his _Jugular_ Vein (a Ligature being first made about his Neck, or else his other _Jugular_ Vein being compress'd by ones Finger;) and let his own bloud run out at the same time into Dishes (yet not constantly, but according as you perceive him able to bear it) {355} till the other Dog begin to cry, and faint, and fall into Convulsions, and at last dye by his side.