232 OF SOUND AND HEARING. 



OF THE ACCESSORY AIDS AND IMPEDIMENTS OF SOUND; 

 OF THE STAY OF SOUND; AND THE DIVERSITY OF 

 MEDIUMS. 



I remember in a chamber in Cambridge that was some 

 thing ruinous, that a pillar of iron was erected for a prop, 

 of the thickness perhaps of a thumb s breadth and an half; 

 and that this pillar, being struck with a stick or otherwise, 

 made a little flat noise in the chamber wherein the pillar 

 stood, but in the chamber beneath a resounding boom. 



To inquire, which bodies, and of what solidity and 

 thickness, altogether debar and shut out sound ; as, also, 

 which more or less dull, although they intercept it not 

 wholly. For as yet is it not known which mediums inter 

 posed be more propitious, which more adverse. Therefore 

 let there be trial made in gold, stone, glass, cloth, water, 

 oil, and of the thickness of each. Hereof is all need to 

 inquire further. 



Air is the aptest, and, as it were, the sole medium of 

 sound. Again, the moister air (I judge) better conveyeth 

 sound than the drier; but in a fog what happeneth I 

 remember not. Also the night air better than by day ; 

 but this can be ascribed to the silence. 



Inquire touching the medium of flame, what its opera 

 tion shall be in respect of sound ; whether, to wit, a flame 

 of some thickness altogether stop and intercept sound, or 

 at least deaden it more than the air. This can be seen in 

 bonfires. 



Also to inquire concerning the medium of air vehemently 

 agitated. For although wind carry sound, yet I deem that 

 any vehement wind doth somewhat trouble sound, so as it 

 shall be heard less far, even with the wind, than in still 

 weather, of which let there be more inquiry made. 



To see what sound brass or iron, red hot, yields, struck 

 with a hammer, compared to that which it gives cold. 



OF THE PENETRATION OF SOUNDS. 



The aetites, or eagle stone, hath like a kernel or yolk of 

 the stone, which being shaken makes a flat sound ; so an 

 hawk s bell [stopped], but a much clearer if there be a 

 chink. 



Let inquiry be made of divers, if they hear at all under 

 water, especially that is of any deepness ; and let this be 



