234 OF SOUND AXD HEARIXG. 



of this kind come not thence, for that the pneumatical or 

 aerial parts of the tangible body communicate with the 

 outer air. 



Take a vessel of silver, and another of wood, full of 

 water; take a pair of iron tongs, and knap them in the 

 water in the vessels, at the distance of a thumb s breadth, 

 perhaps, or more, from the bottom : you shall hear the 

 sound of the tongs knapped in the vessel of silver much 

 more resounding than in the wooden one. Whereas if the 

 two vessels were empty, and you knapped the tongs at the 

 same distance, there should be little difference or none. 

 Whence it appears, first, that where is no air that can be 

 elided, but only water, sound is given ; next, that the sound 

 given by the percussion communicates better with the 

 vessel through water than through air. The mouth being 

 close shut, there is made a murmur (such as dumb persons 

 use to make) by the throat; if the nostrils likewise be fast 

 closed, no murmur can be made. Whence it appears, that 

 that sound by the throat is not effected, unless through 

 the opening which lies between the throat and the nostrils. 



OF THE CARRIAGE OF SOUNDS, AND THEIR DIRECTION 

 OR SPREADING; AND OF THE AREA WHICH SOUND 

 FILLS, TOGETHER AND SEVERALLY. 



All sound is diffused in a sphere from the place of the 

 percussion, and fills the whole area of this sphere to a 

 certain limit, upwards, downwards, sideways, and every 

 way. 



Throughout this orb the sound is loudest close to the 

 stroke ; thence, in the proportion of the distance, it grows 

 more faint, until it vanishes. The limits of this sphere 

 are extended some little by reason of the quickness of 

 hearing; yet is there something uttermost, whither, to the 

 most delicate sense, sound reaches not. 



There is something, I think, in the direction of the first 

 impulsion; for, if a man should stand in an open pulpit in 

 the fields, and shout, the voice, I judge, should be further 

 heard forwards from the speaker than behind. So if ord 

 nance, or an harquebuss be discharged, I judge that the 

 sound shall be further heard before the ordnance or harque 

 buss than behind it. 



Whether there be any thing in the ascension of sound 

 upwards, or in the descension of sound downwards, which 

 may further sound, or make it cease nearer, doth not 



