182 NATURAL HISTORY. 



therefore speak at large of bodies inflamed wholly 

 and immediately, without any wick to help the in 

 flammation. A spoonful of spirit of wine, a little 

 heated, was taken, and it burnt as long as came to a 

 hundred and sixteen pulses. The same quantity of 

 spirit of wine mixed with the sixth part of a spoon 

 ful of nitre, burnt but to the space of ninety-four 

 pulses. Mixed with the like quantity of bay-salt, 

 eighty-three pulses. Mixed with the like quantity 

 of gunpowder, which dissolved into a black water, 

 one hundred and ten pulses. A cube or pellet of 

 yellow wax was taken, as much as half the spirit of 

 wine, and set in the midst, and it burnt only to the 

 space of eighty-seven pulses. Mixed with the sixth 

 part of a spoonful of milk, it burnt to the space of 

 one hundred pulses; and the milk was curdled. 

 Mixed with the sixth part of a spoonful of water, it 

 burnt to the space of eighty-six pulses, with an equal 

 quantity of water, only to the space of four pulses. 

 A small pebble was laid in the midst, and the spirit 

 of wine burnt to the space of ninety-four pulses. A 

 piece of wood of the bigness of an arrow, and about 

 a ringer s length, was set up in the midst, and the 

 spirit of wine burnt to the space of ninety-four 

 pulses. So that the spirit of wine simple endured 

 the longest ; and the spirit of wine with the bay- 

 salt, and the equal quantity of water, were the 

 shortest. 



367. Consider well, whether the more speedy 

 going forth of the flame be caused by the greater 

 vigour of the flame in burning, or by the resistance 



