THE NEW SCIENCE 25 



orix. ''Boyle, Henry More, Meric Casaubon, Baxter, Cudworth 

 all believed fully in witchcraft". 103 But even then all these be 

 liefs were considered vagaries. The influence of the new science 

 was consistently and strongly to destroy all such untenable and 

 undemonstrable theories. The quack doctor still continued to exist 

 and no doubt to flourish, but he was neither created nor nutured 

 by the new philosophy. What, indeed, could be more fatal to 

 medical chicanery than the requirement to explain by natural 

 causes the origin of diseases and their cures? In medicine, as in 

 Chemistry and Astronomy, false doctrines were being broken down. 

 What had been a secret and magical art was fast becoming an open 

 and sensible science. The most famous physician among the new 

 philosophers and the great exponent of commonsense in medical 

 practice undoubtedly was Sydenham. 



Mechanical inventions were always included within the realm 

 of scientific investigation. There were two reasons for this; first, 

 because these inventions were for the most part laboratory appara 

 tus or the direct result of laboratory experiments ; second, because 

 the Royal Society had specifically declared its intention "to im 

 prove all useful Arts, Manufactures, Mechanick Practices, Engynes 

 and Inventions by Experiments". 104 They were satirically known 

 as ' i Physico-Mechanical Inventions". 105 The list is not an un 

 worthy one; indeed, surprises one in its extent. To this period 

 should be attributed the improved telescopes for the new methods 

 of grinding glasses revolutionized this invention. The microscope 

 belongs here for the same reason; the Torricellian barometer was 

 at this time first understood and used; a primitive thermometer 

 came out of the experiments with mercury; the compass was im 

 proved; the pendulum clock was made so as to avoid variations on 

 the sea ; the spring clock was invented ; a magic lantern of a crude 

 sort was made ; the air-pump was contrived by Robert Hooke under 

 the direction of Boyle ; asbestos was manufactured ; and a weaving 

 loom was constructed. 106 Both Wilkins and Hooke thought they 



103 Owen, J., Glanvil's Scepsis Scientifica, Introd., p. XLIV. 



10 * Supra, p. 6. 



106 Shadwell, Thomas, The Virtuoso, Act. I. sc. 1. 



vxphil. Trans. Mar. 6, 1665; June 5, 1665 (M. Auzout, On Telescopes); Feb. 12, 

 1666 (Barometer) ; Oct., 1798 (Magic Lanthorn) ; March 11, 1666 (rarifying engyn) ; 

 also, Nov. 22, 1675; Dec. 27, 1675; Feb. 21, 1676; Aug.-July, 1678. Savory's steam 

 engine doubtless belongs here in the list (1698). 



