KOVUM ORGANUM 441 



the earth's motion), and besides, does not satisfactorily account 

 for the tide taking place every six hours. 



An example of our present point (the relative measure of 

 motion), and, at the same time, of its remarkable use of which 

 we have spoken, is conspicuous in mines filled with gunpowder, 

 where immense weights of earth, buildings, and the like, are 

 overthrown and prostrated by a small quantity of powder ; the 

 reason of which is decidedly this, that the motion of the expan- 

 sion of the gunpowder is much more rapid than that of gravity, 

 which would resist it, so that the former has terminated before 

 the latter has commenced. Hence, also, in missiles, a strong 

 blow will not carry them so far as a sharp and rapid one. Nor 

 could a small portion of animal spirit in animals, especially in 

 such vast bodies as those of the whale and elephant, have ever 

 bent or directed such a mass of body, were it not owing to the 

 velocity of the former, and the slowness of the latter in resisting 

 its motion. 



In short, this point is one of the principal foundations of the 

 magic experiments (of which we shall presently speak), where 

 a small mass of matter overcomes and regulates a much larger, 

 if there but be an anticipation of motion, by the velocity of one 

 before the other is prepared to act. 



Finally, the point of the first and last should be observed 

 in all natural actions. Thus, in an infusion of rhubarb the pur- 

 gative property is first extracted, and then the as.tringent ; we 

 have experienced something of the same kind in steeping violets 

 in vinegar, which first extracts the sweet and delicate odor of 

 the flower, and then the more earthy part, which disturbs the 

 perfume ; so that if the violets be steeped a whole day, a much 

 fainter perfume is extracted than if they were steeped for a 

 quarter of an hour only, and then taken out; and since the 

 odoriferous spirit in the violet is not abundant, let other and 

 fresh violets be steeped in the vinegar every quarter of an hour, 

 as many as six times, when the infusion becomes so strength- 

 en rd, that although the violets have not altogether remained 

 there for more than one hour and a half, there remains a most 

 pleasing perfume, not inferior to the flower itself, for a whole 

 year. It must be observed, however, that the perfume does not 

 acquire its full strength, till about a month after the infusion. 

 In the distillation of aromatic plants macerated in spirits of 

 wine, it is well known that an aqueous and useless phlegm rises 

 first, then water containing more of the spirit, and lastly, water 

 containing more of the aroma; and many observations of the 

 like kind, well worthy of notice, are to be made in distillations. 

 But let these suffice as examples. 



47. In the twenty-third rank of prerogative instances we will 

 place instances of quantity, which we are also wont to call the 



