Treatife of BODIES. Chap.i7. 



then dry bodies are; efpecially when it is prcfled; for then it will 

 be divided in:o very little parts, and will fill up every little 

 chink; and neveithelefle if it be of a groffe and viicuous nature, 

 all the parts of it will flick together. Out of thefe two proper- 

 ties we bave,that fince every body hath a kind of orb of its own 

 exhalations, or vapours round about it felf ( as is before decla- 

 red,) the vapours which are about one of the bodies, will more 

 ftrongly and (blidly (that is,in more abundant & greater parts) 

 enter into the pores of the other body againft which it is preflcd 

 when they are opened and dilated : and thus they becoming 

 common to both bodies, by flowing from the one, and ftream- 

 ing into the other, and flicking to them both will make them 

 flick to one another. And then as they grow cold and dry^thefc 

 little parts fhrink on both fides ; and by their flirinking draw 

 the bodies together; and vvithall do leave greater pores by their 

 being comprefled together, then were there when by heat and 

 inoyfliire they were dilated; into which pores the circumftant 

 cold parts do cnter> and thereby do as it were wedge in the o- 

 thers; and confequently do make them hoJd firmly together the 

 bodies which they joyn. 



B^t if art or nature fhould apply to this juncture any liquour 

 or vapour, which had the nature and power to infinuate it felf 

 more efficacioufly to one of thefe bodies , tlien the glew which 

 was between them did; ofneceflity in this cafe thcfc bodies mutt 

 fall in pieces. And fo it happeneth in the feparation of metalls 

 by corrofive waters; as alfoin the precipitation of metalls or of 

 falts when they arediflblved in fuch corrofive waters, by means 

 of other metalls or falts of a different nature: in both which ca- 

 fes the entrance ofa latter body that penetrateth more ftrongly 

 and uniteth it felf to one of tke joyned bodies but not to the o- 

 ther, teareth them afunder, and that which the piercing body 

 rejcfteth, falleth into little pieces; and if formerly it were joyn- 

 ines can- ec ^ w ^ l ^ e ^Sl Uour >i t ls then precipitated down from it in a duft 

 noc be the rea- Out of which difcourfe we may refolve the queflion of that 

 iTpSa7cd e to learned and ingenious man Petrus Gaifendus; who by experi- 

 thcfufiwith ence found, that water impregnated to fulnclTe with ordinary 



one kind of lalt. r i . j . /- i / f j i 



\viiinotwich- lalt, would yet receive a quantity of other laJt; and when it 

 * ore of r a C< ? ve wou ^ imbibe no more of that, would ncverthcieflc take into it 

 ther. a proportion of a third; and fo of fcvcrall kinds of falts one af- 



tt 



