QUESTIONS TOUCHING MINERALS. 405 



colour into which the liquor will turn. Above all it is 

 to be enquired, whether there be any menstruum to dis- 

 solve any metal, that is not fretting or corroding, and 

 openeth the body by sympathy, and not by mordacity 

 or violent penetration. 



For sprouting or branching, though it be a thing but 

 transitory, and a kind of toy or pleasure, yet there is a 

 more serious use of it ; for that it discovereth the del- 

 icate motions of spirits, when they put forth and can- 

 not get forth, like unto that which is in vegetables. 



For induration, or mollification ; it is to be enquired 

 what will make metals harder and harder, and what 

 will make them softer and softer. And this inquiry 

 tendeth to two ends : first, for use ; as to make iron 

 soft by the fire makes it malleable. Secondly, because 

 induration is a degree towards fixation, and mollifica- 

 tion towards volatility ; and therefore the inquiry of 

 them will give light towards the other. 



For tough and brittle, they are much of the same kind 

 but yet worthy of an inquiry apart, especially to join 

 hardness with toughness, as making glass malleable, &c. 

 and making blades strong to resist and pierce, and yet 

 not easy to break. 



For volatility and fixation. It is a principal branch 

 to be enquired : the utmost degree of fixation is that 

 whereon no fire will work, nor strong water joined with 

 fire, if there be any such fixation possible. The next 

 is, when fire simply will not work without strong wa- 

 ters. The next is by the test. The next is when it 

 will endure fire not blown, or such a strength of fire. 

 The next is when it will not endure, but yet is malle- 

 able. The next is when it is not malleable, but yet 

 is not fluent, but stupified. So of volatility, the ut- 



