VOL. I.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 5^ 



3. He adds, that although Galen and many modern physicians affirm, that 

 there is nothing which causeth so much thirst as viper's flesh, yet he hath ex- 

 perienced the contrary. 



4. There is no purging virtue at all (he asserts) in the salt of vipers, which 

 some chemists have held in such high esteem. 



5. He denies what Aristotle asserts, and what Galen says he so often tried, 

 that the spittle of a fasting person kills vipers, and ridicules many other particu- 

 lars concerning the antipathy of vipers unto certain things, their manner of con- 

 ception and generation, and several other properties commonly ascribed to 

 them. 



An Earthqiialie near Oxford, Anno 1665. By Dr. JVallis* and Mr. 

 Boyle. N" 10, p. 166, and N"" 11, p. 179- 



On the IQth of January, 1(365-6, towards the evening, at divers places near 

 Oxford, was felt a small earthquake. At Oxford it was not noticed as an earth- 

 quake ; though the Doctor says, that about that time he was sensible of a kind 

 of odd shaking or heaving in his study, which he supposed owing to carts and 

 coaches, though a little different from what is usual on these occasions. 



It was perceived at Blechington, about five miles northward of Oxford, and 

 also at Bostol, Horton, Stanton St. John's, and so towards Whately, which 

 is four miles to the east of Oxford : It was not felt at the same time at all these 

 places, but moved successively from Blechington to Whately. 



* Dr. John Wallis, one of the most early and active members of the Royal Society, was bom 

 Nov. 23, l6l6, at Ashford, in Kent. He was educated at Cambridge, where, about the year l6"40, 

 he entered into orders, and became fellow of Queen's College, Academical studies being much in- 

 terrupted, by tlie civil wars, in both the universities, many learned men from them resorted to Lon- 

 don, and formed assemblies there. Dr. Wallis belonged to one of these, the members of which 

 met once a week, to discourse on philosophical subjects ; and tliis society gave rise to the incor- 

 porated Royal Society, of which he tlius became one of tlie first members. In politics Dr. "Wallis 

 managed so well as to keep fair with both parties j he was made professor of matliematics at Ox- 

 ford, in 1649, by the parliament's visitors, and held that and other appointments from the king after 

 the restoration. In l6'58, he was chosen, at Oxford, Custos Archivorum of the university; and 

 was appointed one of the divines for revising the book of common prayer. He was universally 

 learned, but his application was chiefly to theology and madiematics, on both of which subjects he 

 wrote many treatises; he was very skilfiil in deciphering letters written in secret characters, in 

 which capacity he was of great service to the state. He was skilled in the art of teaching persons 

 bom deaf to speak. He died at Oxford, Oct. 28, 1703, in tlie 87th year of his age. Dr. Wallis 

 was always a very usefiil member of the Royal Society, and he kept up a literary correspondence 

 with many learned men in an amicable manner; but witli some he had obstinate disputes, as with 

 Hobbes, Stubbe, and others. It is said he was of a vigorous constitution, and of a mind strong, 

 serene, and not easily ruffled or <Mscomposed. 



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