CHEMISTRY IN 1727. 607 
I have found such curious ideas, statements, hypotheses, reasonings and 
conclusions in it, that I have deemed it would be interesting to the readers of the 
REVIEW to write down a few of them and have them again set in type. Of 
- course, they will not now be printed with ‘‘f” for ‘¢s” and ‘‘em” for ‘‘ them” 
and such other ancient modes for putting things; but, nevertheless, the words 
corrected and ideas will be interesting. Icull out only a few of the most strange 
statements, though the whole book is a curiosity. 
I quote first the definition of Chemistry: ‘‘ Chemistry is an art, whereby 
sensible bodies contained in vessels (or at least capable of being contained therein 
and rendered sensible; ) are so changed by means of certain instruments, and 
especially fire, that their several powers and virtues are thereby discovered; with 
a view to the uses of Medicine, Natural Philosophy and other arts and occasions 
of life.” y 
The author then proceeds to explain the various parts of the definition some- 
what as follows : 
It deals with senszble bodies. Bodies are sensible when they affect our 
senses ; insensible when so smad/ or so remote that they work no notable change 
on our organs of sense. Thus the air is full of an infinite number of hetero- 
geneous corpuscles which have,indeed an effect on our bodies, but it 1s such as 
our senses take no cognizance of. 
They must be sensible bodies capable of being contained in vessels. The 
moon, though a sensible body, is no object of chemistry, for it is not capable 
of being contained in vessels. Gases are insensible aura or exhalations that 
would fly away unperceived; but being caught in alembics and retorts, come 
under the notice of our senses. 
The ‘‘very learned” author then goes on to™divide the world into three 
kingdoms much the same as we do at the present time; save that he uses the 
word ‘‘ fossil” as we do ‘‘mineral.” His definitions are these: Fossils grow 
adhering to the earth, and without distinction of parts. Vegetables grow adhering 
to the earth, and with distinction of parts. Amdmals grow without adhering to 
the earth at all. 
He is very profuse in explanation. Passing on, we come to his divisions of 
the fossil kingdom ; and the first isa metal. He says: 
A metal is a simple fossil body that fuses and becomes fluid by fire; and by 
cold coagulates and hardens into a solid mass capable of distending under the 
hammer. 
There are but six metals in all nature, viz.: Gold, lead, silver, copper, iron 
and tin. Some add mercury, but it does not agree with our definition in any 
respect. It is neither dissoluble by fire, malleable nor fixed. Yet the chemists 
hold that it is the basis of all metals, for by throwing in sulphur it becomes fixed 
into a metal. Hence as it is only a circumstance that is wanting to make quick- 
silver a metal, there is warrant for calling it by that name. 
The symbols for the different elements used in those days were those which 
at present are used in our almanacs to represent the sun, moon and planets. It 
