Experiments and Considerations Touching Colours (1664)Boyle, Robert
History
Experiments and Considerations Touching Colours (1664)
Boyle, Robert
Color -- Early works to 1800; Colors -- Early works to 1800
ne ullum quidem Cærulei coloris vestigium apparebit, sed instar aquæ puræ
putæ fontanæ limpidam claramque aspicientibus se præbebit. Porro si hanc
phialam vitream versus locum magis umbrosum direxeris, totus humor
gratissimum virorem referet; si adhuc umbrosioribus locis, subrubrum, & sic
pro rerum objectarum conditione, mirum dictu, colorem mutabit; in tenebris
verò vel in vase opaco posita, Cæruleum colorem suum resumet._
[17] Kircher. Art. Mag. lucis & umbræ, _lib. 1. part. 3._
In this passage we may take notice of the following Particulars. And first,
he calls it a White _Mexican_ Wood, whereas (not to mention that
_Mornardes_ informs us that it is brought out of _Nova Hispania_) the Wood
that we have met with in several places, and employ'd as _Lignum
Nephriticum_, was not White, but for the most part of a much Darker Colour,
not unlike that of the Sadder Colour'd Wood of Juniper. 'Tis true, that
_Monardes_ himself also says, that the Wood is White; and it is affirm'd,
that the Wood which is of a Sadder Colour is Adulterated by being Imbu'd
with the Tincture of a Vegetable, in whose Decoction it is steep'd. But
having purposely enquir'd of the Eminentest of our _English_ Druggists, he
peremptorily deny'd it. And indeed, having consider'd some of the fairest
Round pieces of this Wood that I could meet with in these Parts, I had
Opportunity to take notice that in one or two of them it was the External
part of the Wood that was White, and the more Inward part that was of the
other Colour, the contrary of which would probably have appear'd, if the
Wood had been Adulterated after the afore-mention'd manner. And I have at
present by me a piece of such Wood, which for about an Inch next the Bark
is White, and then as it were abruptly passes to the above-mention'd
Colour, and yet this Wood by the Tincture, it afforded us in Water, appears
to have its Colour'd part Genuine enough; for as for the White part, it
appears upon tryal of both at once, much less enrich'd with the tingent
Property.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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