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
Eighthly, But if it were Rubb'd upon a convenient Body for a pretty while,
and Briskly enough, I found the Light would be for some moments much more
considerable, almost like the Light of a Glow-worm, insomuch after I ceased
Rubbing, I could with the Chaf'd stone exhibit a little Luminous Circle,
like that, but not so bright as that which Children make by moving a stick
Fir'd at the end, and in this case it would continue Visible about seven or
eight times as long as I had been in Rubbing it.
Ninthly, I found that holding it a while near[39] the Flame of a Candle,
(from which yet I was carefull to avert my Eyes) and being immediately
remov'd into the Dark, it disclosed some faint Glimmering, but inferiour to
that, it was wont to acquire by Rubbing. And afterward holding it near a
Fire that had but little Flame, I found the Stone to be rather less than
more excited, than it had been by the Candle.
[39] IX. _We durst not hold it in the Flame of a Candle, no more than put
it into a naked Fire; For fear too Violent a Heat (which has been
observ'd to spoil many other precious Stones) should vitiate and impair a
Jewel, that was but borrow'd, and was suppos'd to be the only one of its
Kind._
Tenthly, I likewise indeavour'd to make it Shine, by holding it a pretty
while in a very Dark place, over a thick piece of Iron, that was well
Heated, but not to that Degree as to be Visibly so. And though at length I
found, that by this way also, the Stone acquired some Glimmering, yet it
was less than by either of the other ways above mention'd.
Eleventhly, I also brought it to some kind of Glimmering Light, by taking
it into Bed with me, and holding it a good while upon a warm part of my
Naked Body.
Twelfthly, To satisfie my self, whether the Motion introduc'd into the
Stone did generate the Light upon the account of its producing Heat there,
I held it near the Flame of a Candle, till it was qualify'd to shine pretty
well in the Dark, and then immediately I apply'd a slender Hair to try
whether it would attract it, but found not that it did so; though if it
were made to shine by Rubbing, it was as I formerly noted Electrical. And
for further Confirmation, though I once purposedly kept it so near the hot
Iron I just now mention'd, as to make it sensibly Warm, yet it shin'd more
Dimly than it had done by Affriction or the Flame of a Candle, though by
both those ways it had not acquir'd any warmth that was sensible.
Thirteenthly, Having purposely rubb'd it upon several Bodies differing as
to Colour, and as to Texture, there seem'd to be some little Disparity in
the excitation (if I may so call it) of Light. Upon White and Red Cloths it
seem'd to succeed best, especially in comparison of Black ones.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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