Experiments and Considerations Touching Colours (1664)Boyle, Robert
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Experiments and Considerations Touching Colours (1664)
Boyle, Robert
Color -- Early works to 1800; Colors -- Early works to 1800
I could here subjoyn, _Pyrophilus_, some memorable Relations that I have
met with in the Account given us by the experienc'd _Epiphanius
Ferdinandus_, of the Symptomes he observ'd to be incident to those that are
bitten with the Tarantula, by which (Relations) I could probably shew, that
without any change in the Object, a change in the Instruments of Vision may
for a great while make some Colours appear Charming, and make others
Provoking, and both to a high degree, though neither of them produc'd any
such Effects before. These things, I say, I could here subjoyn in
confirmation of what I have been saying, to shew, that the Disposition of
the Organ is of great Importance in the Dijudications we make of Colours,
were it not that these strange Stories belonging more properly to another
Discourse, I had rather, (contenting my self to have given you an
Intimation of them here) that you should meet with them fully deliver'd
there.
* * * * *
CHAP. III.
But, _Pyrophilus_, I would not by all that I have hitherto discours'd, be
thought to have forgotten the Distinction (of Colour) that I mentioned to
you about the beginning of the third Section of the former Chapter; and
therefore, after all I have said of Colour, as it is modifi'd Light, and
immediately affects the Sensory, I shall now re-mind you, that I did not
deny, but that Colour might in some sense be consider'd as a Quality
residing in the body that is said to be Colour'd, and indeed the greatest
part of the following Experiments referr to Colour principally under that
Notion, for there is in the bodyes we call Colour'd, and chiefly in their
Superficial parts, a certain disposition, whereby they do so trouble the
Light that comes from them to our Eye, as that it there makes that distinct
Impression, upon whose Account we say, that the Seen body is either White
or Black, or Red or Yellow, or of any one determinate Colour. But because
we shall (God permiting) by the Experiments that are to follow some Pages
hence, more fully and particularly shew, that the Changes, and consequently
in divers places the Production and the appearance of Colours depends upon
the continuing or alter'd Texture of the Object, we shall in this place
intimate (and that too but as by the way) two or three things about this
Matter.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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