Grounds of Natural Philosophy: Divided into Thirteen Parts: The Second Edition, much altered from the First, which went under the Name of Philosophical and Physical OpinionsNewcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Philosophy
Grounds of Natural Philosophy: Divided into Thirteen Parts: The Second Edition, much altered from the First, which went under the Name of Philosophical and Physical Opinions
Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Physics -- Early works to 1800
and the same is in dry Heats and Cold: but surely, most sorts of
Moistures, are some sorts of dilative Motions; and most Droughts, are
some sorts of Contractive Motions: but, there are several sorts of
Dilatations, Contractions, Retentions, Expulsions, and the like: for,
there are Cold Contractions, Hot Contractions; Cold Dilatations, Hot
Dilatations; Hot Retentions, Cold Retentions; and so of Digestions,
Expulsions, and the like: But, as I said, Moist Heats, and Moist
Colds, seem of a Dilative Nature; as Dry, of a Contractive Nature.
But, all Cold and Heat, or Dry and Moist, may be made by one and the
same Corporeal Motions: for, though the Actions may vary, the Parts
may be the same: yea, the like Actions may be in different Parts. But,
no Part is bound to any particular Action, having a free Liberty of
Self-motion. But, concerning Hot and Cold, and the like Actions, I
observe, That Extream Heat, and Extream Cold, is of a like Power, or
Degree: neither can I perceive the Hot Motions to be quicker than Cold:
for Water, in little quantity, shall as suddenly freeze, as any leight
Fewel or Straw, burn: and Animals will as soon freeze to death, as be
burned to death: and Cold is as powerful at the Poles, as Heat in the
_Torrid Zone_. And 'tis to be observed, That Freezing is as quick and
sudden, as Thawing: but sometimes, nay very often, Cold and Hot Motions
will dispute for Power; and some sorts of Hot, with other sorts. The
like Disputes are amongst several sorts of Cold Motions; Dry with
Moist, Dry with Dry, Moist with Moist. And the like Disputes are also
often amongst all Creatures. As for Density, it doth not make Gravity:
for, there may be Dense Bodies, that are not Grave; as for example,
Feathers, and Snow. Neither doth Gravity make Density: for, a quantity
of Air hath some weight, and yet is not dense. But mistake me not; for,
I mean by _Grave, Heavy_; and not for the Effects of Ascending, and
Descending: for Feathers, though Dense, are more apt to ascend, than
descend; and Snow, to descend. Also, all sorts of Fluidity, do not
cause Moist, Liquid, or Wet; nor all Extenuations, cause Light: but,
they are such and such sorts of Fluidities and Extenuations, that cause
such and such Effects. And so for Heats, Colds, Droughts, Moistures,
Rarities. The same for Gravities, Levities, and the like. So that,
Creatures are Rare, Fluid, Moist, Wet, Dry, Dense, Hard, Soft, Leight,
Heavy, and the like, according to their Figurative Motions.
CHAP. III. Of the Change and Rechange; and of Dividing and Ioyning of
the Parts of the Elements.
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