Micrographia: Some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies Made by Magnifying Glasses with Observations and Inquiries ThereuponHooke, Robert
History
Micrographia: Some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies Made by Magnifying Glasses with Observations and Inquiries Thereupon
Hooke, Robert
Magnifying glasses -- Early works to 1800; Microscopy -- Early works to 1800; Natural history -- Pre-Linnean works
It would be somewhat too long a work for this place _Zetetically_ to
examine, and positively to prove, what particular kind of motion it is that
must be the efficient of Light; for though it be a motion, yet ’tis not
every motion that produces it, since we find there are many bodies very
violently mov’d, which yet afford not such an effect; and there are other
bodies, which to our other senses, seem not mov’d so much, which yet shine.
Thus Water and quick-silver, and most other liquors heated, shine not; and
several hard bodies, as Iron, Silver, Brass, Copper, Wood, &c. though very
often struck with a hammer, shine not presently, though they will all of
them grow exceeding hot; whereas rotten Wood, rotten Fish, Sea-water,
Gloworms, &c. have nothing of tangible heat in them, and yet (where there
is no stronger light to affect the Sensory) they shine some of them so
Vividly, that one may make a shift to read by them.
It would be too long, I say, here to insert the discursive progress by
which I inquir’d after the proprieties of the motion of Light, and
therefore I shall only add the result.
And, First, I found it ought to be exceeding _quick_, such as those
motions of _fermentation_ and _putrefaction_, whereby, certainly, the
parts are exceeding nimbly and violently mov’d; and that, because we
find those motions are able more minutely to shatter and divide the
body, then the most violent heats or _menstruums_ we yet know. And that
fire is nothing else but such a _dissolution_ of the Burning body, made
by the most _universal menstruum_ of all _sulphureous bodies_, namely,
the Air, we shall in an other place of this Tractate endeavour to make
probable. And that, in all extreamly hot shining bodies, there is a
very quick motion that causes Light, as well as a more robust that
causes Heat, may be argued from the celerity wherewith the bodyes are
dissolv’d.
Next, it must be a _Vibrative motion_. And for this the newly mention’d
_Diamond_ affords us a good argument; since if the motion of the parts did
not return, the Diamond must after many rubbings decay and be wasted: but
we have no reason to suspect the latter, especially if we consider the
exceeding difficulty that is found in cutting or wearing away a Diamond.
And a Circular motion of the parts is much more improbable, since, if that
were granted, and they be suppos’d irregular and Angular parts, I see not
how the parts of the Diamond should hold so firmly together, or remain in
the same sensible dimensions, which yet they do. Next, if they be
_Globular_, and mov’d only with a _turbinated_ motion, I know not any cause
that can impress that motion upon the _pellucid medium_, which yet is done.
Thirdly, any other _irregular_ motion of the parts one amongst another,
must necessarily make the body of a fluid consistence, from which it is far
enough. It must therefore be a _Vibrating_ motion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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