Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 004.djvu/167

 thoughts of it, and doe not now but suppositively relinquish them. But having lately, in reading Tachenius's ''Hippocr. Chymicus (newly recommended by your self in N°. 50. of your Transact.'') found c. 16. somewhat relating to this matter; I began ny the encouragement of his authority to resume some Conjectures touching the same, which I had, if not abandoned, yet kept supprest in silence, which indeed are of another kind, but how true I yet know not. Wherefore I thought, it might not be very un-acceptable to you, if I desired you, publickely to give notice of these Conjectures, that the Learned may reason and find out the truth of them; whence may result no few nor very unuseful discovery's for the increas of knowledge, the benefit or mankind, and the glory of the Creator of all. In order thereunto I desire, you will propose these or such like Queries;

1. Whether by Chymical researches it wes ever yet or cin be found, that such waters as the above-said, ever yielded either a Vinous or an Acid, or any other sort of Spirits, that were either inflammable, or un-inflammable, or dying over the Helm from the fire.

2. Whether all these sorts of Waters, when they are most closely stopt up, and so let stand, or conveyed to some distance, doe not let fall a sd iment (most commonly) yellowish, or of some such colour, when they are become effæte in their vessels.

3. Whether, when they are let stand only, and not moved by carriage, they do not sooner become castrated, and sooner precipitate Ochre to the bottom?

4. Whether such an Ochre is not found in all their Spring-heads, and Streams also; but more in the Head than in the Streams, especially if issued there-from to a good distance.

5. Whether it may not be found upon due Observation, that two Bottles of the said waters, whereof the one being industriously stopped, the other left unstopt, and both equally permitted to stand still or equally moved, will not equally loose their virtues Medicall in the same space of time, and have the same precipitated sediment, and be of the same taste, colour, and alike diminisht in quantity, with divers others such like circumstances?