An historical and philosophical account of the barometer, or, weather-glass. Wherein the reason and use of that instrument, the theory of the atmosphere, and the causes of its different gravitation, are assign'd and explain'd. And a modest attempt from thence made towards a rational account and probable judgment of the weather / By Edward Saul.

  • Saul, Edward, 1677-1754
Date:
1735
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An historical and philosophical account of the barometer, or, weather-glass. Wherein the reason and use of that instrument, the theory of the atmosphere, and the causes of its different gravitation, are assign'd and explain'd. And a modest attempt from thence made towards a rational account and probable judgment of the weather / By Edward Saul. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    19/116 (page 15)
    [,] This Hint of Galilteoy was farther pur** fifd and improv'd by the famous TorriceUius, a Florentine ; who, about the Year 1643, amongft other Experiments for difcovering the Weight of the Air, form’d the iirft rough Model of a Barometer, in a Pipe, or Tube, of 60, and afterwards of 40 Feet in Length ; which being immerg’d and fuf- pended in a Veflel of Water, and the Air extra&ed by a Sucker, the Water was al¬ ways obferv’d to follow the Sucker, and to rife and continue fufpended within the Tube, to the Height of 3a, or 33 Feet, with fome little Variation, but cou’d by no Art be drawn or kept up to the Height of 38 or 40 Feet : which plainly prov’d the Fuga Vacui not to be infinite, but to be limited within narrow Bounds, and thofe prefix’d by natural Caufes, admitting of no Encreafe, or Excefs. But thisInftrument of T'orriceUius, being of an unmanageable Length and Size, and requiring the help of a Windmill Sail to invert the Tube; by comparing their lpcci- fic Gravities, and filling a Tube of Glafs with Quick Silver inftead of Water (which fome Authors fay, was altogether Acciden¬ tal) he found the Effeft equally, and fur- prizingly to anfwer; and by the Advantage of fo heavy a Fluid, he reduc’d the Baro¬ meter in its Length, from 40 Feet, to 32 or