The
Experiment as we made it is this. Take _Lignum Nephriticum_, and with a
Knife cut it into thin Slices, put about a handfull of these Slices into
two three or four pound of the purest Spring-water, let them infuse there a
night, but if you be in hast, a much shorter time may suffice; _decant_
this Impregnated Water into a clear Glass Vial, and if you hold it directly
between the Light and your Eye, you shall see it wholly Tincted (excepting
the very top of the Liquor, wherein you will some times discern a
Sky-colour'd Circle) with an almost Golden Colour, unless your Infusion
have been made too Strong of the Wood, for in that case it will against the
Light appear somewhat Dark and Reddish, and requires to be diluted by the
addition of a convenient quantity of fair Water. But if you hold this Vial
from the Light, so that your Eye be plac'd betwixt the Window and the Vial,
the Liquor will appear of a deep and lovely Caeruleous Colour, of which
also the drops, if any be lying on the outside of the Glass, will seem to
be very perfectly; And thus far we have try'd the Experiment, and found it
to Succeed even by the Light of Candles of the larger size. If you so hold
the Vial over against your Eyes, that it may have a Window on one side of
it, and a Dark part of the Room both before it and on the other side, you
shall see the Liquor partly of a Blewish and partly of a Golden Colour.
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