[40] XV. _We likewise Plung'd it as soon as we had excited it, under
Liquors of several sorts, as Spirit of Wine, Oyl both Chymical and
express'd, an Acid Spirit, and as I remember an Alcalizate Solution, and
found not any of those various Liquors to destroy its Shining property._
Sixteenthly, I also try'd several times, that by covering it with my warm
Spittle (having no warm Water at hand) it did not lose his Light.[41]
[41] XVI. _Having found by this Observation, that a warm Liquor would not
extinguish Light in the Diamond, I thought fit to try, whether by reason
of its warmth it would not excite it, and divers times I found, that if
it were kept therein, till the Water had leisure to communicate some of
its Heat to it, it would often shine as soon as it was taken out, and
probably we should have seen it Shine more, whilst it was in the Water,
if some degree of Opacity which heated Water is wont to acquire, upon the
score of the Numerous little Bubbles generated in it, had not kept us
from discerning the Lustre of the Stone._
Seventeenthly, Finding that by Rubbing the Stone with the Flat side
downwards, I did by reason of the Opacity of the Ring; and the sudden Decay
of Light upon the ceasing of the Attrition, probably lose the sight of the
Stones greatest Vividness; and supposing that the Commotion made in one
part of the stone will be easily propagated all over, I sometimes held the
piece of Cloath upon which I rubb'd it, so, that one side of the Stone was
exposed to my Eye, whilst I was rubbing the other, whereby it appear'd more
Vivid than formerly, and to make Luminous Tracts by its Motions too and
fro.
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