whereof though it consisted not of Rubies, yet the small pieces of it,
which were Numerous enough, were of a pleasant Reddish Colour, and
Glitter'd very prettily. But to insist on such kind of Trials and
Observations (where the ascending Fumes of Bodies differ in Colour from the
Bodies themselves) though it might indeed Inrich the History of Colours,
would Robb me of too much of the little time I have to dispatch what I have
further to tell you concerning them.

_EXPERIMENT XXXIX_

Take the dry'd Buds (or Blossoms) of the Pomegranate Tree, (which are
commonly call'd in the Shops _Balaustiums_) pull off the Reddish Leaves,
and by a gentle Ebullition of them in fair Water, or by a competent
Infusion of them in like Water well heated, extract a faint Reddish
Tincture, which if the Liquor be turbid, you may Clarifie it by Filtrating
it Into this, if you pour a little good Spirit of Urine, or some other
Spirit abounding in the like sort of Volatile Salts, the Mixture will
presently turn of a dark Greenish Colour, but if instead of the
fore-mention'd Liquor, you drop into the simple Infusion a little rectify'd
Spirit of Sea-Salt, the Pale and almost Colourless Liquor will immediately
not only grow more Transparent, but acquire a high Redness, like that of
Rich Claret Wine, which so suddenly acquir'd Colour, may as quickly be
Destroy'd and turn'd into a dirty Blewish Green, by the affusion of a
competent quantity of the above-mention'd Spirit of Urine.

_Annotation._

This Experiment may bring some Light to, and receive some from a couple of
other Experiments, that I remember I have met with in the ingenious
_Gassendus_'s Animadversions upon _Epicurus_'s Philosophy, whilst I was