522
Siphons, A. D. 1511.
[Book V.
or another in the Spiritalia. One goblet was so contrived that “ no mancan drink out of it but he who knows the art.” The liquid was suspendedin cavities and discharge'd by admitting or excluding air through secretopenings. Another one “ for making sport with them that sit at table withus,” a cup into which wine was poured in the presence of the drinker, butwho could derive from it nothing but water, &c.
The necromancers of the Tartars and Cathayans, [Chinese, ] saysPurchas , “ are exceedingly expert in their divellish art. They cause thatthe bottles in the hall of the great Man doe fill the bowls [cups] of their ownaccord, which also without man’s help pass ten paces through the ayre intothe hands of the great Man ; and when he hath drunke, in hke sort theyreturne to their place.” The cups were doubtless filled and moved bysome ingenious device ; but this being concealed, the whole was of coursemiraculous.
Among the antiquities of Lunenburg was a magical goblet or ewer,“ une aiguiere dans laquelle il ys» secret hydraulique.” (Le CurieuxAntiquaire, a Leide, 1729, tom ii, 495.)
From the time of Heron up to the 16th and 17th centuries little specificinformation respecting siphons is to be met with. They were of courseknown to the Romans. Sir Wm. Grell supposes some modification of themwas employed in connecting the large boilers in which water was heatedfor the public baths. It appears from discoveries made in Pompeii thatthese vessels were closed on all sides and bore some resemblance to thebodies of modern stills; and that to economize the heat, three of themwere placed upon each other. The lowest one in contact with the firewas the largest, and named “ the caldarium, that above it the tepidarium,and the uppermost which was supplied with cold water directly from theaqueduct or other reservoir the frigidarium ; and they were so contrived,by means of something of the nature of a siphon, that when the water ofthe lowest was drawn off for the bath, an equal quantity descended simul-taneously from the second to the lowest cauldron, and from the uppermostto the second.” Julius Pollux , who lived in the second Century, informsus that siphons were used for tasting wine. They are also referred to byother ancient writers, but as several instruments were designated by thesame name, it is diffieult to determine with precision what particular onewas, in every case, intended. It is very probable, from the remark ofPollux, which is corroborated by the illustration No. 235, that siphonswere employed by ancient vintners and private gentlemen for decantingwine, just as the same classes use them at this day.
No. 247, A. D. 1511.
No. 246. A. D. 1511.