35
Of the AttraSlion of Cohesion.
freeze, then instead of a Dew there will appear a WhiteFrost all over the Surface of the Ground.
8. The Capillary Syphon is a most curiousPhanomenon, arising from the fame Principle; for theWater being raised to the Flexure or bended Part, bythe attracting Force of the shorter Leg immersed intoit, the same Force continuing to act carries it even intothe longer Leg, and there conspiring with the Forceof Gravity, the Water precipitately descends and drivesthe Air before it, and thus would keep running or drop-ping out till all the Water were exhausted to the Orificeof the immersed Leg, if the Operation were to be con-tinued long enough.
9. The Filter is to be considered as nothing morethan a Compound Capillary Syphon ; for the Threads orFilaments of which it consists, lying very near together,make long and slender Vacuities or Interstices, whichrepresent so many Capillary Syphons, which attract,raise, and decant off the Fluid in a considerable Quan-tity, proportional to their Number or the Largeness ofthe Filter.
10. After the fame Manner it is, undoubtedly, thatthe Humidity of the Earth is drawn into the Substanceof the Roots of Plants and Vegetables, which we knowconsist of long and very minute Fibres so disposed as toform an infinite Number of tubular Interstices, whichact in the Nature of a Filter, and imbibe the Juicesand Moisture destined for the Nutriment and Growth ofthe Plant.
11. Thus also it is reasonable to suppose the fine Ex-pansion or Ramification of the Lacteal, the Lymphatic,and Sanguiferous Vejsels thro' all the Substance of theGlands and Viscera in the finest Capillary Tubes, doesgreatly aslist, if not wholly promote, the Circulation ofthe Blood and Juices, in order to the various Secretionsof each respective Gland ; an Effect too great for thePulsive Force of the Heart, or larger Vessels, when thusso infinitely and minutely divided, were it not to bejoined by the strong Attraction of those Capillary Parts.
12. By this Means it is that Tallow and Oil rife intothe Wicks of Candles and Lamps : That Sponge soreadily fucks up and retains so great a Quantity of a
D 2 Fluid :
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