A Defense of the Introduction to a True and Unheard-of Physics

...has not correctly observed the cause of the Brightness of the Brine original: Muriæ splendoris; referring to the glowing or sparkling of salt water, often known as "sea fire.". It is well known to sailors that the fiery glows of the sea, or the sparkling sea original: mare scintillans, appear not from ordinary waves, but from the violent striking of the water against the ship and the friction of the vessel against the water. By these forces, the Sea Salt original: Sal marinum is excessively agitated and, growing hot, is driven as if into a frenzy; yet when that violence is withdrawn, the heat and brightness are absent from the salt in the water, nor does it ever otherwise manifest into action original: in actum; a Scholastic term meaning the transition from a "possibility" to a "reality.". Therefore, Fire in the Salt of the sea is only potential original: potentialis; meaning it has the capacity to produce heat under friction, but is not "fire" while in the water.; in calm water, it will never become actual.

§. 8. The Anonymous author accuses Dr. Helbig of denying that Sulfur—the Philosophical Principle—is an Element, a certain First Matter, Fire, and so on. Yet he [the Anonymous author] claims that the Salt of Nature original: Salem Naturae; a term in alchemy for a universal cooling or stabilizing agent. expressly declares this to be so. Since Salt is truly nothing other than water altered by art into the form of fire, he concludes that Sulfur must therefore be an Element.

Restrain your laughter, friends! original: Risum teneatis amici!; a famous quote from the Roman poet Horace, used when something is considered absurd. His clumsy reasoning brings a blush of embarrassment. Sulfur,