On the Nature and Law of Waters

Chap. II. On the Use of Water.

§. 11. Some judges, especially in Westphalia and Holstein, subject Witches original: Veneficas; literally "poisoners" or "sorceresses," here referring to the accused in witch trials. to the water; they consider those who float to be convicted, but if they sink, they are judged to be innocent. However, since most legal experts are ignorant of hydrostatic principles, they commonly decree this trial to be unlawful. See Bucer on Inquiries and Torture, chapter 3, number 101, where he cites Scribonius Wilhelm Adolf Scribonius (1550–1600), a philosopher who defended the "swimming test" using physical arguments about "unclean" bodies being rejected by the water. defending this proof based on physical and metaphysical reasons. See also Webner, Practical Observations, under the entry "sieve-running" original: Siebe lauffen lassen; a form of divination used to find thieves or guilty parties and also under the entry "Water." Also Struve’s Dissertation on Evidence, at the end; Eric Mauritius, Counsel 23, number 2 and following; Theodor Reinkingk, Juridical Responses on the Process against a Witch, question 3, number 499 and following, where he most sharply attacks this method of proof.

§. 12. Women accused of infanticide The killing of a newborn child. usually claim that their offspring died before birth. However, they can easily be convicted if the lungs are removed and placed in water and they float. For the lungs of infants who died in the womb will sink to the bottom when cast into water. This refers to the "hydrostatic lung test," a forensic technique based on the idea that if a baby has breathed, the lungs contain air and will float.

§. 13. The ancient Germans dwelling near the Rhine placed their newborn children into the Rhine to determine whether they were worthy of life or should be drowned. The natural reasoning for this is that healthy and vigorous infants, being full of "spirits" In the medical theory of the time, "vital spirits" were thought to provide buoyancy and life-force., float; on the other hand, the bodies of weak children, suffering from a lack of spirits, sink like stones.

§. 14. In Medicine, the use of water is so great that it cannot be fully explained by anyone as it deserves. For water is necessary for the preparation of many medicines, as they are not only diluted and cleansed by it, but sometimes also digested and distilled, specifically by means of a "sea-bath" or a "dew-bath." These terms refer to the balneum Mariae (double boiler) and other gentle heating methods used in early modern chemistry and pharmacy.

§. 15. There is a distinguished use for mineral springs original: acidularum; literally "acidic waters," referring to carbonated mineral springs thought to have healing properties., which, if drunk by the sick, often cure desperate diseases. Vitruvius, book 8, chapter 3, §. 68. No less is the utility of hot springs original: thermarum, in which, if diseased bodies are bathed, they are not infrequently restored to health. Those who "recreate" bodies suffering from ill health due to the obstruction of the pores of the skin with baths or decoctions of herbs are imitating these hot springs. Several years ago, the most celebrated Mr. Johann Daniel Major, Primary Professor of Medicine, Major (1634–1693) was a famous German physician and polymath known for his work in early blood transfusions and botany. very ingeniously [created] such artificial hot springs.