This library is built in the open.
If you spot an error, have a suggestion, or just want to say hello — we’d love to hear from you.

A decorative horizontal woodcut band features repeating floral patterns and scrollwork designs.
Preface to the Reader, concerning the Occasion, Division, and Title of the Work; and concerning the Writers on Hydraulics and Pneumatics. page 1.
Concerning the principles or foundations of Hydraulic-Pneumatic Machines. 15
Concerning the Attractive force of bodies, for the sake of either filling or avoiding a vacuum: or concerning the first principle of Hydraulic-pneumatic Machines. 18
§. I. Hero of Alexandria Hero of Alexandria was an engineer from the first century AD whose work on pneumatics was rediscovered and widely studied during the Renaissance. recognizes a vacuum dispersed in air and water. 19
§. II. Experiments by which Hero proves a vacuum is dispersed in bodies. 21
§. III. Experiments by which it is proven that there is no vacuum. 25
§. IV. The attractive force due to the fear of a vacuum original: "horror vacui." This is the classical physical theory that nature abhors empty space and will move matter to fill any potential void., the first principle of Hydraulic-pneumatic Machines; what it is, and of what nature it is in any bodies. 28
§. V. An experiment showing the attractive force for raising waters to a height, for the sake of avoiding a vacuum, through Hydraulic-pneumatic Machines. 30
§. VI. Several things are noted regarding the aforementioned Experiment, and at the same time it is established that in the attraction of water due to fear of a vacuum, one must consider the vertical weight of the water. 33
§. VII. The error of Hero of Alexandria in raising water by attractive force. 36
§. VIII. Another error of Hero in raising water by attractive force. 37
§. IX. In the raising of water by attractive force, one must consider only the vertical height of those tubes through which water is carried, not those through which air is carried. 39