Experiment IX
We took a Leaf of Such Foliated Gold as Apothecaries are wont to Gild their Pills with; and with the Edge of a Knife, (lightly moyſten’d by drawing it over the Surface of the Tongue, and afterwards) laid upon the edge of the Gold Leaf; we ſo faſten’d it to the Knife, that being held againſt the light, it conctinu’d extended like a little Flagg. This Leaf being held very near the Eye, and obverted to the Light, appear’d ſo full of Pores, that it ſeem’d to have ſuch a kind of Tranſparency as that of a Sive, or a piece of Cyprus, or a Love-Hood; but the Light that paſs’d by theſe Pores was in its Paſſages So Temper’d with Shadow, and Modify’d, that the Eye diſcern’d no more a Golden Colour, but a Greeniſh Blew. And for other’s ſatisfaction, we did in the Night look upon a Candle through ſuch a Leaf of Gold; and by trying the Effect of Several Proportions of Diſtance betwixt the Leaf, the Eye and the Light, we quickly hit upon ſuch a Poſition for the Leaf of Gold, as that the flame, look’d on through it, appear’d of a Greeniſh Blew, as we have ſeen in the Day time. The like Experiment try’d with a Leaf of Silver ſucceeded not well.