Paper, 'De aranearum usu et utilitate ferici dissertatio' ['A discourse upon the usefulness of the silk of spiders'] by [Francois Xavier] Bon

Description

Bon explains that spiders made a silk which is 'as beautiful, strong and glossy as common silk'. He presents a history of common silk, and discusses the fable of Arachne, suggesting that 'it is to the spider we owe the first hints of weaving cloath [sic] and laying nets for animals'. He describes the variation in appearance of spiders, and describes how spiders spin their silk. He then describes the process of collecting and making the silk. Bon goes on to explain how the silk also has medicinal qualities. The paper is written in Latin, followed by an English translation.

Subject: Zoology / Arachnology

Published in Philosophical Transactions as 'A discourse upon the usefulness of the silk of spiders. by Monsieur Bon, President of the Court of Accounts, Aydes and Finances, and President of the Royal Society of Science at Montpellier. Communicated by the Author'

Read to the Royal Society on 6 December 1710

English translation see CLP/15i/67
English translation printed in 'Philosophical Transactions', vol 17 (1710), p 2

Reference number

CLP/15i/66

Earliest possible date

December 1710

Physical description

Ink on paper

Page extent

18 pages

Format

Manuscript