OK THE PHOSPHORESCENCE OF BODIES. 153 



ft is to be regretted, that the analysis of the lire-damp affords Hence the 

 no encouragement to expect, that it can ever be destroyed o" opposing 

 in coal mines by any chemical process, as has lately been the destructivt 

 proposed. The only feasible method of preventing the J^yJ^J^ 

 dreadful consequences of its combustion is, to enforce the tilaiu weU. 

 steady execution of a well planned system of ventilation, 

 not only in the part of the mine actually in work, but in the 

 old workings or waste. Every accident which has happened 

 may, I have been informed, be traced either to an errour in 

 the method of ventilation, or to neglect of its enforcement. 

 The most important object, therefore, appears to be, the 

 improvement of the mode of ventilating coal mines ; and 

 especially the superseding, by proper mechanical contriv- 

 ances, the necessity of those attentions which are at pre- 

 sent required on the part of the workmen. The peculiar 

 expediency of changing the air of a mine, after an accident 

 tal explosion, before venturing into it, is apparent from the 

 foregoing experiments, which show, that, after every such 

 combustion, a large quantity of that gas must have been, 

 generated, which is known to miners under the name of 

 choak damp. 



Manchester, Jan. 10, 1808* 



XIII. 



On the Phosphorescence of Bodies, from the Action of the 

 Electric Explosion. In a Letter from Mr. William 

 Skrimshire, Jun. to Mr. John Cuthbertson. 



I 



Dear Sir, Wishech, Jan. 5, 180S. 



Have lately resumed my Electrical Experiments, and Continuation 



having gone through the inflammables, as also the metal's, °f electrical* 



. . . . penments. 



metallic ores, and oxides, I take the liberty of sending 



them to you. Respecting the phosphoric appearance of bo- 

 dies, these few experiments are no otherwise interesting, 

 than as forming additional links in the chain of facts, which 

 I have formerly stated, and which it is my intention to ex- 

 tend throughout the animal and vegetable kingdoms. But 



as 



