Luminosity of the Human Subject after Death, 4<^1 



A few nights after the introduction of Boreham, Mr. Ap- 

 pleton observed this subject to be similarly affected, and the 

 following morning communicated this fact to the Professors 

 of the School. The circumstance having become generally 

 known to the Pupils, several assembled the next evening for 

 the purpose of observing this singular and novel phaenomenon, 

 when it was remarked by Mr. Appleton that the luminosity 

 had considerably increased since its first appearance. 



This novel fact we consider deserving the attention of phy- 

 siologists, for in no work can we find recorded any notice of 

 the phosphorescent or luminous appearance of the human 

 subject. We are fully aware of its occurrence in many of the 

 lower and even the higher classes of animals ; but we are not 

 aware of the present fact having been heretofore recorded. 



Development of Light in the Lower Animals, and certain 

 Substances, — Miiller, the celebrated German physiologist, in a 

 late edition of his work on the Elements of Physiology, (translated 

 by W.Baly)makessome observations with respect to animals&c, 

 which possess the power of emitting a phosphorescent light. 

 The following is but a brief abstract from the work. Miiller 

 commences with a description of the animals which produce 

 the phosphorescence of the sea, and enumerates some of the 

 Infusoria, Polipifera, Medusce, Annelides, Planarice, and Mol- 

 lusca, mentioning occasionally some of the leading genera in 

 each group. He then notices some of the leading phospho- 

 rescent crustaceans and insects, and mentions the opinion of 

 Treviranus with respect to the light emitted from insects, 

 viz. that the internal parts of generation are the source of light. 

 He then further alludes to the opinion of Treviranus, viz. 

 that light is derived from matter containing phosphorus, which 

 is formed under the influence of light, but once formed is in 

 some measure independent of light. He then brings forward the 

 opinion of Carradori, Beccaria, and Monti as to the power of 

 certain bodies of absorbing light during the day and emitting it 

 during the evening, as is evidenced by several mineral sub- 

 stances, such as sulphate of barytes mixed with sulphuret of 

 barium, oyster shells heated to redness with sulphur, &c., and 

 also by several organic substances when dried, such as seeds, 

 flour, starch, acacia gum, quills, cheese, yolk of egg, muscle, 

 tendon, isinglass, glue, and horn. 



We areinformed, accordingto the observations of Mr. White, 

 that he has repeatedly witnessed the luminous appearance of 

 birds when they have been hanging for some time. Whilst 

 we ourselves are aware of the fact, that many animals, such 

 as dogs, cats, &c., which have been killed, and left exposed to 

 the atmosphere in ditches, &c. have emitted a pho^horescent 



