4»^ On the Light fmn organifed Bodien 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Obs. I. Thefe experiments clearly prove, that light begins to be emitted by marine 

 fifhes, before any figns of putrefa£tion appear : they likewife demonftrate, that as foon as 

 a great degree of putrefcence has taken, place, the luminous property of the fifhes is de- 

 ftroyed, and the light extinguifhed. 



Obs. 2. In the inftauce of light proceeding fpontaneoufly from animal flefti, recorded by 

 Aquapendente, the flefli emitted light before any fenfible putrefcence had taken place, 

 the meat being hung up in the larder for ufe. In that alfo mentioned by Bartholin, in 

 1641, the flelh muft have been frefli and fweet, for it was not intended to be drefled until 

 the next day. Mr. Boyle, in his report of light ifluing from flefh, exprefsly fays, that 

 neither he, nor any of thofe who were about him, could perceive in it any oiFenfive fmell, 

 whence to infer any putrefaction ; the meat being judged very frefh, and well conditioned, 

 and fit to be drefled. And, laftly, Dr. Beale, in his account of a luminous neck of veal, 

 fays, that when it was drefled, on February the 27th, fome of the neighbours, who faw 

 it fliining, wer« invited to cat of it, and all efteemed it as good as they had ever tailed \ 

 that a part of it was kept for February 28th and 29th, in which time it lofl: nothing of 

 its fweetnefs. 



Obs. 3. Whenever I wifli to obtain a plentiful fupply of light from filhcs, for the pur- 

 pofe of experiments, I always endeavour to procure the freflieft that can be had : long ex- 

 perience and frequent difappoiutments have taught me to adopt fuch a precaution. 



SECTION II. 



The Light here treated of is a conjlitttent Prlnc'tpk of fome Bodies, particularly of Afariiie 

 Fi/hes, and may be feparated from them, by a peculiar Procefs ; may be retained, and rendered 

 permanent for fome Time. It feems to be incorporated with their whole Sub/lance, and tt 

 make a Part thereof, in the fame Manner as any other conjlituent Principles. 



EXPERIMENTS. 



The Flejh of Herring*. 



Exper. I. A frefli herring was fplit, or divided longitudinally, by a knife, into two 

 parts. Then, about four drams of it, being cut acrofs, were put into a folution, com- 

 pofed of two drams of Epfom fait or vitriolated magnefia, and two ounces of cold fpring 

 water drawn up by the pump. The liquid was contained in a wide-mouthed three-ounce 

 phial, which was placed in the laboratory. Upon carefully examining the liquid, on the 

 fecond evening after the procefs was begun, I could plainly perceive a lucid ring (for the 

 phial was round) floating at the top of the liquid, the part below it being dark ; but, on 

 fliaking the phial, the whole at once became beautifully luminous, and continued in that 



• The quantity ufed in each experiment was about four drams. 

 3 Jftatc. 



