On the Light from erga/iifed Bodies, 459 



SECTION X. 



The EffeBs of the human Body, and of the animal Fluids, upon fpontaneous Light. 



The living Body. 



Exper. t. On touching the luminous matter of fifhes, the light adhered to the fingers 

 and diiFerent parts of the hands 5 remained very lucid for fome little time, and then gradually 

 difappeared. But the fame kind of matter heing applied to pieces of wood, (lone, and 

 the like, of the fame temperature as the laboratory, continued luminous on thefe fubllances 

 for many hours. 



Exper. 2. A piece of red blotting-paper, about one inch fquare, and four times doubled, 

 was finely illuminated by matter from a herring, and applied to the upper part of the 

 infide of the thigh. After the expiration of 15 or 20 minutes, it was taken ofF; and, on 

 examination, the light was quite extinguilhed. The experiment was repeated feveral 

 times, and with the fame cfFedl. Another piece of the like paper was illuminated at the 

 fame time, and placed in the laboratory ; where it retained its light above 48 hours. 



Exper. 3. A piece of fliining wood was placed upon the palm of the hand, and in- 

 clofed therein for fome time ; on infpe£lion, it was found to be more lucid than before. 

 Many trials of this kind were made, with the like fuccefs. 



Exper. 4. A dead glow-worm, being but flightly luminous, was breathed upon feveral 

 times ; and its light increafed both in magnitude and brightnefs. The experiment was 

 frequently repeated, with the fame refult. 



Animal Fluids. 



Blood. 



Exper. 5. A perfon having received a contufion, but otherwife in health, was bled. 

 The next day, fome herring-light was mixed with about two ounces of the craflamentum 

 or red coagulated part of the blood, by ftirring them well together with a knife : it caufed 

 it to be flightly luminous, but the light was not of long duration. Nearly the fame refult 

 followed the mixture of lucid matter with the recent craflamentum of perfons labouring 

 under inflammatory difeafes, as the pleurify and rheumatifm. 



Exper. 6. But, when mixed with craflamentum that had been kept for fome time, and 

 become black and fomewhat ofi^enfive to the fmell, the light feemed to be more quickly 

 extinguiflied. 



Exper. 7. A Angular phsenomenon happened feveral times, on mixing filh-light with 

 putrefcent bloody ferum. It would not incorporate, but was eje(3:ed in globules, like 

 quickfilver when rubbed with any unftuous fubftance, and afterwards adhered to the fide 

 of the veflel in which the mixture was made, in the form of a lucid ring. 



3 N 2 Exper, 



