162 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERT. 



If absolute light existed in the sun, and as such were transmitted 

 through space to the planets, then all space would necessarily be 

 radiant with light, and, as a consequence, we should have no night. 

 Whereas, our nocturnal heavens do not disclose one single ray in 

 its passage to the planets, notwithstanding which they glow with the 

 light constantly received from the sun ; which is, necessarily, proof that 

 solar light is not developed until it reaches the planet, and that, conse- 

 quently, the material of light, in its passage through space from the 

 sun to the planets, being invisible, cannot be developed into light. 



LUMINOSITY OF PHOSPHORUS. 



The following paper was read before the British Association, 1862, 

 by Dr. Moffat : 



If a piece of phosphorus be put under a bell-glass and observed 

 from time to time, it will be found at times luminous, and at others 

 non-luminous. When it is luminous, a stream of vapor rises from it, 

 which sometimes terminates in an inverted cone of rings similar to 

 those given off by phosphuretted hydrogen ; and at others it forms a 

 beautiful curve, with a descending tint equal in length to the ascend- 

 ing one. The vapor is attracted by a magnet ; it is also attracted by 

 heat, but it is repelled by cold. It renders steel needles magnetic, 

 and it is perceived only when the phosphorus is luminous. Results 

 deduced from daily observations of the phosphorus in connection 

 with the readings of the barometer, the temperature and degree of 

 humidity of the air, with directions of the wind, for a period of 

 eighteen months, show that periods of luminosity of phosphorus and 

 non-luminosity occur under opposite conditions of the atmosphere, 

 the former being peculiar to the equatorial, while the latter is pecu- 

 liar to the polar current. By the catalytic action of phosphorus on 

 atmospheric air, a gaseo AS body (superoxide of hydrogen) is formed, 

 which is analogous to, if not the same as, atmospheric ozone, and it 

 can be detected by the same tests. The author has found, by his 

 usual tests, that phosphoric ozone is developed only when the phos- 

 phorus is luminous. Periods of luminosity and periods of atmospheric 

 ozone take place under similar atmospheric conditions, and the con- 

 ditions of non-luminous periods and periods of non-atmospheric 

 ozone are the same. From the author's observations in connection 

 with this matter, which extend over several years, it appears that 

 ninety-nine per cent, of luminous periods and ninety-one per cent, of 

 ozone periods commence with decreasing readings of the barometer 

 and other conditions of the equatorial current ; and that ninety-four 

 per cent, and sixty-six per cent, terminate with increasing readings 

 and the conditions of the polar current. Luminous periods com- 

 mence and luminosity increases in brilliancy on the approach of 

 storms and gales, and ozone periods commence and it increases in 

 quantity under similar conditions. There is, it would appear, also, 

 from these observations, an intimate connection between the ap- 

 proach of storms, the commencement of luminous and ozone periods, 

 and disorders of the nervous, muscular and vascular systems. Here 

 the author gave the dates of many storms and gales, and the occur- 

 rence of diseases of the above class, showing their coincidence ; and 



