ON 
THE PHOSPHORESCENCE 
OF NATURAL OBJECTS. 
INTRODUCTION. 
Axsout the latter end of the sixteenth century 
there lived in a narrow, winding street of the old 
town of Bologna, a certain cobbler, Vincenzo Cas- 
cariolo,* who devoted much of his time to al- 
chemy. Some say that he even quitted his trade, 
and applied himself exclusively to chemical la- 
bours, but I am inclined to doubt the fact. How- 
ever cheap living might then have been in Italy, 
alchemy would mdeed have formed a bad substi- 
tute for the last m many respects. In spite of 
this, Signor Vincenzo was so bent upon making 
gold, that his little workshop contained. nearly all 
the mysterious chemical apparatus of the day. 
Phials, retorts, and crucibles found room among 
awls, lasts, and leather; and Vincenzo Cascariolo, 
* Some write his name Casciarolo. 
