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CHAPTER V. 
METEOROLOGICAL PHOSPHORESCENCE. 
Numerous observations leave no space for doubt 
regarding phosphorescence of the drops of rain in 
certain storms. The phosphoric light produced in 
these circumstances shows itself upon the coats of 
travellers, or on the borders of their hats, ete. 
This phenomenon astonished M. de Saussure whilst 
travelling on the summit of the Breven ; whenever 
he lifted his hand, he felt a sort of creeping sensa- 
tion in the fingers, and in a short time an electric 
spark was drawn from a golden button affixed to 
the hat of his companion, M. Jalabert. The storm 
roared in the clouds around him. 
A somewhat similar phenomenon occurred to 
Dr. Kane, the intrepid Arctic explorer, which, for 
certain reasons, we shall speak of in a future 
chapter. 
On the 25th of January, 1822, during a heavy 
shower of snow, M. de Thielaw, on his route to 
