HISTORICAL NOTES. 173 
luminous, and that when it had ceased to shine, 
the ight could be brought back again by rubbing 
the hand over the board. 
In 1592, Fabricio d’ Aquapendente brought for- 
ward the first observation of phosphorescent flesh, 
which Robert Boyle afterwards attempted so 
energetically to explain. 
In 1602, Cascariolo discovered the famous 
Bologna stone, in the manner already described. 
In 1663, Robert Boyle found that diamonds 
possessed the properties of solar-phosphorus. 
In 1669, Brandt discoverd the chemical element 
phosphorus, re-discovered by Kunckel in 1674, 
and, according to some, by Robert Boyle in 1680. 
Boyle’s account of this new substance was indeed 
only published in 1680. Some authors say that 
he saw phosphorus in the hands of Kraft, and 
knew that it was extracted from some matter 
pertaining to the human body; others say that 
Brandt had partially communicated his secret to 
Kunckel. However this may be, the discovery, 
after all, was made by Brandt. 
The remarkable light emitted by phosphorus 
in the dark, known at present to be an effect of 
oxidation, was supposed to be owing to combus- 
tion ; and strange to say, this opmion, which was 
not till long afterwards confirmed by direct ex- 
periment, was the exact representation of the 
phenomenon. 
