The Seventeenth Century 123 



night cannot be found in the north and not in other parts of the 

 world." 



A far more important and complete Schediasma is that of Quintus 

 Septimus Florens Rivinus and Johannes Godofredus Boehme, 

 written for the degree of Bachelor and Master of Philosophy at 

 Leipzig in 1673. The thesis was in Latin, a nine-page pamphlet 

 entitled, De Noctu Lucentibus. The title page is reproduced as 

 figure 10. No original observations were made but the compilation 

 is remarkable for the complete roster of luminescences known to 

 classic and later writers, chiefly Gesner and Bartholin. Despite its 

 brevity, this pamphlet is a mine of information concerning both real 

 and false luminescences recognized in 1673. 



The authors begin: 



There are, principally, two kinds of bodies that shine at night: one 

 that throws ofE light and small sparks when an external motion strikes 

 it, and another that of itself gives off light without flame. The light 

 of the former is almost instantaneous and sometimes is seen even in 

 shady places; the light of the latter lasts longer and is seen only at night. 

 In the former class, the first place rightly belongs to man, from whose 

 body exhalations sometimes proceed, which resolve themselves into light 

 and flame. . . . 



Rivinus and Boehme then stated that the phenomena were usually 

 observed on prominent persons, and repeated the list of luminous 

 humans given by Bartholin, and the animals mentioned by him. 



Also included in the first category were " flames visible in dark- 

 ness with a clean odor of sulphur produced by the mutual collision 

 of Indian reeds, just as from steel and flint," and Bacon's little drops 

 of salt water that leap forth from the blow of oars and shine and 

 gleam," as well as " the gleaming sparks of sugar scraped or broken." 

 With the exception of sea water, these lights are instances of tribo- 

 luminescence. 



In the second group, Rivinus and Boehme mention a " giant's 

 tooth, which is visible by its own light in dark places and which 

 Petrus Charisius brought with him from Sicily." This phenomenon 

 is a mystery, perhaps reflected light. The eyes of men, particularly 

 men reputed to see in darkness, and likewise the eyes of animals 

 and of fishes were also classed in the second group. 



Regarding other animals, Rivinus and Boehme state: " Experi- 

 ence proves that there is light in shell-fish and marine testacea." 

 They included the much quoted crawfish luminescence of Allatius 

 and the sea lung (pulmo marinus) , the sea feather (penna marina) , 

 the dactyli (also called cappae longae, solenes or pholades) , and the 

 worms in oysters seen by Auzutus. 



