Phosphorescence 309 



to their heart's desire whether this splendor was stolen or received 

 from the sun and moon." He did, however, possibly as an excuse 

 for including the stone in his Pharmacopea,^ state: ^ 



So far the known use of this stone has been only external. From it is 

 made the lixivium for the psilothrum (a depilatory) , which could be 

 profitably applied to the beard and for removing hair if it did not have 

 such offensive smell, but this, I think, could easily be corrected with 

 moschus or some sweet smell. The very quality which is the most won- 

 derful feature of the stone does not have any practical use, except that 

 it delights the eyes, as usually happens to be the case with newly found 

 things. 



OVIDIO MONTALBANI 



The Bolognian phosphor stimulated many illustrious persons to 

 write, and Ovidio Montalbani (1601-167 1) , professor of astronomy 

 and mathematics at Bologna, published a short account in 1634, De 

 Illuminabili Lapide Bononiensi Epistola. Montalbani's ideas were 

 expressed in reply to a letter dated Verona, October 23, 1633, from 

 Count Majolino Bisaccioni (1582-1633) an Italian soldier, diplomat, 

 and author of Astrono^nia Microcosmica, who stated that thirty years 

 ago he had been shown the stone by Vincento Cascariolo himself 

 and begged an explanation of its marvels. Bisaccioni wrote: ^ 



I want to trace this stone and its operations. My mind soars to higher 

 things and rejoices to have found a body which is a receptacle of the 

 heavenly light. Therefore I call your Lordship to work, to help, for I 

 know that you have left behind the ordinary paths and are searching 

 earnestly into the inner chambers of science. I know how illuminated 

 your intellect is, therefore I call you into the ring, search for the stone 

 and once you have found it, pass it on to me. And not enough, explore 

 its anatomy and disclose your findings. . . , 



* Despite the rather striking properties of the Bononian phosphor, the material 

 found no great use in medicine at any time. All accounts mention its ability to remove 

 hair. In A compleat history of drugs, written in Freyich by Monsieur Pomet, chief 

 druggist to the late French King Lewis XIV, to which is added what is further obser- 

 able from Mess. Lemery and Tournefort, etc., by John Hill (third ed., London, 1737) , 

 the only phosphor mentioned is the Bolognian variety, which is again described as 

 " Depilatory; and being powder'd and mix'd with Water to the Consistance of a Paste, 

 may be apply'd to any Part of the Skin where there is Hair to be taken off." C. Mentzel 

 (Ephem. Dec I, An. 4 and 5) reported that, taken internally, it caused vomiting and 

 quoted Licetus that it relieved gout. 



Johann Friedrich Cartheuser (1704-1777) the German physician and pharmacologist 

 at the University of Frankfort-on-the Oder, wrote a text book of chemistry in 1736 

 and Fundamenta materiae medicae in 1749, introducing many new drugs. He gave a 

 detailed description of the preparation of the Bononian and Balduinian phosphors 

 as a footnote to a chapter dealing with quick-lime. Lime water was recommended for 

 cachexia, scurvy, dropsy and many other conditions but the phosphors were not 

 specifically prescribed. A French translation, Materie medicale, appeared at Paris in 

 1755. 



