Chap. 38.] Superjlitious Terrors. -251 



digefcing fome phofphorus in the heat afforded by 

 horfe-dung for two days, in oil of cloves, oil of tur- 

 pentine, or any fimilar fubftance. v After diflblution, 

 the oil will be fo impregnated with it, that when the 

 phial is opened, it will appear luminous. Any thing 

 moidened wich this fluid will in the dark feem to be 

 on fire. 



Many natural phenomena, which in the ages of fii- 

 perfthion ferved to aftonifh and affright mankind, have 

 received a fatisfa&ory folution from the difcoveiy of 

 the phofphorus of Kunkel. We learn from Fabricius 

 ab aquapendente, that three young men at Padua, hav- 

 ing bought a lamb, and eaten part of it on Eafter 

 Day, 1592, feveral pieces of the remainder, which 

 were kept till the day following, (hone like fo many 

 candles when cafually viewed in the dark. It appears 

 by his account, that the aftonifhment of the whole 

 city was excited by this phenomenon, and a part of 

 the fiefli was fent to him, who was profeflbr of ana- 

 tomy, to be examined by him. He obferved, that 

 thofe parts which were fofc to the touch and tranipa- 

 rent in candle light were the mod refplendent. A phi- 

 lofopher of not lefs note, has furniihed us with a very- 

 pompous account of a fimilar phenomenon, which oc- 

 curred at Montpelier in 1641. A poor old woman 

 had bought a piece of flefh in the market, intending to 

 make ufe of ic the day following: but happening not 

 to deep well that night, and her pantry being adjoining 

 to her bed, fhe obferved that a quantity of light pro- 

 ceeded from the meat, fo as to illuminate aimofr. the 

 whole place where it hung. We may eafily judge of 

 the terror and aftonifhment of the poor woman hcr- 

 felf, fince we find that a part of the fielh was carried, 

 as a very extraordinary curiofity, to Henry Duke of 

 oncje, who viewed it with the utmoft furprize for 



feveral 



