108 EMISSION OF LIGHT BY 



The next account of a similar appearance was 

 described by Bartholin, the celebrated Danish 

 philosopher, as seen at Montpelier in 1641. A 

 poor woman had bought a piece of flesh in the 

 market, intending to make use of it the day fol- 

 lowing ; but happening not to sleep well that 

 night, and her bed and pantry being in the same 

 room, she observed so much light come from the 

 flesh as to illuminate all the place where it hung. 

 This flesh was shown to many persons as a curi- 

 osity, and kept till it began to putrefy, when the 

 light vanished. 



After these come Boyle's observations alluded 

 to above. 



It has often occurred to me that this singular 

 production of light in dead animal matter precedes 

 putrefaction; no disagreeable smell is observed 

 until the luminous appearance has lasted some 

 time. Boyle was also aware of this, for he says, 

 "Notwithstanding the great number of lucid 

 parts/' referring to his neck of veal, " not the least 

 degree of stench was perceivable to infer any putre- 

 faction." 



Water does not destroy the phosphorescence of 

 dead animal matter ; but alcohol, acids, etc., soon 

 extinguished it. According to Boyle's experi- 

 ments, a piece of shining flesh shone less, but did 

 not lose its light, when placed in the exhausted 

 receiver of an air-pump ; " but," he adds, ( ' by the 



