PHANTOMS. 141 



; 



a neighboring store, stating excitedly that the ghost of a 

 former market-man was hovering about his old stand. A 

 number of persons returned with him to the market, and 

 there saw a light, a dull yellowish gleam, about six feet in 

 length, proceeding apparently from some body lying in a 

 recumbent position. The crowd pressed in, and found the 

 ghost to be a large piece of fish that had become phospho- 

 rescent. 



Such occurrences are not uncommon, and show that phos- 

 phorescence is not confined to any special place, object, or 

 condition. As early as 1592 we read of its having caused 

 surprise and astonishment among the Romans. Several 

 young men having bought a lamb, and kept it over night 

 for an Easter feast on the following day, were amazed to 

 find that at night the flesh gleamed as if candles had been 

 placed upon it. So much interest was aroused by the occur- 

 rence, that the animal was sent to a scientist of the day, 

 Fabricio d'Acquapendente, for explanation ; but it was as 

 little understood then as it is to-day. This meat emitted 

 a white light, and it was communicated to a piece of kid's 

 meat that was placed in contact with it. 



Bartholin, the Danish philosopher, records an instance 

 that excited much interest in his day. A poor woman had 

 purchased a piece of meat; and, during the night having 

 to go to the pantry, was terrified by observing that it 

 was surrounded by a blaze of light. Many persons visited 

 the house, and it was noticed that as soon as putrefaction 

 commenced the light disappeared. 



According to M. Nueesh, in a certain butcher's shop the 

 meat became strongly phosphorescent, and remained so as 

 long as sound. If putrefaction set in, and Bacterium termo 



