VOL. XVir.3 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 479 



used. Then this liquor was distilled with a moderate heat, till the spirituous 

 and saline parts were drawn off; after which, the superfluous moisture also was 

 evaporated, till the remaining substance was brought to the consistence of 

 a somewhat thick syrup, or a thin extract. This done, it was well incor- 

 porated with thrice its weight of fine white sand ; and the mixture being put 

 into a strong stone-retort, to which a large receiver, in a great measure filled 

 with water, was so joined, that the nose of the retort almost touched the 

 water : then the two vessels being carefully luted together, a naked fire was 

 gradually administered for 5 or 6 hours, that what was either phlegmatic or 

 volatile might come over first. When this was done, the fire was increased, 

 and at length for 5 or 6 hours made as strong and intense as the furnace was 

 capable of giving : which violence of fire is a circumstance not to be omitted in 

 this operation. By this means there came over a great deal of white fumes, 

 almost like those that appear in the distillation of the oil of vitriol ; and when 

 those fumes were passed, and the receiver became clear, they were a little after 

 succeeded by another sort, which seemed in the receiver to give a faint bluish 

 light, almost like that of little burning matches dipped in sulphur. And last of 

 all, the fire being very vehement, there passed over another substance, that 

 was judged more ponderous than the former, because it fell through the water 

 to the bottom of the receiver ; whence being taken out, and partly even whilst 

 it stayed there, it appeared by several effects, and other phaenomena, to be such 

 a kind of substance as we desired and expected. 



On the Wonderful Dome Temple at Delos. By Dr. JVullis. N° 196, p. 584. 



Translated from the Latin, 



In the island of Delos a temple, consecrated to geometry, was erected on a 



bear ; till at length being confident upon the nature of the thing, I would not believe the skilful 

 labourer when he told me with concern, that what I expected was not produced ; but going myself 

 to the laboratory, I quickly found, that by the help of the air or some agitation of what had passed 

 into the receiver, I could in a dark place, though it was then day, perceive some glimmerings of 

 light. But this tedious pursuit only gave me a liquid phosphorus, not such a solid one as that of 

 Mr. Kraaft ; and I was willing to think that this defect might be imputed to the cracking of the 

 retort, before the operation was quite finished. However, I have by this means found a substance 

 that needs nothing but the air to kindle it, and that in a moment." — In another place Mr. Boyle 

 says : " I will not positively affirm, that the matter I employed is the very same that was made use 

 of by the ingenious German chemist, &c." Again, " The foregoing observations were made uf)on 

 that substance, which I guess to be at least the chief employed by the Germans, &c." — Boyle's 

 Works abridged by Shaw. Vol. III. p. 174, 175, and 208. — It is scarcely necessary to add, that 

 the tedious and disgusting process of extracting phosphorus from urine is superseded by the new- 

 discovered method of procuring it from bones. 



