■ VOL. XLIII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 141 



which go out of the mouth by breathing, and which might be gathered in drops 

 on a looking-glass. As also, that in the space of one night, it is customary to 

 discharge about 1 6 ounces of urine, 4 of concocted excrements by stool, and 40 

 and more by perspiration [Aphor. 59]. He teaches also, that numbness is an 

 effect of too much internal heat, by which is prevented such an insensible trans- 

 , piration as is proved. On this supposition, that the effluvia of such an insensible 

 transpiration are an inflammable mine, easily apt to kindle, whenever a friction, 

 be it ever so small, puts them in quick motion, and increases their velocity. We 

 acknowledge the discovery of this evident truth from Mr. Hauksbee, in the 

 experiment of the glass globe, p. 30. 



The friction of the palms of our hands, or of any other parts of our body, may 

 produce those fires commonly called ignes lambentes. We learn of Eusebius 

 Nierembergius, that such was the property of all the limbs of the father of 

 Theodoricus : such were those of Charles Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, as Bar- 

 tholin notices. By the testimony of John Fabri, M. D. a noted philosopher, who 

 taw it, sparkles of light flashed out of the head of a woman, while she combed 

 her hair. Scaliger relates the same of another woman. Cardan us, of a Carmelite 

 Monk, whose head continued 13 years to flash out sparkles, every time he tossed 

 his cowl on his shoulders. Ezekiel a Castro, M. D. a famous Jew, and after- 

 wards a Christian, wrote a little treatise, entitled, Ignis Lambens; on the occa- 

 sion that the Countess Cassandra Buri, of Verona, when she rubbed her arms 

 with a cambric handkerchief, all the skin shined with a very bright light. Eusebius 

 relates the same of Maximus Aquilanus. Licetus heard his father say, that he 

 saw the same quality on Francis Guido, a civilian ; and that he himself knew 

 Antony Cianfio, a bookseller in Pisa, who, when he shifted, shined all over with 

 great brightness. Libavius relates the same of a youth ; and Cardanus of a friend 

 of his; saying, that, when he shifted, clear sparkles of fire shot from his body. 

 Father Kircher, a Jesuit, relates, that going in company into a subterranean 

 grotto at Rome, saw sparkles of fire evaporate from the heads of his companions^ 

 become warm by walking. Father Alphonso d'Ovale was eye-witness on the 

 highest mountains of Peru and Chili, how both men and beasts there seem 

 shining with the brightest light from top to toe. 



These flames seem harmless, but it is only for want of proper fuel. Peter 

 Bovisteau asserts, that such sparkles reduced to ashes the hair of a young man. 

 John de Viana, in his treatise entitled, De Peste Malagensi, p. 46, relates how 

 the wife of Dr. Freilas, physician to Cardinal de Royas, Archbishop of Toledo, 

 sent forth naturally, by perspiration, a fiery matter, of such a nature, that if the 

 roller that she wore over her shift was taken from her, and exposed to the cold 

 air, it immediately was kindled, and shot forth like grains of gunpowder.* 



* Pet. Borelli gives aii instance of such effluvia not only producing light, but likewise fire. See 



