VOL. XLIII.] * PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 151 



Galen takes it for the soul, and more modem writers have supposed it to 

 be the very spirit, the archeus, and others the vital heat; but have all treated 

 of it as a certain degree of fire existing in animals ; not having any notion that 

 the element of fire might be absorbed, or lie latent, in fluid bodies, ready to 

 become active as soon as it meets with air, or even to kindle, if it meets with 

 sulphureous particles under proper circumstances. This probably the ancients, 

 in the veryearliest ages of the world, had some notions of; when they thought 

 proper to communicate to the vulgar some shadows only of more profound and 

 real knowledge under types and fables, as handed down to us in the fictions of the 

 poets. Of this kind, and quite to our purpose, seems the fiction of Prometheus 

 stealing fire from heaven to animate his men with, to be one. And on this prin- 

 ciple of phosphorus existing in animals, we may easily explain the cause of those 

 melancholy accidents which have happened to some of the human species, as 

 that of the lady at Cesena in Italy, the carpenter in Hampshire, and the woman 

 lately at Ipswich; who, it is most probable, were all set on fire by lightning. 

 It may be said, many are struck by lightning, but not set on fire: but it is to 

 be remarked, that the lady at Cesena had charged all her pores and absorbent 

 vessels with a great quantity of camphor; the woman at Ipswich had drank 

 plentifully of gin ; and as for the carpenter, that circumstance is not recorded of 

 him, whether he was a hard drinker or not; which circumstances must greatly 

 promote the kindling the phosphoreal fire in them ; and, as this pabulum was 

 conveyed into the most minute capillary vessels, might produce an almost instan- 

 taneous deflagration and dissolution of all the solid containing parts. 



Animals appearing more susceptible of electric fire than other bodies, greatly 

 confirms these conjectures of the phosphoreal principles ; and probably being ren- 

 dered electric to any high degree might prove a dangerous experiment to a person 

 habituated to a plentiful use of spirituous liquors, or to embrocations with cam- 

 phorated spirit of wine; on the contrary, in some languid, cold, or worn-out 

 constitutions, possibly fiiture experiments may evince, that electricity may be 

 used medically, in order to renew and regenerate a proper quantity of vital fire, 

 such as is necessary for the conveniently carrying on, and performing the animal 

 functions. 



Experiments and Observations, tending to illustrate the Nature and Properties of 

 Electricity. By Wm JVatson, F.R.S. N°477, p. 481. 



The Society having heard, from some of their correspondents in Germany, 

 that what they call a vegetable quintessence had been fired by electricity, Mr. W. 

 succeeded, after having been disappointed in many attempts, in setting spirits of 

 wine on fire by that power. 



The preceding part of the week had been remarkably warm, and the air very 



