VOL. XC.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 635 



the flesh and roes, infused in the saline menstruums, continued to emit light for 

 several days, without undergoing any apparent putrefactive change. 



Obser. 3. The experiments likewise render it probable, that no offensive putre- 

 faction takes place in the sea, after the death of such myriads of animals as must 

 needs daily perish in the vast ocean, quite contrary to what happens on land ; and 

 that the flesh of marine fishes remains pretty sweet for some time, and may become 

 wholesome food for many kinds of those which still remain alive. An eminent 

 instance this, of the wisdom of the Creator, in the construction of the aqueous 

 part of the world, which comprehends, by far, the greatest portion of the terra- 

 queous globe, and is the most replete with animal life ! 



Section 3. Some Bodies or Substances have a Power of extinguishing spontaneous 



Light, when it is applied to them. 

 Expers. The luminous matter proceeding from the herring and the mackerel, 

 was quickly extinguished when mixed with the following substances: 1. Water 

 alone. 2. Water impregnated with quick-lime. 3. Water impregnated with car- 

 bonic acid gas. 4. Water impregnated with hepatic gas. 5. Fermented liquors. 

 6. Ardent spirits. 7. Mineral acids, both in a concentrated and diluted state. 8. 

 Vegetable acids. Q. Fixed and volatile alkalis, when dissolved in water. ]0. 

 Neutral salts : viz. saturated solutions of Epsom salt, of common salt, and of sal 

 ammonia. 1 1 . Infusions of chamomile flowers, of long pepper, and of cam- 

 phor, made with boiling-hot water, but not used till quite cool. 12. Pure honey, 

 if used alone. 



Section 4. Other Bodies or Substances have a Power of preserving spontaneous 

 Light for some Time, when it is applied to them. 

 Eocper. 1 . Some luminous matter scraped from the herring, was mixed with a 

 solution of 2 dr. of Epsom salt in 2oz. of cold pump water: after shaking very 

 well for some time the phial which contained them, the whole liquid became richly 

 impregnated with light, and continued shining above 24 hours. This experiment 

 was frequently repeated, and with the same effect. — Exper. 2. Two dr. of Glau- 

 ber's salt and 2 oz. of water being mixed with herring light, the solution was 

 quickly made very lucent, and remained so till the succeeding evening. — Exper. 3. 

 Mackerel-light, being mixed with 2 dr. of Rochelle salt or tartarized natron, and 

 2 oz. of water, caused the fluid to be very luminous. — Exper. 4. Two dr. of soda 

 phosphorata and 2 oz. of water, mixed with herring-light, formed a very lucent 

 fluid, which retained the light for a long time. — Exper. 5. Herring-light, with 

 1 dr. of saltpetre or nitrated kali, and 2 oz. of water, made the solution pretty 

 luminous. — Exper. 6. Half a dr. of common salt dissolved in 2 oz. of water, with 

 the addition of mackerel-light, composed a very shining mixture, which retained 

 its splendour for the space of a day or 2. The same effect was produced by 

 herring light. — Exper. 7. Two oz. of sea-water, being agitated with the light of a 

 mackerel, soon obtained a brilliant illumination. The sea-water preserved its 

 luminousness for several days. The experiment was successfully repeated. — Exper. 



4 m 2 



