On Luminous appearances in the Atmosphere. 341 
Our coal yields 64. 5 carbon, 33, bitumen, 2. 5 earth and 
oxid of iron. ‘These proportions vary a littl—the best 
eoal for domestic use is considered to be that which has the 
-most bitumen with the least earth. | 
Whether the immense increase in the consumption of 
eoal, and the vast volume of smoke that envelopes the town, 
together with the floating particles of soot that are con- 
stantly inhaled, may not have expelled the disease on the 
‘principle of burnt sponge; is a question I leave for those 
who are professionally qualified to answer. 
My object is not to offer any speculations on this matter, 
but merely to correct the case stated for argument, from 
the few facts within my own observation: I prefer your 
Journal for that purpose 3 as the subject comes fairly within 
the department of general science ; if the phenomenon of 
Goitre is attributable to causes existing in the geological fea- 
tares of particular districts.—Very respectfully Sir, 
Your humble serv’t. 
W. H. DENNY. 
Arr. XIX.— On Luminous appearances in the Atmosphere; 
by J. A. Auuen, A.M. Lecturer on Chemistry in Mid- 
dlebury College. 
(Communicated for the American Journal of Science.) 
On the evening of the 18th of January I'817, daring a 
rapid fall of moist snow, attended with repeated claps of 
thunder; lights or luminous appearances were seen in the 
atmosphere in many places on the Green Mountains — 
The lights were observed by different persons in the towns 
‘of Andover, Jamaica, Wardsborough, Dover, Somerset, 
“Stratton and New Fane. . 
In all these places the lights were described as having the 
“Same appearance. ‘They were observed on the tops of 
bushes, fences, houses &c. Some persons represented 
them as appearing like the blaze of candles, but all agreed 
‘that they were luminous spaces which appeared to rest on 
pointed or elevated substances—In some instances, persons 
who were travelling, suddenly observed a light surrounding 
iheir heads; in others they were completely enveloped in a 
light but little less than the ordinary light of the sun—Several 
_persons found when they elevated their hands, that the light 
Voir TVia.aNo. 2. 18 
