PHOSPHORUS IN SEEDS. . 4g^P 



found in an organ so essential has sowe influence in the cence of fish 

 phosphorescence of fish ; and that hereafter perhaps we may ^"^ °^"*' ^^* 

 discover this singular property to be owing to the same 

 cause, not only in several marine animals, but also in several 

 insects that dwell upon land. 



VI. 



On the Phosphorus, that Seeds afford by Distillation; and 

 on the Decomposition of Alkaline Phosphates by Charcoal: 

 by Theodore de Saussure ♦. 



Sect. 1. X HE interesting inquiries of Messrs. Fourcroy phosphorus in 

 and Vanquelin on the roe of fishes published in the Annales animal 

 de Chimie f, and their discovery of phosphorus in the com- 

 bustible state among the products of the disftillation of this 

 animal substance, led to the observations that form the sub- 

 ject of this paper. 



In the account of their labours it is said, that phosphorus g^j vegetable 

 bad never before been supposed to be found in any orga- substances. 

 nized substance, except by MargrafT in mustard seed ; and 

 this they conceive to have been accidental, as their examina- 

 tion of this seed gave no trace of it %. 



The silence of modern writers on this discovery of Mar- Margraff not 

 graff seems to render it questionable; since the observation the only che- 



• 1 1 -1 • /• 1 , mist that found 



appears too singular and striking, tor no one to have at- phosphorus in 



tempted to confirm it and investigate its cause. That che- seeds, 

 inist however does not claim for himself the discovery of 

 phosphorus in the distillation of seeds. He first speaks of 

 Albinus and Hoffmann, who had before obtained phospho- 

 rus by distilling the seeds of mustard, rue, and rocket, 

 with a very vehement fire. He afterward mentions Pott, 

 who had taught him, that wheat, rye, and other grain, 

 yielded phosphorus. Ai.d lastly he relates his own results, 

 which confirm those of his predecessors. Such testimony 

 could have left no doubt of the reality of the observation; 



• Axinales de Chimie, vol LXV, p. 189. 



t Vol. LXIV, p. 6. See ihe piRcediog article. J See p, 278. 



if 



