POTASH AND PHOSPHORUS 33 



capable of turning all metals into gold. Behold him, 

 then, boiling urine, evaporating it, and cooking the 

 disgusting sediment, first with this, then with that, 

 until at last one evening he saw something shining in 

 his phials. It was not gold, but something more use- 

 ful: it was phosphorus, which to-day gives us fire. 

 Don't make fun of old Brandt and his foolish cook- 

 ing: in seeking the impossible he made one of the 

 most important discoveries. To him we owe the sul- 

 phur match, that precious source of light and fire so 

 easily and quickly used. 



"If you examine a sulphur match you will see that 

 the inflammable tip contains two substances: sul- 

 phur, laid on to the wood, and another substance 

 added to the sulphur. This last is phosphorus, col- 

 ored with a blue, red, or brown powder, according to 

 the caprice of the manufacturer. Phosphorus by it- 

 self is slightly yellow in color and translucent like 

 wax. Its name means 'tight-bearer.' When rubbed 

 gently between the fingers in the dark, it does indeed 

 give out a pale gleam. At the same time there is a 

 smell of garlic; it is the odor of phosphorus. This 

 substance is excessively inflammable : with very little 

 heat or with slight friction against a hard surface, 

 it catches fire. Henoe its use in the manufacture of 

 matches. 



"Phosphorus is a horribly poisonous substance. 

 By melting a little of it in grease a poison can be 

 obtained that will destroy rats and mice. Crusts of 

 bread are smeared with this composition and exposed 

 in places frequented by these animals. A nibble is 



