( 66 ) 
I did not content my felf to work upon the Uri- 
tious Sapo of Man only, but examined likewife the 
Excrements of other Animals as for Example, of 
Horfes, Cows, Sheep, &c. and got ‘Phofphorus, but 
not in fo great Quantities as from Man ; probably 
becaufe they feed on nothing but Vegetables. I then 
examin’d the Dens of Lions, Tygers, and Bears, ma- 
king Experiments on their Excrements, and likewife 
on thofe of Cats and Dogs, which being carnivorous 
Animals, I obtain’d more Phofpborus thence than 
from the other Creatures : My Curiofity led me like- 
wife to the Rats-Nefts, and Moufe-Holes, and I had 
Phofpborus thence. I then addrefs’d my felf to the 
feather’d Tribe, vifiring the Hen-Roofts, and Pidgeon- 
Houfes, and got fome fmall Matters thence alfo : 
I emptied the Guts of Filh in order to get their Ex- 
crements, and had a little Phofpborus from thefe, but 
none from the Fifhes by themfelves. 
I' was next induc’d by Kunckel' s Alfertion to try 
what I could obtain out of crude Vegetables, viz. 
Corn and other Fruit : I thought that Putrefaftion 
would bring them the nigheft to an Ammoniac and 
urinous State, becaufe of the Heat that is produced 
in them by it; but my Labour was all in vain. 
After thefe Experiments, I took in Hand Foffils and 
Minerals : I began with the common Foffil Coal, 
thinking that the Phlogijton in this Bituminous Sub- 
ftance might have been to my Purpofe ; but I found 
nothing therein like Phofpborus , there coming over 
only a Bituminous Oil, and at laft by encreafing the 
lire to the higheft Degree, there fublimed fome white 
Talfikly Flowers, which were neither Sulphureous, 
