( *7 ) 
nor Acid, nor Alcalick, but infipid like Talck j fo I 
gave up all further Experiments upon other Minerals. 
I have often wifhed for a fufficient Quantity of 
the Flies which fliine in the Dark, whereof there are 
great Numbers in Italy , efpeciaiiy in fufcany ; or 
of our common Glow-worms, which fee m to have 
Phofphorus lodged in their Bodies. 
Our Phofphorus is a Subject that occupies much 
the Thoughts and Fancies of fome Afch'ytrtifts, who 
work on Microcofmical Subftances ; and out of it they 
promifethemfelves Golden Mountains. Of this Num- 
ber was the famous Dr. Dickinfon , Phyfician to King 
Charles II : He toiled and laboured many Years in Ex- 
periments upon the Stercus humanum ; and hath feveral 
times with the greateffc Pleafure fhew’d me Metallic 
Regains’ s, he had extracted from it. This is what I 
have often done my felf, and no Wonder ! for we 
take in daily with our Food, and fometimes in Me- 
dicines, both Mineral and Metallick Subftances, be- 
fides whatMetallick VeiTels, Kettles, Pots and Dilhes 
furnith: We fee a Solution of the Metal upon a Knife 
after cutting any acid Fruit, by the black Spots it 
hath upon it, and the metallick Tafte it communi- 
cates to the thing it cuts. 
. Dr. Lifer hath (hewn, that Stones out of the Hu- 
man Bladder being calcined. Iron may be extra&ed 
from them by a Loadftone. And the Great Boer- 
haave hath made it evident, by various Experiments,, 
that there- is fcarce any terreftrial Subftance, either 
in Men, Brutes or Plants, which after Uftion doth 
riot exhibit fome metallick Particles. Dr. Becher 
faith, that out of Brick-Earth mix’d with any Fat 
or Oil, and calcined in the Fire, he hath produced 
Iron % : 
