706 On the Theory of Phosphorescence. [December, 
and the earth for a distance equal to that from Vesuvius to 
Paris rung with the thunder-shout of the liberated prisoner ” 
(p. 172). 
The anonymous writer of an article in “ Blackwood’s 
Magazine ” for July, 1869, entitled “ A New Theory of 
Earthquakes and Volcanoes,” must now be noticed. The 
“ new ” theory advanced is the eledtrical origin of earth- 
quakes ; and the writer had evidently neither heard of the 
labours of Stukeley and Beccaria, nor had he examined the 
writings of Mallet, Humboldt, and Pliny. The paper is, 
however, of great interest, and the following are some of 
the author’s conclusions : — “ It is the earth which is the 
chief cause of all our thunderstorms.” . . . “ The atmo- 
sphere plays a secondary role compared with the solid earth.” 
... “ It is the condition of the earth’s crust which forms 
the main element of eledtrical adtion.” . . . “ We may aptly 
describe earthquakes as thunderstorms in the earth.” . . . 
“ Volcanoes are vents which the subterranean eledtric adtion 
makes for itself, or for its effedts, in those regions or locali- 
ties where it is strongest or most permanent.” 
(To be continued.) 
II. ON THE THEORY OF PHOSPHORESCENCE* 
By Br. Radziszewski. 
< 2 _£ 
f N a former investigation on the phosphorescence of 
organic and organised bodies, the author arrived at 
the conclusion that various organic bodies become 
luminous when they combine with adtive oxygen in presence 
of an alkali. All bodies whose luminosity has been tested, 
amounting to several hundreds, can be divided into two 
groups : — 
1. Such as on the addition of an alkali become luminous 
when they already contain adtive oxygen, which is 
formed in them under the influence of an exciting 
agent, — e.g., sun-light. 
* Read before the German Chemical Society. 
