Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 002.djvu/207

 a couple of Notes, that I find next to those just now transcribed.

I made the like Tryal with rectified Oyl of Turpentine, with a not unlike success. The same Experiment I tried more than once with high rectified Spirit of Wine, which did immediately destroy all the light of the Wood that was immersed in it; and having put a little of that Liquor with my linger upon a part of the whole piece of Wood that shone very vigorously, it quickly did, as it were, quench the Coal as far as the Liquor reach'd; not did it in a pretty while regain its luminousness: (Which whether it recover'd at all, I know not; for this Trial being made upon my Bed, I fell asleep, before I had waited long enough to finish the Observation.)

5. As a Quick Coal if not to be extinguisht by the coldness of the Air, when that is greater than ordinary; so neither is a piece of Shining Wood to be deprived of its light by the same quality of Air.

As much of this Observation as concerns the Coal, will be readily granted, and for proof of the other part of it, I could relate to you more Trials than one, but that I suppose, one may suffice, circumstanc'd like that, which I shall now relate.

I took a small piece of Shining Wood, and put it into a slender Glass-pipe, sealed at one end, and open at the other, and placed this Pipe in a Glass Vessel, where I caused to be put a strongly frigorifick mixture of Ice and Salt, and having kept it there full as long as I thought would be requisie to freeze an Aqueous Body, I afterwards took it out, and perceived not any sensible Diminution of its light. But to be sure, the frigorifick mixture should not deceive me, I had placed by this Pipe another, almost filed with Water, which I found to be turn'd into Ice; and though I suffered the Wood to remain, a pretty while after, exposed to so intense a Cold, yet when I took it out, it continued shining, and, if I much mistake not, it ceased not to do so, when I look'd on it, 24 hours after. But though the light of Shining Fish be usually (as far as I have observed) more vigorous and durable, than that of Shining Wood; yet I cannot say, that it will hold out against Cold so well as the other: For having ordered one of my Servants to cut off a good large piece