Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-07-19
Reproduction of Vegetable
Forms.
CURIOUS FACTS.

That there Is some mysterious essence
about bodies, both animal and vegetable,
by which their forms separate from their
natural bodies" are sometimes presented
to the senses, by reflection or some other
means, there seems to be much reason to
believe. By the help of some chemical
preparations the light of the sun transfers
to metallic plate the apparent form of any
object with the greatest minuteness and
perfection, and leaves it there permanently
fixed. Vessels hundreds of miles at sea, in
certain states of the atmosphere, have been
sometimes seen floating in the air near the
shore with perfect distinctness. The APP
peafance Of human forms about burying
grounds, though in most cases perhaps,
having no existence except in the excited
Imagination or superstitious fears Of the
behoders, may sometimes be reality the
result of natural cause, which may here
after come to be regarded natural process
as much as the growth of plant from the
seed.
My thoughts were turned to this subject
at this time by some singular paragraphs in
a late number of the London Mechanics
Magazine" one of which is said to be an
extract from work of Gtinger, entitled
Thoughts on the two faculties of Feeling
and knowing" which is as foIlows:-
81 chopped up some balm, but it into
large glass retort, poured rain water upon
it, connected the retort with good sized
receiver, and let it heat at cuppel, gently
at first, then more strongly. Upon this,
there went into the water yellow greenish
oil it took up the whole space of the re-
ceiver, and swan on the surface Of the wa
ter the thickness of the back of table
knife. This oil had the form Of innumera-
dte balm ledueS, which did not lap over or
run into one another, but lay side by side,
each perfectly drawn and with the distinct
ness of all the lines of balm leaf let it
stand long time, that all about me might
observe it. At last shook the receiver,
because l had to pour it out; the leaves
ran together, but in less than minute re-
stored themselves to their former position
more distinctly"
The writer in the Magazine follows this
quotation by saying
Chemists show that that the palinge-
nese (being born again) or the resurrection
of plants, is very possible. Able chemists
in great numbers have made experiments by
which, placing the ashes of plant in a
vial, these ashes exhale and arrange them
selves as nearly as they can in the very fig
ure which the Author of nature first i'm
pressed upon them.
"The Able Vallemont, in his treatise on
the curiosites in nature and art, teaches
the secret of making his palingenese. He
says that Father Scott, Jesuit, assured
him that when he was in Rome he had the
satisfaction to see the rose made to arise
from its ashes whenever it was desired, by
simply employing little heat. The same
author also caught the art of using some
mineral water which caused plant, dead
down to the roots, to become green as in
life. From this pahngenese, we come to
the patingeneSe of animals.
"Ga6erel, very able chemist, states
that M. Duchine, one of the best chemists
of the age, reported that he had seen very
able physician in Cracow, who kept in walls
ashes of almost all plants, so that when any
curious person desired to see, for example,
a rose in phial he took one containing the
ashes of the rose well preserved, and warm
ing it over lighted candle, after becoming
warm the ashes were seen to be in motion.
A little cloud arose, and after some motion
of the vial, soon assumed the form and CO.
Tor OF the rose, so fresh, and SO perfect and
beautiful that one would believe he could
smell its sweet odor."