I have cemented it to wood, metal, glass, sealing-wax, etc., when I have electrified without any great effect.

The human body, therefore, must contribute something to it.

This opinion is confirmed by my observing that unless I hold the phial in my hand I cannot fire spirits of wine with it."(2) But it seems that none of the men who saw this account were able to repeat the experiment and produce the effects claimed by Von Kleist, and probably for this reason the discovery of the obscure Pomeranian was for a time lost sight of.
Musschenbroek's discovery was made within a short time after Von Kleist's--in fact, only a matter of about two months later.

But the difference in the reputations of the two discoverers insured a very different reception for their discoveries.

Musschenbroek was one of the foremost teachers of Europe, and so widely known that the great universities vied with each other, and kings were bidding, for his services.