17^ Means for preventing the fatal CoitsequenCes 



their clothes taking fire. Desirous of ascertaining how far 

 persons in that horrible situation are likely lo be relieved 

 by the judgment and exertions of those who might casually 

 be near them, I have for some time past made a point of 

 turning the' conversation to this subject, among friends, ac- 

 quaintance, and strangers j and regularly inquired of the 

 men, how they would act, supposing themselves itte a tcte 

 with aiady whose clothes had caught fire. I found them 

 generally slow to reply ; — that not one of them appeared at 

 all prepared against such an event ^ and that their resources 

 were few and shockingly defective. Some thought they 

 iTHist be guided by circumstances : forgetting that coolness 

 and decision, which are essentially requisite in such trying 

 predicaments, do not attend all men in the moment of 

 alarm and danger. Others would pull off their coat to put 

 over the flames and smother them : — hut the greater num- 

 ber were for rolling her in a carpet. None ever mentioned 

 any thing preferable : This last expedient appeared to be 

 thought »the best that could be devised — the ne plus ultra,-^' 

 It had not however occurred to them that the apartment 

 might not be furnished with a carpet. This sad experience 

 leads me to fear, that whoever will take the trnuble to 

 repeat the experiment among his fiiends and acquaintance, 

 will not obtain any more satisfactory results. 



Although the insufficiency of these means must on a mo- 

 ment's retiection be obvious to the humblest capacity, still a 

 kind of infatuation has made them be persevered in without 

 further thoughj: — No rational plan is formed — All is in fact 

 left to chance; the consequence of which must necessarily 

 prove fatal in nine instances out often. 



In circumstances of this nature, relief itself would be ex- 

 treme torture, unless it be prompt : not an instant must be 

 lost : but while chairs, tables, and other incumbrances are to 

 be removed off the carpet ; and before the sufferer can be laid 

 down in it, or that it can be drawn over her, the flames will 

 make rapid progress ; and until she is entirely wrapped up in 

 it, the flames are fanned and urged by the operation, which 

 moreover takes up too much time. 



Considering the multitude of valuable lives which have 



perished 



