9<> Rapid DtforganiiiMtion of the Humati Body, 



is an eightieth, or nearly fo, of filver intimately combined ; 

 and that this (juantily is fufficient to give it very remarkable 

 properties, fiich as extraordinary hardnefs, and a frafture 

 which prefents, without continuity, rudiments of cryftailiza- 

 lion. 



C. Guyton concludes from thefe experiments on filver and 

 iron, as well as from thofe which he made on iron and lead, 

 that it can no longer be faid that thefe metals refufe to form 

 an alloy, and that there is aftually an union in their fufion ; 

 but that by a real quartation the greater part of the two metals 

 feparates while cooling in the ratio of their weight, and ex- 

 aa:ly as copper and lead feparate in grand metallurgic opera- 

 tions. 



RAPID DISORGANIZATION OF THE HUMAN BODY'. 



On the night of the i6th of March, 1802, in one of the 

 towns of the Slate of MaflTachufetts, the body of an elderly 

 woman evaporated and disappeared from fome internal and 

 unknown caufe, in the duration of about one hour and an 

 half. Part of the family had gone to bed, and the reft were 

 abroad. The old woman remained awake to take care of the 

 houfe. By and by one of the grand- children came home, 

 and difcovered the floor near the hearth to be on fire. An 

 alarm was made, a light brought, and means taken to ex- 

 tinguifli it. While thefe things were doing, fome fingular 

 appearances were obferved on Uie hearth and the contigu- 

 ous floor. There was a fort of greafy foot and alhes, with re- 

 mains of a human body, and an unufiial fmell in the room. All 

 the clothes were confumed ; and the grandmother was miffing. 

 It was at firll fuppofed flie had, in" attempting to light her 

 pipe of tobacco, fallen into the fire, and been burned to 

 death. But on confidering how fmall the fire was, and that 

 fo total a confumplion could fcarcely have happened if there 

 Lad been ten times as much, there is more reafon to con- 

 clude th?it this is another cafe of that fpontaneous decompo- 

 fition of the human body, of which there are feveral inftances 

 on record. It is to be regretted the particulars have not been 

 more carefully noted. 



