S5b On Spb7iianectJS Iiifiammations. 



each other while thty sti!! retain their moisture^ enter into 

 fermentation ; a change is eifected in their composition, and 

 they often become so much heated as to inflame. In ihi3 

 manner, haystacks, turf, fiax, hemp, straw, and heaps oi' 

 rags in paper manufactories, take fire. 



"The principal precautions ought to be employed in regard 

 to hay ; if cut in a rainy season, it is generally stacked b-^lore 

 it is completely dry, and in this state it is the more disposed 

 to ferment and become hot. As soon as a stack of hay is 

 observed to be in a state of fermentation, care must be taken 

 not to throw jt down too speedily. The exterior strata ought 

 to be s!ov.-ly detached one after 'the other. When an open- 

 ing is iliade in the middle of a healed mass of hay, it almost 

 alvvavs happens that the fire s-jddenly bursts forth. 



Ivorhing, however, is easier than to prevent such fatal 

 acciilent*. When it is apprehended that hay about to be 

 Slacked is not completely dry, it will be sufficient to slrcw 

 over each stratum a few handiuls of muriate of soda (com- 

 mon sail). The expense in this case ought to be a consi- 

 deration of no importance; for the salt, by absorbing the 

 moisture of the hay, not only prevents its fermentation, 

 and the inflannnutioa which thence results, but it adds also 

 to the hav a savour which excites the appetite of the cattle, 

 assists their digestion, and preserves them from a great many 

 diseases. 



Durina; the great heats of summer it often happens that 

 heaps of dunL"" inflame spontaneously. Great care therefore 

 must be taken to water dunghrlls from time to time, and 

 to keep them at a certain distance from'houses, both to piX'- 

 rent lires and for the sake of salubrity. 



.5. The ^'J ecu mutation of Animal mid Vcgatahle Substances 

 cohered with Oil. 



If animal and vegetable substances heaped up in a large 

 mass can be inlhnned in consecjuence of the heat produced 

 bv their decomposition, this accident is n)orc to be appre- 

 headed when tliey are covered v.ith oily matters, and espe- 

 cially a drving ail. 



Besides the accident v.-jiich happened at the mar.uf-ictory 

 of Lagelbart, and of which Mv colleague Haussnian has 

 given an accou\it, and the fire which took place in one of 

 the finest manafactories^ at Sainte Marie-aux-Mines, we 

 have other instances of wool, stuft", and pieces of cloih 

 which were not scoured taking fire in magazines when 

 folded up, and even during the time of tiieir conveyance 

 from one place to aiiolherj wliea heaped upon each oihtM-. 



This 



