112 On fromen'S and Children's Clothes catching Tire. 



si'.ch as these, if more projecting ones should be objected 

 to, might be used' in common sitting-rooms. One or two 

 strong metal bars would be some protection, if close wire- 

 uork should not be liked ; these of course should come 

 some way forward, otherwise \\\ty would not be of much 

 use. Certainly the safest are fenders of close wire-work 

 projecting into the room, sufficiently open to let the heat 

 through, but not any coals wliich might fly from the fire. 

 Nurseries in particular should have this sort. 



The second object which offers for consideration is to 

 check the progress of the flumes : one of tiie most evident 

 means of accomplishing this end, is tb wear dresses of ma- 

 terials which will not readily burn : but, as it is not pro- 

 bable that muslins and linens will be laid aside on account of 

 <he danger they expose the persons wearing them to, perhaps 

 some method may be adopted which may check the progress 

 of the tire in those substances. Experiments for this pur- 

 pose have been made (on a small scale) which very well 

 answered the end, but on account of the preparations used 

 (which were pot-ash and other alkaline substances) having 

 the property of imbibing moistuie in a great degree, it ren- 

 ders this exact method, it is feared, impracticable. 



It has baen recommended, that persons whose clothfs 

 have caught fire should immediately roll tkemseloes vp in 

 the carpet : but this excellent method of extinguishing the 

 flames is frequently quite impracticable, as it is customary 

 to nail down carpets to the floor, — a practice which should 

 never be suflisred in rooms where there is any danger of ac- 

 cidents of this kind happening ; nor should heavy tables or 

 other furniture be so placed on the carpet as to hinder it from 

 being easily rolled up- 



If a woollen cloth were constantly kept in nurseries and 

 sittini^-rooms, especially when there are fires, laid loose 

 upon the table or other piece of furniture, this being always 

 at hand, might be easily resorted to in case of accident, 

 and being wrapped tight roimd the flames, or strongly press- 

 ed against them, would, by excluding the air, no doubt, in 

 many instarces, soon extinguish the fire. A green Inize 

 cloth, which being very pliablC;, and likewise a neat cover 



to 



