140 ■ On the Combujiion of the Human Body, 



caufe, as they were not attefted by a pro$es-verbal, and not 

 having been communicated by profeflional men, they do not 

 infpire the fame confidence. 



This colleftion of initances is fupported, therefore, by all 

 thofe authentic proofs which can be required to form human 

 teftlmony; for, while we admit the prudent doubt of Def- 

 cartes, we ought to rejeft the univerfal doubt of the Pyr- 

 rhonifts. The multiplicity and uniformity evenof thefe fafts, 

 which occurred in different places, and were attefted by fo 

 many enlightened men, carry w ith them conviftion ; they 

 have fuch a relation to each other that we are inclined to 

 afcribe them to the fame caufe. 



I. The perfons who experienced the effefts of this com- 

 buftion had for a long time made an immoderate ufc of Ipi- 

 rituous liquors. 



a. The combuftion took place only in women. 



3. Thefe women were far advanced in life. 



4. Their bodies did not take fire fpontaneoufly, but were 

 burnt by accident. 



5. The extremities, fuch as the feet and the hands, were 

 generally fpared by the fire. 



6. Water fometimes, inftead of extinguifhing the flames 

 which proceeded from the parts on fire, gave them more ac- 

 tivity. 



7. The fire did very little damage, and often even fpared 

 the combuftible objetls vihich w-ere in contact with the hu- 

 man body at the moment when it was burning. 



8. The combuftion of thefe bodies left as a refiduum fat foetid 

 alhes, with an unftuous, ftinking, and very penetrating foot. 



Let us now enter into an examination of thefe eight ge- 

 neral obfervations. 



. The firft idea which occurs on reading the numerous in- 

 ftances of human combuftion above related is, that thofe who 

 fell viftims to thofe fatal accidents were almoft all addifted 

 to fpirituous liquors. The woman mentioned in the Tranfac- 

 tions of Co^ enhagen had for three years made fuch an im- 

 moderate ufe of them that flie would take no other nourifti- 

 tnent. Mary Clues, for a year before the accident happened, 

 had fcarcely been a fingle day without drinking half a pint 

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