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Protection of Persons from Fire. 105 
itisoften advisable that a passage should be opened to the air, even at 
the expense of greater combustion, for a fireman properly armed against 
the heat, might be less in danger from it than from suffocation by 
smoke, and better able to extend relief. It would be well for fire- 
men to learn to be able to suspend their respiration for a considera- 
ble time. This, with the other precautions, would enable them to 
render more extensive aid in cases of difficulty and suffering. 
Cuar. VII—On the dress jit for passing through flame, and on 
the construction of different parts of the armor. 
In all cases where the fire is violent, and the exposure to it must 
be continued for some time, the body must be completely envel- 
oped with the resisting materials, and even then the buckler shoul 
be also used. A complete armor is composed of a cap of double 
metallic gauze, a cuiras or breast plate, pantaloons, gloves of metal- 
lie cloth, and of stockings of amianthus, over which metallic boots 
canbe drawn. The cap of metallic gauze, and the mask of amian- 
thus, have been described. ‘The cuiras is composed of a light iron 
frame, covered with metallic tissue, destined to protect the trunk 
. from the action of the fire. It closes on one of its sides, and has but 
one sleeve of metallic tissue, which is furnished at the elbow with a 
Piece of metallic gauze, to give freedom to the arm; on the other 
Side it is open, so as to be promptly fixed, and it fastens with brass 
buttons. The other arm will be sufficiently defended by the buck- 
ler. The pantaloons are of strong metallic tissue, terminated above 
by a thin iron plate with a longitudinal slit, so that by means of but- 
‘ons and button holes it can be adapted to the shape of the wearer. 
*hese pantaloons cover the cuiras at top, and below they enter the 
metallic boots. But these boots the inventor finally abandoned, not 
only on account of their heaviness, but because they did not enclose 
’ ‘feet with sufficient firmness. In their place he substituted bus- 
kins of double metallic tissue, with a sole made of a very thin plate 
of iron articulated, and large enough to enclose the foot. 
ere should be provided a number of these complete armors of 
iferent sizes, 
t was an examination of ancient armor that led M. Aldini to this 
Contrivance ; and it has been his study to render it as light and as 
Supple as possible, and he is well persuaded that in its present state it 
Would not be found oppressive to any fireman. It is far lighter than 
You; XX.—No. 1. 14 
