106 Protection of Persons from Fire. 
the warlike armor of the ancients, who combated in their ponderous 
clothing in fields far less honorable than those where humanity is the 
motive, and the saving of human life, the prize. 
To reduce this apparatus to the greatest possible simplicity, the 
author found that the cuiras and pantaloons of metallic tissue might 
be omitted, and a dress of prepared cloth substituted, consisting of 
a jacket and pantaloons combined, with a cloth girdle. ‘They may 
be drawn on over the common clothes in a few moments. 
The cloth of which this vestment is made, must be prepared by a 
previous soaking in some saline solution. Phosphate of ammonia is 
the best, but alum is cheaper, and answers very well. One immer- 
sion of the cloth ia the solution is not enough. The solution should 
be saturated, by dissolving the powdered alum in warm water. But 
the author, finding that the alum crystallizes on the surface of the 
cloth and then easily rubs off, proposes a strong solution of carbonate 
of potash as a substitute. He admits that the potash must be satu- 
rated with carbonic acid, otherwise the causticity of the potash would 
destroy the cloth ; but he does not advert to the fact that the intense 
heat to which the garment is to be exposed, might decompose the 
carbonate, and thus defeat the intended advantage. He finds that 
sulphate of iron, or of zine, or other metallic oxides, will answer the 
purpose. : 
In case of urgent necessity, a solution of common salt would be 
very useful, and even if a garment should be sponged with this solt- 
tion, it would have a decided tendency to preserve it from combus- 
tion. 
If over this vestment of prepared saline cloth, a tunic of metalic 
tissue, and pantaloons of the same material, were worn, the defence 
would be very great, and combine safety with facility of motion. 
This kind of dress, the author thinks, would answer very well in com 
mon fires; but, in consulting the history of conflagrations, he is satis- 
fied that in extensive and violent fires, the armor first proposed ought 
not to be dispensed with, and that the buckler and cuiras ought © 
be used. 
Cuar. VII.—On the means of saving persons and valuable objects 
tn buildings on fire. 
This chapter, after noticing the difficulty and danger that people 
are often in when their own or an adjacent dwelling takes fire, con 
