ALDINI S INCOMBUSTIBLE DRESSES. 



353 



whom they wished to acquit, and that the last three days 

 were requisite to bring back the hands to their natural 

 condition. In these and other cases, the accused could 

 not have availed himself directly of the use of asbestos 

 gloves, unless we could suppose them so made as to 

 imitate the human skin at a distance ; but the fibres of 

 that mineral may have been imbedded in a paste which 

 applied itself readily to all the elevations and depressions 

 of the skin. 



In our own times the art of defending the hands and 

 face, and indeed the whole body, from the action of 

 heated iron and intense fire, has been applied to the 

 nobler purpose of saving human life, and rescuing pro- 

 perty from the flames. The revival and the improvement 

 of this art we owe to the benevolence and the ingenuity of 

 the Chevalier Aldini of Milan, who has travelled through 

 all Europe to present this valuable gift to his species. 

 Sir H. Davy had long ago shown that a safety lamp for 

 illuminating mines, containing inflammable air, might be 

 constructed of wire-gauze alone, which prevented the 

 flame within, however large or intense, from setting fire to 

 the inflammable air without. This valuable property, 

 which has been long in practical use, he ascribed to the 

 conducting and radiating power of the wire-gauze, which 

 carried off the heat of the flame, and deprived it of its 

 power. The Chevalier Aldini conceived the idea of apply- 

 ing the same material in combination with other badly- 

 conducting substances, as a protection against fire. The 

 incombustible pieces of dress which he uses for the body, 

 arms, and legs, are formed out of strong cloth, which has 

 been steeped in a solution of alum, while those for the 

 head, hands, and feet, are made of cloth of asbestos or 

 amianthus. The head-dress is a large cap which enve- 

 lops the whole head down to the neck, having suitable 

 perforations for the eyes, nose, and mouth. The stockings 



