RESPIRATION 203 



tion takes place, it is attended with the abstraction of heat 

 that is, the part becomes relatively colder. This may be tested 

 by moistening some part of the surface with cologne, ether, or 

 other volatile liquid, and then causing it to evaporate rapidly 

 by fanning. The principle that evaporation produces cold has 

 been ingeniously and practically employed, in the manufacture 

 of ice by means of freezing machines. 



51. Spontaneous Combustion Alcohol the Indirect Cause. 



Is it possible that the temperature of the living body can be so 

 increased that its tissues will burn spontaneously ? From time 

 to time cases have been reported in which, by some mysterious 

 means, considerable portions of the human body have been 

 consumed, apparently by fire the victim being found dead, or 

 incapable of explaining the occurrence. Hence, the theory has 

 been current that, under certain conditions, the tissues of the 

 body might become self-ignited ; and the fact that this so-called 

 spontaneous combustion has ordinarily taken place in those who 

 had been addicted to the use of alcoholic drinks, has given a 

 color of probability to the opinion. It has been supposed that 

 the flesh of these unfortunate persons, becoming saturated with 

 alcohol thus taken into the system, took fire upon being ex- 

 posed to a flame, as of a lighted candle, or, indeed, without any 

 external cause. But, whether this be possible or not, one thing 

 is certain this strange kind of combustion has never been 

 actually witnessed by any one competent to give a satisfactory 

 account of it. 



52. The results that have been observed may be satisfacto- 

 rily explained by the accidental ignition of the clothes, or other 

 articles near the body, and by the supposition that the indi- 

 vidual was at the time too much stupefied by intoxication to 

 notice the source of danger and provide for his safety. The 

 highest temperature that has been observed in the body 

 about 112 Fahrenheit is too low to ignite the vapor of alco- 

 hol ; much less will it cause the burning of animal tissues. It 

 is undoubtedly true that when the tissues are filled with alco- 



51. State what is said of spontaneous combustion. 



52. How is the theory refuted ? 



