SINGULAR EVENT. 13 



Strontian exists in many places, and plentifully; 

 some future wants or experiments will probably 

 bring it into notice, and indicate the latent virtues 

 of this mineral. 



Perhaps I may here mention an incident, that 

 occurred a few years past at one of our lime-kilns, 

 because it manifests how perfectly insensible the 

 human frame may be to pains and afflictions in 

 peculiar circumstances ; and that which would be 

 torture if endured in general, may be experienced 

 at other times without any sense of suffering. A 

 travelling man one winter's evening laid himself down 

 upon the platform of a lime-kiln, placing his feet, 

 probably numbed with cold, upon the heap of stones, 

 newly put on to burn through the night. Sleep 

 overcame him in this situation ; the fire gradually 

 rising and increasing until it ignited the stones upon 

 which his feet were placed. Lulled by the warmth, 

 the man slept on ; the fire increased until it burned 

 one foot (which probably was extended over a vent 

 hole) and part of the leg above the ancle entirely 

 off; consuming that part so effectually, that a cin- 

 der-like fragment was alone remaining ; and still 

 the wretch slept on ! and in this state was found by 

 the kiln-man in the morning. Insensible to any 

 pain, and ignorant of his misfortune, he attempted 

 to rise and pursue his journey, but missing his 

 shoe, requested to have it found ; and when he was 

 raised, putting his burnt limb to the ground to 



