igf) I'MILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1727- 



on the other side, and extended about 3 acres over the field, consuming all the 

 earth, where it burnt, into red ashes, quite down to the springs, which in most 

 places lay 4 feet or more deep. 



It still burnt Sept. 4, when Dr. N. saw t, in many places, and sent forth a 

 great smoke and strong smell, very like that of a brick-kiln. It never flamed 

 but when the earth was turned and stirred. For some space round where it was 

 burning, the ground felt hot, though the grass seemed no more parched than 

 might reasonably be expected from the dryness and heat of the season. The 

 Doctor caused it to be turned up in several places, and found the earth hot and 

 wet near 4 feet deep, and much hotter about 2 feet than near the surface. 



When this earth was exposed to the air, though it was very moist, and not 

 hotter than might easily be borne by the hand, the heat increased so fast, that 

 in a few minutes it was all over on fire, like phosphorus made with alum and 

 fiower. The soil of the field is of the same nature with that they make the 

 turf of in Holland ; its surface is always wet, except in extreme dry seasons. 

 This year it was somewhat more parched and harder than usual. From what 

 has been related, it seems not more difficult to account for this fire than for 

 those fires which often happen in hay-ricks, when the hay is stacked before it 

 is thoroughly made. 



Experiments on the Effects of the Poison of the Rattle Snake. By Capt. Hall. 

 N° 399, p. 309. 



In South Carolina, May ]0, 1720, having got a fine healthful rattle-snake 

 about 4 feet long, Capt. Hall persuaded several gentlemen, besides Mr. Kidwell, 

 a surgeon, to assist in making some experiments on the effects of its poison. 



They got 3 cur dogs, the greatest not larger than a common harrier, and the 

 least about the size of the largest lap dog, all of them smooth haired. The 

 snake being tied and pinned down to a grass-plat, they took the largest of the 

 dogs, and having tied a cord round his neck, so that it should not strangle 

 him, another person held one end while Capt. Hall held the other, the length 

 was not more than 4 yards each way from the dog. Immediately on bringing 

 the dog over the snake, the latter raised himself near 2 feet, and bit the dog as 

 he was jumping; the dog yelped, and Capt. Hall pulled him to him as fast as he 

 could, and perceived his eyes fixed, his tongue between his teeth, which were 

 closed, his lips so drawn up as to leave his teeth and gums bare; in short, he 

 was quite dead in a quarter of a minute, and some were of opinion it was in 

 half that time. They could not see where the dog was bitten, nor any blood; 

 on which they ordered some hot water to scald the hair off"; when they could 

 find only one puncture, which looked of a bluish green a little round it; it was 



