142 KHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS-. [aNNO 1745. 



The author even asserts, that a feverish fermentation, or a very strong motion 

 of combustible matters, may rise in the womb of a woman, with such an igneous 

 strength, as to reduce to ashes the bones, and burn the flesh. Two such cases 

 are known, one in the Acta Medica et Philosophica Hafniensia, Anno 1673, by 

 the observation of Matt. Jacobei; and the other in M. Marcell. Donato, de 

 Medic. Hist. Mirab. lib. 4, cap. 25, p. 248, et lib. 7, Cosmog. c. 1, of Cornel. 

 Gemma. He says also, that the bile, which is a necessary juice for our digestion, 

 was observed by Peter Borelli, that, being vomited up by a man, it boiled like 

 aquafortis. [Centur. 2, Obs. 1, p. 109]. 



Besides, very strong fires may be kindled in our bodies, as well as in other ani- 

 mals of a hot temperament, not only by nature, but also by art ; which, being 

 able to kill, will serve for a better proof of the argument. See also the 77th ob- 

 servation of John Pisano, in the German Ephemerides, printed in Lipsic 1670. 

 Tie the upper orifice of the stomach of an animal with a string; tie also its lower 

 orifice; then cut it out above and below the ligatures, and press it with both 

 hands, so that it swells up in one side; which done, let the left hand keep it so 

 that the swelled part may not subside; and, with the right, having first, at an 

 inch distance, placed a candle, open it quickly with an anatomical knife, and you 

 will see a flame there conceived, coming out in a few seconds of time: and such a 

 flame may, by the curious, be perceived not only in the stomach, but also in the 

 intestines.* The first discoverer of this was Andrew Vulparius, Anatomy Pro- 

 fessor at Bologna in Italy 1669. Thus we see, that a quick and violent agitation 

 of spirits, or a fermentation of juices in the stomach, produces a visible flame. 

 Pisano was an eye-witness of the above-related operation. 



In the German Ephemerides, Anno 10, p. 53, of the continuation by John 

 Christopher Sturmius, we read, that often, in the northern countries, flames 

 evaporate from the stomachs of those who drink strong liquors plentifully. About 

 17 years before, says the author, 3 noblemen of Curland, drank by emulation 

 strong liquors; and 2 of them died scorched and suffocated by a flame issuing 

 from the stomach. 



Borelli relates how a woman vomited flames in the point of death : you may 

 read, says he, in Bartolinus de Luce, and in Eusebius Nierembergensis's History 

 Nat. peregrin, how such accidents often happened in great drinkers of wine and 

 orandy: where is related also, how fire issued from the privy parts of a woman. 

 Lord Bacon, in his Nat. Univ. Hist, assures us that he had seen a woman's belly 



his Obs. Cent. 2, Obs. 75, p. 174, where he says, that there was a certain peasant, whose linen, 

 hempen thread, &c. if laid up in boxes, though wet, or hung upon sticks in the air, soon took fire; 

 which has been seen by a great number of spectators.— Orig. 



* To inflame this air, it is necessary it should issue into, or be mixed with comoion atmospheri- 

 cal air. 



