Protection of Persons from Fire. 97 



tacks of heat and conflagration, we now present our readers with an 

 analysis of the work and a description of the apparatus.* 



This task affords us the more pleasure from the personal acquaint- 

 ance which we enjoyed with the benevolent author, whose useful la- 

 bors in another fertile field of discovery have been long known and 

 appreciated by men of science ; and who now, at the venerable age 

 of seventy two, is actively engaged in the applications of science to 

 objects of humanity. 



From a brief notice of the inventions of the Chevalier Aldini, in 

 a preceding number of the Journal, f our readers are aware that the 

 preservation from flame, which has been the object of his pursuit, 

 was sought for through the medium of a covering of wire gauze and 

 asbestine cloth, alternately placed over those parts of the body which 

 are exposed to the most intense action of the heat. In his introduc- 

 tion, the author justly intimates that notwithstanding the efforts which 

 men have hitherto made in rendering assistance to the helpless in 

 cases of conflagration, the great number of victims, among those who 

 generously devote themselves to the relief of the sufferers, furnishes 

 the strongest evidence of the necessity of some further means of al- 

 leviation and security. 



" The celebrated Peter Franck, in his Treatise on medical police, 

 complains that in cases of conflagration, governments have not suffi- 

 ciently borne in mind that human life ought to be the first object of 

 their solicitude. Firemen, says he, ought to be supplied with a cov- 

 ering at once light and thick, enveloping the body as completely as 

 possible, so as to enable them to resist the action of the fire. Great- 

 er benefits might also be expected, if noble encouragements were 

 offered to every one who should brave danger and save the life of a 

 human being." 



"The spirit of speculation has given rise to insurance companies 

 against loss by fire. These have doubtless done much good, but 

 they afford no guaranty against the loss of life. What compensation 

 is it to the owner of a house, to be assured that his mansion will be 



* The author's consent to this republication was also received. This analysis was 

 ready in October, and has been delayed in expectation of the arrival of the remain- 

 der of the prints from Paris ; only a few hundreds were sent out and the number 

 necessary for a full edition was ordered from Paris in July, but as no intelligence of 

 them is received after waiting six or eight months, %ve have had the prints litho- 

 graphed anew in Boston ; this statement will account for the delay. — Editor. 



t Vide Am. Jour. Vol. XVIII, p. 177. 



Vol. XX.— No. 1. 13 



