104 Protection of Persons from Fire. 



left at top for communication with the atmosphere. The animals 

 thus placed, were retained in the midst of flames a much longer 

 time than firemen would have occasion to remain in the course of 

 their duties, in extensive conflagrations. 



Thus encouraged, the experiments were extended to men. An 

 armor was prepared for the head, whose interior surface was a tis- 

 sue of iron wire, with a double metallic gauze, which enveloped it ; 

 the front was closed only by the gauze. This armature descended 

 to the shoulders, and rested upon them, so that the top of the head 

 was not in contact with the metal, but was defended by it from ex- 

 ternal blows, and being of considerable strength, and supported en- 

 tirely by the shoulders, this armature is at once a fire guard, and a 

 preservative against external violence. 



Thus equipped, firemen exposed their faces to the combined 

 flames of twenty-four and even thirty-six candles, as well -as to the 

 flames of wood and straw, and held them in this position for more 

 than two minutes, with but a slight increase of heat. So satisfactory 

 were these trials, that several young persons who witnessed them, 

 wished to make the experiment, and did so more than once. 



The difficulty of conceiving how an air of this kind can be breath- 

 ed with impunity, will be lessened by the reflection that the tempera- 

 ture within the mask is much lower than without ; that by the agita- 

 tion usual in flame the air is frequently renewed ; that in the air 

 which is mingled with a volume of flame, the oxygen is by no means 

 exhausted ; that in such cases it is not the want of oxygen so much 

 as the presence of carbonic acid, that causes respiration to become 

 difficult ; and that this foul and heated air is continually ascending 

 and giving place to fresh portions of pure air. 



To guard against the effects of smoke, is another affair. The au- 

 thor cites various methods which have been proposed by others, viz, 

 covering the face with a mask of sponge, except two openings closed 

 by glasses for the eyes, keeping the sponge moist with water, with an 

 alkaline solution, or with chlorine, as the case may require ; covering 

 the face with leather, to which is attached a tube three or four feet 

 long, containing at its extremity a moistened sponge. These are good 

 precautions against smoke alone, but when smoke and flame are active- 

 ly combined, they are not sufficient, and it does not appear that the 

 chevalier has been able to propose any thing more eftectual. He justly 

 observes, that the existence of much smoke is an evidence that the at- 

 mosphere is not freely admitted to the burning materials, and therefore 



